"Wow!" Is all I can say.
 

This is my very first time looking and reading the Political Talk. WOW!

I thought it was going to be actual political discussions that friends could be having in a living room together. Not so at all, eh? It is just angry rantings and personal attacking each other and nonsense attacks of character of candidates.

There is so very little political climate on this group. It says in the "sticky" to have discussions as you would have in a face-to-face discussion. Any person talking to another face to face like so many of these exchanges would have their teeth rearranged, I would think.

Say what you want but it will be without the likes of me. Checking in was for curiousity but leaving is a pleasure. Just know your beliefs are not consistent with the great majority of Villagers - ones who are not angry about life.

Maybe it is not life that they are angry about, but the direction that the county is going - downhill, rapidly.

Yes, you've nailed it.

I think you are smart to just leave.

There is the opportunity for political discussion on here.

It is what you make of it.

IF you have a ideology and your mind is closed to any other then please leave.

Most people come in here with a chip on their shoulder but once they are able to determine those who really wish to discuss issues and ignore the trolls that, you are right about, do frequent here, it can be fun AND educational.

My thing is to read the posts....those that are not just a personal attack on some poor politician....and then investigate to see how true everything is...to determine if I misread the issue. Many time I have misread and once I do my investigation I am ok.

BUT you should leave...you are either sincere and thus I suggest leaving and not coming back since you do not have to be here...

OR...you are a troll which is what I suspect who is simply using another little gimmick to blast away at others. If that is the case...PLEASE PLEASE leave.

No one is stopping you from commenting on the subject, or otherwise. But, if you feel that way,........bye. :wave:

Evidently personal attacks, derogatory remarks, name calling, incessant scoldings, and ponderous rants aren't the OP's cup of tea. Go figure.

Anyone who truly believes things are not better now than they were in 2009 really needs help tying their own shoelaces.

I will remind the OP and others as I usually do when the political forum is attacked in general for the unacceptable actions of a very few specific antagonizers.

With the advent of the anonymous anonymous guest screen name for all there is opportunity for many of the antagonizers to place multiple posts creating an unreal rerality to the forum. And may very well include something like the OP here in this thread.

So please do not tar and feather the entirety of the political forum for the antics of the few.

If you are REALLY interested you should be capable enough to ignore the few and participate as you claim you came here to do.

I remember my father talking about the "good old days" even though it was the Depression years. Some people here feel the same about 43's time in office.

I am sure you are correct in your assumption.

While I understand your sarcasm and since you know your name appears when you post, I also know you as an ardent and loyal supporter of President Obama.

I do get the malaise of the Iraq war and do not wish to debate that thing again on here but do you actually think this country is in better shape now than in 2009 ? I always found you to be a smart poster, albeit a very biased one, but how could you even suggest such a thing ?

His two "legacy" moments...ACA and Iran deal are disasters.

ACA has a lot of good stuff in it and a lot that BOTH parties wanted but it is structured to bring our economy to its knees and does nothing to do what is was supposed to do. Reduce health care costs.

Iran, with a huge approval rating of about 23 % (and that approval thingie means not much except for how low it is) is discussed as if there was no context attached to it, ie. N. Korea, Syria, Russia, ICBM's and on and especially (for me anyway) that stupid premise about the only option to it being war.

Those are the two things he had accomplished that are headline worth....race relations went straight to the toilet beginning with his first foray with the black professor way back.....our economic situation while it DID improve is not good and we have yet to feel the full impact of ACA....foreign policy you have to admit is a total disaster; we are single handly making the ME a nuke haven and while not literally true, we have left Israel out to dry; Russia is dictating everything we do and getting stronger each day; we ignore, and frankly I never hear of this country doing this....we ignore the gassing of children in Syria.

No, we are not better off than we were and I was just getting started.

We need a change and it better go 180 degrees from our current direction.

NOBODY blames Obama alone. It was a "team" effort. BUT those items that lay at the Presidents feet, especially foreign policy is a mess. And the racial divide I think a case can be made that he has taken us back in time, whether he did it on purpose or not, it is just a fact.

WE are a country of laws...this President wants HIS OWN LAW. I think that fact is what bothers me about this President more than any other. He feels he is always right, and that alone is not a bad thing, but he will not even tolerate discussion with anyone who disagrees with him EVER AND AT ALL.

I suppose that last fact is what makes Trump more attractive to moderates. Same kind of schtick but on the right :)

Seriously???

Then working >100 hours a week but not being paid for the OT.
Now RETIRED

Then making 6 figures
Now making 6 figures

Then 2 houses with mortgages
Now 2 houses without a mortgage

Then traveling every week M-F
Now only when I want to

So I think I might be better off than I was in 2009....but you must have forgotten about the crash of 2008! Surely you must remember that!

But I forgot I had a nephew being deployed to the gulf on a routing basis now been home for 6 years.

I also forgot to say I do know how to tie my shoe laces.

Tell that to the millions that he's added to the welfare roles. Oh wait, they wear slip-on shoes - no shoe laces for them.

Good for you.

BUT are you honestly and sincerely making YOURSELF the criteria, the standard by which all is measured ?

Your post was a bit self centered don't you think ?

Let me see....now what was the subject of this thread,

Where does when one had it better or not fit in the thread?

Right! It doesn't.

Dear guest: I would rather that you offered your opinion on a political matter than on your opinion concerning political talk posters because we have one too many of the latter.

Beside which the fact remains that most progressive honestly believe name calling is their argument. To wit "What do you say to Obama's foreign policy toward an Iranian Nuclear Agreement being ill conceived"? Response "You are a racist"

Personal Best Regards:

I think that OP said that anyone who thinks they are better off can't tie their shoelaces.....

I for one am better off so it is not self centered in the least. Just the truth.

But I did get a good laugh.....

Good for you.

I guess those who did not fare as you since 2009 will just have to wait their turn.

This forum is as you say. It is 95% emotion and 5% facts. The anonymous feature makes it like the etchings you'll find in the men's restroom at an inner city Burger King most of the time. That said there are some very well thought out and intellectual posts. Now if you are looking to get back into Iraq and Afganistan and invade Russia and China at the same you'll get a great deal of support. Don't take it to serious.

The trouble is that Trump is more moderate than conservative in some respects. He will want some form of TRUMPCARE probably. It will be interesting to see what his followers who voted for him think what kind of things he puts into effect if he becomes POTUS. A huge wall which will create a police state, a large military to combat troubles from abroad due to putting up this HUGE wall, and myriad problems with paying for the wall and the military. Our blood, sweat, and tears; Trump's Glory. The man who would be king if he could have it that way. The trouble is, he has Congress to deal with as well and the US Supreme Court. Not to mention the US Constitution's whose writers really frowned on someone with a royal prerogative.

And I never said Hillary Clinton is honest. But, she seems to have some respect for the US Constitution. Trump is a egomaniac who is used to getting his own way and will shred the Constitution if he can. He has followed no rules so far in the election, why would he stop breaking them when and if he becomes POTUS?

Impossible. By the time he would be sworn in, IF he is elected, Obama would have not only shredded the constitution, but also burned it. He even said that the constitution means nothing and that it is only a guide. Trump could not do any worst than Obama, so the bar is already pretty low.

Unless you have a very thick skin especially if you are a Democrat or Independent, you should stay away. I haven't been here that long, since July. My first post, I was called at least four names by different people, and it has gone down from there.

The easiest way to end a conversation here, is to ask another posted to back up his comments with facts. The person that just mentioned 5% facts is right on target there.

Take a good look at the post on the Iran agreement. It is a total failure! It hasn't even taken affect yet. Almost everyone of the people opposed to the deal given the unmistakable impression that we were the only one in the agreement with Iran. Colin Powell's interview on the Meet The Press has been brought up several times. The Republicans dismiss it, and won't even look at it. That is what passes for being open minded here.

Someone mentioned that we need a 180 turn from where we are. That means that both parties have to do an about face. Who thinks that that will ever happen? The Republican that ran John McCain's run for Presidency stated, "the reason that people don't think anything in Washington will get done, and are looking at the outsiders is the 40 to 60 times the Republicans have tried to repeal and replace Obamacare. Somewhere along the line they would get it through their thick skulls that it is not going to happen.

Trump is going to shred the Constitution. He doesn't even have a clue of where to look for it. To change Jendal (sp) comment, "Trump doesn't think the Constitution exists, because he is not in it."

This is an OPINION forum thus you get....dah dah...OPINIONS.

I do agree with you on asking for backup, and have asked YOU a few times. Once you then called me a racist so I stopped and actually have tried to ignore your posts for the very reason you give in your advice.

YOU NEVER BACK UP WHAT YOU SAY WITH LINKS. You just type on as if we should accept what you say.

For example when John McCain ran WHICH WAS SIX YEARS AGO, PLEASE supply the link to that quote that you referenced with no link.

Wondering if you ever read your own posts. You alway begin with saying how it is both parties fault, but cannot recall you ever once criticizing the Democratic party...have you ever ?

Only person to my knowledge that ever brought up Colin Powell was YOU and people who responded to YOU !

And lastly, there is not one poster who does not know that there were other countries involved so why would you say such a thing. I even responded to you about what happens if they cheat and the other countries involved have now started trade...do you remember my question to you about what they might do after selling all the missles to Iran

You just make things up and then come on here and advise facts

I am not sure but do not think you have ever one time supplied a link for your ramblings.

Not really..... I worked hard, put 25% of my salary into a 401K up to and including maxing out the catchup. I worked for less money at a company that offered a pension. I moved into a state with no state income tax and an a low cost of living.

With all my saving and selling the big house I have a nice little nugget to live on with my pension and SS.

Its all in the planning....

Not to worry, Bernie Sanders will take care of them - with other peoples money of course.

Yes, we can all definitely plan on seeing The Greatest Depression should we be stupid enough to elect Bernie. Nice guy ... but clueless on economics.

Democrats have it all under control. Their version of economics is to take as much from the wealthy as they can get away with and after they take care of themselves, the rest will go to the lazy. The middle class can take care of itself as long as it doesn't advance to the wealthy stage. Wealthy is determined by if you have earned enough to live a bit better than those at the poverty level, that receive their livelihood from the gov. If you advance to a level superior to those that live on the gov dole then you are deemed wealthy and must be taxed into submission.

You are the person that does everything that you are accusing me of, and then some. That is a little more than ironic. You had better take a good look at my posts, because it appears that you have a very selective memory. If I goggle something, I cut, and paste the article here. The comment made by McCain's man, it was made on Morning Joe on MSNBC this week. You know the station you never watch.

You are damn right I brought Colin Powell. You would think that an open minded person, which some here profess to be, would be interested in what a former REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE had to say about the Iranian agreement especially one that a lot to do with what is going on in the middle east now. I couldn't have been any more wrong. What turned Colin Powell into the devil? If you think that it didn't have anything to do with race, answer the question?

I am going to answer a question with a question. You tell me one thing that you have said that doesn't criticize the Democratic party, and in particular Obama. On this board, how could I possibly add anything to the mountain of total nonsense that has been directed at the Democratic party by the all knowing, all seeing people that post here?

As far as the Iran deal is concerned, all you ever hear from Republicans is "if this", "if that", "when they get a nuclear bomb", "when they cheat". " we are selling Israel out". Who the hell wants to answer a never ending bunch of hypotheticals from people, who have never seen the deal? These same people are getting their information from the Republicans in Congress, who were against it without even seeing the deal. The only station that they watch is Fox News, which is the Republican Broadcasting System.

Why would say that people here don't know that other countries were involved in the Iran agreement? Are you kidding me? Maybe because you have dismissed every other country, and the UN in this deal as having other alternative motives other than stopping Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, which was the reason for the sanctions, and the talks.

Anyone that thinks that this deal was to keep Iran from getting nukes, must not be paying attention. Or stupid, or ignorant, or just plain oblivious. This deal was to allow Iran to have their frozen money back, so that they could do business with France, Russia, etc. European countries are greedy and want Iran's business. The other Middle Eastern countries are quaking in their booties over this deal. It's a stupid deal. Iran can deem any site as military and we can't inspect. The sights that we do want to inspect, have to be given 24 days notice. Kind of like telling Iraq that we were getting ready to invade so get your WMDs out of the country.

Tell me that none of you think that we got anything out of this deal?

But they ARE better! Like it or not, by every measure of the economy, the USA is better off now than when Obama first took office. Obama rescued the Republican run USA banks and the auto industry which George Bush's presidency had led to ruin, almost bankruptcy. Home-buyer interest rates are the lowest in decades which also spurs corporate growth. It's just a plain fact that Obama inherited the Great George Bush Recession, and, despite 24/7 obstruction from the Republicans, he forund a way to fix it. Since Obama became president, corporate debt has been reduced to 1990 levels. Thanks to the Obama policies and leadership, General Motors CO. has recovered . Obama's $49.5 billion 'purchase' of 61% of the company saved thousands of jobs and businesses throughout most of 50 states, not just the midwest. Consumers like me and you, are buying again and homebuilding is increasing. Unemployment has declined and the econonmy has expanded. Manufacturing jobs rose. Obama Care? After doubling for the past 20 years under the Bush's, medical expenses rose only 2% in the last 3 years, the LEAST in 65 years. George W Bush's presidency saw the Sept 11 terrorist attacks and ended with the deepest recession in 60 years which triggered the ongoing global financial crisis. After 12 years with a Republican President, the entire world economy collapsed. Over 60,000 factories closed under the Bush's and 9 million jobs were lost. The Republicans have the money, and they spend it on a propaganda machine which is a model for any dictator any where in the world, communist, fascist, or capitalist. These are all facts that be checked at Factcheck.org or Scicheck.org. It wasn't an email I received or learned on FOX or CNN.

Reads quite like a fantasy novel. You have a very interesting imagination. If not for so many false statements, it would almost be a bit believable. Sorry, but if all liberals believe your post, then we have a lot of imbeciles in our country.

1. I need some creditible links and back ups to your statement..."the auto industry which George Bush's presidency had led to ruin, almost bankruptcy. " FACTS please on how he did this. Links to prove your accusations.

2. Since you blame all the bank problems in one way with ABSOLUTELY no facts except what you typed. Do you think the Community Reinvestment Act might have helped just a tad ? FACTS and LINKS with accusations please !

3.Have you investigated and read the CBO analysis on Obama Care ? Do you know the affect this bill has had/will have on our national budget for years ? FACTS PLEASE. Links to prove your accusations.

Once you prove with links and facts on your accusations, I will continue

An interesting and respectful post. Thanks. I'm not exactly an ardent Obama supporter. In fact I entertained voting for Mitt Romney, the original Mitt Romney before he became the "severely conservative" one that was so unconvincing. The 2008 election was a no brainer; the Republican ticket was in Trump's words terrible. However, I have voted Republican before for President, governor, and senator.

Having said that, I sincerely believe we are better off now under Obama than Bush 43. He inherited a mess of two wars and borderline economic collapse and got us through. I understand there are problems in the world, but under whose Presidency weren't there any? The history of the world in the last 100 years can read like a horror story.

Ha, ha, ha.....that was meant to be satiric, right?

"Got us through"? How, by walking away from the war in Iraq and leaving a void for ISIS and Iran? Improving the economy by more government regulation? The Fed, and the Fed alone, is responsible for the meager, slow-paced recovery that were are currently experiencing.

As you know, the FOMC met yesterday and today and the Fed Funds Rate remains unchanged. Not a positive sign of a healthy ecomony. The Food Stamp recipient rate is up and the labor participation rate is down under Obama. Yeah, what a great "president" he's has been for the economy.

Total BS!

Here's some examples that tell a different story:

My insurance premium went up 43% since 2009. I doubt my story is isolated.

Home ownership has dropped by 3.2 percentage points, to the lowest point in nearly 20 years. = FactCheck.org

Long term unemployed 86,000 more than when Obama entered office = Factcheck.org

Debt held by public 106%

Food stamps up 70% under Obama = Washington Times [45% higher than when Obama was sworn in = Factcheck.org] Either number is too much.

More blacks unemployed since Obama
More black babies aborted last year than born

More of population at poverty level since Obama

EGP so low its stagnant.

National debt will be double what it was when Obama was sworn in by the time he leaves office. It took 40 presidents to accumulate as much debt as Obama has in two terms. By the way, we haven't paid down on the national debt since Eisenhower.

You want to talk about total BS. Take a good look at your post. Your looking at the end results of the Great Recession, and placing all the blame on Obama. So, so what did Obama do prior to his presidency that caused the Great Recession, and the Iraq war? The ACA definitely falls in his lap.

Government - Historical Debt Outstanding - Annual 2000 - 2014

You start running the clock on his contribution to the debt at 9/30/09, there is no way that it will double. That includes handing him programs like food stamps, whose increase was a direct result of the Great Recession. Drop in home ownership direct result of the Great Recession. Increasing unemployment benefits to 99 weeks a direct result of the Great Recession.

Try honestly looking at the causes of the debt increase, and place the blame, if you have too, where it belongs.

You like Obama and most democrats don't seem to understand when one runs for presient and wins they own everything on day one.

This is not kindergarten where one gets a chance or excuse to blame someone else.

Whether you or Obama or anybody else is looking to blame somebody else, that is not the way executive sucession works.

If you inherit something that is not right or is broken or needs fixing....DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Obama and others like him are amateurs who have no clue regarding responsibility, delegating, managing, measuring, comitting or following up.
In short....was not qualified for the job and it is showing every day for the past 6++ years. In corporate America he would have been gone by the end of year one!!!!!

National Debt 12/31/2008 = $10,699,804,864,612.13

National Debt 9/15/2015 = $18,151,049,785,935.02

TreasuryDirert.gov

You can do the math, I think.

The Great Recession was only that because Obama made it last as long as he could. Any other president in history could have/did better at the economy than this incompetent. He wasn't given anything. He ran with Hope and Change. IT's all his and he owns it. He knew exactly what he was getting into and he had plans to hose it up. He hates America and anyone can see it that isn't blind. How many recessions or depressions have we had? How long did it take for us to rebound? Nope, blame it on Bush all you want, but it's Bush that everyone would rather have in there right now than Obama. Check out the polls.