# Dear El Presidente Obama, a minor point of etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 14, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586 "2009-11-14T20:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/201 "2009-11-27T01:50:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yeah, well, you know what else was good at getting people inflamed? > > Jock itch. Heh heh heh! The question about drug lords is relevant: the War on Terror is only a war in the way that the War on Drugs is a war. Our actions in Panama were a result of the War on Terror, but Noriega was tried in a US court and is currently held in a US prison, right? This whole thread is an embarrassment, SA–or if it isn’t, it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/202 "2009-11-28T14:55:27Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > He was convicted in New York Nov 1997 by a federal jury, and sentenced Jan 1998 to life + 240 years by a US district Judge. > > And nobody apparently had a problem with justice being served, or the defendant given rights and due process before his lawful conviction in a public court. Well, sure, but look what Dubya did to OBL! -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/203 "2009-11-28T19:52:28Z")
Still waiting for **Smiling Bandit** to return to the thread to apologize for starting it before he’d gathered all the facts – mainly that bowing by presidents is not unheard of, and even Nixon bowed to Emperor Hirohito. Here – you can cut and paste this one – save you time: \* “Sorry all for starting this OP before I’d gathered all the facts. In future, I pledge to look at multiple sources before getting outraged about something President Obama does, and not just rely on a single network or radio host.”\* And here’s a cut and paste apology for **Starving Artist** to use: _“Thanks **Alienhand** for letting me know that Ramzi Yousef was captured in Islamabad with Pakistani cooperation. As I said, things like that do make a difference, so I now acknowledge that a fair trial was held for foreign-captured terrorists in the past, and it worked out pretty well. I promise in future to put in a bit more critical analysis before I jump in with comments, and not just criticize Obama for the sake of criticizing him.”_ Please, both of you feel free to cut and paste these apologies, or just post “ya, what he said”. Have a nice weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/204 "2009-11-28T20:38:29Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And here’s a cut and paste apology for **Starving Artist** to use: > > "Thanks **Alienhand** for letting me know that Ramzi Yousef was captured in Islamabad with Pakistani cooperation. As I said, things like that do make a difference, so I now acknowledge that a fair trial was held for foreign-captured terrorists in the past, and it worked out pretty well. Not the same thing at all. Would you like me to explain why, or would you like to engage in an exercise of logic and intellectual honesty and try to figure it out for yourself? Additionally… > [@](#): > > so I now acknowledge that a fair trial was held for foreign-captured terrorists in the past Please note that one guy does not equal ‘terrorists.’ Would you like to thank me for pointing out that singular does not equal plural? Feel free to just cut and paste “Hell, yeah!” Y’all have a nice weekend too now, y’hear? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/205 "2009-11-28T20:40:59Z")
Quit quibbling over singular/plural bullshit. You were wrong, you were proven wrong, now admit it. Your credibility takes a hit with every keystroke you post here. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/206 "2009-11-28T20:50:32Z")
**Fear Itself** is kindly reminded that the ‘singular/plural bullshit’ was a secondary, sidebar issue and not pertinent to the main substance of my post. > [@Fear Itself](#): > > You were wrong, you were proven wrong, now admit it. Looks like you’re in need of a little explaining yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/207 "2009-11-28T20:52:02Z")
You were wrong. You were proven wrong. Is that the explanation you need? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/208 "2009-11-28T20:58:38Z")
No, the exact point is that I wasn’t proven wrong. C’mon, you’re almost as smart as **EP**. You wanna try using a little objectivity, logic, and intellectual honesty to see if you can figure it out yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/209 "2009-11-28T21:00:52Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Not the same thing at all. > > Would you like me to explain why, or would you like to engage in an exercise of logic and intellectual honesty and try to figure it out for yourself? No, please don’t try to explain anything. You could point me towards someone who does have logic and intellectual honesty though. Cause your history sure as shit shows that it’s not you. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/210 "2009-11-28T21:02:21Z")
Oh, and you fucked up your apology. Just cut and paste it, with no other comments. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/211 "2009-11-28T21:14:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > No, please don’t try to explain anything. That’s what I thought. **Fear** , you wanna take a crack at it? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/212 "2009-11-28T21:30:43Z")
I think you’ve had quite enough crack for one day. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/213 "2009-11-28T21:45:25Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > That’s what I thought. You forget; I am only posting to mock you. Mock. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/214 "2009-11-28T21:58:06Z")
So, no attempt at ‘critical analysis’ should be expected from you, is that right? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/215 "2009-11-28T22:05:22Z")
Plenty, just not to you. You have proved to be unworthy. Mock. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/216 "2009-11-28T22:24:04Z")
BWAHAHAHAHA! The tepidness of your responses betrays both your suspicion that I know something you don’t and your lack of confidence in your ability to figure it out. Here’s a hint: your mindset, which is typical of this place, is what is keeping you from seeing the answer. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/217 "2009-11-28T22:28:48Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > So, no attempt at ‘critical analysis’ should be expected from you, is that right? Because you’ve shown so much critical analysis in your posts on how constitutional law works, we are all in awe of your astonishing skills. We are not able to compete with your complete misunderstanding of the issues, your incredible ignorance of the facts, your utter inability to make a cogent point, or your blatant failure to address any argument but your own straw men. In short, Mr. Artist, I think my point has been soundly proven. You have said nothing vis a vis your ignorant criticism of Obama’s policies that needs be addressed. You are reduced to bluster. Please let me know if you do a little internet research and come up with a point that isn’t retarded. Until then, I shall be busy elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/218 "2009-11-28T22:43:10Z")
Okay, I’ll include you along with **Euphonious Polemic** and **Fear Itself** and ask if you have both the logical ability and intellectual honesty to figure out why I’m right in saying that **Alienhand’s** cite is bogus. For surely, if I am so hampered by all the faults you just laid at my feet, you should have no trouble doing so. Or will you merely defend yourself by claiming, as they have, that I have no credibility, and attempt to use that as an excuse for quailing away from the challenge? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/219 "2009-11-28T22:46:35Z")
If you think someone’s cite is bogus, why is it my responsibility to prove it? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586/220 "2009-11-28T22:55:13Z")
If you’ll recall, I asked both you and **Euphious Polemic** (in addition to whether you had the logical ability and intellectual honesty to figure it out on your own) if you wanted me to explain it. You both declined. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-el-presidente-obama-a-minor-point-of-etiquette/517586.md?page=12)