# Obama Feints To the Left **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330 "2015-01-20T00:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [January 21, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/81 "2015-01-21T01:18:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > What’s unique is asking for $400 billion more over last year in the absence of a crisis justifying such spending. Yeah, because the hollowing out of the middle class and wage stagnation isn’t a crisis. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/82 "2015-01-21T01:22:30Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > _Sigh_ Sounds like the same old Democratic class-warfare bullshit. From Al Franken’s [_Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair And Balanced Look at the Right:_](http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Lying-Liars-Tell-Them/dp/0525947647) > [@](#): > > Anytime a liberal points out that the wealthy are disproportionately benefiting from Bush’s tax policies, Republicans shout, “class warfare!” > > In her book _A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century,_ Barbara Tuchman writes about a peasant revolt in 1358 that began in the village of St. Leu and spread throughout the Oise Valley. At one estate, the serfs sacked the manor house, killed the knight, and roasted him on a spit in front of his wife and kids. Then, after ten or twelve peasants violated the lady, with the children still watching, they forced her to eat the roasted flesh of her husband and then killed her. > > _That_ is class warfare. > > Arguing over the optimal marginal tax rate for the top one percent is not. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/83 "2015-01-21T01:24:46Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > What does any part of this thread, from OP to the ridiculous sameness every discussion on this board gets dragged to, have to do with elections? [shrug] I sometimes point that out in Elections threads, but the mods never move the thread to GD where it belongs. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/84 "2015-01-21T02:18:09Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Yeah, because the hollowing out of the middle class and wage stagnation isn’t a crisis. Generally, something that’s been ongoing for 40 years isn’t a crisis. Plus $400 billion in spending doesn’t magically make that better. You know what solves wage stagnation? Lower labor supply. You know how you get lower labor supply? Restrict immigration. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/85 "2015-01-21T02:36:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Generally, something that’s been ongoing for 40 years isn’t a crisis. Plus $400 billion in spending doesn’t magically make that better. If anything, that makes it more of a crisis. Because of the stupidity of Reagan, and the nonsense ideology he ushered in, there has been a huge amount of needless suffering. > [@](#): > > You know what solves wage stagnation? Lower labor supply. You know how you get lower labor supply? Restrict immigration. Specifically how? Other than what we’re doing now? _Build the dang fence?_ Soundbites aren’t policy. They are just snippits that sound like policy. Specifically what do you want done? Deportations? Drones? Crocodile filled moats? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/86 "2015-01-21T02:45:16Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > If anything, that makes it more of a crisis. Because of the stupidity of Reagan, and the nonsense ideology he ushered in, there has been a huge amount of needless suffering. Reagan wasn’t President 40 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/87 "2015-01-21T02:49:51Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Reagan wasn’t President 40 years ago. True. He was president 35 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/88 "2015-01-21T02:51:49Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > True. He was president 35 years ago. Well, 34. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/89 "2015-01-21T02:56:08Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Well, 34. 😃 Also true. I was counting from the election, not the inauguration. Mah bad. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/90 "2015-01-21T04:04:04Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Only on Fox News is the 2016 election going to be about Obama. Bush’s presidency was a big factor in the 2008 elections. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/91 "2015-01-21T04:35:30Z")
If the State of the Union was a feint, it was a pretty convincing one. Seemed more like actual jabs, crosses and some uppercuts to me. “I know because I won both of them.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/92 "2015-01-21T04:45:15Z")
Man, it must feel REALLY good when y’all stop bashing your head against the wall. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/93 "2015-01-21T04:48:02Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Man, it must feel REALLY good when y’all stop bashing your head against the wall. Nah. Feels even better to keep on bashing. Which explains a great deal of human political history. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/94 "2015-01-21T11:22:48Z")
The president is not running for office. Moved to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/95 "2015-01-21T12:19:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > What’s unique is asking for $400 billion more over last year in the absence of a crisis justifying such spending. No it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/96 "2015-01-21T12:39:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And then he steps to the right > Puts his hands on his hips > Brings in his knees real tight > But it’s the pelvic thrust . . . No, it’s Throw out your hands!! Stick out your tush!! Hands on your hips Give them a push!! You’ll be surprised You’re doing the French Mistake!! VOILA!! ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/97 "2015-01-21T14:00:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s using the SotU speech as a political tool, which is what all presidents do. And which is why it would be good for Congress (and I say any Congress to any President) to disinvite the prez to give the speech in the first place. Just write a damn letter and let it go at that. You’ll still get to grandstand, if only in writing, and you won’t commandeer all the networks and cable news channels at once. George Washington was the first president to present an Annual Report to Congress. John Adams followed his lead but Thomas Jefferson began sending letters. Because he was no good as a public speaker. Woodrow Wilson revived the practice. Of course, electronic media have expanded the audience. We’ll be hearing from your guys plenty as primary season begins gearing up. I was glad to hear from The President. (Surely, the non-news cable networks had other fare. On broadcast TV, I could have watched the new episode of _Supernatural_. Consider getting Netflix.) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/98 "2015-01-21T14:10:38Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > You should be pretty scared about that, voters love the shit out of Obama. [No they don’t](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/obama-gallup-approval-rating-2014-114399.html). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/99 "2015-01-21T14:12:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > [No they don’t](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/obama-gallup-approval-rating-2014-114399.html). > > Regards, > Shodan From your cite: > [@](#): > > But Obama’s downward dip is looking up. Since December, his numbers have been on the rise in the Gallup daily tracking poll and other national surveys. > > The sixth year of the presidency is often a rough one in the polls. Of the six presidents who have served two terms since World War II, half — Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon — experienced their lowest approval numbers in their sixth year. The average approval rating for all presidents since 1945 serving their sixth year in office is 45.5 percent. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/100 "2015-01-21T14:53:39Z")
IOW my cite shows that voters do not love the shit out of Obama. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=6)