Nah, I think Weirddave is properly raising a major issue here, the sort of thing we should be paying attention to, rather than trivialities like global warming, the Iraq war, access to health care, whether to greatly expand tax cuts for the rich, and the like.
Just you wait until November- you will have heard a hundred more things at least as inconsequential as these.
And the job of the President is not to be a cheerleader for America- Jesus! We are coming off a (literal!) cheerleader for 8 years and we see how that is working.
The job of the President it is to be accountable and responsible for America- at home and abroad. The buck stops there, and all that. And if we get a president who wishes to inspire America to be a better place, and acknowledges that we might not get it right all the time, well then all the better. Because the President is not a press secretary. And oddly enough- when the President does not pretend all the time that everything is hunky-dory with America- despite plain evidence to the contrary- it increases his credibility and effectiveness.
Obama’s general position is- this is a great country with good intentions, but we make mistakes, and we can make fewer. That’s great by me. And that is what I want in a leader, not simply flag-waving.
Just in case anyone’s interested:
I’d like to address a couple of things so I bolded them.
Those phrases sound nice but isn’t it time to be a little more realistic about our presidents as human beings. Look at the presidents we have had in the last twenty years. A president is a human being who has to balance the welfare of the nation as a whole {something which the citizens and congress won’t agree on} with the many forces pulling and pushing on him. His political party, his biggest financial supporters, how he is perceived vs. reality, even his own personal goals and career, etc etc. This current administration demonstrated that they have very little of the qualities you mention. They used these idealistic sentiments against us to pursue their own agenda. They lined the pockets of their friends and supporters at the expense of the American public. They lied to us and sent our troops, our family members, to kill and be killed in a tragic war. Still, they don’t hesitate to throw around patriotic jargon. The type of dishonest crap in this list of 50 is the same type of crap they used to gain and keep power.
We can no longer afford to be yanked around by dishonest emotional appeals that smack of the National Enquirer. Even a cursory glance at this list revealed to me someone who had no concerns about the truth or an honest debate about the important issues that affect the citizens of this country. It’s purely an emotional appeal concocted to turn off those voters who won’t bother to really examine the issues or the candidates in depth. We can’t afford to do that again!!! I don’t have to examine the items one at a time for accuracy. I can easily see the dishonest spirit in which it’s offered and that gives me a good reason to reject it as a whole.
With so many serious issues to address we have to be smarter than these type of BS emotional appeals. It is my very strong and not humble opinion that those who use this kind of dishonest emotional garbage in order to win, or to discredit a candidate on something other than the actual issues, are clearly demonstrating unpatriotic behavior. They are clearly demonstrating that a personal victory for them is more important than the welfare of this country or the serious issues we face. How can someone be this hateful and dishonest about a serious presidential candidate and still claim to “believe wholeheartedly in America and what it stands for.” or claim to have a *“Love, dedication and commitment to America” *The two are in contradiction.
It is we the voters who have to reject this type of crap and those who use it and take the time to seriously examine the candidates. If you vote against someone because you seriously object to their proposed policies then so be it. I remind my conservative friends that they won’t agree with all the policies of any candidate. We have to select someone who we believe is heading us in a better direction and we have to stay involved to make sure we continue to improve. We still have a voice if we take the time to use it. If we don’t we can’t blame corrupt leaders. We share in the responsibility.
Crap like this list of 50 lies should be soundly and clearly rejected as a tactic. Dishonest emotional appeals and the sound bite out of context junk should be rejected from either side. They reflect more on those who are eager and willing to use them than those who they are about.
Cosmodan: I hate to do a cheerleader type thing but that, sir (?), was a n excellent post.
I’m not sure who circulated this, am not going to automatically assume it is a GOP slam. Given that it complains about he not wanting Michigan and Florida to count, and a couple of other things like that which Republicans wouldn’t really care about, it sounds like it could just as well be Clintonian dirty tricks.
- I’m going to stop here and say WTF. Am I the only one who grew up thinking you put your hand on your heart for the Pledge Of Allegiance (which is in the nature of, you know, a pledge, or oath, or something you might swear to, hence hand-on-heart), but not to the national anthem (how could you “pledge” to that?). I’ve been to many a sporting event where plenty of presumably patriotic people stood respectfully, doffed their hats, but did not put their hand on their heart, for the anthem. As I understand it, Obama does put his hand on his heart for the pledge.
Am I missing something? Does the Flag Code or some protocol book have something to say about this?
This annoys me right up there with the notion that now you’re supposed to stand up for that awful mawkish Lee Greenwood song, too. Probably eventually need to put your hand over your heart for that one, too.
It is sir, and I humbly thank you.
Suh! I say, Suh! Do you not understand that this is a Time of War?!? Would you begrudge our brave men and women in uniform, our fallen heroes, the honor that is due to them? Only a traitorous Islamofascist liberal would refuse to do so! :mad:
wipes spittle from monitor
Are you a concrete operationalist? He is clearly speaking metaphorically, not literally, which is quite plain. He knows how old he is. He knows his history and is (perhaps misguidedly) assuming his listeners do, too.
Just in that short snippet, he is referring to the opportunities that Selma created for him, opportunities that he might not have had if the civil rights movement had started. Sure, he was 4 years old at the time–but his possible future as President, and his chance to see his dreams come true were indeed born in Selma that day.
Anyone who cannot see this really needs to go back to English 101. Of course, believers in that list are not likely to be critical thinkers, either (sadly enough).
I’m not willing to go quite that far, but the first time I read #46, my immediate response was “The author seems to prefer Hillary’s healthcare plan.”
Either that or he’s saying that he was conceived at an orgy on the other side of the bridge (which would explain the enthusiasm and numbers with which they crossed).
I really can’t imagine anybody being swayed by these who would have voted for Obama anyway. It’s ridiculous the twisting of words from somebody who speaks into microphones everyday are so twisted, whether it’s Obama or whether it’s “ooh, Hillary’s calling for him to be assassinated like RFK” or whatever.
The U.S. Code, 36 USC § 301. says:
I know it’s not universally honored, but a great many people care about symbols like this. And as I just said in another thread, I absolutely guarantee you there’s no picture in existence of me failing to render proper honors to the colors during the anthem, the pledge, or when the colors passed in review; I personally don’t think of it as an easy mistake to make.
Never doubted? Never had a moment’s qualm about publicly emphasizing your allegiance to a nation you believed to be involved in monstrous actions? Or did you never believe it? If that witholding of public affirmation is a form of protest, is it not valid? Is it not necessary?
Seems like a pretty easy mistake to me. Most folks I know don’t put their hand over their heart for the national anthem. They stand and take off their hats, though.
Are we still living in this world, where patriotism is based on the size of the ribbon decal on your SUV?
Are you the arbiter of anthem correctness or something? Even you admit that it’s not universally honored. Am I correct in thinking that your implication is that those who don’t do as you do (100%!) are somehow less patriotic, less American, less worthy to be trusted by the public to lead them?
If I am (IF), that seems a bit disheartening, IMO. Doesn’t matter that he stood silently and attentively throughout that very long song… nope–not good enough(?). This is up there with the flag pin–people who believe this are reaching for shit.
So does this imply that there are pictures of you with your hand on your heart? Wow–I can absolutely guarantee that there are no pictures of me rendering proper honors and no pictures of me mooning the colors–mainly because of course there are no pictures of me taken during the anthem. 
I can’t imagine anyone taking ANY picture of anyone during this time (in fact isn’t that a bit disrespectful in itself?)–unless they were running for office. How is the camera man honoring the flag while he is taking your picture?
I put this up there with the flag pin as a non-issue for me. I take my hat off, and show respect, sometime I might put my hand on my heart, but I can’t say it is everytime–‘that’ I can’t guarantee.
btw-I don’t believe that Bricker is implying that if you don’t do this you are not patriotic. Just for him it is something he feels you just do and he finds it difficult to believe someone would make this mistake. I see his point, but I personally think it is a very easy thing to forget and isn’t the important item. If he was up there talking during the anthem, and not being respectful that is one thing, but not putting his hand on his heart isn’t going to cause me to question his patriotism.
OK, yeah–what you said… (I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this sort of thing actually matters to somebody, anybody. I’m all for observing the niceties, but empty gestures are just a waste of time, IMO. Obama is no more or less patriotic or able if he puts his HOH or not).
I have a friend who comes from a military family. He was offended by what he saw as Obama’s lack of respect. He got over it and but I get it. The President is Commander in Chief. That would seem to require an understanding of military protocol and the military mindset. If the CIC has no military background then he’d better make the effort to understand it better.
We know that politicians can put on a show of respect while their actions demonstrate they have little sincerity. From a political POV we can see it means very little. If it doesn’t matter to Obama one way or the other then perhaps he can choose what matters to those he plans to lead effectively. Not pandering, but a show of consideration for others feelings.
I come from a military family, I was raised in a house where dad was a Naval Officer - quite high up the ladder - and he has voted republican for the last 40 years. This year, in light of the war, in light of our rising dependence on foreign oil and the fact that our service men and women are dying everyday - he will be voting Obama in the fall.
This may simply be something you read on a message board and have no referenc eot it being true or not, but I’ll tell you this. For a man like him to vote Obama there is a definite [maybe veiled] belief from some in the military or retired from the military, that we need to bring our interests home and protect our country by diversifying our military out of Iraq.
My father likes Obama’s straight talk, and non-bullshit approach to things.
So do I.