dagblog - Comments for "Should you vote for Obama and why?"

VA, I think your post was an

Bruce Levine — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:37:59 +0000

In reply to In case it's not clear, I'm

VA,

I think your post was an important one and I really do appreciate it. It's a useful discussion and it should continue.

In case it's not clear, I'm

Verified Atheist — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:24:42 +0000

In reply to I pose this question, and not

In case it's not clear, I'm of a similar mind. That said, I'll post two quotes that come as close as I can currently come to defending the other side:

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. - Captain Spock (Star Trek VI)

Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people. - George Bernard Shaw

And, of course, it depends on what you consider important. You've got a fine list, and they're all important to me, but the thing that keeps me up at night is environmental issues. Obama hasn't been all I'd want in that regard, but as with the issues you bring up, I'm quite certain he's done better than McCain or Romney would. (Not to mention, of course, some of the crazier possibilities.)

I pose this question, and not

Bruce Levine — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:42:00 +0000

In reply to Should you vote for Obama and why?

I pose this question, and not because I want to be provocative, but having read through the thread over and again, I simply cannot understand why anyone to the left of President Obama would not support him, and vigorously so, in the upcoming presidential election. I see nothing convincing, other than folks who are disappointed in many of his decisions. But, respectfully, really respectfully because I understand passion, why would we want to impose a Republican executive on the people whom we purport to speak for and understand, i.e. our brothers and sisters who are embroiled in a structural economic disaster not seen in this country since 1940? Why is that position any different than, forget it, I'm taking my ball and going home and then I can say I told you so?

I posed another and related question in another thread, in response to an extraordinary assertion that by most metrics Obama has been worse than Bush. I asked for elaboration, got none, and I assume that the assertion was made out of understandable frustration. But the assertion is flatly wrong on the merits.

There is now a real possibility that President Obama could lose the election next year, and then what? Four years of judicial appointments made by Mitt Romney? Executive agencies financially strangled? More tax breaks for corporations planting the flag in Southeast Asia instead of in Indiana?

I don't get it. I really don't. The political process is not a science experiment. It's ugly, imperfect, and it is what it is.

Brian Greene's book was part

Verified Atheist — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:49:02 +0000

In reply to So are you BH? If so, I

Brian Greene's book was part of my inspiration for my one foray into the Creative Corner a while back.

I am who you think I am, but I was trying not to put it on the first sentence as to call too much attention to it.

So are you BH? If so, I

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:42:29 +0000

In reply to Feel free to put it at the

So are you BH? If so, I remember you from a ways back at you know where. I always liked your stuff, thought it was smart and conducive to discussion. Glad you're here.

I read Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe awhile back to try to get my head around string theory a little (finally saw your post on Heisenberg earlier today), not that there was much danger of that happening. Wow. Really strange. 11 dimensions. Plus the multiple universe stuff. I find myself unable even to grasp the concept of space being curved.

Feel free to put it at the

Verified Atheist — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:34:04 +0000

In reply to VA, if you see this, I did

Feel free to put it at the bottom of the thread. I'm interested to read it. If you ever do want to find me, you can search on "evolve expensive space-time metric neurosurgery" (sans quotes).

VA, if you see this, I did

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:25:22 +0000

In reply to In some earlier threads I had

VA, if you see this, I did draft a comment offering some thoughts, although not in any way a well laid out rigorous logical argument, on the above. Let me know if you'd like me to post it, maybe at the tail end of this thread, in case anyone wants to read or react to it. If you send me a private email (I'll respect the confidence, of course) so I can reply email you, I'll send you what I wrote if you'd like to look at it first before letting me know.

I'll be voting for Obama.

Ramona — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:01:00 +0000

In reply to Should you vote for Obama and why?

I'll be voting for Obama. I'll go with #1 with maybe a smidgen of #2. That's not to say he doesn't anger me or disappoint me. There hasn't been a president ever who didn't anger or disappoint, and as a Democrat, Obama seems to be moving to the top of the charts. He's not good in a crisis and this is a crisis.

Yet the crisis at hand is one reason I'll be voting for Obama, strange as that may seem. Contrary to what some would believe -- that he's a Republican, that he's in Wall Street's pocket, that he's corrupt, that he's a devil, etc. -- I see some progress with this president. Not a lot, and not nearly as much as I would like (and as is absolutely necessary), but if there's any hope of moving forward I believe it'll have to be with Obama.

I am a huge Bernie Sanders fan, and in any other time I might be willing to take the chance and vote for him, but when we're in crisis mode, mainly because of the actions of the Republicans, I won't be a party to giving them even half a chance to take us over again.

The Tea Party is going to be an even more formidable enemy as the days go on. They'll be attacking from all fronts, and they'll have money and power behind them. I'm standing by the president and I'm going to help get him re-elected. I'll do it without a moment's hesitation in the voting booth, and after he's re-elected I'll go back to being justifiably critical, working hard to build on the paltry little that's been done. I believe it's our best and only chance if we're ever going to get out of this.

How does that differ from

Verified Atheist — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:08:56 +0000

In reply to Not quite what I was saying.

How does that differ from position #5? (I'm not trying to be obtuse, I'm really not getting it.)

Not quite what I was saying.

Beetlejuice — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:52:51 +0000

In reply to Seems my position isn't

Not quite what I was saying. It more like it doesn't matter who is elected. One I know up front will stick it to me just because she can while the other pretends to be my friend so he can get close enough to stab me in the back when I least expect it.