strike
Reds Strike The Blues
Posts: 79
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Post by strike on Nov 9, 2008 6:21:18 GMT -5
Isn't it great that a man of Kenyan - Hawaiian descent has become president of the USA? No illusions mind you cos he's still a politician working within the Capitalist system but nevertheless its still a breath of fresh air. As for the capitalist system I was really hoping it would all collapse, or at the very least that people would revolt at the disgusting bail out of the banks, or Wankers as they should be known. Obama has kind of deflected away from that but its an issue that will be back in the New Year. What do others think?
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djw
Unionize!
Posts: 40
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Post by djw on Nov 10, 2008 1:18:36 GMT -5
As a step in the right direction for a country that has long been heading in the wrong then it's good, but I do wonder how many of the people who are saying how great it is are reacting to the fact that Bush - categorically the worst US President we are ever likely to see - has at last gone rather than who is actually replacing him? And, the old theory of whoever you vote for government wins still holds a lot of water for me.
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scotto
Reds Strike The Blues
Posts: 90
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Post by scotto on Nov 10, 2008 12:43:56 GMT -5
The view from the US-left is cautious optimism. Although Obama was labeled everything from elitist to communist by his opponents, his platform has been fairly centrist and pragmatic. He's going to have a hard time with two wars and an economic crisis on his hands--I don't expect a return to the heyday of the 90s anytime soon.
That being said, Obama has a different approach to problem-solving than previous administrations. He's on the intellectual end of things and seems to value a diversity of opinions, something we have not seen in the US in my lifetime. There's already word that he'll be shutting down Guantanamo soon. I think he hopes to gain some international respect and try to use that support as leverage in the Middle East.
Many of the votes for Obama were really votes against the Republican party, not just Bush but also the backward looking McCain and the frightening embrace of ignorance embodied by Sarah Palin. It could have gone terribly wrong on Nov. 5. I don't think this country could have survived the McCain-Palin presidency.
The most exciting thing is that the Republicans lost in the legislature as well and will likely continue to lose in the coming years. Lots of Republican strongholds are shifting to the the Democrats.
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Post by rotefront on Nov 10, 2008 21:35:28 GMT -5
I don't have too many expectations of Obama. I voted against McCain and Palin.
That said, I am glad we now have a president who can actually string a coherent sentence together.
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djw
Unionize!
Posts: 40
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Post by djw on Nov 13, 2008 1:23:52 GMT -5
The view from the US-left is cautious optimism. Although Obama was labeled everything from elitist to communist by his opponents, his platform has been fairly centrist and pragmatic. He's going to have a hard time with two wars and an economic crisis on his hands--I don't expect a return to the heyday of the 90s anytime soon. That being said, Obama has a different approach to problem-solving than previous administrations. He's on the intellectual end of things and seems to value a diversity of opinions, something we have not seen in the US in my lifetime. There's already word that he'll be shutting down Guantanamo soon. I think he hopes to gain some international respect and try to use that support as leverage in the Middle East. Many of the votes for Obama were really votes against the Republican party, not just Bush but also the backward looking McCain and the frightening embrace of ignorance embodied by Sarah Palin. It could have gone terribly wrong on Nov. 5. I don't think this country could have survived the McCain-Palin presidency. The most exciting thing is that the Republicans lost in the legislature as well and will likely continue to lose in the coming years. Lots of Republican strongholds are shifting to the the Democrats. Yeah Scotto, most of my friends in the States have used the term "cautious optimism" when describing what they feel. And all have said what you did about the country not surviving McCain/Palin had they got in. You are surely right when you say that a lot of the Obama vote was actually an anti-Republican vote, and I guess that is one of the strengths of a democratic system. The Republicans, as you say, have an enormous job ahead to come back from this. The way things stand right now, most will be hoping they never do.
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strike
Reds Strike The Blues
Posts: 79
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Post by strike on Nov 14, 2008 6:32:28 GMT -5
You Americans are right to be cautious. As for the Republicans coming back, well, speaking as an Englishman who saw Labour sweep the Tories out of power in 1997, decimated them, but thanks to the failed policies of Brown/Blair regime its now looking very likely they'll be back at the next election, so don't write off their US counterparts. One solution revolution as we used to say.
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