On Oct 13, 8:32*am, wrote:
On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:54:38 -0400, jeff wrote:
wrote:

First and foremost, since you seem to have put some thought into a reply, and
done so (seemingly) seriously, reasonably and courteously, I wanted to return
the favor, if you will. *Please note that this was written as I've had a spare
moment here and there, over a couple of days, since your reply - I've tried to
edit/proofread, but I've probably missed some things. *



he changed the direction of this country (and the perceptions of this
country) long before january 20, 2009. *

No, he really hasn't. *But from the other side, um...no, he really hasn't...but
see below...

well...yes, he really has. he began a movement...a sea-change in ideas
and ideals and politics.

Among who? *How? *Can you give some examples of this "sea-change"? *Now, if you
mean that "liberals" are now fans of the POTUS and "conservatives" aren't, sure,
but that's not Obama, that's politics. *It seems there has been very little
change in politics or ideas, only a change in who is in the majority and pushing
their own agendas. *And yep, if McCain had won (other than with perhaps my
hoped-for-but-unrealistic McCain/Obama ticket), there would not have been
anything much new, either. *

now, diplomacy is different.

It is? *How?

UN policy and talk is decidedly different.

Are you serious? *The only thing most of those heavily involved with UN are
interested in is having a continued tit to suck. *Look no further than all the
shtick with al-Qaddafi and the tent and, what, the second or third major
walk-out over the Ahmedinejad, Israel, and the Holocaust? *The UN, for the most
part, is a ****in' circus.

foreign relations are different.

Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, China, Israel, for example...? *Or are you
referring to the fact that the government of France hasn't been quite as bitchy
for a few months?

appreciation of civil rights, individual liberties, constitutional rights are
different. *

The Dem-controlled Senate - specifically, AHEM, the Judiciary Committee - just
started the process to renew substantial portions of the Patriot Act...at the
behest of and with the support of the Obama administration...and Obama wanted to
be able to "seize the Internet" or some such nonsense. *Frankly, it seems to me
that those on the left are willing to let other lefties **** them, but bristle
when they think the right is trying to do it. *I would offer as a instant
example Obama's recent speech, but lack of overall action, on the whole "gay
rights" issue. *Look, I don't understand the whole "gay marriage" thing, but I
can't see any reason why they shouldn't have the same right to be unhappy as
straight folks... * Seriously, though, why is a secular national government even
involved in or concerned with who marries who versus "civil unions"?

torture policies are different.

AHA! *So that's what he's done with "Don't ask, don't tell"...

I'd offer that if you think what you'd consider "torture" has stopped under
Obama, I think you'd be sadly disappointed. *And I'd offer as evidence his
endorsement of certain US Army manuals. *They allow things that would be
considered "torture" under the same guidelines used to classify water-boarding
"torture". *

*integrity of decision-making is different.

Here, I substantially disagree. *While Bush's decisions weren't always right, he
did tend to stick by both them and his people. *And while I understand the
argument that if it appears from reasonable and credible evidence that one has
made a "wrong" decision, changing one's mind would make sense. *Unfortunately,
many of the decisions a President must make are difficult ones and aren't ones
such that lend themselves to "instant (reasonable) feedback." *And thus far with
Obama, I don't see a lot of decision-making of any kind.

honest statements to the public...different.

Um, do you mean different lies or ??? * Assuming you mean to imply that Obama is
more honest than past presidents, what about "transparency"? *Howsabout time for
public input on major legislation? *Closing Gitmo? *Troops out of Iraq? *How
about just being honest about a friggin' trip to Copenhagen?

economic push, different.

Two words - Ben Bernanke.

regard for the balance of power between branches of govt...different.

Actually, all POTUS' since Nixon/Ford have been doing is taking back some of the
power "snatched" by Congress in the wake of Watergate. *And Obama certainly
hasn't done anything to reverse the trend. *And I suspect that if he could do
some more, um, "snatching" with regard to Pelosi, Reid, Sessions, and a few
others, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.

appointment of federal judges...way, way different (and better...g)

Again, I disagree. *Sotomayor gives no evidence of being a serious legal scholar
of any stripe, or even a particularly "even" and (merely) competent jurist.