Naming Stuff After Obama

[AFPheonix]

Jesse Jackson couldn't win the election if it was a one man election. Black people don't even like him. Plus, he's nuts. OJ Simpson would have been vilified in the media (even though he was found innocent in the murders) to the point of where he would have had to drop out. Rodman would have actually been interesting to have seen in the election since he's a celebrity and OMG! CELEBRITY! The masses would have voted for him based on that.

So what you're saying is that even with their magical black skin, they wouldn't be elected president?

So perhaps in Obama's case, the same is true: it's not the color of his skin that got him elected, but the strength of his message.

[daleduke17]

So what you're saying is that even with their magical black skin, they wouldn't be elected president?

So perhaps in Obama's case, the same is true: it's not the color of his skin that got him elected, but the strength of his message.

Then why was a big fucking deal made of his skin color? Why were celebrations in MLK's church shown (complete with people fucking bawling over it)? Why did people say "I want a black President"? Why are they now saying "Black History month should end with Obama's election"?

It's because he's black.

That was Obama's main thing he was elected for.

[AFPheonix]

And now you've contradicted yourself. If it was black skin people were looking for, Jesse Jackson would have won any of those times he ran.

People DIDN'T vote for Obama because he was black. Yes, it's icing on the cake that he's not just another middle-aged rich white guy, but he was elected because of his message and also most likely because he wasn't another neo-conservative.

They're making a big deal because, well, it's historical. Whether you care or not, this election will most likely be one that kids have to memorize in history classes down the road. It IS a big deal when a person attains the highest office in the land when less than 50 years ago, he'd be getting a hose turned on him by the authorities because of his skin color.
Good lord, this is not brain surgery.

[Amethyst Hunter]

Then why was a big fucking deal made of his skin color? Why were celebrations in MLK's church shown (complete with people fucking bawling over it)? Why did people say "I want a black President"? Why are they now saying "Black History month should end with Obama's election"?

It's because he's black.

That was Obama's main thing he was elected for.

Bullshit. If that were the case, any black male could have gotten in there, stupid celebrities included. But novelty will only get you so far. If anything, Obama's election proves that racism is unfortunately alive and well - and I don't mean the "oh if you didn't vote for him then you're a racist" garbage. You should hear some of the ugly comments I've heard from the brain-dead white-trash rednecks in the area I'm stuck in.

Considering that all of the past 40+ presidents have been white, male, and mostly Christian/Protestant, and considering that blacks in this country have been treated pretty shitty ever since they landed on US soil, to them, yeah I can understand why it IS a big deal, and I'm not going to piss in their cereal and say they're wrong for celebrating. As to the rest of us, I can't tell you how fucking goddamn good it feels to have a leader I can actually respect and trust not to flush the whole system down the toilet.

And should the day ever come when we elect a competent woman president (who will most likely be white), I fully expect to see the same treatment given her as with Obama.

[SimplyAnother]

Moved to "Politics".

Many things have been named after many Presidents either very shortly after their inauguration, or even before. George W Bush had a aircraft carrier named after him. It was christened in 2006, but was commissioned in 2001, merely a year after his inauguration.

As far as I know, the aircraft carrier was named for George H. W. Bush. Not W.

one of my friends has a 1" button that says "I'll give your president the same respect you gave mine" You wouldn't believe the flack she gets for it-yet this girl said nothing when her coworkers were putting up huge anti-Bush posters-calling him "chimpy" and worse, but OMG how dare she not worship at the altar of St Obama.........One actually tried to get her fired for having it as "she was obviously racist"

Interesting. Even though I didn't LIKE Bush 42, even though I didn't agree one bit with his politics, he was MY president. Which is part of the reason I felt so damned betrayed by him, and his presidency. People seem to forget, they're they president of the United States, not just...ya know, the parts that voted for them.

Your friends button would irritate the crap out of me, but not because I find it racist, just because of the whole "your president" and "my president" BS.

[Evandril]

one of my friends has a 1" button that says "I'll give your president the same respect you gave mine"

Is it bad that when I saw that online, I didn't have a clue that was for Americans? I'd been trying to figure out what other president we'd treated badly enough to deserve that pin *shrugs*

[Sylvia727]

Your friends button would irritate the crap out of me, but not because I find it racist, just because of the whole "your president" and "my president" BS.

Exactly. He is the president of America, everyone in America. The rightwingers scolded the leftwingers for being "unpatriotic" when they dared to question Bush, and now all of sudden they've switched sides and are whining that he's not "our" president. Not that the leftwingers are any better, of course.

If that button said "candidate" rather than "president", I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[guywithashovel]

Exactly. He is the president of America, everyone in America. The rightwingers scolded the leftwingers for being "unpatriotic" when they dared to question Bush, and now all of sudden they've switched sides and are whining that he's not "our" president. Not that the leftwingers are any better, of course.

If that button said "candidate" rather than "president", I wouldn't have a problem with it.

They're acting as though the Bush critics are the first people to ever subject a president to harsh criticism. On top of that, they seem to think that everyone who dared question Bush has hated him from day one. I can't speak for anyone else, but I, myself, actually voted for Bush when he first ran in 2000. I didn't vote for him again in 2004, though. I still tried to support him, though.

But like I said in an earlier post, the Republicans, conservatives, etc. are just as bad as anyone else when it comes to excoriating elected officials. They incessantly bodyslammed Bill Clinton all through the 1990s. Back in the late 1970s, they called Jimmy Carter "Carter the Coward" (and still do). They really need to get off their high horses.

[Boozy]

As far as I know, the aircraft carrier was named for George H. W. Bush. Not W.

You are correct; my bad.

one of my friends has a 1" button that says "I'll give your president the same respect you gave mine" You wouldn't believe the flack she gets for it-yet this girl said nothing when her coworkers were putting up huge anti-Bush posters-calling him "chimpy" and worse, but OMG how dare she not worship at the altar of St Obama.........One actually tried to get her fired for having it as "she was obviously racist"

Politics do not belong in the workplace. Where was HR when all of this was going on?

I think this story is a microcosm of the current political system. Reasoned debate has been replaced childish bullies on both sides, blowing tongues at each other. Despite popular belief, two wrongs don't make a right.

I also don't understand this "respect the President" thing. Respect them for what, exactly?

I respect my Prime Minister as I respect every other member of the human race, but that's it. He's basically considered a bureaucrat. More than that, he's a bureaucrat that has to beg Average Joe and Average Jane to let him keep his job every four or five years. Why treat him like the Sun King?

[AdminAssistant]

They incessantly bodyslammed Bill Clinton all through the 1990s.

Mostly for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with his policies - but his personal life.

I couldn't vote yet in 2000, but I supported Al Gore (and still do, he would've made a wonderful President, and he had the election stolen from him by a majority-Republican Supreme Court). I voted for John Kerry in 2004, because by then it was clear to me how utterly incompetent Bush was as President. I wasn't a huge fan of Kerry, but anything had to be better...

[SimplyAnother]

They're acting as though the Bush critics are the first people to ever subject a president to harsh criticism. On top of that, they seem to think that everyone who dared question Bush has hated him from day one. I can't speak for anyone else, but I, myself, actually voted for Bush when he first ran in 2000. I didn't vote for him again in 2004, though. I still tried to support him, though.

I am one of those that disliked him from day one.

Didn't vote for him ever, wouldn't vote for him ever (ever since I've had an opinion about politics, my views have been fairly liberal. Way too the left [more left than Obama, even]) I admit that, but I didn't want him to fail, because he fails, that screws up MY country, this effects ME and MINE.

Which is why I'm dumbfounded by folks who are literally praying that Obama fail. It seems to be one of those "cut off your nose to spite your face" type things.

But like I said in an earlier post, the Republicans, conservatives, etc. are just as bad as anyone else when it comes to excoriating elected officials. They incessantly bodyslammed Bill Clinton all through the 1990s. Back in the late 1970s, they called Jimmy Carter "Carter the Coward" (and still do). They really need to get off their high horses.

I swear, that is one of the things that irritate me most, at least when it comes to politics and political commentary. During the Clinton Administration certain folks made it their lifes work, telling us how bad he was. But, meh, it's government, we're the US, we're supposed to be able to say how they screwed up, it's expected, it's encouraged, etc.

Then during the George W. Bush administration, AFTER 9-11, it suddenly became horrible to critisize anything the executive branch did. Didn't matter if it was related to 9-11 or not, saying you thought something was asinine was suddenly unpatriotic. It was un-american. By golly, if you voiced your dislike, distrust, or even an inkling of the notion that you hadn't drank the kool-aid? You might as well be a terrorist, to hear them talk.

Oh, look! We have a new administration in power. He happens to be of the opposite party... Hey! Guess what, it's suddenly OK to disagree with the president again. It's suddenly okay to call president names, to call the people who voted from him names.

Those of you who were vilified by the right over the past few years, for voicing your opinion? Well, guess what, you're still wrong, but hey--we get to bitch about your guy now. That seems to be about the way it has happened.

It's complete and utter bullshit. Both sides pull this, and it's infuriating, and frankly, it's toxic. It's not going to stop, I know. But a girl can hope.

Calling out the president doesn't become okay based on who is in the office. As far as I know, it became okay when we started this country. Or at least that was the impression I got...lol

(In case it's not clear: I think that everyone in this country has the right to bitch about politicians, regardless of affiliation. And that most politicians and political commentators are full of shit).

Mostly for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with his policies - but his personal life.

I couldn't vote yet in 2000, but I supported Al Gore (and still do, he would've made a wonderful President, and he had the election stolen from him by a majority-Republican Supreme Court). I voted for John Kerry in 2004, because by then it was clear to me how utterly incompetent Bush was as President. I wasn't a huge fan of Kerry, but anything had to be better...

I think THAT's what swung it for Obama, people who just thought anything could be better.

[MadMike]

I swear, that is one of the things that irritate me most, at least when it comes to politics and political commentary. During the Clinton Administration certain folks made it their lifes work, telling us how bad he was. But, meh, it's government, we're the US, we're supposed to be able to say how they screwed up, it's expected, it's encouraged, etc.

Then during the George W. Bush administration, AFTER 9-11, it suddenly became horrible to critisize anything the executive branch did. Didn't matter if it was related to 9-11 or not, saying you thought something was asinine was suddenly unpatriotic. It was un-american. By golly, if you voiced your dislike, distrust, or even an inkling of the notion that you hadn't drank the kool-aid? You might as well be a terrorist, to hear them talk.

That's what really irks me as well. I don't believe anyone, not even the president, is automatically deserving of respect. Respect is something that is earned. But it really annoys me when someone is automatically respected or disrespected because of something silly like party affiliation.

That's one of many things I can't stand about that windbag Rush Limbauh -- his obvious blind hatred for anything having to do with the democratic party. If Obama had done the exact same things that Bush did, he'd be complaining about it. Consequently, if Bush had been doing the exact same things Obama's done so far, he'd be applauding him for it.