On This 9/11 - We Are SO Lucky To Have THIS MAN As President

[kpete]

(it might surprise some of you, but I love this man and his family, kpete)

Obama: U.S. not at war with Islam; 'sorry band of men' hit us on 9/11
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/118177-obama-us-not-at-war-with-islam-sorry-band-guilty-for-911







*
President Obama paints with other volunteers as he participates in a National Day of Service and Remembrance project with the Armed Services YMCA Operation Kid Comfort, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, at the Ron Brown Middle School in Washington.




and, his beautiful wife:



more:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/11/901067/-Presidential-9-11-%28Photos,-videos%29

OBAMA 9/11/10:“The highest honor we can pay those we lost, indeed our greatest weapon in this ongoing war, is to do what our adversaries fear the most – to stay true to who we are, as Americans; to renew our sense of common purpose; to say that we define the character of our country, and we will not let the acts of some small band of murderers who slaughter the innocent and cower in caves distort who we are,” he said.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0911/Obama-on-9-11-Stay-true-to-who-we-are-as-Americans

[bluestateguy]

1. I remember the persistent "Thank God George Bush is president" meme from 2001-2002

I think it was just a barb to rub in the 2000 election results (which would thereafter fall down the memory hole, save for the liberal websites and blogs).

[felinetta]

97. My friend called and said he saw Bush, Laura and Guiliani at the baseball game last nite

in Texas on TV. Bush was eating popcorn. Of all people, these
two should have been the most somber. They are all F'ing
phonies. Bush and Laura had a laugh on the night of 9/11 and
they always have been freakin' fakes. And hey Ghouliani, what
happened to all the "noun, verb, and 9/11" stuff you
pulled when running for President? Damn, they should all be in
jail.

[Kalun D]

116. Waiting

""Damn, they should all be in jail.""

If you're waiting for the Obama "justice" department to put them there you're going to be waiting for a long time. In other words don't wait for Eric Holder to do anything that would hurt the corporations, after all he's a corporate insider in spite of Obama's campaign promise not to appoint insiders/lobbyists.

[Faygo Kid]

2. My all-time favorite picture. The dream shall never die:

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1251950,00.jpg

[Inuca]

151. It won't if we don't let it

Wonderful picture indeed, thanks for it.

[DirkGently]

3. Great pics. He really hit the right note here.

[ThinkerFeeler]

94. I wish I could feel positive towards Obama

I wish I could feel positive towards Obama, but he's betrayed progressives so many times that my trust in him is deeply shaken.

[felinetta]

98. I hope you will still vote. A progressive's work is never done and he has kept promises.

[DirkGently]

99. I get that. But it's important to give credit where it's due

to keep the conversation honest. This mode we get into where people are arguing from a totalitarian point of view, either because they think one perspective is more important than the other, or because they truly have a selfish agenda, is destructive to conversation, and keeps devolving into people questioning each other's motives.

This was a good thing. Doesn't make the less-than-good things untrue or unimportant, or make it wrong or foolish to point them out. There's no yes / no narrative that's true about President Obama or any other person or politically. I think we'd all be better off if we'd all remind each other of that more often.

:shrug:

[jillan]

4. How can anyone not love Michelle? She is so real, so caring.

[GSLevel9]

8. I thought that Michelle and even Laura were fantastic in PA.

She probably outshone her husband this day... very few men "do" compassion and empathy.

[tomm2thumbs]

34. agreed - I think it was Laura's Democratic blood coming through that made her shine

she is probably feeling it flow through her more now than ever - hopefully sneaking a vote or two behind the curtain for Democrats in her state.

[Kahuna]

29. She's passionate. That's what I love about her. There is not one

phony bone in her body. She wears her heart on her sleeve. :loveya:

[blondeatlast]

5. I love him as well. There's a lot to find fault with, policy-wise,

but I'm grateful that he's our President as well. I think he's a good man in his heart--and I know that his opponent was not.

[Trocadero]

6. let's work hard this fall

to give him the Congress he needs!

[lamp_shade]

7. I love him too.

[Raschel]

10. Me too. And I also think he is a good man with a good heart.

[flamingdem]

9. Blessings for our brilliant President, we are very lucky nt

[AtomicKitten]

11. We are indeed.

[Cha]

12. Thank you, kpete..this is beautiful and what

is needed on this..the ninth year of Rememberance~ :grouphug:

[one_voice]

13. k&r

Great pictures. Thanks for posting.

[Spazito]

14. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful and moving...

Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated!

Recommended.

[red red red]

15. I echo your sentinents...

and thanks for the pics :patriot:

[Swamp Rat]

16. To me, the last photo of Michelle Obama is Grace personified

:loveya:

[Jamastiene]

22. You beat me to it.

I was going to say the same thing.

The picture of her crying damn near ripped my heart out...the depth of compassion...the emotion. You'd never see that from any of the Bush people. Ever.

[Kahuna]

30. Ditto.

:cry:

[Loudmxr]

79. I am so joyful she is our First Lady.

I see a magnificently beautiful woman.

Poetry only comes next to mind.

[madamesilverspurs]

17. Agree completely!

Thanks for posting the wonderful photos.

-

[lunatica]

18. Thanks kpete. I truly love them too

And I love the Bidens. I only love one other political family. Al Gore and Tipper. I'm heartbroken that they've separated, but I wish them both happiness.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. Excellent pics. I, too, love this president and his family. And unlike his..

predecessor & his handlers, he won't try to pimp this somber anniversary for political reasons. Rec. :thumbsup:

[Beartracks]

47. Altho, that's probably what Rush's audience will hear...

... come Monday. Or any of the Republican talking heads/apologists. Don't you know that Godless, socialist liberals (boy, is THAT ever redundant!) don't shed tears unless they they're intended for political mileage????

-------------------------

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. Well, I'm sure you're right. However, I've never listened to Rush, or any of...

the rightwing talking heads, and I don't figure it's a big loss. I hear they made fun of Obama because he cried at Rosa Parks' funeral as well. Nasty bunch, and I don't pay much attention to them.

:edited for missing word:

[dionysus]

100. thems fightin' woids!11! put up yer dukes!!

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

101. Hey dion. It's good to see ya 'round these here parts!

:rofl: btw, what is that animal critter there, with his "dukes" up? :rofl:

[dionysus]

102. oh, that's my little friend "Thasher". he likes to box. watch out for the the left hook!

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

103. Hi Thasher. FWIW, I'm too old & too tired to fight. Can't we just be friends?

:hug:

[dionysus]

106. i think we can do that... would you care for a nice banky? (just don't tell Bea.)

don't mind Thrasher, he'll do no more than bruise your toe...
:evilgrin:

[Tarheel_Dem]

117. LOL. Save my banky for when I REALLY need it. I don't seem to need it...

unless I have a run-in with bea. ;)

[vduhr]

109. "...watch out for the left hook"

Lovin' it!

[NJmaverick]

20. K&R

[calimary]

21. Also Markos Moulitsas's birthday today. Really lovely photos.

[Jamastiene]

23. K&R

I might be critical of Obama at times, but dammit, he's miles above Bush in compassion, grace, and well...just about everything else too.

[Number23]

24. I feel the same way. Happy to rec

Thank you for this.

[opihimoimoi]

25. Count me in...KnR :o)

[LawnKorn]

26. K&R

[grantcart]

27. k and r

[treestar]

28. Aww, the Michelle photos

:cry:

Thanks for posting.

He's always painting!

[Scurrilous]

31. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Techn0Girl]

32. What Fantastic pictures ... Too bad the current administration bans us from seeing ....

the pictures of any of the the 100,000 troops that get killed or wounded each week.

But your pictures gave me a warm an fuzzy feeling inside.

[Political Tiger]

36. Obama Administration Lifts Blanket Ban on Media Coverage of the Return of Fallen Soldiers

Policy changed 18 years after Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney first
banned news media from covering honor ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base

Washington, DC, February 26, 2009 – Today Secretary of Defense Robert Gates lifted a blanket ban on news media coverage of the honor guard ceremonies that mark the return of military casualties from abroad. The new policy will permit media coverage of the ceremonies, during which caskets draped with American flags are brought home from war, after consultation with the families of the fallen. The Obama administration’s move restores press access to the honor ceremonies, which had been the practice from World War II through the Panama invasion of 1989. During the lead-up to the Gulf War in 1991, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney instituted the ban. The news media lost a first amendment challenge to the ban, but Professor Ralph Begleiter and the National Security Archive forced the release of hundreds of images taken by military photographers under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in 2005.

Professor Begleiter, the long-time CNN correspondent who is the Rosenberg Professor of Communications and Distinguished Journalist in Residence at the University of Delaware, filed the lawsuit with the National Security Archive in 2004 to compel release of DOD’s own images of the honor ceremonies under the FOIA. Once it became clear that the government had no basis for withholding the images under the FOIA, the military stopped taking photos documenting the return of fallen soldiers.

“This reversal of two decades of policy is an important and welcome milestone for the American people. This decision restores to its rightful, honorable place the immense value of the sacrifice American troops make on behalf of their nation,” said Professor Begleiter. “The Pentagon’s reversal of the news media ban should also result in the military itself returning immediately to documenting with its own photographers the honorable return of war casualties – and making those images public. That public documentation by the government should not be subject to anyone’s veto.”

“Dick Cheney’s original ban on media coverage in the lead-up to the Gulf War was clearly meant to hide the cost of war. It reversed decades of respectful open media access,” explained Tom Blanton, the Archive’s director.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20090226/index.htm

[geek tragedy]

37. Too bad you are not telling the truth. Please get your facts straight.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27coffins.html

In a reversal of an 18-year-old military policy that critics said was hiding the ultimate cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the news media will now be allowed to photograph the coffins of America’s war dead as their bodies are returned to the United States, but only if the families of the dead agree. . . .

Mr. Gates, who said at the news conference that he was “never comfortable” with the ban, tried to have it overturned a year ago. But he said he encountered resistance in the Pentagon, and so he “demurred.”

But once President Obama said this month that he was reviewing the ban, Mr. Gates again sounded out senior officials at the Pentagon.

Please do your research next time.

[Hekate]

40. Do you have a credible source for that smear? I truly would like to see it.

Pathetic attempt to hijack thread.

Hekate

[Tarheel_Dem]

41. Just WoW! Your campaign, predictably, devolves into making shit up?

It would make you an honest broker if you were to provide some reliable backup for your assertion. Otherwise, members might conclude that you're a dishonest person, and therefore an unreliable critic.

[dionysus]

111. making shit up? you don't say. all this time, i was taking these absurd allegations as an absolute

truth!

;)

[Tarheel_Dem]

134. You're joking, but there are a lot of people who aren't plugged in.

They believe whatever is told to them, by people they consider reliable. Her mea culpa, which has now been deleted, is all good. But, how many times & how many places has she repeated that falsehood? And will she go back to them and do her now deleted mea culpa? I mean, "100k troops dying every week"; "no pictures of the returning dead"? Since we're plugged in, we know that information was pulled out of some undefined orifice, but some idiot will believe that shit.

I find that people who embellish & falsify, while holding others to impossible standards, have zero credibility AFAIC. We can all agree that war is hell, but there is no need to make shit up.

[proteus_lives]

42. We lose a 100,000 troops a week?

Wow, I didn't know that.

Good thing we got that clone army.

:tinfoilhat:

[otohara]

95. Fox Anchor in The Making Perhaps?

the tea-bagger crowd was in the "millions" "billions" "gazillions"

[dionysus]

112. "as millions of troops die daily in the wars obama started, we must hold him accountable"

:crazy:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

155. That's Brazillion troops to you, Mister! (nt)

[sandnsea]

45. Apology??? n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

46. We're all waiting. Looks as if the poster has gone M.I.A. The claim...

should be backed up, or an apology should be issued.

[SeattleGirl]

49. Absolutely agree with you, Tarheel

Post something pulled out of thin air and then disappear.

[Tarheel_Dem]

50. At this point, the poster's credibility hangs in the balance. If she can't

provide the necessary proof, nothing she says from this point on, can be taken seriously. I want to know that she adheres to the same high standards that she has set for everyone else. If not, claims of "hypocrisy" might be leveled. I'm only thinking of her good name.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Techn0Girl]

55. Oh And FWIW....

"— In a reversal of an 18-year-old military policy that critics said was hiding the ultimate cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the news media will now be allowed to photograph the coffins of America’s war dead as their bodies are returned to the United States, but only if the families of the dead agree."

From http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27coffins.html

So you STILL CANT PHOTOGRAPH THE COFFINS unless the families sign a consent first.
Wonder how difficult and time consuming that is going to be? How much time will that take?
There was never such a restriction in the Viet nam war. But there is now.

And it's a restriction that makes taking daily pictures of the war dead damn near impossible because of the paperwork , time and expense involved.

So Americans can't see day by day what this war is REALLY costing us.

Same as it ever was...

[Kalun D]

57. They Are MASTERS

of the lawyer weasel-speak... it looks like something good, hey "health care reform", "clean-up in the Gulf" "banking reform", don't you dare read the fine print.

[Techn0Girl]

68. Don't you know that it's all good as long as "our side" is "winning"?

"Banking Reform"? - Didn't Goldman Sachs appointees write most of that policy?

Gulf Clean Up - There were terrific shots of the First Family down near Pensacola some weeks ago - great photo op so I guess everything is all right now?

Health Care reform? Who needs a public option anyway. And oh yeah.... two months ago the current administration took away the unemployment COBRA subsidy (as well as reducing unemployment $100 a month as well) . No Cobra subsidy means that an unemployed family man or woman who gets the max of around $1600 a month will no longer be able to afford his or her family's $1000 a month COBRA health insurance payment.

But who cares about all that Goldman Sachs and B of A and Wells Fargo are all still in business and handing out huge CEO bonuses so it's all good, right?

How dumb of me to point all this out.

[suzie]

150. You really should try to be more accurate.

The First Family vacationed at Panama City.

[OregonBlue]

153. Self-Delete, oops.

[geek tragedy]

147. Respecting the wishes of families of fallen soldiers on the

treatment of their loved ones' remains is fine print?

No, it's simple decency.

Take notes.

[Techn0Girl]

148. Showing pictures of coffins injures noones's privacy...

Your argument is specious.

And the American public has the right to know what these two wars are costing our children.
attempting to hide this is unAmerican.

[geek tragedy]

152. Respecting a family's wishes regarding the remains

of its loved one harms no one.

There were numerous flag-draped coffin photos after Obama changed the policy. He even greeted the coffins with the press allowed to attend (per the familiy's permission). Something aWol never did.

Your quest for divisiveness has taken you in the territory of indecency.

[Techn0Girl]

160. The only one here being divisive and accusatory is yourself ....

so welcome to my ignore list.

There are reasonable people here at DU and in the world who can disagree without being insulting and accusatory.
You are not one of them and I do not have tome for you.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

156. Are you fucking kidding me?!

Taking picures of my dead family member's casket doesn't violate my right to a little privacy? Have you no decency whatsoever?

Shit, you're not better that Fred Phelps -- trying to exploit other people's agony to satisfy some perverse agenda.

Unless one is a fucking moron, one doesn't need to see a picture of an actual casket in order to know what's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Number23]

63. I take back what I said before. THIS is the dumbest post ever. Truly. EVER

[Techn0Girl]

Duplicate - self-deleted

[Techn0Girl]

67. Do you find 100,000 troops we send to war to be "dumb" or my persistance in pointing out....

that we have a war administration to be "dumb" ?

Or perhaps you find my pointing out that the current administration, for all intents and purposes, still prevents the Media from showing our American dead to be "dumb".

It's difficult to know what you mean because your post was so short and addressed none of my points but I am certainly willing to listen.

[Political Tiger]

108. +1! n/t

[Political Tiger]

104. Isn't that just sickening...respecting the wishes of the families of the fallen...

:sarcasm:

(There's something seriously wrong with you. If you think people don't know what war looks like unless dead and mutilated bodies are flashed across the front pages everyday then you need to go back to your fantasy world where news from Feb of '09 has yet to reach you.)

[Techn0Girl]

128. I assure you that there is nothing "wrong with me" as you suggest ...

and being substantially older than you, I remember the lessons of the Viet Nam war very well . One of those lessons was that the daily pictures of the war dead were responsible for people taking to the streets to protest THAT unjust war.

George Bush I was responsible for implementing the 18 yer war dead ban because some news company videoed him laughing and joking with some crew while soldier's coffins were being loaded into an airplane (look it up).

So the current Administration knows full and well (unlike yourself) what those images do to Americans - they make then think about the true cost of war.

You may want to hide your head in the sand and not think about the ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND young men and woman , mostly from poor families, that YOU are helping to send to war and death every day. You may be comfortable with that. I am not.

[proteus_lives]

141. Guess what?

People wouldn't have given a shit about those photographs without the draft.

[Name removed]

161. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geek tragedy]

146. So, now you're complaining because THE WISHES OF THE FAMILIES

OF DEAD SOLDIERS are being respected.

Nice values.

[Kalun D]

56. Hey Techn0Girl

who cares if we don't even count the dead anymore in the countries we invade for oil and defense industry profit, hey we got a really terrific staged photo op, that's all that matters.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

122. geez, back to "cheerleaders" again? you can do much better than that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

64. How very big of you to admit you were "WRONG".

"The fact remains that THIS administration is just as bad a war administration as the Bush Admin ever was."

And the administration made it's plans for Afghanistan crystal clear in the primaries, and in the general, and the American people still voted for him, as they will in '12. Go figure.....

[AC_Mem]

84. 50 year old Technogirl

Thread hijacker. She comes in and tells a lie, has to admit it and then continues to bash the administration with issues that have nothing to do with this thread. What a shame to do this to an uplifting conversation.

Now, to bring it back to the thread subject, these pictures show love and empathy on 9/11 and are part of the HEALING that must occur in our hearts. We will never forget, but it may be time to stop using the attacks as a political weapon and look to healing and rebuilding the American Dream.

The pictures of First Lady Michelle and former First Lady Laura were heart lifting and a sign of unity in remembrance. The pictures of President Obama make me proud to be an American.

Peace,
Annette

[Tarheel_Dem]

92. Kudos, to you Annette, for remembering the real intent of the o.p.

Yours is, without a doubt, one of the best & most meaningful posts in the entire thread. :fistbump:

[Cha]

96. Thanks Annette, that was

Perfect! Peace to you~

[dionysus]

123. great post, welcome to DU!

[AC_Mem]

159. Thanks!

I appreciate the welcome and the great conversations with like-minded folks.

[Techn0Girl]

130. Nice Speech....

It's easy to be a chicken hawk and feel proud to be a 'Merican" from behind your keyboard.

How do THESE pictures make you feel?

http://mindprod.com/politics/iraqwarpix.html

[dionysus]

132. calling your fellow DUers chickenhawks? have you gone round the bend? wtf...

:eyes:

[Techn0Girl]

136. I'm calling what YOU said to be chicken hawk speech - you know what I said...

stop intentionally misconstruing it or I'll simply use the ignore key on you.

[suzie]

75. As one who was older than you at the time, and whose fiance and classmates

were faced with going off to the Vietnam War, I think you overstate the role of the news media somewhat.

What sparked protests that took people to the streets was the fact that every young American male faced that same prospect.

A volunteer military changed the dynamic that led to massive anti-war sentiment rather more than one image or a corporate media ban.

But perhaps you were a little young at the time to understand that.

[Techn0Girl]

133. Since I was old enough to be drafted myself I an old enough , thank you....

I must disagree with you that "every young American male faced that same prospect. "

As anyone who lived through that period knew that was HARDLY the case. Deferments for the wealthy were the rule. If you were going to college, you didn't get drafted by and large. If your family knew a Congressman, Senator , paid money to a the right political committee you didn't get drafted.

Going to med school? Not drafted.
In Law school? Not drafted.

Did George Bush go to Viet Nam? Did Rush Limbaugh?
Did any of the Kennedy Family go to Viet Nam?
Think any bankster CEO's kids went to Viet Nam? See any DuPont family in the trenches ?
Wake up.

I went to an Ivy League school and the young men there were terrified at the thought of flunking out - because then they would be eligible for the draft. Poor people, unable to afford the school had no such options.

Deferments were easy if you had a bit of influence or cash - so, just like today, ONLY the poor and/or unconnected went to war.

It was the showing to the American people of picture of what they had wrought - that changed people's heart's and minds.

[suzie]

149. Sorry, but if you are 50, you were not eligible to be drafted during the period when the

large demonstrations happened. The Vietnam Moratorium happened in Fall 1969. You would have been 9 years old at the time.

The Vietnam Moratorium immediately preceded the Draft Lottery, which occurred in December of 1969. Again, you are incorrect about draft deferments.

Students would have been able to finish college, but they would not have been able to get further deferments if they had a low draft number.

Since they were in the middle part of the Baby Boom, the positions obtained by Early Boomers like George Bush--in the National Guard or the Army Reserve--were no longer available. There were enough Early Boomers already in those positions.

So, a good many young male Americans in the middle Baby Boom suddenly did face the prospect of getting drafted. It dramatically changed their outlook and that of their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles.

And perhaps you should take off your Ivy League colored glasses. There were some kids who flunked out of school, but others whose father died/had a heart attack and they had to work in the family business, help mom and younger siblings, their girlfriend was pregnant, etc. There were plenty of kids in the blue collar world who got into college or into jucos, but all kinds of reasons why they could no longer continue--and were now facing the draft.

The argument that it was the media which changed support for the Vietnam War is one used by the right wing to explain why public support for the War was damaged by the media and not by the loss of American lives and the prospect of more losses. Interesting to see the same argument made by someone supposedly on the Left.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

157. I find that curious...

I'm 49 years old. And since the draft was discontinued in 1973 (when I was just twelve) I've never considered myself to be in any imminent danger of being drafted.

I think somebody is telling a little white lie.

[Techn0Girl]

162. Since when have you known an older woman to tell her exact age...

Not only are you ill informed but ill mannered as well.

[suzie]

165. Excuse me, I am an older woman who remembers with pride the years

of the late 60s, when many of us became feminists and were done with such silliness as refusing to tell our age.

Nice try, though, at attempting to cover for your earlier inaccurate statements.

[Techn0Girl]

163. From you talk about draft deferments it's obvious to me that....

you don't know what you are talking about because you MUST be much younger than you claim to be.

Looking this crap on Wikipedia doesn't count NEARLY as much as actually being there , as I was.

Your arguments are so specials and so off base from reality that they are simply NOT worth responding to at all.
It's not a matter that I can't refute them - it's like talking to a person who believes the world is flat.
Such people simply aren't worth the time.

[suzie]

167. I believe that you must be attempting to state that my arguments are "specious".

Unfortunately, you seem to have as much trouble with accuracy about grammar as with facts.

And your Wikipedia accusations, I believe that the mental health types call that "projection".

I remember rather well sitting with my fiance and his friends as we watched the draft lottery on an old black and white TV. And even his number, "269", and his roommate's, "257".

Also recall the endless discussions about the draft and the oddities of various draft boards that were a daily part of our lives. The visiting lecturer that gave the girls "B's" and the boys "A's" in freshman English, because most of them needed the grade for their draft status.

You are correct, that responding to a person whose experience of that period is regurgitating articles from someone with a particular point of historical revisionist view is not worth the time.

So bye now.

[blondeatlast]

88. :"...supporters of an unjust war>" Who is supporting it? "Just as bad as

the Buish administration ever was."

Wow. Just wow. Care to keep sacking whatever credibility you have left?

[dionysus]

124. there's any left now?

[Name removed]

135. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Political Tiger]

105. That's a "Mea culpa?" On what planet? n/t

[Number23]

62. Dumbest post ever. Truly. EVER.

[wundermaus]

85. One of the primary reasons I rarely post here...

are the ad hominem attacks. We may not agree with a post but it would show civil restraint and discipline to avoid the knee jerk response of attacking the person who posted, even if they are in error of the facts. It's easy to blindly follow the herd. It take courage to pose an unpopular point of view. Did you happen to notice the admission of error and clarification of the post? Did you happen to notice your terse and easily misunderstood (intentional?) response? Come on now everybody, show a little grace, I think we can all admit to stepping in dog shit at least once in our lives.

[Tarheel_Dem]

93. Once? I find it odd that you chose to admonish Number23, but left

the original falsehood, and the questionable "mea culpa" completely unscathed. If you want to talk "knee-jerk", I suggest you reread the exchange, and decide which is the bigger offense. Your selective outrage notwithstanding, "knee-jerk" perfectly describes the poster you chose to defend. :eyes:

[dionysus]

125. +1

[wundermaus]

164. No outrage on my part...

so please, find some other way to exchange opinions and ideas without attacking each other. It gets so tiresome and unproductive. It is in fact, destructive behavior. She may or may not have made factually incorrect statements but attacking her as dumb may be factually incorrect. She may in fact be very intelligent but like many of us, may be poorly or inaccurately informed or worse yet, intentionally misled. Be the magnanimous one to offer accurate and reliable sources of information. I'll bet you win her over as a new found ally.

[Political Tiger]

110. Yet calling people "war cheer leaders" is NOT an ad hominem attack?

And she didn't post "an unpopular point of view," she posted, at best, an incredible lack of knowledge of the facts, with some nasty personal attacks thrown in. Hey, if you can't stand the heat.....

[Techn0Girl]

131. Thanks for your response. You are one of the few :) We may not agree with each other but ....

we can civilly discuss it.

Thanks for being an individual.

[Number23]

140. "Did you happen to notice your terse and easily misunderstood (intentional?) response?"

What is there to misunderstand about me calling an incredibly idiotic post the "dumbest post ever?" Should be pretty clear to everyone what I'm saying. :shrug:

Technogirl's post was -- in addition to being thoroughly unnecessary in a picture thread showing the Obamas honoring those killed on September 11 -- completely inaccurate and ridiculous. 100,000 soldiers being killed or injured every week for the last seven years??? Is she seriously suggesting that we have lost or had injured (let me bust out my calculator for this) 364,000,000+ soldiers since the wars began?

And why was it necessary to even mention this in this thread?? Going off topic and being right is one thing. Going off topic with asinine and unnecessary Obama-hate and being dead wrong is another.

[dionysus]

145. spectacular.

:thumbsup:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

158. I wish I could unrecommend a sub-thread....

or failing that, I wish the Moderators would see fit to deleting this entire mess, as it does nothing but distract from the OP.

[dionysus]

107. fail

[Name removed]

138. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

154. Say what?

100,000 troops being killed or wounded each week.

What utter horsecrap.

Given the total U.S. troop stength of about 2.5 million and 100,000 casualties per week, that would mean that EVERY MEMBER OF THE US MILITARY is being wounded at least twice per year.

Which would be an patently idiotic thing to suggest.

[handmade34]

33. what joy to see the two of them

we just can't deny President Obama a majority of his party in Congress... we must vote

[ThatsMyBarack]

35. Thanks for the photos!

They remind us to count our blessings.

After all, * and Pickles went to a ballgame today....like THEY would care....

[Hekate]

38. Kick and Rec

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. good thread, thank you.

With the constant tidal waves of negative press, I appreciate this. I always felt the "good vibes" from the Obamas, and the Bidens too.

Always seems sad to me, people who are so twisted that they see good in b*sh, and bad in Obama. I don't get it..... :shrug:

[texpatriot2004]

43. Amen. Thank you God for President Obama. nt

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

44. NOT afraid to say I'm proud of our president

Y'hear, me, dammit? I'm GLAD he's the president. :)

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kalun D]

54. Name Calling is No Argument

I'm a progressive whether you like it or not. You know the ones that Obama's spokesmouth doesn't like.

I voted for the lesser of two evils that's all

and all the damn stinking staged photo ops aren't going to change that. The television is just a fricking lie, it's 100 percent corporate owned

If he'd done even 1/2 of what he promised he would have been one of the better presidents in history

but his record up to now is sadly lacking

at the end of the day, talk is just talk, actions and results are how you are gauged.

why don't you stop name calling and argue points, if you can...

[Tarheel_Dem]

61. Well, that's it. His first term is already over. Oh wait......

:eyes:

"If he'd done even 1/2 of what he promised he would have been one of the better presidents in history"

Overdramatize much? How many promises kept, and how many broken? Any hard numbers? You said "1/2 the promises", and I'm asking you to back that up. Without the screeching hyperbole, just the facts please.

[Tarheel_Dem]

66. Hello? "1/2 the promises"? That's the problem with unsubstantiated hyperbole,

it can't be backed up, and should not be excused. Hold yourself to the same standards you require of the administration. You implied that the administration has broken, or not fulfilled 1/2 it's promises in these 20 months. Not only would that be impossible, but it's even harder to back up with facts.

You suggested we "argue the points", and I'd like you to list "1/2 the promises" that have been broken and/or unfulfilled? If you can't, then I politely suggest that, in future, you refrain from such hyperbolic rhetoric.

[Kalun D]

113. You Should Know

about unsubstantiated hyperbole, your idol in the White House is the king of it.

""Not only would that be impossible""

exactly, he promised the impossible

Frontman for the bankers? Can you refute that?

In the senate he personally helped push through the bush boy's $700 Billion "bailout" for the crooked bankers that intentionally caused the problem in the first place? Can you refute that?

Appointed the same crooked criminal bankers to positions of banking oversight within his admin, after making the campaign promise not to appoint lobbyists/insiders. Can you refute that?

Aided and abetted BP in their crime and coverup. Lied about 3/4 of the oil being gone. Can you refute that?

Sure the 1/2 figure might be hyperbole, it's a general feeling. Just like the general feeling that 90 percent of what Obama has done has benefited the corporations instead of the working class. Just take for instance the $700 Billion for the $Million dollar bonus banking boys. There's a program Obama initiated with $1.5 Billion available for mortgage holders adversely affected by the banking crisis. Of course it's fraught with red tape and even the paltry 1.5 Billion amount is not all getting through. So $700 Billion plus for the bankers, $1.5 Billion minus for the workers.

Health care "reform"? Single payer? Public option? No, less than even the minimum of what's acceptable. And nothing keeping the companies from raising their rates before it went into effect. Back door secret deals with big pharma and health care providers after making the campaign promise to be transparent.

BP, the worst environmental catastrophe in world history. The criminal perpetrators are allowed to "clean up" their own crime scene. They dump millions of gallons of toxic Corexit (banned in Britian) on top of the already toxic oil. All it does is hide the oil because they get fined per the amount. Dumping toxins on top of toxins, it sinks the oil and makes it impossible to recover by skimming. During the whole ordeal the Coast Guard is running interference, repeating BP talking points and keeping the press from reporting the truth. When it finally gets capped the White House comes out and says 3/4 of the oil is gone, when this is blatantly untrue. Then Obama conducts a photo op showing him swimming in the "Gulf" and for everyone to come on down. Turns out he's really just in a bay, it's not the Gulf. Is BP being pursued with criminal indictments? Of course not, they can't get subpoena power past the Senate and Obama is not there trying to ram it through like he did with the banker "bailout".

Instead of alerting the mods and getting my posts deleted, when I made no personal attack, why don't you guys try to argue the points. I'm sorry that I don't have a TV so I can't buy into the corporate television show production of the fictional Obama image that you guys so blindly buy into.

[Tarheel_Dem]

119. I'm sorry, but you just can't be taken seriously. And if you had any points to make,

we'd be glad to argue them with you. You're just so over-the-top at this point, I'm afraid it would be a exercise in futility. Until you spit up that rightwing talk show you swallowed, it's useless. Sorry.....:-(

p.s. At least you admitted that you're inclined to hyperbole. That's a good start. :thumbsup:

[Kalun D]

121. Concise Points You Can't Argue

Did Obama not argue for the $700 Bush "bailout" of the bankers while he was in the senate?
Did Oboma not receive $996,000 dollars from Goldman Sachs in campaign contributions?
Did Goldman Sachs not benefit into the $Billions from this Obama supported banker "bailout"?

Did Obama not appoint banking insiders to positions of banking oversight within his admin after the campaign promise not to appoint insiders/lobbyists?

After the $700 Billion for a handful of bankers did Obama not allocate $1.5 Billion for thousands of troubled mortgage holders?

Did the Coast Guard not low-ball the spill numbers and block the press from covering the spill?

Did the White House not state that 3/4 of the oil was already gone in spite of the scientists saying 3/4 remains?

These are progressive anti-corporate truths, you can ad-hominem name call them all you want but if you can't refute them you have no argument.

If there's one thing that can't be taken seriously it's a staged photo op brought to you by a television that's 100 percent owned by the very corporations that funded this politician's rise to power.

[Tarheel_Dem]

127. I said all I needed to in #119. You've obviously got some issues that preceded...

Obama. You take care, mmmmmkay? :hi:

[Kalun D]

137. You said all you could

and it contained no meaningful argument

I've got some points that preceded but you can't address any of them in spite of the fact they challenge the core of the image of your idol.

[dionysus]

126. "the fictional Obama image that you guys so blindly buy into." pathetic. but, your misery is my joy.

:hi:

[Kalun D]

139. Orwell was prescient

Is Afghanistan Eurasia, is Iraq Eastasia? Who are we at war with? "Terror"? What a formidable enemy, it's about 100 times as rare as lighting.

Is Hollywood real?

Since the advent of TV we've chosen who the TV has told us to chose, so whoever owns the TV owns the people. So who owns the TV?

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kalun D]

60. Sorry to Dissapoint You

and your little rose colored blinders corporate media get together

Those are "professional left" talking points whether you like it or not. I should know I've done my share of bashing the RW and have done so for years.

If they are RW talking points then you should easily be able to refute them

why don't you go ahead and try...

[Tx4obama]

65. God bless President Obama, The Obama Family, The Good Ol' USA, & Our Troops. n/t

[pamela]

69. Thanks for the great photos.

Here's an interesting fact. This is the first time in 20 years that there hasn't been a major domestic terror attack during the first 2 years of a new administration.

[bluedoggie]

70. Great post! Agree 100% Got to support the President and the Party!

n/t

[lillypaddle]

71. Yes, kpete, I'm a little surprised that this is your thread

but I'm pleasantly surprised, and pleased to K&R.

[Skittles]

72. CUTE OVERLOAD

the pics with that little girl should have a SUGAR WARNING! :D

[lamp_shade]

73. Top of the Greatest Page. This, in spite of all the unrecs it likely got.

Says something, doesn't it. Great post, kpete... wonderful selection of pics.

[Major Hogwash]

74. It would have been a nightmare if McCain were president this year, an ongoing nightmare

I could hardly take living for the previous 8 years under George Bush.
All the lies.
All the wars.
All the death.
All the destruction.
He literally didn't care about the Constitution, or the rule of law.

McCain's campaign was a continuation of those same bad policies.
Here we are almost 20 months after Obama has taken office, and the only thing we hear from the mainstream media is how poorly a job Obama has done correcting all those mistakes Bush made during the previous 8 years.

The mainstream media acts like Obama has a magic wand that he can wave and create 20 million jobs, end 2 wars, bring 5588 dead American soldiers back to life, and balance the budget after Bush gave the corporations and banks the right to ship our jobs, and our money, overseas.

Incredible.

If the Democrats lose control of Congress during this mid-term election cycle, the Party of Greed wil turn the clock back to 2003, and start the destruction of the middle class in America all over again.
The Republican party will not be happy until there are more millionaires and billionaires living in their stately mansions while the rest of the country is busy pandering for a handout, because they intend to end any federal safety net program the Democrats ever started, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.

The Party of NO wants to return America back to the good ol' days of 1930!!!
When their forefathers were drinking champagne on New Year's Eve while 40% of America went to bed hungry!!

And then many members of the GOP dare to call themselves Christians!!!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

77. +1

[CTLawGuy]

80. If McCain were president

we would be planning the invasion of Iran.

"Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."

Thank goodness Obama is president :hi:

[ThatsMyBarack]

86. Hurrah for Major Hogwash!

Best post EVAR!!!! :hi: :loveya: :woohoo: :bounce: :patriot:

[Taverner]

115. Three words: Supreme Chancellor Palin

Shuts up most people right away

[Techn0Girl]

142. Three Words - Seventeen Percent Unemployment

(official government U6 figures)

so don't try and scare with your Palin Boogeywoman

[Taverner]

143. Look - I understand - I don't have a job

Hopefully that will change...

So if not Obama, then who?

[Techn0Girl]

144. I just lost mine 2 months ago ...

Well good question... I don't know who besides Obama ... except Hillary maybe if they'll put her out there.

I guess all that I am trying to say at DU in general is that more people need to wake up and hold Obama accountable for what he promised . We need to do that by writing the White house and our congress men and women. If we don't ramp up the pressure then a whole lot more people are going to lose their jobs besides you and I. And by then it will be too late.

Too much of the time on DU I see what I perceive as mindless obedience and fawning over the current administration all the while we are getting royally screwed over by them. By "we" I mean the middle class - you and I Brother.

Less handouts to the Banksters - more investment in the Middle Class!

I hope that you find work again soon.

[uponit7771]

118. +1!!!!

[deacon]

76. k + r n/t

[eridani]

78. Exactly the right note

And also, a real adult who always does our country right when appearing internationally, unlike certain spoiled frat boys.

[impik]

81. Wow, so many recs. Some DUs heads explodes right now. And to the matter:

Great president, amazing first lady, stupid country.

[dotymed]

82. kpete,

I respect you and so many of your posts are inspiring.
Yes, I'd rather have Obama than the other party running this country further into the ground.
Unfortunately, President Obama seems to have Compromise as his middle name. I am somewhat grateful for some of the legislation he helped pass.
We all know that if President Obama would have really, uncompromisingly, used his "bully pulpit", the legislation would have been more real than illusory.
Fascism (corporatism) is Americas' form of government and it has been for decades. I stil and always will "hope for change." Sometimes hope must be accompanied with action.
I could go on, but I've said it all before.
Grayson, Kucinich, Sanders and a few others, should, at the very least, have a much stronger influence on the current administration..

[HysteryDiagnosis]

83. Thanks kpete, great pics, I showed the wife these photos and told

her that I thought president Obama is just a great person. I told her he isn't perfect but he is trying to do what is right as much as is humanly possible. She said that that is isn't good enough for "humans" which I'll interpret as the people on the other side of the aisle. She said, "they don't want what's right, they want to be right". I thought that was a pretty cogent and appropriate remark describing the persistent obsfucation simmering on the right.

[madokie]

87. Yes WE are

[AnArmyVeteran]

89. Great post, great man as our president.

[DeepModem Mom]

90. Thank you for this, kpete.

These beautiful photos have moved us at our house to tears this morning.

[Redstone]

91. Amen.

Redstone

[nonny]

114. Thank you kpete. I love them too!

:loveya:

[MindandSoul]

120. Thanks for the pictures, and we are lucky to have him as President! . . .

In fact, I just came home after two month in Europe (Belgium, France, Italy, Germany), and MANY people there have told me how lucky we, Americans, are to have Obama as our President! In fact, many French nationals would gladly elect Obama instead of Sarkozy!!!

[LoZoccolo]

129. It looks like I missed the chance to R but here's a K!

:kick:

[saltpoint]

166. I like this president and his family.

And I like their dog, too.

- - -

Terrific photographs.