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Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 9:42:27 AM   
rulemylife


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Status: offline 		Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric



ANN ARBOR, Mich. – President Barack Obama took aim Saturday at the angry rhetoric of those who denigrate government as "inherently bad" and said their off-base line of attack ignores the fact that in a democracy, "government is us."

Obama used his commencement speech at the University of Michigan to respond to foes who portray government as oppressive and tyrannical. He also appealed for a more civil political debate and advised graduates to seek out and consider alternative views on the issues of the day, even if it makes their "blood boil."

Just 45 miles from the immense Michigan Stadium, capacity of 106,201, 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin held court in Clarkston, tearing into Obama's policies at a forum hosted by the anti-tax Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

The president told students and others in the audience — the school stopping giving out tickets once 80,000 were distributed — that debates about the size and role of government are as old as the republic itself. "But it troubles me when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad," said Obama, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree. "For when our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it conveniently ignores the fact in our democracy, government is us."

Obama didn't mention Palin in the speech, according to remarks the White House released in advance, nor was there any reference to the tea party movement. Palin, a potential Obama opponent in 2012, told activists that "big government" led by Obama's White House has become "intrusive" in Americans' lives.

In Obama's view, there are some things that only government can do. Government, he said, is the roads we drive on and the speed limits that keep us safe. It's the men and women in the military, the inspectors in our mines, the pioneering researchers in public universities.

The financial meltdown dramatically showed the dangers of too little government, he said, "when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly led to the collapse of our entire economy."

Obama told both sides in the political debate to tone it down. "Phrases like 'socialist' and 'Soviet-style takeover,' 'fascist' and 'right-wing nut' may grab headlines," he said. But such language "closes the door to the possibility of compromise."
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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 10:12:11 AM   
popeye1250


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Status: offline 		If "the govt" would just do it's job there wouldn't be any anti-govt. rhetoric would there?
Obama should be down in the Gulf states not playing golf.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 10:13:22 AM   
Musicmystery


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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 11:48:46 AM   
rulemylife


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quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

If "the govt" would just do it's job there wouldn't be any anti-govt. rhetoric would there?
Obama should be down in the Gulf states not playing golf.


Why?

Does he have some knowledge of containing oil spills?

And just out of curiosity, why is this the government's job? 

These companies decry government as intrusive and inhibiting free market economics until they get neck deep in their own mismanagement. Then they turn to the government to solve their problems.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 11:50:38 AM   
Fellow


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quote:

The financial meltdown dramatically showed the dangers of too little government, he said, "when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly led to the collapse of our entire economy."

It is funny how they spin things: the US government was (and still is) active part of the financial crimes. How does making it bigger would change things?

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 11:52:14 AM   
Musicmystery


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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 11:53:35 AM   
tazzygirl


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To put it in perspective, Obama going to the site would be a bad idea, and here is why. Security would have to be boosted, more people in the way not actually helping the spill itself. The news media would be there like a hornets nest of bees swarming the area. Logistically, it would be a nightmare. I would hazard this has been well thought out and seems to actually be the understood policy of any recent administration. Bush did not go immediately to Katrina or NY.

< Message edited by tazzygirl -- 5/1/2010 11:54:52 AM >

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 12:09:39 PM   
rulemylife


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Fellow

quote:

The financial meltdown dramatically showed the dangers of too little government, he said, "when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly led to the collapse of our entire economy."

It is funny how they spin things: the US government was (and still is) active part of the financial crimes. How does making it bigger would change things?



The only way the government was an active part was by relaxing regulations that allowed the financial abuses.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 4:52:18 PM   
thishereboi


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quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

popeye

To put it in perspective, Obama going to the site would be a bad idea, and here is why. Security would have to be boosted, more people in the way not actually helping the spill itself. The news media would be there like a hornets nest of bees swarming the area. Logistically, it would be a nightmare. I would hazard this has been well thought out and seems to actually be the understood policy of any recent administration. Bush did not go immediately to Katrina or NY.


While I agree that he shouldn't be there and that Bush should not have, I also remember people having a fit because Bush wasn't. In fact I believe it was a family guy episode where Brian had to go find him hiding in the tree house.


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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 4:59:55 PM   
tazzygirl


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Status: offline 		I didnt think Bush should have either, frankly. While Bush should have sent more support for those people, and the whole mess with FEMA is still enough to make me seeth, Bush being there would have been a liability for our country.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 7:14:25 PM   
Fellow


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quote:

The only way the government was an active part was by relaxing regulations that allowed the financial abuses.


Not really. US government has plenty of powers to monitor, audit and regulate financial markets and institutions. Instead they watch porn. Add here campaign contributions, becoming high-paying lobbyists after their tenure, and many other things. Big thing is the government allowing and helping leaderhip of financial institutions to carry away billions of bonuses. (Their profits are bogus related to mostly accounting tricks what the government allows to go on.)

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 9:56:16 PM   
popeye1250


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Status: offline 		Rule, then two weeks after him and Clinton were on the news saying that what does Obama do, he uses anti-govt rhetoric criticising Az's new law!
He's the fucking president, he should be supporting Arizona!

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 10:07:49 PM   
subrob1967


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Status: offline 		Popeye, don't you know that when a republican is in office, it's patriotic & heroic to be dissenters, and speak out against his policies, but when a democrat is on office, you should hang for high treason for speaking out against him.

Geez Pops, get with the program, you're either with him, or against him.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/1/2010 10:10:10 PM   
Musicmystery


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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/2/2010 8:09:57 AM   
Sanity


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Oh, you poor miserable thing, everyone's always playing the victim card on you.

You live such a SAD existence, don't you. ..  


quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/2/2010 8:17:55 AM   
rulemylife


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quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Rule, then two weeks after him and Clinton were on the news saying that what does Obama do, he uses anti-govt rhetoric criticising Az's new law!
He's the fucking president, he should be supporting Arizona!


He is not supporting it because it is bad legislation that is going to fail for a number of reasons.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/2/2010 8:35:18 AM   
rulemylife


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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

Popeye, don't you know that when a republican is in office, it's patriotic & heroic to be dissenters, and speak out against his policies, but when a democrat is on office, you should hang for high treason for speaking out against him.

Geez Pops, get with the program, you're either with him, or against him.



I think you're a little confused.  It was Bush you are paraphrasing, but let me help you out since it's clear you did not read the link:


But Obama was direct in urging both sides in the political debate to tone it down. "Throwing around phrases like 'socialists' and 'Soviet-style takeover,' 'fascists' and 'right-wing nut' — that may grab headlines," he said. But it also "closes the door to the possibility of compromise. It undermines democratic deliberation," he said.

"At its worst, it can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response."

Passionate rhetoric isn't new, he acknowledged. Politics in America, he said, "has never been for the thin-skinned or the faint of heart. ... If you enter the arena, you should expect to get roughed up."

Obama hoped the graduates hearing his words can avoid cynicism and brush off the overheated noise of politics. In fact, he said, they should seek out opposing views.

His advice: If you're a regular Glenn Beck listener, then check out the Huffington Post sometimes. If you read The New York Times editorial page the morning, then glance every now and then at The Wall Street Journal. "It may make your blood boil. Your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship," he said.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/2/2010 5:27:30 PM   
blacksword404


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quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Rule, then two weeks after him and Clinton were on the news saying that what does Obama do, he uses anti-govt rhetoric criticising Az's new law!
He's the fucking president, he should be supporting Arizona!


He is not supporting it because it is bad legislation that is going to fail for a number of reasons.



From what I have heard the state law mirrors federal. If this is true then it should be interesting.

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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/5/2010 5:19:11 PM   
rulemylife


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quote:

ORIGINAL: blacksword404

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

He is not supporting it because it is bad legislation that is going to fail for a number of reasons.



From what I have heard the state law mirrors federal. If this is true then it should be interesting.


That's a large part of the problem.  People believe what they hear.  Especially when it comes from people like Beck and Limbaugh who clued us all in on those notorious death panels and other misguided notions.

There is no federal law that allows randomly stopping people on the street to check if they are a legal citizen.  In fact, federal law and the Fourth Amendment specifically prohibit that.



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RE: Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric - 5/5/2010 5:21:50 PM   
pahunkboy


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