Tell a good story, Barack, or you’ll end up like Our Kevin

nossy says:

06:04am | 16/11/11

@Erick he will easily get a 2nd term Erick - good god man look at the “ruffage” lined up against him on the Republican side! The Tea Party nutters, very similar in style and substance to our own Coalition here in Australia, have a circus like band of fools to draw from - now Ronald Reagans in that lot Erick. Obama is no fool and he knows that once it gets down to the nitty gritty all these knumnuts from the Republican side will be exposed - even Sarah Palin has had the brains to not run - shes savvy to the situation and has decided to wait for another time.

malohi says:

06:06am | 16/11/11

Erick out of his shell, no wordplay, no baiting. Ruthless.
Obama must really get under your skin.
I always thought him more of a puppet; a ruse, as opposed to a leader at ransom without a majority of seats, who may or may not be a puppet.

Andrew says:

06:11am | 16/11/11

Being an extremist doesn’t get you anything really worthwhile, Erick—it just means people who matter don’t take you seriously. Still, I suppose you get some catharsis out of mindlessly venting your spleen.

Sam says:

06:24am | 16/11/11

Erick you must be a redneck mate! Obama is the most inspiring President since Kennedy and the problem is Congress. Just like here Ms Gillard has to deal with the unions neither has absolute power to make miracles. That’s what democracy is and unfortunately the rich still pull the strings.

Erick says:

06:57am | 16/11/11

@nossy - “he will easily get a 2nd term”

Thanks for that. Given your record on predictions, it’s very reassuring.

@malohi - I’ve been following Obama’s background and actions in detail since he won the primaries. If not for the media collaboration, this man would never have come close to getting such a position. The whole process disgusts me.

gobsmack says:

06:58am | 16/11/11

Part of the attraction of Obama, in the US and elsewhere, was the contrast between him and Bush jnr (who won preselection in 2000 only because his daddy had been President).  Bush’s intellectual limitations were obvious to everyone, apart from those similarly limited, and was part of the “oil establishment”, a friend to corporate interests and a pinup boy of the religious right.  9/11 was a blessing for Bush because it masked his gross incompetency and helped him avoid going down in history as one of the worst single term presidents.
What has happened to Obama since his election is similar to what happens to any leader who stands up to vested interests.  There has been a sustained and concerted campaign to discredit him and obstruct him at every opportunity.  The fact that what we in Australia would consider reasonable health reforms were opposed with such vehemence is indicative of the misinformation and outright lies used against Obama.
One expects big business and private health insurers to fight to protect their own interests.  They have been greatly assisted in that fight by the unrelenting partisan propaganda from news outlets such as Fox News and the uncritical barracking by the rusted-on rightists.

marley says:

07:04am | 16/11/11

@Sam - Kennedy was an inspiring president, but it was that hard-bitten wheeler-dealer LBJ who actually got things done.  Obama’s problem is that he is inexperienced and doesn’t have the political skill to build the alliances he needs to get things done.  And he doesn’t have an LBJ to carry the weight.

susanai says:

07:10am | 16/11/11

Methinks that ‘Erick’ is a republican spammer of lies. Obama is among the best of your Presidents alongside Clinton and Kennedy. So put down your vitriolic pen for a while.

Old Man Emu says:

07:30am | 16/11/11

For once Erick is spot on. Obama got elevated to the highest office in the land despite having never achieved anything or run anything in his life. If he were a white man he would’ve been laughed out at preselection as an arrogant upstart who had written three autobiographies before he’d even lived a life.

Sure he is a capable orator - at least while there’s a teleprompter in front of him, off the cuff he’s a bumbling fool. But basically his presidency (and its subsequent abject failure) is a result of the Democrats shamelessly exploiting race politics.

@Nossy - you claim he will easily win a second term, yet all opinion polls, surveys, etc would indicate otherwise. In NY, the Times (I think) ran a survey that had a choice between Obama and Not Obama (anyone else in other words) for President, Not Obama won in a landslide (70%). It is basically accepted wisdom that Obama is a one-termer. In fact, the Democrats may not even preselect him themselves.

@Susanai - surely your kidding when you talk about Clinton as a great President. His one great legacy is leaving the world with the GFC (nominally the result of his poor policies).

Adam Diver says:

07:54am | 16/11/11

“the only reason he won the election was because most of the media became a part of his campaign”

Being a little harsh there erick. The other reason was George W Bush.

HappyCynic says:

08:04am | 16/11/11

Unfortunately for Erick and his poisonous ilk it looks like Mitt Romney is effectively hammering away at the rest of the Republican candidates to run against Obama and from what I’ve seen I reckon he could win.

I say unfortunately for Erick and his kind because Romney is actually intelligent (for a Republican) and he’s also not part of that Tea Party fringe, also he’s Mormon, from Massachusetts (a very blue state traditionally) and quite moderate on some issues and very well spoken. 

This does not fit into the narrative that hardcore rightwing nuts like to hear and most unusually for a country that demands no religious test for office these bleating Tea Party nuts (who complain about the constitution being ignored) don’t want him because he isn’t their type of christian.  They don’t want moderation, they want extremism, so they throw extremist morons like Perry and Bachmann into the mix and Romney just quietly beats them down.  Even Cain (another fairly moderate candidate by US standards) is losing a lot of traction against him.

Personally I want to see Romney win just to see the Tea Party’s heads explode, I think for the rest of the Republican’s slightly more normal supporters anyone but Obama will do.  Obama’s been a disappointment in my opinion and doesn’t deserve a second term.

James says:

08:23am | 16/11/11

Very well said, Erick. I couldn’t have said it any better. We’ve suffered through his 1st 3 years of incompetence and can’t wait for the 4th to end and hope we still have a country when he’s done.

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:28am | 16/11/11

@Old Man Emu

“off the cuff he’s a bumbling fool” arrhh yes, GWB was as good as they come:

“Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better”

“There — it’s — you know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror”

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we”

“You’re working hard to put food on your family”

If you knew anything, it wasnt Clinton, it was a Republican Bill that got passed, Gramm-Leach-Bliley. Clinton left the country in surplus, a feat rarely achieved in America.

“Democrats shamelessly exploiting race politics”

So now its Obamas fault hes black, got it. Fox News sure never held back, still to this day whinging about his Birth Certificate and being Muslim.

@Erick

“Obama is a liar and incompetent - but unlike her, he is arrogant, narcissistic, and has a deep dislike of the American people. “

And Bush was an angel? never lied? wasnt arrogant? take off the blinkers please.

Andrew says:

08:35am | 16/11/11

You have no notion of what moderation in speech is, do you, Old Man Emu? If a person speaks less well when they have not prepared, that makes them a “bumbling fool”. Then there is “arrogant upstart”, “abject failure”, “shamelessly exploiting”. Erick has a long list of wild exaggerations as well: “no substance”, “political hack”, “corrupt Chicago machine”, “liar”, “incompetent”, “arrogant”, “narcissistic”, “deep dislike”. Rampant hyperbole that no thinking person can take seriously. Why not just call him a psychopath intent on destroying the world by any means necessary and have done with it? My computer can display millions of colours. I can distinguish between a great many of them. You and Erick, it seems, have only one shade at your disposal: black.

andye says:

08:37am | 16/11/11

@Old Man Emu - ” If he were a white man he would’ve been laughed out at preselection as an arrogant upstart who had written three autobiographies before he’d even lived a life.”

Oh please. George Bush? What about that actor who got to be president and started americas slide into massive debt?

“surely your kidding when you talk about Clinton as a great President. His one great legacy is leaving the world with the GFC (nominally the result of his poor policies).”

Clinton was the only president since Reagan to come even close to leveling out the massive debt growth. Reagan started the deficit and every Republican since has grown it. Bush Jr grew it massively. Whatever arguments you might make about the left/right in Australia and fiscal responsibility, the Republican party in the USA has been the party of fiscal irresponsibility.

The spin is that Clinton forced the lenders to lend to poor people as well as wealthy. This is partially true, but what people who repeat this spin dont mention is that during the veritable gold rush (as banks raced to fill up on loans for the very lucrative Credit Default Swap market) the very regulations that you say caused the GFC were holding the lenders back that were covered by it. The unregulated lenders were EVEN WORSE. Nobody was holding a gun to their head, they wanted as many loans as they could package together. The market was driving this, not Clinton.

You have to remember the Republicans in the USA managed to skewer an actual bonafide war hero (Kerry) who had proved himself under fire on his war record against Bush who was apparently too rich to go to Vietnam. They are the utter masters of spin and lies. Blaming Clinton, the most fiscally responsible president in decades for the GFC is a simple matter for them.

nossy says:

08:37am | 16/11/11

@Erick you used to be readable Erick but now sadly you are off with the “pixies” - what happened fella - want to tell nossy all about it?  hahahahahahahah

Bob says:

08:39am | 16/11/11

It has nothing to do with this piece as simply it made me sick. I always wondered where Arts Degree grad’s ended up, and now I know.

However, I am starting to form the opinion that Erick is either unemployed (and rightly so) and hence has so much time on his hands he can quite often be the first to respond to almost all pieces written on The Punch, and keep posting all day, or he is a stodge.

I have only been gazing at the Punch for a few weeks now, yet there isn’t a piece written that Erick doesn’t have an opinion on. However, a little closer analysis of his puerile, childish, and often incendiary (often racist and/or bigoted, not to mention just plainly ill-informed) comments is that there is no linkage between them. His opinion - if you want to call it that - changes from story to story. It’s a little like the episode of Yes Prime Minister when Humphrey asks Bernard about conscription, and just changes the question with a different word to get a different answer. This is what Erick does. Same story, same sentiment, yet from a different angle and he goes off on that angle and spouts the dribble he does.

So, maybe we should see a piece written analysing all his BS comments and then open the comments up to whether he is in fact a deservedly unemployed shut-in or a stodge from The Punch to invigorate debate.

Hey, he could even be both!

Brett says:

08:46am | 16/11/11

@Erick - Even without the media Obama would have gotten in for one sole reason. He is black. And the racist black element voted him in. How many stories did we see of 80 year old black people who had never voted, never even registered to vote, lining up to vote for Obama?! They knew nothing about politics or his policies and couldn’t tell you why he was a better choice, all they saw was a black man and they voted with their racism. There were plenty of left leaning whites who wanted a black president too. I’m not saying it was a bad thing, it was actually awesome for race relations, but have no doubt that it was the house that racism built.

Ever seen the movie “Head of State” with Chris Rock. Oddly enough he predicted the Obama election years earlier.

Potcallingkettle says:

08:57am | 16/11/11

‘What is happening to Obama is that the voters are gradually waking up to the reality of his performance - which is lacklustre at best’

Amusing you stated this, if it was true he’d be mimicking your perfomance on this site… Instead, he’s running a country with 40% approval rating (American Research Group, Inc. 20/10/11), not venting his bitter, twisted, posionous bile daily on an opinion site..

john says:

09:02am | 16/11/11

@erik “and has a deep dislike of the American people. “

Erik, your high or drunk or both. You know that’s a silly statement to make. If he did not stick his neck out to send those drones to take the fight to those nutters & take out osama then you could probably say he didn’t really care. Obviously he does care about his people.

Shama says:

09:27am | 16/11/11

Yes Erick sitting in Australia knows Obama has a “deep dislike of the American people”.

Its the standard right canard.

Obama won the election fair and square, last I checked the US had a democratic process. Of course he has made mistakes. But it must hurt the right wingers that his administration got Osama and that Libya went better than the regime change in Iraq.

Obama is not above criticism but why do right wingers always rely on vitriol? I mean you can be funny and make a point you know.

fml says:

09:27am | 16/11/11

Erick,

What exactly has Obama lied about??

Anyway, these are some of the accomplishments of an incompetent liar.

Ordered the Pentagon to cover expenses of families of fallen soldiers if they wish to be on site when the body arrives back in the US

Ordered better body armor to be procured for US troops

Ended the Bush-era “blackout” imposed on media coverage of the return of fallen US soldiers

Working to increase pay and benefits for military personnel

Ordered that conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other neglected military hospitals be improved

Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women

Signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation that includes acts of violence against gays under the list of federal hate crimes

Pushing for some of the 9/11 perpetrators to be tried in federal court

Signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Bill to provide federal research and support for treating the disease

Allowed the State Department of offer same-sex benefits for employees

After eight years of neglect, the Justice Department and EEOC are again enforcing employment discrimination laws

Provided increased school projects for Indian lands and increased funds for the Indian Health Service

Authorized construction funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access in K-12 public schools

Changed the rule to allow students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance their loans

Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness

Sometimes when you do things right, people think you have done nothing at all.

Robert says:

11:24am | 16/11/11

@ Bob

It’s called trolling. Just take the most ridiculous extreme position on any topic and watch the hits roll in. It’s the province of those starved for attention. Nobody will have anything to do with them in real life, so they have to resort to spending all their time commenting online where at least they can get some response.

Babs of Sydney says:

11:31am | 16/11/11

He had to best speech writer I have ever heard, who by the way, has since resigned.  People who had never voted before and probably never will again were inspired to vote for Obama based solely on his ethnicity and his golden prose.  Those things will never come together in his favour again.  One term President for sure but to give him his due, he certainly isn’t dumb enough to inflict a carbon tax on the people of America the likes of which we will endure.

Roger says:

11:32am | 16/11/11

I’m regularly stunned when people repeat Ms Clinton’s old claim that Obama ‘only won because he was black’.  Until Obama was elected ‘being black’ was usually a reason NOT to achieve, receive support, get the promotion, etc.  50 years ago, ‘being black’ in the US was the reason you couldn’t use the same facility as a white.  As recent as 1997, and for a 15 year period prior, the US Department of Agriculture discriminated against black American farmers, actively denying them loans that were approved for whites.

By all means have your political opinion about the man in terms of his attitude, performance, achievements or failings, but attributing his success/election purely to a physical attribute that recent history shows as being a regular basis for disadvantage, crosses the line into being ridiculous.

Coop says:

11:40am | 16/11/11

So Erick makes a comment related to the story and Andrew, Sam, Susanai, Nossy, John, Palone, HappyCynic all attack his personality.

Punch. I thought there were rules about this sort of thing.

Just pathetic

john says:

11:56am | 16/11/11

@ Coop “all attack his personality.”

If it makes you feel any better we sometimes love to hate him. I think most of us respect him generally, but receives the wrath of punchers when he is off the rails.

paul says:

01:57pm | 16/11/11

@nossy mate don’t give advice on Obamas next bid if you are just trolling. It is know where near as simple as you think.
1. No US Presudent has ever been reelected with the economics in the shape it is. Ala Carter, Bush.
2. US president have very very rarely been reelected with there polling as dire as Mr Obamas

Erick says:

02:06pm | 16/11/11

Looks like I struck a nerve.

Some people just can’t handle criticism ... or realism.

gobsmack says:

03:02pm | 16/11/11

@Erick
“Looks like I struck a nerve.”
Yes, that’s what trolls do.

paul says:

03:04pm | 16/11/11

That you have Erick. It says allot about people who don’t debate the facts but simply attack an individual.
keep up the accurate, insightful posts.

sandra says:

03:04pm | 16/11/11

I work for a US company so spend my days connected with everyday US people—they loath Obama as much as many of us do Gillard.He will NOT get a second term. he is all talk and no action plus his so famous health reform is uconstitutional—it will be squashed by the US courts just prior to the next election- and he should have known that—being a lawyer and all.!!!!! All talk no brains—they are all the same that left side!!
Romney is the man—

Bonestar says:

03:47pm | 16/11/11

Roger, that was then this is now. Anyone who thinks Obama was elected for any other reason than his skin colour is only kidding themselves.

Tez says:

03:52pm | 16/11/11

You seem to have forgotten who he replaced. That alone is worth having him President of the United States.

gobsmack says:

04:07pm | 16/11/11

@paul
There are people willing to debate the facts but claiming that Obama “is arrogant, narcissistic, and has a deep dislike of the American people” is just being plain silly or deliberately inflammatory.

Venise Alstergren says:

05:13pm | 16/11/11

Why criticise/love President Obama? This whole painful display was set up by gigantic PR outfits wallowing in shameless displays of lurve. What business is there between our two countries cannot be done via using the latest technology? We are meant to drop curtsy/bow to the president of the USA who has, in reality, not come to Oz at all. He is bringing America into Oz. He brings an army of security bods, his own car, set the clocks on USA time and brings his own bottled water. He wouldn’t even know Oz if it hit him in the face. How could he? All his minders make sure he cannot see the country as it is.

As a person he is lovely, as the president of a country who wants what Oz has got, space and minerals he is the one on a begging mission. Talk of China being upset about this regal procession is arrant, and errant, nonsense. They want exactly the same things. Yet we carry on like a half-starved tart whistling up a John on a cold mid-winter’s night. Except that I doubt that a tart would grovel. It’s the system and our grovelling prime ministers of all persuasion which is the problem. Not the man. himself.

Erick says:

07:34am | 16/11/11

Michelle Bachmann is a nut. Rick Perry, or any of the other Republican candidates, would be better than Obama. He’s the worst US President in living memory.

Nathan says:

08:17am | 16/11/11

@Erick
How do you figure that he is the worst in living memory. Sure he spent allot no more than Bush who lowered tax’s. He is bringing troops home, rather than starting them

Republicans are a danger to the rest of the world . That is a ridiculous comment that is unfounded and i challenge to be able to back it up with one point, just the one

gobsmack says:

08:42am | 16/11/11

In the last 50 years all the American presidents possessing genuine intelligence and vision have been Democrats.
Despite the efforts of “right wing think tanks” and others to put an intellectual gloss on conservative politics, the Republicans continue to place dimwits like Reagan, Quayle, Bush jnr and Palin on their ticket. 
I guess they have to pander to their core constituency.

Erick says:

09:36am | 16/11/11

@Nathan - In his first year alone, Obama spent more money than Bush did in eight. And that money was wasted.

There’s a reason that Obama has Gillard-level job approval ratings in the US.

palone says:

09:40am | 16/11/11

Erick, my apologies I promised your nurse that I would ring and remind you about the valium. Mea culpa.
Let me show you, (we all know), what a pretentious prat you are. You say that Barack Obama is the worst U.S. Pres. in living memory. Whose living memory? Yours?, mine?, my two-year-old grandson’s living memory?                What a plonker!                          Without the book of cliches, the book on how to cut and paste, without the copier, and without Abbott’s instructional manual, (“How to Lie, and Fail to Influence People”), you would be lost. A loser, like Abbott.
Yesterday I asked several folk of your ilk to explain to the readers why Abbott told one story in London, (Australia’s in a great position!), and another different and confidence-destroying-motive story here at home.
I also asked whether he had left the Country at Obama’s request whilst he, Obama visited, or whether it was a Bi-partisan eviction because of his Commentdismissing our brave lad’s death with a curt, “Shit happens”, (shrug).
Predictably, no-one from the land of Nod replied. Surprise, surprise!
And how do you know, (revise, Erick, revise, then re-write; first lesson), that Gillard does not have a “deep dislike of the American people”? Your psychological diagnosis of Obama, (gleaned magically from the media), has him, in your qualified view, both narcissistic and arrogant. Of course, to your credit, you also brilliantly deduced that he is black. Well done Erick. No wonder you think, narcissistically and arrogantly, that you are “The Man!”
Again, what a bloody plonker!
And don’t forget my two questions, will you?

Richard says:

10:16am | 16/11/11

Ron Paul is the only man who can save America now. Don’t get me wrong, I, like Daniel, really like Obama. I like the way he speaks, I like the way he looks, I like his jokes, I just like him.

But as a leftist, his ideology is simply incompatible with any economic recovery. Time after time after time we’ve seen the sort of mess that socialist/social democrat/statist government policies cause.

High government spending, high taxation, high sovereign debt, I hate to break it to you guys, but those sorts of policies aren’t compatible with strong, thriving, competitive economies. The government needs to be lean and hungry, not vast and bloated. I’m sorry that you all guys disagree with me but that’s the facts.

Its not mistake that free market Hong Kong thrived while statist socialist China was impoverished (until Deng Xiaoping introduced free market reforms). Its no mistake that free market West Germany grew rich while statist socialist East Germans suffered. Its not a coincidence that free market South Koreans have high living standards while statist socialist North Koreans starve.

Its not wrong to say that Australia was a Banana Republic until Paul Keating’s free market reforms enlivened our economy. Why is Europe now in such doldrums? I’ll tell you, its because all of Europe is ruled in a Social Democrat/Socialist fashion, and has been for decades.

Ron Paul is the only politician in America who has been consistent in supporting free market laissez-faire economics, right from the start. Obama is a nice man, but his ideology is just wrong, and there’s no one particular promise or policy that can fix such a systemic problem.

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:17am | 16/11/11

@Gobsmack

I see what you are saying, but unbelievably Bush Jnr IQ wasnt to bad, although Al Gore had it all over him that department.

Problem with the Republicans is they have to put a nut job on the ballot to attract the southern crazies

I think this election will be pretty close, maybe an Obama win due to the poor nature of the Republican candidates and that the Republican Mouth piece Fox News isnt giving the number 1 contender Ron Paul any airtime.

james says:

11:19am | 16/11/11

@Richard

I agree with a lot of what you say about Ron Paul.

You better tell Fox and the other right wing press, they don’t know he exists.
They only mention Perry, Nut Job, Bachmann, nuttier Job and Romney.

Dave says:

12:15pm | 16/11/11

LOL, erick: “Michelle Bachmann is a nut”. But Rick Perry is the shizzle, right? What the….!? Rick Perrty is every bit as crazy and as stupid as Bachmann. Maybe you just think Perry is better than Bachmann based on their different genitalia (which seems to be an important criteria when YOU assess people, Erick) because both are as flat out dumb as a housebric.
Here’s a tip, Erick, the only sane republican in the curent line up is Romney. And Romney is unelectable for a host of reasons. The nutjob Republican base - which is now a sizeable proportion of the republican support -  wont turn out for him. In contrast quite a lot of people will probably turn out for Obama in fear of the Republican candidate. All Obama has to do is look presidential over the next year. Obama in a canter.

Jason Todd says:

12:32pm | 16/11/11

There are three reasons why Rick Perry will not win the Republican bid. First, he’s far too much of a cowboy. Second, he’s just a little too smug. Third ... Uh…, Third is… Third is um… I’m gonna say EPA?

Tim says:

01:27pm | 16/11/11

Obama will wipe the floor with any of the Republican candidates. They’re not even in his league.

paul says:

02:07pm | 16/11/11

@Dave please stop making yourself look silly mate. Obama is black every single republican will be out to vote, they despise Obama more then any other democrat in history. Infact you don’t understand US politics as Republican members always turn out in full. Mate when Bush won they were not all rebulican voters, they captured swinging voters.
You almost know as little as Noosy. hahahahahaha.

andye says:

03:07pm | 16/11/11

@Erick - “In his first year alone, Obama spent more money than Bush did in eight.”

Really? Maybe I am missing something, but this does not seem to be the case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms

“And that money was wasted.”

So you are of the opinion that Afghanistan and Iraq are a waste of time? Thats strange, you seemed to have a different opinion previously.

Nathan says:

06:40am | 16/11/11

A pretty good summery of the situation, could not agree more

Alf says:

07:52am | 16/11/11

@progressiveunite. “Gillard is perceived as disappointing but it’s hard to know given the blatant media bias against her”.

Gillard in not ‘perceived’ as disappointing - she is disappointing. Media bias - my arse. She cops the same as Abbott.

Adam Diver says:

08:04am | 16/11/11

“given the blatant media bias against her”

Please explain this further. Because I could point out many examples of a fawning media, starting here on the punch, the editorials before the election in the “hate media”, almost anything in fairfax and the tax-payer funded ABC, and even nice words from Andrew bolt before her ascension to the top job.

I could also point to 2 people losing thier jobs over publishing a story about our PM, the 250 million bonus paid to the tv networks, the media enquiry, the internet filter, the tender process for the asia network, the phoning of media CEO’s, and paid spokesman for the government.

Is there some bias, sure, but its certainly not blatant, and it certainly seems beneficial of the ALP. The issue for you is that you have pre 2007 (i.e oppositon Labor) as the default setting for an unbiased media, which has you further left than the greens. I also think your own bias, has you unwilling to realise that the government has been extremely “dissapointing” and that the media reflects many of the governments own flaws and faults rather then confecting them.

However I am willing to be proven wrong, if you see it differently and can back it up, I look forward to your post.

AdamC says:

08:12am | 16/11/11

Obama has over-promised and under-delivered. All the exaggerated ‘hope and change’ rhetoric made many of those who voted for Obama in 2008 think their man was going to change the world. Of course, the reality of politics in any democracy is that change takes time and is often incremental.  This has left many of his original supporters – especially the less politically engaged and sophisticated ones – feeling betrayed.

Furthermore, Obama has not handled the GFC and great recession very well. Mid-term, he dropped the ball on the economy and railroaded his unpopular and expensive healthcare plan through Congress at a time of fiscal crisis. People expect leaders to respond to the needs of the times, rather than continue to pursue their own ultra-partisan vanity projects.

Romney is probably the only Republican candidate that can beat Obama. But, if he is selected to run, Obama will have to be lucky to get a second term.

Michael says:

08:27am | 16/11/11

mmmm love that summery feeling

Nilbog says:

08:29am | 16/11/11

Yeah, cause we should accept disappointing government as a fact of life…

This seems to be the ALP mantra these days (especially here in Qld and was in NSW)... “we may be terrible but the other lot is going to be a lot worse! Trust us!”

I’ll take the punt on the guy who “may” be terrible (Abbott) and give him a shot to prove himself over the guy who is already proven to be terrible (Gillard)...

If Abbott is that bad as the sacre mongering ALP suggest he can be a one termer like Rudd almost was.

Adam Diver says:

10:17am | 16/11/11

@ Nilbog,

Be careful what you wish for, you are describing the 2007 election.

Richard says:

10:30am | 16/11/11

Yep Nilbog, that’s just it. We cannot allow incompetence to remain in power just for the sake of some pathetic, unfounded fear of the unknown. Incompetent governments MUST be punished with electoral defeat, or they’ll continue to get worse and worse, whilst all the while nursing an enormous sense of entitlement.

Abbott may be as bad, he may even be worse, but he may turn out alright, anyway its irrelevant. The only relevant question is “has the government earned re-election with its performance?”, and if it hasn’t, it has to be replaced. And then at the next election, the new government will have to be judged on its performance. This is the only way we voters can ensure that we get the best governance possible.

Andrew says:

06:36am | 16/11/11

I am 54 and wouldn’t touch a man-crush with a forty-foot pole ... d’oh!

Nathan says:

07:24am | 16/11/11

don’t be a hater. Name a more charismatic leader around today? Everyone has speech writers that’s not new.

The first black president of the USA is hardly mister average. Agree disagree with his politics what ever but at least acknowledge some things

Joan says:

07:48am | 16/11/11

Nathan: I`m not a racist like you. Only lightweights need charisma to get them by. . Plenty of quality speeches from leaders from many different lands and religions. Absolutely nothing special about Obama - he is just another leader in the world. I saw the King of Jordan answering questions on the Syrian question - a most sensible coherent and illuminating answer. Who needs charisma ?  A sensible, considered, leader goes a long way to stablitly and confidence of a Nation. There is more to leadership than one speech .  Give me a action man any day to a guy reading lines on cue.

Alf says:

08:08am | 16/11/11

@Nathan. “The first black president of the USA ...”

That is about all you can say about him. Achievements - zip. Just like our first female PM.

thomas vesely says:

08:28am | 16/11/11

who the ***k can eat charisma ?

Michael says:

09:10am | 16/11/11

Nathan, you are like a little school girl mate, all stars and stripes in your eyes, sorry to all the schools girls.

Charisma?, this is the result of you kids watching the Kardashians or something? you think if you talk yourself or your favourite celebrity up it gives them that “je ne sais quoi”.

Rudd was the same flavour of fuck all too, all packaging and nothing inside.

Scratch that, i will use a home grown numpty, Warrick Capper, Deni Hines…celebrity apprentice style charisma.

james says:

09:19am | 16/11/11

@Alf

Achievements - zip

Ammm health care? Something that has been needed for a long time in the wealthiest country in the world.

andye says:

10:18am | 16/11/11

@Joan - I think from your posts it is pretty clear why you would have trouble recognising charisma.

Joan says:

12:55pm | 16/11/11

andye - just read @Michael - who sums up 21st century charisma just perrrfectly . The glossy package with nothing inside.

C1 says:

07:46am | 16/11/11

Chuck,

You are right about the Reds under the bed not beng there anymore- the one problem is that they seemed to have moved to the Senate!!!!

jg says:

08:08am | 16/11/11

Canberra in lockdown mode

Ah, I live here and no, we are most certainly not in lockdown. Yes, there are some rolling road closures and an increased but subtle sense of security but really, it’s just another day.

At worst, a minor inconvenience.

Chris L says:

06:35pm | 16/11/11

Not having been affected by any US presidential visit so far this millenium, I’m curious to know what differences there may be between this visit and GWB’s not so long ago. Is there more security? Less? More disruption to lives or less?

AdamC says:

08:00am | 16/11/11

Who are you, Glenn Beck?

Nathan says:

08:25am | 16/11/11

Well that is every US president is it not? I must admit that i find it disgusting that the very people who should of been locked up for the sub prime crises are his advisers

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:38am | 16/11/11

@AdamC

He is right, although rather blunt.

You will find the campaign contributions towards him from wall street were the highest for any candidate, and he is personal friends with Jamie Dimon from JP Morgan.

His appointees to financial positions within his cabinet were filled by ex Goldman Sachs executives.

In regards to Glenn Beck, that guy is a disgrace

AdamC says:

09:51am | 16/11/11

Simon, American politics is more riddled with vested interests and their toxic lobbyists than is the case in Australia (with the exception of Labor and the trade unions) but that doesn’t make Obama a ‘puppet’ of Goldman Sachs. And, aside from the Beck-esque conspiracy theories, I see no evidence that he is.

Obama is a fairly ordinary president, elected at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. A gift for oratory and racially-appealing success narrative do not qualify someone for leading the world’s greatest nation at a time of extreme difficulty. Obama’s ineffectual handling of the US’s economic problems, and his mid-term fixation on his ‘Obamacare’ baby, are the President’s greatest faults. And neither Goldman Sachs nor the US ‘elite’ (whoever they are) can be blamed for those.

Greg says:

08:59am | 16/11/11

Would like chicken salt with those chips on your shoulder?

fml says:

09:44am | 16/11/11

Jim,

I assume you have done some analysis of his policies then? Go on, Name them and how they have failed?

Mark G says:

10:33am | 16/11/11

No wait…....thats the wrong one…...I am just…....making sure…....we are talking…... about the same….....thing before I give….....an opinion.

SimonFromLakemba says:

08:42am | 16/11/11

Hes the chosen one, its his right

Bill says:

08:46am | 16/11/11

@ Lou - I don’t know Erick and I don’t speak for him, but I’ll tell you that in MY country we say what we want.  We don’t care about people like you trying to tell us what to say and what to think.

Our country is in better shape than yours. Our unemployment rate is 5.3%, yours is 9.1%. Our society is more egalitarian than yours. We DON’T allow citizens to own automatic weapons or to carry concealed pistols while in public. I could go on.

Who the ef are you?

nossy says:

08:51am | 16/11/11

@Lou Leidwinger, a proud Yank   on behalf of all Australians Lou I offer apologies on behalf of Erick - he knows not what he does poor chap - we love him like a brother here but International politics just aint old Ericks forte - come to think of it neither is Domestic politics   hahah

Greg says:

09:06am | 16/11/11

Good question Lou.

Erick’s key qualifications are internet access and anonymity.

He has a very narrow view of the world and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Warren says:

09:39am | 16/11/11

So @BIll, you are happy to say what you want but not happy when others do the same.

Michael says:

09:47am | 16/11/11

As Tory has pointed out many a time, this is an opinion site the only qualification you need is being in possession of an opinion.

Lou, can you offer more of your opinions? then we could make a conversation of this

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:22am | 16/11/11

@Bill

“Our country is in better shape than yours. Our unemployment rate is 5.3%, yours is 9.1%. Our society is more egalitarian than yours. We DON’T allow citizens to own automatic weapons or to carry concealed pistols while in public. I could go on.”

So I expect you to pass your congratulations onto Julia then shall I?

Cookie Monster says:

11:20am | 16/11/11

SimonFromLakemba says:11:22am | 16/11/11 “@Bill “Our country is in better shape than yours. Our unemployment rate is 5.3%, yours is 9.1%. Our society is more egalitarian than yours. We DON’T allow citizens to own automatic weapons or to carry concealed pistols while in public. I could go on. So I expect you to pass your congratulations onto Julia then shall I?”

Why? Australia was egalitarian and had strict gun laws before the Gillard goverment (shouldn’t Howard be congratulated for that one). Why should Gillard get credit for any of these? As for our unemployment rate I think she can share credit with Howard/Costello for that one.

Greg says:

10:15am | 16/11/11

Exactly. Obama has already managed to increase US debt by more than all of the US administrations from Washington to Bush #1.

That’s more than 200 years of debt, incurred all over again in just 3 years.

And at his current rate, he will even exceed Dubya’s debt (incurred over 8 years) before his 4 year term expires.

This is a fact, not an opinion. Deluded Obama sychophants can verify for themselves at:

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

Adam Diver says:

10:19am | 16/11/11

2012 budget - 1.35 trillion deficit

That’s how you get out of debt

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:31am | 16/11/11

He got handed a dud, $454 billion in interest on the debt alone, total tax cuts added to $3.3 trillion and high income tax cuts $680 billion.

You are correct in saying that he hasnt done much to help either.

Since Regan went nuts with spending, its been a downward slope since then

Semi Concerned Citizen says:

02:02pm | 16/11/11

Nossy,

What happens if they gave Rick Perry a teleprompter or took Obama’s away?

Malcolm says:

04:21pm | 16/11/11

Perry would need reading lessons, fast.

thomas vesely says:

09:30am | 16/11/11

drones get drones = australia
idiots get charisma = usa

Bill says:

09:51am | 16/11/11

@ Nossy

My predictions are:

1. Tony Abbott wins the next election in a landslide not seen since Whitlam was given the ass-kicking he deserved.

2. Obama loses the next election because Americans, despite their faults, are actually quite astute at judging their public officials on their performance. They will see through the hype Obama-fans have been spreading the last three years and will return a Republican to the White House.

3. Nossy keeps getting taken for the ill-informed idiot that he/she is.

But wait, there’s more!

2012 will be the best year ever with Conservative governments in all the world’s most important countries.

Gregg says:

10:07am | 16/11/11

Suppose you’ll be looking for a holiday in 2013 too!

Michael says:

10:11am | 16/11/11

What if you are wrong? same as last time? you change teams for a month or two, then start out like it never happened talking half the poll results so on and so forth…

Watermellon hiding under a ten gallon hat

TimB says:

11:08am | 16/11/11

“2/. Gillard takes a small but significant win over the Coalition led by Malcolm Turnbull in the 2013 elections.”

But Nossy, we’re constantly told (paticularly by ALP voters) that the Coalition vote would skyrocket if Turnbull were in charge. So how can 2 be possible? .

nossy says:

11:19am | 16/11/11

@Bill, Gregg and Michael - how sweet guys- looks like one of us will be wrong huh?

andye says:

12:16pm | 16/11/11

@Bill - “2. Obama loses the next election because Americans, despite their faults, are actually quite astute at judging their public officials on their performance. They will see through the hype Obama-fans have been spreading the last three years and will return a Republican to the White House.”

...so we can expect more fiscal irresponsibility and an even bigger deficit in the USA? Obama got saddled with a lame duck economy created by Republican Spend And Cut Taxes policy. The Republicans actually made this deficit.

Alf says:

04:55pm | 16/11/11

I’m no gambler, but would put my money on Bill.

JT says:

11:46am | 16/11/11

You are so on the money it’s scary, VERY scary….......... I wish more people could see through all the CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and other media choreography and be aware of the real issues. I just wonder what state this earth will be in 10 years from now.

SimonFromLakemba says:

10:35am | 16/11/11

I would of voted for Clinton if I was an American, very smart lady, problem was she was up against the hype that was Obama.

JT says:

11:33am | 16/11/11

^ Scary! She’s the one that joked around at the unconfirmed report of Gaddafi’s death with, “We came, we saw, he died! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!”

You DO NOT want people who joke at death to be in any place of authority.

Michael says:

10:14am | 16/11/11

Bromance…not so much about the sex? more about the manlove. (L)

HamSandwich says:

02:02pm | 16/11/11

Awkward….

Semi Concerned Citizen says:

02:05pm | 16/11/11

Crush implies attraction? well at least in primary school

Greg says:

10:32am | 16/11/11

I agree that Ron Paul is the only worthwhile candidate, which is why the most of the media is attempting to censor all coverage of him.

Jon Stewart’s (a leftist Democrat) story on the media’s Ron Paul suppression campaign was a classic, and is available on youtube.

He is the establishment’s worst nightmare, Democrat, Republican, Big Business & Big Media.

The only trouble is that the financial problems are now so huge that I doubt even Ron Paul can fix them, and he would get the blame for everything if the SHTF during his term.

Greg says:

10:42am | 16/11/11

Real unemployment is more like 23%.

The government statistics have been manipulated to ignore people who have not worked for more than 2 years as well as underemployed people who work for more than 1 hour per month.

The Shadow Stats website calculates unemployment based on the pre 1994 formula, before the Clinton administration started the manipulation.

Steve says:

11:08am | 16/11/11

Don’t have health insurance though and Ron paul says “tough luck”.

While I admire him being different and agree with some of his views - his pure free market ideology is unproven, untested and to me sounds frankly scary.

Sure you don’t want a fully state controlled country, but I would shudder to think what a fully free market economy looks like. I imagine chaos and greed. You need a balance in your economy/country - Ron paul does not advocate this balance.

JT says:

11:15am | 16/11/11

Right on the money, Daniel. Coincidence that he gets bugger-all air-time? I think NOT!

Andrew says:

11:40am | 16/11/11

:Yawn:—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V39sS1bEZLM

HR3008791213 says:

12:00pm | 16/11/11

I see what you did there…

Shama says:

01:03pm | 16/11/11

That has happened to me too.

The bombardment of this site by Erick is becoming boring and keeping me away from the site.

thomas vesely says:

12:52pm | 16/11/11

and you are going to decide what is constructive ?
no thanks.

RyaN says:

03:33pm | 17/11/11

@Chris: Something Constructive, there I said it, can I stay please sir!

Chris L says:

06:49pm | 16/11/11

I do agree that the economy is looking good enough to make me laugh whenever someone describes Australia as a “mess/disaster/basket case/etc”. I remember such hysterics when Keating was in charge, only to have Howard (in a gesture of sportsmanship) admit he was handed an economy in great condition.

On the other hand, you use your own hyperbole to describe Abbott as having fled the country. Also you have previously focussed on the “shit happens” comment which was proven to be unrelated to the casualty that people connected it with.

I urge you, as I have urged those on the right wing, aim your criticisms at worthy targets (such as your point about Abbott singing a different economic tune to non-voters).

Richard says:

07:03pm | 16/11/11

Yeah that’s right, you’re a bigot. Admit it. You don’t think that anyone who is a Catholic is fit to be Prime Minister. That’s called bigotry. You bigot.

Cookie Monster says:

10:33am | 17/11/11

palone - have you actually read the full transcript of the speech? Just asking because you’re cherry-picking the content. You know one-eyed ALP tragics are just a bad as one-eyed Liberal tragics.