American Politics

[CBGBConnisur]

Honestly to get a real feel of the state of America, avoid the coastal cities, and see the Midwest, especially the rust belt states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The US economy is a shadow of its former self. I hear bullshit talkers say that the loss of American manufacturing is irrelevant. Also that Muslim slimeball who works for Newsweek, Fareed Zakaria who loves to make his spitting on America look like he is cheering for America say that an idea economy will take the place of manufacturing is rubbish(ie designing Ipods rather than manufacturing them). Many European countries also have sizable knowledge based economies yet manufacturing is still seen as a bulwark of the working classes. Japan is another economy that is widely seen as knowledge based, in some areas Japanese technology surpasses the US, yet manufacturing is still key to that nation's prosperity. India's idea economy has not lifted its masses out of poverty, and it would be frightening if the US resembled India in another 20 to 30 years, with an ultra rich elite and the masses in poverty. Not everyone is cut out to become a scientist, engineer, or internet entrepreneur. China has largely lifted itself from a third world basket case to a soon to be superpower through manufacturing, and despite having many desperately poor people, its middle class is rapidly growing, still most people are poor, but two or three decades in the future things will be different in that Asian nation.

I don't like Bush either but the US is a democracy and the people elected Bush. A sizable portion of the population bought into his hypocritical nonsense. I recall when running for reelection in 2004 at a rally he was standing on top of a giant W, and the morons surrounding him were cheering.

Oh I forgot to correct myself, the Russians did not invade Georgia, they were responding to Georgia's incursion of breakaway South Ossetia. Still the US was heavily courting Georgia, and the lack of support shows that US power in the world is declining.

Right now I would liken the US to a passenger jet about to crash. I think Obama would lead to a soft landing while McCain would pretty much lead to a fiery crash. And Palin....start praying to God, that woman has is completely out of her league.

[Doctor_Skank]

The blame is being placed on Bush but the everyday people who voted for him..twice are to blame, even the people who did not vote for him, who lived irresponsibly above their means are to blame for this mess.

Exactamundo. QFT.

I can still hate Bush for being a gigantic turd though.

[CBGBConnisur]

Sorry but China and Russia have proved to the world what most in the West have denied. A politically incorrect dictatorship can bring prosperity as both nations show both.

Lets face reality, America has been living high on the hog for too long, and Americans have gotten used to living on credit. The US is the only country in the world where people in "poor" areas can be seen driving Mercedes and BMWs, the rest of the world has to buy them with cash or with far stricter credit terms. Why? Because of auto financing and easy access to credit. In fact when I was in New York there were dealerships in rough areas whose lots werefilled with fairly new high end luxury cars and even the new ones were sold to people with questionable credit.

The same has gone with the housing market, up until recently all you needed was a pulse to get a home loan. Much of those loans were financed by foreigners whose appetite to fund American's way of excess is now starting to run out.

The loosening of credit happened well before the Bush administration showed up, it started in the 1990s. The Bush administration just made the US look like an inconsiderate bully in the eyes of the world which influences how foreigners perceive us when they decide to invest the money that allows the liquidity for us to live high. Now the US has few friends, even long time allies like Australia, Britain, and Japan are now turning their backs on the US to newer rising powers.

The blame is being placed on Bush but the everyday people who voted for him..twice are to blame, even the people who did not vote for him, who lived irresponsibly above their means are to blame for this mess.

[DJ FourMoney]

Affirmative Action?

Sure it helped WOMEN too... Nobody seems to remember that. Its one of those "things" attached to Black People only.

If Affirmative Action is BAD, then so is Cronyism. People should be able to qualify for whatever position they seek based on qualifications set by the employee/owner. You should not get run Daddy's Company just because you have Daddy's Blood, if you in turn RUN IT INTO THE GROUND (which has been done more times than I can bother to count). Entitlement is fully embedded in Anglo culture, keeps Women and Minorities out of successful positions, makes sure they earn less than White Males.

Is it any accident that just about every Fortune 500 company run by some White Guy (old or young, crony connected or entitled, you take your pick)?

When Women and Minorities were not EXTENDED the same opportunities. Yes the Vice Chairman of Coke-A-Cola is Black and the CEO of Ebay is a Woman but gee I hardly call that an achievement, I call that TOKENISM.

I say we'll stop as Black people making race an issue when White people stop making it an issue. When somebody says Black people are only voting for Obama because he's Black that's utter nonsense when Blacks have been voting Dem since Kennedy. Of course we are proud Obama has made it this far because despite being Bi-Racial, he's the "Black" or "African-American" would-be President by "liberal" and "conservative" 99.9% White owned media, the ONE DROP rule...

When people just say Obama is just another highly educated MAN and not have to add a modifier to his name, then we have turned the page on this subject, but NOT until then.

Finally, we shouldn't have to made to accept "racist" attitudes. Jews don't let you get away with it, why should we? Jews largely own the media, so you'll get tar and feathered if you say something racist about Jews ...

Blacks don't have that kind of power, but to only POINT fingers, which is AUTOMATICALLY called into question in these early days of Neo-Liberalism....

Neo Conservatives and Neo Liberals have no place in our culture they are the extremes sides of idealogies run amuck.

[Balluba]

I wish him the best of luck, however the damage already done is massive. Moreover, not only the presdential clown is responsible, but also the American people as well. Silliness.

How can You say so ? Its a proven fact that this is not true ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

[Doctor_Skank]

Barack Obama will clean up the mess left by the Republicans, particularly by the current 'buffoon' in the White House.

I wish him the best of luck, however the damage already done is massive. Moreover, not only the presdential clown is responsible, but also the American people as well. Silliness.

[CBGBConnisur]

When the Great Depression happened, the Nazis came to power, Japan began expanding its empire and World War 2 happened, the US asserted itself and became the dominant military power in the world. This time around the playing field is becoming more even with third world nations like China and India becoming major players, globalization has changed the whole world economic game and now a lot of third world countries like China and India will move into first world status over the next couple of decades. More countries are becoming nuclear capable and that means the US can't just attack anyone. Look at the limp response towards the Russian invasion of Georgia. The US was also a creditor nation in the early 20th Century now we borrow money from China just so the government can operate. The EU now also meddles with some of our largest corporations such as Microsoft. As a society the US is more divided these days than it was in the last century where it was given that if you wanted to go somewhere you needed get rid of the habits from the old country and be an American. These days in your typical American city multiculturalism has made America a divided nation.

Also this financial crisis could not come at a worse time. Everyone knows Obama is going to become the next President, his lead is widening with every bad news report about the economy. The bailout for Wall Street and the financial system will be so big, he won't have any money left for his ambitious alternative energy program, tax cuts for middle class people, etc.

Still I don't think the US will collapse outright, it will just become another country and another chess piece in the global game. The unipolar moment that existed since 1989 is clearly over.

[Jelly Donut]

...the final straw in the hay, and America's day as an economic superpower will now come to an end...

I always enjoy reading your posts and predictions.

The United States hit the depths of the Great Depression in 1932-1933 and by 1945 it's global position as a superpower was relatively greater than at any time before and, some might say, any time since. So, it's difficult to say a financial crisis indicates predestination of anything.

[Balluba]

My brothers: please, this board is about American Women, right?

Thanks. Peace.

Hahah! Funny :-D

[Looking For Eden]

My brothers: please, this board is about American Women, right?
Thanks. Peace.

LOL. Its american politics guy

[Yogin]

My brothers: please, this board is about American Women, right?
And before you explain how it's all connected, yeah right. I can link the price of yak butter in Nepal to OJ's conviction to why AM's are so fatass. But I won't.
Thanks. Peace.

[Jan 156]

Frankly I'm surprised as well.... especially to a Norwegian citizen. US-Norwegian relations are generally very good. One of the few friends the US has left.

I think one gets the true temperature of one's own country by looking at it from outside. I have had American friends hassled at the U.K. border. And if you've ever been strip searched by your own lot you see a different side.

But there is still a sliding scale. I personally avoid flying via America now if I can, even if it means paying slightly more. The hassles at security might be understandable but they are a nuisance. And the invasion of privacy demanded by U.S. security on personal details of all passengers now is offensive to my European sensibilities (not that our own politicians are that much behind!)

[Leeuwen]

"The Norwegian stunt reporter Pia Haraldsen would cover the U.S. election campaign for Norwegian TV 2 Entertainment, but the Americans remembered her previous performance as a reporter. Therefore, they said no to grant her journalist visa.

Her performance was really harmless, but this Odda guy, whoever he's in the food chain, made a total fool of himself. No politician, nor PR-staff can afford to (re)act like he did. His lack of humor, will bring more jokes deriding on the subject. Wow, so he barred a blond Norwegian from obtaining journalist visa to the US? Wouldn't surprise me if she entered the country as 'tourist'. No visa required.
Note this is quite common procedure for journalist working in... hmm.. difficult areas.

[CBGBConnisur]

Actually a lot of people from countries closely aligned with the US have been given a boot on their asses. An Australian girl this year was deported out of the US after she was discovered to overstay her visa, they also put her in a detention center for a while. Not a big deal since Aussie immigration has given a hard time to US citizens many times in the past.

[Doctor_Skank]

The rumors in Norway says she was gangbanged of 5 Afro Americans the night before this interview, therefore, she was a little bit put out.

Oh'well - what do I know.

Could be, been known to happen. That or 5 Mexican gardeners.