Bye Bye Obama

[wolfix]

I lost all respect for Hannity on Fox..... He really manipulated the facts in the case. We are taught as children that Americans are just. The trouble begins when the people that are are to be protectors of society take justice and twist it.....
When the drug dealer was shot, the agents did not know he was a drug dealer. He was just a person in a traffic stop.... so what if he was trying to run. When is it right to shoot a man because he is trying to run????
And the part of the American thought process that I just laugh at this...... I love it when people that smoke a joint now and then think it's justice when drug dealers [pot] get arrested...... Don't they make the connection???? If cops shot all drug dealers and pot smokers, this forum , like many other gatherings of people would be smaller.....

But the media......And yes I watch FOX, treat us Americans like we are idiots. Then, in order to get their point across, they wrap themselves in the American flag and try and make their audience feel unpatriotic if they do not agree with FOX...

Earlier in the thread, a article was posted about the Nazi takeover of Germany...... It occurred because the people of Germany trusted their leaders and did not challenge them when they saw injustice.....

{ I sound like a liberal....... It must have been that wine and French food i had last night. Damn!!!!}

[mrainey]

I sound like a liberal.

You sound like a thoughtful person.

[dakotamouse]

I have no problem with the idea of a black or a woman as president. But the only thing that I know Obama has going for him is charisma. He has no experience in the senate, hell he just got there. Four years from now I think he would be a more credible canidate.

Hillary I just plain don't like or trust. Experience no charisma. The next year should be really interesting.

[asianflava]

I never have liked Hillary, I just can't believe the people of New York gave her a start.

If anybody else decides to run for office in a state they have never lived in, that campaign would probably fizzle out as soon as it starts. She was probably sucessful because she is high profile.

[wolfix]

Hilary is high profile. But she carries alot of power within the Democratic Party. Obama will not know what hit him when Hilary gets thru with him. Too many in the party owe her. Obama has no substance. He has nothing to claim as his own when it comes to political decisions.
There is a power structure within the party. And most of it is established out east, Hilary's country.
The Republicans are sitting out there just hoping Obama pulls votes and party interest away from Edwards. Edwards is electable.... The Democrats have failed in the past with bad decisions, the Republicans are hoping the do it again.
I am not a fan of her politics, but I love watching her political moves toward the White House.

[halfdome, Danny]

I just found out one excellent reason for voting for Obama. He is not a baby-boomer. Afterall the problems with our country are not republican vs. democratic. They are baby boomer vs non-baby boomer. Get the baby boomers out of office asap. They've done enough damage.

[Kurt (Indiana)]

Habitat for Humanity....Another failed program that disguises itself in wolf clothes

This is an interesting statement. I've done a lot of work in researching Habitat for a college study and find that it is a very beneficial organization.
Carter didn't invent it, he's only holding on to it because of the good things it will do for him. (part of his legacy you know) It does more good for him than it gains from him.
I've interviewed several contracters and volunteers involved with the program and I gained a respect and insight into the (non Carter) aspects of the organization.

Jimmy doesn't really have any concrete legend except for his peace initiatives (that failed), the peanut farm, and the crazy memories of Billy.
Habitat will probably diassociate itself with Jimmy in the future. I know I would if I were them.
It's too important and effective to be weighed down by ex-President Carter.

[Podunkfla]

Habitat for Humanity....Another failed program that disguises itself in wolf clothes

I wouldn't exactly call it a failed program?
"Its founder, Millard Fuller, is undoubtedly a socialist, as is clear from his writings. That doesn't mean that he can't make a contribution through his deeds, if not his words. Many people must think he does: Habitat raises more money in private donations than the Boy Scouts. "It has been said that people will support anything they can take a picture of," says Fuller, a fund-raising genius. Thus his organization attracts 200,000 volunteers working for 1,500 affiliates in 1,300 U.S. locations and 50 different countries. It is the 20th largest homebuilder in the country. In fact, it fully expects to be number one in three years. "That will probably also make us the number one home builder in the world," says Fuller, who is otherwise ideologically opposed to big business."

It is not really a charity anyway in that it gets serious bucks from the government: "Habitat for Humanity is on the federal take. In March of 1996, it was awarded a highly unusual $25 million federal grant. Just imagine how "charitable" you could be with that kind of cash."

Still, for all their faults, Habitat has done a better job of providing low income housing to the people that actually need it than the the government and all their HUD programs have. Their default rate is way less than 2%... That is far better than most commercial lending institutions. I find it hard to call that a failure even if I don't agree with their politics.

[wolfix]

Habitat for Humanity....Another failed program that disguises itself in wolf clothes

I wouldn't exactly call it a failed program?
"Its founder, Millard Fuller, is undoubtedly a socialist, as is clear from his writings. That doesn't mean that he can't make a contribution through his deeds, if not his words. Many people must think he does: Habitat raises more money in private donations than the Boy Scouts. "It has been said that people will support anything they can take a picture of," says Fuller, a fund-raising genius. Thus his organization attracts 200,000 volunteers working for 1,500 affiliates in 1,300 U.S. locations and 50 different countries. It is the 20th largest homebuilder in the country. In fact, it fully expects to be number one in three years. "That will probably also make us the number one home builder in the world," says Fuller, who is otherwise ideologically opposed to big business."

It is not really a charity anyway in that it gets serious bucks from the government: "Habitat for Humanity is on the federal take. In March of 1996, it was awarded a highly unusual $25 million federal grant. Just imagine how "charitable" you could be with that kind of cash."

Still, for all their faults, Habitat has done a better job of providing low income housing to the people that actually need it than the the government and all their HUD programs have. Their default rate is way less than 2%... That is far better than most commercial lending institutions. I find it hard to call that a failure even if I don't agree with their politics.

This is why I feel it is not all the things people want it be........Even though I feel on the surface it does do some good.......

I am told that the people receiving the Habitat housing are supposed to put in sweat equity..... That they are to contribute so many hours of volunteer time into the next project. I watched a show that pointed out that 80% of that "time" is never applied by the home owners. Habitat does not require follow through of the people who receive the housing.

I also have problems with some of the locations where Habitat locates the property. In my neighborhood there are 3 of them in recent years. They do not represent the other housing in the area which brings down values..... This is not about keeping diversity out of the neighborhood. This is about people who have worked hard to increase value of their homes losing out because of a situation out of their control. I know there is no control over who buys a particular location, but usually a person who would have bought that particular property would have put up similar housing to fit the neighborhood.
This is a problem that could be solved with some thought. Habitat housing that matched the neighborhood could be built.

But you are right, anything has to be better then HUD.

[Jiminsav]

I say bomb the middle east, bomb the eastern east, bomb the western east, bomb the northern and southern east, and if anything is left standing, make it the 51st state and maybe they got some tough sum beach that can be President.

[wolfix]

Carter didn't invent it, he's only holding on to it because of the good things it will do for him. (part of his legacy you know) It does more good for him than it gains from him.

Now that's just ridiculous. You're saying Carter is seeking some kind of legacy benefit from HFH and that's why he's doing it??? Like its his evil plan or something?? Let's remember Reagan was the turkey who had planned speaking engagements lined up for profit ($100K's per hour). I'm sorry but just about anything would be a more productive way to plug yourself than HFH. Well good; If this is Carter's plan to "use" HFH for his legacy then we should all so evil.

If you're looking for somebody who is trying to buy a stairway to heaven, I think Bill Gates is a better candidate.

As bad a a President as Jimmy Carter was, I'm not sure he is a bad person. I do not see him trying to gain"legacy" from HFH. I believe he is motivated to do good with HFH. I do believe that will be one of the things he is remembered for though.
Jimmy Carter is in serious trouble now with his new book. Many of his people around him are trying to get way from him as fast as they can.

Just curious??? Is Billy still around?

[Podunkfla]

This is why I feel it is not all the things people want it be........Even though I feel on the surface it does do some good.......

I am told that the people receiving the Habitat housing are supposed to put in sweat equity..... That they are to contribute so many hours of volunteer time into the next project. I watched a show that pointed out that 80% of that "time" is never applied by the home owners. Habitat does not require follow through of the people who receive the housing.

I also have problems with some of the locations where Habitat locates the property. In my neighborhood there are 3 of them in recent years. They do not represent the other housing in the area which brings down values..... This is not about keeping diversity out of the neighborhood. This is about people who have worked hard to increase value of their homes losing out because of a situation out of their control. I know there is no control over who buys a particular location, but usually a person who would have bought that particular property would have put up similar housing to fit the neighborhood.
This is a problem that could be solved with some thought. Habitat housing that matched the neighborhood could be built.

But you are right, anything has to be better then HUD.

Sadly... I have experienced incredible waste and corruption in government housing programs personally. I was a grant administrator for some milti-million dollar programs just a few years ago. I watched as corrupt local officials got totally free houses built for their friends and relatives before any of the money went to poor people... There is more... but this isn't the place to air it. There was not a thing I could do about it, and it is still going on bigtime. The system is broken (if it was ever working in the first place?).

Habitat looks great compared to many government programs. As for Jimmy Carter, I am not a big fan of his... He's just a naive self righteous do-gooder who actually means well... sometimes he just doesn't have a clue about how evil the real world is. He has a "turn the other cheek" mentality that is generally perceived as weakness. At least he tried... No one else has had any success making peace with the radical Arabs and Muslims either.

[wolfix]

At least he tried... No one else has had any success making peace with the radical Arabs and Muslims either.

Hilary was in town today...... One thing she said had to make the liberals groan......

Hilary.......
"I do think we are engaged in a war against heartless, ruthless enemies," she said. "If they could come after us again tomorrow they would do so."

[doug hodder]

Both the Clintons are pretty shrewd politicians...I think Hillary is smart enough to know that she has no chance of getting elected if she plays her liberal cards too early, or at all...A slip up even now will haunt her through the election... Doug

[Rick Sheerin]

Being a resident of New York State, first I can tell you in the last two senatorial elections, the Republican Party didn't give voters much of a choice. If anyone can give me a reason why Rick Lazio was a better choice the first time around, I stand corrected. The first time Hilary was elected, the voters gave her a chance. The second time around she won by a landslide. Without going in to a lot of detail, she has done an admirable job for NY. She has represented the whole state, not just the interests of NYC like Chuck Schumer(our other Democratic senator).
Now, I'm not saying that I would vote for her for President in '08 just yet.( I did vote for her both times for senator and I'm a life long Republican.) But if the Republicans don't get their sh** together and put somebody good out there, well, I've got no problem goin' with what I know.