Out with "maverick", "hope", and "change": Is "Historic" - the new catchphrase?

[Sir_Cliff]

Could you point me to some specific examples? I tune in to Fox every day and simply am not seeing this.

I don't keep much of Fox News on tape, but I've heard people like O'Reilly and Hannity repeatedly mention that they're scared of what Obama might be like as president. O'Reilly also repeatedly describes him as far left or as some kind of extreme liberal which I think is supposed to be what worries him. To go back to my point, and I will admit that this is fairly anecdotal, but I think as these names have been put out there all of that talk has begun to subside as it seems to suggest he's quite pragmatic. I think they prefer having a go at the Clintons anyway!

[Lacrosse Boy]

Whether one agrees with him or not, Bill O'Reilly always brings up legitimate, well-reasoned concerns, and always corrects himself if he is wrong. I wish I could say the same thing about his counterpart Olbermann.

I have disagreed with Bill many times, but it's clear he's not an unhinged individual. Angry. But not unhinged. That said, I don't want to see O'Reilly run for public office. It would be as ridiculous as Franken running for public office. We don't need knee-jerk politicians.

I try to be positive, but honestly, I can't help but think that Obama could be the second term of Jimmy Carter. When you look at it, the two are ridiculously similar. We're seeing signs of high taxes, high inflation, and high unemployment is coming as the recesssion deepens. Just more of the same-old, same-old recycled Carter policies and answers that didn't work in the past. No change. I should have my only loan (car loan), paid off this year. Then I can reach across the aisle and tell a Democrat I don't need any of their handouts. Why do we need something that will only end up being a net negative for the country?

Still, I am inclined to give Obama a fair shake, even though the libs don't deserve it with what they did to Bush. What is very unsettling though is if Obama screws up, it will be the white man pulling him down etc. My fear is he will get more of a free pass for legitimate policy failures than Bush did.

[club33az]

What will happen, Lacrosse Boy, is that the market will correct itself, probably by this time next year. And Obama will be seen as the 2nd coming of Jesus. Even though the economy would have come back on its own anyway. Clinton did the same thing with the dot com boom.

As far as O'Reilly or Olbermann, I have to say, admitting that I've drunk the punch at both party's bowl, I have to say that Olbermann is WAAAAY more vitriolic and nasty than I've ever seen O'Reilly or Hannity. Someone said before that at least O'Reilly and Hannity have someone from a dissenting view point on their shows. I don't see that so much with Olbermann.

[Mortimer]

To say he is the second coming of Carter at this point is really rather ridiculous. Let's give him at least six months or so before we can really comment on his effectiveness.

At this point the damage is already done. Let's see if his plans are more than just rhetoric. I think he is doing the right thing, the Obama transitional team seems to be very well organized.

Bush had his chances, eight years worth of them.

[Lacrosse Boy]

To say he is the second coming of Carter at this point is really rather ridiculous.

I said that? Let's go back and look:

"I can't help but think that Obama could be the second term of Carter."

My reasons for thinking that this is possible aren't unjustified. Obama has yet to actually do anything, but his answers to the problems at hand are all Carter-esque. It's not a ridiculous thing to think at all.

[Sir_Cliff]

Whether one agrees with him or not, Bill O'Reilly always brings up legitimate, well-reasoned concerns, and always corrects himself if he is wrong. I wish I could say the same thing about his counterpart Olbermann.

I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on Bill O'Reilly. I find him a demagogue pure and simple and I think he contributes to the kind of division and anger we're now seeing in California over prop. 8 with all his talk of culture wars and "secular progressives" vs. "traditionalists". Guess which group is trying to destroy everything that Americans hold near and dear? Those who support gay marriage, opposed the war in Iraq (though, after years of attacking these people, he's changed his view on this), and generally believe that change is not always bad, of course! He also leads these bizarre campaigns to silence those in the media who disagree with him leaving me in no doubt that he's strongly authoritarian in his political views.

That said, I don't read or listen to Franken or Olbermann either. I don't really see much of a point as I know exactly what they're going to say and they equally have axes to grind. This intense polarisation of politics is something the whole world really needs to try to move beyond.

I try to be positive, but honestly, I can't but help think that Obama could be the second term of Jimmy Carter. When you look at it, the two are ridiculously similar. We're seeing signs of high taxes, high inflation, and high unemployment is coming as the recesssion deepens. Just more of the same-old, same-old recycled Carter policies and answers that didn't work in the past. No change. I should have my only loan (car loan), paid off this year. Then I can reach across the aisle and tell a Democrat I don't need any of their handouts. Why do we need something that will only end up being a net negative for the country?

I enjoy reading your posts and respect your opinions, but as an unethusiastic supporter of McCain I've been very surprised to see how negative you've been about Obama from the moment of his election. We're really in a "wait and see" period now between an election campaign in which a lot of things were said and the administration taking office and having to work in the real world. To already be speaking of him as a potential new Jimmy Carter several months before he takes office seems premature to say the least.

On the issue of taxes, he is already talking about just letting the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010 rather than raising taxes on higher income earners himself upon taking office. His initial appointments all seem fairly pragmatic, moderate and experienced individuals that in and of themselves shouldn't cause much alarm. The handouts are so far coming from a Republican president who has been criticizing the Democrat-controlled Congress for dragging their feet in approving a bail out for the auto industry. So, again, I don't really see how this can all be held up as proof of how Obama intends to govern.

What is very unsettling though is if Obama screws up, it will be the white man pulling him down etc.

I'm sorry, I think this is a ridiculous thing to say.

[Lacrosse Boy]

I'm sorry, I think this is a ridiculous thing to say.

Is it? This is a legitimate concern as it has happened so often in other positions that black people hold. At one of my previous places of employment, I've seen blacks get preferential treatment because of political correctness.

So, I have a feeling that for the next four years, if anyone criticizes Obama's policies, the claims of racism from Pelosi, et. al, will be loud.

As far as drawing up comparisons to Jimmy Carter, I stand by that. I think it is perfectly valid. I am not saying he *IS* the next Jimmy Carter, but I am listening to what is coming out of Obama's mouth, and comparing it to what came out of Jimmy Carter's mouth and couple that with what he did. So it may be premature to say that he WILL be the next Jimmy Carter (which is not what I did), it certainly is not premature to look and see the potential for him to follow down the same path. I'm not arguing a slippery slope, but I am saying that it is very possible that Obama could do the same, and if he wants to avoid it happening, he will need to be very careful about the actions he takes.

[Mortimer]

I said that? Let's go back and look:

"I can't help but think that Obama could be the second term of Carter."

My reasons for thinking that this is possible aren't unjustified. Obama has yet to actually do anything, but his answers to the problems at hand are all Carter-esque. It's not a ridiculous thing to think at all.

He "could" also be the anti-christ. Only time will tell. But both would be ridiculous to claim at this point. It's too early bub. All I'm saying is give him a fair chance.

[Lacrosse Boy]

He "could" also be the anti-christ. Only time will tell. But both would be ridiculous to claim at this point. It's too early bub. All I'm saying is give him a fair chance.

Hey, I'm saying I will. But you can't set my argument as a straw-man by relating to Obama being the anti-Christ. My concerns are valid, and I feel, well-reasoned. I'm not saying that Obama is the anti-Christ. I am concerned that if he's not careful about what he does, we'll have another Carter mess on our hands. Obama's words speak loud and clearly, and they sound like Carter. So to relate the two together is not stretched that far. No further than relating McCain to Bush, anyhow. Obama pulled a similar tactic by tying McCain to an unpopular president (with legitimate concerns as well). So don't bristle up if people link Obama to a horribly ineffective president. "Pardon me, if I mix you two up, since you sound so similar!"

I'm not the only one who feels that this is a legitimate concern. Obama has been "man of the hour" for so long, you'd think he invented Big Ben! With all the criticism and focus on the Bush administration I will take one guess that the media cannot find its butt with both hands, a flashlight, and Dual Doppler Radar.

[Mortimer]

Hey, I'm saying I will. But you can't set my argument as a straw-man by relating to Obama being the anti-Christ. My concerns are valid, and I feel, well-reasoned. I'm not saying that Obama is the anti-Christ. I am concerned that if he's not careful about what he does, we'll have another Carter mess on our hands. Obama's words speak loud and clearly, and sound like Carter.

I'm not the only one who feels that this is a legitimate concern. Obama has been "man of the hour" for so long, you'd think he invented Big Ben! With all the criticism and focus on the Bush administration I will take one guess that the media cannot find its butt with both hands, a flashlight, and Dual Doppler Radar.

"A-C" was just me trying to prove a point. It was not intended for you. It's also called sarcasm.

Who was "Man of the Hour" for the last eight years. He had the bullypulpit to try to motivate and change ass backwards policies. Did he? The position of President is there to motivate and make good policy decsions for we the people. The press called him out on it, the general population called him out on it, because frankly they were crappy ass policies. This is why he is unpopular, this is why we are in a terrible financial mess. 10 billion plus per year for 5 plus years on a stupid war did not help.

Did you read the Russian claim today on Drudge? Do you think if we had a better president in place the last eight years, we would be viewed this way? America IS on the verge of collapse financially. Obama is aligning himself to take the financial challenge on. Oh how Carter-esque of him. What a sin to be the most well organized P/E in modern history.

At this point Obama is our P/E. It's time we all start uniting behind him, he won the election not Ralph Nader, not Ron Paul, not John McCain. At least give him the benefit of the doubt. We are in a serious hole, hopefully his admin can work to start the climb out.

If not, it's fair game for us all to learn Chinese and take up the liking of Dim-Sum.