SHP Forums

When it comes right down to it, ANY change is good, in my opinion. I'd be an isolationist by nature, but unfortunately, the new president cannot pull back and be only-American, thanks to Bush's destruction of any kind of credibility America has in the global environment.

The reaction across much of the globe in Barack Obama's election shows that residents in other countries feel there is a need for a change here in America. That enthusiasm can be nothing but good, and hopefully is a presage for things to come.

And for the record, you don't make it that far in politics without being an engaging speaker. I don't think being a good speaker is the most important quality in a leader, it does have some merit. Communication ability *is* underrated in my opinion, and a president that can adequately impart what he thinks and intends to do will go a long way in various relations, in America and abroad.

I don't believe there are any dumb opinions, since everybody lives different lives with different experiences and different values. Foreign policy, economic standings, racial differences, morality, the environment, security, etc. Whatever's on top for you is what you need to speak for the most and no one can tell you any different if they haven't walked in your shoes.

For some people, words and body language spoke better than a resume, making Obama easier to relate to and understand. Whether he has the fire to carry out his plans is another question, but at least he's on the same wavelength as the people for now with some common goals.

Speaking of common goals, you guys are all right. I was keeping up with the news all day yesterday and was really impressed with the voter turn-out and enthusiasm. The attitude in America's come a long way.

Datadog wrote:I'm really glad Obama got in. He's such a great public speaker, and I get this vibe from him that most of what he's spewing isn't BS - mostly because he's always straight-to-the-point and doesn't dance around questions. I find him genuinely interesting to listen to. Unless he really is all talk, he'll be a hard president to make fun of.

See, I firmly disagree here. I think most of what he says is BS and I've seen straight through him since the day he came on the national scene. I think he's a liar and a devil, and he came out of the most corrupt political scene in America: Chicago. I'm just as distraught today as I was last night about this whole thing. I've watched my country erode for the past 4 years, and I only see him making things worse. When was the last time we even had a president that honored the Constitution anyway? The whole problem with this country is that the Republican and Democratic parties, as entities, have way too much power and sway over their candidates and, in turn, lobbyists sway the parties towards their crooked goals through manipulation with money. Nothing's going to change as long as the Democrats or Republicans are in power. Anyway, I shouldn't get started on this topic, as I don't want to start any arguments and I'm extremely opinionated on the matter.

Australians are by culture, experience, nature or social influence inclined to be inherently cynical about politicians.

I HOPE that Mr Obama will be a good US president and a person of integrity. I don't know that he will be. Politicians do have a record of presenting themselves pre-election in such a way that will cause people to vote for them - and that's not the same as truly having strong values, having leadership abilities, having the will and the knowledge and the presentation to be a genuine servant of the people, with the aim of helping.

These are difficult times, and there are many horrors and unacceptable situations to contend with. I think that internationally we may well see improvement (at least for some of the existing international problems, on an initial basis). I hope that the employment, education and health situations in America will be addressed. They're not the only issues...

I can only express my best wishes for hopes realised to America. I have found some absolutely wonderful people who come from various parts of the US, and who have become friends that I cherish.

Question - does the news of day - have to be political? Or any news of the day work here?

Matthias wrote: Anyway, I shouldn't get started on this topic, as I don't want to start any arguments and I'm extremely opinionated on the matter.

I disagree. Personally speaking, I value every single opinion and I'm interested on what you have to see, since it seems to me that you prefer a third party in this cause. And it may be different in America - it sure is - but here in Europe the only parties they speak of are Republicans and Democrats.

I'd say probably ANY "news of the day" would be ideal to post here. Even something like "Man bites dog!"

AndreaDraco wrote:Are you serious? Because I can think at least of one person - the same, old, bald Silvio Berlusconi - who would have done anything Bush would have asked him to do. Bush said Italy should support America in Iraqi War, and we sent soldiers, despite quite all the popular opinion being against this resolution.

Perhaps Italy did (the UK followed as well), but overall, most countries in the world rarely listen to a word that the U.S. says. The only time the U.S. is truly important to any nation is if military action is present (and it involves them) or economic issues.

A good example of other countries being difficult would be the utterly laughable and incredibly impotent United Nations. If there was ever a larger gathering of "tin-pot dictators" all vying for control and power, I don't know of it.

The main problem with the UN is that it has absolutely no ability to enforce whatever it decrees. Unless, of course, the U.S. pays the bill and supplies plenty of troops. If other nations wish to get something done, then they should pay for it, both monetarily and militarily. Unfortunately, that's not how they want it done. For some reason or another, the U.S. is expected to pay for it in every way.

Some people say this is fair, since the U.S. is arguably the richest country in the world and the only superpower in existence. I'd say it's fair if -- and only if -- the action is to the benefit of the United States. That may not sound nice, but the U.S. has plenty of internal issues to deal with. The money spent on foreign projects that provide no benefit to the U.S. would be better utilized domestically.

Tinuviel wrote:When it comes right down to it, ANY change is good, in my opinion. I'd be an isolationist by nature, but unfortunately, the new president cannot pull back and be only-American, thanks to Bush's destruction of any kind of credibility America has in the global environment.

To be fair, America's credibility (whatever that exactly constitutes) had been suffering long before Bush ever arrived on the scene. Perhaps he exacerbated it, but his administration did not create the problem.

Tinuviel wrote: And for the record, you don't make it that far in politics without being an engaging speaker. I don't think being a good speaker is the most important quality in a leader, it does have some merit. Communication ability *is* underrated in my opinion, and a president that can adequately impart what he thinks and intends to do will go a long way in various relations, in America and abroad.

You're right -- communication is very important for any world leader. I think Bush had numerous issues in that area, but that does not make him a moron. The opposite is true, as well. Just because Obama can speak in an eloquent manner does not make him a genius.

I don't think communication will be quite as important in the near future, when today's young men and women enter the political field. The English language has been virtually destroyed by e-mail, message boards, instant messaging, text communication on cell phones, and possibly the Internet as a whole. With dictionaries adding this lingo to their databases, it won't be long before such written and vocal insanity shows up in government.

AndreaDraco wrote:I figured it out it might be interesting to have a place where to post the news of the day, the ones that interest or amuse us whatever the reason.

Tawm & Al, it's for anything from what Andrea posted. I suppose it could be world related or personal. Andrea, how would you like your thread to be used?

Jules wrote:

AndreaDraco wrote:I figured it out it might be interesting to have a place where to post the news of the day, the ones that interest or amuse us whatever the reason.

Tawm & Al, it's for anything from what Andrea posted. I suppose it could be world related or personal. Andrea, how would you like your thread to be used?

I don't think Andrea wants his thread to be used. After all, threads have feelings too.

Sorry, Mr. Thread. Didn't mean to take advantage of you. ^_^

Oh, yes... I actually wanted to talk about Obama's victory, but it felt right to have a place where to talk about any news we want to.

For example: Ivan Trump wants a divorce from Rossano Rubicondi

AndreaDraco wrote:Oh, yes... I actually wanted to talk about Obama's victory, but it felt right to have a place where to talk about any news we want to.

For example: Ivan Trump wants a divorce from Rossano Rubicondi

You meant "Ivana Trump," right? There's a gender difference there.

Yes, yes... I meant Ivana...

Are you certain? <whisper>There might be a secret child named Ivan, born to Ivana during the Trump period... a child farmed out and married to the very man Ivana ended up marrying, so that Rubicondi is in effect a bigamist to mother and son. </whisper> UGH!