This question is for the non-lefties on the board.

After some thought, I realized ending the Cuban embargo was the first substantive policy change Obama has made in 6 years which I would agree with. But, token lefty, you might be saying "what about them transparency changes early on you liked??". Note I said SUBSTANTIVE. Publishing a White House guest list is irrelevant when you just meet with people outside (and even comically across the street from) the White House constantly. The ending of the revolving lobbyist door only lasted weeks. Etc.

So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

It was time to end our time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not because I didn't support our involvement but because Iraq and Afghanistan really made clear to me that you take Democracy Whiskey Sexy to the Muslim/Middle East/Tribal world, but you can't make them accept it. So good on Obama for removing the majority of American forces from these cesspits of humanity.

(I am also jones'n the Cuba decision, in no small part to watch liberals bemoan the demise of an "unspoiled" island.)

I agreed with his decision on the bin Laden raid and recently agreed with his decision to give federal employees the day after Christmas off. I can't think of any "substantive policy change" I have agreed with.

I don't know enough about modern Cuba or Raul Castro (or really care to learn) to have an informed opinion on that one, but on the thin surface I don't agree.

(12-18-2014 02:59 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  It was time to end our time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not because I didn't support our involvement but because Iraq and Afghanistan really made clear to me that you take Democracy Whiskey Sexy to the Muslim/Middle East/Tribal world, but you can't make them accept it. So good on Obama for removing the majority of American forces from these cesspits of humanity.

(I am also jones'n the Cuba decision, in no small part to watch liberals bemoan the demise of an "unspoiled" island.)

I voted for Obama because he said he would end the war. I had no problem with going over there, just the fact that Congress was cowardly in not actually declaring war, along with the restrictive ROE that endangered the lives of our military. I was disappointed that he didn't implement a withdrawal in his first term. I'm quite comfortable with Obama's decision regarding Cuba as well as not intervening in Syria and limiting our involvement with ISIS.

(12-18-2014 03:17 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:59 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  It was time to end our time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not because I didn't support our involvement but because Iraq and Afghanistan really made clear to me that you take Democracy Whiskey Sexy to the Muslim/Middle East/Tribal world, but you can't make them accept it. So good on Obama for removing the majority of American forces from these cesspits of humanity.

(I am also jones'n the Cuba decision, in no small part to watch liberals bemoan the demise of an "unspoiled" island.)

I voted for Obama because he said he would end the war. I had no problem with going over there, just the fact that Congress was cowardly in not actually declaring war, along with the restrictive ROE that endangered the lives of our military. I was disappointing that he didn't implement a withdrawal in his first term. I'm quite comfortable with Obama's decision regarding Cuba as well as not intervening in Syria and limiting our involvement with ISIS.

two thumbs up to all in bold.....and missippy always votes red (we ignant, but we ain't stupid)

to be brutally honest.....moving forward, I don't foresee any president being worth more than what is contained in the following chart...

Element Percentage Mass [Kg] Cost/Kg Value
O Oxygen 65 49.14 $0.20 $9.83
C Carbon 18 18.29 $0.01 $0.18
H Hydrogen 10.2 8.00 $0.20 $1.60
N Nitrogen 3.1 2.06 $0.20 $0.41
Ca Calcium 1.6 1.14 $0.10 $0.11
P Phosphorus 1.2 0.89 $1.00 $0.89
K Potassium 0.25 0.16 $650.00 $104.00
S Sulfur 0.25 0.16 $0.10 $0.02
Na Sodium 0.15 0.11 $250.00 $28.57
Cl Chlorine 0.15 0.11 $1.00 $0.11
Mg Magnesium 0.05 0.02 $3.00 $0.07
Fe Iron 6.00E-03 4.80E-03 $0.20 $0.00
F Fluorine 3.70E-03 2.97E-03 $2,000.00 $5.94
Zn Zinc 3.20E-03 2.63E-03 $2.00 $0.01
Si Silicon 2.00E-03 1.14E-03 $2.00 $0.00
Rb Rubidium 4.60E-04 7.77E-04 $10,000.00 $7.77
Sr Strontium 4.60E-04 3.66E-04 $1,000.00 $0.37
Br Bromine 2.90E-04 2.97E-04 $50.00 $0.01
Pb Lead 1.70E-04 1.37E-04 $0.40 $0.00
Cu Copper 1.00E-04 8.23E-05 $7.00 $0.00
Al Aluminium 8.70E-05 6.86E-05 $2.00 $0.00
Cd Cadmium 7.20E-05 5.71E-05 $10.00 $0.00
Ce Cerium 5.00E-05 4.57E-05 $50.00 $0.00
Ba Barium 3.10E-05 2.51E-05 $60.00 $0.00
Sn Tin 2.40E-05 2.29E-05 $20.00 $0.00
I Iodine 1.60E-05 2.29E-05 $2.00 $0.00
Ti Titanium 1.30E-05 2.29E-05 $8.00 $0.00
B Boron 6.90E-05 2.06E-05 $6,000.00 $0.12
Se Selenium 1.90E-05 1.71E-05 $53.00 $0.00
Ni Nickel 1.40E-05 1.71E-05 $20.00 $0.00
Cr Chromium 2.40E-06 1.60E-05 $20.00 $0.00
Mn Manganese 1.70E-05 1.37E-05 $5.00 $0.00
As Arsenic 2.60E-05 8.00E-06 $5.00 $0.00
Li Lithium 3.10E-06 8.00E-06 $100.00 $0.00
Hg Mercury 1.90E-05 6.86E-06 $40.00 $0.00
Cs Caesium 2.10E-06 6.86E-06 $3,000.00 $0.02
Mo Molybdenum 1.30E-05 5.71E-06 $300.00 $0.00
Ge Germanium 1.30E-05 5.71E-06 $2,000.00 $0.01
Co Cobalt 2.10E-06 3.43E-06 $200.00 $0.00
Sb Antimony 1.10E-05 2.29E-06 $300.00 $0.00
Ag Silver 1.00E-06 2.29E-06 $700.00 $0.00
Nb Niobium 1.60E-04 1.71E-06 $180.00 $0.00
Zr Zirconium 6.00E-04 1.14E-06 $600.00 $0.00
La Lanthanum 2.00E-04 9.14E-07 $1,500.00 $0.00
Te Tellurium 1.20E-05 8.00E-07 $240.00 $0.00
Ga Gallium 1.20E-05 8.00E-07 $1,800.00 $0.00
Y Yttrium 1.20E-05 6.86E-07 $2,000.00 $0.00
Bi Bismuth 1.20E-05 5.71E-07 $400.00 $0.00
Tl Thallium 1.40E-05 5.71E-07 $500.00 $0.00
In Indium 1.40E-05 4.57E-07 $2,000.00 $0.00
Au Gold 1.40E-05 2.29E-07 $40,000.00 $0.01
Sc Scandium 1.40E-05 2.29E-07 $10,000.00 $0.00
Ta Tantalum 1.40E-05 2.29E-07 $200.00 $0.00
V Vanadium 2.60E-05 1.26E-07 $50.00 $0.00
Th Thorium 2.00E-07 1.14E-07 $0.00
U Uranium 1.30E-07 1.14E-07 $0.00
Sm Samarium 5.00E-09 5.71E-08 $0.00
W Tungsten 5.00E-09 2.29E-08 $0.00
Be Beryllium 5.00E-09 4.11E-08 $0.00
Ra Radium 1.00E-17 0.00E+00 $0.00

(12-18-2014 02:59 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  (I am also jones'n the Cuba decision, in no small part to watch liberals bemoan the demise of an "unspoiled" island.)

A selection of lefty quotes from a website I browse:

"I'm just glad I managed to see Havana before the hordes descend and everything gets un-ruined."

"I worry about the implications for Cubans being subject to US Imperial interests now."

"I worry that what will actually happen is "let's get rid of those benefits provided by the Cuban system while also importing all the drawbacks of American practices", kind of like post-Soviet capitalism."

(12-18-2014 03:54 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:59 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  (I am also jones'n the Cuba decision, in no small part to watch liberals bemoan the demise of an "unspoiled" island.)

A selection of lefty quotes from a website I browse:

"I'm just glad I managed to see Havana before the hordes descend and everything gets un-ruined."

"I worry about the implications for Cubans being subject to US Imperial interests now."

"I worry that what will actually happen is "let's get rid of those benefits provided by the Cuban system while also importing all the drawbacks of American practices", kind of like post-Soviet capitalism."

any argument that begins with "I" has already been lost.....when followed by "worry", one may as well drive the stake into their own body mass or acknowledge their true chromosomal make-up

change is good...say it enough and one will eventually believe....

it's kinda tough to satisfy 7 billion "I"s.....hell, supposedly god created all men in his likeness......even the invisible creator can't get the religious cults to agree

(12-18-2014 02:23 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

I can't think of any. That doesn't mean there aren't any, it's just none come to mind. Let's face it, everything Obama does is calculated to help the left and the rest of are supposed to ride in the back of the bus. I'm not a leftist, so here I am in the back of the bus.

(12-18-2014 05:03 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:23 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

I can't think of any. That doesn't mean there aren't any, it's just none come to mind. Let's face it, everything Obama does is calculated to help the left and the rest of are supposed to ride in the back of the bus. I'm not a leftist, so here I am in the back of the bus.

Oh hey, you can sit here.

(12-18-2014 03:17 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I'm quite comfortable with Obama's decision regarding Cuba as well as not intervening in Syria and limiting our involvement with ISIS.

It's not Obama's fault that the US did not intervene in Syria... he brought us perilously close to that by vainly issuing red-line after red-line. Besides, the US is bombing territory formerly known as Syria.

Likewise with ISIS, he's issued goals that cannot be met with the policies he's implemented.

There have been a few things.

(12-18-2014 05:03 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:23 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

I can't think of any. That doesn't mean there aren't any, it's just none come to mind. Let's face it, everything Obama does is calculated to help the left and the rest of are supposed to ride in the back of the bus. I'm not a leftist, so here I am in the back of the bus.

Well no ****! You crack me up. Democrat presidents have to be in the center while Republican presidents are afforded carte blanche to do whatever they can to help the right?

He has met with the UConn mens' and womens' basketball champions.

Other than that, every waking moment of his presidency he has tormented me.

(12-18-2014 05:30 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 05:03 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:23 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

I can't think of any. That doesn't mean there aren't any, it's just none come to mind. Let's face it, everything Obama does is calculated to help the left and the rest of are supposed to ride in the back of the bus. I'm not a leftist, so here I am in the back of the bus.

Well no ****! You crack me up. Democrat presidents have to be in the center while Republican presidents are afforded carte blanche to do whatever they can to help the right?

Are you implying that Obama is in the center?

(12-18-2014 08:51 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 05:30 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 05:03 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 02:23 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  So non-lefties .... has there been a single substantive policy change by Obama you approve of?

I can't think of any. That doesn't mean there aren't any, it's just none come to mind. Let's face it, everything Obama does is calculated to help the left and the rest of are supposed to ride in the back of the bus. I'm not a leftist, so here I am in the back of the bus.

Well no ****! You crack me up. Democrat presidents have to be in the center while Republican presidents are afforded carte blanche to do whatever they can to help the right?

Are you implying that Obama is in the center?

Yeah, he is. He'll probably deny it, followed up with a "witty" retort. Which is an insult in disguise.

Nothing...Nada...zippo. I would never have conceived this guy could be worse than his predecessor. He was...and is a total fail.

He does however have an opportunity as a lame duck to push some populist policies in the next 2 years. I hope this Cuban stuff is the signal that he will do so. He has an opportunity to do some things that most people want. He can remove Cannabis from schedule 1....do some positive welfare reform and go after some wasteful domestic and military spending. Much of it could be done with his executive power and bipartisan help. I honestly hope someone grabs him and shakes him to his senses.

Nope....no hardline policies. The 2010 National Security strategy was well crafted. Too bad we don't follow it.

Cuba is the best thing Obama has done, by far. Primarily because it is the only good thing he has done. Ever. In his whole life.

(12-20-2014 07:53 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Cuba is the best thing Obama has done, by far. Primarily because it is the only good thing he has done. Ever. In his whole life.

A lot of hard line Cuban exiles are pissed though. Equate the POTUS decision to negotiating with Hitler.