obama on Jay Leno

[scaredmom330]

Did anyone see Obama on the Jay Leno show and what he said about his bowling skills and how he compared them to the Special Olympics?

[margypops]

Great comment ..I am also wondering same things ,trying to keep an open mind but feeling rather concerned at the pace and agenda ...

[guessagain]

Thanks for the response, as I expected, enjoyable reading. The uncertainties you discuss must be shared by many, even those in Washington who are trying to devise and continually tweak plans to get the country moving in a favorable direction. I've also heard others express concern over the continual shrinking of the manufacturing base in this country for the same reasons. I have mixed concerns about Obama, but, if I'm correct, few presidents have taken office with so many major issues immediately at hand. As far as his many appearances on television programs, he has been criticized as it is political agenda, and it may very well be, but I'm curious if it isn't also an attempt to calm people down a little, let them know their working it out, don't panic. On the other hand, I one time read a piece about a man ascending through the ranks of politics. It was said that if you keep enough oil in the water and smoke in the air, you can hide the Titanic.  

[mikesimon]

Generally, I dislike bailouts and government intervention into private enterprise.
But, when we, the taxpayers, are funding an enterprise then I find government  intervention more tolerable.
What concerns me about the auto industry failing is the fear that we'll having no domestic production lines/factories should the need arise to produce for our defense. I am not really knowledgeable about this and I guess that, if it ever came to that, we might be able to nationalize/takeover the foreign companies that are operating in the US.
It just seems wrong to me that the day could come when our country doesn't produce automobiles. And I haven't even addressed the tremendous economic fallout that would probably eventuate if the major US auto producer failed. So many more people would lose their jobs and I know that's not a good thing.
And as I understand it, the problem with bankruptcy is that it will erode what little confidence remains in the minds of consumers. Sales aren't sustainable now and they will probably worsen considerably if GM entered into Chapter 11. Chrysler may do a deal with Fiat and that should obviate the need for government funding.
The bottom line is that I am not competent to have an informed opinion because of the complexity of our economic situation. I am not enamored with Obama. I have been disappointed on more than one occasion. Of course, I felt the same way about Bush but in the early days I gave him the benefit of the doubt. At this time I defer to the President. I believe that he's very intelligent and extremely measured. Despite mistakes he's made in his cabinet selections he appears to solicit advice and counsel from people of intellect, experience and judgment in their respective fields and he does so without regard to political affiliations or ideology. We appear to agree on that issue.
I'm not absolutely certain about much and less so about the complex situation in which this country finds itself but, at this time, I will trust Obama's judgment. Maybe I'm naive but I am in no way ideologically driven. I am a basically a pragmatist and I believe that Obama is as well. I definitely do not believe for one second that he is advancing a socialist agenda as we hear so often on the radio talk shows. I believe that he is driven by a desire to get this country working well for the most Americans rather than the incredibly affluent few.
Mike

[margypops]

excuse my keyboard , 'where they may '

[margypops]

Well we all wanted him now I say let the dice fall may they may ,I think we are in for a rough ride .....

[guessagain]

Not to change the subject, but I guess it's still about Obama.

I'm more of an average guy and I really do have a hard time reading very far into some of the steps being taken. What's your feelings about no more loans to GM or Chrysler? Letting them go bankrupt? I can only trust that Obama has some pretty top notch people behind him.  

[jdwithhcv]

Thanks Mike.  Its good to occasionally see something intelligent on this forum.  Where would we be without you?

jd

[mikesimon]

I saw right through the president just like looking through a glass who got us into a war based on false and/or phony intelligence and then sanctioned the use of torture & sexual humiliation & called it enhanced interrogation & fair & just treatment .
I also easily saw right through his trickle down economics & his reckless deregulation & how that would wreak havoc on our economy.
And I saw clearly his ignorance & his misfeasance & his malfeasance & how we would pay for it & I just look around & I see how we are paying for it.
I also pay much closer attention to actions & their consequences than I do to misspoken &, for the most part, inconsequential words but, that's just me.
Mike

[momagain59]

I would not and do not put Obama on a pedestal but I do expect him to be more guarded than the average citizen about what comes out of his mouth. I can see thru him just like looking through a glass. He appears to be so busy making promises and being cool that he is not putting up his guard the way he should be, if he is going to be a person in the public on a regular basis. He will pay for his ignorance, watch and see.

[guessagain]

I'm a long ways from putting the majority of this countries presidents on any sort of pedestal, Obama very much included. The office has seen everything from purgery to adultery, and anything in between. I don't call it disappointing, I'm just not surprised to see somebody make a mistake, and I'm certainly not out to lynch him over it.

[momagain59]

For some reason I expected more out of the president of our country. I guess I will just have to lower my expectations and maybe I will not be disappointed again.

[guessagain]

I didn't hear it, but from what others have said I'm guessing he's going to feel uncomfortable even thinking about using the words "Special" and "Olympics" in the same sentence again unless it's to be very, very, nice. So much for politics on Leno.

Personally, I feel that regrettable things have been said by the vast majority of people at some time or other, things said that they wish they could retract before the last syllable is finished. Anyone else ever felt like they wanted to find a rock to crawl under and hide?  

[mikesimon]

I think it was an unfortunate and perhaps stupid remark.
I think it says nothing about his compassion. I have said similar things many times but it was not a reflection of a lack of compassion. It may reflect a lack of sensitivity or political astuteness but I don't buy the theory that a busy man has no time for compassion. I really that it was a completely candid, though ill advised, remark and candor is a rare thing in today's politics.
Mike

[NautyOne]

I

[HelpinUtah]

I personally do not like Obama or his policies.  However, I feel that many of us say things that might not be politically correct all the time.  I honestly feel that this was one of those instances where someone opened their mouth and inserted their foot and that he truly did not mean anything by the comment.  I am givng him the benefit of the doubt in this situation.  This is one of the reasons we have become so intolerant of each other -too many people being "politically correct" and trying to make sure they word things just right.  So, for me, it was a mistake and that's all.  

But, I agree with many of the sentiments about where this country is headed.  I hope we can try to find the things we have in common with each other and hold onto those and the love we have for our country.  If we stand united, they can't take this away from us!  

Hugs,
Janet

[margypops]

Driven people sometimes dont have time for compassion, he is a man on a mission... remember to 'change' America , he is succeeding, lets hope it is for the better,I have lived in welfare states /socialist countries its not what our founding fathers wanted for this country .,I am concerned that once taken down this road we may never find our way back,

[April2]

Exactly. There was an article in our paper a couple of days ago about this. I tried to find it but I must have already tossed it. But that's what the person in the article said, that it's more worrisome that he said this off the cuff rather than it being planned because it shows a person's true heart and feelings when they do that.
I'm glad if he apologized but it does make me wonder. I've heard he can be rather arrogant. I don't know. I don't know him very well yet to decide what to think. I just wish he'd show more compassion.

[zodiacqueen]

I agree!  I am worried that those were his true feelings.  When you're caught off guard(or drunk) your true feelings wind up getting blurted out!

AND-WHY THE HE!! DIDN'T THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET AN APOLOGY?????????  I might not have believed him, but it would've been a nice gesture!!

[margypops]

Yes it is true he did make an apology to the commitee ,at least that was what I heard thing is you never know how biased the Media is now ,I have a problem that sometimes when we are caught off guard like that ,could we be showing our true feelings, its easy to apologise..same as listening to the rantings and hate for America for 20 years , thats the one I cant get past.

[zodiacqueen]

Well, I hope that is NOT true!!!  He should make a public apology, since he's offended so many people!

[Angelinthemorning]

I heard right after Obama left he called the head director of the Special Olympics and apologized.  Anybody know if that's true or not??  I really hope so, I also think he needs to apologize to the public.  I've participated as a volunteer for the special olympics for five years and was very upset that he would make a comment like that...But, we're all human I guess.  I would just think he would be more careful about what he's saying considering he is our nation's leader!!

[MJIthewriter]

Let's hope that's what he will do.  I was a bit surprised when I heard that on the news...and not in a good way... It reminds me a nasty little comment on one of those myspace memes... It had a very negative comment to the special Special Olympics and the "R" word.  When I saw that blog on medhelp, I politely made comment on the journal and requested that line be removed.  The author of the journal saw my point and did what I requested.

[momagain59]

I feel that he should make a public apology for his ignorant comment. It offended many people, not just the Special Olympics staff. It really draws a clear picture of his real feelings and I have no respect for people that disrespect people with disabilities.

The only good thing about this is, now he will over compensate for his mistake by providing much needed funding for special needs.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I am on a disability discussion group and we all consider it highly inappropriate especially since President Obama promised to sign a fair amount of disability legislation. Let's hope it was an inoppurtune or off the cuff remark and not how he really feels about people with developmental disabilities.