Re: [tlug] (OT) The enigma of Japan

["Jonathan Byrne" <jonathan@example.com>]

On 6/10/2009, "Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com> wrote:


>2. Would you consider George W. Bush and Barack Obama the same thing,

Hmmm. George W. Bush: presided over astonishingly large budgets and
deficits.

Barack Obama: check

George W. Bush: still in Iraq, but had a fairly concrete plan for getting
out.

Barack Obama: check

George W. Bush: was going to blow most of a trillion dollars on dubious
bailouts.

Barack Obama: took office before Bush could do it, and blew the money for
him.

George W. Bush: claims to be a Republican but acted more like a big
government Democrat.

Barack Obama: at least he's honest about it.


>just looking different? How about Reagan and Kennedy?

Not a good comparison because of the time separation. IMO Kennedy isn't
a good comparison with Obama, either. Young, charismatic, and an
excellent public speaker, but on policies, Kennedy might not be as far
from Reagan as one might think. A liberal from his era would easily pass
as a conservative in ours.

The problem isn't same old-same old among presidents, though, so much as
it's same old-same old in congress. The difference between Republicans
and Democrats is the speed and means by which they will stick it to you.
It's not a question of whether or not they will, in most cases.

Jonathan