While driving home from dinner tonight I was amazed to see a really big sign with Obama's face on it. I looked closer and saw it was one of the big home supply places advertising "Obama Sale". I have no idea what the point of the sign is but since it is a large chain store I guess it might be something going on across Thailand.

 

Why does the next President of the USA have this effect on the world?

Why does the next President of the USA have this effect on the world?

 

Because the US President is the most powerful person in the world.

 

I think people are excited and optimistic after what we have suffered through these last 8 years.

 

Everywhere I went in SE Asia last month people were asking about Obama. People were excited about him. Although one guy who was a little older was also a bit skeptical. I think he basically said "But he's just another politician, right?"

I guess the older guy is correct. Obama will prove to be just another politician.

I guess the older guy is correct. Obama will prove to be just another politician.

 

Maybe...but maybe not. He won't be as big an ass as George Bush...that is for sure. Bush is the worst president in a long time. Also Biden will be much better than Cheney. Cheney is by far the worst Vice-President EVER!

While driving home from dinner tonight I was amazed to see a really big sign with Obama's face on it. I looked closer and saw it was one of the big home supply places advertising "Obama Sale". I have no idea what the point of the sign is but since it is a large chain store I guess it might be something going on across Thailand.

 

Why does the next President of the USA have this effect on the world?

Some friends and I are looking to celebrate and view the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009. It would be nice to find some more Obama merchandise to wear to the event. Is there a store here in Pattaya selling Obama merchandise? I have a T-shirt and buttons but some of my friends here also want to go and they want to wear something supportive as well.

 

It is nice to be able to travel to the LOS this year with a few good friends from USA.

 

It's because he's hot and we haven't had a sexy president ever before.

It's because he's hot and we haven't had a sexy president ever before.

Clinton and JFK were also hot.

Clinton was a fat boy.

 

I'm too young to remember JFK.

If you are going to the Roadhouse in Bangkok for their Obama party, you can buy memorabilia there.

Do they have life sized naked posters?

I'm too young to remember JFK

 

It's obviously far too early to draw parallels, but the effect of Kennedy's election on the world was probably greater than Obama's. Whatever his defects and mis-steps - and they were many, Kennedy had a quite extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate people. Like Obama, he radiated a belief that the world can be a better place. The world's grief when he was assassinated was extraordinary. It was as though hope had been extinguished and the future would be bleak. Which, with the escalating Cold War, the escalating Vietnam War, race riots in the US, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and RFK, and a host of other events, it was for many years.

Of course between the Bay of Pigs and JFK sending the initial advisors into Vietnam, we can't exactly claim Jack was pure. Plus he accepted a noble prize for a book he had ghost written, which is pretty sketchy.

 

Plus, him rigging the Illinois and West Virgina vote is what gave the GOP the idea to do the same thing in the 200 election. Then, he appointed his brother as attorney general and rigged a senate seat so it could go to his other brother - which is very, very Bushesque.

 

I like Obama but I've never understood the Kennedy allure.

Of course between the Bay of Pigs and JFK sending the initial advisors into Vietnam, we can't exactly claim Jack was pure.

 

Not being an American, I can only give the reaction of a teenager far more concerned about the daily news of Soviet threats in Europe than domestic US politics. The Soviet's ruthless suppression of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, the construction of the Berlin Wall, the testing of ever greater H-bombs in the atmosphere etc. - all had a dramatic effect in Europe.

 

But I certainly would never claim JFK was "pure". It's common knowledge that his father's ill-gotten gains purchased his presidency, and, for all I know, his brother's senate seat. From what I've read, though, he definitely did not authorise the Bay of Pigs fiasco, even though he accepted responsibility. And it was Truman and Eisenhower who authorised the slow build-up of US advisers in Vietnam starting from around 1950, initially to help the French colonists and then to prevent their dreaded domino theory from becoming fact. That said, I do agree it was JFK's escalation of the advisers that basically launched what we now term the Vietnam War.

I like Obama but I've never understood the Kennedy allure.

The Kennedy allure comes from the fact that he was assassinated. It was the first US assassination during our lifetime and it shocked people's sense of reality. Because of this he became idealized. But, I initially mentioned him as being hot, not his politics.

 

Word.

The Kennedy allure comes from the fact that he was assassinated. It was the first US assassination during our lifetime and it shocked people's sense of reality

 

Partly. But this does not address the fact that for many around the world (although perhaps not so many in the US) he represented the hope of a new, younger generation. Maybe this was a result more of his Press people and speechwriters, but he was able to deliver speeches better than any other President I heard until Clinton (even if Clinton's were mostly far too long). Obama has that same quality.

JFK's biggest problems were hiring McNamara and firing Allen Dulles.

JFK's biggest problems were hiring McNamara . . .

 

So true. The apparent similarity of Rumsfeld to McNamara is amazing. Equally amazing that McNamara totally changed his tune a quarter of a century after he had been almost solely responsible for the death of more than 50,000 US servicemen and women, and millions of Vietnamese. Pity Rumsfeld won't live long enough to admit that he, too, made a monstrous mistake.

Of course Obama will be less of an asshole than Bush but thats a fairly easy target to attain. He has already said he'll be closing down the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and again thats a fairly easy thing to do. Am wondering though, when Cuba asks the new President to hand back Guantanamo Bay will Obama do the right thing and give them their land back or will it remain occupied territory?

Am wondering though, when Cuba asks the new President to hand back Guantanamo Bay will Obama do the right thing and give them their land back or will it remain occupied territory?

 

The US started using GITMO in 1903 under a lease arrangement with Cuba. In 1934, the two countries signed a treaty that provides for the continued use by the US, an annual lease payment (not much), and a provision that the lease could never be terminated unless it was consented to by both the Cuban and US governments. Hardly "occupied" territory.

Right.

 

Plus no president wants to deal with the riots that would break out in Miami if we gave Gitmo back.

Right.

 

Plus no president wants to deal with the riots that would break out in Miami if we gave Gitmo back.

 

 

SOLUTION: also give them Miami

Nope.

 

Too many hot guys there.

I have a better idea. Recognize the Cuban government and end the stupid trade and travel embargo. Then Sam could have tons more of hot men in Cuba, and we may just learn how to run an universal health care system.