It seems strange to imagine it was only two years ago we all heard our newly ordained president state “change has come” to America. On that cold November night in Chicago, then President-elect Barack Obama appeared to all as a hero returning from war.
For those of us who were grateful the Bush administration was finally coming to an end, this new president appeared to be precisely what the country needed. Though I was never entirely excited about this president, fearing his lack of experience and less than satisfactory views on some issues, I was excited this country appeared united around a new and appealing president.
The country was tired. We were tired of war, tired of losing jobs, tired of bankruptcy and foreclosure, tired of feeling America’s greatest days were over and tired of being ashamed of our president. Though Obama did not seem to hold all that I would like to have seen in a president, he did seem to have the potential to make people proud of their country again and not afraid of the future.
I remember casting my ballot two years ago. I stood in the voting booth staring at the names of both candidates. I had been battling for months over who I felt would best serve the interests of this country. Sen. John McCain seemed to be a candidate with the potential to accomplish some basic things that were needed and his experience appeared to have the potential to bring wisdom back to the Oval Office.
Obama had the charisma and appeal to make people proud of this country again and unite us together. Neither candidate satisfied me completely though. McCain lacked conviction on issues I felt were important and Gov. Sarah Palin was, in the best possible light, a disgrace and insult to the integrity of the American people as a vice presidential candidate. Obama lacked experience and also conviction on important issues, both of which I felt could be dangerous for the current situation in this country.
Thus I was torn and it was not until I was in the booth that I decided to vote for Obama.
I did not vote for Obama because I felt he would make a better president. I voted for him because the thought of Palin being the breath of a weak, old man away from the Oval Office was terrifying. With his election victory sealed, however, I felt excited for the future. This man embodied all that I was feeling. He had conviction for change and determination to put this country’s best days in the future.
A version of this article appeared in the Dec 2 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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"...this administration arrogantly pats itself on the back for passage of so-called “jobs” bills...pompously congratulates itself for ramming a worthless health care “reform” bill through Congress...this president conceitedly accepts his Nobel Prize for peace...this president spends his time trying to get his buddies elected to Congress."
As I see it, this is the core of your article. It shows you taking some things that happened and describing them using some emotionally charged words (arrogantly, conceitedly, worthless, pompously) in an attempt (I guess?) to make us as disgusted as you are. Well, I'm not convinced. I guess that's why this classifies as an "Opinion" article, because there's no *real* argument here at all: You really do NOTHING MORE than state your opinion. Nice to know you feel this way. Bully for you. But try presenting some evidence next time. (I do agree with you about Palin, though.)
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How about the proof that every college student should know. Such as the double didget unemployment that is still around and the fact that the Heath care bill so far has only reduced the number of people with health care because of all the extra tax burden to pay for it's future. His article was already two pages online and adding things that everyone should know would make it too long. So sorry you don't know these things, but yoou should probably get your head out of the sand.
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The unemployment rate has been stable in the single digits since April of this year (www.google.com/publicdata).
I can't find any data on health insurance enrollment since health care reform was passed. Care to share where you got that information from?
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Okay Leo Berman
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Lol "Newz" you just got owned.
"...He transformed this country into something I am even more ashamed of than during the Bush regime. "
Really? Your priorities must be really out of line then. Obama didn't turn America into a fascist state wherein the government can spy on its people unbeknownst to them. Bush did this with the patriot act. Obama did not flat out lie to the American people and tell them Iraq was responsible for 9/11 or that they have nuclear weapons. Bush did this. Obama's presidency has been flawed, and I agree that he has not done enough for health care or for gays in the military, but to say that he "turned" the country into something "worse than Bush?" That's just crazy-talk.
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Obama signed an extension of the Patriot Act when it expired. In that respect, he's just as bad as W.
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Obama's idea of reversing the course of this country has been to floor it on the same direction as W. All the fun of Bush's policies with trillions more in debt.
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NObama 2012. he obviously talked lies during his campaign trail. As a person with a preexisting condition, I resent Obama telling the nation we need coverage. We get good coverage, it's the immigrants he lets into this nation (like his aunt) who he wants to get coverage for.
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If immigrants want to get legal and start paying taxes, why not let them? What's your solution to the immigration problem?
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Any illegal immigrant that makes enough money to matter already pays taxes thanks to the IRS. Adding however million drains on the government would not help the nations fiscal problems or the health care problems.
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We should let them. By sending the border violators back to Mexico where they can legally file paperwork and wait in line like the rest of the world does. I understand this concept is fairly complicated for you to wrap your brain around.
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And how do you propose rounding them up?
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You and anyone else concerned can start by calling 1-866-347-2423 whenever you see someone that's here illegally. That number is the immigration tip line together we can make a difference in stopping illegal immigration.
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And how do you know if someone is here illegally?
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I typically go by where they work and whether or not they can speak English. Sometimes if they do speak English they'll tell you they're illegals. These are good strategies, also don't be afraid to profile. Give INS probable cause they'll find something.
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Obama can't even get the U.S. the World Cup. Qatar!?, what a joke of a country.
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If you want someone to blame, blame Obama's administration, not him. He is not the one doing the real work of the government, and isn't that who is letting us down? Stop complaining and if you really want something to change... do it! Stop sitting around and take things into your own hands! Obama does not have superpowers, he can't do everything. Ever think maybe it was the American people who had unrealistic expectations?
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He's the PRESIDENT! the buck stops with him. It's his responsibility to get stuff done. Obama is entrusted with representing our will, if he fails to preform as an elected representative than that is his failure not ours. If we have fault it is in electing someone who cannot get the job done.
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