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  1. #1
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    Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Doesn’t appear that I missed much around here other than the same old tired conservative arguments of Obama’s a socialist, conservation is just another tax and continuing global climate change denial syndrome. Go Heritage! Go Exxon! Go Rupert Murdoch!

    Anyway, I had some interesting experiences in the Rift. First of all, do you know that there are actual people outside our country that love our President? Yes, it is true! I have traveled for 25 years as a “Canadian”. It all began in Athens at the age of 17 when I was pulled out of an angry mob by a U.S. Marine. I was a bit pissed at the handling of myself by this guy and asked. “what the fuck, dude”? He replied , “look around dumbshit”. I looked up and saw that the riot police had surrounded me and what had become a group of about angry Athenians. The Marine told me NOT to talk politics in the city square as it was dangerous and I was on the verge of getting my ass handed to me. I was confused as I was only trying to buy a bag of weed and somehow (still don’t fully understand) I was sucked into an anti-Reagan spontaneous riot. The guys I met had lured me and a friend into the public square under the premise of showing me where to buy a bag but instead to stage an anti-American – anti-Reagan spectacle. I could care less about politics at that age…I really just wanted to smoke pot.

    I soon learned to identify myself as a Canadian. I have done this for 25 years when traveling in mostly anti-american areas. It’s just easier. I was taking photos last summer in Leon, Nicaragua of a wall that was painted with “Bush Genosida” and “Muerte al Invasor” when approached by some locals who obviously were looking to give the Chele a hard time but simply identifying myself as Canadian, they became bored and went about their business.
    You might think this is cowardly or somehow unpatriotic but this isn’t Ocean City and the U.S. is not so endeared around the world.

    This has all changed though. It is quite amazing really. In Ethiopia leaving Addis, I am approached by a man who is obviously looking to tout me into a trip or hotel or something of value;

    “Where you from meester”

    “Canada, why?”

    “Ah Canada…that is close to Obama, yes?”

    “sure is”

    “Obama is great man!”


    Wow…this is one of the main reasons I campaigned for and voted for Obama. It’s working already. Four months in and Americans can stop hiding their identities abroad. Nearly every town and village had an “Obama café”…people everywhere were wearing “Yes We Can” shirts written in Amharic.

    And it was not just Africans that were so pro-Obama but Western travelers as well. “You guys finally got it right!” was a typical conversation with traveling people I met . There wasn’t a soul who wasn’t excited about Obama. Most traveling in Ethiopia have done the other travel circuits by now - as Ethiopia is not easy - and have some world savvy about themselves. What a pleasure it was to hear positive things from these people after hearing nothing but criticism for years.

    It’s a good time get out folks. Get out of the small worlds of gods and guns. Stop OCD-ing about your 401k’s and holding so tightly to useless possessions. Toss the tea bags away. Give up the tyranny campaigns. Stop worrying about who is running the car companies and who isn’t. Cash it all in and go see things. The world is ripe for travel as I have not seen in 25 years. It’s truly amazing.









  2. #2

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    So the economy has literally collapsed in fron tof our eyes, but it is ok because other countries like our president. OK.





  3. #3
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    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by jonboy79 View Post
    So the economy has literally collapsed in fron tof our eyes, but it is ok because other countries like our president. OK.
    Precisely. I can't do anything about the economic mess created by W. But because Obama is popular around the world, I can now go places and people actually want to know about our president instead of giving you that look you used to get when they realized you were american.

    That's a good thing in my book. Conservatives tend to not be curious about the world. I realize that is a stereotype but seems to be true in many cases. W didn't seem to care about anything other than his ranch in Texas.

    Its just my suggestion to use the times to go places you normally might not. If you would rather complain and gripe about the economy...so be it. life is short.





  4. #4

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by Galen Sevinne View Post

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Doesn’t appear that I missed much around here other than the same old tired conservative arguments of Obama’s a socialist, conservation is just another tax and continuing global climate change denial syndrome. Go Heritage! Go Exxon! Go Rupert Murdoch



    Precisely. I can't do anything about the economic mess created by W. But because Obama is popular around the world, I can now go places and people actually want to know about our president instead of giving you that look you used to get when they realized you were american.

    That's a good thing in my book. Conservatives tend to not be curious about the world. I realize that is a stereotype but seems to be true in many cases. W didn't seem to care about anything other than his ranch in Texas.

    Its just my suggestion to use the times to go places you normally might not. If you would rather complain and gripe about the economy...so be it. life is short.
    You are right, there is nothing you can do about the economy. You have done enough by helping get this administration voted in. They will ensure a full economic collapse in short order. Their favoritism for the wealthy, regressive taxation, and out of control spending are already working their magic.
    I'm more worried about America right now. I hope my political leaders are. I see you are not.

    And oh yeah, the first line from your original post still had me laughing so I had to bring it back up.
    Yes, I will continue to deny that anything abnormal is going on climate wise that was caused by people. Until more then 1 in 3 oceanographers and climatologists EVER agree that we are causing climate change I will continue to deny Al Gore's blatant profiteering. At most times in the last decade, the climate change proponents have been in the 10-20% range. I'll go with the majority of climatologists on this one.

    BTW, what's your take on this?
    http://greenhellblog.wordpress.com/2...rade-software/

    Gore to make Billions from Cap and Trade software? JUst a good business decision? No funny business going on here? Seriously?
    He may not have invented the internet, But Al Gore most certainly invented manmade global warming and is fleecing the Average Joe to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars.





  5. #5

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by jonboy79 View Post
    So the economy has literally collapsed in fron tof our eyes, but it is ok because other countries like our president. OK.
    Wow, explain the logic here. This president had nothing to do with the collapse of the economy. This president is doing what almost all economists say must be done in order to speed recovery. This president is improving US relations with almost every country on the globe.
    This US citizen is proud once again to be an American.
    This, is a good thing!





  6. #6

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by jonboy79 View Post
    You are right, there is nothing you can do about the economy. You have done enough by helping get this administration voted in. They will ensure a full economic collapse in short order. Their favoritism for the wealthy, regressive taxation, and out of control spending are already working their magic.
    I'm more worried about America right now. I hope my political leaders are. I see you are not.

    And oh yeah, the first line from your original post still had me laughing so I had to bring it back up.
    Yes, I will continue to deny that anything abnormal is going on climate wise that was caused by people. Until more then 1 in 3 oceanographers and climatologists EVER agree that we are causing climate change I will continue to deny Al Gore's blatant profiteering. At most times in the last decade, the climate change proponents have been in the 10-20% range. I'll go with the majority of climatologists on this one.

    BTW, what's your take on this?
    http://greenhellblog.wordpress.com/2...rade-software/

    Gore to make Billions from Cap and Trade software? JUst a good business decision? No funny business going on here? Seriously?
    He may not have invented the internet, But Al Gore most certainly invented manmade global warming and is fleecing the Average Joe to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars.
    Did you not hear about global warming before Al Gore's foray into the matter? It seems we were concerned at least a decade pre Gore. Al Gore invented it? What? Where have you been?
    P.S.
    It would be a lot easier to argue(discuss) with you if your Avatar wasn't so gorgeous.....lol





  7. #7

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by Rochardrik View Post
    Wow, explain the logic here. This president had nothing to do with the collapse of the economy. This president is doing what almost all economists say must be done in order to speed recovery. This president is improving US relations with almost every country on the globe.
    This US citizen is proud once again to be an American.
    This, is a good thing!
    Ask China what they think of us. As far as I'm concerned they are the ones that matter, as they OWN US, and have a military big enough to claim us.





  8. #8
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    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by Rochardrik View Post
    Wow, explain the logic here. This president had nothing to do with the collapse of the economy. This president is doing what almost all economists say must be done in order to speed recovery. This president is improving US relations with almost every country on the globe.
    This US citizen is proud once again to be an American.
    This, is a good thing!
    Its true conservative irony is that when 9-11 hit almost a year into "W"s presidency it was somehow Clinton's fault but when Obama inherits a recession, job losses, deficit spending, etc. it is his fault even prior to taking office!

    Reagan's huge deficit spending in the 80's was the beginning of the trend albeit interupted by Clinton for 8 years. Still, the country moved on and the economy ebbed and flowed. When "W" blew the lid off the surplus, conservatives didn't care. Watch in 4 years, Obama will cut the deficit by a significant amount (25%-50%) and conservatives will have to find some other way to complain. wah wah.

    Great speech by Obama this morning out of Cairo. One of the most important tasks that Obama is charged with is to restore American credibility and its moral authority around the world. After just a couple months, he has accomplished more than even I expected. Of course Calamity, Limpball and Glen Trainwreck et al will start their "apology tour" garbage and conservatives will start complaining and the true vein of American arrogance will be seen by that 15-20% of the population.

    The rest of us have a lot to be happy about. As I said prior, for the first time in 25 years of being abroad, I didn't have to put my tail between my legs, be sure my passport was always face down, be sure to speak softly so my accent wasn't too obvious and say that I was from fucking Canada. Most will not understand that but it is a remarkable thing just four months into Obama's presidency.

    And Yes, jonboy, that is more important to the overall picture of our country and our future safety and prosperity than the temporary spending measures being employed by our country to pull us out of "W"s recession.





  9. #9
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    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by jonboy79 View Post
    Ask China what they think of us. As far as I'm concerned they are the ones that matter, as they OWN US, and have a military big enough to claim us.
    seriously dude...take a xanax.





  10. #10

    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by Galen Sevinne View Post
    Its true conservative irony is that when 9-11 hit almost a year into "W"s presidency it was somehow Clinton's fault but when Obama inherits a recession, job losses, deficit spending, etc. it is his fault even prior to taking office!

    Reagan's huge deficit spending in the 80's was the beginning of the trend albeit interupted by Clinton for 8 years. Still, the country moved on and the economy ebbed and flowed. When "W" blew the lid off the surplus, conservatives didn't care. Watch in 4 years, Obama will cut the deficit by a significant amount (25%-50%) and conservatives will have to find some other way to complain. wah wah.

    Great speech by Obama this morning out of Cairo. One of the most important tasks that Obama is charged with is to restore American credibility and its moral authority around the world. After just a couple months, he has accomplished more than even I expected. Of course Calamity, Limpball and Glen Trainwreck et al will start their "apology tour" garbage and conservatives will start complaining and the true vein of American arrogance will be seen by that 15-20% of the population.

    The rest of us have a lot to be happy about. As I said prior, for the first time in 25 years of being abroad, I didn't have to put my tail between my legs, be sure my passport was always face down, be sure to speak softly so my accent wasn't too obvious and say that I was from fucking Canada. Most will not understand that but it is a remarkable thing just four months into Obama's presidency.

    And Yes, jonboy, that is more important to the overall picture of our country and our future safety and prosperity than the temporary spending measures being employed by our country to pull us out of "W"s recession.
    So on one hand you admit deficit spending is the problem, but have previously stated that Obama is doing what most economists think is best by QUADRUPLING THE DEFICIT? He also plans to have some sort of Mortgage bailout and Universal healthcare, that should double it again.

    So which is it?

    I understand Obama inherited a weak economy. BUt he took the car coasting down hill with no brakes and slammed on the accellerator.

    We have high level officials BEGGING to get China to buy US LAND secured bonds in under six months of his administration. I'm not sure I'm the one that needs the Xanax, but you are a shrink, I guess you would know.





  11. #11
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    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Today 65 years ago thousands of Americans lost there lives to defend places where you were ashamed to admit you were from because the people of the region or you didn't like our President. Are you still a Canadian today I certainly hope so.





  12. #12
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    Re: Sipping coffee at an Obama Cafe

    Quote Originally Posted by PD101 View Post
    Today 65 years ago thousands of Americans lost there lives to defend places where you were ashamed to admit you were from because the people of the region or you didn't like our President. Are you still a Canadian today I certainly hope so.
    It wasn't about being ashamed....it was about not wanting to 1. get robbed because of my perceived wealth and 2. not wanting to be harmed because of perceived american arrogance.

    65 years ago and since, few Americans have died defending the rights of people from places I am talking about such as South America, Central America, sub-saharan Africa, and western Asia.

    I would like to hear some of your travel stories and how you fly proudly your american flag in the presence of such people like sandanistan coffee farmers who experienced the death of family members due to american hegemony or bolivian coca farmers who lost legitmate crops and their entire livlihoods due to the american drug war.

    Lets hear your stories. Impress me before you start in your lectures about american pride stemming from what was certainly a glorious and proud American moment albeit 65 years ago now. The world is larger than the beaches of Nomandy. Hopefully you take the time to see it.





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