Have Americans finally woken up and smelled the coffee?

[BroomJockey]

Fashion Lad, do you have any idea about real world politics? Like, not ideologies, mechanics, and such, but how actual politicians operate?

You coulda just said "no," you know.

[Fashion Lad!]

You coulda just said "no," you know.

So, you're mister all-knowing? I don't see it. I understand that our politicians are corrupt. I had someone suggest to me to write a letter to my congressmen... I've probably written 3 dozen letters in the past 1-2 years.

I can't say "no" because that's not the correct answer, Mr. All-Knowning.

I'll say it again, Obama needs to man up and keep with his promises. So far, he's Bush Jr II. And so of course the country is going down the pisser.

[Greenday]

I'll say it again, Obama needs to man up and keep with his promises. So far, he's Bush Jr II. And so of course the country is going down the pisser.

Yes, the rest of the world is hating us more and more every day because of our president's policies and lack of attempts to try to work with other countries. Easily a connection making him Bush Jr II.

[IDrinkaRum]

Yes, the rest of the world is hating us more and more every day because of our president's policies and lack of attempts to try to work with other countries. Easily a connection making him Bush Jr II.

No, other countries are hating us now because we have a President who apologizes for us. All the people in the US fart at the same time, the President apologizes. We are now seen as weak, not powerful. If the other countries whine enough about the US doing something they don't like, President Obama says "sorry" and bends over.

What was that saying President (Theodore) Roosevelt used to say?

Speak softly and carry a big stick

Obama has the speak softly part down pat. Too down pat for my taste. He makes the US look neutered.

Now let's get him to carry a big stick, and then we'll talk.

He needs the big stick not only for the foreign countries, but also for our Congress.

[Greenday]

Where do you get this Obama is a sissy thing from? I don't get it. Is it because we haven't started two wars in first term already?

[Fashion Lad!]

Where do you get this Obama is a sissy thing from? I don't get it. Is it because we haven't started two wars in first term already?

When a President says, "I will not sign a bill with pork-barrel projects" and then goes ahead and signs it anyway. He's either a liar or a sissy. I choose not to say anything negative about his morals.

I don't want any President to go around and start wars! I repeat, I DO NOT WANT WAR!!!! I want a President who says they're going to put an end to pork-laden bills to do so!

[Boozy]

No, other countries are hating us now because we have a President who apologizes for us. All the people in the US fart at the same time, the President apologizes. We are now seen as weak, not powerful. If the other countries whine enough about the US doing something they don't like, President Obama says "sorry" and bends over.

I disagree. The rest of the western world likes Obama. We like that he'll admit when the US is wrong, attempts to understand other points of view, and uses his words instead of his fists. In other words, he behaves as an adult instead of a spoiled child.

The Middle East will probably hate Americans for centuries to come, regardless of who is President.

I'll admit that the US is seen as weak right now. But they are weak right now, and that would have been true regardless of who had won the 2008 election. The EU economy has overtaken them and their military is vastly overextended. But America is in no danger of being invaded or even ignored, so they'll survive. Welcome to the rest of the international community.

[Fashion Lad!]

I'll admit that the US is seen as weak right now. But they are weak right now, and that would have been true regardless of who had won the 2008 election. The EU economy has overtaken them and their military is vastly overextended. But America is in no danger of being invaded or even ignored, so they'll survive. Welcome to the rest of the international community.

Where do you get the information that the U.S. economy has been overtaken by the European economy? Don't base it off of exchange rates. The economic powerhouse of the world, China, has a weak currency. The Euro has been rising against the Renminbi. But still, China is the economic powerhouse.

[Boozy]

Where do you get the information that the U.S. economy has been overtaken by the European economy?

It's common knowledge that the economy of the European Union is now the biggest in the world. How is this in debate?

Edited to add: Calling China the "economic powerhouse of the world" is a bit of a stretch, no? They get a lot of attention because they're a hot up-and-comer, and their economy is growing fairly quickly, but their GDP is half that of the US and the EU.

[Fashion Lad!]

It's common knowledge that the economy of the European Union is now the biggest in the world. How is this in debate?

Edited to add: Calling China the "economic powerhouse of the world" is a bit of a stretch, no? They get a lot of attention because they're a hot up-and-comer, and their economy is growing fairly quickly, but their GDP is half that of the US and the EU.

I decided to challenge you. You brought it up as supporting evidence to another person's argument. Common knowledge? No. I searched high and low for something that pointed to the EU economy actually being stronger than the US economy. I didn't see it.

[BroomJockey]

I decided to challenge you. You brought it up as supporting evidence to another person's argument. Common knowledge? No. I searched high and low for something that pointed to the EU economy actually being stronger than the US economy. I didn't see it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._GDP_(nominal)

EU #1 on 2 out of 3 lists. Took me ten seconds in google. I could probably do better if I took a full minute.

[guywithashovel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...y_GDP_(nominal)

EU #1 on 2 out of 3 lists. Took me ten seconds in google. I could probably do better if I took a full minute.

When I clicked that link, it said that it had been deleted.

[Rapscallion]

Try this.

For some reason, that link wasn't pasting right for me - was missing the last parenthesis. I suspect that's what happened for Broom as well.

Rapscallion

[BroomJockey]

Strangely, if you look the parenthesis is there, it's just... not part of the link. I'll see if I can fix that.

That is some messed up.

[Rapscallion]

I know - I found out by trying to copy and paste and for some reason it just didn't take. I had to insert it as a hyperlink.

Rapscallion