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President Obama took to Reddit today to participate in their popular “Ask Me Anything” feature. The question-and-answer session began at 4:30pm ET and quickly crashed the system, though it appears to be working now (at least for me). At last count there are over 4,300 comments on the thread.
Some of the questions were extremely pointed. One, written by Mother Jones’ Nick Baumann, begins by stating, “Abdulrahman Al-Awlaki, a 16-year-old American citizen, was killed in a US drone strike…” and asks the President how he feels about it. Another asks “Do you anticipate the SEC convicting anyone for the massive banking and securities fraud that caused the 2008 financial crisis?” (The SEC doesn’t pursue criminal charges, but you get the picture.)
Fortunately for Obama, with 4,300-plus questions, there were plenty to pick and choose from to answer. So far, Obama has answered questions on space exploration, (“we are focused on a potential mission to a (sic) asteroid as a prelude to a manned Mars flight”), small business (where he unfortunately touted the odious JOBS Act, among other things), his choice of best basketball player (“Jordan – I’m a Bulls guy”), and his toughest choice (“The decision to surge our forces in afghanistan”). He also said the White House beer is tasty and that the recipe will be out soon. So clearly I’m killing time before the convention speeches tonight, and apparently, so is the President.
To the extent that there’s been any news, Obama said that there will be an Internet freedom plank in the Democratic platform. Republicans actually included a similar plank in THEIR platform, so presumably that’s something that can actually get done legislatively. However, there are a number of disquieting measures in the works, like the Trans Pacific Partnership, that undermine this alleged commitment to Internet freedom. In addition, Obama said “we need to seriously consider mobilizing a constitutional amendment process to overturn Citizens United,” which goes up against the edge of what he’s said publicly on this topic. “Even if the amendment process falls short, it can shine a spotlight of the super-PAC phenomenon and help apply pressure for change,” Obama added.
Well, at least this gave Reddit’s servers a workout.
19 Comments
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Surely the bit of the platform calling for freedom on the internet will have an exclusion clause for the f@ck!ng r3t@rds.
” . . ‘we are focused on a potential mission to a (sic) asteroid as a prelude to a manned Mars flight’ . . .”
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It’s OK that he’s thinking this way, but maybe not prudent to provoke expectations yet.
There are too many berms to navigate in healthcare for all, resolving debt, first. It’s not the 1960s now, and we don’t have the wiggle room for Kennedyesque hubris of yore, such as piling one competing committment on top of another. Regarding the space program, there is no rubbing the Soviets’ nose in the dirt anymore.
So why not back to basics for awhile, restating priorities, then moving from there? That is, maybe space exploration should be framed as pressing the limits of safer, thriftier, unmanned exploration first until that technology is exhausted. There could be a generation or two of opportunity there. Mars isn’t going to blow up and go away soon or for a long time after.
Perhaps we should set expectations this way, and exploit this angle totally before prematurely shooting the collective wad on a manned mission.
A month or two ago, I would get O emails every couple of days, sometimes 2 in same days. Haven’t gotten on in weeks.
Think he’s just about given up on the base. Doing too badly on fundraising to care about voters.
Off topic. David Gregory……unclothed…unmasked..what ever. In case there was any doubt? , in an interview this A.M. re: Romneys speech today and it’s goals…..”I’m afraid WE’RE not going to get there.” Freudian???..giggle.
I’lL take the other side of that. I always thought the same way. We have so many more important things to do, like jobs, etc. But I find myself thinking now why not? We need something to aspire to and then anything like this will create tons of jobs and they might be higher paying ones. It is not like we can’t afford this. We can. And with twenty million unemployed (some say twice that if there were jobs) there is little danger of inflation. Once we start down this path new ideas can open up to help us all. So I’m now saying: go for it.
I still get a fair number but, like you, not so many.
Since I re-registered as an Independent, I get less of their emails. Just reading the Subject lines makes me want to throttle someone. Biggest buncha horses’ behinds…
Obama’s never given one shit about anyone except the 1%, esp those in the Banks and Wall Streets. No one else exists for him. Ya don’t have the money, forget the honey.
Check out blackagendareport, if you want some nice criticisms of AA turncoats. It’s one of my new (to me) fave sites.
I think yours is a romantic view which needs to be stated, thought through, and is valid in a way.
Still there’s a Buck Rogers or John Wayne lurking in there. The aspiration elbows its way in front of components of a goal, and aspiration gets in the driver’s seat.
So sure, manned Mars will generate jobs, but what kind of jobs, how many, how soon, and at what cost per job? What jobs production alternatives might result from, say, revamped healthcare (I’m thinking way beyond ACA here) and other initiatives at home?
Also, how would manned Mars benefits compare with more rovers and other unmanned devices? I’m unsure of the numbers but have heard off the cuff claims that a manned Mars mission would cost around 20 times the amount spent on the rover we just sent there. Is the unmanned technology and potential all spent yet?
Manned mission to Mars is like building nuke power plants.
Lotsa bucks will go to private corps & mission will never be completed. Just another form of corp welfare out of U.S. taxpayer pocket.
That’s what worries me. Also, I think “aspiration” is for shock & awe first and foremost.
Agree.
Among their many much more egregious sins, promising big & robbing & looting under the cover of such promises deserves to be included.
Seems like he is courting the Republican base.
Romantic?? Think that is anymore romantic than waiting for the economy to spontaneously ignite – - you know that “free market” bullshit – or that one of these political parties will come up with a new stimulus or jobs program? I suppose as an alternative we can always start another war.
Good point.
Internet freedoom planks in both platforms?
Any time Republicans and Democrats are on the same page about anything, the average Joe and Jane better watch out.
Obama does what Obama thinks–or has been told–will benefit Obama.
Just another neoliberal wet dream to funnel taxpayer money to the private sector, minus the danger of meltdown, pollution, and radioactive waste associated with power plants.
Well, another war might be tempting for some of ‘em . . .
Maybe I misread your comment prior, but it gave me an image of a proud human saluting on camera with flag-up-ass, and standing next to a pile of iron oxide for folks to see back home.
The manned cost will not provide significant mobility from where they land. The unmanned missions can be scattered all around the planet for less money, scoop up stuff, and be equipped to bring home goodies.
Maybe they’ll return with “bring me your humans” calling cards. I’m just leery of the manned idea until an unmanned mission, or several, make it plain that we absolutely must send humans to Mars to sort things out there, and anything less dangerous/costly will not do.