We had an interesting discussion in a Bible study class concerning knowing and doing God's will.

It got me thinking on President Obama. He has one life to live and his daughters will be children only once.

If I were he, I would tell the news media--"I will not seek another term. You can badger someone else."

What would you do?

Curious as usual.

That reminds me of Nixon's speech to the press when he was defeated in his run for Governer of California:

"You won't have Nixon to kick around any more."

It would be effective for any elected officials to tell their constituency, "I am not running for re-election. I do not expect a second term. My actions and decisions during this term are based only on what I think is right for the [country/state/city/etc.] not on their political currency in a bid for re-election."

That would be a surprise.

I don't see it happening. I think he knows that the badgering goes with the job, and I think he will still have stuff he wants to accomplish.

I'm not sure, yet, what is going to happen this November, and his re-election is still two years away.

We are still in a chaotic situation all over the world. It is difficult to predict what will happen between now and November 2012.

But, what do I know? I would never consider running for a neighborhood office of any kind, so I have no concept of what makes anyone want to be President of the US.

Ann

I am naive and idealistic enough that I believe the drive to be president comes from a need "to make a difference."

Even seeking local positions that serve people requires a certain desire "to make a difference." That "difference" always makes waves and has detractors whose self-interest isn't served.

Personally, I think he needs another four years to really be tested whether his goals can be met. It's been nice for me to have pride in the United States for a change; I'd like it to continue a while more. I've taken pleasure in the freedom to speak my mind and not be chastised for a lack of patriotic verve.

For me, my citizenship in this great country gives me the right to speak for and against policieis of governmental bodies without fear. That right is returning bit by bit. It was snuffed out in the recent Bush years. You were either for the Bush policies or not a patriot and suspect. It was an awful time for thinking people, my closest experience to what other countries suffer without our freedoms.

The Tea Party and the news commentators who live or die by their sensationalism ratings are having a field day. They have the podium in a time when we are again free to speak. They benefit from the very administration they malign.

8/15/2010

Not seek a 2nd term, if your first term is
bad, rating are below 45%, your getting
grey hair from the job, it's time to say I
did it , time to move on and think of my
two young children....


Cheers..Joe

I think he is doing the best job possible under the circumstances. My concern is for him, his wife and children.
I also think approval ratings are fickle.

I would like to see him with two terms. He cannot accomplish all his goals in one term. Besides, it takes one term to fully understand the job and how to get things done. Further, a second term provides continuity internationally.
As DK pointed out, we regained lost prestige and confidence people had in America. The momentum that is building can continue with a second term. If he doesn't succeed in the next election, much of the gains made will be lost.
There are those who want him to fail for the sake of politics.

All the presidents get gray hair in office. It's a horrific job. However, he has a strong wife and a live-in mother-in-law and works diligently to provide some semblance of a normal life for his two daughters.

I think the families of servicemen, firemen, police officers and other high risk occupations (oil rig workers) suffer far worse then the family of a president with financial resources to fill in the gaps. We don't tell these brave men to leave their jobs after four years to take care of their families. We encourage them to continue in their careers because their experience is valuable.

Some people have a short memory. I remember when my home value hit the toilet and my investments were halved and job opportunities were nil so that I am currently worse off than ten years ago. It didn't happen in this administration; it happened in the prior one. I want this administration to have the chance it needs to dig us out of the mud it inherited.

I have been a turn around specialist in my career. I turned around a five county regional board that almost dissolved from its challenges and a state senator ready to celebrate at its funeral. It took me three years, not two; it was only five counties not an entire nation.

Then, there are some turn arounds that are impossible. I took on one of those recently. Since I was the third administrator for that place in one year; they are now on their fourth for that same year; that points out the fact that sometimes in spite of our expertise, the circumstances that create the challenges are beyond our cure.

Yes, the country is still in an economic mess; the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. The wealthy class certainly need to get their people back in power because over time, the poor might start catching up; and the wealthy have the funds and the radio propagandizers to emotionalize the downtrodden into believing their favorite voice. I vote for a consistent government so we can actually measure the progress. If things haven't turned around in eight years of an Obama administration, then I'll be ready for a change also.

DK wrote:

Quote:

All the presidents get gray hair in office.

So did George W. It's the only thing the two men have in common, other than holding the office.

Ann

Ann,

You are so right! I voted for both of them also.

I voted for George Herbert, but I went to college with too many "W"s. (Not terribly bright rich boys trying to avoid going to Vietnam through the family money and connections.)

I voted for the winning candidate: Al Gore.

Ann

8/15/2010


He should resign ! All Socialist democrats should be ashamed of
themselves .........


Cheers...Joe

Joe,
I think you have a "socialist" phobia.

8/16/2010

No Abe, I don't ...I don't want to see this
country turn communist and that's exactly
what the socialist democrats including Obama
have in mind , must I remind you this is not
Europe where they run socialist govt.'s, we
are unless you have forgotten a republic, we
have to go back to our founding father's the
way they set up our govt. We will not tolerate
a dictator nor a leftist president nor the morons
who run Washington , thinking the American
people are stupid or we don't see through their
plans......

Cheers..Joe

Joe,
You tend to generalize and generalization is flawed. When one talks of America it implies that the conditions and laws in California are the same as those in West Virginia.

When you refer to Europe as a whole, you are equating Moscow with London. They are not the same.

When you talk of communism, you are speaking of the past. Russia has become capitalistic and communism as a way of life is history.

You speak about the evils of socialism in Europe. Can you be specific? Can you give some examples?