Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

New York senator, and a democratic party candidate seeking nomination to run as President, Hillary Clinton, is now suggesting to Illinois Senator Barack Obama to join forces with her and run as her Vice Presidential candidate. I’ve got to ask, why does she want Obama, a man she says is incapable of answering a 3 AM phone call, hanging around the White House?

Well, I figure that Hillary has concluded that Obama is hung like a horse, and a little Oval Office pay back for Bill is in order. What do you think?

A “dream ticket” indeed, but whose dreams, and what are those dreams?

Surely it should be the other way around with Hilary being the VP candidate......NOT. If she gets in it is Lovina for me, no television, phones or internet as I will retire from the world and everything that American politics with her as president will bring.

War, pestilence and famine being just 3.

Guess I just do not like her although funnily enough for all his faults I did like Bill. Still for me the last President of the USA that I did have respect for was a certain honest peanut farmer and he only did one term.

What about you Roy. Who is your president from the past? and of course any other Americans out there.

Jimbo, my favorite was Ronald Reagan. There are a lot of reasons why I say that, and getting into any of them could open up a can of worms. However, who can question the strength and integrity of a man, who shortly after being shot in a failed assassination attempt, grasps his wife’s hand from the hospital gurney and says, “I’m sorry Nancy, I forgot to duck.”

Never had you figured for a republican Roy but at least the man had courage and the love he had for his family was beyond doubt. For me however the only person who would have been worse as a president would have been Marion Montgomery.

Talk about right wing.

Sorry Jimbo, but your opinion of Ronald Reagan is neither supported by American historians, or the American people. Personally, while I was a registered democrat, I voted for Reagan in his re-election.

Rankings by historians of former President Ronald Reagan

Wall Street Journal 2005 Poll: 6

Siena 2002 Poll: 16

Wall Street Journal 2000 Poll: 8

CSPAN 1999 Poll: 11


Rankings by popular opinion polls:


1999 CSPAN viewer poll: 6

2000 ABC News poll: 5

2005 Washington College poll: 2

2007 Rasmussen Reports poll: 9

2007 Gallup poll: 2


A USA Today/Gallup Poll, taken December 8-10, 2006, asked 1009 adults nationwide, "How do you think each of the following presidents will go down in history -- as an outstanding president, above average, average, below average, or poor?"
USA Today/Gallup poll 2006

Rated as Outstanding:
George W. Bush 4%
Bill Clinton 12%
George H.W. Bush 5%
Ronald Reagan 24%
Jimmy Carter 11%
Gerald Ford 6%

Hey Roy,

I'm one American who hated the Reagan years, participated in many demonstrations while I was studying and teaching at Berkeley during those times of greed, and was glad to see him leave. He wasn't a friend of labor.

Roy looking at your picture I would guess that at the end of the Reagan years, which was 88 - 89 you would have been in your late teens?

I can, unfortunately, still remember Ronald Reagan in some really bad old western movies and when that wasn't paying the bills he was fronting for a terrible western TV series called "Death Valley Days" where he cheerfully sold some crappy washing bleach, supposedly, with the power "of a 20 mule team", whatever the hell that was, my point is that he used the exact same demeanor selling bleach to housewives that he later used to attack various defenseless small countries around the world. And can't you just hear him still saying it, "just say NO".

As I think I've said somewhere else in this illustrious forum, in the opinions of many, myself included, the Reagan presidency was the single point in history where the rest of the world stopped believing that America was an upstanding, moral and upright force for democratic good in the world. The present guy sure aint done a thing to change that...

Roy, all I want to say about the shocking lack of good judgment shown back in your teen years is that it is, apparently, only surpassed by the consistency with which you have kept it until the present. I repeat - anyone thinking that either of the present contenders will be any different than the past shower does not have a functioning memory and, at least on medically grounds, should not be allowed to vote!

Jimbo, I tend to agree with you about Carter - basically harmless, which is high praise for an American president.

Roy looking at your picture I would guess that at the end of the Reagan years, which was 88 - 89 you would have been in your late teens?

Many thanks for a highly rare compliment from you Markit, but I was born in 1950. As for the rest of your post, it clearly doesn’t make any sense, because as usual, you’re getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions!

Roy

I would never presume to tell the American people who to vote for but when you look at some of the presidents recently, they appear to have made some serious errors of judgement so maybe this was one of them

Reagans biggest fault for me was his close friendship with Margaret Thatcher. A prime example of two wrongs do not make a right.....unless of course it is the far right. Charlton Heston and Marion also supported him and they are hardly examples of caring human beings.

Lets get back to Obama where we agree.

Lets get back to Obama where we agree.

That’s fine with me Jimbo, but it was you who asked,

What about you Roy. Who is your president from the past?

I respect your opinion Jimbo, and I respect Dr. Bruce’s opinion as well. The fact is, I was raised in a very conservative Republican family where my dad was very active in the Connecticut state Republican machine. During the late 60’s and very early 70’s I was active in my college with anti-Vietnam War marches, but I had an excuse, as I was one of the photographers for our school newspaper. Back then, dad was like Archie Bunker (All in the Family) and there was little need to upset everyone’s appetite at the dinner table by discussing politics. Politics back then, as viewed by everyday Americans is no different than it is now...meaning, what’s the probable or likely impact on one’s own life with one candidate versus another. Party affiliation means nothing to me now.

In American politics, I only wish that candidates were required to submit at least a “short list” of whom they are considering for their VP running mate, as well as key members of their cabinet, while still pursuing their party’s nomination for office. In my view, that would make the whole process a whole lot easier, and the focus would remain on the issues and not the BS that is currently going on in the Democratic party.

I agree whole-heartedly with Dr Bruce and Jimbo! He caused the rapid downfall of unions, let the mentally challenged out onto the streets (who were in mental institutions) deregulated ummmteen businesses, invaded small countries, the list is endless. One of his main objectives was to take the knife to the jugular of the middle class. Americans or those interested in American History should read, "Screwed" The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class by Thom Hartman. However, I'll give him a little slack cuz... who knows,
perhaps his senility had already commenced!!!! He was simply a puppet on a string. But, then again, maybe most American presidents are. I guess we will simply have to wait and see...

Oh yeah, about Hillary's comments regarding here desire to have Obama as her VP. Give me a break. She is behind in delegates and popular vote. The super delegates have not commited... Some political pundits said she has a lot of houtspah(spelling) Nerve. I know a little yuddish but can't remember how to spell it. Got to give it to her though, she has some balls.

Roy is right on about most Americans voting for their own special interests. Those words are worth their weight in gold. When a large majority of the middle class began to drop out...stopped voting, etc. the slippery slope for America became an avalanche of corruption, greed, and resulted in the present state of affairs which we find ourselves in.

At least Barack Obama has sparked a resurgence in the political process. Hopefully, he will be elected President and will not be taken out by evil forces.

One might ask, "How does this subject have anything to do with Bali"??? Well, if Georgee has his way, he will bomb Iran before his term is out and start World War III. If so, those actions definitely would effect Bali. I guess the only thing to do is pray, make millions of bantons and ask the Gods to intercede.

One might ask, "How does this subject have anything to do with Bali"???

JUDY! WOW! Great post! Your passion is indicative of what we all are hearing over, and over and over again from folks back in the states. Here it is a “no brainer” as the choice is as obvious as is the need for change. As you assuredly know, Obama won the Democrats Abroad primary last month, and his support among Americans out of country is truly incredible.

As you are surely aware, and many others too, this topic has everything to do with Bali, and every other part of the globe as well.

Well done Judy...despite the butt whipping I’m getting here for having voted for Reagan in his second term, and still regarding him as an important President during his time in the White House.

Politics can be fun, especially when there is such a large mutual consensus. Cheers!

Roy wrote:

Roy looking at your picture I would guess that at the end of the Reagan years, which was 88 - 89 you would have been in your late teens?

Many thanks for a highly rare compliment from you Markit, but I was born in 1950. As for the rest of your post, it clearly doesn’t make any sense, because as usual, you’re getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions!

As you will, no doubt, see my statement about your age was followed by a question mark ? - hence not a conclusion. My compliments on your longevity or your abilities with Photoshop. Maybe it's the benefit of 10 years lived in Bali?

And I would be grateful for your help in finding any other conclusion that, as you say, I've jumped to...

Offhand can't think of anybody here that deserves a good butt-wiping more

Offhand can't think of anybody here that deserves a good butt-wiping more

Your's will come. It's already scheduled on your arrival date.

Not bad for such an old guy!