Obama for President 2008

“I always hear this mantra about failing public schools.

My kids attend one of the best public school systems and are studying what I did several grades later. I'm really amazed and what they can learn at such a young age. It does cost money though.”

“I went to college when I was 24 years old and out on my own working full time. I paid my own way. I quit my full time job, got a night job as well as working in the kitchen on campus between classes. I started at a 2 year community college, got enough classes under my belt to transfer to a 4 year school. I arranged for student loans, pell grants and various other private scholarships that I didn't even know what they were but I was eligible so I accepted them. I also worked a night job 3-4 nights a week to make ends meet.

Its bull#&%!$ to say people can't afford college. Perhaps they don't want to put in the effort it takes to go while other people have mommie and daddy pay they way, but that is not the same as not being able to afford it. There is billions of dollars available for educational scholarships, both need and merit based.
last edited: 3/20/08 8:06:50 AM”

“I always hear this mantra about failing public schools.

In terms of how we rank internationally it is a failure. I don't know how you'd go about doing a cost analysis vs. performance study but I bet we aren't getting our money's worth. But then again I'm one of those kooks who feel parents should be able to opt out of the public system and send their tax dollars where their kid go. LOL!
last edited: 3/20/08 8:14:21 AM”

“Exactly, Hyway. My wife did pretty much the same thing. I cruised through on scholarships.”

“Our education system is ok. My personal experience with my public education, my kids education in "inner city" schools, and one of the better public schools and private schools is that it isn't money spent at the school that makes for teh better education but the parental involvement in those schools that make an environment with education is cherished.”

“hyway: "Its bull#&%!$ to say people can't afford college. Perhaps they don't want to put in the effort it takes to go while other people have mommie and daddy pay they way, but that is not the same as not being able to afford it. There is billions of dollars available for educational scholarships, both need and merit based."

I gotta agree with hyway on that. its doable by people with no means at all, it will just take longer. For people of modest means, it might mean going to a junior college and living at home, and working parttime. I did just that, and worked as a fry cook, radio tower painter, school janitor, snack truck stocker, and truck driver. Being independent in college was a great adventure for me, and I made a science out of living cheap, so I could take the summer off and hike the John Muir Trail, and take weekends off for skiing and climbing in Yosemite. I'm quite skeptical of a guaranteed higher education for everyone.”

“I went to college when I was 24 years old and out on my own working full time. I paid my own way. I quit my full time job, got a night job as well as working in the kitchen on campus between classes. I started at a 2 year community college, got enough classes under my belt to transfer to a 4 year school. I arranged for student loans, pell grants and various other private scholarships that I didn't even know what they were but I was eligible so I accepted them. I also worked a night job 3-4 nights a week to make ends meet.

Its bull#&%!$ to say people can't afford college. Perhaps they don't want to put in the effort it takes to go while other people have mommie and daddy pay they way, but that is not the same as not being able to afford it. There is billions of dollars available for educational scholarships, both need and merit based.
last edited: 3/20/08 11:06:50 AM�
hyway
11:11:58 AM
3/20/08
ignore this user

BINGO!!!

I started back at college when I was 24 as well. There was no way in he!! I would have been able to quit working at that time, and there was also no way I could pay out of pocket and still pay my bills with the job I did have.

I got by just fine with what is offered out there. And it wasn't even that hard to find the money. Most of the financial aid I got has to be paid back, some of it doesn't. But I didn't have to pay one dime back until after I graduated.

My student loan payment is $225 per month. I came out of school making twice what I made before going in, so I'd say it's pretty affordable. And I just want to be clear that I paid for books on my own a couple quarters, but other than that and parking I paid nothing out of pocket.

To say college is unaffordable in this country is crap. If you want to say it's expensive, I'll agree; but that doesn't mean it's unaffordable. If you want it bad enough, you can get it done. If you don't want it bad enough, why should it be given to you?
last edited: 3/20/08 8:49:31 AM”

“There are some wackjobs questioning his patriotism because he wasn't wearing a flag pin on his lapel, � LOL

I guess I better get some of those magnetic stickers on my car before they begin exile proceedings.

Exile to St. Barts wouldn't be so bad.....

”

“Back on Obama and his little problem with his church: Dick Morris had a good take on Obama: he's just another politician, and he joined the church to prove himself "black enough" and "local" for his voters, and his true roots in that church were only that he was using that church as camouflage (sort of like the Clintons) and voter bait.

That's the kindest take yet, but it leaves him as just another pandering liar rather than a black racist. Now he can't dump the guy without seeming like a turncoat honkey-lover. So, he makes the guy out to be his nutty uncle. It'll blow over. Morris thinks he's got the nomination sewn up anyway. Gee, swell. I have to agree. Anti-liberal stories bore the mainstream journalists, and this will be a mere memory by June. He has the delegates, so he is the Democratic presidential candidate.”

“My problem with Obama's higher education plan is that I believe it will be a gigantic waste of money.

He wants to do away with the FAFSA form because it is too complicated. It is not that complicated, there are step by step instructions, and almost every school will be able to offer assitance with filling it out. This will simply help kids who don't want to make any effort at all get into college. Then they will get there, realize there's no one to fill their tests out, and quit. This will all be at no cost to them because the government is going to be picking up the first $4,000 of tuition. And that's on top of any other aid that's received.

Obama mentions how bad it is that a lot of people come out of college with debt. What is so wrong with that? I'd take that over having to work a low paying job for 10 years to save up the money to pay it ahead of time rather than after the fact. I fully financed college and the resulting debt is more than managable.

I do like how he stresses the importance of community college though. This can be a huge money saver, and you can still end up getting a degree from a recognized school.”

“Obama mentions how bad it is that a lot of people come out of college with debt.

This is a bit like complaining about coming out of a car dealership with a car payment.”

“Listen to a toe-sucker all you want.


hyway - Great story - congratulations on your hard work - but Pell Grants are a Federal program. Seems you agree with how important tax dollars can be to help some folks afford an education.”

“Look at the three counties within the borders of Iraq and the main reason politics are impossible and project that to this country. A consolidation of a few states here and there and we could move most of our fed gov down to the new states and get the fed back to it's original purpose. Why should the US federal government tell us what we can smoke and loan us money for school. We've let it take over our lives and are letting it take over the rest of the worlds also.”

“Does Obama propose that college assistance be based on need, or race? Should a black from a middle income or upper income family get financial aid because he is black? Should a dirt poor white kid get the same aid as a dirt poor black kid? I'd like to get that clarified.

My daughter's experience in school was that she attended a school with about half the population being black. She joined the Black Student Union, and ran for president of the BSU (she is white). She said if you don't let me join the BSU, you are racist, and then, vote for me for president, because I'm the best candidate. She won. Spunky kid.

She worked full or part time, I paid her tuition, and she paid her room and board. She has lived independently since high school, mosstly working in law offices. She just finished her degree in Poly Sci and is going to law school in the fall. It took her more than 4 years, and part of that was she had to take some classes to brush up on subjects she bombed in high school.

While in college, she took a Black History class, and was impressed by the LACK of work ethic of the all black class, and by the students and teacher's pervasive victimhood posturing, and complaining about being held down, while at the same time getting lots of perks and being totally lazy and blame shifting about their non-achieving college career.

I don't rally want to give those types of guys and gals a free ride, thank you very much.”

“Does Obama propose that college assistance be based on need, or race?

I believe his plan calls for $4,000 to anyone.”

“$4000 is a VOTE FOR ME offering. Why stop there if it's the right thing to do?”

“While in college, she took a Black History class, and was impressed by the LACK of work ethic of the all black class, and by the students and teacher's pervasive victimhood posturing, and complaining about being held down, while at the same time getting lots of perks and being totally lazy and blame shifting about their non-achieving college career.

I don't rally want to give those types of guys and gals a free ride, thank you very much.�
idaho bob
12:30:21 PM
3/20/08

Gee, you think this is limited to Blacks?”

“I can't think of another class where that would be the theme of the teacher and all the students. But your point is well taken, no student who is a slacker and lacks motivation should get a free ride.”

“Huckabee defends Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwMPNxwHmQ”

“It's like killing in the name of god is okay. But , don't think you can do it under any other influence. It's hog wash.”

“unbold?”

“A car payment is a negative investment in order to get around town.

laqtis
1:14:39 PM

For large parts of this country it is an investment that allows one to get to their place of work and earn an income.

Unfortunately I cannot afford to uproot my family and move every time my job location changes, and an hour commute in a car is ridiculous on a bicycle.”

“A car is an essential tool to modern life, to get to work, to buy groceries, and to pick up chicks, and thus the government owes it to everyone, but especially the disadvantaged, to buy them a car. And not just any car, like a Ford pickup or a chevy 2 door POS, but a nice Harvard or Princeton SUV. A nicely wheeled citizenry provides a very good return to society.

I have to admit that Obama's $4000 gift (if that is the figure) to go to school is a bit better reasoned than Bush's $1200 gift per person (below a certain income level) for absolutely nothing. Bush has joined the income redistributors. What is he thinking?”

“Clinton and Obama are locked in this standoff , because the longer they can hold off the formation of a strong centist party the less work they'll having to discredit it. Bloomberg and others are still looking , but until this dem mess ends they'll stand back and that is not good.

On the commute. A licence plate# pushed into a gas station computer could raise and lower your gas price based on the amount you buy.
In the mess we are in it may happen.
last edited: 3/20/08 3:03:46 PM”

““There are some wackjobs questioning his patriotism because he wasn't wearing a flag pin on his lapel, � LOL

I guess I better get some of those magnetic stickers on my car before they begin exile proceedings.

Exile to St. Barts wouldn't be so bad.....

”
Tilt
12:00:43 PM
3/20/08

hey, look over there, something shiny ...”

“hyway - Great story - congratulations on your hard work - but Pell Grants are a Federal program. Seems you agree with how important tax dollars can be to help some folks afford an education.”
Reverend Truth V Wicked
12:19:01 PM
3/20/08

I have never said that government shouldn't offer grants and loans. You only get it if you work for it (ie: stay in school.) There is a payoff that comes from the investment when that person graduates and gets taxed at a higher salary. So the pell grant system works, why change if unless you are working on reducing fraud. But pell grants should be a minor portion of the cost of education. Low interest student loans are much better for everyoneinvolved.”

“Baracks passport records were breached once each of the last three months. And his isn't Clinton. Those Bushidents can't keep their eyes off other peoples business.”

“Yep. The Republican dirty tricks machine is getting warmed up.”

“Oh come on now V. Don't make it sound like the republicans only do it. The dems and repubs are cut from the same cloth.”

“The dems and repubs are cut from the same clothNigal

on the same rag?”

“Did o'Bama drink any damn Guinness on Monday? � Or did he go for that Green Crap? � � OR is a bleedin' TEE Totaler, bejaysus.”

“"I am deeply troubled that State Department contract employees sought access to Sen. Barack Obama's passport files. Firing or disciplining those responsible is an important first step. But we need to understand why these employees had access to this information in the first place, why they sought the information, and why it took over two months for this matter to come to light. I urge the Secretary of State to promptly refer this matter to the State Department Inspector General for investigation."

if this happened to one of us i seriously doubt the incident would have been noticed nor considered worthy of firing anyone yet alone an investigation by the State Department Inspector General. i am smelling a mole hill on this issue but hey, this is a campaign and making mountains is part of the process for any politician.”

“On the commute. A licence plate# pushed into a gas station computer could raise and lower your gas price based on the amount you buy. - salebored

Wow, that kind of socialist wealth redistribution scheme would destroy a LOT of middle and working class families around here. So much for liberals caring about the middle class.”

“It would be no different from most electric, water and gas bills are now. We don't live in the wild west anymore. This country cannot produce anything which will balance our energy imports except for debt, which is quickly becoming our main export. Our military export is really not an option any longer.

Mutt, I live in the middle of the Mojave and must travel 20 miles just to get to where I can begin to go somewhere. should I pay the same for that extra two gallons of gas. The socialist would say yes,infact they would write a tax law to let me write it as an expence on my taxes. User fees are not a socialist concept.”

“"For large parts of this country it is an investment that allows one to get to their place of work and earn an income."

Yes, however, an investment in something like a car, while giving the ability of mobility, does not always function in the context of transportation to and from work for a lot of people such as retirees.

When comparing investments in education and transportation it is clear that investment in education is an area where a return on the investment can be realized. While an investment in transportation can provide a related function in the procurement of addition means of subsistence, rarely can a person invest in something like a car and see a appreciation return on that investment when that investment is liquidated.

"A car is an essential tool to modern life, to get to work, to buy groceries, and to pick up chicks, and thus the government owes it to everyone, but especially the disadvantaged, to buy them a car."

Not in urban areas where mass transit is the readily available and primary form of transportation. There are many Americans who do not have to be encumbered with a vehicle and do just fine; perhaps even better due to the savings realized by not having a vehicle (which might actually be off set by higher living expenses; however, as always it's relative).”

“get a gas credit card that provides discounts to consumers that buy bulk from one vendor. the government doesn't need to be involved in this type of price fixing.”

“Reagan said he was going to balance the federal budget with user fees.”

“"A car is an essential tool to modern life, to get to work, to buy groceries, and to pick up chicks, and thus the government owes it to everyone, but especially the disadvantaged, to buy them a car."

"Not in urban areas where mass transit is the readily available and primary form of transportation."

Every try to pick up a chick while riding the bus? Its insensitivity like that which holds the poorest of our nation down in humiliating circumstances. Everyone should have their college education paid for, a free car, and a TV paid for by the government. Otherwise you are condemning them to a life without, well, a free education, a free car, and a free TV.

The only way we can balance out our carbon footprint is to hire poor people to not have air conditioning and heating, and to ride a bicycle, thus our average carbon use will be quite low. I'm going to hire myself some right now. My theory is to hire the Eskimos to not have regrigerators in the winter, and hire the Guatemalans to not have heaters in the summer, and the Vietnamese to ride bikes, or at least mopeds. Everybody wins, and our carbon footprint is neutral, and everyone will love us.”

“I differ. One subject that is often overlooked on the carbon matter is carbon sinks and "scrubbers".

CO2 is something that trees need to live. Very general -- we could, potentially, burn as much crap as we wanted if we didn't cut down (and not reforest) the carbon scrubbers. As humans increased the ejection of CO2 into the atmosphere, humans have in turn, cut down the scrubbers, which in turn raises global temperate, which in turn facilitates the release of carbon from the carbon sinks.”

“Boy, if Runnie said that then we have too fews users. Heroin addicts don't shake as bad as a driver when his car won't start. the car is way more than a tool, it is a religion.
last edited: 3/21/08 10:25:00 AM”

“I'm hip to sinks and scrubbers, and I have a proposal. Growing forests lock up way more co2 than old growth, so you really want new forests to be growing everywhere, but you don't want the old growth to oxidize, by burning or by gradual oxidation. So we cut down all the forests, and dump all the logs into deep lakes where they don't oxidize. Bingo, we fill up our CO2 sinks and start our CO2 scrubbers big time.”

“The middle of the Mojave desert is Rosamond, or maybe Mojave, so why are you there? And condolences.”

“I wouldn't live here, but for the community I live in. Great schools for my second family and a recreational homeowner owned and operated Lakes and Golf community. It is an Oasis on the Mojave River and suits this old beach boy well until the kids are off on their own (three -four years).”

“Obama speaking and expanding on his white grandmother in a radio interview the other day...

"The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, you know, there's a reaction that's been bred in our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way, and that's just the nature of race in our society."

What the phuck?! Typical white person? Typical?! Where are you guys on the left on this? If a white republican said ill behavior of a black person as being typical black behavior and it was bred into them his career would be over.

Who wants to be first to step and be intellectually honest and call this out?”

“that's why i can't stand the age we've gotten to Nigal... Blacks can say ANYTHING they want and they ALWAYS get away with it...

Different example, Chris Rock the comedian always says jokes about white folks... yes, he's funny, BUT if a white guy said a bunch of black derogatory jokes, HE'D BE LYNCHED!”

“poor fm, let me help you with your white mans burden”