Does President Obama play too much Golf?

[WalkTheCourse]

Originally Posted by stogiesnbogies

Obama "worst president ever"?!

Try Andrew Johnson, Hoover...and ...of course...

Have you already forgotten George W Bush who put two wars on the credit card-one totally unnecessary while blowing up the economy?

Meanwhile Obama has 31 consecutive months of private job GROWTH -compared to Bush who was losing over 750 THOUSAND jobs per month; he ended the neo-con war in Iraq and oh BTW he killed that Bin Laden guy Bush wasnt interested in finding.......Obama faced historically unprecedented and in fact treasonous obstruction from the GOP/Tea Baggers in congress yet has righted the ship...it took Bush 8 long incompetent and criminal years to create this mess and you complain that Obama hasnt mopped it up fast enough?!  LOL

You must have a serious case of Romnesia.

Quick Answer: Yes, they have forgotten. Because of people's preconceived thought processes, it is in their best interest to find ways to blame Obama for what is quite plainly a direct cause of careless spending, poor investment, and turn-your-back financial legislation from the previous administration.

Popular talking points...

"Oh sure, maybe things are getting a little better, but they'd be even better if a Republican was in the white house!" (with absolutely no concrete evidence to support such a notion.)
"Unemployment was over 10% on Obama's watch!" (even though any reasonable person knows that 10%+ was the latent peak of the Bush 43 crash... he just happened to leave office before it peaked.)
"It just doesn't FEEL like an economic recovery" (abject politically-driven BS, no comment)
"But, but, Solyndra!!!!" (A poor investment, yes, but a really really minor blip on the overall financial radar screen)
"Socialism has come to America!" (Someone REALLY needs to open a dictionary...)

So far, I have heard few, if any at all, concrete arguments against the undeniably factual economic recovery under Obama. This was the steepest job loss in 60+ years... Let's not forget the "Clinton Recession," which only resulted in an unemployment peak of 6.3% in 2003! Not to mention all those wonderful budget surpluses which W. so skillfully wasted.

Numbers don't lie.

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by WalkTheCourse

Quick Answer: Yes, they have forgotten. Because of people's preconceived thought processes, it is in their best interest to find ways to blame Obama for what is quite plainly a direct cause of careless spending, poor investment, and turn-your-back financial legislation from the previous administration.

Popular talking points...

"Oh sure, maybe things are getting a little better, but they'd be even better if a Republican was in the white house!" (with absolutely no concrete evidence to support such a notion.)

"Unemployment was over 10% on Obama's watch!" (even though any reasonable person knows that 10%+ was the latent peak of the Bush 43 crash... he just happened to leave office before it peaked.)

"It just doesn't FEEL like an economic recovery" (abject politically-driven BS, no comment)

"But, but, Solyndra!!!!" (A poor investment, yes, but a really really minor blip on the overall financial radar screen)

"Socialism has come to America!" (Someone REALLY needs to open a dictionary...)

So far, I have heard few, if any at all, concrete arguments against the undeniably factual economic recovery under Obama. This was the steepest job loss in 60+ years... Let's not forget the "Clinton Recession," which only resulted in an unemployment peak of 6.3% in 2003! Not to mention all those wonderful budget surpluses which W. so skillfully wasted.

Numbers don't lie.

And this would be the point where the typical Obama-hater steps in and says something like "go ahead, just keep drinking your kool-aid because you apparently are too blind to see the Socialism that Obama is trying to force down our throats.  It's just the first of many moves he's going to make.  In his second term he's going to eliminate the two-term limit and then he'll start forcing Sharia law on the country because we all know he's a Muslim.  Oh, and then, since he's going to make all the illegal aliens American citizens, white people will be in the minority and they'll become slaves sent to work in the fields growing corn for all the alternative-fuel cars he's going to produce."

I think that about sums up the Obama-hater paranoia.  Did I miss anything?

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by dave67az

And this would be the point where the typical Obama-hater steps in and says something like "go ahead, just keep drinking your kool-aid because you apparently are too blind to see the Socialism that Obama is trying to force down our throats.  It's just the first of many moves he's going to make.  In his second term he's going to eliminate the two-term limit and then he'll start forcing Sharia law on the country because we all know he's a Muslim.  Oh, and then, since he's going to make all the illegal aliens American citizens, white people will be in the minority and they'll become slaves sent to work in the fields growing corn for all the alternative-fuel cars he's going to produce."

I think that about sums up the Obama-hater paranoia.  Did I miss anything?

Yeah, racism, birtherism...

At a Republican brunch event on October 15, with RNC chairman Reince Priebus in attendance, the son of Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Tommy Thompson told the audience that “we have the opportunity to send President Obama back to Chicago… or Kenya.”

After Jason Thompson made the remark, a woman in the audience quipped: “We are taking donations for that Kenya trip.”

And saw a video last week in which an attendee at a Romney-Ryan event, wore a T-shirt, saying "Put a White Back in the White House."

Nice, very nice.... while I don't like either candidate, there is some "hate" that should be exposed for what it is...

Fact is, we don't know what an Obama Presidency would have looked like because the GOP has taken every opportunity to block his appointments and his legislation. Blame Obama? Yeah, I can do so - his leadership style and frequency of appearances to give the American people confidence is non-existent, but at the same time, the GOP has blocked judicial, departmental postings, and legislation for four years by abusing the legislative system.

Payback is hell, which is what will happen when a GOP President is someday elected. Is that the government we deserve? A series of paybacks, delays, and abuses of the system? A system of revenge which produces uncertainty so businessmen do not invest in the economy?

I joined www.nolabels.org last week to look at getting past all of this impasse.

[reflection]

You guys are going way off topic LOL

Obama (or any President) plays too much golf if they are playing golf during their term.

Let's stop the Obama bashing please.   No one is perfect.

[reflection]

Yes, and lots of past Presidents also played golf - which was bad too.

Doesn't make it right for current and future presidents to continue to do so.

Play golf during your vacation, not during your work week (yes, the President's job is 24/7, as it should be if you are POTUS).

Yes, I'm very demanding of our President (whomever they may be).

[hanalei]

Yea presidents aren't allowed any free time. We should even allot time for their meals and bathroom breaks. Who cares if he's the most powerful person on the planet. Hes not allowed any relaxation whatsoever.....

[reflection]

Originally Posted by hanalei

Yea presidents aren't allowed any free time. We should even allot time for their meals and bathroom breaks. Who cares if he's the most powerful person on the planet. Hes not allowed any relaxation whatsoever.....

You're a little extreme...just a tad.  LOL

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by hanalei

Yea presidents aren't allowed any free time. We should even allot time for their meals and bathroom breaks. Who cares if he's the most powerful person on the planet. Hes not allowed any relaxation whatsoever.....

Originally Posted by reflection

You're a little extreme...just a tad.  LOL

Actually, no, Reflection, YOU are the one who is a little extreme.  lol

Your exact words:  "Obama (or any President) plays too much golf if they are playing golf during their term."

So Presidents aren't allowed to engage in ANY recreational activity while they're in office, or is it just golf that you're prohibiting?  Could you please list all the outdoor activities you wish to ban for our leaders?

[reflection]

Originally Posted by dave67az

Actually, no, Reflection, YOU are the one who is a little extreme.  lol

Your exact words:  "Obama (or any President) plays too much golf if they are playing golf during their term."

So Presidents aren't allowed to engage in ANY recreational activity while they're in office, or is it just golf that you're prohibiting?  Could you please list all the outdoor activities you wish to ban for our leaders?

Dave,

You love to read and interpret what you want to.

I said golf, I did not say ANY recreational activity.

As I said in a prior post, a 5-6 hour round of golf is too long for the POTUS when there are other important duties that he should attend to.  That's my personal opinion.  You have your opinion.  Why do you keep asking me to explain other things that I did not say?  Let it rest.

I'm sure there are people in the US who are working multiple jobs to provide for their families who do not have 5-6 hours to spare.  The president has the responsibility for his family of 300 million citizens.

[hanalei]

So 5-6hrs of tv is ok?

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by reflection

Dave,

You love to read and interpret what you want to.

I said golf, I did not say ANY recreational activity.

As I said in a prior post, a 5-6 hour round of golf is too long for the POTUS when there are other important duties that he should attend to.  That's my personal opinion.  You have your opinion.  Why do you keep asking me to explain other things that I did not say?  Let it rest.

I'm sure there are people in the US who are working multiple jobs to provide for their families who do not have 5-6 hours to spare.  The president has the responsibility for his family of 300 million citizens.

I'm trying my best to get you to clearly say what kinds of recreation you think are okay for a President, and what kinds are out of line.

As near as I can tell, it's the time (5-6 hours) that you don't like.

So how much time is a President allowed to spend on recreational activity per week?

I do NOT believe that there are people in this country who do not have 10-12 hours a month to "spare" on recreation/fitness.  I heard all the excuses when I was a medical provider in the military for why Airmen didn't stay in shape.  Even when I was in Iraq, we had time set aside for Morale/Welfare/Recreation activities (and I'm pretty darn sure we worked harder over there and more hours per week than 99% of anyone in the States).

From what I'm hearing, you don't think a President should be allowed 10-12 hours a month of recreation.  Does this include television?  Spending time with his family?

[teamroper60]

Originally Posted by stogiesnbogies

Meanwhile Obama has 31 consecutive months of private job GROWTH -compared to Bush who was losing over 750 THOUSAND jobs per month..............................

Your numbers are factually misleading at best.    The Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers clearly show that at no time during the Bush presidency was there less people working than there is right now.   Furthermore, those same statistics show that only in 2008, did the actual number of employed Americans drop lower in than any previous year and the 2008 numbers were higher than 2006.

But, that has nothing to do with this thread..........

I laugh at the idea that a sitting President should be chastised for playing golf (or any other form of recreation).   As someone else pointed out, the job of President is a 24/7 job for 4 years (or more).    Regardless of where he is or what he is doing, the POTUS is "on the clock" and on call.    If anyone in the private sector was subjected to that, they would cry foul.

Even though I firmly Obama is a socialist of the first order and should not get a second term, I do think the guy should be allowed to take a few hours once in a while to do something he enjoys doing.

[teamroper60]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

Fact is, we don't know what an Obama Presidency would have looked like because the GOP has taken every opportunity to block his appointments and his legislation. Blame Obama? Yeah, I can do so - his leadership style and frequency of appearances to give the American people confidence is non-existent, but at the same time, the GOP has blocked judicial, departmental postings, and legislation for four years by abusing the legislative system.

While I agree that we have had far to much partisan politics in Washington, you cannot say Obama has been blocked for 4 years.   Aside from Obamacare, his own party didn't support him when they had the chance.   He had a Democratically controlled congress for the first two years and still got little accomplished.    You can't throw that on Republicans.

[teamroper60]

Originally Posted by WalkTheCourse

Let's not forget the "Clinton Recession," which only resulted in an unemployment peak of 6.3% in 2003!

Clinton was not in office in 2003.   His terms were 1993 to 2001.

The unemployment rate under Clinton reached a peak of 6.9% in his first year in office, followed by 6.1% the following year before dropping to a low of 4.0% in 2000.    Bush's highest unemployment rate was in 2003 at 6.0% and his low was  2006 and 2007 at 4.6%.

Obama has had 3 years in office and his lowest unemployment rate for which there is a full year of statistics was last year at 8.9%..  His highest was 2010 at 9.6%.

Other than 2010, only three times other times since 1941 has there been an unemployment rate at 9.6% or higher.  Those years were 1941, 1982 and 1983.

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by teamroper60

While I agree that we have had far to much partisan politics in Washington, you cannot say Obama has been blocked for 4 years.   Aside from Obamacare, his own party didn't support him when they had the chance.   He had a Democratically controlled congress for the first two years and still got little accomplished.    You can't throw that on Republicans.

Originally Posted by teamroper60

Clinton was not in office in 2003.   His terms were 1993 to 2001.

The unemployment rate under Clinton reached a peak of 6.9% in his first year in office, followed by 6.1% the following year before dropping to a low of 4.0% in 2000.    Bush's highest unemployment rate was in 2003 at 6.0% and his low was  2006 and 2007 at 4.6%.

Obama has had 3 years in office and his lowest unemployment rate for which there is a full year of statistics was last year at 8.9%..

Hey, let's not muddle this emotionally-charged issue with things like facts and statistics.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by teamroper60

While I agree that we have had far to much partisan politics in Washington, you cannot say Obama has been blocked for 4 years.   Aside from Obamacare, his own party didn't support him when they had the chance.   He had a Democratically controlled congress for the first two years and still got little accomplished.    You can't throw that on Republicans.

Disagree - he did more than you think, a lot more than you think.

And you forget, he may have had the numbers during the first two years, but the GOP decided to abuse the filibuster rule in the Senate, meaning you needed 60 votes to get anything passed in the Senate.

So YES, we CAN throw that on Republicans. PLUS, they blocked and refused to fill many vacancies and appointments from the beginning.

This is a guy who won in an electoral landslide and a relative landslide in the popular vote with 53% of the vote -  it's tough to get even 50% in these times -- and the GOP blocked the will of the people from the beginning and smeared this guy on a daily basis for four years. We've had to redo this election every day for four years.

Some of us are tired and angry - during a time of national crisis, the GOP did nothing but  attempt to block the President and mislead the American people about the President. They were even elected in 2010 on a "jobs" vote and they have done NOTHING - and they dare blame the President? It just shows their blatant contempt for the American people.

I can fault the President for disappearing in terms of leadership and for not being active enough - but the GOP has warred against the President and in the process, decided that having power is more important than governing the country.

[kathybhylton]

Originally Posted by poser

I think they should be able to get out and play but, they use to give george bush so much crap over it and he played less than half of what Obama has done.

Indeed. I couldn't agree less.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by teamroper60

Clinton was not in office in 2003.   His terms were 1993 to 2001.

The unemployment rate under Clinton reached a peak of 6.9% in his first year in office, followed by 6.1% the following year before dropping to a low of 4.0% in 2000.    Bush's highest unemployment rate was in 2003 at 6.0% and his low was  2006 and 2007 at 4.6%.

Obama has had 3 years in office and his lowest unemployment rate for which there is a full year of statistics was last year at 8.9%..  His highest was 2010 at 9.6%.

Other than 2010, only three times other times since 1941 has there been an unemployment rate at 9.6% or higher.  Those years were 1941, 1982 and 1983.

There are statistics and damn lies, and sometimes they are the same.

You use stats to mislead.

Well done.

Try putting things in context next time.

As a golfer, how about using the same honesty one uses on the course?

We should all talk less politics and play more golf. We're all better off for it.