The Financial Times: Obama Perceived as Weak

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Somebody needs to explain to him that voting 'present' only worked in the Senate.

I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.

What needs to be done is the exact opposite of what is being done. His Presidency is like Carter's on steroids.
 

Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
14
81
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.


I wouldn't consider him weak for working on our healthcare system which is bankrupting our country.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.
It's gotten so bad even SNL spoofed it recently.

Link

He's been going now for 9 months. There must be a metric showing what he has or hasn't done vs other presidents in their first 9 months.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
Originally posted by: Ausm
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.


I wouldn't consider him weak for working on our healthcare system which is bankrupting our country.

So if he says to Iran "there will be consequences of doing X", then Iran does it, and Obama says "there will be consequences of doing X", you reply "He's working on health care"?

The Presidency isn't about health care, it's about being able to handle both domestic and foreign problems.

I give Obama credit for being smarter than Bush, but so far he hasn't found his feet abroad. Sure he's likable, but that does not mean effective.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: boomerang
Somebody needs to explain to him that voting 'present' only worked in the Senate.

I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.

What needs to be done is the exact opposite of what is being done. His Presidency is like Carter's on steroids.

If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.

 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.

No offense, but sounds like your dad hates and despises what's good in the US and want to see it destroyed.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: boomerang
Somebody needs to explain to him that voting 'present' only worked in the Senate.

I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.

What needs to be done is the exact opposite of what is being done. His Presidency is like Carter's on steroids.

If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.
That theory is out there. IMO there is compelling evidence for it. His past associations alone have to make one raise an eyebrow. The people he's chosen for his administration is another. The old walks like a duck thing.

He did say he wanted to fundamentally transform America. Was this political rhetoric or blatant truth? If it's truth, I guess it's up the the people of this country to decide whether that's what we truly want.

I'll go on record as saying I don't.
 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
Obama is a pu$$y. I don't see why anyone should be surprised that his administration is turning out this way.
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Obama is a pu$$y. I don't see why anyone should be surprised that his administration is turning out this way.

If you do not support Mr Obama, you ignore anything positive he does and is said about him.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
34
91
Originally posted by: Siddhartha
Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Obama is a pu$$y. I don't see why anyone should be surprised that his administration is turning out this way.

If you do not support Mr Obama, you ignore anything positive he does and is said about him.

Let's talk about the positive then. Relative to the time spent in office thus far, how does Obama stack up against previous Presidents?
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
I think most Americans would prefer a weak dollar. Keeps jobs at home and lowers our deficit.
 

Robor

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
16,979
0
76
The economy collapsed, Iran gave the finger to the world, and NK developed their nuke program while GWB was in office and we didn't hear a peep about weakness in the presidency. Now it's on Obama? BS. This is nothing but more right wing FUD.

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.

Sorry to hear your dad is a moron ditto head.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
Originally posted by: Robor
The economy collapsed, Iran gave the finger to the world, and NK developed their nuke program while GWB was in office and we didn't hear a peep about weakness in the presidency. Now it's on Obama? BS. This is nothing but more right wing FUD.

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.

Sorry to hear your dad is a moron ditto head.

Sorry but Bush is no longer in office. Obama wanted and campaigned for this job. Since the 9 months he's been here there has been no movement from Iran, Israel, Russia or any other problems he's inherited. He has done nothing. Perhaps he can turn it around.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Originally posted by: boomerang
Somebody needs to explain to him that voting 'present' only worked in the Senate.

I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.

What needs to be done is the exact opposite of what is being done. His Presidency is like Carter's on steroids.

Unfortunately he is living up to what I expected of him, I hoped he would prove me wrong for the sake of the country but he has not. He is weak in just about every area except lip service. He is a speech giver, not a results deliverer.
 

BigDH01

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2005
1,631
88
91
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.

Why do you want such a strong dollar? Is it so you can keep buying cheap imported crap even while it means that production is shipped overseas and most people buying this crap are buying it with money lent to them from those countries acquiring said production?

I just don't get it. Everyone seems to bemoan a weaker dollar, but I haven't heard any real justification as to why. The incomes and savings aspect of it seems to be a red herring. If the dollar collapsed, manufacturers could move to this country and make money exporting. If I can buy blue jeans that are manufactured in Texas from cotton grown in the Carolinas, why do I care if a Euro costs $2.00? Is this a nationalism thing? Do we want a strong dollar simply so we can say we have a strong currency?

Of course, the real problem is energy, specifically oil. This is where a weak currency would hurt. We need to quickly reduce demand and increase alternative supply. Once this is done, I would actually prefer a weaker currency. In fact, with our trade deficits, it really needs to happen and we'll all be better for it in the long run.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
I disagree with Obama on a lot of things, but I don't think you can blame a weak president for the state of the dollar. I don't perceive Obama as weak, I perceive him as inexperienced and unproven. He's still feeling his way through foreign policy. This was a known risk when he was elected, everyone (including Hillary) pointed it out. Still, the state of the dollar reflects confidence in the american economy as well as the ability of the government to keep spending under control such that the value of the dollar doesn't get washed away in deficits. With Obama and the current spend-happy congress, it's pretty clear spending will not be reigned in any time soon, so the dollar value reflects it.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,528
9,749
136
You can call Obama weak, but mere words and saber rattling would not change the outcome on these issues. If Obama is weak, then I submit that GWB was also weak. He took no action to stop NK and Iran from developing nuclear missiles. He could have taken action while president, he did not and the problems persist today. The problems will continue to exist after Obama.

So I?m still trying to grasp the difference the two men have on such issues. Inaction continues to be inaction.
 
Dec 10, 2005
28,152
12,814
136
Originally posted by: Dari
Originally posted by: Robor
The economy collapsed, Iran gave the finger to the world, and NK developed their nuke program while GWB was in office and we didn't hear a peep about weakness in the presidency. Now it's on Obama? BS. This is nothing but more right wing FUD.

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If you ask my dad, Obama and Co. hate and despise what America is and want to see it destroyed.

Sorry to hear your dad is a moron ditto head.

Sorry but Bush is no longer in office. Obama wanted and campaigned for this job. Since the 9 months he's been here there has been no movement from Iran, Israel, Russia or any other problems he's inherited. He has done nothing. Perhaps he can turn it around.

No movement on Iran? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10...middleeast/02nuke.html

Helping to get Iran to agree to ship nuclear material to Russia and France so it can be processed down to use in nuclear plants and not weapons is doing nothing?
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,528
9,749
136
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
No movement on Iran? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10...middleeast/02nuke.html

Helping to get Iran to agree to ship nuclear material to Russia and France so it can be processed down to use in nuclear plants and not weapons is doing nothing?

We had a deal with NK in the 90s and later learned they never upheld their end of the bargain. Why would Iran not use the same strategy as their trading partner? Any deal would be upheld by us and broken by our enemy. Played for a fool, if that's the route you wish to go down.

Still won't change the outcome of a nuclear armed Iran.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Originally posted by: Skoorb
I don't know if he's hiding his head in the sand, whether this is due to inexperience, by design, sheer incompetence, or what. Is he running the country or is it Rahm Emanuel, Reid and Pelosi? This social agenda is all well and good, but it's dominating his agenda while in the meantime the very foundation of our nation is crumbling.
It's gotten so bad even SNL spoofed it recently.

Link

He's been going now for 9 months. There must be a metric showing what he has or hasn't done vs other presidents in their first 9 months.

Remember how you couldn't criticize him cause it was bush's fault, cause bho had only been in office for 2 months, 4 months....well now he has completed 1/5 his time. How's that for hope and change
 

zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,512
2
81
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.
Inevitably, the dollar will stop being the worlds' reserve currency. It'd be inconvenient if it happened right now though. And when it does happen, a lot of our debt problems will be reduced. Also, america will also actually be competitive in exports again.
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
126
Originally posted by: BigDH01
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
It use to be that I would see a "dying Dollar" article once a month, now it's like I am seeing one every other day or so.

Could this be the result of having a weak President?

From North Korea launching more missiles, Iran giving the world the finger, and the anti-Dollar drumbeat growing from China and Russia, it is clear that the world is enjoying having a weak US President.

I don't see why anyone is addressing the "Dollar strength" issue. I mean, if the Dollar does truly collapse then our incomes and savings become worthless on the world stage. We won't be able to afford squat.

Deficits. Debt. Dollar Strength.

These are the REAL problems we should all be caring about.

Why do you want such a strong dollar? Is it so you can keep buying cheap imported crap even while it means that production is shipped overseas and most people buying this crap are buying it with money lent to them from those countries acquiring said production?

I just don't get it. Everyone seems to bemoan a weaker dollar, but I haven't heard any real justification as to why. The incomes and savings aspect of it seems to be a red herring. If the dollar collapsed, manufacturers could move to this country and make money exporting. If I can buy blue jeans that are manufactured in Texas from cotton grown in the Carolinas, why do I care if a Euro costs $2.00? Is this a nationalism thing? Do we want a strong dollar simply so we can say we have a strong currency?

Why, so we can have the same sort of thriving industrial economy as Bangaladesh? Manufacturing jobs are now in permanent decline in this country due to automation even as the industry produces the same or more amount of output; see what happened to farming in the 20th century. Do you pine for the millions of lost subsitence farming jobs lost in the U.S. in the past 100 years or so as much as you do the back-breaking, spirit-crushing assembly line jobs of the industrial American age?