A Conversation with Barack Obama

What he's like now

By Jon Meacham | NEWSWEEK
Published May 16, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 25, 2009

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  • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 07/20/2009 8:39:56 PM

    Meacham's article is such over-the-top fawning that it is like reading a parody of a Newsweak article, not the real thing. OMG, what a hoot. How can he write this stuff and not hurl afterwards? Where are his editors? Is this really what Newsweak has come to? It is like, Obama = good, Bush = bad, Cheney = very bad. What a bunch of intellectually vacant, simplistic nonsense they are peddling.

    This is exactly why the mainstream press is held in such low regard by so many Americans.

  • Posted By: sam the butcher @ 07/10/2009 11:31:54 PM

    i just have to say that obama is the best president we ever had. Global warming is going to destroy our planer, just watch what cnbc says on tv. The United States is destroying the planet!!! Thank God we have obama now. All bush wanted to do is give money to the oil companies so they can get rich.and destroy are planet. We deserve the cap and trade that he is proposing , I dont care who gets laid off from work and families starve to death. we need to tax the hell out of the US citizens and hopefully they realize how evil they are for living the way they have the lst 200 years. Plus i dont work and need healthcare so he will help me out so much. thank God bush is not in office now. What an evil man. destroying our planet and starting wars with the poor countries in the world . Thank God we have Obama

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 07/11/2009 12:00:43 AM

      Hey sam, I's widdya.

      • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 07/20/2009 8:31:24 PM

        Hey 40yr twit; Sam was being sarcastic. Too bad you are too dense to see it. LOL, you are the joke of the Newsweak blog.

    • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 3:05:06 PM

      "Thank God we have obama now. All bush wanted to do is give money to the oil companies so they can get rich.and destroy are planet."

      "Just watch cnbc"

      What a bunch of senseless rhetoric.

      "Obama is the best president we ever had?" Based on what, his six months of record spending?

      • Posted By: johnz911 @ 07/12/2009 4:27:06 PM

        Obama's has done more harm to this country in just six months than any other president in history. Other countries around the world are laughing at us. Especially our enemies.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/10/2009 9:33:10 AM

    Paul, yes, that would make our president an innocent eating bystander and receiver of stolen property but since the evidence is long gone, there is no case..lol.. If Obama were to ever need an attorney...he as a lawyer can defend himself.

    What will PETA say about this unfortunate incident? Let's ask Pamela Anderson!

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 07/10/2009 11:56:24 PM

      Hi Pia,

      Pardon me. I haviing been laughing out loud, then chuckling. Yer funny.

      I am one slow learner. There is nothing to be accomplished by entering a different culture and 'announcing' something like 'I judge you, therefore you are bad'.

      Eeeew. Fish eggs? Dem be salty....

      If it tastes good, I will enjoy it. If it tastes lousey, I will eat it anyway, because I do not want you to think that I am more interested in judging you than connecting, conversing, and finding whatever common ground there might be between us.

      The 'Ugly American' originated in the early '70s. There was a good reason.

      So, we're superior. .. Do what we say. Accept our culture... and values. You must... Otherwise we will judge you ...

      Don't wanna wipe out all dem sturgeon. But.... I will gain nothing.... I will advance no interest.... No American interest... No World interest... if you invite me into your 'home' and (because I am American, and therefore obviously superior to you... I will not eat the food you present to me to please me, and honor you, because this is the food 'we eat' and 'favor' only those we want to please the most... because this, because of our culture...) we, dem Americans, don't consider it a delicacy.)..Howevermuch you want to honor me, and present to me your favorite delicacy...

      'Cuz we're cool, 'n yer not....

      Yup. He ate 'um. Good on hiim. Maybe they're less offended than they otherwise have been... but I'm guessing that sturgeon was dead long before he ate dem eggs....

      So, as unappealing as dem fish eggs wuzz, I wouda eat'n dem suckers...

      • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 07/20/2009 8:29:39 PM

        Wow, this one is off the charts, even for you 40yr. It is if someone took every anti-American slogan known to man, put them in a blender, and out comes your witless, rambling diatribe.

        Are you off your meds, or what?

  • Posted By: Richard1327 @ 07/12/2009 1:37:10 PM

    I always said, if by some miracle Obama became president, he would be eaten alive by Washington, would never accomplish anything and would be a one term president. Obama needs to move full force with gay rights in marriage/serving openly in the military, ending Iraq, saving Social Security, backing renewable clean energy and setting up a single-payer government managed universal healthcare system - JUST LIKE WE ELECTED HIM TO DO. We do NOT care about the GOP and bipartisanship. They had eight years and all they did was screw up the country. We voted in a Democratic Congress to help Obama get the job done, SO DO IT ALREADY or we'll elect someone else that will. I think the media and pundits are being ignorant if they think if Obama won't get the job done, we'll turn back to the GOP again. WRONG - 2012 is when the independents, disillusioned Dems and moderate Repubs turn away from both parties to elect an independent visionary who will finally get the job done. Just exactly when did our government stop being a representative democracy?

    • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 3:00:53 PM

      "Obama needs to move full force with gay rights in marriage/serving openly in the military, ending Iraq, saving Social Security, backing renewable clean energy and setting up a single-payer government managed universal healthcare system."

      I can see what your first priority is. lol. FYI, Both Bush and McCain worked on clean energy and worked hard for an energy policy long before Obama ran for US Senate.

      And you think health care is costly and unworkable now, just wait til it's free.

      • Posted By: Richard1327 @ 07/12/2009 3:34:36 PM

        The "TO DO" list was in no particular order, however, I can see that you are against gay rights or at least think that being pro human rights, gay or straight, is something to be ashamed of. By the way, you are completely wrong on the healthcare issue. Do your research on Canada, France, England healthcare systems and see for yourself rather than believing the current GOP/insurance companies' propaganda. You seem to be confused - you support Obama but are in favor of the GOP policies of the conservative party. Please stop attacking me personally and just share your ideas.

        • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 4:29:46 PM

          That was an observation, not an attack. Of course they have rights, however I believe that gays in the military as an issue doesn't have the priority as the economy. You did list that first, so you'll have to forgive me if I mistook that for your top issue.

          And I have done my homework on health care. Like the Canadians, I don't want to wait six months to a year for an operation. It's why Canadians want to come here for major operations. Also, the fraud in Medicare alone is staggering. If all of health care is nationalized, the fraud will be astronomical as there will be no way Washington print enough money fast enough to keep up with it. If they can't do it with Medicare, they certainly won't be able to with a nationalized plan.

          While a nationalized plan does have valid points, the cons far outweigh the pros. See for yourself:

          http://www.balancedpolitics.org/universal_health_care.htm

          Sorry if I offended you. It wasn't intentional.

          • Posted By: Richard1327 @ 07/12/2009 6:39:58 PM

            Your observations of me are wrong, however, you may want to apologize to the gay community for implying that being gay is something to be ashamed of. Obama can work on all things at once - there is no need to go down a list in order. Your information regarding Canadians is also wrong - I live two miles from the Candian boarder in a large US city and I can tell you, as a respiratory therapist in one of the hospitals, there are NO Canadians coming to the USA for an operation. They would rather die than come here. But go ahead and keep drinking the GOP Kool-aid...I hear it's cherry flavored this month. By the way, there is absolutely no need to type "LOL" at anytime. We don't care if you are laughing and your ignorance is certainly not funny to the rest of us.

            • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 8:14:30 PM

              Excuse me? What did I just say? Don't hold your breath on any apology because I've done nothing wrong. You might consider an apology here for expecting people to read your mind about what you consider a priority.

               

              "They would rather die than come here?" "There are no Canadians coming here for operations?" Laughable. They want to come here to keep from dying, genius. Here's one of a million examples:

               

              http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html Peddle your bullshit at a site like daily kos or the huff post. You'll find no problem with like-minded fools that will agree with you . However, your extreme ignorance, arrogance and stupidity will be confronted here.

               

              And I'll use the term "lol" anytime I damn well please.

              • Posted By: Richard1327 @ 07/12/2009 9:15:40 PM

                Why so defensive and angry? 1) You are the one who made assumptions about me. 2) Once again, the list is just a list; it's not a list of priorities. I don't care about the order in which they are completed- the order/priority is not the hot issue here - move on, please. 3) No one is asking for an apology. Anyone reading your posts knows exactly how you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-M10jDkmm0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv1FwOCNoZ8&feature=channel

                • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 07/20/2009 8:26:19 PM

                  Richard, you are so feeding into the stereotype of gay men being whiney and hyper-sensitive. Stop already.

                • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 9:29:08 PM

                  No one is angry here but you. The observation about you was fair. You listed gays in the military as first on your list.

                  Of course you want to move on, you're wrong.

                  No one is asking for an apology? You just suggested I make one.

                  And no one, especially me, will bother to look at your link. You don't know me, or anyone else here well enough to make any assertions.

                  Next time, try to be a little more clear about your statements and not expect people to read your mind. We can't do that you know. That way you won't look like quite the fool you have here, and therefore won't have to lamely try to defend yourself. Simple, yes?

        • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/12/2009 4:32:50 PM

          By the way, I am not an Obama supporter as you mentioned.

  • Posted By: judithod @ 07/15/2009 7:29:25 PM

    A typical fawning piece by a Newsweek reporter and an example of why we did not renew our subscription.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/12/2009 10:12:57 PM

    One comment from me regarding Canadian health care. It's bad. I know, I have relatives in Montreal Quebec, Ontario and Alberta. Some people are kept waiting for almost two years for surgery. Some have died waiting.

    • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/13/2009 12:12:14 AM

      As I said Pia, you are an Angel! I'll bet your wings are beautiful! ; )

      • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 12:52:49 AM

        So when are you going to start callin Pia a b!!*h?

        • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/13/2009 12:59:51 AM

          Indy Rocker, What the hell does that mean?

          • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 1:01:50 AM

            Didn't you just post this?

            "Shut your fu*king, whining racist mouth. """giggle"""

            Stop being a god damned baby and quit whining.Loser racist b!tch."

            What kind of thing is that to say?  I bet your house has wheels on it.

             

            • Posted By: Pallisor @ 07/13/2009 1:59:11 AM


              • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 8:20:28 AM

                Why did you edit this post? You first told me to 'take a hike'., but later changed it,.

              • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 2:18:58 AM

                I don't understand your logic here. You are the nicest gentleman to Pia, but yet you back Quid for calling another woman a b*&ch. A true gentleman defends a woman regardless of her politics, wouldn't you agree?

                • Posted By: Pallisor @ 07/13/2009 2:26:27 AM

                  Look at the exchange, or did you bother to do that?

                  • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 2:33:12 AM

                    That doesn't matter. Even if it is that 40yearfurball quid thought it was a woman. We are human beings before we are dem or rep. Why is it okay to call a liberal thinking woman a bi&*h? Getting personal like that is out of line. Who made you the judge?

                    • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 2:57:07 AM

                      I would add that it doesn't matter if the person is a US Citizen or not. The point is women should be able to post and not be called a bi&*h. Now if bella is that 40thing I owe quid an apology, but how will we ever know? In quid's defense I would point out that Bella is using the term OCD and the 40thing does too. More than likely 40thing is bella, but how can anyone prove it?

              • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 2:07:46 AM

                "This has nothing to do with you boy, take a hike."
                Why did you delete that? Afraid Pia will see the real you?

              • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 2:04:40 AM

                Who the fu*k do you think you are to tell me to do anything? It's awful funny quid logs off and you log on. Go to bed old man.

          • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 07/13/2009 1:54:07 AM

            Quid I may have spoken out of line here. I have been looking at that bella person and I think it is the old stalkasorous 40yearloser. I figured out how to look at it's profile and it started Newsweek on the 11th.

            But that doesn't negate from the fact you thought it was a woman. right? I hope you'll agree calling a woman a bi**h is out of line.

            I am sorry if bella turns out to be 40yearCreep.and I have falsly accused you.

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/13/2009 12:52:04 AM

        Thank you Quid Pro Quo, very kind of you and I'm humbled but I don't have wings. If I did they would be on my shoes just like the girl has in my favorite song video.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/12/2009 10:06:33 PM

    Quid Pro Quo and Richard1327, I apologize for interfering but I think you two deserve a break from this.

    Totally Off Topic but it's worth it. Who doesn't love these guys! I think Mick can use a couple of meals...lol..

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0NYKWLMgx0

    • Posted By: Quid Pro Quo @ 07/13/2009 12:10:43 AM

      Thank you Pia. You are an Angel.

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/13/2009 12:52:52 AM

        You're welcome, Quid Pro Quo.

  • Posted By: johnz911 @ 07/12/2009 4:19:08 PM

    Obama should start watching fox news so he can understand the everything he's doing is wrong and not working.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/09/2009 10:00:07 PM

    paul, have to post up here..

    "What does that make Obama, Pia? A dupe?" No paul, it makes Pres. Obama a gracious guest. He ate the caviar. Eew!

  • Posted By: paulgrise @ 07/09/2009 4:44:33 PM

    Just the prez living up to his new name ODUMBA!!!!!!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/09/2009 6:08:04 PM

      paulgrise, please do tell us why our President is 'Odumba' to you. Is it because he won the election? If so, tisk, tisk, tisk, it's time to be a good sport about that. In any case, Pres. Obama did nothing wrong. You are being a little harsh here.

  • Posted By: xinunus @ 07/09/2009 1:53:56 PM

    OBAMA EATS ENDANGERED BELUGA STURGEON WITH PUTIN

    Quote:
    Russian agencies, quoting the government's press service, said Putin treated Obama to black caviar with sour cream, smoked beluga with pancakes and tea made in the traditional Russian samovar, a big coal-fired kettle.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUSTRE56657E20090707

    http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSTRE5661Q520090707

    WIKIPEDIA:
    --------------
    IUCN classifies the beluga as Endangered. It is a protected species listed in appendix III of the Bern Convention and its trade is restricted under CITES appendix II. The Mediterranean population is strongly protected under appendix II of the Bern Convention, prohibiting any intentional killing of these fish.

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has banned imports of Beluga Caviar and other beluga products from the Caspian Sea since October 6, 2005.

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/09/2009 3:41:01 PM

      Well, that is a shame Obama ate the endangered species caviar. The poor guy probably wasn't aware the whale is endangered but let's give him a cyber smack anyway..lol.. Rest assured xinunus, I take saving our endangered species seriously too. If I ever had tea with Mr. Putin, I would def. pass on the caviar.... tea with scones, or pancakes, preferably blueberry with maple syrup from home or Canada, would be fine with me! Do blueberry shrubs grown in Russia?

  • Posted By: Pallisor @ 07/08/2009 2:43:29 PM

    40YearFraud,

    Actually, I'm not pursuing this, and neither Pia or Iza needed to ask me. I don't want you intimidating them and trying to embarrass them any further. Pocolodi and Forty4 made their points months ago, so that means they've made my point. As I mentioned before, all that information is available for everyone.

    You should learn to fight your own fights without resorting to hurting your (at least at one time) friends.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 07/08/2009 3:04:14 PM

      So, you're not pursuing this, but you repeat what you said about Pallisor and Forty said 8 months ago...

      You just want the last word...

      So, you've made your point? But you don't want to be refuted, right?

      That's continuing the fight you started big man. And you just want it left there, right?

      Such a hero...

      • Posted By: Pallisor @ 07/08/2009 6:45:55 PM

        Of course I repeated it. It was the truth. Go screw yourself, weasel.

  • Posted By: jbz7879 @ 07/08/2009 12:42:53 PM

    i am sure that before the year ends ,obama will wish he had listened to michelle and not contested for the post of american presidency -
    it is a NASTY -RUTHLESS -SELFISH POST WITH QUALIFICATIONS FOR A TERMINATOR OR TRANSFORMER ONLY -and that is still an understatement
    poor barry

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 07/08/2009 11:08:18 AM

    THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT:.....OBAMA WILL NOT BE ON PRIME TIME TONIGHT..THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT....

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 07/08/2009 8:18:57 AM

    Looks as though good ol Barack is losing his luster..All the star power, the oohing and ahhing starry eyed ppl are starting to wake up... Obama has been one joke of a President, Not once has he kept his word on any of the campaign promises.."CHANGE Washingtion"..indeed he has changed Washington..He blocks the media and has special rehearsed questions filtered for him... If ANY media asks a question he and his joke of an administration havent "filtered" they are taken aback and stutter through an answer and sound more like Chevy Chase in Spies Like Us....I loved watching the dipstick White house spokesperson questioned by the media stuttering and stammering through questions as to why the media is constantly being snow balled, ofcourse the typical Dem response " talk to me behind close dors, then I'll answer you in public"....The Dems are proving to be a class act.....Change? Yup he has changed America into a soft hearted joke that the rest of the world cant wait to stomp on.. Has Irans now obvious dictatorship taken to his "unclench your fist" line?..NOPE..They seem to be even more arrogant and threatening...Has Obama stood up for the ppl in Iran that were fighting for a free and fair election?..No..He waits until every other nation stands up and says something before he even has the nuts to stand up for what he is supposed to represent FREEDOM!!! (reminds me of the Russia/Georgia conflict, nowhere to be seen until AFTER everyone else has condemed it)..Has North Korea kept its nuclear ambitions to a minimum?..NOPE.. They are "testing" more missiles and showing up the U.S. at every turn...The North Korean clowns are waiting for an opprtunity to take advantage of the grand president of ours.. Cant wait to see who speaks up first in the event we are ever attacked again...God knows it wont be Obama...He will wait until the coast is clear then maybe mention something about it after he is done pitching the socialist version of health care... Yup if this first 100+ days is any indication of the rest of Obamas term, the dictators of this world are going to have a great and prosperous 4 years...Glad Im independent.

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/07/2009 6:04:55 PM

    I know posting songs is off topic here, and I hope you don't mind my doing so. Today was Michael Jackson's memorial service and I wanted to post a song in his memory. My favorite of all of his songs is Human Nature. It is a beautiful tune that I hope everyone enjoys.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjywI7nc_PQ

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 07/07/2009 9:46:51 PM

      Pia-

      I know you like to settle things. I do also. So here's a chance to help out.

      The resident swain, you know the one who keeps saying he never lies, just posted this at this article:


      "in Pia's words which she would never use against a friend, you are a "dumb @ss!" "

      Curious don't you think? Now why would paulejb put words in your mouth like that?

      We do know that paulejb likes to deny lying, which of course has no reference to the facts. And, I'm unable to find a post by you to that effect.

      Inquiring minds want to know, and besides there's a bit of a wager on this one....

      I know you'll want to help us resolve this one, because I have ever so many emails from you about your hurt, surprise and outrage over all of your 'attackers'.

      Ironically, this one presents a bit of a conundrum doesn't it? But, nonetheless it certainly is a fair question, don't you think?

    • Posted By: Pallisor @ 07/07/2009 9:09:11 PM

      Thank you Pia for that very nice gesture. You do have a way...

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/06/2009 4:42:18 PM

    Alvy, I see you involved Skypoint. I wish you had not. Skypoint was a friend of mine. As far as I know, he has never posted anything hurtful to anyone. When he did, he apologized. Furthermore, he has nothing to do with any of this. He has not been on NW since January!

    The other posters you mentioned, yes, I was civil to them after I too argued with them. I try not to hold grudges too long. That's the Pia you've known since early 2008. You accepted her then.

    • Posted By: Alvy @ 07/07/2009 12:29:24 PM

      Skypoint is again, not very nice.
      If your friend wants to call me really bad things let him.

      He'll get a reply.

      As far as "accepting" you? You are who you are.
      I accept who you are, seems you have conditions though.

      But let me make it perfectly clear -again.
      Any of your friends who chat you up and insult me, my culture, humanism in general, will get a negative reply.

      I accept me too sweetie.
      Don't be a downer.



  • Posted By: John Dough @ 07/07/2009 9:27:37 AM

    Cap and Tax (trade) heavily supported by Obama will increase home energy costs 200% once fully implemented (in today's dollars) In other words the avg. american spends 1000.00 a winter to heat their home under Cap and Tax that will go to 3000.00 per winter essentially tripling energy costs. This tax will also dramatically increase gas costs (estimated to go to 6 bucks a gallon) which will drive up the cost of all goods including doubling the cost of food hitting the poor very hard. It is also estimated Cap and Tax will force 3 million more manufacturing jobs overseas virtually eliminating all low or moderate skilled manufacturing in the U.S. In addition "Green Jobs" as they call them have actually cost 2 other jobs for every green job created (See Spain study) and to top it off congress tried to bury a study by the National Academy of Science (right before the hoouse vote) that shows that the earth's termperature has acutally cooled a full degree since 2006 thereby eliminating the 3/4 degree it went up in the nineties creating this phony money grab science. Taking care of the environment is goood but this is just a giant tax increase that will cripple our economy and maybe our nation foever. Get congress back to the GOP in 2010 and anyone for president in 2012. .

  • Posted By: John Dough @ 07/07/2009 9:11:53 AM

    Obama has not only shown he is a socialist economically he is also showing it in his anti-God anti-Christian actions as president. First he covers a cross at Georgetown claiming it wascovered just for the backdrop color. Next, he doe not attend the national day of prayer probably the only government leader that did not attend and certainly the first president to not attend.. Now he cancels the military fly-over at the God and Country rally honoring our military. These fly-overs have been going on for 42 years to honor our military. This president has lied about everything since he took office. He has broken over 60 campaign promises, out deficit spent Bush in one year and will out deficit spend all previous presidents. He slipped in an interview and said his Muslim faith(he was tapped by an advisor and said you mean your christian faith) he quickly changed it to christian faith and went on with the interview (never saw this on the news). He said his administration would be the most tranparent ever and demontrated what he meant by that he released every document he could to make the GOP look bad, refused to release GOP supporting documents, will not release his birth certificate (because growing evidence shows he is not a Naturalized American citizen a requirement to be president) or his college transcripts (same reason) He also ridculed the Tea Party partcipants and has made sure hs left wing media buzzards did not cover the 4thoof July Tea Party's that were more highly attended that the previous ones including 35K in Dallas alone. GOP in 2010 and anyb ody but Obama in 2012.

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