Classical Music & Opera Forums

karlhenning · by **karlhenning** on 13 Nov 2008, 12:30

fradale1 wrote:Note: policy issue details can be learned in a rather short time.

Note: not that Palin troubled to; which is another indicator of her quality as a leader.

Cheers,
~Karl

Mark G Simon · by **Mark G Simon** on 13 Nov 2008, 12:37

fradale1 wrote:Note: policy issue details can be learned in a rather short time. however, one cannot learn charisma, or develop leadership/character qualities in the same manner.

That sounds like a glowing endorsement for Obama.

fradale1 · by **fradale1** on 13 Nov 2008, 12:56

karlhenning wrote:
fradale1 wrote:Note: policy issue details can be learned in a rather short time.

Note: not that Palin troubled to; which is another indicator of her quality as a leader.

Cheers,
~Karl

Gov. Palin has many policy details mastered, mostly those dealing with energy issues - and area of great importance to the US right now. The areas where she is weak are those in the foreign policy realm. She was thrust into the national political spotlight for 65 days, give or take, and I doubt anyone could have mastered all the policy details to satsify a skeptical press corp - nevertheless, had McCain been elected, and Palin become VP - I have no doubts whatsoever she has the intelligence to grow in the job and pick advisers who would brief her on the policy details. Her instincts I believe to be dequate for the job. She may not become a great president, but would certainly be adequate - an idea I heard Laurence Eagleberger declare, someone with the expereince, credentials and intelligence to know whereof he speaks, and I agree with him.

I really think no one, no matter their background, possesses all the knowledge needed to be president and all must learn on the job to some extent. But, what no one can learn is character.

How one reacts to pressure, or crisis, is not something that can be learned. And Obama has shown himself to be a good "reacter" and I believe so has Palin. But I doubt many of you will agree with me. While often demanding Republicans put aside their partisanship - Democrats rarely do that themselves.

I find it funny how often I have heard the admonition from Democrats that Obama is everyone's president and we should all be supportive - but I distinctly remember none of them feeling like that about George Bush.

I am supportive of Obama and hope he turns out to be a good president, so good in fact that I am compelled to vote for his re-election four years hence. I only wish my friends across the political aisle felt the same about any Replublican.

kashania · by **kashania** on 13 Nov 2008, 14:16

fradale1 wrote:
karlhenning wrote:
fradale1 wrote:Note: policy issue details can be learned in a rather short time.

Note: not that Palin troubled to; which is another indicator of her quality as a leader.

Cheers,
~Karl

Gov. Palin has many policy details mastered, mostly those dealing with energy issues - and area of great importance to the US right now. The areas where she is weak are those in the foreign policy realm. She was thrust into the national political spotlight for 65 days, give or take, and I doubt anyone could have mastered all the policy details to satsify a skeptical press corp - ... I really think no one, no matter their background, possesses all the knowledge needed to be president and all must learn on the job to some extent. But, what no one can learn is character.

...

I find it funny how often I have heard the admonition from Democrats that Obama is everyone's president and we should all be supportive - but I distinctly remember none of them feeling like that about George Bush.

I am supportive of Obama and hope he turns out to be a good president, so good in fact that I am compelled to vote for his re-election four years hence. I only wish my friends across the political aisle felt the same about any Replublican.

No one expected Palin to master all the details of foreign policy but it would have been nice had she displayed even a basic comptence on foreign policy. Her mind-boggling words about Russia flying over Alaska's airspace (and the sanctimonious tone with which she delivered them) are on record and can not be undone. To me, that displayed a 12-year old's grasp of foreign policy (though not a particularly informed 12-year old). And no amount of blaming the press for "gotcha journalism" is going to make that go away.

As for Bush being a president for all Americans, it was his job to be everyone's president. But instead of reaching out, he adopted a strict you're-either-a-patriotic-American-or-you're-a-terrorist-sympathiser attitude about it.

As for the last sentiment, your optimistic attitude towards Obama's presidency is admirable.

kashania · by **kashania** on 13 Nov 2008, 15:05

And on a completely different note, a new planet system has been discovered.

...for the first time in the history of creation, a creature on a planet in our solar system was looking at an image of planets orbiting in another... Some 300 planets have been detected around distant stars over the past 10 years. But these orbiting bodies have been inferred, rather than photographed, largely by the "wobble" they create in their stars as they pull it gravitationally in different directions during their circling orbits.

And while there have been "exoplanet" sightings reported in the literature - another is reported in this same Science edition - Marois says his images are the clearest and definitely the first to show a distant solar system.

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/536285

mogliettina · by **mogliettina** on 13 Nov 2008, 15:10

Weird request:
Is there any website or place you can recommend where I could find old vintage opera singers' pictures to put in very small frames?
I am doing my powder room over and would like to incorporate that feature if possible.

calvert · by **calvert** on 13 Nov 2008, 17:38

cliftwood wrote:Can you really make up any kind of creditable case for President Sarah Palin that you'd feel confident about?

I was never making such a case, even by implication, and I think you are making some big assumptions about my thoughts about Sarah Palin as a potential President. I have said in other venues that I am a "semi-fan" of Sarah Palin. That does not mean that I think she would make a great president, at least at this point in time. IMO she is too green. And I am disturbed by her apparent inability to string together a thoughtful and coherent series of ideas, beyond mouthing platitudes. As I've observed before, we have seen over the past eight years how inarticulateness can cripple a president, because he or she has to persuade people to go along with what he wants to do. I would definitely think twice before nominating a candidate that could not communicate effectively. Although I would vote for that candidate in a general election if the choice was between him/her and your typical liberal democrat.

That said, I certainly did not see any qualities or qualifications in the man who actually won the presidency that convinced me that he was up to the job, either. But that's over and done with, no sense in whining about it, and now we'll just have to wait and see. I love my country, and I would love to have to eat my words about Obama. I'm just not ready to pull out the knife and fork yet.

calvert · by **calvert** on 13 Nov 2008, 18:09

fradale wrote:Note: policy issue details can be learned in a rather short time. however, one cannot learn charisma, or develop leadership/character qualities in the same manner.

And it is those leadership/character qualities about which the jury is still out on Palin, as far as I'm concerned. I just did not see enough of her under representative circumstances to form any kind of definitive opinion, in light of the fact that she was operating in an arena - a national campaign - for which she had no preparation, training or experience. That experience can be acquired - or at least, the superficial polish and glib, evasive answers to tough questions that passes for "political skills" these days. I'm still trying to figure out if there is a "there" there, with Palin. I think there probably is, but she's got the next four years to work on it. I do agree that she has extraordinary natural political gifts that make it impossible to write her off as a future force in politics, for which reason she will continue to be the target of leftist vilification over the next four years. Now that Bush and Cheney are gone, Palin will be their new obsession.

For the record, I found Kerry, Edwards and Biden every bit as vapid and superficial as liberals apparently find Palin. (Obama, to my ears, is empty eloquence - he says nothing but says it better than anyone ever has.) So, I don't join liberals in being "scared" about Palin. In fact, I think they are "scared" by Palin because they recognize in her a very real and formidable political threat in the future.

BTW, have you noticed how liberals are always "terrified" or "scared" or "deeply disturbed" by any so many conservative figures who are invariably "dangerous" and/or "stupid?" The thought of so-and-so as President/Vice-President/Senator/Dogcatcher is always "frightening." One gets the impression that many liberals walk around in a state of constant near-panic. Conservatives are forever threatening the end of civilzation as we know it or bringing in the Long Dark Night of Fascism or Shredding the Constitution or some such dastardly and terrifying activity. As far as I can tell, we conservatives have been busy "Shredding the Constitution" since at least Richard Nixon, and yet somehow that pesky little rascal is still around. (The Constitution, I mean, not Nixon.)

calvert · by **calvert** on 13 Nov 2008, 18:31

I should add that it won't only be Democrats gunning for Palin; there's a long line of 2012 Republican Hopefuls that would be happy to see her go away, too. Hence, the recent fabrications about Palin's shopping sprees/inability to identify Africa/etc. At the GOP Governor's conference today, there was palpable discomfort over the way that Palin was the focus of attention by the media. And you know some of those Governors want to run in 2012!

But this will be good, in the long run. If Palin can stand up to it, that will speak much in her favor. If she can't, then she has no business running for national office anyway. Me, I'll put my money on Palin in the Survivor sweepstakes, because she has already shown herself to be one tough cookie.

calvert · by **calvert** on 13 Nov 2008, 20:04

One more thing: if Palin is serious about political ambitions in 2012, she needs to do three things: (1) govern in Alaska as best she can (which has been pretty good, so far); (2) read extensively and bone up - and form some coherent ideas on - important international and domestic issues; and (3) hit the Rubber Chicken circuit speaking at every major Republican event for the next three years,. She'll continue to pack in the crowds, and she will build the network of support that she will need for a 2012 run.

fradale1 · by **fradale1** on 14 Nov 2008, 10:34

One gets the impression that many liberals walk around in a state of constant near-panic. Conservatives are forever threatening the end of civilzation as we know it or bringing in the Long Dark Night of Fascism or Shredding the Constitution or some such dastardly and terrifying activity. As far as I can tell, we conservatives have been busy "Shredding the Constitution" since at least Richard Nixon, and yet somehow that pesky little rascal is still around.

As part of my job I regularly receive unsolicited legal material and yesterday I received a small publication called International Society of Barristers Quarterly. Contained inside was an article by Jamie S. Gorelick (rumored to be on Obama's list for AG or some other administration post) titled "Security and Liberty: Must we Choose?"

In it she makes the point that although Liberals, in general and the ACLU specifically, ominously inveighed against The Patriot Act for its alleged destruction of civil liberties, that in fact "most of the Patriot Act consists of minor adjustments to a set of pre-existing laws."

I expect now that this law is being promoted by an Obama White House, it will magically become just good common sense.

karlhenning · by **karlhenning** on 18 Nov 2008, 07:38

Ad removal was paid for, but the ads are still showing up on the board. No response yet from the support techs at FreeForums as to what the problem is although I eMailed them about it some 15 hours ago.

Apologies for the annoyance.

ACD

Thanks again, ACD, for your diligent hosting.

Cheers,
~Karl

karlhenning · by **karlhenning** on 19 Nov 2008, 11:39

Report Concludes Gulf War Syndrome Is Legitimate Illness

karlhenning · by **karlhenning** on 19 Nov 2008, 12:47

Police haven't said what type of sandwich was involved.

Cheers,
~Karl

calvert · by **calvert** on 19 Nov 2008, 16:46

[quote="karlhenning"{b]Police haven't said what type of sandwich was involved.[/b][/quote]

Obviously a Hero. Or maybe a Po-boy.

kashania · by **kashania** on 19 Nov 2008, 22:29

It must have invovled a crusty bun.

fradale1 · by **fradale1** on 20 Nov 2008, 10:01

karlhenning wrote:Police haven't said what type of sandwich was involved.

Cheers,
~Karl

And then the girlfriend bails him out, but he doesn't pay her back, and they end up on Judge Judy.

karlhenning · by **karlhenning** on 20 Nov 2008, 10:34

fradale1 wrote:And then the girlfriend bails him out, but he doesn't pay her back, and they end up on Judge Judy.

In high-def.

Cheers,
~Karl

A.C. Douglas · by **A.C. Douglas** on 24 Nov 2008, 21:04

The Annual Bird Post

Link

ACD

mogliettina · by **mogliettina** on 24 Nov 2008, 23:10

Good god man, you've left out the most important part -- the gravy! Lots and lots of it and rich and turkey thick.
But bravos on the bird roasting. Just about my way ('cept for that blasted orange thingy.)
Hint: For even more killer stuffing, use the gravy drippings to baste the stuffing in the oven. Deadly, I tell you!

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