Everwood - Everwood Melting Pot (OT3) #2: Cultural Exchange and International Talk - Page 2

EverPotter · 03-09-2008, 12:38 PM

Michelle I love your posts, I sound like a broken record but it's true.

Everything you stated about the reasons for a joint ticket make so much sense. And dude, so true about going back and forth from one to the other. Many of my friends are the same way.

As far as if they could both work together? Oh man yes they could, check out their views on things! They're almost exact minus one or two things such as war and healthcare, and it's not even that far apart either.

Wilpen · 03-09-2008, 02:21 PM

You hit it. For example, how many times have you heard people in the know say that the debates between Hillary and Obama are hilarious since they essentially have to come up with things to argue about? They sometimes even make stuff up. LOL. It's very true, too. Because they are waaaaaaaaay more alike than different and it's not just because they're both liberal democrats because even democrats can differ a bit but Hillary and Obama are even oddly close with their views on everything. You mentioned the two things and both aren't that big of a deal, either. Healthcare, Hillary wants to nationalize it, Obama has another plan short of nationalizing it, and yes the two are different but overall they BOTH want every American to have stressfree healthcare either at no cost or low cost and if they worked as pres and vice pres they would certainly be able to work out the best solution for our horrible healthcare in this country right now. As for the war, they are basically on the same table but the only kink that makes Obama more liberal on the issue is that he has never voted for war in any scenario whereas Hillary did vote for war after 9/11, but the thing is, MANY democrats voted for war after 9/11, hell, I was all for it as well and typically I'm VERY anti war 99.99999% of the time. Hillary also believed George Bush whenever she shouldn't have regarding some things related to Iraq but again, so did endless senators that have a D attached to their title in political office. But overall if you listen to how Obama and Hillary would handle anything war related now as far as our troops? Oddly similar. And notice on war related issues in debates they never argue that much in the least outside of Obama saying I voted no across the board and you can't say that but Obama also knows they are essentially with the same views on war in general and what they would do with this issue should either become the next president. And every other issue such as the economy, they are totally in sync.

So yes, it's amazing how they're on the same page and like I said, watch a debate of theirs because you will hear one speak and you look at the other and you know damn well they totally agree with what the other is saying and their toughest task is to make it appear like they don't. LOL. I find this quite amusing, actually.

EverPotter · 03-10-2008, 03:50 AM

Excellent post Michelle.

So very true about how similar they are.

I think Americans can sense this. Proof all the more that people are seeing almost the same candidate profile in the both of them which only adds to the confusion regarding which one to support. I was watching MSNBC last night and a couple democratic senators were on who were all displaying their happiness over the possibility of the two of them together. It's not just our people wanting this, it's our democratic party as a whole and that makes it that much more exciting and compelling.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-10-2008, 06:20 AM

That's definitely an interesting situation and I like reading your thoughts

Do you think obama is willing to be Hilary's vice president ? and do you think the opposite could happen ? Hillary being Obama's vice president ? that seems less likely.
I'm definitely curious about the outcome of all this. I think it'd be great to know the democrat candidate soon so that McCain (which makes me think of the pizza and fries brand every time I write it

) can't campaign for presidency "alone" while democrats are still uncertain about their candidates.

Wilpen · 03-10-2008, 08:04 AM

That's true. Not that it will help McCain much.

But this is true about the fact that the republican side is already established and the democrats are still fighting it out. They're nonstop talking about the new poll out with over 75% of democrats saying they would support a joint ticket of Hillary/Obama. Though Obama just said he would never accept a vice pres bid but the people are saying that's too hasty for him to say because Hillary's won the key states, states that you absolutely HAVE to have in order to win as a democrat like I was stating a few posts back. It's bad enough he didn't win the biggies in New York and California but he also didn't win Ohio, Florida (even if it's not official yet), meaning the key industrial states that look even better for Hillary.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-10-2008, 09:56 AM

That's definitely interesting. When are the next primaries ? I'm guessing they'll determine what will happen next, right ? If hillary continue to win key states ?

Wilpen · 03-10-2008, 06:51 PM

The next major primary is Pennsylvania which is not for another several weeks. It's a BIGGIE. Another key industrial state like Ohio, another one Hillary can put on her resume as a huge victory. Like I stated in a previous post the PA people are very much like OH people, too. Their voting will be the same with Obama taking Philly the big city and Hillary cleaning up the rural areas. Hillary, right now, is up by approx 8% points. She should take this state, no problem.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-11-2008, 02:22 AM

Okay, awesome, thanks for explaining

on a side note, I officially can't stand the french president.

Wilpen · 03-12-2008, 05:22 PM

How come? And YAY something else to talk about in addition to the soap opera known as US politics.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-13-2008, 07:11 AM

I doubt anyone besides you is interested but yeah, I don't like him at all. I didn't vote for him, but somehow, I hoped he'd do good but instead, he's just being vulgar and stupid where other president were at least honorable.
Even if I take aside the new marriage that was everywhere in the media and which he made a whole fuss about (otherwise, i couldn't care less about his remarrying, it's his life), he's just NOT acting like a president. he doesn't know how to remain in his place.... aaaaah
Like, a few weeks ago was the Agriculture Fair in Paris, it's a huge thing, very popular for professionals and the french in general and always an occasion for the president to meet farmers and all. Chirac went there every year and keeps going. He's very popular when he goes.
So of course, Sarkozy went this year. and he was shaking hands with people, and one guy said "don't touch me !" to him. Okay, whatever, you're the rpesident, not everyone likes you, far from it, it happens. it happened to others. One day, Chirac was basically called a dooche by someone and he replied "nice to meet you, I'm jacques Chirac".

That's what you expect a president to do. To be smarter and think about what you do.
But what does sarkozy do ? he yells at the guys "then F-word off !"...
Okay, whatever, it's an example, but i hate his behavior, he's too ambitious, he doesn't seem to be able to handle the presidency.

It also just happens that my sis in law's mother is friend with Sarkozy's new wife, she was actually at their wedding and so she's seen him on several occasions. What she said about him is not of any reassurance.

The governement is actually another thing. The prime minister is very popular at the moment, and the things they're doing to reform the country are not crazy. But I hate how Sarkozy behave, he's like a kid. We need someone who is able to represent the country and to behave in public, to act like a man who's thinking before acting... not a kid who's been given a new toy to play with.

/rant

'Tos · 03-13-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm interested.

I was reading the other day that he's pretty unpopular and that his party got punished at the polls for municipal elections. Do you think that'll change anything about him? Try and act more like a president and less stupid?

Hehe, gosh, that stuff sounds so weird. Telling someone to F off? Wow. Weiiird.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-14-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Tos (View Post)

I was reading the other day that he's pretty unpopular and that his party got punished at the polls for municipal elections. Do you think that'll change anything about him? Try and act more like a president and less stupid?

Hehe, gosh, that stuff sounds so weird. Telling someone to F off? Wow. Weiiird.

I know, so stupid of him. The video toured internet of course, it doesn't help his popularity...

As for the Municipal elections, that's not really true. Municipals are about electing mayors, and as such, are much more about local politics than national. Lots of people elect a mayor because of what he did in the past or plan to do for a city (like building schools, daycare, making environment decisions for the city etc) than because of the party he belongs to. There's lots of independants as mayors too because it's very local. Bigger cities are a bit different because big politic person are candidates like presidential candidates and some minister but even then, the party isn't so much what people look at. it can, depending, but ti's not overall what's it's about, unlike legislatives or presidential obviously.
Plus, the situation right now is people are not unhappy with the governement, but with the president, which is a very different story. People complain about their living situation, the prices of living and all that sure, so they tend to vote a bit more Left in those situations, but I don't think it's what they call sometimes a "punishing vote" against the governement or the president. Not for municipals.

But overall, I think he has to listen to what's happening. His popularity is the lowest in history and it wasn't that bad, even when he was prime minister and people didn't like him then either. So that says something. People don't like the man. it's not about the politics per say.
Though, to me, it is on some level, cause nationaly is one thing, but internationaly, I hope he won't screw up.

'Tos · 03-15-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

I know, so stupid of him. The video toured internet of course, it doesn't help his popularity...
As for the Municipal elections, that's not really true. Municipals are about electing mayors, and as such, are much more about local politics than national. Lots of people elect a mayor because of what he did in the past or plan to do for a city (like building schools, daycare, making environment decisions for the city etc) than because of the party he belongs to. There's lots of independants as mayors too because it's very local. Bigger cities are a bit different because big politic person are candidates like presidential candidates and some minister but even then, the party isn't so much what people look at. it can, depending, but ti's not overall what's it's about, unlike legislatives or presidential obviously.
Plus, the situation right now is people are not unhappy with the governement, but with the president, which is a very different story. People complain about their living situation, the prices of living and all that sure, so they tend to vote a bit more Left in those situations, but I don't think it's what they call sometimes a "punishing vote" against the governement or the president. Not for municipals.

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

I blame my paper for that one.

Hehe. You know, it's always interesting how countries describe events in other countries and if it's really always accurate or not. I've read some American coverage of Canadian events, and it's never quite right. I guess this is one of those cases.

Quote:

But overall, I think he has to listen to what's happening. His popularity is the lowest in history and it wasn't that bad, even when he was prime minister and people didn't like him then either. So that says something. People don't like the man. it's not about the politics per say.
Though, to me, it is on some level, cause nationaly is one thing, but internationaly, I hope he won't screw up.

He's like the George W. Bush of France!!

People just don't like either of them.

**buffyannAlex** · 03-15-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Tos (View Post)

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

I blame my paper for that one.

Hehe. You know, it's always interesting how countries describe events in other countries and if it's really always accurate or not. I've read some American coverage of Canadian events, and it's never quite right. I guess this is one of those cases.

Yeah, I totally know what you mean.

I have a few friends who moves to Quebec and sometimes they mentionned stuff in france and our visions of it were so different, it was weird. I blame the media, manipulating people

To your defense though, some people do think the municipals are representing what people think of the governement. I don't. and lots don't think so but I guess it does represent on some level. Just not as much as other elections like the deputies etc.

Quote:

He's like the George W. Bush of France!!

People just don't like either of them.

oh lala, I wouldn't go that far

But it's getting close

Wilpen · 03-16-2008, 07:19 AM

Wow Frenchie, that's unreal about Sarkozy.

I have to say that even George Bush wouldn't tell someone to F off or act like that so that kind of speaks volumes.

Thing about Bush is, his personality in general has never been an issue with the American people because he, and I hate to say it, actually seems like a down to earth nice guy whenever he's away from politics. That seems weird to say but it's true. You'll never hear people rip his personality or hear about dumb antics he pulls with his attitude or anything like that. It's as if Bush has two different personalities... the one away from politics which is actually somewhat decent and the one directly in politics which is not fun and the one that people cannot stand. So there you go. LOL.

I'm very interested in French politics and stuff but you never talk about it. Forcing you to, here, now.

Ok I realize that your "conservative" party is still way less conservative than ours but apparently to some in your country it's much too conservative, still.

Here's what I'm wondering:

1) Who exactly voted him in?
2) Is it that you either love or hate him? There's no in between?
3) Amazing how someone in your family has ties to his wife... what generally do you know about him through this tie?
4) Has he done anything specifically politically that has pissed the Frenchies off and that reflects his low approval rating or is it more about his general attitude on things?