Obama spends $73k in taxpayer money taking Mic e on a date.

[jack sommerset]

You are on a basketball board crying about the president. Why don't you write ur congressmen or do something about it hypocrite. Vent your frustrations out somewhere else other than a basketball forum. You ing cryass.

It's called sarcasm. You should know what that is all about.

[clambake]

Not the way Obama goes through money. We are over a trillion dollars and counting. What is this, his 5 month in office? Soon the dollar will be called the yuan

but obama didn't have to kill 5K american kids to do it.

[Blake]

You are on a basketball board crying about the Republican National Committee. Why don't you write ur congressmen or do something about it hypocrite. Vent your frustrations out somewhere else other than a basketball forum. You ing cryass.

naw. The difference is that I think you and the RNC are funny while you think Obama's date night is not.

Like I said before, I'm just giving you a suggestion if you really want to change things.

I don't really care if you and the RNC continue to cry.

[Blake]

Blake...You really don't see what a hypocrite you are being. That is greatness!!! I can't wait for ur next lil cry or silly joke or tell me how I feel. Love this guy!

I believe that anyone that has a problem with the way things are in the political world should write their congressman. I've never said or implied otherwise.

You aren't the idiot. Everyone else in this thread that says you are an idiot are idiots.

Love you too, in a hetero, make fun of you kind of way

[jack sommerset]

but obama didn't have to kill 5K american kids to do it.

Umm wtf are you talking about... Who killed 5,000 kids?

[George Gervin's Afro]

Umm wtf are you talking about... Who killed 5,000 kids?

Bush starting the unecssary war..dead GIs.. Some people still consider 18 and 19 yr olds as kids..

[v2freak]

It isn't a strawman fallacy once your realize that A) he's the President and B) no matter where he goes, he's going to cost us a lot of money. The secret service protection, along with the vehicles required, do not come cheap.

So, if he is ever to take a date, it will of necessity cost the taxpayers a good amount of money.

The question is whether you feel he should be allowed to do so, or not.

A.) It's still a fallacy: the opinions of the people who aren't willing to make excuses for Obama (like myself, jack, eric etc) are being misrepresented.

B.) His date can't be somewhere closer and less expensive like in, oh say, Washington DC? This is a large part of where the excessive aspect is kicking in.

C.) Not attacking you, but I find it amusing that many people who keep saying 'he is the president!!' are people who treated President Bush with no respect, or were duped into believing that Obama was "just like you and me"

[ChumpDumper]

Bush lost my respect with Iraq. Unnecessary deaths of thousands and displacement of millions do that to me.

[LnGrrrR]

A.) It's still a fallacy: the opinions of the people who aren't willing to make excuses for Obama (like myself, jack, eric etc) are being misrepresented.

B.) His date can't be somewhere closer and less expensive like in, oh say, Washington DC? This is a large part of where the excessive aspect is kicking in.

C.) Not attacking you, but I find it amusing that many people who keep saying 'he is the president!!' are people who treated President Bush with no respect, or were duped into believing that Obama was "just like you and me"

I think B) is the only one where you could possibly have an argument. I didn't see the exact details of the cash spent. Was that listed anywhere?

Note: I think alot of people aren't saying, "He's Obama so it's good! If it were Bush it would be bad!" I just think they're saying, "He's the president... if he wants to see a Broadway show... well, he's the president. He's allowed to."

Assuming he isn't doing it every week, I don't have a problem with that.

[George Gervin's Afro]

My problem with this issue is that now all of a sudden a President can't go out with his/her spouse.

Of course we have all the caveats' , 'he said this', or 'he said that', etc from the dead enders to justify bashing the guy. Please excuse me, but isn't the president working 24/7?

In other words the criticism is not based in principle rather it's based on not liking the guy. If the critcism was based on principle the same folks would have been outraged at Bush's vacation taking..the most in Presidential history and on the tax payer dime...

[Blake]

For anyone who is interested, this is a great example of a strawman fallacy

Person A: He is spending way too much of tax payer dollars on a date many people would consider excessive; maybe he isn't the common, everyday man that we thought he was.

Person B: Oh, so he can't take his wife out on a date eh?

who exactly is Person A here that says "maybe he isn't the common, everyday man we thought he was."?

you definitely have yourself a strawman there.

[jack sommerset]

My problem with this issue is that now all of a sudden a President can't go out with his/her spouse.

Come on man! Without calling names, can u please tell my why you said this. That statement is ridiculous. This has to do with the hundred of thousands of dollars he spent for a night out with his wife. He could have taken you out, his kids out, his basketball buddies out and if they spent that kind of money on a friends night out or a kids night out this would be a problem. You guys think to a president a few hundred thousand dollars is a drop in the hat. He is a elected official. This is not his fortune. This is our fortune. He is not King of England. It's a freaken load of money and he selfishly spent it to go to a play in NYC then back home. It just happens the guy took his wife with him. The guy makes 400,000 per year. He just spent that on one night out. Give me a break.

[v2freak]

who exactly is Person A here that says "maybe he isn't the common, everyday man we thought he was."?

you definitely have yourself a strawman there.

I don't think you know what a strawman fallacy is. Aside from his campaign being about hype and "I'm not Bush", he marketed himself as a man of the people, like Lyndon B Johnson was. (I use the term marketing strategically here)

In the event I couldn't name anyone specific who believed him to be an everyday man, it still wouldn't be a strawman because I am not misrepresenting and changing the stance of an opponent.

The points about Bush here are largely irrelevant to me. I did not like him either, Chumpdumper, but the point is people who say "Obama is the president!" apply to Bush as well. He was the leader of our country and should command respect. People who say he is an idiot are obviously mistaken. Becoming president is no easy task. Regardless of what he did, which may or may not have included trips to his ranch or starting wars, he was our president. And unlike Obama, he never claimed to be a friend of the environment. What republican is aside from maybe the Governator?

My problem with this issue is that now all of a sudden a President can't go out with his/her spouse.

Of course we have all the caveats' , 'he said this', or 'he said that', etc from the dead enders to justify bashing the guy. Please excuse me, but isn't the president working 24/7?

In other words the criticism is not based in principle rather it's based on not liking the guy. If the critcism was based on principle the same folks would have been outraged at Bush's vacation taking..the most in Presidential history and on the tax payer dime...

I would have a problem with that too. He's still a human and deserves to go out with his spouse. Too bad that's not the point here.

I think B) is the only one where you could possibly have an argument. I didn't see the exact details of the cash spent. Was that listed anywhere?

Note: I think alot of people aren't saying, "He's Obama so it's good! If it were Bush it would be bad!" I just think they're saying, "He's the president... if he wants to see a Broadway show... well, he's the president. He's allowed to."

Assuming he isn't doing it every week, I don't have a problem with that.

I think it's pretty clear that Obama-hype has swept through the nation. I see you are a Celtics fan; would it be wrong to assume you live in New England or MA in particular? I lived there myself and was surrounded by liberals; I even go to a liberal arts college where democratic fervor is at its zenith. Say what you want about the man, but President Obama to me is the most popular celebrity in the US right now.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't think you know what a strawman fallacy is. Aside from his campaign being about hype and "I'm not Bush", he marketed himself as a man of the people, like Lyndon B Johnson was. (I use the term marketing strategically here)

Again, nice strawman -- I never thought he was just some dude.

In the event I couldn't name anyone specific who believed him to be an everyday man, it still wouldn't be a strawman because I am not misrepresenting and changing the stance of an opponent.

Ok, then it's just wrong.

The points about Bush here are largely irrelevant to me. I did not like him either, Chumpdumper, but the point is people who say "Obama is the president!" apply to Bush as well. He was the leader of our country and should command respect. People who say he is an idiot are obviously mistaken. Becoming president is no easy task. Regardless of what he did, which may or may not have included trips to his ranch or starting wars, he was our president.

Bush was an idiot because of Iraq. He was our president, but he was an idiot when it came to the decision to invade Iraq and the subsequent occupation.

[Blake]

In the event I couldn't name anyone specific who believed him to be an everyday man, it still wouldn't be a strawman because I am not misrepresenting and changing the stance of an opponent.

you set up this imaginary "person A" that says this imaginary phrase that you made up in order for real person B to make this argument against him.

what is your definition of strawman?

[LnGrrrR]

I think it's pretty clear that Obama-hype has swept through the nation. I see you are a Celtics fan; would it be wrong to assume you live in New England or MA in particular? I lived there myself and was surrounded by liberals; I even go to a liberal arts college where democratic fervor is at its zenith. Say what you want about the man, but President Obama to me is the most popular celebrity in the US right now.

Yes, you would be wrong, technically. I actually live in Biloxi, MS. I grew up in Lynn, MA (mostly liberal), then my family moved to Alton, NH (up until recently, Republican with strong strains of libertarian) when I was 10 or so. Then at 17, I joined the Air Force.

I've been active duty for the last ten years (well, almost... my ten year anniversary is in August), and since then I've lived down south (San Antonio, Ft Walton and now Biloxi.)

President Obama is famous, and somewhat beloved, but it's tough to not be famous and somewhat beloved as a President, especially early into a Presidency.