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Obama PWNS Trump/Republicans/Fox/Matt Damon/Everyone (White House Dinner)...

Obama speaking last night at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Genuinely, one of the funniest things I've seen in a while and great to see Obama let-loose in such an environment.

Here's the full speech (the introduction to the whole thing is the best!);

Trump looked super angry when Myers (see below videos) took digs at him too, so it'll be interesting to see some of the crap he's going to come out with after the dinner as some sort of 'retaliation'.

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Reply 1

manchild007

Here is Myers, who is also very funny/good;

(edited 12 years ago)

Obama is an ass.

Original post by Tesphena

Obama is an ass.

Why?

The WHCD is supposed to be a jovial affair celebrating the work of journalists; this is held every year (i.e. every President does it). And its great to see Obama actually have an avenue to joke about these things and retort the likes of Trump, with the ridiculousness that is often shown to him by the likes of Trump in the first place (i.e. the whole birther and now schooler issue).

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Reply 4

Young Spade

This is amazing. Thank you for posting :biggrin:

Reply 5

Sharpshooter

Why is his approval rating only 43%?

Wasn't he supposed to be the greatest president ever?

Reply 6

Swayum

It wasn't really that funny to be honest...

Reply 7

manchild007

Original post by Sharpshooter

Why is his approval rating only 43%?

Wasn't he supposed to be the greatest president ever?

Compared to other presidents, they're higher and just about equal depending on what poll you look at. Add to that reactionary causes (i.e. rising gas prices and the general economic situation) and you can't blame for his approval ratings being in the lower figures.

As his campaign progresses (made better by the fact that the Republicans are still squabbling to pick their nomination) and the economy naturally improves, they should easily tick up when the election comes around - largely being dependent on the economy however, which if it doesn't approve, will only make things worse.

Reply 8

manchild007

Original post by Swayum

It wasn't really that funny to be honest...

I guess it depends on how heavily you follow US news/politics (i.e. beyond just the headlines); I'm obviously quite heavily interested in US politics, so I found it all pretty much hilarious (particularly the digs at Bachmann and Pawlenty, alongside Trump of course).

Reply 9

Sharpshooter

Original post by manchild007

Both Reagan and Clinton climbed above 50% and stayed there for the rest of their term in october/november. So Obama has six months to do the same. Can he?

Reply 10

manchild007

Original post by Sharpshooter

Both Reagan and Clinton climbed above 50% and stayed there for the rest of their term in october/november. So Obama has six months to do the same. Can he?

Reagan and Clinton didn't have this economic crisis on their hands, or anything close to it economically speaking (i.e. its something which materially affects everyday lives of Americans etc) - its often overstated many times to the point of cliche, but this really was a crisis for the books and it was only b/c of unprecedented steps taken that things didn't fall off a cliff. [I personally think Obama could have handled it better, but he really had nothing to go on and with hindsight, people are a lot easier to criticise].

He has 6 months - employment generally is picking up, non-farm payrolls are higher, new housing starts are also improving etc. So the economy is growing/improving. The only major drag on the economy is the rising price of oil, but that should hopefully stabilize over the upcoming summer months. So in 6 months getting above 50%, I think its more than possible - he's currently on 45% not 43% by the by.

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Reply 11

Sharpshooter

Original post by manchild007

He has 6 months - employment generally is picking up, non-farm payrolls are higher, new housing starts are also improving etc. So the economy is growing/improving. The only major drag on the economy is the rising price of oil, but that should hopefully stabilize over the upcoming summer months. So in 6 months getting above 50%, I think its more than possible - he's currently on 45% not 43% by the by.

What are your views on Afghanistan? Listening to Hilary Clinton it sounds as if the july withdrawl date looks like it may be set back. With America in deep recession is still acceptable the US is spending 1 trillion in other commitments like policing the world? Could they not use some of that money at home? :eyeball:

Reply 12

manchild007

Original post by Sharpshooter

I think, as everyone realistically knows, US troops won't have a majority withdrawal this summer - the situation is not ready for that. As for the deficit, its an issue which (thankfully) is FINALLY being addressed seriously by the government.

One of perhaps the only sensible things Trump has ever said, was recently in a speech he gave, and relevant here. He said the US has the money to go to Iraq/Afghanistan, build a school there, before it gets bombed by militants, build the school again, before it gets bombed again, and then build the school again, and so on and so forth; yet we don't have enough money to build new schools for our own citizens. It was a poignant, if not hyperbolic point (as the school system isn't massively failing) and we obviously have a duty to help out those citizens in Iraq/Afghanistan. I think as we see a gradual withdrawal of troops however, budget spending shall fall as a result automatically, but the general defense budget does need to be trimmed and made more efficient - alongside long-term liability programmes like Medicare etc (which form the biggest 'chunks' of the deficit).

I am actually very much (broadly) in favour of Obama's plan for budget reduction (when compared to say Ryan's alternative anyway). Until then, as the global reserve currency (with the most liquid market in the world) and the defacto seller/buyer of last resort to the world, we can pretty much continue recklessly borrowing the money needed until the budget proposal is agreed upon (hopefully before the end of this year). I mean, even the 'negative' outlook placed by the S&P on US debt, actually led to a positive impact on the treasury markets, but a plan nonetheless needs to be placed forward and more importantly, signed into action, soon.

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Reply 13

canimakeit

Good for him about time they were made to look like idiots.

Reply 14

manchild007

Also;

Donald Trump Booed At White House Correspondents' Dinner

Donald Trump didn't appear to have many fans upon arriving at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday.

The Wrap reports that the media mogul was greeted by a round of "boos" upon arriving to Washington's Hilton Hotel with his wife, Melania:

After giving a brief interview with a group of several of media outlets, Trump -- who was invited to the event as a guest of the Washington Post -- walked away to a chorus of audible boos from the media members on the press line. (And it wasn't because they wanted to hear Trump talk more.)

While waiting in line on the red carpet, Trump told the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire that he wouldn't be afraid to give President Barack Obama a piece of his mind that evening, should the two have a chance to speak. "He's gotta get tough with all the nations that are ripping off the U.S.," such as China, he told the Journal he would say to the president.

Trump has been no stranger to the press in recent weeks. On Tuesday he took credit for the release of Obama's birth certificate, saying the disclosure made him "proud" and "honored to play such a big role" in its release, but that "I want to look at it" before confirming its authenticity.

Later, at an event Thursday in Las Vegas, he again made headlines for calling America's leaders "stupid" and declaring the United States was "not a great country" before erupting in a chorus of curses, including labelling China as "Mother****ers".

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Reply 15

Aj12

Haha plenty of ways to attack Obama but the whole birth certificate thing really was a joke.

That was brilliant!

Original post by Sharpshooter

Why is his approval rating only 43%?

Wasn't he supposed to be the greatest president ever?

No sir, or ma'am; that title is given to FDR.
Obama hasnt had any lasting tracking record where the affects of his administration can be evaluated. I'm a somewhat supporter of Obama, but even if he does get us out of this recession, he still wouldn't be considered great since recessions are common in this country, and haven been regulated by almost every democratic president. FDR, on the other hand, saved America as an empire during, and after the hell of the depression, the second world war, the devastating unemployment, the attack on pearl harbor ect. Hoover (a bigger mess than bush the II), left America in shambles; FDR managed to even provided economical support to Britain--while it was also in shambles--against the japanese. He created the socialistic programs that even the anti-communistic, anti-socialistic tea-partiers (aka re-branded republicans who know they can't ever win another election with title of republican) cant live without: social security (a slew of saved social programs swell). FDR's work is undeniable.