Obama's doing an AMA on reddit now...

[Wells]

I got a question do you guys have the chance to call in and ask questions in real time tv/radio etc in the US at some point? Or is there no such possibilities during the election campaign?

Depends on the candidate. They certainly do go out and do meet and greets, but there are over 300 million of us spread out over a wide area and they're just one person. If you're in a more contentious area like Ohio you've got a pretty good shot at asking a candidate a question directly when he's stumping in the area. Over in the Seattle area? Not so much. Of course you can mail them but you'll get a canned answer in all likelihood.

[PizzaSHARK]

Question: "Are you considering increasing funds to the space program?"

Answer: "Making sure we stay at the forefront of space exploration is a big priority for my administration. The passing of Neil Armstrong this week is a reminder of the inspiration and wonder that our space program has provided in the past; the curiosity probe on mars is a reminder of what remains to be discovered. The key is to make sure that we invest in cutting edge research that can take us to the next level - so even as we continue work with the international space station, we are focused on a potential mission to a asteroid as a prelude to a manned Mars flight."

Typical politician's response, a bunch of flowery words that don't provide a concrete answer to the question that was asked.

The response to the student loan debt question was classic Obama rhetoric, slam the other party while providing absolutely no plan of your own, and then go off on a PR tangent to take the focus off how you're really not doing anything to help people who got scammed by the student loan industry. Nice touch.

The AMA in general was just a publicity stunt, just like him changing his mind (again) and speaking out in support of gay marriage. None of the President's public appearances are done on a whim, every single action and every single word is carefully crafted and processed by a dedicated team of PR specialists and studies.

I mean, I really fucking want to believe Mr. Obama was like "well shit let's check out this whole Reddit thing," or that he spoke out in support of gay marriage because he actually believes in it and just wanted to tell people... but I know that's not the truth.

Now, it's entirely possible that what his PR teams are telling him to say is something he himself thinks as well, but he's Mr. President, not Mr. Obama - which means he's a politician, and politicians speak 99% bullshit and 1% truth unless you've got their balls in a vise.

[Wells]

I mean, I really fucking want to believe Mr. Obama was like "well shit let's check out this whole Reddit thing,"

None of the President's public appearances are done on a whim, every single action and every single word is carefully crafted and processed by a dedicated team of PR specialists and studies.

See I don't think these are particularly valid criticisms of a president. We expect inhuman perfection from these guys then we turn around and bitch at them when they take measures to deliver it. If we're mad that people like Obama need a PR team to help him shape everything we only have ourselves to blame.

[PizzaSHARK]

See I don't think these are particularly valid criticisms of a president. We expect inhuman perfection from these guys then we turn around and bitch at them when they take measures to deliver it. If we're mad that people like Obama need a PR team to help him shape everything we only have ourselves to blame.

I wasn't saying that as criticism, I was just pointing out that the public's view of a figurehead is nothing but showboating and posturing, designed to gratify and appease the targeted demographic(s).

I get the feeling that Mr. Obama is a pretty fucking awesome guy with a great family, even if I haven't been impressed with his performance as Mr. President.

[Jackmoves]

Depends on the candidate. They certainly do go out and do meet and greets, but there are over 300 million of us spread out over a wide area and they're just one person. If you're in a more contentious area like Ohio you've got a pretty good shot at asking a candidate a question directly when he's stumping in the area. Over in the Seattle area? Not so much. Of course you can mail them but you'll get a canned answer in all likelihood.

How about nation wide debates aired on Fox/CNN/Whatever? Can you call in questions there? It would be cool if you could really test them on live TV infront of the whole country. Some of the best q&a I've seen here has been when people call in like that, so just wondering if thats something that americans get "offered" to do?

[Wells]

How about nation wide debates aired on Fox/CNN/Whatever? Can you call in questions there? It would be cool if you could really test them on live TV infront of the whole country. Some of the best q&a I've seen here has been when people call in like that, so just wondering if thats something that americans get "offered" to do?

Sometimes. Your odds of getting a question through are pretty nill though. Again, lots of Americans.

[Tinykong]

See I don't think these are particularly valid criticisms of a president. We expect inhuman perfection from these guys then we turn around and bitch at them when they take measures to deliver it. If we're mad that people like Obama need a PR team to help him shape everything we only have ourselves to blame.

I don't expect inhuman perfection, I think a simple "yes" or "no" answer to the space question would have been sufficient. He wasn't going to provide that type of answer, because then he would have to either deal with the criticism or follow through on the promise.

Typical politician with typical politician's answers. Really feels like it's irrelevant who we vote for now, just depends on what type of flavor you'd like served up with your last meal.

[Korgoth]

Sometimes. Your odds of getting a question through are pretty nill though. Again, lots of Americans.

And they would probably screen out any real questions, or worse throw softballs to their preferred guy and give the other guy the real stuff. I'd rather have the candidates write up the 10 toughest questions they want the other guy to answer and make him answer it then they get a rebuttal. 10 questions they do not get to see prior to the event.

[Wells]

And they would probably screen out any real questions, or worse throw softballs to their preferred guy and give the other guy the real stuff. I'd rather have the candidates write up the 10 toughest questions they want the other guy to answer and make him answer it then they get a rebuttal. 10 questions they do not get to see prior to the event.

Enjoy a bunch of skewed rhetoric laden bullshit questions.

[Jackmoves]

Sometimes. Your odds of getting a question through are pretty nill though. Again, lots of Americans.

Obviously :P I wouldn't count on getting through even here hehe

But thats great, debate moderators can let things slide without asking uncomfortable follow up questions at times, while citizens usually don't hold back from my experience.

[PizzaSHARK]

Typical politician with typical politician's answers. Really feels like it's irrelevant who we vote for now, just depends on what type of flavor you'd like served up with your last meal.

Pretty much. At the risk of sound like a tinfoil hat guy, America's getting pretty close to becoming a glorified one-party state. Democrats and Republicans piss and moan about how different they are, but there ain't actually a whole lot of difference between the two on the majority of issues, especially when you cut through the rhetoric and actually get down to the actual real-world decisions and results.

Even if you had some guy in office that was determined to bring down the corporate power structure, it'd never happen because the only way he would've made it into the Oval Office in the first place would be if those corporations bought his way there in the first place. Seems like the President is really just a public figurehead for the big corporations and their lobbyists that are REALLY pulling the strings.

[Wells]

Pretty much. At the risk of sound like a tinfoil hat guy, America's getting pretty close to becoming a glorified one-party state. Democrats and Republicans piss and moan about how different they are, but there ain't actually a whole lot of difference between the two on the majority of issues, especially when you cut through the rhetoric and actually get down to the actual real-world decisions and results.

What issues are they the same on in reality?

It certainly isn't tax policy, or gay rights.

[silentk59]

You know, the more I hear of him, the more Mr. Obama sounds like a cool guy. If the people of US don't want him, send him to Romania, maybe he can do something here.

And yes, of course, I don't belive him to be a saint, but he surely is better then our politicians.

He is a horrible president. He lies about everything you says if itll get him in office. I never voted for him but I know he pretty much was because of all the Anti War people who liked him because he said he was pulling the troops out. And what does he do? One of the first things he does, he sends more troops into Iraq. Mainly because theres shit going on over there that we dont know about and he didnt either and when he became president he was like, "oh shit we do need more troops here." But he cant say what it is so he just acts as if its to help the war effort.

I could careless Iam pro war, but to get voted in because of your strong stance against war and then promoting it makes you the biggest lying hypocrit out there.

[rigoremortis]

He is a horrible president. He lies about everything you says if itll get him in office. I never voted for him but I know he pretty much was because of all the Anti War people who liked him because he said he was pulling the troops out. And what does he do? One of the first things he does, he sends more troops into Iraq. Mainly because theres shit going on over there that we dont know about and he didnt either and when he became president he was like, "oh shit we do need more troops here." But he cant say what it is so he just acts as if its to help the war effort.

I could careless Iam pro war, but to get voted in because of your strong stance against war and then promoting it makes you the biggest lying hypocrit out there.

the president is a figure head at best, he doesnt actually "run the show", and unfortunately Bush setup some pretty shitty deals with some pretty shitty people that were, and still are, in power. a president can say he'd like to do a lot of things BEFORE getting elected and before having knowledge of what can and can not be done, but its not until AFTER election that the reality sets in, and he then realizes he cant pull us out of this war.

these decisions arent quite as cut and dry, black and white as you'd like to think. there are things the president cant do (stop a war by himself when corporations are making billions upon billions from it), and there are places the president cant even visit (area 51, etc).

having spent 3 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan (during the Bush administration), id like to think i have a better grasp on this particular situation than most people, particularly yourself, as he never "sent more troops to iraq", at least read up on what countries are involved when spouting useless, hateful rhetoric, thank you.

[Ausr]

He is a horrible president. He lies about everything you says if itll get him in office. I never voted for him but I know he pretty much was because of all the Anti War people who liked him because he said he was pulling the troops out. And what does he do? One of the first things he does, he sends more troops into Iraq. Mainly because theres shit going on over there that we dont know about and he didnt either and when he became president he was like, "oh shit we do need more troops here." But he cant say what it is so he just acts as if its to help the war effort.

I could careless Iam pro war, but to get voted in because of your strong stance against war and then promoting it makes you the biggest lying hypocrit out there.

Stopped reading when you said he sent more troops into Iraq. Please, do some reading.