Ignorance prevalent in both praising, panning of Obama

Well stated, Michael.

Unfortunately, the sentiments offered by the prior letter writers merely echo a lot of the behavior exhibited by our politicians at all levels. We have very few statesmen left and far too many political hacks on both sides of the aisle. Today’s discourse, including that in Congress, is geared largely toward pr and talking points and less on substantive debate. The art of civil debate, where parties pursue a sincere engagement resulting in a better conclusion, has dissipated to near extinction.

It’s time for a more substantive discussion on the real issues and less discussion on personal attacks.

Hopefully others will be inclined to pick up your example.

Michael, I agree with your statements in this piece, except, I’m not at all convinced the following is true ‘He has brought the United States back from the brink of international isolation by opening diplomacy with longtime U.S. adversaries around
the world.’ What do have to support that statement?

So, now opinions are “undisputable facts”?

You clearly aren’t in the “business of unbiased political observation”. You’re in COLLEGE. Get over your over-inflated sense of importance as a college junior.

There were not “atrocities” at Gitmo. If you really think so, hop over to the History Department and look up some real atrocities.

And spending the first five months apologizing for all those American “atrocities” can hardly be called “diplomacy”.

That, Sir, is my opinion, and at least I’m honest enough to say it.

This is yet another self-gratifying article where the author tells everybody else how stupid they are. After all, the author is “unbiased”.

What the you talking about!? He’s merely pointing out facts that you could find on any unbiased news source. He’s not taking sides. He’s saying, here’s X and here’s Y. This is what has been accomplished, this is what has failed. How is it a slanted opinion when he offers both positives and negatives?

It’s OPINION, so of course it’s going to be “slanted” in one direction or another. The integrity is in admitting it, not presenting those opinions as “facts”.

I really don’t care which way his opinions lean, as long as they’re presented as just that – opinions. Presenting them as anything else is dishonest.

I’m asking what direction you think he’s slanted in. I see a completely unbiased report. 3 good things, 3 bad things. All facts. I still don’t see how this is an opinion piece.

I’m sorry, but I have to interject on MaximumBob’s behalf, here. “He has brought the United States back from the brink of international isolation” and “atrocities of Guantanamo Bay” are not facts. They are opinions! Their is no evidence that the U.S. was/is “on the brink of international isolation”, or that their were “atrocities” at Gitmo. Many people believe that we were/are becoming isolated from the rest of the world and the Gitmo is an atrocity, but they are not facts. It is a fact that Obama has vowed to close Gitmo, and he has changed diplomacy, but the other two portions are opinions.

Can’t we all just get along?

No, we can’t. And Barack Obama is going to “fix” the national economy just as Jennifer Granholm fixed Michigan’s.

Mike: Good luck in your job search. Maybe you should start looking in Guatamala or India or China or Mexico ‘cause that is where they all went.

It’s sad.

The problem with politics is half the people want to be someone’s fanboy busy making excuses while the other half is busy nitpicking.

The truth is, both Sarah Palin and Barack Obama blew in their respective parts of the ticket. McCain and Biden were ok, but Romney would’ve been a nice choice his warhawkness aside, though the “world is 6000yrs old” aka Huckabee camp wouldn’t stand to have a Mormon in office.

Guantanamo sucks.

Hey Mike,

You reveal yourself to be the biggest moron in this whole mess because both were opinion columns. Each were intended as advocacy and neither claimed to be unbiased.

Maybe you should learn to read a newspaper before you look for a job?

Re: Michael Lipphardt Letter

Lipphardt should know that the “Opinion” section is for opinions.

Michael Lipphardt should learn to read a newspaper before he insists that he deserves a job. Perhaps if he understood the function of the newspaper’s “opinion” section, he wouldn’t have assailed the “knowledge” and credentials of myself and Mr. Thieleman.

Re: Michael Lipphardt Letter

Lipphardt should know that the “Opinion” section is for opinions.

Michael Lipphardt should learn to read a newspaper before he insists that he deserves a job. Perhaps if he understood the function of the newspaper’s “opinion” section, he wouldn’t have assailed the “knowledge” and credentials of myself and Mr. Thieleman.

I realize that this is the opinion section, which is why my letter is in this section as well. My opinion? Both Tibergien and Thieleman have completely spun the accomplishments and failures of the Obama presidency into a one-sided affair. THAT was the point of my response.

It was never my intention to claim you didn’t know what you were talking about.

I LIKE your style! Keep up the good work! :D

I didn’t intend to post my response on the article, I intended it as a letter.

“Tibergien and Thieleman serve as a shining example to the lack of knowledge. . .”

I know perfectly well what the “other side” thinks and feels. For the purposes of an opinion column, it doesn’t matter. The writing is intended to express a perspective. This is your biggest failing, you are calling the two of us stupid, or at least “lacking knowledge” when each of us set out with an objective of advocacy.

I understand perfectly well the newspaper genre. Again, you resort to attacks when I merely attempt to open a dialogue. My sole point in the article was to point out that it is in fact uneducated to talk about a President without mentioning both positive and negative viewpoints.

You are correct that most of your facts are beyond dispute. Excluding the claim that Obama somehow saved us from Somalian pirates.

DAVID TIBERGIEN goes by the name ‘McSaddle’, ‘Humpy McSaddle’, and “James McSaddle’ on the ‘net. His rage stems from his political failure in Muskegon about 5 years ago.

He is notorious for saying horrible and violent things about conservatives. His statements regarding Palin’s mentally challenged baby were beyond offensive, I don’t think any woman in her right mind would date him, knowing the way he feels towards innocent children who cannot defend themselves.

I can’t believe that I even recognize his name, this is hilarious.

DAVID TIBERGIEN goes by the name ‘McSaddle’, ‘Humpy McSaddle’, and “James McSaddle’ on the ‘net. His rage stems from his political failure in Muskegon about 5 years ago.

He is notorious for saying horrible and violent things about conservatives. His statements regarding Palin’s mentally challenged baby were beyond offensive, I don’t think any woman in her right mind would date him, knowing the way he feels towards innocent children who cannot defend themselves.

I can’t believe that I even recognize his name, this is hilarious.

Mr. Tibergien… You said…

“For the record, President Barack Obama has:”

“Stopped the Great Recession from becoming an Apocalyptic Depression.” -How many people are still unemployed or have given up?

“Saved the auto industry, which is now making green cars and turning a profit.” -Yet diesel and gasoline powered on snow trucks clear the snow off roads so your “green” battery powered box of a vehicle can move.

His blind hate for conservatives, and blind love for BO, know no bounds. Don’t feel the troll.

this is as trite as Obama himself. I’m sorry that he has not accomplished what he intended to do. I’m sorry that he lost his “super majority.” He knew he was a one term president when he was elected. So be it, just be done President Carter ahem I mean President Obama