Reply #32: Not to long winded at all :) i like good/long responses as it allows me to learn more [View All]

[Bodhi BloodWave]

even if i tend to be rather more sparse in my own words *eyerolls* and to be honest, if i didn't try to debate in a civil tone i would by my own standards have already lost my case(got my own rather weird values in that regard)

Also congratulations on your vote for Edwards, he might not be who i favor(not that my favor means anything not being American :P) but he is who you trust and believe in and as such your vote was the most wise and correct one for you. And you and your husband are quite lucky i think to have gotten to know him :)

Now on the compromise statement, i assume you mean his bipartisanship which i actually see as a strength as his way of doing things is seeking out republicans that share the same views as him on that one issue, get them on board which strengthens the bills chance of passing without having had to compromise the core values of the issue(might some minor aspects be changed or removed, sure but thats normal in all agreements)

On the money, he does not seem to be to affected by that, to use a section from an article:
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As a presidential candidate, Obama doesn't accept political contributions from lobbyists or political action committees. But as a legislator, he took thousands of dollars from the groups represented by some of his poker buddies. AT&T in its various incarnations, for example, gave more than $13,000 over the years.

Still, Obama routinely voted against the communications giant's interests. He opposed SBC Communications Inc. -- as AT&T was then called -- on a major initiative in 2003 that would have increased costs for the company's competitors.

Poker night also included a lobbyist for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, and the game eventually was moved to the association's office. Obama often voted to raise taxes and fees for businesses.

Players say the poker game affected legislation only by building relationships, and lobbyists might get a more respectful hearing for their arguments.
-

The last line there goes nicely into the last comment on him offering them a seat which i also see as a wise choice(especially linked with the tech plan that meetings be taped/broadcast so people can see them).

If they are refused outright that gives them free 'reign' to fight back as hard as they want as they would only be 'defending' themselves against whatever agenda they dislike, now by having a seat at the table they are somewhat more invested in getting a solution passed.(the cameras themselves will force em to mellow a bit)

The fact respect is given and that he is willing to listen to their idea also help(and keep in mind that they have only one chair at the table and being a president for all includes big biz even if we dislike em a lot).

From another article:

"What impressed me about him was his ability in working with people of the opposite party," said Mike Lawrence, director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. "He had definite ideas about what ought to be contained in a campaign finance reform measure, but he also was willing to recognize that he was probably not going to get everything he wanted."

The result, according to good-government groups, was the most ambitious campaign reform in nearly 25 years, making Illinois one of the best in the nation on campaign finance disclosure.

-snip

Obviously, we didn't agree all the time, but he would always take suggestions when they were logical, and he was willing to listen to our point of view. And he offered his opinions in a lawyerly way," said Carl Hawkinson, the retired Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "When he spoke on the floor of the Senate, he spoke out of conviction. You knew that, whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him."

and finally from the same article something that made me chuckle a bit :)

"One night, we were playing and things weren't going very well for me," Walsh said. "I had a real good hand and Barack beat me out with another one. I slammed down my cards and said, 'Doggone it, Barack, if you were a little more liberal in your card playing and a little more conservative in your politics, you and I would get along a lot better.' "


Finally now that all that over with I'm sorry to hear about your condition as i shivered just reading about it, i hope there will be a solution to it soon :pals:

side note: my post is likely a bit ranty but i get like that at times
Sidenote 2: Do you know if somebody who gets an honorary Doctorates of Law is allowed to use any titles?