President Obama could learn a great deal from a 1995 movie.

[stufl]

I couldn't sleep last night and found "An American President" on one of the free movie channels. Michael Douglas as President finally, after being convinced by his staff, speaks out to the American people. He takes a stand and strongly announces that he is done caving to loudmouths who promulgate only hate and fear. He stands up for that which he believes is correct.

If the Pres. caves on this birth control issue, I swear I will not vote!

[all american girl]

1. My FAVORITE movie

I want Obama to make "the speech"Tell the Republicans where they can shove it. My husband even loves that movie...especially when it gets to the end with the "speech"

[stufl]

2. There is far, far more to gain from taking a stand than in giving in.

I've seen that movie 5 or 6 times and enjoyed it each time. But this time it really struck home. The President is a smart man. Why is he committing political suicide?

[dennis4868]

3. Obviously you guys are either...

conveniently forgetting or did not watch the state of the union address...Obama at the very beginning daid that if repubs continue to obstruct they should move out of the way and that he (Obama) was going to do everything he could under his power to make this country better without congress.

He has said this in the past but people "forget" that he has said these things.

[dennis4868]

4. Obama has also made the speech...

that is similar to Michael Douglas when Douglas says in the movie, "these are tough times, that require serious people with serious solutions." Obama said this during the press conference where he released his long form birth certificate. Of course so many people "forget" this.

[stufl]

8. And why do they forget?

That press conference was several months ago. All I've heard for the past two months is Republicans creating bad stuff and sticking it to Obama without one word of protest. Santorum says that he and the liberals will destroy religious faith in America. And the latest news is that the Pres. will "compromise" on birth control benefits.

I've told every Democratic fundraiser the same thing...show some b*lls and I'll support him in action and money. But until then, put me on the "no call" list.

[dennis4868]

16. Yep...

you don't get how Obama plays the game...think he knows a little more about politics and how to win than you do...Obama will be on the attack once the general elections starts...right now without even really fighting back his approval numbers are going up.

[stufl]

18. I sure hope so

And I felt just like you until the Progressive Media (Cenk Uhgar?) expressed uneasiness with Obama's unwillingness to fight back.

[dennis4868]

20. he is fighting back....

did you not watch his job policies speeches around thw country and the state of the union...am i missing something here...don't listen to the PL...they are in the business of making you believe things that are not true.

[dennis4868]

5. Do you have his back on this issue?

Are you making calls and doing everything to support Obama on this?

[southernyankeebelle]

6. Drop a line at the white house website. I did. I told him I support his stand on birth control.

I told him there is a lot of support out here and not to listen to the noise. Everyone needs to send an e-mail and let the white house know. He may not read yours personally but one e-mail equal many. It just takes a minute. Please do it. Thanks.

[stufl]

9. I've done it three times.

And requested a response. None came.

The man needs to get good advice from his staff. Maybe he needs advice on appointing staff.

[southernyankeebelle]

10. Well on this issue he obviously got good advice because he went through with it. It is great

you write e-mails. I never expect an answer.

[liskddksil]

7. "We've got serious problems and we need serious people to solve them" nt

[JoyN62]

11. Make A Stand But Not On Your Own Foot

I loved that movie as well for the same reason. Obama needs to continue to let people know that the GOP will not, no matter how hard they try, stop progress. But, I still think that the impasse with the Catholic Church is the wrong place to make a stand because it will and already is back firing. The far right has been preaching from the beginning that President Obama is out to "get" religious freedom in this country. This stand makes it seem like he is doing just that and you can bet the GOP will continue to use it against him. I don't see what it accomplishes to make Catholic organizations include contraception in their health care plans. Contraception to the Church is the same as abortion. They will not comply. And in my State - the Bishops have made that very clear. They would rather go to jail than to go against their moral beliefs. You can bet this will backfire on the President, and frankly, I don't see what he will lose to compromise on this one issue. People who work for Catholic organizations know going in that this is part of the deal.

[treestar]

12. Movies take place in make-believe land

Where the consequences of actions are controlled by the scriptwriter.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. +1

movies make being POTUS look MUCH easier than it really is when in order to govern you have to "work" with people like those belonging to Mad Republican Tea Party. It's also far too easy to sit on the sidelines and take potshots at President Obama for what he hasn't done, hasn't done enough of, etc. when situations are much more difficult and much more complex than simply giving an angry "damn the torpedos!" speech and expecting everybody and everything to just fall into line. It certainly makes for high drama and excitement but doesn't always work out for the best in reality.

[Whisp]

17. no way! it isn't all true?

Lol.
this place is so rich for laughs some days.

Personally I would like Obama to be more like Free Willy.

[frazzled]

13. You know, real life is not the movies

This is the problem: no, Virginia, the White House does not work like The West Wing or the American President. If Hollywood fiction is driving your vision of the presidency, no wonder peoples' expectations are dashed and people are "disappointed."

Just like your romance is probably not like that depicted in the movies. Ryan Gosling and George Clooney aren't going to sweep you away, and Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz aren't madly in love with you. And everything doesn't work in the end.

[Ikonoklast]

15. More FUD. Peddle it somewhere else, no one here is buying.

Enjoy your stay.

[Drunken Irishman]

19. American President is a great movie...

But it's just that - a movie. It's not real life.

In that speech you laud, Pres. Shepherd also says he's going door-to-door to get the guns. Such rhetoric would doom him to electoral disaster that November.

It's one of my favorite movies and I would love to live in that world, but let's be realistic. It's Hollywood. This is real life. Pres. Obama, unlike Pres. Shepherd, has to put up with obstructionists. Pres. Obama, unlike Pres. Shepherd, has to steer the country through real problems and has to propose real solutions.

Yes, we'd all love things to end happily ever after...but they generally don't. In real life, Bob Rumson would have won that election.