How can one man be so cool?

[quidnunc]

He's done it again. First the fly swat, now this. It simply isn't fair, is it?

HERE

He's certainly got 'something' about him, but his policies are not the greatest.

Helen Thomas would not be charmed by a cupcake.

The American Tony Blair, Yuck!

God help America.

He's definitely the American Tony Blair.

Tony Blair was popular with practically everyone when he was first elected, good at pulling off cute stunts like this rather than doing his job of being PM, it took a few years before people realised what he was up to.

"He's certainly got 'something' about him, but his policies are not the greatest."

and isn't that the whole point that his critics make but then get sidelined by the obamma love in?
i mean yes he seems charesmatic and charming, but all he seems to do is run slick media campaigns. so many of his policies and decisions are down right shit, and if they'd been made under bush they'd have been rightly ripped a new one by the press and public a like.

anyone that makes domestic violence a plausable reason to claim asylum in their country is very cool in my book.

To be fair, Dittany, I'm a journo and have been known to call (male) interviewees sweetie. Used to get teased when I worked in a newsroom.

Mind you, I'm not the leader of the free world so it's probably not quite the same.

And wants to extend healthcare to the poor - the evil bastard!

You should apply forthwith, edam

Staggered that she is still working at 89. Very admirable and everything, but can't help thinking that if I did the same I have 57 more years of work

I think you mean "and wants to degrade the great American medical system so it can be equal but ruined for all".

the American healthcare system is pretty terrible. The cost of it is the highest in the world, even as a percentage of their (very high) GDP.

As a matter of fact US government healthcare spending per capita is already higher than Britain's total healthcare spend, and that's before you consider US private spending, which is even higher than the government spend.

You are very right about that, Someguy. And the outcomes are terrible. Lots of people end up without the healthcare they need, while those who have insurance or can afford to pay are subjected to unnecessary procedures and repeated tests because the doctors can charge them.

Saw a presentation by a US doc at a conference earlier this year. He had a very impressive set of figures showing the enormous number of avoidable deaths caused by the way US healthcare is set up.

(BitofFun - my policies would be to consult Terry Pratchett on all issues, asking 'what would Commander Vimes/Granny Weatherwax/the Patrician do?')

I've never had an unecessary procedure in America. I have been treated in both places and I belive beyond a shadow of a doubt that the American medical service is surperior in every way (except maybe for the part about having a bill to pay).

Medical insurance in the states is a LOT more available and affordable than it is in the UK.

Agree with Athene mainly. Haven't had to take either of the DCs to a Children's Hospital in the US, although my cousin is a Paediatrician and the treatment DS was getting was what he would have done.

US hospitals are infinitely cleaner.

I'm not sure what your point was on the spending statistics for the US versus the UK but I would of course expect the US (a nation of some 300 million) to spend more than the UK (a nation of some 60 million).

I believe that putting things like the health service in the hands of the government makes them more expensive and less efficient, hence reducing the service to the patients and actually costing everyone more and not less.

The US health service is the best there is because we have kept the meedling politicians out of it. Obama's plan is (hopefully!) going to be met with fierce opposition. For months people on here have asked me why I voted for McCain/Palin and not Obama. Well, this is it. Socialism is not for me.