I have to admit that I've come to love the guy. He is a liberal, but he is pragmatic and will do the right thing rather than the liberal thing. He is willing to work with Republicans and is trying to include them in his plans for the country.

On the other hand, he does not have a lot of experience and is dealing with a lot of major problems at a very bad time.

He is one cool dude, but can he do it? Can he save us all?

America has a new president. but yes, I agree, he has a lot of great qualities & seems to be the right man for the job.

I was walking around Chiang Mai the night that he was inaugurated and practically every bar and restaurant was watching his speech while yelling and cheering and the people were from all over the place - not just America.

That is what I meant about the world 's president.

I've a feeling we may found at sooner rather than later what he's actually made of - I'm sure al-Qaeda will be keen to find out. How old was GW's first term when 9/11 took place - 9 months. I'm not suggesting that an attack of similar magnitude will occur, however, I'd be surprised if they didn't have something in the pipeline.

Just because something looks & sounds good doesn't mean there is any real substance underneath. Perhaps he'll turn out to be a 'chocolate box' president & an empty one at that.

His election does seem to have given 'hope' to many people, this in itself is a good thing. I also think he's a cool guy. He's a natural mover as well!

I hope that Obama turns out to be a great president. But I don't think he has the ability to solve the world's problems. At best, he can solve most of the US's problems, and some of that will undoubtedly have carry over to the world at large.

When Bush was elected, the world was not holding its breath for great things from him, and, in my opinion, he justified that expectation.  But the world is seemingly waiting for Obama to solve all the world's problems, and when he can't, I hope there isn't a backlash.

I think people would LIKE him to solve the world's problems, but I don't think they EXPECT him to do so. It's abundantly clear that there are a lot of problems on a lot of fronts and they have the ability to create other problems (greater illegal immigration, conflicts, civil unrest etc.). What he needs to do, and what he can do, is give people and countries the confidence to begin to solve these multi-faceted problems.

The problems won't go away and they won't be solved quickly, but a bit of optimism and confidence will help.

Judging by some of the above posts, charisma (with a lavish sprinkling of savvy advisors) means everything...

Judging by some of the above posts, charisma (with a lavish sprinkling of savvy advisors) means everything...

No, not everything, just a lot!

^Agreed. Enough to secure the big chair (which was 'everything' in the context of the election).

Obama is merely a very inexperienced politician from the smoke filled back rooms of Chicago politics that can give a good speech.

Let's wait and see how he does without the teleprompter in front of him.

I do believe it interesting to note he granted his very first interview after the inauguration to Al-Arabiya Television. He has yet to meet with Fox News. Wonder why?

^Nohing to do with Sean Hannity, I'm sure...

Fox has a multitude of correspondents not named Sean Hannity. Brit Hume comes to mind as a capable interviewer.

How about ABC, CBS or even the beloved MSNBC for that first interview?

He could have had Chris Matthews, MSNBC, who said he felt a thrill run up his leg when Obama made a speech. This is hardly a negative interviewer. Maybe Keith Olberman could have loved Obama up a little as well.

He even avoided Katy Couric!!!!

He dodged everybody that might ask him some controversial questions. The guy has a script and he will avoid answering any questions that might deviate from his script.

I believe he was elected as president of the US; not as God!

Hope he does a good job.

Seconded.

This came down online today.

Brilliant simple logic.

How to Fix the US Economy with 40 million dollars:

Forget giving trillions of dollars to Wall St companies and banks...please

consider patriotic retirement, which will only cost 40 million dollars :

Mr. Obama,

There's about 40 million people over 50 years old in the US work force.

- pay them $1 million apiece severance with these stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs.

Forty million job openings = Unemployment fixed.

2) They buy NEW American cars.

Forty million cars ordered = Auto Industry fixed.

3) They either buy a house/pay off their mortgage. = Housing crisis fixed.

4) They can blow the rest on whatever they like .......

Makes you wonder what all the fuss is about doesn't it??

Could work in most countries.

,,,,,,except Thailand where the pollies would be doing the pocketing.

Now I'm not great at math but if you gave 40million people 1 million dollars each then that doesn't total 40 million dollars. There seem to be a few zeros missing

Now I'm not great at math but if you gave 40million people 1 million dollars each then that doesn't total 40 million dollars. There seem to be a few zeros missing

Maybe give them a dollar each.

How's that "hope and change" working for you now?

Now I'm not great at math but if you gave 40million people 1 million dollars each then that doesn't total 40 million dollars. There seem to be a few zeros missing

so what? why spoil an interesting story with facts?

Yes, clearly he meant to say that there are 40 people over age 50 in the entire US of A. At least that way, the numbers would work...

There's 40 over 50 in the US, 37 over 50 in Europe and 99 in Asia, that's just over 200 worldwide. Give them all a million each, problem solved and it didn't cost much!

Now I'm not great at math but if you gave 40million people 1 million dollars each then that doesn't total 40 million dollars. There seem to be a few zeros missing

Maybe give them a dollar each.

How's that "hope and change" working for you now?

Sorry. my mistake, shoulda bin billion..... grrrrrrrr

Still cheap

Obama is merely a very inexperienced politician from the smoke filled back rooms of Chicago politics that can give a good speech.

Let's wait and see how he does without the teleprompter in front of him.

I do believe it interesting to note he granted his very first interview after the inauguration to Al-Arabiya Television. He has yet to meet with Fox News. Wonder why?

Obama has shown himself to be quite inept at times verbally. He's been totally lost without his teleprompter at moments and has made numerous gaffs. The more famous of these are his special olympics remark on the Leno show and his laughing reply on 60 minutes on the economy. Funny thing, when Bush misspoke it was laughter for the left, when Obama does it barely noticed.

He's shown no grasp of basic economics and early in his marriage his wife took over the families finances as he was incompetent. His handling of stimulus packages has been to let Pelosi and Reid write them and him sign them. They weren't so much a stimulus for jobs as a fulfillment of liberal wish lists.

Latest plan is to buy gov't loans with gov't money, simple you print more money and pay off.

Smoke and mirrors. maybe one day the news media will look behind the curtain.

I have to admit that I've come to love the guy. He is a liberal, but he is pragmatic and will do the right thing rather than the liberal thing. He is willing to work with Republicans and is trying to include them in his plans for the country.

On the other hand, he does not have a lot of experience and is dealing with a lot of major problems at a very bad time.

He is one cool dude, but can he do it? Can he save us all?

He is just one more step in the pages of HIstory of the downfall of the Republic.

I am learning how to play the violin for the Washington D.C. bonfire party.

He is just one man, it will take alot more to fix the world's problems.

Shovel_ready.bmp

Obama has no degrees in finance, like Messrs. Bernacke and Geitner have. Not even an MBA, like Bush. Thank God. Nowadays with a Ph.D. in economics and five dollars, you can get a coffee at Starbucks. The tragedy is that like Bush, Obama has to rely on the very Ph.D.'s and MBA's who got us into this mess.

Being even a US Senator, or President, is more complex than doing neonatal brain surgery, to understand all the issues and make politically accurate statements. All ThaiVisa posters would make some gaffes without a teleprompter. Our wife might even accidentally touch a revered monarch.

Obama has no degrees in finance, like Messrs. Bernacke and Geitner have. Not even an MBA, like Bush.

I knew that you would miss him when he was gone!

What do you do if you miss your Mother-In-Law?

It's an old joke.

Who, in their right mind, would want to be President? The real culprits are only too happy to see President Obama stand up there, and take the heat. That poor man is starting to look like he realizes he's been duped. He only stumbles over his words when he finds himself having to defend the atrocities committed by the previous administration.

As far as Fox News and fat-faced Sean, they should be taken off the air, and his tongue cut off. How can anyone watch that and not vomit?

President Obama had better be strong, and talk a lot less.

Obama has ended the War on Terror. It is now known as a Overseas Contingency Operation. 911 and other acts of terrorism are now called man made or man caused natural disasters.

Don't you just love the Bureau of (Mis) Information in this politically correct world we live in. All bow down and hail Obama