Alright, you've got a 20 minute meeting with Obama, one on one

[Very_Boring_Name]

He tells you to please be candid with him. What do you say?

[dkf]

1. Investing in the future is more imperative than preserving entitlements as is.

[valerief]

2. Don't send me to Gitmo. nt

[femmocrat]

3. Fire Arne Duncan.

Listen to teachers for a change.

[DJ13]

4. Accept you might fail by remaing true to your campaign promises

But failure with honor is always preferable to success by caving in to the other party.

[Clio the Leo]

5. "use smaller words and shorter sentences...."

"Learn to speak in sound bite form. *I* get your nuances, but I think I'm the only one. The American people aren't as bright as we'd both like to think they are."

[OhioBlue]

7. oy... so true... but I do love his nuances

when I listen to him, I feel more intelligent, I actually love listening to him explain things. But you are right... in today's world, to reach the populace he totally needs to frame things better and learn the art of the sound bite. Sad, but true.

I remember during the bush years, I was so irritated by every interview, speech etc. that Bush, Cheney, et al gave b/c I felt like they were speaking to me like a child and/or trying to sell me a miracle cream that would make me a size 5. I remember when Clinton was promoting his book and gave a long interview... it had such a calming affect. To listen to the intelligent discussion, the nuances, the thought... it was such a breath of fresh air.

[MrsBrady]

6. the american middle class

needs real, money in the hands, progress

when it comes to the price of gasoline, heath care, organic and/or healthy food,
available jobs, the cost of higher education.

I'd get specific with numbers.
Why we canceled cable so that we can afford a long commute.
Why the Cobra subsidy needs to be expanded, as we won't be able to afford the total group cost premium after the subsidy runs out,
etc...


I could do a lot with 20 minutes.

I'd make it very specific to my own needs. because if one person is going through something, you can guarantee
others are as well.

[KT2000]

8. Something is very wrong

in this country and the people know it.
We are all suffering the consequences of the Wall Street fraud except those on Wall Street are making more money and bonuses than ever before. Corporate America is stronger than ever shipping jobs overseas and sitting on their money.

Something does not add up and no one is accounting for it or even acknowleding it. The vacumm that you are allowing will be filled by the loudest and most paranoid voices. Conservatives are taking control of this country in decline.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. I have a shopping list

I want single payer healthcare
I want all troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
I want to increase green products to export like solar etc.
I want more alt. energy not oil-based
I want more electric cars
I want high speed trains
I want to increase taxes for the ultra rich
i want an education system run by teachers
it goes on and on....

[lunatica]

10. What the fuck are you doing?! Why do you ignore the American people's mandate?

Then I would be escorted out without getting my other 19 minutes and 50 seconds.

He knows perfectly well what's going on.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. I'd ask him if he and his surrogate McClurkin still felt good about

McClurkin urging war on gay people and his accusations of murder against us. I'd ask if the events in Tucson altered his view of hate speech, if he now sees it as dangerous and unacceptable, or if he intends to hit the trail again with folks who say take off the gloves and go kill the vampires, and they mean their neighbors.
I'd let him know that religious hypocrisy is a sign of a stagnant mind and culture and excuse myself after 10 minutes, that is long enough with any small minded religionist. No need to waste time on minds that have been shut down for superstitions and dogmas.
The time would be better used waiting in line at Ben's.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

32. You think Obama has a small mind??

Lol, ok genius.

[Phoonzang]

12. "If you were a tree....what kind of tree would you be?" nt

[27inCali]

13. the Fascists are coming, Mr. President...

we need drastic action to stop them. You haven't been drastic enough.

we need a new Constitutional amendment to strip corporations of person-hood.

we need to cut the crap in the middle east and get the hell out.

we need to cut the crap with all this unconstitutional shit about indefinite detention.

we need to flat out STOP supporting suppressive regimes around the world.

we need to go hard at the rich tax evaders and put a boot up Switzerland's secretive banks ass until they cooperate.

we need stronger tariffs on Chinese imports until they bring the tariffs down on our exports.

we need renewable energy and massive tax credits for people who are investing in the switch to re-newable.

we need to get rid of the Fed and print our own money directly.

we need fucking single payer..

[Safetykitten]

14. Ok, I will play.

First you offered change. Let's forget that and try to salvage your Presidency.

You have to give people hope. Tangible, real things that inspire hope. We are waiting for the man on the moon type inspiration. That is what we need. Announce that the high speed rail system will be built and starting tomorrow. A huge national effort to build it will be transformational. All the work and design and production must be made here. Not negotiable. We want inspiration for a better future. This will do much.

We know how "beholden" as a kind way of saying it you are to Wall Street. Please do not make it so in our face obvious. It's disgusting. We know be you have to be political, but ease up on the banking staff becoming your staff.

[slackmaster]

15. It would probably be a 20-minute discussion about bodysurfing and beer

:hi:

[treestar]

16. I would stick with my best area of expertise

In the hope that some part of it would be helpful.

[zipplewrath]

17. I've actually thought about this more than once

The problem I keep coming back to is that he actually sees himself as quite successful and so anything I might suggest would be seen as insignificant as compared to his accomplishments.

I have thought about asking why it is necessary to characterize people who disagree with him and his decisions as drug addled, mentally deficient, or sanctimonious. I'd ask why we can't disagree without being disagreeable.

I would probably point out there there is something fundamentally wrong with their reaction to Wikileaks. Those leaks constantly expose a significant difference between our public rhetoric, and our private actions. And one cannot escape that the public rhetoric is aimed as much at the US population as anyone. That reality isn't consistent with any commitment to "transparency".

And finally I'd point out that his unwillingness to hold anyone responsible for torture not only lays out for the future exactly how any administration can chose to do so, but also ensures that in fact it will happen again, and will not be able to be prevented. At this point he has finalized the conclusion that a president can do anything they want and are not liable, as long as they can get someone else (who also will not be liable) to declare that it is legal. Even if that declaration is later "withdrawn".

Finally I would challenge his assertion that war is the "solution" to anything. His suggestion that WWII was the "answer" to Hitler ignores that Hitler was a PRODUCT of WWI. We are, right now, laying the ground work for the next war. And, I would point out, he isn't doing anything about that, and in fact is enabling it.


And I am sure that he basically would pat me on the head and explain in great detail how my problem was that I just didn't understand how brilliant he was.

[paparush]

18. So, um, about Michelle.....wink wink :-)

Sir, keep you hands where we can see them and step away from the first lady.

I kid. I kid!!

[BlueIris]

19. Shut it down. Sir.

Also, it's time to come clean. Real clean. Bribing the corporations to keep the media coverage positive isn't going to protect you. Just let it all out, and ask the people to forgive you. It will be much, much, easier for all concerned if it happens that way, instead of some other way. Oh, and if you're not going to run again, you might want to let the Party know. Like, say, now. Right now.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good luck, Sir.

[elizm]

20. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU........... nt

[mdmc]

21. I really have nothing to say except keep it in your pants

that is all I can expect from Gobama! Don't cheat on yo wife

[Yavin4]

22. You Can't Guard Me. Your Game Is Weak.

Then I slam on him like Blake Griffin.

[agentS]

23. Give me 20 seconds with the president, 10 minutes with the banking KLAN, 8 minutes with Congress,

and end with 40 seconds with the president again at the end.
Me: Hello, Mr. President. I'll be back in 20 minutes or the pizza is free.
Obama: OK.
20 minutes later.
Me: OK, Mr. President. The bankers and the Congress have given you complete control. Remake the USA as you see fit.

[PVnRT]

24. I taunt him about the Bears losing to the Packers

[Leithan]

25. You could have pushed for--and achieved--a public option

Why didn't you?

[cleanhippie]

26. Why are you ignoring the crimes of the last administration and the coporate takeover of the country.

That would be my two questions.

[harun]

27. Public Option.

[Ramulux]

28. What the fuck is wrong with you?

That pretty much sums it up.

[Hawkowl]

37. +1000

I'd add that he is to the Presidency as Clarence Thomas is to the Supreme Court. Is that how he really wants to be remembered?

[saras]

29. What did they threaten you with?

On the other hand, in the setup for the question, there's no implication, let alone guarantee, that he will be candid in return.

Other than that, I'd have a BIG stack of reports, and read him the summaries.

Every summary would be, in essence:

This cost this many Americans this much, so that this small group could benefit. Why?

And one of the costs in every summary would be 'hope'.

[The Green Manalishi]

30. Get out of Afghanistan. And Iraq

*ALL* of our soldiers.
Now.
Today.
Pick up the phone.
Call.
The entirety of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and all the rest are not worth the bones of one American Private.

[HughBeaumont]

31. Just one:

"Why is Corporate America apparently dictating all of our vital policies and what will this Administration, which billed itself as that of "Change" and a reversal of the disastrous Bush Administration, do to let working and unemployed Americans know that's not the case? I want you to be one hundred percent HONEST when you answer this, by the way."

[Jakes Progress]

33. I would supply him with back copies

of the articles that Gerald Bracey wrote for Ed Week. And give him a copy of "Manufactured Crisis" by Dave Berliner and Bruce Biddle.

If a week later he hasn't fired arne duncan, I will know that either he can't read or he doesn't give a shit about children.

[barbiegeek]

34. Deport Rupert Murdoch-Seriously-I think he's a spy/traitor

[craigmatic]

35. I'd tell him the wars are bleeding us dry of people and money.

[LibDemAlways]

36. I would take him to an office that processes unemployment claims and

insist that he spend the twenty minutes listening to the people in line. He desperately needs to hear up close and personal from people who are hurting. I don't think he's a bad guy. I just sense that he's completely out of touch with ordinary Americans. He needs a strong dose of reality.