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I have a problem with people referring to our President as Obama

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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:14 AM
Original message
I have a problem with people referring to our President as Obama
and not President Obama or The President. The use of his last name only is an effort to minimize him and disrespect him. The use of his last name without his title is used exclusively by right wing media (Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity never refer to him as "President Obama" but I also see it used very often on DU. He is not "Obama," he is President Obama the democratically elected President of the United States of America. Don't help out the right by disrespecting the president.

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lame54 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:16 AM
Response to Original message
1. whatever
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stray cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:17 AM
Response to Original message
2. So it was always President Bush to you?
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 09:18 AM by stray cat
and Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman and Senator Lincoln and Secretary of Defense Clinton?
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:21 AM
Response to Reply #2
9. No, it wasn't President Bush. It was just Bush
Because he was an idiot who attempted to ruin our country. He didn't earn my respect. I would think that members of Democratic Underground would have some respect for our Democratic President but I should have learned by now that is not the case. I still get to post my viewpoints here though, right? Is that okay with you guys?

And Senators I usually do refer to with their title and their name no matter which party.
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DrDan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #9
12. so the Senators have earned your respect . . . . interesting
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:29 AM
Response to Reply #12
15. Did I say that?
or is that your interpretation?
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DrDan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:29 AM
Response to Reply #15
46. yeah - I would say so
your want it to be "President" Obama because he has your respect.
you referred to the previous President as simply "Bush" because he did not earn your respect.
you refer to all Senators as "Senator" whoever.

So . . . it clearly follows that is based on your respect of them.

Yeah - I think it is quite clear.
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #9
114. So it is not about the office, but the individual
no, it is not you... it is the kind of very dangerous factions that we have going in this country.

By the way, Mr. Obama is quite acceptable... as well as President Obama... that is the AP style sheet. It's been THE STYLE SHEET for over two generations.
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Obamanaut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 07:22 PM
Response to Reply #2
107. This doesn't look quite right. "...Secretary of Defense Clinton...?" nt
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hobbit709 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:17 AM
Response to Original message
3. How did you refer to George the Stupid?
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B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #3
55. President Chuckle-nuts. . . .
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Donnachaidh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:24 PM
Response to Reply #55
66. Der Chimpenfuehrer...
:rofl:
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:18 AM
Response to Original message
4. Unrec for not being GD material.
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:29 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. What, pray tell, is appropriate material for general discussion
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 09:30 AM by Mortos
in your opinion?
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AsahinaKimi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:18 AM
Response to Original message
5. Remember when
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 09:20 AM by AsahinaKimi
McCain used "That one.." .. :grr: I think that was much worse.
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:18 AM
Response to Original message
6. oh please
people have long referred to presidents by their last names only. This is America - you know, the place that didn't want to kowtow to kings and that has a long history of people who do not think fealty to power is the most important aspect of citizenship.

anyone who wants to pretend this is a right wing phenomena or limited to the present administration is looking for a reason to feel offended.

When Clinton was in office people who spoke about him didn't say "President Clinton" as a matter of course. The same with Bush, Reagan, Nixon, etc. etc.
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Gaedel Donating Member (802 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:19 AM
Response to Original message
7. Sheesh
I grew up with people referring to the presidents as Ike, JFK, LBJ, or Nixon. JFK was the first time I could vote (had to be 21 in those days). Obama is a convenient shorthand. Now calling him something like "Ogabe" as they do on some other boards shows disrespect.

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rug Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:19 AM
Response to Original message
8. I must disagree with Poster Mortos.
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LibDemAlways Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #8
100. Me, too. I cannot recall a US President
who was ever commonly called "President Whoever" - not Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, chimp or Obama. They have all been commonly called by last name only.
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DrDan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:22 AM
Response to Original message
10. just curious - how did you refer to the last President?
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kalli007 Donating Member (164 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:23 AM
Response to Original message
11. It doesnt bother me when they call him Obama, but for some reason
it does bother me when they call him MISTER Obama. I noticed that Palin seems to only refer to him as MR. Obama - hey if you want to say Obama to shorten it up fine. But if you are going to add a title/salutation it should be President. I mean really - her minions still refer to her as Gov. wth?
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:52 AM
Response to Reply #11
27. Don't get me started on that no talent ignoramus
I noticed that too with any right wing interviewer who talks to her. It's Governor Palin this and Governor Palin that. It is exactly what I am talking about. They are trying to give her more gravitas by referring to her constantly as Governor and in comparison, they are trying to diminish President Obama by doing the reverse.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:14 AM
Response to Reply #11
38. The say "gov" because she was half a Governor.
Personally, I call her "vacuous".
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tularetom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:27 AM
Response to Original message
13. Actually I believe there is a kind of journalistic convention for this
In a print story, the first time a President's name is mentioned he is referred to as President "Whatever". After that only his surname is used, e.g. "Whatever"

In a broadcast setting he is again initially referred to as President "Whatever" and subsequently as "the President".

At least that's how it's done in real news outlets (not fox).

However I think blogs and online message boards should get a pass on things like this. Obviously a kind of shorthand is widely accepted and we aren't doing formal writing here, OMG, LOL, ROFLMAO, Obama.
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TroglodyteScholar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:34 AM
Response to Original message
16. This is a ridiculous non-issue.
Get off your knees long enough to see he's a man.
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:36 AM
Response to Reply #16
18. What the fuck does that mean?
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Obamanaut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:24 AM
Response to Reply #18
45. It's not really an issue, and it's ridiculous. Refer to post 44. nt
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 10:25 AM by Obamanaut
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Autumn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:34 AM
Response to Original message
17. I don't have a problem with it.
I don't even think it shows disrespect. :shrug:
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demwing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:37 AM
Response to Original message
19. So?
The Prez is just another citizen, one with a really stressfull and critical job, but just a person.

And he works for us. My taxes, and yours, pay his salary. My vote, and yours, put him in office. In the grandest sense, he is our subordinant.

Obama, Mr. Obama, President, Prez, ... all work fine. Just don't call him Barry :)
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Travis_0004 Donating Member (417 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:37 AM
Response to Original message
20. Obama is easier to type. Everybody knows he is the president N/T
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cbdo2007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
21. I agree and I'll try to make more of an effort to call him "President Obama"
Thanks for this post. It's something we rarely think about but I never called President Bush just "Bush" I always said "President Bush" just because it was habit. Then for some reason it became habit and cool to just say "Obama" but I think you're right that psychologically it does have a negative effect on him by not having people actually refer to him as "President" somehow. It's his title and he earned it, we should show some respect and call him that just like we would a doctor.
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:58 AM
Response to Reply #21
28. Thank you for the being the only person
that gets what I am saying. I am not saying we have to worship him or put him on a pedestal, I am just saying, for me, using his last name only is part of an organized effort to diminish him and I am not going to be a part of it. When I talk to my right wing co-workers about him and they say "Obama" I always interject and say, "You mean President Obama?"
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:00 AM
Response to Reply #28
30. and your co-workers probably don't listen to what you have to say after that
if you want to remind them who is president (and I would imagine they have no questions about this) you can use the term "President Obama" yourself to make your point.

however, to interject and correct people in such a situation is counter productive. rather than hear information, they'll instead hear you being pedantic.
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:06 AM
Response to Reply #30
36. I disagree with you
I think by my using "President Obama" and correcting them when they say "The democrat party" I keep them from walking all over me and show that I, as a proud democrat, am not afraid to stand up for myself, my president and my party. It also shows more fearful democrats that it is ok to be proud of who we are.
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:20 AM
Response to Reply #36
41. you certainly have a right to your opinion
however, if someone constantly corrected me in this way, I would assume that person is a jerk - and I'm more liberal than most democrats, if the current party is any indication.
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ZombieHorde Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #28
81. I always call him President Obama, unless I am referring to him before his presidency. nt
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Bluenorthwest Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
22. Well Bubba the Big Dawg might not agree with you
Nor LBJ, Ike, Ronnie, we call 'em by the last, by the first, by nicknames. We call them W, 43, Chimp. We do not call them by titles much. In official communications, there are specific protocols for such things, and what you demand is far outside of those protocols.
Our beloved President Carter insists that we call him Jimmy. The man's name is James. We all called him Jimmy. We still do, even now with the respect of office, of actions and of age are all freely given him. We all respect Jimmy. To call him James or Mr President more than once would be to not respect hi
Last night I got an email as many of us did, from the President about DADT. His words were, I thought, meaningful, and he signed it merely 'Barack' which to me was lovely, very American, and he was making again the point that we did this as citizens, among which he is one, elected to the place by others. In a moment of great political victory, charged with emotion, in a moment when his own position and power could be invoked rightfully, he chose to sign that letter with his first name only. I am a frequent critic of the President, but let me tell you bluntly, I loved that he singed that letter 'Barack'. This is a profound bit of poetry. A choice he made. That is a choice of words I respect greatly.
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madokie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:43 AM
Response to Original message
23. I never once showed any respect for bush the lesser, saint ronnie
of mount rushmore status, ;-) nor his commandant poppy. President Obama refers to himself as Obama all the time or do you not listen to him.
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Exilednight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:44 AM
Response to Original message
24. If you get upset about something like this, then I'd
hate to see what happens when McDonald's gets your happy meal wrong.
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Mortos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:14 AM
Response to Reply #24
40. I actually take it back
My son will throw up if there is an onion or pickle on his cheeseburger happy meal.
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:46 AM
Response to Original message
25. unrec
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doc03 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:52 AM
Response to Original message
26. I don't have any problem with that. What does bother me is when
the main stream news media makes an editorial opinion like constantly using "Obamacare". I remember the the news media saying Bush and Clinton too. It does bother me though when many in the news media regularly called Bush "The Commander in Chief". I have rarely if ever heard Obama called "The Commander in Chief". Democrats never seem to qualify for that title.
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leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 09:58 AM
Response to Original message
29. Ok. We'll all refer to the President as Bush, since he's apparently still in charge.
This reminds me of the D.A.R. who mounted a loud campaign in the 1940s to have all the signs leading to the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River changed so as to read, "General George Washington Bridge."

Cheez-itz. :eyes:
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Karmadillo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:01 AM
Response to Original message
31. If he'll stop helping out the right by enacting their policies, I'll stop helping out the right by
calling him Obama.
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Kalun D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #31
93. +++++++ 10000
DING DING DING, we have a winner, nailed that one right on the head
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enough Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:02 AM
Response to Original message
32. In my memory, this has been going on with every President since Eisenhower.
Maybe it means that people think of him as the current President.
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Art_from_Ark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 11:29 PM
Response to Reply #32
118. My grandfather told me that back in the '40s, a lot of Truman detractors
would pronounce "Harry S." as "Hairy Ass"
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tekisui Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:02 AM
Response to Original message
33. Obama is his name. If I were a news anchor or published
journalist I would say or write President Obama the first time he was mentioned. From there it would be Obama. On DU, he is Obama, just like when I am talking to friends.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:05 AM
Response to Original message
34. It was Nixon, Clinton, Ford, Reagan, Bush, whatever -- and now Obama ...
Interesting that you're focusing your sensitivity on the name --

and not on the criticism?

Are you ignoring that?

Try reply to the the issues --
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:05 AM
Response to Original message
35. I am concerned about lots of things but not this
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niyad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:13 AM
Response to Original message
37. I never use anyone's title, especially our public servants. most of the time, I use their first
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 10:14 AM by niyad
names, especially when talking to them.
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Democracyinkind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:14 AM
Response to Original message
39. John Adams lost the same fight 200+ years ago.

I called Reagan Reagan, I called Clinton Clinton, I called Bush Chimpy and I will call Obama Obama. The office any of these people held is an office that was meant to serve me, you and all the rest of us and is most certainly not some kind of pesudofeudal entity that bestows a special air of untouchability through insisting on ridiculous titles. I've gotten the same kind of attidude from Bushfreaks during Chimpys reign - and while I might agree that Obama's presidency is, at least electorally, way more legit than Chimpy's I do not feel compelled to use this title any more than I feel compelled to call my boss CEO XXX.

Not everyone that simply writes Obama is part of the sinister agenda of the RW. I'll quit discussing political topics before I'll be compelled to refer to anyone with any title. It just seems so retro to me. Hasn't the curtain been lifted to such a degree that we should seriously question the kind of unreflected and romantically authoritarian attitude that we have inherited in this nation toward the tile and institution of "The president"?. I don't even what to say to this. Maybe I'm just a closet right winger? LOl? I just can't seem to get used to the idea. It would take an FDR-like figure in that office in order for me to reconnect to the kind of feelings that I had as a kid when I heard the title "The President of the United States" announced somewhere. I really don't see it happening; and without those emotions I'll never be able to constantly use the title. Call this a case in point for the everlasting power of negative association.
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truth2power Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:21 AM
Response to Original message
42. That's absurd. People on discussion boards are not writing dissertations...
As someone else on this thread has pointed out, all sorts of shorthand terms are used on the internet.

It's a non-issue IMO.
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nashville_brook Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:23 AM
Response to Original message
43. maybe you've been listening to too much limbaugh and hannity
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Obamanaut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:23 AM
Response to Original message
44. There has been posted more than once a blurb from CBS News, IIRC,
that the first time in an article/clip/story they refer to the president as 'President (last name)' and the rest of the article/clip/story is simply 'last name.'

Looking for disrespect under every rock is pretty much a waste of time.

For two years posters would say here that criticism of Obama by any media was racially motivated, despite the fact that sitting Presidents have always been criticized.

Recently there has been abundant criticism, right here, but the same racism cry never reared it's ugly head. Is it because we can talk about 'our guy' but no one else can?
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area51 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:30 AM
Response to Original message
47. Did you complain about Bush being referred to simply as Bush?
:shrug:

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Yupster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 07:42 PM
Response to Reply #47
110. Or the Chimp?
Of all the things to complain about...
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:31 AM
Response to Original message
48. I DO hear what you are saying.
I think the confusion lies in the difference between formal and informal use of the name of the
President.
As others have pointed out, the "real" news style book says it is correct to say
"President Obama" at first usage, then one can correctly, formally, use his last name, even saying Mr. Obama in some contexts.
If you were to go back thru newspaper archives, it might be interesting to see how President
Roosevelt and others before him were written about.
I am old enough to remember President Eisenhower. I think, but am not positive, he was often referred to in print as The President, since President Eisenhower was a mouthful.
but when people talked about him informally, he was almost always "Ike", and "Ike" was used extensively in his campaign slogan.
Truman was often used informally, while President Kennedy was JFK, and sometimes just
Kennedy. After that I remember it being coming to use last names of the Presidents in informal
discussions.
except I called Bush 2 "shrub" plus a lot of other names.

Therefore, when here on DU, or informally, Obama is used, it is the tone more than the lack of Presidential prefix that tells me if his rank is being disrespected.
"Obamacare" I always correct when I hear it.

All of that said, of course your right to express your feelings and opinion should be respected on DU, even if some do not agree with your point, or if you do not agree with how others see your point.

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rzemanfl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 10:57 AM
Response to Original message
49. Every President in my lifetime has been referred to by their
last name. Except for Ike, JFK, LBJ, Tricky Dick and Dumbass. Whatever....
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Nye Bevan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:05 AM
Response to Original message
50. You mean like when people say "with Obama's help"
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:18 AM
Response to Original message
51. I did it to Bush
Called him Dubya and the rest, so I can't make that demand to others, but will try to stick to it myself.
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MadHound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:20 AM
Response to Original message
52. Looking for things to be outraged about hmm?
Really now, with all that is going on in the world, this is what you choose to become outraged over:eyes:
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Warren Stupidity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:20 AM
Response to Original message
53. I don't like the tone of your use of 'President'
in President Obama. I know exactly what you mean by that and you aren't fooling anyone here.
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quinnox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:23 AM
Response to Original message
54. An emphatic unrec
Damn, this is so trivial that its absurd and it shows that too much blind devotion is not good for you.
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COLGATE4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:29 AM
Response to Original message
56. Jesus, loosen up a bit, will you?
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pipi_k Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #56
105. How dare you...
call him "Jesus"!!!


It's Mr. Jesus!!!!!


:+

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Life Long Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
57. Obama is doing a great job.
And I respect him very much.

~ Life Long Dem
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Kalyke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:38 AM
Response to Original message
58. AP style doesn't require reporters call him President Obama.
The Associated Press has a style book that is the "bible" of reporting and it only requires he be called his title on first reference. From there, "Obama" or "the president" (lower case) are acceptable.

Sorry you don't like it, but it's NOT disrespectful.
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:30 PM
Response to Reply #58
67.  I would say news outlets aren't following the stylebook anymore
I think the level of defernce and respect the press gave to the president dropped a great deal when Obama came in. I do think it is an issue with the press, and not us here however. And I also understand the OPs wish to counter it, but I also do think it's a losing battle.
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Yo_Mama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:35 PM
Response to Reply #58
69. Whoops, didn't see yours
Yeah, this is standard usage and has been for a very long time.
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Stuckinthebush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:48 AM
Response to Original message
59. I'm sure Obama is cool with it.
I wouldn't get worked up about it.
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rucky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:50 AM
Response to Original message
60. I have a problem with semantics that don't clarify intended meaning. n/t
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divvy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 11:53 AM
Response to Original message
61. At least call him Mr. Obama .... They did that for shrub.
I tried to make this argument after he was first elected and got beaten almost to death by the so-called democrats on the board. I call em the tweed-hat democrats because they are intellectually prideful and are in love with the sound of their own voices.
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Xicano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:02 PM
Response to Original message
62. I only call President to those who act like a President for working folks....
....and not someone else's, especially wall street's. In this day in age with all the corporate bribe money corruption just getting elected doesn't earn one their political title with me. They have to earn it by how they represent, and sorry, but, Mr. Obama represents wall street interests above us the Democratic rank & file.

n/t
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TransitJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:09 PM
Response to Original message
63. Why? That's his name.
Unrec for stupidity. I'm sure you insisted the office be accorded the proper deference, such that YOU require, when Bush had it, too?
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Dreamer Tatum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:13 PM
Response to Original message
64. I suggest you get a pet
or something that might help you deal with the utter non-issues in your life.
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juajen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:21 PM
Response to Original message
65. I regularly use "Clinton" to refer to our past Presiedent and I
also referred to him as "Clinton" during his reign. I believe it demonstrates that in this country no one reigns. There are certainly times that I give them the nomenclature, but I do not consider this an insult. I believe that referring to someone with just one name is, in most instances, a sign that that person is well known that they are not in need of a title.
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Yo_Mama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:34 PM
Response to Original message
68. This is standard for all presidents
They are often referred to once as "President ~" or "Mr. ~" and thereafter it is shortened to the last name.

Human beings have a tendency to brevity.
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MilesColtrane Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:37 PM
Response to Original message
70. No thanks.
I'll call him Obama, President Obama, the President, or the head of the Democratic Party as I see fit.
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KG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
71. !
:rofl:
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pintobean Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
72. The collective eye-roll continues
If this is the response at DU, what do you think people in real life think of you when you do this?
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ldf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:48 PM
Response to Original message
73. respect?
americans no longer respect anyone, or anything.

haven't you heard? "words" are just words.

fuck, shit, bitch, motherfucker, are just words, and acceptable in any place, at any time. with the exception of nigger. THAT one is verboten.

we can also, without impunity, grab our crotch at anytime, although the gesture is a little lost if done by females... but hey, it doesn't keep them from trying.

nitpicking about "President Obama", vs. obama, is disingenious, to say the least.

(is it :sarcasm: ?)
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krabigirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:48 PM
Response to Original message
74. I will refer to him as whatever i want. Sorry if that displeases you.
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InvisibleTouch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
75. There's some validity to that.
For the longest time I got a huge kick out of saying or writing or reading "President Obama." I still love the sound of it. It's always a reminder of that happy election night, and that WE WON! :) And I think it rubs it in the faces of the rethugs and crazies who are outraged to the core that WE WON! So I like to use the full title, President Obama. But I'm sure I've sometimes used just "Obama" as a shorthand, and I know for myself that this is all it is - a shorthand, and in no way meant to be disrespectful. The same is true for lots of posters here. On the other hand, some do use just his last name in a disrespectful way, and certainly the rethugs do. Only context can tell which is which, and we can't really control or dictate that. But I do understand why it makes you bristle.

I know I've referred to Bill Clinton as just "Clinton," but that too is not meant disrespectfully; it's just that he's no longer President.

Granted, I never once refered to Dubya as "President" anyone. And that *is* a conscious and deliberate statement of disrespect. Because he was never legitimately the President.

In the greater scheme of things this may be a minor issue, but words matter, and they build into attitudes and mindsets. So I understand where you're coming from. Maybe we can all be a bit more aware of our words and our "tone," such as it is, in text communication.
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one_voice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
76. I think you're right that many on the right...
especially those you listed use only "Obama" and are trying to be disrespectful. I hear many of those same people still refer to Bush as President Bush but never use "president" when speaking about Obama.

Having said that, I often use only "Obama"-especially in/on "democratic friendly" situations/sites and I respect him A LOT. I do, however, ALWAYS use "President Obama" when I'm debating/arguing with a rightie.

So I disagree that everyone that uses "Obama" is being disrespectful.

Hope that makes sense.
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noamnety Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:57 PM
Response to Original message
77. I respectfully disagree with Poster Mortos
We're a bunch of yahoos chatting informally on a message board ffs. When we start getting edicts that we need to refer to him with his full formal title amongst ourselves even in informal settings in our leisure time, that's a little too personality-cultish for me.

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Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
78. Obama, there I said it and the world didn't stop rotating.
All this garbage about 'helping out the right' by a select group here on DU needs to stop. It only hurts DU and furthers the goals of...whatever. :crazy:
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DirkGently Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 01:08 PM
Response to Original message
79. Dropping the honorific is not "used exclusively by the right wing media." It's common parlance
among the public, and standard news style after first use and in headlines.

MSNBC

The combination of population shifts and the recent election results could make Obama's re-election campaign more difficult.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40739464/ns/politics/

Biden defends Obama's tax deal with GOP


http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40733482/ns/today-today_people/

MSNBC / NY Times
Immigration vote leaves Obama's policy in disarray

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40738459/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/

We (theoretically) do not have aristocracy in this country. We deliberately give short shrift to titles and honorifics. A demand for extra-normal use of an honorific, or equating common American practice with a "right wing" attack, particularly in defense of a self-identified liberal leader, could be read as an attempt to chide the President's critics, or paint them as right wingers, rather than responding to them substantively.
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nashville_brook Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 01:13 PM
Response to Reply #79
80. he should address his grievance to the AP Stylebook
but i'm glad he shared his over-the-top sycophancy with the rest of the class. it's always good to know what people are really thinking...no matter how twisted.
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Generic Other Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 01:57 PM
Response to Original message
82. Titles are as meaningless as a fake Kentucky colonel
I retain the right not to bend my knee to anyone.
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mentalsolstice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:40 PM
Response to Reply #82
94. Hey, I'm a KY Colonel, for realz!
And I only expect you to use my title the first time, after that you can just refer to me as HRH. :D

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noamnety Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:03 PM
Response to Original message
83. Just for laughs:
"His name is President Bush.
Or, at minimum, Mr. Bush.

Certainly not just "Bush."

------------------------------------------

(you all can figure out where I found that.)
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Edweird Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:11 PM
Response to Original message
84. Sucks to be you then, huh?
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LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:21 PM
Response to Original message
85. Did you have a problem with me referring to President Bush as
Bush?
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
86. I have a problem referring to right-wing conservatives ...
...as Democrats.
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WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
87. Tough...
You wouldn't have been know as jacinto in a former life, would ya?

Just curious.

:shrug:
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:24 PM
Response to Original message
88. Lighten up, Francis. n/t
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old mark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:25 PM
Response to Original message
89. If that is what you have to worry about, you are better off than most people.
Obama is his name, and better than some of the other names he is called regularly by many people on other sites...


mark
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Stevenmarc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:32 PM
Response to Original message
90. Someone needs to step away from the keyboard
and gain some perspective in their life. If you are typing on and anonymous message board Obama is perfectly fine if he is standing in front of you it's Mr. President.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:33 PM
Response to Original message
91. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
TexasObserver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 02:38 PM
Response to Original message
92. Unrec for being flame bait intended to insult other posters and provoke them.
Use your Hide Thread and Ignore features if reading "Obama" without president in front of it troubles you. It's common practice to call the president by his name, with or without the title.
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:04 PM
Response to Original message
95. They called Bush Mr. Bush or Bush. I see nothing wrong with calling Obama his name too.
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KansasVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
96. You are reading too much into it.......
I post at times and say "Obama" because it is quicker and easier to type. Lighten up.
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Morning Dew Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:08 PM
Response to Original message
97. You'll live.
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walldude Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:10 PM
Response to Original message
98. So there is a conspiracy to diminish Obama..
Edited on Sun Dec-19-10 05:10 PM by walldude
by not calling him President Obama... um.... uh.... ....BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl: Yes that's it. It's a concerted effort, we have weekly meetings to remind people not to use the word President. Anyone caught using the word President is forced, a la Clockwork Orange, to watch endless loops of Glen Beck and John Boehner bawling their little freeper eyes out...
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inna Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:11 PM
Response to Original message
99. ridiculous
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Recursion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:19 PM
Response to Original message
101. We regularly call the last Democratic President "Bubba"
Sometimes stretching for outrage just results in a sprain.
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AngryOldDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-19-10 05:28 PM
Response to Original message
102. Okay, whatever you say.
Just one more instance of whose ox is being gored. I'm sure you had no problem with this whenever a Republican was in the White House, but as I say, whatever.

I defer to the office of the Presidency but that does not always mean I hold the current occupant (whoever it is - or, in case "it" is considered offensive, he or she) in similar regard.

The silliness continues.
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Hell Hath No Fury Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 11:50 AM
Response to Original message
103. The dude works for me --
Edited on Mon Dec-20-10 11:53 AM by Hell Hath No Fury
I will call him whatever I like. :shrug: Our elected officials -- even Obama himself -- deserves no more/less respect than any other ordinary American citizen. I thought we had cleared that up with this little thing called the American Revolution.
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 11:55 AM
Response to Original message
104. Yeah right.
Like you've never said, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, etc. without the qualifier? Really? To me, if you want to demean a president, call them Mr. Obama, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Bush, etc. Otherwise, you seem to be posturing.
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bigwillq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 12:08 PM
Response to Original message
106. I usually call the president by last name
Obama, Bush (or Bush II), Clinton, Bush (or Papa Bush).
I have no problem with folks using just the last name, and I don't think it's a sign of disrespect if you don't use "President"
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lefty2000 Donating Member (151 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
108. lighten up
You are among friends.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 07:40 PM
Response to Original message
109. Kennedy & Johnson were usually referred to as "JFK or LBJ"
not by their "proper names"..

I do not mind Obama or even "O"..but when it's Mister Obama, I am offended because it's obviously deliberately substituted for "president Obama"..

To me, it's a lot like a Mother calling her son "Ricky", when "everyone
knows he likes being called "Rick"..:) He'll be okay with HER calling him Ricky..but everyone else better not do it:)
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 08:43 PM
Response to Original message
111. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Raine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 08:54 PM
Response to Original message
112. Oh Jesus! I should be so lucky that this was
all I had to worry about. :eyes:
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ProgressIn2008 Donating Member (848 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 08:59 PM
Response to Original message
113. I connected 2 people to a food bank today. I don't give a shit about the titles of rich men. nt
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Major Hogwash Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 09:04 PM
Response to Original message
115. I like calling him Obama because it rolls off of the tongue so easily. Not like when I called Bush a
Shitfaced, lying, fucking, retarded, douchebag son of a whore!!

That got old after awhile.
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Imagevision Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 09:06 PM
Response to Original message
116. I had a problem referring to Bush as president also...
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Midwestern Democrat Donating Member (238 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 09:41 PM
Response to Original message
117. Pretty ridiculous - Presidents have been called by their last names in
informal conversation for as long as I can remember. As a matter of fact, Thomas Jefferson hated the idea of titles so much that he insisted that he be addressed as simply Mr. Jefferson while he was president.
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-20-10 11:30 PM
Response to Original message
119. You have too much time on your hands if this worries you.
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-23-10 08:05 PM
Response to Original message
120. If he's in the room I'll call him Mr. President.
If not, I'll call him whatever the hell I want.

BTW, we're not children and don't need your finger wagging lecture.
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WinkyDink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-23-10 08:12 PM
Response to Original message
121. Easier to type. I use "Bush", also, FWIW.
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