If you had 10 minutes with Barack Obama, what would you say?

[OmahaBlueDog]

You're a lucky DUer. You've been invited to share a beverage with the President. Sometime this week, you have (for the purpose of this question) about 10 minutes of more or less undivided attention (as undivided as any President's attention can be).

What would you say? Would you offer thanks? Praise? Criticize?

Or do you make a pitch for action on an issue near and dear to you? Global warming? Snowden? Guantanamo? Fracking? The College Football Playoffs?

If you had 10 minutes with Barack Obama, what would you say?

[enlightenment]

1. I'd spend the ten minutes

explaining why I need more than ten minutes. Change your hypothetical to something reasonable.

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. That's how long it takes him to drink a mug of White House brew. That's the time you get.

Sorry..ixnay on the wishing for more wishes.

[enlightenment]

4. Then I wouldn't bother.

Really.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

26. Trust me, when you're in the presence of the President of the United States...

A second feels like an eternity! The five seconds he looked me in the eye and said "Hi" as he was working the rope line felt like an eternity, and I will never forget it!

[enlightenment]

53. Perhaps.

But I doubt it. I've never been impressed with what people do. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.

I'm not criticizing you; I just don't react that way - but if you'd like to think I'm wrong about that, feel free.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

57. You're right...everyone reacts different....

It had a profound effect on me mainly because I would like to pursue a career in politics one day!

[enlightenment]

61. Well, good luck with that; I hope you succeed.

I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon, so I'm glad somebody wants to do it!

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

62. Haha! Thank you! Most people have the same reaction as you!

[Hekate]

123. I thought I was immune to that kind of thing until I shook Bill Clinton's hand

I mean, when I was much younger I once worked for a man that had just about every woman around panting with desire -- but I had other things on my mind, like getting my job done and supporting my small children. But I sure could see it at work on those around me. I have a BIL like that too -- all I can say is he is not my type (his older brother, my husband, is my type), but I have seen more women than I care to make fools of themselves due to his charm.

So, here's level headed Hekate, and the Big Dog comes through our town to speak at the college. Due to my Democratic activities I am among those with a ticket that puts me close to the chain link fence -- and as the president starts along the fence, shaking hands with everyone who could reach him, he takes my hand in his enormous hand and I could feel my jaw drop at the power emanating from that man, not to mention the waves of pheromones. On his way back I stuck my hand out again. Same thing. I suddenly completely understood why so many women just lost their heads (not to mention their panties) over him.

Didn't get the same feeling from Howard Dean at all. I volunteered at a fundraiser for him and slipped into the line to shake his hand as he left. He is one tightly-wound little guy. Still glad I worked for him. But it just goes to show that 98% of politics for me takes place in my head. That's why that brief contact with Bill Clinton was such a shock for me.

[enlightenment]

125. Interesting.

I don't know that I've ever had an experience like that (and I'm old enough now that I doubt I would recognize a pheromone if it climbed in my ear and started whispering sweet nothings . . .).

Sounds like it was a good day for you - and quite a memory!

[OmahaBlueDog]

40. OK - your call

[Logical]

23. Wow, someone always needs to take a crap on a fun post. Thanks! n-t

[enlightenment]

54. Oh, dear . . .

I didn't realize this was a "fun" post; obviously our definition of "fun" differs.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Um...um...er...

blah, gurgle, and so on.
In other words, I'd be in awe and not really know what to say.
Maybe something like, "Why do you even try to compromise with those fuckin' idiot teabaggers?"

[Skittles]

8. LOL that was my first thought

I'd spend 10 minutes babbling nonsense, then berate myself later about what I COULD have an SHOULD have said

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Hmm sounds like a presser

I would use the chance to burn the bridge.

Mr President why do you, and your friends in Congress, insist on treating the American people like Children? Why do you insist on monster stories and boogeyman men while you continue to negotiate so called free trade treaties? Finally, why did you sign the NDAA and detention of Americans with no trial?

Yup...that be burning the bridge.

[think]

6. Who's really pulling the strings and what are they threatening to do if you

step out line.

Of course I'm taking for granted that our conversation won't be monitored and that I am free to ask any questions I like...

[femmocrat]

7. Fire Arnie Duncan and ditch Race to the Top.

Let qualified (real) educators set education policies. Eliminate NCLB before next year when the 100% proficiency takes effect.

Re-introduce the Public Option. As a lame duck, you have nothing to lose.

Forget about Chained CPI and save our Social Security!

Go back again for gun registration. You came close last time, don't abandon it so quickly.

How's that for starters?

[JackRiddler]

22. A fine program.

The problem is in believing that one could ever persuade any president to do that just because it's right. These policies are pursued because they're wrong - on behalf of the interests that rule.

[reteachinwi]

52. +1

[OmahaBlueDog]

73. I like it. Speak quickly. Don't wait for responses.

Let qualified (real) educators set education policies. Eliminate NCLB before next year when the 100% proficiency takes effect.

Irony #1: this actually puts us in alliance with many conservatives who have always advocated against the D. of Ed and advoccated for local control of schools.

Re-introduce the Public Option. As a lame duck, you have nothing to lose.

Irony #2: this actually puts us in alliance with some conservatives who are opting to have their states expand Medicaid rather than to subsidize low income purchases through the exchanges.

.

[femmocrat]

77. Well, the Prez.does pride himself on bi-partisanship.

I'm not against the Dept. of Ed. I think they do some valuable oversight of Title programs, for example. I'm just anti-Arne and consider him to be unqualified and a shill for the so-called "reformers". It makes me crazy to hear Obama tout RTTT.

As to local control.... well we still have it, but in many places this has been co-opted by the wingnuts to subvert separation of church and state, for example. Conservatives are notoriously anti-public education as well. Some of them want to decimate local districts so they can replace them with for-profit charters. If that means "local control".... I completely oppose that -- as do most democrat I would think.

[knitter4democracy]

120. That's where I'd start, too.

Fire Duncan, ditch RTTT and education "reform" that's only about profit and not kids, and get serious with the War on Poverty--it worked for a good long while and can work again.

[Enthusiast]

134. Nice job.

Fire Arnie Duncan! Yes! Abandon the Republican education strategy!

Yeah, we have already cut social security enough as it is.

[Egalitarian Thug]

9. Is he allowed to burn my minutes specifying and distracting?

Are you talking about a grip & grin or a presentation?

[OmahaBlueDog]

88. It's up to you to preserve the minutes

Speak quickly; bring a list; hand him a petition; show him a presentation on your smartphone -- these are all fair game.

[Hekate]

124. If that's the case, I might hand him my husband's paper on upgrading and rationalizing...

... the computer system(s) used by the government.

But I still want him to sign his books for me!

[zappaman]

10. "Yo, don't bogart that! Pass it over here!" n/t

[OmahaBlueDog]

83. I think that only works if you meet with him in Colorado

...or Washington (the state)

[Whisp]

11. I would neither praise nor criticize, I would ask him

of all the dangers there are to Americans and the world, what would you consider more dangerous.

1. Internal greed and corruption
2. External threats.

Of course he wouldn't answer (because the question you asked didn't allow that) but I will be able to tell by his eyes and his eyes will blink like a neon sign for door #1.

[Douglas Carpenter]

12. I would give a 10 minute pitch on behalf of the U.S. Territory I am currently residing in

Of course there are at least 1000 more important issues - in the big picture. But for most of those issues there is virtually no possibility whatsoever that anything I say will influence him to enact a different policy than he would without my pitch. But it would be a relatively small thing to ask for his help in rehabilitating the economy and ecology of the Northern Mariana Islands. It would be a relatively small thing for him to visit the Northern Marianas for one morning or afternoon on his way too or from some other major state visit in the eastern hemisphere. I would give that 10 pitch because - it is actually possible that I might persuade him to help.

[Hekate]

16. You live in the Marianas? That would be a wonderful thing to bring up, then.

The Pacific Islands are terra incognita for most Americans -- they have no idea what they constitute or that the US has any responsibility for them.

While you're imagining this -- imagine putting in a pitch for Micronesia and see if he has any ideas how or where to relocate the atoll dwellers who are about to drown in the rising seas.

[OmahaBlueDog]

90. That's a great post

I think people don't realize just how much impact a visit could have on certain areas. I'd love it if he'd visit the Pine Ridge Rez in South Dakota, and I'd love it more if he and the governors of Nebraska and South Dakota could take a walking tour of Whiteclay (a small town that exists principally to sell beer to Native Americans).

[LonePirate]

13. I'd spend the time differentiating between the progressive position and his position on many issues

[Hekate]

14. Please sign my copies of your two books?

I would tell him that ever since I read his first book I see Hawai'i all over him; I'd say Mahalo nui loa for his service and for his good efforts; and ask if (since we have 10 minutes) he could please sign my books "Me ke aloha pumehana, Barack Obama" because I would treasure that all my days and never sell the books on Amazon.

No criticism -- it would be an honor to be there, and it's not like he hasn't already heard or read every form of criticism on every subject there is. Why add to that?

Now, I have written this off the top of my head, without having read anyone else's response. I'm absolutely certain that YMMV.

[randome]

15. "Climate change, Mr. President."

"Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change. Climate change."

The rest of you can spew your pet outrage of the day but I like to look at the bigger picture.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[graham4anything]

29. A great new plan was put into place in NYC and is 96% paid for it is amazing.

but nobody has heard about it because the alt minor league media didn't report it

[randome]

33. I'm looking forward to Obama's announcements next month.

I'm sure if he sees merit in the NYC plan, he'll mention it.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[SalviaBlue]

36. "nobody has heard about it because the alt minor league media didn't report it"

WTF

[MNBrewer]

43. It's one of his standard lines

that and "80%/20%"

[randome]

51. You two like to mock a lot, don't you?

It isn't very classy. If you don't understand something, it's probably best not to say anything at all.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Just Saying]

128. Forgot that one!

Damn! Now I need more time! Lol

[abelenkpe]

133. "Pet outrage of the day"

Perfect!

[JackRiddler]

17. I would urge myself to stop having powerless hero-worshipping fantasies...

As if you could change his mind about anything.

At least ask an interesting question, like, "If you WERE president for 10 minutes..."

[OmahaBlueDog]

87. OK, JR, What would you do if you were President for 10 minutes.

I'm thinking actions here would be limited to pardoning, vetoing, maybe a quick executive order, or a full-on missile strike.

[JackRiddler]

96. I'd resist the temptation to round up the Blue Dogs and...

I think pardons for Leonard Peltier, Assata Shakur, Bradley Manning, Thomas Drake and a few others would be in order. Also, a declaration that the United States is not in a state of war might fit.

[OmahaBlueDog]

106. Those damn Blue Dogs!

Peltier and Siegelman were the first two names that came to mind.

Interesting to ponder what a declaration of non-war would/could do.

[rug]

18. WTF is this?

[JackRiddler]

20. Too many soap operas, too much reality TV.

You get to thinking remote celebrities are your friends!

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. "what did you do with the man we elected in 2008?"

and give the remaining 9 minutes to someone else.

[WillyT]

21. W... T... F...

[99Forever]

24. I would ask where they hid...

.. the guy who ran for President in 2008 that had the same name as he does.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

25. For me, that is easy!

Mr. President, I have a problem.

Due to getting hurt by the Great Recession and a Natural Disaster I can not pay my Student loans. To get work to pay them I need my transcripts. The Stafford Loan people say I can not have them till they get payments from a paycheck from a job, I can not get enough money for them till I get a job that I can afford to live and pay them. I can only get a job that will allow me to do that with my transcripts.

I am at a Stalemate. I am also not the only one in this country with this problem. Can you find a way to help us?

[atreides1]

27. Get your head out of your ass

Quit trying to get approval from those that hate you, and would love to see you fail...sometimes you have to do what's right for the majority of the American people and not give two shits what some think about you...because not matter what you do you will never change their minds.

You are an aberration and in the minds of some and are nothing!!!

[graham4anything]

28. I would thank him for being the best president since LBJ, and doing 100% of everything I dreamed of.

[darkangel218]

137. lmao!!!

[michigandem58]

30. "Thank you, Mr. President"

n/t

[Summer Hathaway]

31. I would urge him to spend more time

reading DU, because there is so much free advice on presidentin' here.

Why waste valuable time making decisions about foreign policy, domestic policy, the economy, etc., when there is a website full of experts on all of these topics - and many, many more!

Have an appointment to fill, Mr. President? Need a decisive answer to a complex problem? Wonder what approach to take in your next press conference? Can't make up your mind which tie to wear while giving your next speech? Concerned about what body language to display at the next SOTU address?

The answers are ALL here on DU, every day, all day - answers that come from people with no experience in governing a nation - and, in many cases, absolutely no concept of how government works.

Then we'd spent the rest of our ten minutes together laughing our asses off.

[marions ghost]

45. If the president did listen to the majority at DU

it would be a better world. That is for damn sure.

Why do you feel the need to run DU down so much? All that dripping scathing sarcastic muck you just dumped here--what's that about?

If you're so down on DU, why be here? Maybe time to run along home? >>>>>>>>>>

[Summer Hathaway]

55. Why be here?

Because this site now offers the most hilarious entertainment on the internet.

The notion that you think the world 'would be a better place if the president listened the majority at DU' is a perfect example of the laughter-inducing, mindless nonsense I'm talking about.

Where else can one find a hair-on-fire brigade that buys into every GOP-concocted 'scandal', and carries on about it until the next 'scandal' is launched - at which point the previous scandal is promptly forgotten because there's a shiny new one to freak out over?

Best entertainment on the 'net - and getting more amusing by the minute.

[marions ghost]

56. Your mommy's calling

you better run on home now.

[Summer Hathaway]

59. Another example

of what makes this place so hilarious; people who post childish mewlings because they don't have the mental acuity to say anything of substance.

You're definitely one of the people who makes this place so damned entertaining of late!

[WovenGems]

89. Agree

Far more emotional rantings than rational postings in almost all political or religious threads. The ratio of intellectual to normal human that applies to the general populace applies here as well. I love being called naïve because I don't fixate on shiny things like a young kitten.

[NYC_SKP]

113. Wondering what the fuck their problem is.

Was just on a jury that voted 3-3, I voted to hide it.

[Summer Hathaway]

114. I'm sorry, NYC ...

but I'm not understanding who 'they' are, or what was alerted on.

Apologies for being slow on the uptake - not that THAT isn't a daily occurrence in my life.

[NYC_SKP]

115. The reply to you...

Above, in this thread, that read "your mommy's calling" or some dismissive thing like that.

Someone alerted on it and I was called to jury.

[Summer Hathaway]

116. Oh.

NOW I get it (duh!)

[MineralMan]

135. Stuck for something to say?

That was pathetic, I'm afraid. Posting a juvenile insult is not discussion. Sorry.

[Xolodno]

32. I would say....

...Glad I don't have your shitty job!

[Number23]

39. + a million gazillion brazillian

[mick063]

64. Grow a pair of balls.

I would say it to his face.

[PD Turk]

34. Mr President

Mr President, could we please, please stop kissing the asses of the super wealthy already? Trickle down is a tragic failure and continuing down that path is more harmful and tragic for the 99% every day. We are beaten down and tired, and we desperately need a break, a level playing field..... SOMETHING to go our way for a change.

[MannyGoldstein]

35. I'd feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony

where to start?

Maybe a video of candidate Obama.

[newmember]

37. Do you take your orders from the lizard people ? yep that's what I would ask.

I would know right off the bat if he was....and to the members that don't know who the lizard people are.


better that you don't

[rrneck]

38. The 1% stole our money, and we want it back.

At 200 decibels.

[OmahaBlueDog]

47. I can see that

Maybe show some clips from "Capitalism, A Love Story" on your smart phone.

[MrSlayer]

41. Would he be answering me truthfully?

Because otherwise it would be pointless.

I want to know who is holding the strings on him.

[OmahaBlueDog]

48. I can't guarantee a truthful answer

Only that you'd have his ear.

[Fire Walk With Me]

42. You and your adminstration are under arrest for ordering or allowing domestic terrorism against

the Occupy Wall Street movement over the period of greater than a year; for aiding and abetting the neocon and Bush surveillance state initiatives and for twice signing into law the NDAA section 1021 allowing for the indefinite detention of US citizens with neither trial nor representation; for aiding and abetting wall street and corporations and billionaires while the people of this country suffer beneath a 470X income inequality. For those keeping track, that is the death of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Amendments to the United States Constitution under your direction or neglect.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Don't like this? Seach DU for "who enables austerity", "what a police state looks like" and anything about section 1021.

I WAS a democrat. I didn't leave the democratic party. It left ME, in a most significant manner.

[OmahaBlueDog]

50. I suspect your next post would be from St. Elizabeth's

..but I understand your anger.

[Fire Walk With Me]

65. A quick google of "St. Elizabeth's" did not reveal what you meant...?

[OmahaBlueDog]

69. I'm sorry - Saint Elizabeth's is the mental hospital for the District of Columbia

It is to DC what "Bellevue" is to NYC. I suspect if one announced that one was arresting the POTUS, that is where one would end up.

On the topic of rights violations and Presidents: During WWII, the AG (his name escapes me at the moment) gave an opinion to FDR that Habeas Corpus did not apply to the mentally incompetent. Rumor had it that if one was believed to be a security risk, one was simply be declared mentally incompetent and taken to Saint E's for the duration of the war.

[Fire Walk With Me]

93. Gotcha. "He who has the gold, makes the rules." Of course, in this case, their own definition

of "domestic terrorism" directly applies to the actions taken or significantly allowed by the government against the civilian population. It's in the "patriot act" as well as the FBI's definitions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002710303

[tarheelsunc]

44. Mr. President...

if you decide you want to go against the wealthy corporate donors and risk looking bad to the big wigs and do something to help the common person, we'll have your back.

[Stinky The Clown]

46. Dude . . . . why did you EVER think you could work with repubicans on health care?

Why did you start the negotiations by giving them 50% and then giving them the rest when they told you to go eat shit?

Dude, they fucking HATE you. And they hate us. We put you there, yet you give them what they want and your guy calls us retards.

And that was before it started to get really bad.

[OmahaBlueDog]

49. I think I can answer that one.

He came from the Senate, which (compared to the House) is collegial. I think Candidate Obama in 2008 thought being President would be the same way. He could talk to Republicans behind the scenes, and make compromise deals. He grossly misunderstood and underestimated the amount of partisan resistance he'd encounter.

[duuser5822]

58. 10 minutes wouldn't nearly be enough to discuss everything on my mind

But, during that short duration of time, I would discuss with him my concerns regarding the rising healthcare costs, and the ongoing wars.

[gejohnston]

60. I'd hand him my list

pardoning Don Siegelman would be on top followed by single payer and preserving Social Security.

[OmahaBlueDog]

75. A list is a smart plan for a short time frame

Perhaps those upthread who felt 10 minutes was a useless timeframe can profit from this approach.

[forestpath]

63. "Can I pet Bo?" I'm not rich, so I'd be wasting my breath on Obama.

[OmahaBlueDog]

70. No one said you had to spend your 10 minutes on anything of substance

If you get to pet Bo, have the WH photographer get a photo.

[Smarmie Doofus]

66. Learn something about American public education.

If you don't have time to do that..... hire someone to advise you on policy who DOES know about public ed thru personal experience as both consumer and provider.

[femmocrat]

67. +1000

And visit a public school sometime! Have you ever seen the Prez. in one of DC's public schools? I bet the could give him an "education" about what the schools need.

[Smarmie Doofus]

72. Not sure. I know at least once they brought in ps kids to meet *him*.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9296197&mesg_id=9296197

The president seemed to be... charitably putting it... in terra incognita. ( There's a good thread attached there, btw. Well worth re-reading.)

Aim: promote corporate reform's schlocky Waiting for Superman. Glad he wasn't too busy to do a favor for the big-$$$ dinos who funded that gibberish.

It lost money anyway. Good.

[femmocrat]

80. Good grief.

Thanks for the link. What a travesty.

[HiPointDem]

68. i'd make small talk, because he wouldn't give a damn about anything i said anyway.

[KharmaTrain]

71. "What's Frustrating You..."

...ya figger he's gotta be holding a lot in about the things he wants to do vs. what he has or can do. I'd just sit back and let him roll for the next 10 minutes and I'm sure that wouldn't even cover a fraction of what he's endured...

[OmahaBlueDog]

74. I think it kills him not to be able to make a budget deal

My sense is that he is very frustrated because he feels he's been willing to meet the Republicans halfway or more, and they won't settle for any compromise.

[RobinA]

76. First, I Would Present

him with a reading list. Then I would run a YouTube of the Daily Show segment from some time ago showing a clip from an old Wonder Years program with Jon Stewart intoning - "They are never letting you into the car." Then I would thank him for getting some sort of health care reform through. Then I would suggest to him that if he is having problems with Congress, like many people seem to claim, that he use the bully pulpit LIKE PRESIDENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. I would ask him why we hear more from Glenn Beck et al. about what the administration is doing than we do from the actual administration. I would also note to him that he is letting the other side define what is going on and that he needs to reverse that.

[OmahaBlueDog]

78. That's an ambitious 10 minutes

Bring a smart phone to show the clips and an outline to keep yourself on script.

I wish he'd make better use of the buly pulpit.

[LWolf]

100. I gave him a book once.

He sent it back.

In the spirit of compromise, knowing what was coming down the pike, I sent him a book on election day 2008. A book about education, with a letter congratulating him on his win, looking forward to working with him, and urging him to hear from teachers.

He sent it back unopened, including the letter, which was not in the book box, but attached to the front. An employee cited something about not accepting "gifts."

It wasn't a gift. It was a policy paper.

Of course, it was okay to take a book from Chavez the following year.

[GeorgeGist]

79. Why does Michelle think of herself as a single mom?

You have 9 minutes and 55 seconds to answer.

[OmahaBlueDog]

81. Damn!

Y'all may have to switch from the White House brew to the Mount Vernon whiskey for that one.

[Mr Dixon]

82. I would tell him the following

I would tell him to keep his head up and move forward, I would tell him that this manufactured outrage not fooling all of us just a few people that are bored or enjoy the low hanging fruit. Most of all I would tell him the it is impossible to please everyone and that it is pointless to try.

[WovenGems]

84. Here's mine

"How's your chess game Mr. P?" "call when you wished to be dusted by a no name civilian".

[OmahaBlueDog]

85. Does he play Chess?

I know he likes to shoot hoops. Chess, I'm not sure.

I'm told that being a good Bridge player can get you introduced to Bill Gates and/or Warren Buffett.

[cbdo2007]

86. I would ask him about being a parent and advice he can give....

to someone else with two young daughters, and raising them to be good people in this troubling world, and how they have time for everything else AND the kids.

Then I would ask him about aliens at Roswell.

[Inkfreak]

91. I wouldn't waste time with policy Qs

It wouldn't be satisfying as he cannot give simple enough answers to the many complicated situations he has to deal with daily. I'd much more be interested in him & how life as the leader of the US is. Simple mundane questions. Sounds silly, I know. But I'd take a que from the greatest interviewer of all time...Stern.

What's it like having guards everywhere. What's your free time, if any, like. How are your interactions with other leaders. And I don't want those shitty answers Matt Lauer and the rest of those crappy tv host get. I want the real deal. I hate the tv interviews. They seem so scripted.

[Pelican]

92. I'd pitch like all get out....

... to get a bigger piece of the funding pie for my little piece of the Army.

[OmahaBlueDog]

109. Do tell

Which small piece?

[Pelican]

110. Small enough that I prefer to keep it under my hat here...

[QC]

94. You won the election. n/t

[HughBeaumont]

95. Trickle down has laissez FAILED. Why do we keep it in place?

COME on.

[LWolf]

97. I would say,

"Your neoliberal policies and your determination to compromise with Republicans are destroying our country. Change direction before it's too late."

[galileoreloaded]

98. id ask about the presidents book of secrets

i couldn't trust anything else he said i fear

[OmahaBlueDog]

107. Ask if he's seen the treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence

..I mean, while you're there and everything.

[Jamaal510]

101. I would give him props for having such thick skin

and ask him how he deals with the derangement and criticism from both sides without losing his sanity. If I were president, I doubt I would've even lasted for 1 year. The amount of money I would get paid as president wouldn't be worth having people talk about me like a dog and to constantly plot to assassinate me. It wouldn't be worth having Congress block everything I do, and then having some people on my own side of the spectrum blame ME for the lack of progress.
Being U.S. president is probably among the most thankless jobs in the world.

[treestar]

103. I would rather have the meeting with

Boehner since that might have effects. Obama would likely sign bills I want passed and veto those I don't generally. I'm basically on the same page Obama is politically. So it would be powerful Republicans I'd have to try to convince.

[Corruption Inc]

104. I'd say whatever was on my mind during that 10 minutes

and wouldn't mention DU once.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

105. Stay the hell out of Syria. You won the election, so you don't have to prove you're tough.

[morningfog]

108. Now it is about his LEGACY!!! They all need

a war to call their own.

[onestepforward]

111. I would tell him my story of falling out of the middle class

and how my life has been hell just trying to survive day to day.

[OmahaBlueDog]

118. I expected more posts like yours.

That would be a great use of the 10 minutes.

On a personal note, I wish you luck in improving your situation.

[onestepforward]

119. Thank you so much.

My story would be like millions of other Americans and we're so tired of just trying to survive.

[Zorra]

112. I'd give away my ten minutes to you.

I suspect you'd be thrilled to meet the Prez, and would get a much more memorable life experience out of it.

There's nothing I could say to the Prez in 10 minutes that could be much more relevant than "So, like,how 'bout them Bears, huh?"

[OmahaBlueDog]

117. Well, first, thank you!

I've heard many great suggestions on how to use the 10 minutes. Since you've given them to me, I would (as I hinted upthread) ask the President to find a half-a-day in his busy schedule, and visit the Pine Ridge reservation in Southwestern South Dakota. I'd ask him to invite the Governors, Senators, and Congress critters from Nebraska and South Dakota to join him. I'd ask this group to:

1) Meet with the tribal leadership and seriously consider their request to grow industrial hemp.
2) Go see Whiteclay firsthand, and discuss potential solutions to improve the situation with the Governors, Senators, and Congress critters from Nebraska and South Dakota.


..then I'd ask the Prez to get himself in inspirational speaking mode and....

3) ask him to go address the students at the Red Cloud Indian School (http://www.redcloudschool.org/)

[Zorra]

121. I like that idea a whole lot!

A good giveaway.

[Demo_Chris]

122. As I am not wealthy or elite nothing I might say would interest him. nt

[Th1onein]

126. STOP SPYING ON ME, YOU MF!

And why aren't you doing the things that you promised that you would do?

[darkangel218]

138. +1000

I wouldn't call him a mf though.

[Just Saying]

127. Wouldn't that be exciting!

I'd love to shake his hand but if I had 10 minutes to chat with President Obama..hmmm...

I'd tell him to stop trying to work with the Republicans. It's clear they don't care about the American people, any agenda besides their own or even about doing their jobs. Get angry and push through the agenda he was elected on. Twice.

I'd congratulate him on ObamaCare. (And Yes, he should be proud to have it bear his name.). But it's not enough. We need to get the greedy insurance and pharma companies out of our healthcare system. They've taken the first step, but there's a lot of work to do to get the system we deserve.

Legalize gay marriage. It's long overdue.

Continue to protect women's rights to contraception and healthcare that WE choose. It's so important.

Work with Congress to close Gitmo, rescind The Patriot Act and bring our troops home! Terrorism is a concern, but Bush/Cheney were wrong in how they dealt with it. Find new ways.

I'll probably need notecards...

[SamKnause]

129. 10 minutes

I would decline the invitation.

All branches of the United States government are paid to represent Wall Street, MIC brass, global corporations, CEOs and those with money and power.

He would not be interested in anything I would have to say pertaining to politics.

I would not believe anything he had to say pertaining to politics.

I am not interested in a ten minute conversation with a total stranger that is totally clueless on the issues facing this country.

[quinnox]

130. I'd rather win the lottery, if we are talking about luck!

Just being honest

[SamKnause]

131. Honesty

I agree 100%.

Winning the lottery would change my life, the lives of my family, the lives of my friends and enrich the charities that I support.

Talking with President Obama would change nothing, or enrich my life in anyway.

[B Calm]

132. Two words: Legalize Pot!

[MineralMan]

136. I'd ask him a question and then let him answer.

The question:

"Mr. President, what are the three most difficult issues you've had to face so far in your presidency, and why?"

The thing is that I would learn far more by listening than by talking.