President Obama On Mythbusters Tonight

elrous0 writes "As was previously reported, President Obama mentioned back in October that he would be appearing on an upcoming episode of the popular Discovery Channel series Mythbusters. Well, the episode is finally airing tonight. In the episode, the President helps Jamie and Adam test the 'Archimedes Death Ray' myth for a 3rd time (the myth having been 'busted' the first time, and that bust surviving a challenge from MIT students the second time out). Though the President only appears in a couple of brief scripted segments, the actual test (using 500 schoolkids doubling as mirror-bearing soldiers) is purportedly pretty interesting."

Comments

Re:get off my iLawn!

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe challenging the claim that the current administration is going to help save money with Obamacare? (Busted?)

I've never gotten why we call it ObamaCare. It was basically written by conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans (how long was it Max Baucus held up the bill in his committee until Republicans in the committee agreed to it?) But the CBO analysis was that it would help save money. And the only way to bring down the debt in the long term is to bring in more health care funding and reduce spending as much as possible. So we can at least say it was a decent attempt. Hopefully we can improve on it in the coming years.

Maybe challenging Obama's claim of a more transparent administration...maybe they really DO have legislation online for us to look at before they vote on it like he promised. (Busted?)

Is the Obama administration more transparent than previous ones? Yes. Is it ultra-see-through transparent? No.

Most legislation is online before they vote on it. And has been for a while. Not that Presidents have any power over that.

>Maybe looking into the myth that Bush and others spent more than he has, yet somehow the national debt is already about doubled what it was for the Bush crew this early in Obama's presidency?

Have you ever thought about falling tax receipts because of the recession? Spending could remain constant while receipts fall, sending deficits skyrocketing. This is partly the case - tax receipts have fallen, the government had to pay out more unemployment benefits (never mind the extensions), etc. But yeah. The Bush tax cuts are still in effect. The giant, gaping unfunded hole Bush left in Medicare is still intact. The wars Bush started are still going on. So yes, much of the deficit is still directly attributable to Bush and the Republicans. Now with Obama, we have the stimulus package, which consisted almost entirely of tax cuts and aid to the states, which were spending less money. So really, it was an increase in unfunded government expenditures while total state+federal spending remained flat. And then there's ObamaCare, which is funded. So, yeah, sounds like most of the deficit/debt problems are not Obama's fault.

Maybe look at the myth that Obama and Co. were going to stop the wars?

Anyone who thought Obama was going to pull out all troops on day one was a tool ignorant of international politics.

Maybe investigate the myth that Obama really *is* different than his predecessor(s) and not just a product of the media, and is just as beholden to the corporate entities that fund them as any of the other politicians?

Corporations have undue influence on government, but they're hardly the masters of poor government puppets. I know it's a popular canard, but it's just not true.

Is Obama different? Nope, he's a thorough moderate. 30 years ago he would have been called a conservative.

Re:Well, I *was* looking forward to watching this.

[GodfatherofSoul]

Wow, it's so annoying to hear Obama-teleprompter jokes. Especially since they're from formerly disinterested morons who never realized that all politicians use them for speeches anyway. "But-but-he stutters and sounds like an idiot without one!" Remember the Presidential debates where he kicked the crap out of McCain 3-0 without one, or the open questions session with the House Republicans where he made the whole caucus look like buffoons (enough so that they publicly wished they hadn't done it)? After listening to polished PR-approved answers that provide no insight, I at least appreciate a President who tries to answer questions however much I might disagree with him.