Well having been an adult under both presidents (how about you?) I agree , Reagan didn't initiate a mandatory tax cradle to grave on every legal US citizen, Obama did (and isn't finished yet)...what's your point?

Well, I am sorry if I don't take your "intuition" as face value, as you are clearly on one side of the political fence.

Aaaaand Obama proceeded to cut taxes by 257B$, most of it on the private individuals.

It was part of the initial economic stimulus package (gosh! a democrat who thinks that cutting tax might help the economy!)

A very simply 500$ tax credit. The lowest-income earners won't really feel the fullest effect, but technically, everybody was supposed to pay 500$ less in taxes during 2009.

Correction - I do not claim that.  You have a definitely different mindset from most Americans posting on this site (as you have pointed out - neither conservative or liberal - american wise), but I do not even pretend to know what is in Most American minds, much less foreigners.  However, the facts taht we do know, and the information leaked by Iran, and the democrat allegations all tend to support my hypothesis.  Plus human nature. Are you afraid of someone yelling at you from across the river?  or someone shooting at you from the corner?  The Iranians knew who would shoot and who would just yell.

Wait, can you point me to the information leaked from Iran? My own sources (STRATFOR) don't support the idea that Iranians believe that Obama wouldn't use a military strike if needed. However, they do believe he is incapable of holding back Israel if Isarel wants to strike.

That's the thing. Human nature is distrustful. The gun is still there to be used. Bush hadn't shot. Obama hasn't shot yet. But the gun is still there, ready to use when they feel it's necessary.

I don't think Iranians care much about presidential rethorics. Wether your are a Hawk or a Dove, you will still use force when needed as a country.

Obama, armed with the most powerful  military apparatus of the world, is simply applying Roosevelt's "Speak softly" part of the famous quote. You appear believe that engaging in rethorics that are openly offensive to dictators would actually change their mindset. I think they don't care what is being set. In the end, it's how many guns are aligned in your direction that counts. Obama hasn't changed that number.

With Bush, they captured a British speedboat, they supported militas against your military in Iraq and they got forward their nuclear development program.

Not much less than what happened under Obama. Swap taking over a very symbolic oil field located in a disputed area with the British speedboat, and more pressure for sanctions from Obama than Bush.

Yea, we don't police the world (although most want us to so tehy can damn us for it).  They had a nuclear program under bush, but very covert and slow.  With Obama it went public and fast.  I never said they were saints before.  But openly running around doing something and covertly trying to enact changes (so there is plausible deniability) are 2 different things.  NK did not stop their nuclear program either, but both have ramped it up over the last year.

Which were less than requested and took 6 months to decide.  Here's a bone, stop barking.

That should be "if he needs to" since he has yet to use it.

It worked so well with Chamberlain, right?

As it was Reagan's.  Yet Carter didnot blow the wall down, but Reagan's presidency led to it.  Evil men do not care about soft tones, only force.  This is not a perfect world, and people have to realize it.  Soft words did not cow Qadaffi, the USSR or Noreiega.

Should be interesting to see what comes of North Korea sinking a South Korean military vessel.

My bet is zip, nada.  Nothing to see here, folks, move along.

Remember that Biden bit about how BO would be 'tested' & we wouldn't like the response?

Golly Gee, Cap'n.  How the hell that hole get there?

Now there is talk of mines. It will be interesting, to say the least, if NK is behind it. I'm not expecting much from the prez though.

It is up to SK to react to that, as they were the ones to lose a ship. If SK asks for the USA's support in the matter, only then can the USA interfere.

But a lot of sparkles happen in that naval region anyway. Quite a few shots were exchanged there in the past 60 years, and it is within the classic behavior of NK before a new negociation round.

I have a gun.  If a perp knows I have no intention of using it, then there is no threat to the perp. Obama's gun is not loaded and he is unwilling to use it, and they know it.

I know you have faith in him, misplaced in my opinion.  But you are also aware of enough to know that I am not the only one voicing these concerns - inside and outside of the borders here.  You do not have to read far to read it (and I am not talking right wing sites only).