Obama states Wall Street is "shameful" for the $18 billion dollar bonuses. Do you agree?

Answered: Yes!

Comment: Although the original bailout should have been much more strict to prevent this from happening. Govt regulation is needed. Hope Obama and Congress really cracks down on this growing deregulation problem that got us into this terrible recession in the first place.

Is it me or does soda head seem to be extremely right wing?

Answered: Yes there are alot of them

Comment: I think the number of right-minded folks on here are not representative of the US population. Also, the questions that get featured as the top questions on the site seemed to be often biased more toward the right than the left.

Do you believe in the government conspiracy theory about 9-11?

Answered: No I do not believe in the conspriacy

Comment: While I ascribe a high probability that there was no involvement of the US government, how can anyone be sure without knowledge of all information? That is symptomatic of the flaw in human nature to value beliefs over actual awareness. This poll should have a third option "I don't know".

It appears that the "Global Warming" bandwagon is rolling on with the Obama crew. Does something need to be done?

Answered: The science is not settled on this and further scientific study is required...

Comment: Obviously there exist much uncertainty in climate science today, but as Roberto and I have debated in many other polls/blogs, I feel (based on the mountains of peer-reviewed research on the topic) it is highly likely (a) much of the observed temperature increases over the last century can be largely explained by human-related greenhouse gas emissions, and (b) that continued increases in long-lived GHGs will continue to add additional heating into the atmosphere. Many uncertainties exist, which include our climate models (which especially need improvements in their parameterization of deep, moist clouds and precipitation, low-level cloudiness, ocean physics, and land-surface parameterizations including ecological changes over long timescales). That said, basic radiation theory and quantum mechanics confirms the radiative importance of CO2 (9-26 % of the earth's greenhouse effect, which we've already increased from 290 ppm to 385 ppm as described above in not so threatening terms ;-), water vapor (a significant portion of the greenhouse effect, some of which is increased through feedbacks of human-induced GHGs), methane (much increased by humans), etc. Human-related GHGs are estimated to add about 1.7 W/m^2 of heating to the troposphere, which, according to "climate sensitivity" calculations, adds about 0.7 C - 2 C warming. This forcing will increase as human population increases and output therefore increases. If sulfur dioxide output continues to decrease, the GHGs we've already added will even add more forcing. A good report on radiative forcing is provided by the National Academy of Sciences: http://books.nap.edu/openbook... A good report on climate change (based on peer-reviewed research and based on peer-review in the synthesis of the report is given by the IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreport...

Do you want Barack Obama to succeed?

Answered: Yes!

Comment: As an American, no explanation is needed. Maybe if I was part of the Russian government or some other power (e.g., Al Qaeda) hoping for the failure of the USA, then I'd want him to fail, but I can't fathom how any American would like to see him fail our nation, whether they agree with him politically or not. If you don't like 'em, there are more elections to come.

Why has'nt anyone went to jail for all the misconduct, and high-crimes surrounding the bailout that is now exceeds the combined cost of every major war the United States has ever engaged in?

Answered: I am pissed....and

Comment: If you are a poor person that stole a car, or a druggie caught with too many drugs, you'll do more time in prison than some rich white guy that swindled all our pensions and destroyed our world economy, all the while enjoying a nice corporate party with prostitutes and a nice tropical breeze.

Fred Thompson Rents Out D.C. Apartment: Is Thompson unpatriotic?

Answered: Thompson is renting out his apartment during Obama's inauguration....

Comment: Hopefully it's not because he knows something we don't *_*

Why do you think 8/10 of the states with the highest teen birth rate are staunchly Republican?

Answered: Undecided

Comment: Not only do the correlations concern me, I'm deeply worried about their high reproductive rates.

Democrats and Republicans! Can We All Agree that Congress Sucks?

Answered: Undecided

Comment: None of the above. The 18% or lower approval rating of congress is proof that we, as a country, mostly focus on the negative. There are a lot of good people in Congress, and a lot of good things being done despite the partisan bickering, and the negative things. Of course, there's a lot of room for improvement, including getting corporate influences out of Washington. But without them, this country would be even far worse off. I think the mandate in this last election sent a strong signal. I'd expect major changes for the better.

Roland Burris wants to legally challenge senate: Is Burris a trouble maker?

Answered: I think Roland Burris is...

Comment: I'm not sure, but I think the Senate did the right thing. It's really unfortunate, but I agree with the Senate. Accepting *any* appointment by Blago leaves a tainted cloud over the Senate seat. Some other means of filling the Senate seat that is acceptable to the people of Illinois is probably the right course of action. Even though I would vote Democrat, I have to agree with Republicans that a special election might be the fairest approach. The Roland Burris situation is unfortunate - I'm not sure whether to feel sorry for Burris, or upset with him for going against what the Dems think is the ethical thing to do. I especially was turned off by people bringing racism into this whole ordeal. Race is irrelevant.

Are the dingbat, liberal environmentalists creating global cooling?

Answered: No

Comment: I'm not sure about depleting more ozone. That will start to hurt after a while, especially without major sun block. Plus, I want to enjoy my 3 hours of sunshine we get per year in Wisconsin. As far as liberal dingbats creating global cooling, I think they are actually creating global coolness! But yeah, I could use some global warming right now, especially since I don't live near sea level.

Obama the lie or Obama the truth?

Answered: I say is is who he says he is...

Comment: Actually, while politicians are apt to stretch the truth, most presidents in the past have followed through, in one way or another, on many of the things they said they would do. Now whether they were successful or not on those goals is another question. Regardless, Obama has really impressed me. As a great pessimist myself, I never expected him to really extend himself in his administration in the way he has, plus he has done a lot behind the scenes to increase bipartisanship, sometimes in ways that goes against my views (for example, offering tax cuts as part of his planned stimulus package). He has also essentially changed the minds of Dems on punishing Liebermann after the election. He has had positive meetings with McCain and many other key Republicans since the election. He has followed through with his campaign mantra "There isn't a Red states of America, nor the Blue States of America, but there is the United States of America!" Kudos to Obama. Impressive so far!

Do you understand the difference between opinion and fact?

Answered: I do know the difference. Explain...

Comment: Seems like online forums are a place of insanity, where opinions are just as valid as a test of truthfulness as facts. Additionally, the online culture seems to be overwhelmed by misinformation, which is obviously driven by belief systems. While the internet is good for information, we have perhaps seen a severe sociological problem appear as mass misinformation and opinion greatly overwhelm truth in a world where complex problems demand truth more than ever. Then again, everything I just said is my informed opinion.

If women ruled most countries, do you think there would be less wars and aggression?

Answered: Undecided

Comment: Who really knows. I'm guessing our cultural trajectory, as is, would still be somewhat violent if women took the reins, because we have been conditioned to compete over finite resources on earth. I'm guessing the socialogical systems we have in place with the given distribution of wealth and resources around the globe dictate the events more than gender does. But then again, many cultures around the world would never allow a woman power in the near future, so it's hard to conceive how things would be different. I find it sad that there are still great inequalities between men and women, even in our own country, but that is not material to this poll.

Who knows? Are you willing to give it a try?

Answered: I prefer to mash my potatoes!

Comment: after I fall on top of them from exhaustion. Actually, any upper body working out is good and I need to do it. I hate going to the gym and having a bunch of guys grunt really loud around me while complaining that "I'm taking it easy today and only benching 250". Plus lifting is boring to me. Lifting potatoes is funny enough to at least be enjoyable for a while. Can't wait till the weather is nice again though. The outdoors is my gym.

*NBC BANS ANN COULTER FOR LIFE* BANNED FOR LIFE? HOW FASCIST...I MEAN PROGRESSIVE OF THEM. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH FOR ALL?

Answered: I want free speech for all

Comment: Still, networks have the right to do anything they want. They aren't (technically) state owned. That said, networks have a responsibility to be critical of the government as a checks and balances. They failed in Bush's lead up to the Iraq War. Even though I'm a strong Obama supporter, I hope they are more critical of the government than they were during the Bush years, because critical thinking is key to a successful democracy. That all said, Coulter is a nut bag, and good for about 5 minutes of entertainment. Since I've already seen well over 5 minutes of her in my lifetime, I'm not at all sad to see her disappear from the NBC lineup.

Senate Majority Leader Harry is called a Racist: What do you think of Reid?

Answered: Senator Reid exercised good judgment

Comment: Happy to see Reid stand his ground. He has every right to for himself and it is absolutely the ethical thing to do. The flack he is getting from Burris and related parties is absolutely rediculous and I hope the Dems don't cave, because then Blago will have cast (more of) a dark pall over the entire party. The racist argument is as rediculous as claiming someone is anti-semitic because they disagree with Israel's violent approach to Palestine. In other words, it's not a fair argument and avoids the real question: Can Blago ethically appoint someone to the Senate given the ongoing circumstances? While according to IL state law he can, the Senate can block the appointment and blocking the appointment is the right thing to do, regardless of who Burris is. the fact that Burris is playing along with Blago and making the racism arguments, I've lost a lot of respect for him. So it's an unfortunate situation.

Bill Richardson withdraws his nomination for Commerce Secretary. Your thoughts?

Answered: None of the above

Comment: I don't get how this is a mark against Obama. Can someone explain please? So Obama puts in place unprecedented high standards to join his administration, the strict standards leads to the withdrawal of a candidate (i.e., Richardson) who is involved in an ethics situation, thus preventing corruption from becoming a part of the White House. How the heck is this a bad thing for Obama? To me, this is truly admirable that Obama is putting strict standards in place, even if that means preventing a friend from serving our country in the presidential administration. Yet, the mass media and public opinion sees this as a negative mark on Obama. Makes no sense to me.

Do you agree with the statement ' (global warming) It is the biggest whopper ever sold to the public in the history of humankind '?

Answered: No

Comment: It is absolutely not a myth. Check the scientific facts: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreport... Funny public opinion is so wrong on this. Public opinion is not equivalent to scientific fact, but is easily manipulated by misinformation and lack of care to really critically examine things. By the way, look at the long term average temperature trend. Ups and downs (we're in a bit of down period), but note the long term average (this is actual data from NASA): Funny, how do you argue against facts? but i'm sure I'll be slammed.