Comments on: The world expected more from Obama

By: Adam_S

Adam_S — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:16:13 +0000

Yes, Stambo, the ‘opposite party’ can more or less block and hamstring legislation as they see fit. While I personally think Democrats would have made more compromises (they are usually the ones who cave, much to the delight of the GOP), they still would have had the ability to do so, and probably would have done it so much that the electorate would be as disappointed as they are now. The messaging would have been different, but my point is that I seriously doubt there’d be any significant, meaningful difference in things now vs 2009, regardless of who won.

I’m not implying that what the US does w drone strikes is legal, or even just, and I’m 1000% in favor of getting US troops the hell outta Afghanistan. I’m just saying, it’s really easy to demonize a method of dealing with bad guys that doesn’t really risk lives, when you’ve got no boots on the ground.

By: steve778936

steve778936 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 05:22:48 +0000

As a supporter of Obama, I am disappointed not in his legislative accomplishments or lack thereof, but in his partial failure to provide strong, consistent moral leadership. Too often he has allowed himself to be dragged into idiotic political infighting over trivial points. We select a President to lead, to establish the moral high ground and strive to hold it, to do his utmost to try to make the world a better place. This involves horrible choices in many cases, but the compass of integrity should always point the way. Obama has a full complement of personal integrity, but he has sapped his political integrity by engaging with the opposition at their own appalling level, rather than rising above them.

By: uc8tcme

uc8tcme — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:03:15 +0000

One more point – When someone guarantees your failure and they have a hand in your sucess or failure – believe them.

By: uc8tcme

uc8tcme — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:35:23 +0000

Folk talk in generalities, without acknowledging there are solid reasons for his set backs home and over seas. Although some were of his own doing (expecting congress to work with him) it is nice to see a President to represent our country (no more lies of WMD or shoes thrown at him in foregin countries). Re-elected or not Obama was a good President.

By: stambo2001

stambo2001 — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:39:53 +0000

@adam_s your analogies are not good.

First of all regarding the perspective that McCain would have been no different. If the repubs are indeed blocking legislation just because barry is president why would they have blocked McCain? Would the dems have been any more willing to work with McCain? So unless you are admitting the dems themselves would be no different things would indeed have been greatly ‘different’ under McCain.

Second, why would the ‘world’ offer money and blood to cover american wars?! Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. People, other than americans, know that extrajudicial assassinations are wrong if you believe in Justice and the Rule of Law. Americans have as much right to assassinate (and kill thousands of innocent civilians) who ever they want around the globe as Hitler had a right to kill Jews. No right at all. The american drone assassination campaign has now killed many thousands more innocent civilians than were killed on 9/11.

The word ‘terrorist’ is becoming synonymous with the word ‘american’ around the globe.

By: tmc

tmc — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:23:21 +0000

What is going to happen when another country kills someone in this country with a drone? We are going to regret this drone stuff sooner or later.
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

By: Adam_S

Adam_S — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:47:06 +0000

The economy notwithstanding, given solely the atmosphere in Washington 2009-2012, it’s not too shocking he did what he did. Despite ‘control’ of the legislature, it’s possible for the minority party to more or less roadblock anything they want.

My point is that even had he truly put forth a lot of initiatives and ideas, my guess is the majority would have been shot down. So…he’d either look like a weak president, who can’t ‘control’ the legislature (see above), or a stupid president, for having offered up so many ideas he knew would be knocked down.

McCain would have been no different, which I think is the real guidepost.

The drone thing is funny. The US likes it b/c we risk fewer lives of the armed forces. Makes sense to me. The rest of the world should have immediately been hit with the follow up question: “If you don’t approve or agree with drone strikes, would you be willing to offer up a hunk of your GDP and prime-age citizens to help with the effort?” My guess is NO, making such outcry without a lot of merit.

By: tmc

tmc — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:27:49 +0000

He promised “to change how Washington did business”. He did not even attempt to do that. I saw no attempts at changing anything. Washington is just as corrupt as ever.

By: Calfri

Calfri — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:07:47 +0000

I read somewhere that the media here downplays or hides civilians casualties from the drone strikes. Maybe that would account for the difference in their popularity between here and abroad.

Obama’s friends argue that people are disappointed because he couldn’t measure up to his lofty rhetoric about himself. Another argument is that so often he never even tried. On the health care deal, opponents say he and his allies in congress embraced a conservative, market based approach from the beginning, dealing out progressives in a backroom deal with stakeholder industries, then mocked liberals when they cried foul. People haven’t forgotten.

By: barry66

barry66 — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:45:47 +0000

What was all that nonsense about? Norway falling over itself to kiss his behind and give him a peace prize. The humble thing to do was to say ‘give it to me in 4 years if you think I still desrve it.’

Your version of Tony Blair. All show and no substance.