Obama admits

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Kudos to you for speaking out.
BTW, I'm not a Dem nor did I vote for BO. I just abhor the typical GOP, Right-Wing conservative, Evangelical biases.




You are definitely entitled to your opinion. I think Bush's foreign policy was one of his greatest flaws. Interventionists, knee-jerk, not well thought out (similar to this Libya crisis, but fortunately, we aren't as committed right now). Nation-building is something I'm not a fan of, especially nation-building in Arab countries. Iraq is proving to be a success story? Really? I'm glad you support "enhanced interrogations." I don't.

Post 9/11 national emotion won him early favor, but his leading took us into two countries without clear objectives and strategies (and not a lot of clear communication either), spread out our military and we are still in those two countries far past his term. A full-scale war in Iraq was necessary? Really? Let's talk about the so-called imminent threats shall we? I will give it to him that if intelligence was bad, intelligence was bad. However, even prior to the invasion, the international community, ie Hans Blixer and his inspectors confirmed that there were no WMDs. Conspiracy nuts today will attempt to still cling to the fact that there are, even while the entire Bush Administration in retrospect admit the intelligence was faulty. But the entire strategy wreaked of a Louis Lamour revenge sequel, and the case for revenge was quite speculative. Afghanistan was arguably a good move, the intention of bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice, etc. But we got war happy and decided foreign intervention was in our best interest. 9/11 was an Act of War, on our soil. Being strategic in how we respond and expend our military resources should be considered a little more carefully. And while I don't think the UN should be commanding our troops, having some sort of united front and confidence with the international community is important.



In 1985, President Ronald Reagan flipped the commemorative coin during a live ABC-TV feed before the kickoff of the Super Bowl XIX. Three years later, the Gipper laid out the White House welcome mat for the Washington Redskins after they crushed the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. Sports have a long-standing precedent in Presidential politics. I again point to the fact that Presidents have longed connected with the American fervor and passion for its sports.

To the point about his timing, if he'd canceled his annual bracket extravaganza, he'd be accused of a bunker mentality. The notion that he should have snubbed ESPN taps into the unrealistic gestalt that imagines presidents grapple every moment of their days and nights with the job we've elected them to do. This is why Obama's family vacations cause critics to blow their gaskets — even though the younger President Bush spent 487 days at Camp David and 490 days at his Crawford, Texas, ranch during his two terms.

As venerable CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller told FactCheck.org, true enough, presidents never really punch out: "The job — and its awesome powers and responsibilities — is his wherever he is and whatever he's doing."Even if he's taking a timeout to share a nation's mutual madness.

Timing may not have been best (considering America was waiting on his response about Libya), but timing never is best. And, BTW, I thought the criticisms toward W for the fly over were unfair as well, and were only exacerbated by the tauntings of racism which were utterly deplorable to even consider.



Bush got Congressional approval, true. The claims (and the one that Judge Napolitano make) aren't against him obtaining Congressional approval, they are emphasizing his philosophy of intervention. Your entire last paragraph is baseless and pointless considering I'm not one of those "you guys." Let's not pretend there's not Kool-Aid stains on everyone's lips in Washington either. Obama hasn't blamed anyone. His supporters may be pointing out inconsistencies, but those who are neither Obama supporters or Kool-Aid drinking GOP groupies, are interjecting into this with a perspective about how America should respond in foreign affairs.

Come on Socialite..... "Obama hasn't blamed anyone? You've got to be kidding!"

Been Thinkin