I'm glad the president's speech was well-received by so many in both the Muslim world and the USA.\

He is going out on quite a limb, if you don't know.
Most politicians don't take stance on principles, yet the new president has had to give lectures about how torture is bad, how personal freedom is stronger than the government prohibiting abortion, how religious wars are not in the ideals (or best spirit) of America, etc.

Most politicians take polls before they speak and do all they can to avoid controversy, while President Obama dives right into the heart of the issues. It's very bold...and risky. There are a lot of forces that would like to bring him down...and a lot of people who think p...

I'm glad the president's speech was well-received by so many in both the Muslim world and the USA.\

He is going out on quite a limb, if you don't know.
Most politicians don't take stance on principles, yet the new president has had to give lectures about how torture is bad, how personal freedom is stronger than the government prohibiting abortion, how religious wars are not in the ideals (or best spirit) of America, etc.

Most politicians take polls before they speak and do all they can to avoid controversy, while President Obama dives right into the heart of the issues. It's very bold...and risky. There are a lot of forces that would like to bring him down...and a lot of people who think politics means nothing but criticizing rather than see the need for supporting someone or something that is obviously better.

Obama is better than the past eight nightmare Bush years, 4 sure and if you see that I'd hope folks would support him in any ways they can.

The Democratic Congress, unfortunately, does not seems to have the same courage. It might be good to vote for some 'fresh faces,' in the next Democratic primary

Now we'll get to see how it all works out, in details, in the real world.

If you're not a Yank I'd mentioned what might not be clear:
1. Obama is for real. He is not a fabrication of some PR company or a candidate of only big corporations or the military. He's not putting out ideas to deceive.
(Although perhaps there is a U.S.A. ideology that all Yanks have that could be seen that way: we're good, we come only wanting peace & justice, etc.)

2. He means what he says.

I think those foreign powers who may currently underestimate him are in for a 'rude awakening."

His domestic opponents, too, make a mistake thinking he can be made a whipping boy for all their ills.

Johnny be good, as they say.

citizenbfk
Obama wouldn't have to clear much of a hurdle to appear markedly better than Bush/Cheney. You're right : he sounds much better. Unhappily, there is a nagging feeling that changing the target of the American military machine from killing Iraqis to killing Pakistanis and Afghans in their homes is not just nor progressive, either.
Nor has substantive progress been made clearing Gitmo of known innocents tortured into madness without due process ( tough when dealing with illegal actions ) and without demonstrating that a single American life was saved in the process : while military commenters have baldly stated that hundreds or thousands of American servicemen are dead because the ou...

citizenbfk
Obama wouldn't have to clear much of a hurdle to appear markedly better than Bush/Cheney. You're right : he sounds much better. Unhappily, there is a nagging feeling that changing the target of the American military machine from killing Iraqis to killing Pakistanis and Afghans in their homes is not just nor progressive, either.
Nor has substantive progress been made clearing Gitmo of known innocents tortured into madness without due process ( tough when dealing with illegal actions ) and without demonstrating that a single American life was saved in the process : while military commenters have baldly stated that hundreds or thousands of American servicemen are dead because the outrage over these actions have whipped anti-American sentiment madly.
The response ? To decry reporting truth as disloyal.
Weep. Secrecy is no ally of open-handed friendship : but rather the screen of a thief and murderer.
There's a classic piece recognized and honoured by veterans of war.
http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm
Another is short...and sour. War...is Hell.

@oldephartte - you are very correct.

Thanks for the link: http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm - The idea of taking the profit out of war by "drafting," the war profiteers is quite interesting. If it could ever be done it would certainly take some fuel out of the fire and I run across very few ideas that would have enough "real teeth," to take a bite out of war.

Being suspicious of the USA's real intent and not being lulled by it's pretty words is also a very solid point of view. Like human nature everywhere, it tries to hide it's evil and greed and cover up it's crimes or ill intent with nice-sounding or misleading words.

I only offer the idea that not only is Pre...

@oldephartte - you are very correct.

Thanks for the link: http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm - The idea of taking the profit out of war by "drafting," the war profiteers is quite interesting. If it could ever be done it would certainly take some fuel out of the fire and I run across very few ideas that would have enough "real teeth," to take a bite out of war.

Being suspicious of the USA's real intent and not being lulled by it's pretty words is also a very solid point of view. Like human nature everywhere, it tries to hide it's evil and greed and cover up it's crimes or ill intent with nice-sounding or misleading words.

I only offer the idea that not only is President Obama better (and true, being better than Bush/Cheney isn't much) -- but he is for real.

We are use to our politicians being two-faced, charlatans, insincere often with a secret agenda or greedy, personal interests.

We also use to politicians who talk and nothing gets done.

So, in truth, time will tell how well the new president is able to turn his ideas and ideals into reality: Actions do speak louder than words.

Obama also defeated Hillary Clinton, btw, and that was a harder and closer battle and Hillary would have been more of the status quo choice, more of the same as usual.

Although, too, it may not seem much to pledge to end one war only to increase another -- it is totally astounding in all of American history for a president to say a war was WRONG! That it should not have been started.

Although it may seem hard to believe, him saying that torture is also WRONG has been a battle for him and the closing of Gitmo and restoring justice...with even the Democratic Congress now balking due to the false fear whipped up by the non-stop warmongers.

The president also going to Egypt to speak is near shocking to some and to speak well of Islam (and rebuff Israel) while major forces have been working decades to stir up anti-Muslim feelings no slight or easy task.