"Even more disturbing is Obama's "startlingly shallow" unwillingness to man up to his policy failures or decline to comment when presented with an opportunity to blame George W. Bush."

Perhaps Obama is simply being gracious. If his reluctance to lay blame irks you then write to your local congressman or woman and tell them you expect Obama to hold Bush et al publicly accountantable for the US led wars against Afghanistan and Iraq and support for fascist Israel. Too easy mate, as we Aussies say.

"political liability exposing him as both an unprincipled person and leader. "

No brownie points there: Bush and his murderous cronies made it dead easy to spot unprincipled politicans.

Oh dear mo...

"Even more disturbing is Obama's "startlingly shallow" unwillingness to man up to his policy failures or decline to comment when presented with an opportunity to blame George W. Bush."

Perhaps Obama is simply being gracious. If his reluctance to lay blame irks you then write to your local congressman or woman and tell them you expect Obama to hold Bush et al publicly accountantable for the US led wars against Afghanistan and Iraq and support for fascist Israel. Too easy mate, as we Aussies say.

"political liability exposing him as both an unprincipled person and leader. "

No brownie points there: Bush and his murderous cronies made it dead easy to spot unprincipled politicans.

Oh dear mountainpalm..."Foible after foible, Obama is proving...". Sorry, but foible is a noun. Back 2 school for u. (Hope pointing this out doesn't mean we can't still be fronds?).

"Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds". - Albert Einstein.

Steve Savage..I was referring to the context.

JackieDel, you said,

Sorry, but foible is a noun

Nice try covering your ass, but I see no reference to context in your snide remark.

If you had bothered to read the article, you would have seen for yourself that it was was not mountainpalm who penned the words, "Foible after foible." It was the author of of the article, [b]Jeannie DeAngelis,[/b] which he only happened to clip:
The Sullied Savior Blames Bush
By Jeannie DeAngelis

If you have a beef with her writing style, take it up with her.

Also, do me a favor, don't bother commenting on anything I say on a post.

As I told you on one of you...

Steve Savage..I was referring to the context.

JackieDel, you said,

Sorry, but foible is a noun

Nice try covering your ass, but I see no reference to context in your snide remark.

If you had bothered to read the article, you would have seen for yourself that it was was not mountainpalm who penned the words, "Foible after foible." It was the author of of the article, [b]Jeannie DeAngelis,[/b] which he only happened to clip:
The Sullied Savior Blames Bush
By Jeannie DeAngelis

If you have a beef with her writing style, take it up with her.

Also, do me a favor, don't bother commenting on anything I say on a post.

As I told you on one of your clips, I don't appreciate your making ad hominem attacks on me and encouraging others on your clips to do the same while blocking me from responding.

I know you think this is bullshit, but I don't care! You will find out in due time.

I said that I noted your unsolicited attack against my character on the Akashic Record and you are in my debt whether you believe it or not.

Hi Bobby.

Of course I know you. How've you been?

You said:

Please, the Bush family practically darns the socks of the House of Saud and tucks them in at night.

As I said, laughable.

I quite agree with you, Bobby. Bush, Obama, and however far back it goes when our Presidents first became the puppets of the oligarchs, are truly a laughable, pitiful, dispicable lot.

How about when Bush called himself "The Decider?"

Both of these guys, "Mortimer Snerd" and "Leroy Cool," are just a couple of dummies with Edgar Bergen's and Kenny Warren's (the Oligarch's) hands up their asses, pulling the strings making it look like they're doing the talking.

And how ab...

Hi Bobby.

Of course I know you. How've you been?

You said:

Please, the Bush family practically darns the socks of the House of Saud and tucks them in at night.

As I said, laughable.

I quite agree with you, Bobby. Bush, Obama, and however far back it goes when our Presidents first became the puppets of the oligarchs, are truly a laughable, pitiful, dispicable lot.

How about when Bush called himself "The Decider?"

Both of these guys, "Mortimer Snerd" and "Leroy Cool," are just a couple of dummies with Edgar Bergen's and Kenny Warren's (the Oligarch's) hands up their asses, pulling the strings making it look like they're doing the talking.

And how about Obama pretending that he knows what's going on when he hasn't a clue as to what's happening?

* He was unaware that he was attending a church (for 20 years) with a racist pastor who hates America .
* He was unaware that he was family friends with, and started his political career in the living room of, a domestic terrorist.
* He was unaware that he had invested in two speculative companies backed by some of his top donors right after taking office in 2005.
* He was unaware of the AIG bonuses that he and his administration approved and signed into a bill.
* He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Commerce was under investigation in a bribery scandal.
* He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services was a tax cheat.
* He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of the Treasury was a tax cheat.
* He was unaware that the man he nominated to be the U..S. Trade Representative was a tax cheat.
* He was unaware that the woman he nominated to be his Chief Performance Officer was a tax cheat.
* He was unaware that the man he nominated to be #2 at the Environmental Protection Agency was under investigation for mismanaging $25 million in EPA grants.

Nice bullet points Steve but you need to have your gun sights realigned.

I asked the poster of the clip to point out the policy failures of President Obama that the clipper has mentioned.

You, in defense of mountainpalm, have pointed out the Obama Administrations vetting problems which have, really, nothing to do with this clip.

So where are the policy failures? I mean after 9 months we have policy failures?

We certainly have 8 years of total disaster under the vacuous W. who had a a personal history that is startlingly shallow set against the scale of the office he seeks to hold.

Here's what a list of policy failures looks like. (All during the Bush Administration).

Problem: Starva...

Nice bullet points Steve but you need to have your gun sights realigned.

I asked the poster of the clip to point out the policy failures of President Obama that the clipper has mentioned.

You, in defense of mountainpalm, have pointed out the Obama Administrations vetting problems which have, really, nothing to do with this clip.

So where are the policy failures? I mean after 9 months we have policy failures?

We certainly have 8 years of total disaster under the vacuous W. who had a a personal history that is startlingly shallow set against the scale of the office he seeks to hold.

Here's what a list of policy failures looks like. (All during the Bush Administration).

Problem: Starvation
According to the USDA, the number of hungry families in the United States rose 26 percent between 2001 and 2006. Worse, the number of families with the least access to enough food rose 32 percent. That’s 1.3 million American families, not including the homeless.

Problem: No Health Insurance
There were 47 million Americans living without health insurance in 2006; that’s 8.6 million more uninsured than there were in 2000.

Problem: Medicare Cheats Off the Hook
A 2007 audit by the Government Accountability Office showed private insurance companies pocketed $59 million in overpayments from Medicare that instead should have gone to better benefits and lower co-payments or lower premiums for older Americans. At the same time, the White House refused to audit these companies and to try to recover the missing money.

Problem: Seniors Can’t Afford Their Meds
In April 2007, Bush refused to sign a Senate bill that would have allowed Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices from pharmaceutical companies.

Problem: Toxic Lack of Prosecution of Polluters
Under the current administration, the EPA sharply decreased the prosecution of criminal cases against polluters. New prosecutions, new investigations, and total convictions all plummeted by a third.

The list goes on.

Thanks for that Bobby.

Also..from a revealing article in 'Asia Times Online' (not exactly a hotbed of radicalism) which details the effect the Bush administration had on US business interests:

"progressive economists Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot detailed a possible worst-case scenario in a policy report entitled "The Economic Costs of a War in Iraq. Beyond the costs of anti-Americanism abroad", they focused on three additional areas of concern: A war-related oil shock that might cost the American economy hundreds of thousands of jobs over a seven-year period; a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the US, which might result in increased security costs, slowing the growth of the Gross Do...

Thanks for that Bobby.

Also..from a revealing article in 'Asia Times Online' (not exactly a hotbed of radicalism) which details the effect the Bush administration had on US business interests:

"progressive economists Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot detailed a possible worst-case scenario in a policy report entitled "The Economic Costs of a War in Iraq. Beyond the costs of anti-Americanism abroad", they focused on three additional areas of concern: A war-related oil shock that might cost the American economy hundreds of thousands of jobs over a seven-year period; a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the US, which might result in increased security costs, slowing the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and a likelihood that increased oil prices would drag the developing world into a deep recession."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/GK05Dj01.html

Now who wrote "Take no responsibility.......... pass the blame."?

@BobbyRutan, you asked:

I asked the poster of the clip to point out the policy failures of President Obama that the clipper has mentioned.

So where are the policy failures? I mean after 9 months we have policy failures?

Bobby, I really can't speak for mountainpalm, but I will speak up for him. It appears to me that mountainpalm merely clipped the article by Jeannie DeAngelis sans any personal commentary either defending or agreeing with the author.

For all we know, he may have just posted it to see what kind of reaction it would draw from the Peanut Gallery. He may actually agree with you for all that any of us really know - not having a Crystal Ball, etc.

If ...

@BobbyRutan, you asked:

I asked the poster of the clip to point out the policy failures of President Obama that the clipper has mentioned.

So where are the policy failures? I mean after 9 months we have policy failures?

Bobby, I really can't speak for mountainpalm, but I will speak up for him. It appears to me that mountainpalm merely clipped the article by Jeannie DeAngelis sans any personal commentary either defending or agreeing with the author.

For all we know, he may have just posted it to see what kind of reaction it would draw from the Peanut Gallery. He may actually agree with you for all that any of us really know - not having a Crystal Ball, etc.

If you really don't know what Obama's policy failures are, if any, it may be because as the Right contends, that the MSM is not reporting them.

To satisfy your curiosity, I suggest that you contact Ms. DeAngelis directly, or take a look at James Petras's "Obama’s Foreign Policy Failures: Diplomacy, Militarism and Imagery."
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/05/obama%E2%80%99s-foreign-policy-failures-diplomacy-militarism-and-imagery/

That may be of some help to you. There are more, I'm sure, if you wish to take the time to google them.

By the way, Bobby, if you would, would you be so kind as to take a bit of time to inform us as to what you know to be Obama's Policy Successes.

Unfortunately, all any of us know, for uncertain, is what we are reading in the Orwellian newspapers, and even they are always complaining about lack of transparency in the Obama Administration, especially the president's conduct of the healthcare debate, which has
included closed-door White House meetings with powerful interest groups.

It looks like the "Seat at the Table” Transparency Policy," is a fixed game of musical chairs.

When the music stopped, there was no seat for the American People.

Dear Steve…….I guess some people think that this blog has been created for their sole
entertainment and criticism. Instead of it being a HIGHWAY of INFORMATION SHARED……they take everything written as a personal attack on them or their liberal thinking……….even including lesson in the proper use of the English language.
I apologize for leaving you out there to defend me………or explain what your opinion on my take was, on all of this. I appreciate your thoughts………and you were right on
point with almost all of the “RHETORIC”. I would say in retrospect, that I found the article that I clipped to be very informative, and thought other’s would enjoy this view….
Bobby and Jackie…………I know there i...

Dear Steve…….I guess some people think that this blog has been created for their sole
entertainment and criticism. Instead of it being a HIGHWAY of INFORMATION SHARED……they take everything written as a personal attack on them or their liberal thinking……….even including lesson in the proper use of the English language.
I apologize for leaving you out there to defend me………or explain what your opinion on my take was, on all of this. I appreciate your thoughts………and you were right on
point with almost all of the “RHETORIC”. I would say in retrospect, that I found the article that I clipped to be very informative, and thought other’s would enjoy this view….
Bobby and Jackie…………I know there is YOUR side to this discussion, but this is not
a forum to debate……..Just take the information and run with it, enlighten yourself, or
as far as I am concerned, you can stick it where the sun don’t shine……..(and don’t
address my INCORRECT useage of the ADVERB!) This has gone on too long……Find someone else to belittle…..criticize, and demean………I’m done with you……..
Respectfully,
Mountainpalm

Mountainpalm,

Actually this community exists to discuss topics. Some call it debate. Take your pick. Unless you resort to what other countless conservatives resort to which is to extinguish debate because they are not up to the challenge. I guess we will see.

Steve, I offer you every opportunity to report on President Obama's policy failure. It's obvious you have more than enough time on your hands to create prose and create bullet lists that do not answer the question. So please give it another try. The clipper mentioned President Obama's policy failures and I asked the question before you have tried to deflect the topic with your own question.

I am still waiting. What are President Oba...

Mountainpalm,

Actually this community exists to discuss topics. Some call it debate. Take your pick. Unless you resort to what other countless conservatives resort to which is to extinguish debate because they are not up to the challenge. I guess we will see.

Steve, I offer you every opportunity to report on President Obama's policy failure. It's obvious you have more than enough time on your hands to create prose and create bullet lists that do not answer the question. So please give it another try. The clipper mentioned President Obama's policy failures and I asked the question before you have tried to deflect the topic with your own question.

I am still waiting. What are President Obama's policy failures after only 9 months?

Additionally Steve, I do take time out to investigate the tone of a clipper. What their other clips are about before deciding using only a single clip. I also investigate the quoted blogger, Ms. DeAngelis (who doesn't seem to have any other credentials for in depth world affairs and political analysis than being a grandmother.... bravo, we all have opinions).

When mountainpalm clips other clips with titles such as "Obama's Hidden Agenda" I think my determination of where moutainpalm is coming from is quite accurate. As usual Steve, your commentary is ridiculous.

Bobby, you said:

Steve, I offer you every opportunity to report on President Obama's
policy failure. It's obvious you have more than enough time on your
hands to create prose and create bullet lists that do not answer the
question.

It's just that you're a time-waster, Bobby. You've got some sort of compulsion to create unresolvable arguments that go on ad nauseum, taking up time that could be better spent looking at a mugof coffee motivational clip, a JohnWaterman clip of some scenic beauty, a BartendingBear joke clip, etc. etc.

I don't know how many people look at Clipmarks, but I'm certain that the reasons they do are as varied as they themselves. We're not all one-dimensio...

Bobby, you said:

Steve, I offer you every opportunity to report on President Obama's
policy failure. It's obvious you have more than enough time on your
hands to create prose and create bullet lists that do not answer the
question.

It's just that you're a time-waster, Bobby. You've got some sort of compulsion to create unresolvable arguments that go on ad nauseum, taking up time that could be better spent looking at a mugof coffee motivational clip, a JohnWaterman clip of some scenic beauty, a BartendingBear joke clip, etc. etc.

I don't know how many people look at Clipmarks, but I'm certain that the reasons they do are as varied as they themselves. We're not all one-dimensionally fixated on politics, if at all.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and everyone is right from their point of view. But you're acting like some kind of control freak attacking those who don't see things as you do.

I mean, come on, Bobby, lighten up. We're all just trying to read really interesting stuff that clippers have so generously posted for us to enjoy.

Sure, sometimes we use emoticons in place of words, give a "Pop," here and there, express some thoughts, etc., but our activities aren't going to mean "diddly squat" in the river of centuries.

No amount of argument, it seems, would ever dissuade you from what looks like a pathological obsession with Obama, but here's one report, if you're really that interested in a view opposed to yours:

"O'S FOREIGN FAILURES
NEW PREZ FLUNKING GLOBAL TESTS
AMERICA'S enemies smell blood and it's type "O."
All new administrations stumble a bit as they seek their footing. But President Obama's foreign-policy botches have set new records for instant incompetence. - Ralph Peters
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnist/foreign_failures_EFVAbVQE6ha9gxII9f212K/0

Oh Steve,

You know the road travels in both directions. If I am a waste of time, stop responding. Your ridiculous replies continue ad nauseum as well, whether it is speaking up for mountainpalm, asserting that sub-Saharan Africans on average are retarded, or wanting to punish people with the death penalty when evidence is based on old wive's tales instead of science. No one forced you to respond. You are the controller of your universe. Go read a Bartending Bear joke or Mug of Coffee inspirational clip. You are more than welcome to.

As everyone is entitled to an opinion they are also entitled to have their beliefs challenged. My obsession is with those who make statements that have no sci...

Oh Steve,

You know the road travels in both directions. If I am a waste of time, stop responding. Your ridiculous replies continue ad nauseum as well, whether it is speaking up for mountainpalm, asserting that sub-Saharan Africans on average are retarded, or wanting to punish people with the death penalty when evidence is based on old wive's tales instead of science. No one forced you to respond. You are the controller of your universe. Go read a Bartending Bear joke or Mug of Coffee inspirational clip. You are more than welcome to.

As everyone is entitled to an opinion they are also entitled to have their beliefs challenged. My obsession is with those who make statements that have no scientific or factual basis. Take your link you provided. It was even worse than the original clip. You submitted as proof an article written in March of this year, only 90 days after President Obama took office? Policy failures are known after a mere 90 days? This is the kind of junk I find laughable (in addition to your googling for any article that used the words Obama and policy failure. Mr. Peters is a FAUX news hack who has been put on the record for waffling on issues by observant readers).

It's also interesting that Antara's name should be brought up as she is one of the conservative clippers who frequently makes comment on progressive clippers clips. She is one of those people who challenges others to explain and provide evidence for "their opinion". When I am challenged by her I supply the evidence. I don't sit and moan that I am being asked to support my ridiculous political clip.

The notion that people put a clip up simply because it was, wow, interesting, and that they are not projecting their own beliefs is also ridiculous.

I don't know how many responses I have read using the words "your just a Bush hater" and then I look at those around us who can declare policy failures after 9 months. I find that interesting.

Bobby, as a father who has three sons who are being deployed to Afghanistan: an 82nd Airborne Major, this week; a 101st Airborne Ranger Captain, in March; and, a SP4 Infantryman, in May; I don't really give a shit whether Obama's domestic issues fail or not.

My primary concern, right now, is that we've got a so-called Commander-in-Chief in the White House who is like a deer frozen in the headlights. He is still in campaign mode when we have serious threats to our existence that need to be addressed "yesterday."

OK, so he was afraid to take a stand in the Senate by voting "Present" 129 times. That's understandable considering his inexperience, but he's present now as President, and the Sa...

Bobby, as a father who has three sons who are being deployed to Afghanistan: an 82nd Airborne Major, this week; a 101st Airborne Ranger Captain, in March; and, a SP4 Infantryman, in May; I don't really give a shit whether Obama's domestic issues fail or not.

My primary concern, right now, is that we've got a so-called Commander-in-Chief in the White House who is like a deer frozen in the headlights. He is still in campaign mode when we have serious threats to our existence that need to be addressed "yesterday."

OK, so he was afraid to take a stand in the Senate by voting "Present" 129 times. That's understandable considering his inexperience, but he's present now as President, and the Salesman gig for the Chicago Benefit Olympic Committee is over.

Why doesn't he either shit or get of the pot? He was the one who appointed McChrystal and asked for the report.

Why are we being fed all this bullshit about the report working its way up the Chain of Command when he already had it for several weeks. We've got more American kids killed on his watch, this year, than all those killed from 2001 to 2008.

There is no Obama policy, no issue, that means jackshit to me other than guaranteeing the safety of my sons and knowing that they're fighting for a country that supports them in every way, even if it means that every American must starve to death to keep them in the fight.

If you can get your lips surgically removed from his ass long enough, tell him that if he wants to be a real Commander-in Chief that he must exercise every means in his power to be worthy of the Warriors Code of Honor.

Napoleon thought that the highest name that could be given to any man was "Soldier." How they loved him when he addressed them as such.

He always wore a Red Coat, so that if wounded, the blood would not show and discourage his men.

Makes you wonder why Obama always wears Brown Pants.

Ahem Steve, why are you wasting your time? Don't you have jokes or inspirations to read? Or are your words just hollow blathering?

Now your using Napolean as an example? All you conservatives froth at the mouth over supposed President Obama power grabs and now your citing Napolean as the type of leader you would want? I guess President Obama should just go ahead and declare himself Emperor and now you would be satisfied. What a laugh riot.

Napolean over extended his armies and brought his country to defeat. Do the disastrous Russian campaign and the battles of Leipzig and Waterloo mean anything to you? How about the fact that Napolean spent the last 6 years of his life as prisoner under Br...

Ahem Steve, why are you wasting your time? Don't you have jokes or inspirations to read? Or are your words just hollow blathering?

Now your using Napolean as an example? All you conservatives froth at the mouth over supposed President Obama power grabs and now your citing Napolean as the type of leader you would want? I guess President Obama should just go ahead and declare himself Emperor and now you would be satisfied. What a laugh riot.

Napolean over extended his armies and brought his country to defeat. Do the disastrous Russian campaign and the battles of Leipzig and Waterloo mean anything to you? How about the fact that Napolean spent the last 6 years of his life as prisoner under British supervision on the island of St. Helena.

Campaign mode? Sounds like you are still in campaign mode. We've already covered the ground of the present votes (which were in the Illinois senate not the U.S. senate just for clarification). A majority of the present votes were to indicate that you have a disagreement with a portion of the bill. That's how the Illinois state form of government works. Let's see what a Illinois republican has to say about present votes.

“To insinuate the ‘present’ vote means you’re indecisive, that you don’t have the courage to hold public office, that’s a stretch. But, it’s good politics,” said state Rep. Bill Black (R), a 22-year veteran of the House and his party’s floor leader.

In fact, he said, Illinois legislators get attacked for their “present” votes nearly every campaign season. “It’s always been a campaign gimmick, really. If you vote ‘present’ once in 23 years, somebody will bring it up.”

The “present” vote in Illinois is sometimes cast by state lawmakers with a conflict of interest who would rather not weigh in on an issue. Other times, members use the option to object to certain parts of a bill, even though they may agree with its overall purpose.

I truly wonder about Afghanistan. After all it is the failed war that President Bush should have fought but they were planning for the invasion of Iraq before troops even hit the soil of Afghanistan.

I do believe that the Bush administrations actions have already doomed Afghanistan for failure. I posted a clip a couple of years ago about the number of security forces required to successfully provide peace to any region. The report was produced by Rand Corporation. With the debt from Bush's Iraq and from Bush's economic collapse, I really don't think people would stomach what it really takes to provide the security that would lead to the type of development needed to change Afghanistan.

But...

I truly wonder about Afghanistan. After all it is the failed war that President Bush should have fought but they were planning for the invasion of Iraq before troops even hit the soil of Afghanistan.

I do believe that the Bush administrations actions have already doomed Afghanistan for failure. I posted a clip a couple of years ago about the number of security forces required to successfully provide peace to any region. The report was produced by Rand Corporation. With the debt from Bush's Iraq and from Bush's economic collapse, I really don't think people would stomach what it really takes to provide the security that would lead to the type of development needed to change Afghanistan.

But then again if President Obama leaves Afghanistan the republicans will just use it as campaign fodder saying he is unpatriotic. Even you Steve, appear not to take a stand on the issue. You just want action. I am already aware that you will just follow your commanders orders whatever they are. We have already covered that ground.

But back to the original clip from grandma DeAngelis has no previous experience to indicate that she is any more insightful on domestic policy or international policy than any other grandma in the U.S. It is a joke to cite policy failure after policy failure after only 9 months of any presidents tenure. This clip is merely an attack piece by all the President Obama haters.

Warning Steve, don't waste your time.

Steve Savage: "We've got more American kids killed on his watch, this year, than all those killed from 2001 to 2008."

I'm assuming you believe the increase in troop deaths is because Obama has not yet sent in more soldiers? If so think about this:

Should Obama increase troop numbers when opinion polls show there is growing opposition to the war within the US and their NATO allies?
Should he risk alienating the people who voted for him partly because they are sick and tired of being sent to war.
How many more US kids should be sacrificed to win another unwinnable war - as happened in Vietnam?

Incidentally where were you Steve Savage when your fellow Americans were opposing the invasion ...

Steve Savage: "We've got more American kids killed on his watch, this year, than all those killed from 2001 to 2008."

I'm assuming you believe the increase in troop deaths is because Obama has not yet sent in more soldiers? If so think about this:

Should Obama increase troop numbers when opinion polls show there is growing opposition to the war within the US and their NATO allies?
Should he risk alienating the people who voted for him partly because they are sick and tired of being sent to war.
How many more US kids should be sacrificed to win another unwinnable war - as happened in Vietnam?

Incidentally where were you Steve Savage when your fellow Americans were opposing the invasion of a sovereign nation in violation of the UN charter and international criminal law. Were you rallying to Bush's war cry and encouraging your kids to don military uniforms in readiness to fight wars for corporate America? If so quit bellyaching - unless you want another full scale Vietnam on your hands. On the other hand if you are truly concerned about troop deaths then you should try actively campaigning against troop build up.

JackieDel,

I'm assuming you believe the increase in troop deaths is because Obama has not yet sent in more soldiers? If so think about this:

Should Obama increase troop numbers when opinion polls show there is growing opposition to the war within the US and their NATO allies?

Should he risk alienating the people who voted for him partly because they are sick and tired of being sent to war.

Jackie, this is the war Obama said was the right one.

Those taking opinion polls are not the ones serving three and four tours in harm's way; it is my sons, and many other sons and daughters, just like them. A Commander-in-Chief should be more concerned with the...

JackieDel,

I'm assuming you believe the increase in troop deaths is because Obama has not yet sent in more soldiers? If so think about this:

Should Obama increase troop numbers when opinion polls show there is growing opposition to the war within the US and their NATO allies?

Should he risk alienating the people who voted for him partly because they are sick and tired of being sent to war.

Jackie, this is the war Obama said was the right one.

Those taking opinion polls are not the ones serving three and four tours in harm's way; it is my sons, and many other sons and daughters, just like them. A Commander-in-Chief should be more concerned with the welfare and safety of his troops, not to sacrifice them on the altar of public opinion to salvage his own historical image.

What is our mission there? When will it be explained to the troops who just want to get the hell out of there. You saw those heartbreaking stories in the London Times, relayed by Chaplain's. The current arrangement of troops in Afghanistan is beginning to look like a fractionated Alamo. The only thing missing to complete the horror is bugles playing the dreaded "Dequello."

How many more US kids should be sacrificed to win another unwinnable war - as happened in Vietnam?

If the Commander-in-Chief believes the war to be unwinnable, then why doesn't he bring the troops home rather than transferring the target from the real Taliban who are killing our kids to the phony bullshit Orwellian enemy - "al Qaeda" - which is nothing more than a CIA Data Base entry?

Were you rallying to Bush's war cry and encouraging your kids to don
military uniforms in readiness to fight wars for corporate America?

My kids went in because of 9-11. When Bush concentrated on Iraq, they were already enlisted. I, having been a successful "white-collar" career criminal for most of my life, really saw no reason why we couldn't have worked something out with

Saddam Hussein but it wasn't my call.

To his credit, Obama is going to apply that strategy - working with the Taliban - probably buying them off like we did with the Sunnis in Irag, and calling that "surge" a success.

Here's the problem: Pakistan has nuclear armaments and is pissed off that we are invading their territory against their wishes.

Should Pakistan fall into the hands of the Taliban / al Qaeda (take your pick), then our avowed enemy, whoever that is, will have gained access to nuclear weapons that could easily be smuggled through our
borders and, on cue, pull a Tet-like offensive by simultaneously reducing our major conurbations to
wastelands.

For that reason, I don't belie...

Saddam Hussein but it wasn't my call.

To his credit, Obama is going to apply that strategy - working with the Taliban - probably buying them off like we did with the Sunnis in Irag, and calling that "surge" a success.

Here's the problem: Pakistan has nuclear armaments and is pissed off that we are invading their territory against their wishes.

Should Pakistan fall into the hands of the Taliban / al Qaeda (take your pick), then our avowed enemy, whoever that is, will have gained access to nuclear weapons that could easily be smuggled through our
borders and, on cue, pull a Tet-like offensive by simultaneously reducing our major conurbations to
wastelands.

For that reason, I don't believe we'll be leaving Afghanistan any time soon.

I believe Obama wants to supply the actual 60,000 troops McChrystal first requested, but where is he going to get them, and how is he going to pay for them.

Not from our NATO allies, that's for sure. They're more interested in warming the bench than getting in the game.

Since Steve doesn't have the courage to say what he would like done here is a good article about the options President Obama has before him.

Click -> Link

Part of the article provided below:

Obama is going about the issue the way he has taken most of his big decisions so far, with a thorough and wide-ranging review. But the general he picked to run the Afghan campaign, Stanley McChrystal, is turning the screw by going public with his demands. For that he earned a public rebuke on Monday from the soft-spoken defence secretary, Robert Gates, who called for advice to be given to the president "candidly bu...

Since Steve doesn't have the courage to say what he would like done here is a good article about the options President Obama has before him.

Click -> Link

Part of the article provided below:

Obama is going about the issue the way he has taken most of his big decisions so far, with a thorough and wide-ranging review. But the general he picked to run the Afghan campaign, Stanley McChrystal, is turning the screw by going public with his demands. For that he earned a public rebuke on Monday from the soft-spoken defence secretary, Robert Gates, who called for advice to be given to the president "candidly but privately".

But the cat is already out of the bag, and the president risks being cast as a ditherer. According to the New York Times, the most testy exchange of the White House session came when McCain implied the president was taking a "leisurely" approach to the problem.

"John, I can assure you this won't be leisurely," Obama is said to have replied. "No one feels more urgency to get this right than I do."

With so many lives at stake, it will be a defining decision for Obama, who must be aware that there may be no good options available, only bad, worse and worst.

Since Steve doesn't have the courage to say what he would like done here is a good article about the options President Obama has before him.

Oh I know what I'd like to have done, Bobby. I just don't want someone knocking on my door in the middle of the night. I've already had my Kafkaesque confrontational experience with the Carter Administration, thank you.

Charles Krauthammer, with whom I am 100% in agreement, says that we have a Hamlet in the White House, unable to make a decision.

If Obama continues to sit on the fence, all he's going to get are splinters in his ass.


Friday, October 09, 2009





...

Since Steve doesn't have the courage to say what he would like done here is a good article about the options President Obama has before him.

Oh I know what I'd like to have done, Bobby. I just don't want someone knocking on my door in the middle of the night. I've already had my Kafkaesque confrontational experience with the Carter Administration, thank you.

Charles Krauthammer, with whom I am 100% in agreement, says that we have a Hamlet in the White House, unable to make a decision.

If Obama continues to sit on the fence, all he's going to get are splinters in his ass.


Friday, October 09, 2009







Young Hamlet's Agony


by Charles Krauthammer http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2009/10/09/young_hamlets_agony?page=full&comments=true

Krauthammer's opinion piece appears a little naive.

"Iraq was saved by the surge" according to Krauthammer. I wonder where he keeps his crystal ball hidden? The Arab-Kurd separation has yet to be settled. 4-5 million Sunni refugees have yet to be re-settled. Governments can be overthrown at any time. Muqtada Al-Sadr could return to Iraq at any time. If the Sunni warriors do not continued to be paid their stipends by the American taxpayer all hell could break loose.

I hope your sons are in it for the long haul because testimony from U.S. field commanders is that a successful counterinsurgency on average takes 14 years. And at the rate of $165 million dollars a day to fight in Afghanistan h...

Krauthammer's opinion piece appears a little naive.

"Iraq was saved by the surge" according to Krauthammer. I wonder where he keeps his crystal ball hidden? The Arab-Kurd separation has yet to be settled. 4-5 million Sunni refugees have yet to be re-settled. Governments can be overthrown at any time. Muqtada Al-Sadr could return to Iraq at any time. If the Sunni warriors do not continued to be paid their stipends by the American taxpayer all hell could break loose.

I hope your sons are in it for the long haul because testimony from U.S. field commanders is that a successful counterinsurgency on average takes 14 years. And at the rate of $165 million dollars a day to fight in Afghanistan health care for everyone could be purchased.

For a different view of McChrystal's troop increase request see the following.

McChrystal's 40,000 Troop Hoax