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Hedley wrote:For those with short memories, JFK also inspired exactly
the same feelings of hope and optimism, and he presided
over the slaughter at the Bay of Pigs:
For those with really short memories, JFK also had more successes in less than 3 years, than GW had in eight.
Civil rights and racial integration.
Initiation of the Moon Landing program
Defusing the Cuban Missle Crisis without nuclear annihilation.
... for a start.
Pretty much the only thing people say GW was successful at ... (well... Fox News people, anyway) ...was "keeping America safe", and even THAT is disputable.
9/11 was hatched by a financier and a handful of radicals... When their bolt was shot, there were immediately 19 less of them, their financier was in hiding, and the entire world... including the Muslim countries.... were America's friends and allies.
Now THAT would have made America safe.
But in the meantime, his interference in Iraq has not only radicallized tens of thousands more, but has given them real-world combat training. Not to mention encouraging any home-grown crackpot with a balaclava and a couple of firecrackers.
Had America not lifted a finger in Iraq, there is a real possibility that Saddam would either have been destroyed by his own people in the intervening seven years.... or he would have pissed off everybody else so badly that a true coalition of the really willing would have been formed.... (including Arab countries) ....with a much higher probability of success.
A key principle when trying to solve an emergency is to "do no harm".
What I like best about Dubya today is that he's not the messiah. God I am so sick of this media hysteria about Barak. He's a celebrity. And he's in for a huge let down when the press and the Dems finally go after him. Which is already starting. Harry Reid ( Dem majority leader in the Senate) is already screaming about how "Barak Obama is not my boss" I just hope the Repubs have the sense to wait thru a year of the Dems bashing him before they start in themselves. I voted for McCain but I like Barak. I'm perfectly happy he's president. I'm happy we have a president who is so well spoken. So charming. Has such a hot wife. But I'm
not happy with his celebrity. We didn't elect Brittany Spears for gods sake. Sooner or later he has to step up and lead. We'll see how that goes.
Stinson4118C wrote:What I like best about Dubya today is that he's not the messiah.
Oh, but 5 or 6 years ago years ago he was.
He was saving the world from Al-Qaeda
People are so fickle... now they go an find themselves a new messiah.
Stinson4118C wrote:]
But I'm
not happy with his celebrity. We didn't elect Brittany Spears for gods sake. Sooner or later he has to step up and lead. We'll see how that goes.
Maybe it is only me, but Americans as a people appear to be way more willing to worship celebrity than other peoples. Whether sports, or entertainment, or politics, or even criminals. Maybe its because celebrity has beome such a huge part of the economy, and we all know how important it is to "stimulate the economy" or the world will disintigrate.
Hey, it's an easy target. Hard to miss. Like shooting ducks in a barrel.
Hmm, not sure I would trust dick around a gun, ducks, and a barrel... definitely not if I was some old lawyer
seriously though, this is a time will tell situation. Barack might not be the be all and end all, but if he can unite a majority of americans then he will be wielding some true power. Especially if he manages to do it without underhanded fear trickery.
I personally believe the right is so scared to death of the success of obama that they will do anything they can to tear him down. After all, who really likes to look like the loser. If obama does manage to turn the country around then he will have a great position to argue that republicans and the right were the problem. The side effect will be that those on the right who still are non-believers will look like the biggest gaggle of ignorant fools the world has ever seen. Unless the right decides to tow the party line, then when another election rolls around they can say that at least they tried to be a part of a solution. What's the saying, too many chiefs not enough indians...
It's almost like the right is praying for the collective failure of all of america just to prove their political point. Put up against a celebrity / messiah I would choose that over a sore loser any day of the week.
It's time for the right to get with the times and help push the car out of the ditch. Credit is frozen and nobody is going to lend enough money to buy a new car so you might as well work together to rescue the one you have, no matter which wing of the political spectrum you might call your home unity and a plan will most certainly work better than division and chaos.
About this whole going into Afghanistan and Iraq business, immediatly post 9/11, EVERYONE wanted the United States to launch an offensive attack against Bin Laden, and frankly, had he not, instead of talking about how he shouldn't have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, right now we would be talking about how incompetent he was as a leader because he wouldn't send troops to fight for the country. Now you guys are going to argue that just because they went in 8 years ago, that doesnt mean they should still be there, but heres what I have to say to that... War isn't like a box of lego that you can start and walk away from because something better comes along, not by a long shot. Even back in the First World War, they expected it to be a short couple month venture, but soon learn't that it wasn't how they imagined it, and prepared for the long haul. The people back then did not care that it was going to last longer than anticipated, because they knew that their freedom was at stake, and wanted to protect it, rather than the people today who just care about who's wearing what, whether they should get the Venté or the Grandé latte, checking their blackberry, etc. everyone is seemingly oblivious that the soldiers in Afghanistan are fighting for your freedom, and safety, they arent just there because they like waking up in the morning unable to completly rid theirselves of the sand that is coating every square inch of their bodies. Imagine what the world would be like right now had we withdrawn before the war was won back in the early 1900's. It's possible that pulling out now could be worse for the US than staying would be, because then the Taliban can claim that they have succesfully defeated the United States Army, a next to near impossible feat by anyone, much less any single army. Sure it may be costing the government of the United States large sums of money, but look at the positive side. In today's economy, rather than possibly being laid of by a company back home, these soldiers have job security and a steady paycheck, The vehicles, machinery, weaponry, aircraft, munitions, etc, all have to be built by someone, and each of these companies are going to require parts, and machinery from other companies, which have to be transported to them, all in all weaving a vary large network of jobs. Without this war, this net would be considerably constricted, and we would see more people out living on the streets because their companies couldnt afford to keep them on.
About the issue of the whole misspeakings of GWB, think about it for a second, in today's world nothing is private anymore, especially when your the president of the United States, he has a camera on him near 24 hours a day, sure he's going to make a slip up here and there, its human nature, im sure Barrack will make the same mistakes, but guess what? right now he is God to the media, and anything he says or does is just swept under the table by them (for example, jumping the gun while taking the oath yesterday, the reporters just laughed it off, but had Dubya made the same mistake, it would be the butt of every joke for the next year). This really shows you how much of an effect the media has on peoples lives, how it can singlehandedly make a very accomplished man and great leader and make him the laughing stock of an entire country, but at the same time, propel an average man into a level of superstardom in no time at all.
Im not saying that I am a Bush supporter, nor am I an Obama basher, in fact I think that he will be a great Commander in Chief for The U.S. of A. What I am saying though, is that we really need to look at the entire picture here, without the media bias before all these Bush bashing's and Obama Praisings.
I appologize that the grammer, etc. may not be the greatest, but to be honest i'm writing this way to late to really care :p
k411 wrote:About this whole going into Afghanistan and Iraq business, immediatly post 9/11, EVERYONE wanted the United States to launch an offensive attack against Bin Laden, and frankly, had he not, instead of talking about how he shouldn't have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, right now we would be talking about how incompetent he was as a leader because he wouldn't send troops to fight for the country.
"EVERYONE" wanted action against Bin Laden, hence in Afghanistan.
Iraq? Not so much. Prior to Bush's speech on Oct 7,2002, less than 50% of Americans supported an invasion of Iraq. After the speech, support jumped to almost 60-40.
A speech which had so much "misinformation" (to be charitable) in it that most countries, including Canada, smelled a rat, and stayed out.
Actually it was Chief Justice Roberts who blew it. Obama knew Roberts blew it, but went along anyway probably because 2 billion people were watching. Given Obama's proven attention to detail I'm sure he's had the oath committed to memory for several years now. And as a matter of fact rather than downplaying it the press is making much more out of it than it deserves. Obama was the President at noon with or without the oath.
misspeakings of GWB ... I'm sure Barrack will make the same mistakes
Didn't Barack blow his oath of office speach on Inauguration day,
and have to do it again the next day?
If GWB had done that, the leftie media would have made hay.
But, Barack is treated with enormous love and affection by
the leftie media, as opposed to the hostility and invective
that they spewed at GWB.
Who here has a Master's degree from Harvard?
Well, y'know the media really is giving him a free ride... only the one truly patriotic network is questioning this unjust, illegal action. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=_LUtNway9x4
It's a little ironic hearing fox news ponder the legitimacy of Obama's Presidency because of a small error in the oath, when their own poster boy pretty much stole the election in 2000 with their help.
