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Amateur Hour at the White House
Matters were made worse on the scene. It was not good optics for Obama to bow to Japan’s emperor. He seems to do this stuff spontaneously and inexplicably, as with his bow to the Saudi King some months ago. And it was truly unfortunate that Obama and his aides didn’t flatly insist that he be allowed to address the Chinese people directly on television and meet with non-stacked Chinese groups—as has been the case during previous presidential visits. Beijing’s leaders obviously didn’t feel confident enough of their own standing at home to give the popular Mr. Obama such access. But he and his team should have made it a precondition of the visit. Its absence left an unhappy taste.
The Asia trip presented an important opportunity to carve out a new American leadership role in the world’s most dynamic economic region, and Mr. Obama missed it.
The White House might try to blame the State Department (such an easy and delicious target) for the missteps. But State’s role in the conceptual planning of the trip was not central, and the department’s senior Asia hand, Kurt Campbell, surely knew better. It’s also hard to tar the National Security Council’s own senior Asia expert, Jeff Bader, another pro like Campbell. Perhaps even higher officials at the NSC dropped the ball. Perhaps Mr. Obama might take responsibility himself, as President Kennedy did after the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1961. Now, that would truly clear the air—and open the door to some obvious and necessary changes in the administration’s decision-making machinery. Every decision, large and small, is shaped and made by the president himself and enforced by Denis McDonough, a deputy NSC adviser and the administration’s Lord High Executioner. Does Obama get enough pushback? Is he hearing a range of views? Can he see that his powerful intellect might profit from bowing to the voices of experience? If Mr. Obama reflects on the Asia journey and other mishaps, he might loosen the reins and bring in additional policy and diplomatic pros as inside counselors or outside advisers.
If most Asia hands inside and outside the government had designed the Obama trip, here’s what they would have advised: Go beyond the usual and trite message of building mutual understanding and cooperation, and stop invoking the God of Multilateralism without spelling out America’s leadership role. Asia is now overflowing with multilateral organizations. Washington is a member of a few key ones, like Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asian Development Bank. But that has little to do with other new and key groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Russia, China, Uzbekistan, etc.) and ASEAN, the association of Southeast Asian nations. Asian nations are increasingly organizing themselves into these groups, and Washington hasn’t really figured out its role. Most Asian nations want that role to be a prominent one—in fact, the leadership position. They’re afraid of China, afraid that China won’t be as attentive to their concerns in the future as America was in the past. At the same time, they don’t want Washington to come into these groupings and cause problems with Beijing. They want Washington to figure out a leadership position constructed on the proven American ability to help solve common problems in the common interest. They want an America they remember, one that can get things done and doesn’t let problems fester.
That U.S. policy was the main missing ingredient on Obama’s trip. Washington played architect and solidified its leadership in Europe after World War II with NATO, the Marshall Plan, and various trade and economic organizations like the World Bank. Asian nations are yearning for the same kind of creativity today from a brilliant American president in the new Pacific Era.
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Speech Had Potential
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
New Doubts About Afghanistan
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
tolatetocry
He should just resign! no confidence in Obama at all!
AlanD2
I'd much rather see you resign from making DB posts, tolatetocry.
crypto
Obamason can't resign.. Who's gonna run this circus. Guess he could take the clowns with him. Now there's an idea. If Obamason would collect up his "staff" and go over to the PLO he could start a new country with it's own Jihad and get us that way. No more coniving, just do it.
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n--Y--martinshAlanD2
martinsh: Out of his 4,000 votes in the Illinois state Senate, Obama voted "present" only 130 times. That's 3% of his votes - not a huge number.
But I do appreciate your Fox News talking points.
Plantagenet
Obama had no problem voting on the easy stuff. When it came to voting on the state flower he was right there to vote. Obama disappeared and voted "present" only on "hard" issues that required tough stands.
AND why does it matter?...I mean, how likely is it that Obama will ever have to make a hard decision or take a stand as president, anyway?
Johnnyappleseed
With a team like that you want him to quit?
Desertpenguin
My admiration for President Obama has grown considerably since he took office.
POTUS has got to be the toughest job on planet earth.
Attacks from everywhere, momumental life-and-death decisions and he handles it better than I expected.
There's not one right-wing ankle-biter on this site or any other that has anything approaching the toughness, compassion, and intelligence it takes to be the leader of the free world.
escomments
Lucky for the rest of us, you only get to have an opinion and not actually control anything.
You might want to stay away from sharp objects!
jcruenv
That's hysterical.
I know at least fifty to a hundred men with whom I served who have more toughness, more compassion, and far more intelligence than Dr. Utopia. Some of them might have even leaned to the Right. Quelle suprise!
These men do not pretend they are ready for a job like POTUS, they didn't have to lie and make deals to get to where they are, they've already done far more to prove their toughness, intelligence, compassion, abilities, devotion, and competence. And these men, unlike the POTUS, have resumes and life experiences that prove it.
Many are called Captain, Major, Colonel, Gunny, Sergeant, Top, Chief and they have done real community organization that entails actual building, managing, and risking failure which can include life-and-death of the people with whom they serve.
POTUS has done nothing of the sort and is obviously out of his league while on the job training occurs. The job is the toughest in the world and it is sad to see someone so "bright" surround himself with so many who are so inept.
MrsRamsey
I believe you must have your brains fried from being a desertpenguin.
There has never been a weaker president in this country. Never one that feels that he should wake up everyday with the agenda of betraying the American People AND it's allies.
dana64
Obama is being UNJUSTLY attacked...............and the more they attack him ......the more i feel like defending him.
PEOPLE who attack him on the DEFICIT and DEBT should know that the ALTERNATIVE was.......................a DEPRESSION !!
Did they want that ??? another depression?
HOW STUPID AND MEAN can people be !!
dana64
DEsertpenguin , thanks
My admiration for BARACK has not grown but my COMPASSION has tripled .
everytime they attack him unjustly..........
newswoman
I think President Obama should stay home now. We need his guidance and inspiration. Our country is in deep doo doo financially and he knows that better than anyone. How can we pay for more troops to Afghanistan unless we levy a WAR TAX? It is the best idea I have heard in a long time. But will the Congress go for it? I doubt it. They are too interested in reelection. Our system is breaking down. We need some changes in how Congress operates.
LauraNo
A war tax is the best idea I have heard in a long time too. I wish I had heard it 8 years ago, when we were still running a surplus. If a country is going to go to war, it should take it's people along with it.
escomments
If he resigns, we'll end up with Biden? If he resigns we'll end up with Pelosi?
God help us all!
byersl
Oh no. Right wing trolls taking over this blog now too? Ugh, the RWhine Flu is ugly!
DANSHANTEAL
MR GELB OFFERS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICSIM. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS SUPPOSE TO HANDLE THESE ISSUES. BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF HILLARY AND THE SIX OR SO PERSONS THAT THEY HAVE PLACED AROUND HER. SO FOREIGN POLICY IS BEING DESIGNED BY AMATERUS LIKE AXELROD AND RAHM AND, SADFULLY, JONES. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY ADVISORS AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHOULD MEET.
Lordcron
Bush was a walking, talking bag of failure if you ever seen one. Bush failed at everything he ever touched and was elected into office with a surplus of money and by the time he left we was in a recession. But this President is a Amateur? Please...
Only a fool wold believe this clown.
melissamsouza
Although I would be more respectful towards Mr. Gelb, and not call him a clown, I do agree with the gist of your comment. Mr. Gelb gives himself away when he refers to the Golden Age of Post WW II, when a triumphant, and unscathed America reshaped the world. This is where Mr. Gelb's mindset is at--the second half of the twentieth century, when America ruled its part of the world supreme (no wonder he mentions Presidents from that time--the comparison doesn't hold). This is no longer the case, and it is ludicrous to expect for this nation, severely embatttled by a crippled economy and two losing wars, let along the myriad social problems it is facing, to exert the same kind of leadership of Post WW II. Mr. Gelb, usually an astute analyst (and a great writer) is missing the historical point--he is living in another period. Post WWII saw the emergence of America as the world's leading economic and military power--the 21st Century, with its myriad centers of power and global crises, and a weakened America, is hardly the stage to replicate the kind of role the country had back then. Mr. Gelb is suffering from an incurable bout of nostalgia.
escomments
Maybe it's because Truman and Eisenhower weren't pansies bowing submissively to world leaders. They positioned the United States as not only a victor in World War II, but a benevolent supporter of the countries that were destroyed by the Allies. The United States led from a position of strength, not weakness as Obama is inclined.
Is it nostalgic to read from history mistakes that we are doomed to repeat over and over again?
numonk
How sad that this is only concise comment on this entire page, outside a few presented in the actual article.
So much complaining about the administration and policy yet nearly zero actual ideas to the contrast of a possible course of action.
I think it WOULD be wise to be humble to the nations that cover our debt whilst our younger generations are being prepared for service jobs and our "boomer" generations continue to usurp large quantities of resources for themselves. Otherwise these folk may not expect such hospitality later. Maybe we should also focus on reevaluating fiscal policy in this country, as allowing large industry to make most current fiscal policy has led us to negative job growth and wealth redistribution unparalleled even in contrast to the gilded ages. By being clever, instead of pompous, this may even command respect amongst other nations in stages of development thus allowing America's quite unproductive stance to retain the semblance of dignity amongst a backwash of selfishness, laziness, religious fervor, and unending moral and ethical consideration allowed for a false pretense of a world which has not existed since China began to subsidize us.
...But certainly if this sort of policy was being enacted, most citizens would be too busy trying to proove the size of their deities' testicles rather than attempting to do ANYTHING less than consume derelict products.
:scans article's comments:
Then again, there may well be reason for optimism. Sey-hoo-rah Palin talked to that piece of shit zombie minister from NC, so surely we have been saved!
Thank you, melissa for a comment worth reading. I'm going to go take another look at the periodic table and calculus. Good stuff, learning.
Slammy
I don't know what country you live in, Melissa, but the United States is till the only super power in the world. This global economic crisis is affecting the world, not just the US. I don't know what "losing" wars you are refering to, but the US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, albeit costly, is hardly a "losing" effort. Why don't you pack up your gloom and doom baggage and epat your way to Canada. Mr. Gelb is not a politician, but the preminent foreign relation expert in the country. Your rebuff of his expert opinion is laughable.
dana64
true ..........unfortunately..............There is MALAISE and most of it has been aggravated by the VILE amd ludicrous CRITICISMS of OBAMA by people who are rooting for his fall eg TEA PArties , Palin Limbaugh GLENN beck Cheney et al
escomments
Good point,
Because Obama is failing so miserably, let's bring up that Bush was also a failure as if that makes the failure of Obama, okay!
How long is this going to be Bush's fault? Half way, God forbid into Obama's second term?
Is Obama ever going to be responsible for his own Presidency, where he is the one in control and making decisions or the lack of making decisions?
pennsykid2000
What a joke your comment is. You must be a teenager or without any long-term memory. Repubs blamed Jimmy Carter for everything that went wrong throughout the 1980s. Obama has been in the White House for 10 months and was left a huge stinking pile by W. Gelb's criticisms are very reasonable, but the substantial improvement in relations with other countries is due to Obama and can't be ignored as unimportant.
opedanderson
Get used to it.
Anyone who dares criticize Obama in any way is either called right wingnut or a racist. And they always throw in your face the fact that Bush was worse than him.
Well, I have news for fanatical Obama-bots. If the only defence of your Messiah is that he is better than Bush, you have problems.
Bush sucked. That doesnt mean that Obama can suck too and we have to shut up about it.
Obama is unqualified. He is doing the on-the-job training that HRC warned us about. No-one can predict what he is going to do, because he has no track record and he has very little executive experience.
But he does give good speeches...........
libertyville
There is good reason that we criticize specifics of Clinton's actions and the total reign of Carter. Clinton like Bush failed on selected programs and succeeded on others. Carter had an overwhelming failure of his programs to a degree that no good is remembered. Obama is following in Carter's footsteps. It is less the current stature of the nation and more the stature of the man, scratch that, of the leader, scratch that, of the figurehead that the international community respects and that the country enables.
ndspinelli
I like Obama. He's the first pol to whom I've given money. The Bush comparisons ["He's not as bad as Bush"] got lame a few months ago. They now are looking desperate. By any objective standard our prez is looking to be over his head, which this trip illuminated. He needs to "man up". And, specifically regarding this failed trip, he needs to look @ Princess Machiavelli, our Sec. of State.
crypto
He's in control??? Oh well why didn't he tell somebody. That is a whole "nuther" pack of dogs.
crypto
Reading History I am convinced that Bad government comes from too much government. Somebody said that I'm sure. does it apply here??
dailyplanet
Is Obama REALLY the President of the United States...or does he just play one for the media?
Barak Obama is immeasurably more intelligent than George Bush but what this shows is that intelligence isn't as important an attribute as it's cracked up to be...even as a requisite asset in a world leader.
Bush and Co. had the spit, resolve and grit to do what they wanted, how they wanted to do it and the world be damned. They were malevolent manipulators who wrecked everything they touched leaving this country at a low point in its history from which only miraculous effort and radical, innovative action must be called upon to "treat" the myriad ills ailing America.
History has shown that certain times need specific kinds of leaders who can meet the challenges human events have handed them. An Obama presidency may have thrived in a stable, prosperous America where he could have actualized remarkable, progressive programs and demonstrated a governing ability that would have enhanced our society and world standing. But the national crisis is too great to be treated by the gentle hand of Barak Obama. An admirable man, he is just not the president for "all seasons."
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n--Y--bbrown13This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--bbrown13newswoman
No you don't, escomments. Bush caused ALL the troubles we are confronted with today, a crashed economy, in debt to China, two useless wars that have already cost TRILLIONS with BILLIONS more to come, and people like you want to blame it on a president who has been in office 10 MONTHS when it took 8 years to accomplish 'these feats'. As for how long it is going to be Bush's fault? Until it is reversed by this administration, if possible. I fear all this will cause civil unrest. That may be the worst result of Bush's legacy.
sonofrobinX
"A person like Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin don't get any traction if the majority of the American public are happy with the direction of this country" false
there have always been and will always be agitators like beck. he gets light because of how desperate and ridiculous he is.
LauraNo
It will always be Bush's fault. Because it is Bush's fault.
escomments
newswoman, LauraNo
So, Obama has no effect on world events and the United States Economy and we are all really just living through the third term of the Bush Administration?
You guys will do all kind of acrobatics and tap dancing to absolve Obama of any responsibility, won't you?
Is he responsible for more soldiers dying if it could be proven that a timely response to Gen. McCrystal's request for more troops would have saved them? Would that be Obama's fault? Or, would that be Bush's fault for leaving Obama an un-finished war?
kcstock
Only a fool would continue to blame President Bush. Blaming Bush is absolutely amateur hour. President Obama had virtually no experience entering the job. Only a fool would believe that a community organizer with good grades in college was going to be successful on the worlds stage. Even as a celebrity, Bono is more effective. So please, look at the merits of this President and stop blaming everyone else. Own it!!!
tomfarr
Good grades in college? We've never seen those grades.
Johnnyappleseed
They are called pass through grades,and are not for public record.
You know like close enough, a gimmie in golf, just show up and you pass.
overdue
Who's blaming Bush?
I see lots of posts mentioning that Gelb is forgetting that Bush was not better, and perhaps worse than Obama, but no one is "blaming Bush" here....
crypto
My God Pennsekid. Has he only been up there for 10 months. I won't make it. My blood pressure is being measured with an oil guage now.
newswoman
Kcstock, Obama was more than a community organizer. He taught in law school for about 11 years and was in the Illinois legislature for about the same amount of time. Now, as President, he has to clean up Bush's monumental mistakes and it is going to take time. And BTW, every man who becomes president has no experience in the job. There is no apprenticeship.
Lilli917
Harry Truman didn't really have any experience or education and yet history is treating him well. Presidential Historians generally agree that it's very hard to define preparation for the presidency.
uglydawg7
Only a clown could justify what Obama has done to date. There is nothing there. Its talk, talk, talk. No action except the low hanging fruit. The hard decisions and negotiations are total failures. He should go back to his neighborhood and start working on opening a food bank. That would be about the only thing he can handle.
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n--Y--bbrown13newswoman
We don't say Obama is better than 'W' was, it is that he has to clean up the horrendous mistakes that 'W' made. Give him a chance. After all, you voted for Bush TWICE, and he didn't do squat for this country. If you can give him 8 years, you can give President Obama the same.
jcruenv
you have to set the bar low to be considered a success. that's why they use W, there are about thirty other administrations that make Dr. Utopia look like an abject failure.
osea65
We can't afford Obama newswoman, he's simply too expensive for our pockets!!!! You Dems always had bad taste anyway, now it's just prohibitively overpriced bad taste!!!!!
rigel1
When it comes to national security, I continue to have more confidence in President Obama and his Administration than any Administration in the last three decades. Nevertheless, I agree with Leslie Gelb that Obama is surprisingly weak when it comes to controlling his image and message in particular with regard to national security. The extraordinary competence of General James Jones needs to be complimented by the brilliant and creative public relations skill of someone like Ronald Reagan's Michael Deaver. Anita Dunn, until recently the Director of White House Communications, was clearly no Michael Deaver and I have my doubts about her replacement Dan Pfeiffer.
David Axelrod: Have you taken your eye off the ball? ~ richard allbritton, Miami, http://rallbritton.com
escomments
What are this administrations national security policies that you support and have confidence in?
You made the statement that you have more confidence in President Obama's National Security policy than any in the last three decades.
What can you point to that gives you that sentiment?
Monk66
es,
you can't expect change overnight. you can't expect that one trip to Asia was going to make us the leading power in the region. Things take time. We are all to impatient with Obama. This trip was not meant to seal any deals because he himself is the one negociating. Hold your friends close and your enemies closer.
Expecting that other countries would ask how high when we say jump is just ignorant. That is the ignorance of past administrations and our own ideas about foreign nations.
I understand you don't like him. But give him some time. There is a reason a President is in charge 4 years, with a maximum of 8. Because it takes time to get things done.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
melissamsouza
To escomments: First of all, America emerged from WWII as a major economic and military superpower because IT WAS NOT ATTACKED. The rest of the world, including Asia, Africa, not to mention Europe and the former Soviet Union were literally LEVELLED TO THE GROUND. America created a military-industrial complex because of WWII, did not suffer a single bruise on its continent, and emerged from the War not just as a superpower but one that had helped to defeat Nazism. You can HARDLY compare that situation, which gave America THE LEADING ROLE in formulating a new world order and new institutions, with what exists today. Today there are no Nazis and no Soviets to fight anymore. Problems are of a global nature--terrorisim, nuclear proliferation, recession, global warming, etc. Furthermore, far from the world's HERO, 8 years of Bush foreign policy and totally reckless economic policies and insane financial markets have made America the world's VILLAIN--we are the ones that attacked a defenseless, downtrodden country which posed NO THREAT TO US WHATSOEVER, we are the ones that caused this worldwide recession with our wrecklessness. We are starting to come out of intensive care now, courtesy of CRUCHES provided by China. Bush handed an America to Obama that is seen as a country in decline, severly crippled. That is a fact; no getting around that. This is hardly a situation that can remotely be compared to post-WWII America. Obama represents a new kind of America, one that recognizes that it needs desperately to act multilaterally if is to lead in solving global problems. The world has changed; this is no longer the 20th century and that century's models no longer apply to America's role in the world nor to the processes that are occuring within that world. We have to get over this America the Supreme mentality and move on. We are heading towards a global community. Obama understands this--he is pointing the way. Naturally, those that cling to the past and refuse to see the trends of the future, are afraid of change, will never cease to attack Obama. His diplomacy will bear fruit--it's just not instantaneous. This is why I disagree with Mr. Gelb. There is alot that is going on behind the scenes that we will see the results of in the coming months.
escomments
melissamsouza
Nice Spin!
You do your party proud!
escomments
melissamsouza-
There is a simple way to fix the economy:
STOP SPENDING AND BORROWING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY!
STOP PRINTING MONEY!
STOP BAILING OUT BANKS AND CORPORATIONS!
FIX THE BANKING SYSTEM. BREAK UP THESE BANKS THAT ARE TO BIG TO FAIL!
CUT INCOME TAXES!
DON'T RAISE INCOME TAXES!
STOP TRYING TO ESTABLISH THESE HUGE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS WITH HUGE HIDDEN TAXES AND FEES IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION! BUSINESSES WON'T HIRE IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL COST THEM TO EMPLOY SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE!
OBAMA IS SCARING THE HELL OUT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THAT IS WHERE JOBS ARE CREATED!
DO YOU SEE ANY JOBS BEING CREATED? 10.2 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND RISING!
STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!
Excuse my outburst.
I don't think you have been getting the crux of the problem.
Johnnyappleseed
The czars, you know all the czars.
ImNoPUNK
Hey rigel1....
Not for nothing, but the continued confidence you expressed in your 1st sentence becomes moot not 2 lines later when you state Obama is "surprisingly weak". If POTUS can't control his image and message overseas why get on Airforce-1 to begin with??? Sadly Obama's reasoning for jettin around the world appears to be akin to the high school field trips he went on for extra credit..... (Kinda makes you wonder how he passed the 11th grade) After saying that I can't help but being reminded you sound like you're still in the day dreaming mode of Campaign'08 and you need to snap out of it...I suggest you now shit in one hand and wish in the other and figure out which bares more weight.
crypto
If you have all that confidence in Obamason where national security is concerned, STOP right there. You're already in more trouble that we can stand.
newswoman
I agree, Obama hasn't controlled his image and message and looks weak. His staff isn't doing a good job.
activeduty
Agreed.
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n--Y--maladaptedmelissamsouza
This is probably the most ridiculous comment I've read on this post, and that includes hordes of ridiculous comments. Let's bring back Bush and Co., or better yet, let's put Palin in charge and go back to our great wars, bombing Iran, North Korea, further cutting taxes for the rich, and sinking our economy even further. Let's put an ignoramus who doesn't like to read and has no information about the world back in charge. Let's remember that the right's hero Reagan dipped in the polls faster than Obama, and this was pre-cable and pre-internet. Reagan also suffered double-digit unemployment. I think your login suits you.
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n--Y--maladaptedescomments
melissamsouza
Is there anything in maladapted's post that is not true?
Why do you Obama supporters insist on defending his clearly established lack of experience and mental fortitude by pointing out that Republicans are also stupid.
"Obama may be stupid but so are Republicans."
What kind of argument is that to instill confidence in Obama?
lukeliberty
Melissa - just what about maladapted's comments are untrue? Everything amaladapted wrote is ... truthful. The best thing the President has going for him is the lack of strong opposition, because he is proving to be an ineffective ideologue who can't seem to come close to the rhetotic of his promises. "Sinking our economy" - that was a bipartisan deal before Obama, a combination of mortgage entitlement and lack of regulation. We have a guy now who thinks a trillion here and there means nothing. Sinking our economy further? Thy name is Obama. But you will figure that out eventually, as we all will.
By the way, the choice was not Obama or Palin, to correct your history. We weren't bombing Iran or North Korea. But we weren't such dopes that even France was telling us to quit living in a fantasy world.
rvail136
Unfortunately for the country, they Keynsian economic model this president is following failed in the 1930's to end the great Depression. WW2 ended the Depression. As time slowly ekes away, this president is gaining the appearance of Jimmy Carter 2...
Spending tremendous amounts to end a recession just might work if you acctually spent the money wisely. The economic stimulus pack was unfortunately targeted as a pay off to Democratic contituencies. None of the money has gone to big ticket job building infrastructure projects that would provide long term jobs. Recovery.gov has created 400 new congressional districts.
More importantly, this new transparent way of running the country had to bribe a Senator from Louisianna with $300 million just to get her to vote to CONTINUE debating a health care bill that a majority of the populace doesn't want. "Just shut up and get out of the way" isn't how this country works.
ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID, jeez, even SNL gets that much. You don't try and make over 1/6th of the economy in a period of economic crisis. The CBO has said that both of the health care seizure plans House & Senate) will end up costing hundreds of billions of dollars. We can't afford that. There are far more cost effective ways of doing this within the currnet framework.
1. Portability, remove employment as a means of health insurance. Allow the 1300 companies to offer insurance regardless of state lines. This will allow genuine market competition. Last year, the evil insurance companies posted a grand total of $8.3 billion in profits. The NFL posted $40 billion...
2. Tort Reform, lawyers have boosted the costs medical coverage by 20% or more (some say 30%). Of course, they donate huge sums to the DNC (re: John Edwards, made his $100 million suing doctors, nice guy). Most of the tort lawyers are parasites (see last sentence). They add no value, except to keep some docs honest, but their role should be far more limited. It should not be a gigantic crap shoot. Limit damages to actual loss, and only with gross negligence. Loser pays. (One could also "kill all the lawyers". .45 caliber tort reform.)
3) Make health costs 100% tax-free. Better, eliminate the 16th amendment (the income tax system). Then establish a national sales tax system (the Fair Tax). It is easy to do. Simply pass a Constitutional amendment banning income taxes. Congress will then find another tax system (unless they want no money for the government). This will have the added benefit of making manufacturing far more competitive in this country. Additionally, allow portability between states and permit ALL of the health insurance organizations to provide insurance regardless of state lines.
The moment you do this, people go out and join co-ops and get great rates. Places like the Elks, Kiwanis, etc... were all set up originally for the purpose of allowing their members to get group health discount rates.
Then, the government screwed them by making Employer-based insurance benes tax-free. Who uses taxed monies to buy insurance, when you can get it tax-free via your employer? Problem comes when your employer offers it not, or has a small group of employees, and so, gets a lousy rate. Ending the income tax system means these co-ops will become huge, maybe even millions strong. Great rates.
4) Force the Pharmaceutical companies to sell to other countries at the same rate as they charge their biggest customers here. They will then pay more, and we'll pay less. Watch how quickly their glorious socialized medicine systems go broke, once we are no longer subsidizing them. This is huge, because America in effect permits other countries to provide drugs at a vastly reduced rate, while we foot the bill.
5) Fix SS/Medicare. Decree that those now under 50 will no longer be eligible for benefits upon disability or retirement. Move the retirement age back a couple years, since people are living far longer {I would move the agree to 65 as a minimum for eligibility for Medicare}. Prosecute all the fraudulent disability claims (like faked bi-polar). Tack on a sales tax to pay for it. This will eventually end the Ponzi scheme, while honoring the obligations. We have to stop adding people to the roles.
As for jobs...I live in Maryland, about as blue as you can get...but my neighbors who are mostly small business owners are terrified of the pending legislation and to a man (& woman) have decided to hold off on hiring any more people until they see if "cap & trade" will pass. Additionally, many plan to lay off people if the health care seizure plan is passed as they just won't be able to afford to keep as many employees between the fines, fees and new taxes, as well as the additionals costs of inflation from suppliers raising costs because THEY will have to pay higher overhead costs...
Yes, this administration has a mess on it's hands, but these problems aren't insurmountable, IF you do some sensible things. Unfortunately, this president has never worked outside of politics and only has a slim grasp of economic issues. Government has never, ever produced a single dollar of revenue, it can only siphon from the economy, taking money out that could be better spent else where.
The economic stimulus package has produced a few jobs at and average cost of over $2.4 million per job. On the other hand private industry produces new jobs at and average cost of $300k per job, thats 8X the cost per job. By siphoning off money from theprivate sector, into government bonds, the stim package has effectively removed that money from public use. This ain't the way to run an economy...
Do I have Ideas? Certainly, but I'm just an unimportant unemployed cabinemaker in Baltimore, MD. And yes, I do belong to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 495. But I do have a brain and I can see what is going on and I don't like it one bit. What we are doing is going in the wrong direction.
If you want to spend huge sums of money, you HAVE to cut costs some where. If you want nationall health care, how do you plan to pay for it? In MD, the legislature decided to vastly increase taxes on the wealthy? Great Idea? Right? So they did 2 years ago...then revenues from those "rich" taxes went down? Why? Because they MOVED! You can only tax people so much before they "take their toys else where"....
Just some ideas, thanks for listening
Monk66
rvail,
I remember when I can't get my branches of gov't straight.
Congress = Legistlative
President = Executive
Supreme Court = Judicial
Congress bribed 100 Million, not 300 million, and not the president. If you know nothing about our systems and branches of gov't try not to shove your foot in your mouth talking about them.
escomments
Monk66-
That was a pretty lame reply to a very effective and cogently structured argument as to what this administration is doing and the the effect it will have on the economy.
It also suggests ideas to fix these problems witch you seem to have no answer.
I am 48. I for one do not agree with cutting me off from ss after contributing to it for 30 years. There lies the conundrum that FDR has created for us and Obama and the Democrats are trying to do with Health Care Reform.
They don't care about people's access to health care as much as they care about a way to create constituency dependency, in effect, built in Democrat voters.
If he wants to end SS, he better start with people who haven't paid into it yet. There lies the next Conundrum. If people who are in their early 20s don't pay into SS, who is going to pay the benefits that are being paid out to retirees now?
It's a Ponzi Scheme that can't be ended. If money stops coming in from young people, there won't be any money to go out to the older people.
As to the 100,000,000 bribe, It's called the Louisiana Purchase. Mary Landrieu said herself that it is a 300,000,000 payment!
The last time I checked, she is the Senator from Louisiana and a member of Congress. And if your point is that the President hasn't signed anything yet, It looks like he is going to sign what ever comes out of Congress and ends up on his desk. He probably won't even read it. He will just claim victory for passing Health Care Reform.
How about answering some of rvail136's points? I don't know if you can. I think he is right on the money although the SS thing aint goin to fly!
ImNoPUNK
melissamsouza
Once you realize how ridiculous you are ..... you will laugh too.
Johnnyappleseed
melissa, you have answered your own question.
Let's put an ignoramus who doesn't like to read and has no information about the world back in charge. We have, in the last presidental election
crypto
No, maladapted is right. Obamason was a media creation. I think everyone in the race was "better qualified " than him. But he became the sensation. One reason was Pelosi. She convinced her party that an african american was the key. She hates Clinton. She knew that she couldn't control her and with the party chairman they pulled all support from her. Then Obamason threw her a bone if she would drag her supporters over to his side. There was a matter of the campaign debts and the secretary of state job. She and Bill walked away looking like political prostitutes but smelling like a rose. Yeah Obama was "made" to fit.
Jinglebob
I see the cracks forming. When the left starts attacking their guy it's only a matter of time. Six more months and he's toast.
Desertpenguin
melissamsouza--
Your posts are brilliant.
Don't listen to the bitter, angry, resentful no-nothings on this site.
They post here hoping to drive everyone off TDB but the hard core right-wing.
But it's not working.
melissamsouza
Ok, you asked for me to list my qualms with your post, point by point. Let's start with the fact that you have no facts whatsoever on which to base your accusations that Obama's academics were due to affirmative action. It seems that you have a problem with minorities, whether in achieving academic excellence or then using their experience to help other minorities. Why is there a knee-jerk reaction--"affirmative action"-- everytime a minority gets an Ivy League degree? Is your comfort zone with blonde blue-eyed male anglo-saxons? If you're not one of the latter, which are naturally considered to be superior intellectually, then you must have achieved academic excellence through some kind of crutch. Can you just accept that Obama is intelligent? And what is wrong with using his Harvard Law degree to work with organizing poor minorities for their rights? Race-based law practice? Obama was a Constitutional Law Professor at the University of Chicago, that's all--constitutional law. When he was editor of Harvard Law Review, there is no track record whatsoever of his engaging in any kind of controversial, race-related subjects. I don't know where you have gotten your talking points--probably from some Glen Beck type. None of them hold any water, and you don't have any evidence whatsoever for any of your claims. You are race-baiting, that's all. And don't come up with that tired line of "you can't criticize Obama because he's African-American" crap. You ARE criticizing Obama precisely because he is African American. Your whole post is based on his race (he is half-white, by the way).
Johnnyappleseed
My take melissa is he is pointing out incomptence, not stupidity.
Incomptence comes from lack of expierence in doing anything that required commitment and work ethic.
Anyone want to shoot some hoops?
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--maladaptedescomments
maladapted-
He has actually commented as a Constitutional Law Professor.
In a nutshell. (For you liberals, paraphrasing.)
From a radio interview with Obama when he was a Law Professor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck
The Founding Fathers had it all wrong. The Bill of Rights is a charter of Negative Liberties, meaning what the Federal Government is not allowed to do to the people as opposed to Positive Liberties, or what the Federal Government should be able to do in the people's behalf.
newswoman
You Reps call Obama inexperienced, but then you want SARAH PALIN for president???? What asses.
MrsRamsey
Ms. Melissamsouza the problem with quoting affirmative action with regards to Obama's academics have nothing to do with people your assessment that the people that object about his academic accomplishments have issues against minorities, to say so is an affront to all of us immigrants who happen to disagree with Mr. Obama's policies, of which I am one, as I gather by your first and last name you are too. The problem lies with the fact that sometimes book smarts doesn't mean instinctively wise, some people have lots of learning, a veritable alphabet soup of initials after their names and have ZERO common sense. That is Mr. Obama. It's sad to throw racism into the mix I guess you gathered that doesn't pay, as evidence I offer the reason behind the beer summit and Mr. Obama's judgmental assessment against the cop. Was race an issue you think?
IllinoisJoe
"I don't know where you have gotten your talking points--probably from some huff&puff type. None of them hold any water, and you don't have any evidence whatsoever for any of your claims. "
That's a fact. You certainly don't. I'm with the above posters maladapted, lukeliberty, and escomments. Why don't you back up your hysterical assertions with even a tiny smattering of fact?
obama is brilliant, huh? Why, because YOU say so? Got proof? Any proof at all? He can't talk without a teleprompter and carefully scripted notes, and he won't release his transcripts OR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE for that matter. He is a media created stuttering ideologue who rode affirmative action for all it's worth. I wouldn't trust him to flip burgers.
Better than Bush? HA! Funny on a host of levels. Bush, eh? THAT bar is so low it is underground and even so, your drivel is inaccurate... well, let us be honest, you are a damned liar or an idiot, quite probably both.
Bush left us nearly half a trillion debt and you call that a disaster. obama QUADRUPLED that sum of debt in less than a year and you call him brilliant.
Lets see 1/2 trillion is too much, but 2 trillion is peachy! Wow! Absolute genius!
Oh BTW, You DO know that it is the Congress that spends the money, right? The dems have been in control of spending FOR YEARS and dems are the ones that have sold us into debt. You knew that already, right?
You and obama must have gone to the same school! Two narcissistic know-nothing liars in a pod.
tomfarr
Well said, maladapted.
newswoman
You like stupid people as president, like Bush and Palin. I'll take an intelligent and intellectually minded man who does have exxperience as a legislator in Illinois. We can criticize Obama for not being visible enough at this time, and not running the show (in Congress) but we don't know what is going on behind the scenes, now do we? Hmm.
ImNoPUNK
Hey newswoman...
No we sure don't know what's going on behind any of the closed doors in the world and for a left leaning bigot like yourself to try and denigrate others because of a few snippets on the tube just goes to show how lacking in substance your position is. How bout for a change you try saying something other than your partisan talking points... which are now in rerun since the year of "the flood".
Here I go, I hope you're ready lady... cause I wanna tell you a few of the things your favorite man from Illinois has done for his state prior to becoming president... I'm sure you've purposely ignored the fact that 6 of the of the 7 years Obama was in the Illinois State Senate were spent accomplishing nothing. BHO wasn't even a blip on the radar screen until the senate majority changed sides in his 7th year and his buddy "king maker" Emil Jones, Jr. took control of the state senate.
Emil, "I'm gonna make me a U.S. senator", Jones, admittedly appointed Obama sponsor of virtually every high-profile piece of legislation, angering many rank-and-file state legislators who had more seniority than Obama and had spent years championing the bills. State Senator Rickey Hendon says, "I took all the beatings and insults and endured all the racist comments over the years from nasty Republican committee chairmen, Barack didn't have to endure any of it, yet, in the end, he got all the credit." Hendon is the original sponsor of landmark racial profiling and videotaped confession legislation yanked away by Jones and given to Obama.
With that all being aired , I'm sure a well informed Illinois "poltico-ista" such as yourself does remember, how as a state senator, Obama evaded leadership on many critical community issues, from historic preservation to the rapid demolition of nearby public-housing projects. These disappointing actions all brought to light by the people who know him best, his own South Siders.
Its also too bad the national news didn't pick up on how Obama ticked off many residents in his old state Senate district when he endorsed controversial Chicago alderman Dorothy Tillman in a runoff election.
Some would say crazy as hell, Tillman is perhaps best known for once pulling a pistol from her purse and brandishing it around at a city council meeting. The ward she represented for 22 years comprised the city's largest concentration of vacant lots.
Three months before Obama made his endorsement, charges involving cronyism and possible tax-law violations were centered around Tillman and her biggest pet project, a taxpayer-funded cultural center built across the street from her ward office that had been pissing away money since day one.
Obama once told the Chicago Tribune he backed Tillman because she was an early supporter of his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. Seems Obama has a knack for backing candidates who later face ethics and/or bribery charges, remember Blagojevich & Stroger , both are under indictment now.
jabelson
Of course, with his "sealed" records you have NO idea whether he's affirmative action or not. As to his Background - I wonder how Skull and Bones is a better builder of world leadership than "community organizing" - you're an ass! I'd rather have an Alinsky progressive any day than a rich boy bred on contempt of his "lowers..."
ass...
gameon
Wow melissa ,a Bush/Palin/Reagan comeback,you pulled off the holy trinity of liberal stupidity.If your only comeback is "the other guy is worse" then your guy must not have very much going for him.The truth is every President is bought and paid for by special interests,your just a kool-aid lover who thinks yours isn't.
Everything maladapted wrote is true .
newswoman
Right out of Faux News, Maladapted. Try having your own views. We all see that stuff and consider the source. But you fall for it, hook, line and sinker.
escomments
Are you trying to say that your views are your own?
Seems that you have the same views as all the other lefties on this site and probably 90% of what's broadcast on MSNBC.
Do you get your views from them? Or, do you just agree with them? Or, are only lefties able to discern the difference being the intellectually superior elitists In their own minds, that they are?
The entire right wing aren't capable of such mental prowess so they co-op the views of others and call them their own?
So who's views are they steeling? If no one on the right has the ability to have their own views or thoughts and they're all just mind numbed robots, then someone needed to have the first right wing thought so the rest of us dolts could be brainwashed.
It couldn't be actual Conservative or Libertarian principals that lead people, could it?
Newswoman is no sucker, she knows for sure and believes all the left wing dribble she is fed, hook line and sinker. Even the dumpsters full of hypocrisy that comes from the left on a daily basis.
Glenda1976
Smart diplomacy. Not.
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--maladaptedlukeliberty
well-written.
melissamsouza
Mr. Gelb, I normally agree with your views but I have to disagree starkly this time around. Your perception is not the perception from China; it is an essentially Western perception, still rooted in the America the Greatest mentality of the 20th Century. I was watching a roundtable discussion with a Chinese journalist yesterday on BBC world channel, and she said that hashing out deals hastily to showcase at meetings is not the Chinese style; Westerners are looking at this meeting from a strictly Western, immediate gratification let's show off what we've got point of view. The Chinese are much more subtle, discreet, preferring long-term negotiations and tone-setting measures that are worked out behind the scenes. This Chinese journalist said the Chinese showed great interest in Obama's visit and that it struck the right tone from the Chinese perspective; any agreements were probablay worked out behind the scenes and results will come in the coming months. Also, the American Ambassador in China, Jim Huntsman, who has in-depth knowledge of Chinese culture, equally said the visit was very substantive, struck the right tone and has been incredibly distorted in the Western media. I'm afraid, Mr. Gelb, that your article is guilty of the same slanted, uniquely Western bias that has so afflicted our foreign policy until now; in this new multipolar world, it is worth looking at things from the "other's" point of view as well, listening to them, and following their rhythms. Especially if they hold trillions of dollars worth of our debt.
lukeliberty
Oops. I was about to reply to your comment and realized it is the same melissa I replied to with strong disagreement earlier. Your comments here, unlike the ad hominems you posted earlier, make sense. So I will say, "elissamsouza, I normally disagree with your views but I have to starkly agree this time around." You have a fine and well-written analysis, and I agree with about 90% of it.
melissamsouza
I'm replying to your comments of my previous post, not this one, since you liked it. There is no arguing that Obama did not have a track record and was inexperienced. That does not in any way make him unqualified to be President. Who was more experienced than Cheney or Rumsfeld? How did that turn out? Incompetence and bad-intentioned is where people will find their pictures, when they look up the expressions in the dictionary. We can not judge Obama as a leader yet. The approach he is taking requires time to bare fruit, not just domestically, but in foreign policy. We need to give him the minimul four years to see where he takes us. He has laid the basic groundwork for fundamental change in both domestic and foreign policy. Let's give him his shot. No, he was not experienced, but he has something that many with experience lack: talent and vision. I challenge many of you writing on this post to just look at the people that surround you, at work or any other place, and tell me if you really think that experienced people necessarily make better decisions, or make better leaders? Where did the experience of the old men in the U.S. Senate take us when they moved us into an unnessary war, or cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans leading to record deficits and mediocre economic performance? Just do some research into the PC revolution, and you'll find that the experienced white hairs heading Zerox and IBM laughed at the idea of a personal computer, while 20 something Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were starting Apple and Microsoft, respectively. Talent and vision, and guts, are more important than experience.
Johnnyappleseed
No fair putting the move on fellow bloggers... lukey!
Johnnyappleseed
Who's Jim Huntsman? and while we are at it who is the western media?
western bias?
Optive words, they hold our debt, I think the Chinese summoned him, and he as they say in the pacific rim" hop singed" right over there.
melissamsouza
Huntsman is the United States Ambassador to China. I wouldn't expect you to know this, nor anything else for that matter. You're too busy dumping tea in your toilet.
robjh1
I find it hilarious how now the liberal media is starting to criticize the guy they said was the best of the best. You guys said he knew what to do (with little to no experience) LMAO!
"and we are not saved..."
periscope
What isn't hilarious is that after 30 years of Republican (and other conservative) domination of the federal government (all three branches), America finds itself in the worst economic, fiscal and international situation in it's history.
Even FDR didn't have to contend with two wars, while trying to turn-around the Great Depression!
Considering the massive transfer of wealth from the poor and middle-class to the rich during this Republican reign of error, I'd think right-wingers like you might STFU until Obama has had at least one term to prove or disprove himself.
But fools never know when they've been had or when to shut-up!
crypto
Your last line pretty well covers you!!!!!!
escomments
How did Republicans have all three branches of Government for the last 30 years?
They didn't control the House of Representatives until 1994 and that was after 40 years of Democrat rule in the House.
And how do you transfer wealth from the poor and the middle class to the rich?
By definition, the poor and the middle class have no wealth. Please explain the transfer process if you don't mind.
Monk66
es,
Debt.
The wealthy give money to the poor in exchange for debt.
Rockefeller was the best in the business back in the day. Lend out money, not just to people but to banks as well. Artifically create an economic scare, knowing average people would fall for it and pull their money out of their banks. Banks go bankrupt, and sell themselves for pennies on the dollar. Buy up many of these banks and make more money. Then wash your hands and repeat.
It works itself out the way a math equation would.
Johnnyappleseed
peri you must admit with all the bumbling you said took place under the republicans, the big "O" has made up for lost time and has almost doubled the deficet in less than a year, rather stellar I would say.
peri, clean your scope.
Jinglebob
Old periscope is making up history again to fit his argument.
escomments
Jinglebob
What's scary is his entire premise is a Red Herring made to sound like he is raising legitimate points.
I still don't get the wealth transfer from the poor to the rich!
That must be my right wing brain not allowing illogical hypothesis to go un-challenged as the left is so likely to adopt and nurture.
periscope
This is another in the on-going TDB stories which are intended to provoke rather than inform. To suggest after only 10 months into his administration, and after inheriting the worst economic/fiscal/international legacy from his predecessor, that Obama is "failing" is just stupid.
FDR didn't correct the Great Depression (another Republican legacy) for nearly a decade. Clinton didn't turn around the Raygun and Bushdaddy record deficits and recessions until the final years of his presidency.
It should also be noted that JFK and Clinton were both slammed as "amateurish" in the first years, after JFK went ahead with the "Bay of Pigs" invasion (that had been set up by the Eisenhower administration), and after Clinton's attempt at healthcare reform failed.
This TDB commentary is like most, intended to arouse heated debate, while shedding no light on the subject.
lukeliberty
Let's just skip the study of history. Periscope has it all sorted out. One side is evil, the other side valiantly fights back, all of its stark failures the result of the bad side. Historical facts should not get in the way of any of this mindless groupthink.
section9
And it is, distinctly, an Epic Fail.
Obama and the Democrats have failed to capitalize on Bush the Younger's flanking move with the Indians, spoiling the broth due to his dithering over the Afghan situation. Squeal all you want about Bush, but his decision to turn the page with India was masterful (due in large measure to Condi Rice). Now, Obama has failed to follow up on the 123 Agreement by expanding nuclear and defense ties, preferring a meaningless visit to China that produced no concrete agreement.
Instead, this President has done everything he can to alarm the international financial community about the stability of the currency and fiscal health of the State, while getting nothing from his bankers in Shanghai. At the same time, his continual attempt to blame his predecessor for his policies are becoming old and brittle complaints.
No wonder the Chinese, like more and more American voters, want off his crazy train.
Johnnyappleseed
Caution there scopey, everyone has share in this government, those that wan't and taketh away, and those that can't give to the want and takers anymore.
They have run out of resource and patience.
memo02
Not everything shine is gold !,.
memo02
Who foolish who !,...
Johnnorth
Sad the way the left cannot bear a breath of criticism of the Messiah. Gelb is one of the few people who makes consistent sense on foreign affairs and you'd expect that with his vast experience. Neither liberal nor conservative but the commentators and people like robjh1 boringly keep putting people in these boxes. I voted for Obama but I'd say so far there is too much show casing,, not enough substance in foreign affairs. Why do we still have troops in Iraq? As for Periscope and his wish the children would keep quiet and bow to the supeior wisdom of Democratic presidents, he forgets that FDR made a total hash or foreign policy - indeed helped to precipiate World War II by his Obama-like wish to make friends. When Hitler invaded the Rhineland, breaking US treatie, FDR went fishing. He referred to Mussolini as that good man.
periscope
FDR made a total hash of foreign policy? This statement alone proves your mental dysfunction and your ignorance of history.
I challenge you to cite FDR going fishing or ever calling Mussoline a "good man." Those are just lies typical of right-wing frauds like yourself.
Your ignorance is so great, you probably never even heard of "Pearl Harbor," and haven't a clue about why December 7, 1941 was called "A day of infamy," by FDR.
You're too stupid, to ignorant and too rabid to even consider engaging in any kind of debate.
escomments
Wow!
he sure pushed your buttons!
JRapplesauce77
Periscope
There's no substitute for the facts. I challenge you to read "Liberal Fascism," and all will become clear for you. FDR and Wilson were the first to start us down a socialist path, and this book clearly shows just how this happened. You might want to buy the book now, though, while you can. I forsee a day when ANY books which explain why we are still on the path to "friendly socialism" will simply not be allowed to be printed.
OffenbachStutz
Johnnorth: your strange parade of FDR "facts" has brightened up this otherwise tedious string of comments. Please, sir, might we have some more?
lukeliberty
Well said, johnnorth.
djmelfi
There is little time left the citizens need to understand Obama is a communist. Why is that so hard? Most of our institutions are controlled by communists. Socialism is just a word that seems less threatening to us. There is no reluctance on Obama's part to nationalize industry and no doubt of his disrespect for our constitution and free enterprise.
Thta why Obama is weak, he is leading a country whos values he dosnt share. Its like asking the NY Jets for advice on how the Patriots can beat the NY Jets, Too many conflicts. The Citizens need to revolt and throw anything progressive OUT OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.
Be True
OffenbachStutz
Be True? To what? Your ancient John Birch Society idiocy?
Monk66
Thank you McCarthy for your post.
periscope
A recent Army study showed that 75% of all recruits fail to be inducted because they are too fat, too dumb or too sickly. This forces our all-volunteer army to constantly and unfairly recycle the guys and gals that do qualify for military duty over and over into the war zones.
Americans watch too much TV and play too many Internet games, and this sedentary life-style combined with over-eating is producing the sick, fat, ignoramuses that the army has to reject.
Why do I think there's a correlation with these rejects and the right-wing morons that show up in these chat rooms?
escomments
We can't let you have all the fun!
osea65
Excellent escomments, couldn't have said it better!!!!
JackSheet
Isn't the military overwhelmingly conservative? So then who are the washouts?
Hint: Not right wing morons
Monk66
haha I'm lightweight liberal myself but that is the exact thing that went through my mind on peris comment.
and the army also relaxed (no pun intended) its BMI restrictions for fat kids.
magoo363
Yes Monk, it relaxed the standards for getting in but it never has to advance them in rank do to their weight standards. Catch 22.
RogueBeast
Downperiscope, I thought I had detected an Army reject in your earlier posts but I assumed it was due to irrational thinking--not because you were too fat, dumb or sickly. Fortunately for TBD you are now able to share your limited wisdom each day as a result.
newswoman
Rogue, you are the most ignorant poster in this blog. Periscope is the most intelligent writer in TBD and always explains it as it is, not how Faux News tells you it is.
osea65
newswoman and periscope are inbred liberal hippie rejects that's all!!!
Baddchild
isn't funny that someone who spends his whole day posting online to the DB like periscope, sits on his fat ass and calls America fat and lazy....
By the way, the reason some don't get into the military is because the US military is the for the best candidates, creating the best military possible, not a fat camp, social experiment like you liberals are trying to turn it into. This Thursday peri, when you are stuffing your face with tofu turkey and over-priced organic beets, thak a vet for giving you the freedom to do so.
newswoman
How many tours of duty have you done, Baddchild, in Afghanistan? None? I thought so.
activeduty
newswoman,
What does your reply have to do with anything? But since we are asking, how many have you done?
Baddchild,
"when you are stuffing your face with tofu turkey and over-priced organic beets" I like this =).
crypto
Don't you worry none periscope. Pelosi's bill will make everyone healty again. At least most everyone. There wasn't a provision for mental problems so you gonna have to wait.
Georealist
Really? How do you know..did you read all 2000 pages????
activeduty
I am in the military right now and I can tell you that the VAST majority of military members are conservative. Let me answer this question:
"Why do I think there's a correlation with these rejects and the right-wing morons that show up in these chat rooms?"
Probably because you have never been in, or around, the military and thus are misinformed to talk about it.
osea65
Periscope is despicable, I agree!!! If he's not fat, good for him, but he's obviously a "fatophobe" and for that he should be ridiculed intensely!!!!!
Ozone69
Some advisor should tell the President to stop bowing to other leaders and stop all the apologies on our nations behalf. He's making Jimmy Carter look strong and effective.
Monk66
compared to the right wing leaders of todays world, Carter is a boss
osea65
HUH???? LOL
osea65
There's definitely a huge whole in your ozone layer, brainwarming is obviously a reality!!!! LOL
Thank you.
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