(Lake Hartwell Specific)
61 messages
Updated 5/3/2023 7:56:51 PM
Lakes Online Forum
83,605 messages
Updated 4/25/2024 9:33:24 PM
Lakes Online Forum
5,193 messages
Updated 4/3/2024 3:47:36 AM
(Lake Hartwell Specific)
3 messages
Updated 8/24/2016 3:16:17 PM
Lakes Online Forum
4,169 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 11:05:05 PM
Lakes Online Forum
4,260 messages
Updated 3/24/2024 9:24:45 AM
Lakes Online Forum
2,976 messages
Updated 3/20/2024 11:53:43 PM
Lakes Online Forum
98 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 1:00:58 AM
|
|
|
| Name: |
Talullahhound
- 
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 2:46:04 PM
|
It's been a year since Obama was elected.
Here are my thoughts about his Presidency so far:
I'm pleased with his overall approach on Foreign Policy. I don't believe we can go around the world getting our way by threatening.
Yes, there have been some minor mis-steps and they are regretable, but overall I've been pleased.
I think they are trying to do the right thing with transparency, but I think Obama is finding out that when you try to make policy with transparency, you get bogged down too early in the process and pretty soon you are debating everyone on every point.
I'm disappointed that there has been no progress with bipartisan politics. I'm not letting the Republicans off the hook here, because I think they've acted like a bunch of spoiled kids; but, on the other hand, I haven't seen the Administration doing much in the way of leadership to promote a more bipartisan approach.
I think health care reform is a mess and don't hold out much hope for it.
The economy. I'm still out on this. I personally know some people who are suffering. I can't say that I think that the Administration should do something else - I'm not convinced tax cuts are anything more than a short term fix. I've heard respected economists argue both sides very convincingly. But, it's a mess and I think that it is safe to say that the Adminstration has not solved the problem or even contributed a confident way forward.
I think he is doing the right thing on Afghanistan. He's consulting the experts and making them actually think through the process and it's short term and long term effects. It's a lot easier to put troops in than it is to get them out. We need to be clear about the mission and what we are trying to accomplish.
I think that Obama is risking being a little over-exposed. In the end, I don't necessarily want to hear what he is going to do or even why he is going to do it; I really just want him to get the job done.
I'm really disappointed he hasn't reined in the Democrats in Congress. I'm not seeing much buy in on his vision.
Overall I would say that I am disappointed that he hasn't gotten much done. I don't think he has rebuilt people's confidence in the country and the direction that we are headed.
And that's my take. I'm not wildly enthused; and depending on where we are in 2012, and if the Republicans can find anyone with any leadership ability by then, Obama cannot take my vote for granted.
|
| Name: |
water_watcher
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 3:06:32 PM
|
I respect your candid and objective point of view. While I don't agree on a number of points ... that does not matter. To me, I just like your objective analysis.
The one area I will single out is Afghanistan ... I think he is playing politics on this one. He was critical of Bush taht he was fighting the wrong war. He said he was going to put more troops in ... now his own hand pick general has given multiple options with different troop needs and after 7 months, the general is still waiting.
My feeling is that he is afraid he will lose support from his liberal base if he approves more troops and that will impact him getting his healthcare bill. That is playing politics and resulting in needless deaths. We all know when the surge was approved in Iraq, it worked and the death toll went down.
This is not showing leadership by not making a decision and listening to his general that knows a bit more than he does about what is needed.
|
| Name: |
Talullahhound
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 5:44:01 PM
|
I'm not sure I think it is political. Don't forget that McCrystal is not his only General --- he is only one military voice. McCrystal is asking for what he thinks he needs to execute his strategy, but the CENTCOM commander has to think about the entire region, and the Joint Chiefs have to think the military position around the world. I feel sure he is listening very carefully, and likely the problem is that there are conflicting voices in the mix -- even in the military community.
I think that Obama is worried about getting mired in Afghanistan and ending up with nothing to show for it. Let's face it, the bad guys are in the regions between Afganistan and Pakistan - which is really governed by neither. So do you commit your troops where you may or may not have success, or do you keep the numbers down and do what you can targeting the area where the bad guys live? I don't know the answer. Apparently the Taliban has strongholds in part of Afghanistan, part of Pakistan.
I actually learned a lot about Afghanistan from a book written by Brit Rory Stewart, who walked across Afghanistan. It give a lot of insight into the people and also as to why there isn't a strong central government.
When it is all said and done, I'm betting we don't significantly increase the troop strength. But, I have no facts to back that up. Just a gut feeling, based on what I'm reading.
|
| Name: |
wix
-
|
|
| Subject: |
Hound -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 6:05:08 PM
|
In my opinion, Bush limited our exposure in Afganistan because he listened to his military advisors, who advised him it was another Vietnam; not winable. o-BAMA was dumb enough and thought he could use Afganistan to prove his military "toughness" to the American people during the election. Now his socialist friends have told him of his mistake, while his military commanders are telling him how to win and he's got his butt in a crack. He's never had to act responsibly, so he does the same thing he did as a senator, vote present.
BTW, the rest of your assessment of o-BAMA's first ten months is as off base as expected. The guy's an idiot, admit it.
|
| Name: |
alahusker
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 7:16:10 PM
|
You understate his accomplishments, with the assistance of 26 self apppointed, unaccountable Czars. He has taken over major sectors of the automotive and banking industry. He's on track for federalizing our health care industry, 1/6th on our GDP.. He has tripled the deficit in a short 10 months.. He picked General McCrystal, charged him to analyze force requirements based on his strategy and has sat on it for 9 months despite McCrystal's caution that the requirement was urgent and necessary or we would face "Mission Failure." Face it girl, except for the latter, this is a "get er done" President..
|
| Name: |
Yankee06
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 8:19:53 PM
|
Hound,
-Gadzooks girl, what are you doing? Now, I'm thinking of you as the Margaret Thatcher of this forum. When they took all those pictures at NATO, G-7, etc, the pundits would say, "She's the best man up there!" You just showed some stuff, giving your year-in-review assessment, knowing that everyone would be taking shots at you.
-I personally would like to sit and discuss most of it with you, because most of it is nuanced beyond the ability to doscuss in this forum format.
-However, I would disagree mightly on your foreign policy assessment; personally I find it hard to think of how it could be more of a disaster.
-But hey, that's what makes the world go round. ..but way to go Tullulah Thatcher!!!!
|
| Name: |
Talullahhound
-
|
|
| Subject: |
Last time I checked
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 9:37:56 PM
|
I was entitled to draw my own conclusions and make my own observations.
You continually subject everyone to yours -- so be it.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over your opinion.
|
| Name: |
Talullahhound
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/4/2009 9:50:18 PM
|
I thought it was fair to say what I honestly thought about Obama. Almost everyone here knows I voted for him and I was very hopeful for his Presidency.
I didn't expect agreement on my opinions from this group.
I think the Afghanistan question is very complicated. I admit I feel conflicted about it -- I don't we're going to establish a democracy over there. I don't think that is our objective, but I'm not really sure what are objective is there. Do we want to chase the Taliban into Pakistan? I don't think of Afghanistan as an "Obama" problem -- but his decisions will likely have a lasting impact. I don't think there is a huge risk in thinking things through -- we've pretty much put only a minimal effort in there since 2001 -- so what's the big rush now? A few more weeks isn't going to change things. And it will take months to implement whatever decisions are made.
|
| Name: |
MartiniMan
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/5/2009 4:15:15 PM
|
Thanks for your thoughts Hound. Lots to chew on but suffice it to say I get the sense from your post that he has not lived up to expectations for you and a good many of the moderates or independents that took a chance on him. 2010 will be an interesting test of where the electorate is going.
My personal perspective is he is doing everything I had suspected he would and not one bit of it is good. On that we can agree to disagree.
|
| Name: |
Talullahhound
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/5/2009 4:35:39 PM
|
You would be correct. One always takes a chance when someone talks a good game, as to whether they can actually play a good game. I had great expectations for his leadership, but sadly, I feel disappointed about that. It's really just more of the same old, same old, but with a liberal vice conservative agenda.
|
| Name: |
MartiniMan
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- some thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/6/2009 10:59:23 AM
|
It will be interesting to see what the GOP comes up with as a candidate. One thing for sure, if the polls are down on Obama and the economy is struggling still it will be a crowded field. If it is the reverse we will likely end up with some sacrificial lamb ala Bob Dole. As I understand the current polling the field is lead by Huckabee, Romney and Pawlenty. All would be a vast improvement over our current President in my opinion.
|
| Name: |
Yankee06
-
|
|
| Subject: |
A Year Later -- more thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/6/2009 12:21:52 PM
|
-Don't forget about the new governor of Virginia. He's sure to be in the mix.
|
|
|
New Post
Search
Off-Topic Forum
Reply
»
Georgia Lakes
»
Lake Hartwell
Login
|
Home
