I agree with all that you said. Those of his political opponents who underestimate his abilities do so at their own risk.
The following article is from today's Huff Po. I think he makes a very good point about his political opponents:
WASHINGTON -- In his most direct attack to date on the Republicans vying for his job, President Barack Obama on Tuesday knocked his GOP challengers for their "casualness" in talking about the prospect of going to war with Iran, suggesting that their tough talk is devoid of any real substance.
During a White House press conference, Obama said there is still time for dealing diplomatically with Iran as the country signals it may be trying to develop a nuclear weapon. That is the view of U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials, he said, and as such, he said he plans to keep working with the international community to impose sanctions on Iran.
Then, without naming names, the president slammed Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, who have criticized him for being too passive on Iran by not endorsing military action.
"What's said on the campaign trail, you know, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities. They're not commander-in-chief," Obama said. "When I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I'm reminded of the costs involved in war. I'm reminded of the decision that I have to make, in terms of sending our young men and women into battle, and the impacts that has on their lives, the impact it has on our national security, the impact it has on our economy."
"This is not a game, and there's nothing casual about it."
Taking it a step further, Obama said Republicans who are "beating the drums of war" should have to explain clearly to the American people what they think the costs and benefits would be to going to war with Iran. "They should explain to the American people exactly why they would do that and what the consequences would be," he said. "Everything else is just talk."
When pressed for specifics on how to respond to Iran, the president suggested there is some irony in the fact that, for all their "bluster" and "big talk," his Republican challengers end up repeating Obama's policies from the past few years.
"It indicates to me that [their criticisms are] more about politics than actually trying to solve a difficult problem," he said.
Obama's press conference coincidentally -- or not so much -- lands on the same day as Super Tuesday, which could decide once and for all who the Republican presidential nominee will be. The president declined to call out any of his challengers by name, but asked if he had any response to Romney's characterization of him as "feckless," Obama had a message for the GOP hopeful.
"Good luck tonight," he said to laughs. "No, really."
March 6, 2012 at 5:25 PM
Anonymous said...
Good at detaining people without trials. Good at having Feds raid medical marijuana facilities. Good at giving Wall St. and Detroit our tax money. Good at escalating wars. BUT A DOZEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE REPUBLICANS RUNNING AGAINST HIM. pretty sad...............
March 6, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Anonymous said...
You're fuckin' dreamin'. If B. Husain O. runs on his record he gets his ass kicked. He's trying to run out the clock with the media in his back pocket along with every minority. This means he gets 45% of the electorate even if he goes into a coma. All he has to get is 6% to say things aren't so bad and he's a second-termer. But he will not have either house of Congress and he's a lame-duck for four more. Fine with me.
Judge Crater
March 7, 2012 at 5:01 PM
[Image]I think that Barack Obama has been a decent president, he has done a fair job with a very crappy hand. He has disappointed me on various fronts but he is after all, a politician and they are very crafty animals, usually lacking ethics and always checking the direction of the popular wind.
Obama is weak on civil liberties, weak on keeping certain campaign promises but strong in certain other areas as well. I hate to say it but one thing he seems to be really good at is the sport of politics, he loves to campaign and is now licking his chops at the sticky brambles that the opposition has managed to get themselves into. Old Barack is starting to get into form, not that great at getting things handled or managing any sort of bipartisan consensus with the GOP, at least not with this GOP, but who knew, maybe a strategic genious at this politics business.
Anyway I liked how he has been going after people of late, the "I won't be punked Barack." He went after a Fox News guy today who had happened to ask a really stupid question, at least of a politician.
I also like how he did not allow himself to be punked by the Israelis this week amongst the war clamor for unilateral offensive action against the Persians. I have read some Israeli officials remarks that the government actually doesn't think that the Iranians are that close to a bomb at this point. I liked the I do not bluff comment. I don't believe he does and I don't think he rightfully needs to be worked by Netanyahu either. I also think that deep down the Israelis respect that, especially in the light of some of the pandering that goes on in certain circles.
If Obama can keep his "mean on", he may end up becoming a really good president in his second term.
"King Barrie"
3 Comments -
I agree with all that you said. Those of his political opponents who underestimate his abilities do so at their own risk.
The following article is from today's Huff Po. I think he makes a very good point about his political opponents:
WASHINGTON -- In his most direct attack to date on the Republicans vying for his job, President Barack Obama on Tuesday knocked his GOP challengers for their "casualness" in talking about the prospect of going to war with Iran, suggesting that their tough talk is devoid of any real substance.
During a White House press conference, Obama said there is still time for dealing diplomatically with Iran as the country signals it may be trying to develop a nuclear weapon. That is the view of U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials, he said, and as such, he said he plans to keep working with the international community to impose sanctions on Iran.
Then, without naming names, the president slammed Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, who have criticized him for being too passive on Iran by not endorsing military action.
"What's said on the campaign trail, you know, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities. They're not commander-in-chief," Obama said. "When I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I'm reminded of the costs involved in war. I'm reminded of the decision that I have to make, in terms of sending our young men and women into battle, and the impacts that has on their lives, the impact it has on our national security, the impact it has on our economy."
"This is not a game, and there's nothing casual about it."
Taking it a step further, Obama said Republicans who are "beating the drums of war" should have to explain clearly to the American people what they think the costs and benefits would be to going to war with Iran. "They should explain to the American people exactly why they would do that and what the consequences would be," he said. "Everything else is just talk."
When pressed for specifics on how to respond to Iran, the president suggested there is some irony in the fact that, for all their "bluster" and "big talk," his Republican challengers end up repeating Obama's policies from the past few years.
"It indicates to me that [their criticisms are] more about politics than actually trying to solve a difficult problem," he said.
Obama's press conference coincidentally -- or not so much -- lands on the same day as Super Tuesday, which could decide once and for all who the Republican presidential nominee will be. The president declined to call out any of his challengers by name, but asked if he had any response to Romney's characterization of him as "feckless," Obama had a message for the GOP hopeful.
"Good luck tonight," he said to laughs. "No, really."
March 6, 2012 at 5:25 PM
Good at detaining people without trials. Good at having Feds raid medical marijuana facilities. Good at giving Wall St. and Detroit our tax money. Good at escalating wars.
BUT A DOZEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE REPUBLICANS RUNNING AGAINST HIM.
pretty sad...............
March 6, 2012 at 7:57 PM
You're fuckin' dreamin'. If B. Husain O. runs on his record he gets his ass kicked. He's trying to run out the clock with the media in his back pocket along with every minority. This means he gets 45% of the electorate even if he goes into a coma. All he has to get is 6% to say things aren't so bad and he's a second-termer. But he will not have either house of Congress and he's a lame-duck for four more. Fine with me.
Judge Crater
March 7, 2012 at 5:01 PM