Obama gave a superb speech tailored to current conditions. Its rhetoric wasn’t high flying and soaring like Kennedy’s, but given current conditions, it was very appropriate in addressing the economic plight and terrorism.
Obama was very gracious in thanking his predecessor for cooperating in the transition. Not even FDR and Eisenhower were that gracious.
In the 1953 inaugural, Eisenhower refused to escort Truman out of the White House, and waited in the car instead for Truman to come out. They despised each other.
I thought it was a great speech because it conveyed the impression that, for the first time in modern history, the leader of a powerful nation actually understood what he or she was talking about and truly meant it.
I can understand though why British intellectuals weren’t ready to give in so easily – after their hearts were so callously broken by their own Barack Obama, Tony Blair. Barack Obama hasn’t helped the situation by surrounding himself during the transition with a cadre of the usual suspects. Even I’m wondering how all the conviction and sincerity in the world will manage to break through the cordon of compromises and backroom deals which make them who they are.
His skill with words is well known, now the real test of the job is his actions.
The new Prez of the US is a big deal, if there was no Bush there almost certainly wouldn’t have been a war in Iraq, in addition, the financial conditions may have been different at this time according to the strategies chosen. That’s not to say some other shit could have exploded out of a can somewhere else. But having a new young black President in a country that once was partially built on slavery, who seems worldly and educated yet compassionate, that’s something to celebrate for the world and does show how things can be better. It’s been a long time coming. There are issues larger than the US at play here such as survival of our planet and we need action now!
Clinton basically bombed the place daily for 8 years. So Gore would have carried on with that policy.
Albright said 0.5 million Iraqi kids dying from these bombs and the depleted Uranium they left behind was a price to pay.
That’s the psyche of the democrats.
But 9/11 would probably have still been allowed to take place and Gore would have attacked. He’d have been under too much pressure from the Oil companies, the Military Industrial complex etc not to.
American foreign policy doesn’t change much whoever is in office. Most Americans could care less about what goes on in the rest of the world. Most of them can’t find Canada on a map.
I’m waiting for the I told you so moment, and as sure as I have a hole in my arse Obama will have blood on his hands.
A book maker wouldn’t take bets on it.
He has an easy start because his predecessor was an inept goon whose agenda was to screw the economy (hand over the country to the banks) introduce the patriot acts (basically giving the Stasi US police the right to call anyone a terrorist), and make huge profits for big business, particularly Oil companies and the Military Industrial Complex with the perpetual war on (some) terror.
Plus centralization (National Socialism liked centralization) was started (or continued) with Bush and now Obama will definitely continue with that.
It says it all when Kissinger says an Obama presidency is a great opportunity to set up a New World Order.
These comments were made in this video interview with Kissinger at around 2:25 mins: youtube.com/watch?v=GThfWVCf … geId=85442
You’re nuts. Easy start? He has been handed an enormous stinking pile of shit. It would be an immense challenge for anyone to try to clean up that mess in 4 or even 8 years. If he succeeds even moderately in cleaning up Bush’s various messes he should be considered one of the Great presidents.
You’re nuts. Easy start? He has been handed an enormous stinking pile of shit. It would be an immense challenge for anyone to try to clean up that mess in 4 or even 8 years. If he succeeds even moderately in cleaning up Bush’s various messes he should be considered one of the Great presidents.[/quote]
Obama can basically do anything he likes and if it goes wrong blame his predecessor.
That is why it’s easy.
I just watched the inauguration speech. The man was very well prepared. I’m having a hard time digesting all of what he said, though…
I have a bad feeling about this… Dear Americans, congratulations. Looks like your troops will be moving to Afghanistan. If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll get to come home in 8 years… :s
This shit gets to me. So the cat is out of the bag, then? The oil we use every day to produce energy comes from our adversaries, thus paying for it strengthens them. And of course, they are a threat to the planet. No one ever said anything about invading Iraq for the oil… Saddam was hiding weapons of mass destruction, remember? :s
Just brilliant. The USA has now officially sworn to protect the planet… We are royally fucked if that is the case. Oh yes, I have a bad feeling about this.
[quote=“marboulette”]I just watched the inauguration speech. The man was very well prepared. I’m having a hard time digesting all of what he said, though…
I have a bad feeling about this… Dear Americans, congratulations. Looks like your troops will be moving to Afghanistan. If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll get to come home in 8 years… :s
This shit gets to me. So the cat is out of the bag, then? The oil we use every day to produce energy comes from our adversaries, thus paying for it strengthens them. And of course, they are a threat to the planet. No one ever said anything about invading Iraq for the oil… Saddam was hiding weapons of mass destruction, remember? :s
Just brilliant. The USA has now officially sworn to protect the planet… We are royally fucked if that is the case. Oh yes, I have a bad feeling about this.
marboulette[/quote]
Wasn’t he talking about “threatening the planet” in an environmental sense? Burning Middle East oil not only strengthens US enemies, it also causes environmental problems.
Obama’s speech was better than any other politicuans this decade. I thinka lot ofyou are just addicted to hating Americans. Be careful with that.You know, depression is just hatred turned inward.
[quote=“trebuchet”] I thinka lot ofyou are just addicted to hating Americans. Be careful with that.You know, depression is just hatred turned inward.[/quote]Or maybe you’re just one of those people who can’t make the distinction between disliking the “diplomatic” tenure of a government and disliking the actual citizens of a country.
Besides, I thought the adversaries were terrorists. I guess that just changed to “countries from the middle east that have the oil we burn.”
Now that’s REALLY comforting. :s
marboulette[/quote]
Err the adversaries are the terrorists, and their funders. The biggest donors are situated very close to Iraq and have a monarchy for a government. They also sound like Audi Arabia (I just found out that Arabia doesn’t really rhyme with anything). So long as Wahhabists want to set up a Caliphate that stretches from Kashmir to the Mediterranean we have a problem. The majority of their funding for their schools and other activities comes from one government. If you can shut down the funding, they won’t be able to open up really radical madrassa’s all over the place.
So if we discover a solution that makes it cheaper for the world to not buy oil (a depleting natural resource), that is also cleaner than oil, its a triple win. Most of the Middle Eastern governments will implode without oil income. There won’t be an Iran problem if they don’t have oil to boost their quasi-state run quasi-private companies. There won’t be money to support Hamas and Hezzbollah if oil profits decline, nor will the people stand for uranium enrichment if they are having 30% inflation.
The only country I’d really worry about imploding is Israel or Pakistan. Israel doesn’t have any oil revenue so they are fine time bomb. Pakistan imports most of its oil, and they have bigger issues to worry about.
Besides, I thought the adversaries were terrorists. I guess that just changed to “countries from the middle east that have the oil we burn.”
Now that’s REALLY comforting. :s
marboulette[/quote]
Err the adversaries are the terrorists, and their funders. [/quote] Oh but of course, however… if burning oil strengthen the adversaries as per what Obama said, and if the terrorists really are the adversaries, we can conclude that the funders and or the terrorists are also selling oil to the US.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone!
But no, I think the army is at work protecting the interests of big corporations. I think it has little to do with fighting terrorists or keeping Americans safe, sadly.
I think Obama was hinting about Iran. While the US may not be buying oil directly from Iran, its level of consumption ensures good prices for oil which in turn ensures oil producing countries, including Iran, continue to receive excellent income from their oil industries.
