Comments on: Obama Is Winning Me Over http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/ A Fresh Look at News, Politics and History Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: mike3 http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1090 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:53:33 +0000 http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1090 I'm unpleasantly surprised to see people all gung-ho about this. The problem is that he hasn't given a solid plan or a promise not to repeat the mistakes of Bush -- namely, getting us mired down in something that ultimately only serves to strain the economy and torment our troops, and nationbuilding: regime-change through military force. That last item is the big problem -- we cannot hope to create democracy through military force. If someone starts talking about wanting to go to war, we should start asking big questions about that. Like what sort of factors are they considering to initiate the war? What is the scope of the mission: just to get terrorists, or do more (i.e. the failed democracy-by-gun crap)? Is there a well-defined exit criterion, and if so what is it (i.e. no "Mission Accomplished!" celebration followed by 5 more years of continued fighting)? Can we sustain the proposed troop levels, even after getting out of Iraq? Is the economy able to take it? How is it going to help troop morale? How long will we be in there? And so on. If people don't start asking these big questions now and just go in voting for this guy then they are repeating the very same mistakes that were made back in 2000 and 2004 with George W. Bush. And what do I see? A disturbing and ominous lack of such questioning. Democracy is best when the people make *wise* choices, and that involves asking questions -- good questions -- about the various choices. Currently, I do not like Obama because of this, and until I hear some solid answers to these questions, I will continue in my not liking. I’m unpleasantly surprised to see people all gung-ho about this. The problem is that he hasn’t given a solid plan or a promise not to repeat the mistakes of Bush — namely, getting us mired down in something that ultimately only serves to strain the economy and torment our troops, and nationbuilding: regime-change through military force. That last item is the big problem — we cannot hope to create democracy through military force. If someone starts talking about wanting to go to war, we should start asking big questions about that. Like what sort of factors are they considering to initiate the war? What is the scope of the mission: just to get terrorists, or do more (i.e. the failed democracy-by-gun crap)? Is there a well-defined exit criterion, and if so what is it (i.e. no “Mission Accomplished!” celebration followed by 5 more years of continued fighting)? Can we sustain the proposed troop levels, even after getting out of Iraq? Is the economy able to take it? How is it going to help troop morale? How long will we be in there? And so on. If people don’t start asking these big questions now and just go in voting for this guy then they are repeating the very same mistakes that were made back in 2000 and 2004 with George W. Bush. And what do I see? A disturbing and ominous lack of such questioning. Democracy is best when the people make *wise* choices, and that involves asking questions — good questions — about the various choices. Currently, I do not like Obama because of this, and until I hear some solid answers to these questions, I will continue in my not liking.

]]> by: Steve Plonk http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1032 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:43:43 +0000 http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1032 I am for Richardson. However, if he falls by the wayside, I think Hillary Clinton is more "practically minded" than Obama. Richardson has more experience than Obama and is about evenly matched with Hillary. Richardson's well-rounded experience makes him the best person for the job of president. I am for Richardson. However, if he falls by the wayside, I think Hillary Clinton is more “practically minded” than Obama. Richardson has more experience than Obama and is about evenly matched with Hillary. Richardson’s well-rounded experience makes him the best person for the job of president.

]]> by: Mike Covey http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1031 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:08:48 +0000 http://www.thecherryorchard.org/2007/08/07/obama-is-winning-me-over/#comment-1031 Good points, all. It’s amazing that an apparently honest man would be slammed for speaking the plain truth; instead of playing the same old horseshit games that everyone else (including Hillary) engages in. Worse yet, the American press is about as unbiased as Tass or Izvetzi (or Fox). I saw William Cohen and Madeline Albright on CNN favoring Hillary’s position over Obama's. Duh...they both worked in the Clinton Administration. But just ask yourself - if you's president, wouldn't you try to do things differently? Meet with Castro, etc. Tell 'em we'd like a change, or we'll make some changes. The 'old way' isn't working. Good points, all. It’s amazing that an apparently honest man would be slammed for speaking the plain truth; instead of playing the same old horseshit games that everyone else (including Hillary) engages in. Worse yet, the American press is about as unbiased as Tass or Izvetzi (or Fox). I saw William Cohen and Madeline Albright on CNN favoring Hillary’s position over Obama’s. Duh…they both worked in the Clinton Administration.

But just ask yourself - if you’s president, wouldn’t you try to do things differently? Meet with Castro, etc. Tell ‘em we’d like a change, or we’ll make some changes. The ‘old way’ isn’t working.

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