Obama Does Offer Hope — to America’s Foes
Obama sometimes tries to sound tough when it comes to terrorism. For example, he has said that he takes the threat “deadly serious” and would attack al-Qaeda targets inside Pakistan. But terrorists can be forgiven for thinking this is just election talk. Just eight days after 9/11, in an op-ed for the Hyde Park Herald, the senator blamed the attacks on “a failure of empathy” that “grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness, and despair.” As Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs pointed out, Obama made no mention of the role radical Islam played in the hijackers’ lives. Perhaps that’s because acknowledging that an ideology of hatred is behind the murdering of innocents requires one to face the uncomfortable truth that force is often a prerequisite for victory. On the other hand, the belief that we only need to understand where our enemies are coming from allows a person to maintain the delusion that diplomacy and a touch of humility are the answers. Ask yourself this: Would Obama agree more with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who once said that “America has done reprehensible things and is responsible in some way” for 9/11, or President Bush, who told the country “on 9/11, our nation saw the face of evil”? (Hint: Gyllenhaal’s rhetoric could have easily come from the mouth of Reverend Jeremiah Wright or former Weatherman William Ayers, two people who haven’t bothered Obama half as much as Bush has.)
Actions do speak louder than words, but Obama’s record in the Senate won’t strike fear in the hearts of those who employ terror to further their goals either. (It does, however, scare those American voters who worry more about Obama’s fortitude than, say, whether Muslim women in headscarves were seen sitting behind him at an event.) Last year, Obama opposed a non-binding resolution designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization because it would send a “wrong message not only to the world, but also to the region.” But what about the message that needed to be sent to Iran, the country that is killing U.S. soldiers in Iraq and threatening to annihilate Israel? As McCain, who did vote for the resolution, said, “Holding Iran’s influence in check, and holding a terrorist organization accountable, sends exactly the right message — to Iran, to the region, and to the world.”
Obama also voted against the Iraq War spending bill because it didn’t contain a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops. This followed his own January 2007 proposal which would have set a March 31, 2008, deadline for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
If you think al-Qaeda couldn’t care less about whether American troops remain in Iraq, consider what happened in Spain in 2004. Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero promised he’d withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq if elected. Terrorists bombed Madrid trains just days before the election with the goal of intimidating Spanish voters to vote for the Socialists. The last Spanish troop left Iraq in May 2004.
Yes, it’s disgusting to engage in a whispering campaign linking Obama to terrorists. But is it really unfair to say that by voting for Obama you are voting the way America’s enemies would like you to vote?
Al-Qaeda was for Kerry in 2004. Remember when Bin Laden threatened the red states? Of course, the argument was made that the threat hurt Kerry, but I don’t think that was the intention.
Putting aside the question of the Hamas endorsement per se, I’m not sure why you think it’s diabolical that “young Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza” are phone-banking for BO. The YouTube clip you link to ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21YF7ggCG6g) doesn’t indicate that these particular young Palestinians are terrorists, and the guy who’s interviewed pretty much just says that he doesn’t think US policy towards Israel is helping the situation and that maybe a change is a good idea. Which, again, you might disagree with, but it hardly seems alarming or wrong.
As for the Hamas endorsement, also worth noting that it was basically retracted, because Hamas is as confused as everyone by Obama’s mixed signals on his Israel policy:
… so there you go. I honestly don’t know what BO’s Israel policy would be (which, yes, is reason for concern), but I don’t think that the fact that young Palestinians like him, and that one Hamas official said something nice about him which was then retracted, is really legitimate grounds for criticism.
Some really good points in here. You cannot keep discounting all the terrifying negatives that come with Obama’s candidacy. Even if we KNEW we’d be safe in his Administration, how can ANY American — much less 50-60 million — sleep at night knowing they are voting alongside evil doers?
Imagine if Hitler had endorsed Gov. Dewey in 1944. Think the Republican still would have won 12 states? Sadly, this is 2008, where professors, impatience, selfishness, the media and lack of proper parenting, have led us to actually nominate this Empty Suit for the most important office in the world at the most important point in history.
But the Obama cult members, as this article notes, don’t care about that. To them, the G.W.O.T., OEF and OIF are happening elsewhere, so it’s a different world to them. They’ll castigate the president, ignore success, appease our enemies, and vote for a fool — so long as the Starbucks, Art Fairs and Sushi Houses remain open.
Funny idea for a new cartoon! Hopefully Americans won’t vote like the Spaniards.
Fortunately for the United States (and for John McCain), Obama will defeat Obama. He’s his own worst enemy.
Let Ameirca’s enemies have thier orgasm, it won’t be lasting too much longer. People are beginning to notice the narcissistic nothingness that is Obama.
Great piece, Aaron. You know, I just do not understand how people can think that our so called allies and avowed enemies wanting Obama to win is somehow a point in his favor. It’s an indicator of something alright. It’s an indicator that they think he’s a sucker who can be played.
Much better if the rest of the world hates our president. It’s worked so well for the past seven and a half years.
With much of EUrope, it’s hard to tell if they are allies or enemies.
The world,enemies and alies, see a change in America with Obama. Instead of the US being the enforcer of what is correct, we will become the bail out kings of the world. you oppose our veiw, here is $25 billion. US tax payers buck up, the times are a changin.
You think we give to much foreign aid now.
Of course the world love Obama.
I just heard his Berlin speech. My blood is boiling.
But I’m sure that will be another PJM thread soon.
Letter From an a soldier in Afghanistan:
Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram, Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to “The War Zone”. I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.
As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.
So really he was just here to make a showing for the American’s back home that he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way over here, you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.
I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don’t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.
In service,
(Name witheld)
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
I also just heard the Berlin speech. My blodd is also boiling. I believe many of us feel the same. I just hope this helps people people like us get of our butts and mobilize. This election is not over yet.
Steev:
First and foremost, I humbly say thanks for all you guys and gals out there risking yourselves for our country. As for the “political entity” that breezed by you, he is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with our country. Ungrateful navel-gazers who are, to paraphrase the immortal words of the late Jeanne Kirkpatrick the “blame America first” crowd. They are unreconstructed left-wing zombies who have been breast fed at the teat of Stalinist propaganda.
All I can say is, spread the word to everyone you know, as I surely will. And keep the faith. There are an awful lot of grateful Americans and decent people from all over the planet who appreciate what the US military has done and is doing to keep us all safe. Sadly, you will never hear it in the media, which is about as unbiased as Pravda.
God bless and stay safe!
The Left does not believe that antagonists can be motivated by religious feelings and convictions. You must remember what Marx had to say about religion (“the sigh of the oppressed creature”)in order to appreciate where Obama and his supporters are coming from. I have yet to meet a Leftist (and I used to be one many years ago)who has done what I have tried to do in the last five years, namely, read the Islamic scriptures (Qur’an), some English translations of the traditions (ahadith), and the life and deeds of the Prophet (Sira). The Leftists I know (who still talk to me!)still try to fit this conflict into their template of class consciousness/rebellion against capitalist imperialism. There is no reasoning with people who indulge in intellectual and moral sloth.
Steev:
Thank you for this letter.
We should tell everyone about it, everyone and their mother
this Barak Osama clown should be publicly ostracized all aver the place
also we should compile lists of his speculative supporters:
lists of names MUST be published: people should know who are our enemies
Can I be first on your list? Enemies lists and show trials are what made America what it is today!
Steev – You and your fellow soldiers that serve this country are truly heroic men. We cannot begin to say thank you enough for your service. Obama is not worthy to polish your shoes, much less be your commander-in-chief. Keep up the good fight!
Face it retards Obama is going to be the next POTUS. I can tell how worried you are because you all spend so much time thinking about him while McCain is left alone at the airport.
I too say thank you to the wonderful young and not so young people with integrity who serve in our military. Thank you for allowing so many lazy, unthinking Americans to have the right to go on with their fanatasies of what the real world should be INSTEAD of understanding that reality is where we must live and deal with. Ever notice that people on the left view what should be and people in the middle and right get ideas on what is REAL.
I just watched HIS speech in Berlin. Here’s my summation:
Borders? Tear down those walls!
The Cold War? Our bad. And I thought the Cold War was over! Silly me. Sure, all that candy/airlift/food drop thing was cool, but all that other bad stuff our side did really put a crimp in world peace. Time for it to end.
The Poor of the word? Our fault. We owe them everything.
Nukes? All our fault — and if they didn’t exist, the world would be paradise.
Islamic terror? Our bad. We haven’t done enough to win their hearts and minds.
rotwang: you are a liar don’t bother u r of no interest to no one
i too watched the b.o. “non political” speech from germany. Lord help us if he ever utters a presidential speech. he was very apologetic about ww2,and how great it was for germany to come back after those nasty old brits bombedthem. also, how we dropped candy out of the planes during the berlin airlift. all in a condescending tone. germany couldn’t do anything for itself, and still can’t. thus, he’s ready to lead the new world order, except for china, they’re bad too. GOD HELP US.
Steev,
The ‘name witheld’ is CPT Jeffrey S. Porter. In some versions of the email it is ‘Capt J’.
The original source is probably here
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/07/from-gi-in-afgh.html
but it is all over the place.
How did you come by it steev?
Somebody tell “rotwang” the reason we are focussed on Obama is because we care for our country and Western civilization, at a time when they are under assault by the Evil Alliance of Islamic totalitarianism and Socialist totalitarianism.
Since Obama is a man of the Left, and his voting record, policy preferences, advisers, and his intellectual influences all coalesce into a picture that alarms us. That and the fact that he has so many Americans hoodwinked.
But we also know that if he wins in November, it will be Jimmy Carter, Act II, and the disasters which follow WILL peel away all those voters who are not Leftists who fell for his shuck and jive.
There is another verson which has different provenance:
QUOTE
I got this forwarded from a USAF Retiree, but I have X’ed out the name
of the sender to protect this enlisted person from persecution for
telling what really happened with Senator Obama in Afghanistan.
I do appreciate his honesty.
This just shows the lack of Patriotism etc. Obama has.
What would he do to the Military if he were President?
Forward this to every patriotic person and vet you know.
–
David W. Mastbrook and Margaret S. Mastbrook
Subject: A friend who is serving in Afghanistan
A genuine friend of the military.
Maybe his true colors are starting to show a little bit !!
know each of your personal political convictions, and apologize if anyone
finds this offensive. I thought it was I don’t important enough to share.
This is Jeff’s first hand view of Senator Obama.
Tiffany
Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person….. END QUOTE
There are other people also claiming to have received it from friends or realtives, or friends of relatives in Bagram.
Roy M,
Great, are you so naive that you take some ignorant chain email seriously just because some serviceman forwarded it?
Javelin,
See what happens when I just give information without telling people what to think about it…
We have an email with multiple claimed primary sources and different sign offs. For these reasons it is probably fake. Geddit?
whatever is behind it DOES NOT MATTER
we support our troops and lets WIN IT!
Funny, I thought “meh” about the speech, too. I kept hearing “I’d like to teach the world to sing – ” going thru my head. Not a truly memorable line in the whole thing. Go all the way to Germany, assemble a huge crowd, get a big photo-op and then give a speech that’s the equivalent of “We are the world…we are the children…” Pure meh.
sorry – posted to the wrong story.
After Obamas talk about this terrible USA, people would create a stampede for USA ” green cards” if he had them.
Morton Doodslag wrote:
Borders? Tear down those walls!
The Cold War? Our bad. And I thought the Cold War was over! Silly me. Sure, all that candy/airlift/food drop thing was cool, but all that other bad stuff our side did really put a crimp in world peace. Time for it to end.
The Poor of the word? Our fault. We owe them everything.
Nukes? All our fault — and if they didn’t exist, the world would be paradise.
Islamic terror? Our bad. We haven’t done enough to win their hearts and minds.
I think your interpretention is very biased, and judging on the lukewarm response from the Berlin audience (I was there), they agree with me. You read everything he says, and puts it like it is some kind of attack on America, when infact it is the very opposite.
The way he praised the American effort to save Berlin and fight communism, the way he demonized the communist blockade of Berlin….how you could possibly read that as an attack on American cold war policy is beyond me…
And quotes like this, while they might seem to be anti-american (that´s why the crowd cheered), is not:
“In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe’s role in our security and our future. Both views miss the truth – that Europeans today are bearing new burdens and taking more responsibility in critical parts of the world; and that just as American bases built in the last century still help to defend the security of this continent, so does our country still sacrifice greatly for freedom around the globe.”
Anyone who don´t see the obvious critizism of Europe here should work on their reading comprehension.
Now Obama did not “blame” the US for anything, he just said that it cannot meet all the challenged of the globalized world alone.
“Now the world will watch and remember what we do here – what we do with this moment. Will we extend our hand to the people in the forgotten corners of this world who yearn for lives marked by dignity and opportunity; by security and justice? Will we lift the child in Bangladesh from poverty, shelter the refugee in Chad, and banish the scourge of AIDS in our time?
Will we stand for the human rights of the dissident in Burma, the blogger in Iran, or the voter in Zimbabwe? Will we give meaning to the words “never again” in Darfur?”
And again, I´m not really an Obama fan. But I just don´t understand how any of you can be “boiling” after this speech, that was just full of conventional American thinking.
Obama has delusions of grandeur. He needs to be defeated resoundingly and sent back to his well-deserved obscurity.
This man is unfit to be Commander in Chief of our armed forces. Here is my case and I lay out the facts. First, if he was not a United States Senator there is no way he would ever receive a secret or top secret security clearance if he applied for a job in DoD or the CIA or even the FBI. Why?
1. His biological father, Barack Obama, Sr., was a member of Kenya’s Communist Party and is reputed to have had his U.S. education funded, through intermediaries, the Soviet Union. He served as a chief economist for the brief period his patron was president of Kenya, and his position paper on what he would do to structure Kenya’s economy was right out of Marxism-Leninism: expropriation and collectivization. Many years later, Junior wrote approvingly of his father’s ideals and ideas in his first autobiography. What does that tell you? And 1995 is not in the distant past.
2. His step father was an Indonesian Communist until the Suharto event of 1965, after which he got with the program and became formally a practicing Muslim.
3. His mother was a Marxist anthropologist, who heaped scorn on her second husband because he went to work for oil companies in Indonesia. Junior also wrote approvingly of his mother’s views.
4. At Occidental College and at Columbia University by his own admission he gravitated towards Marxist/Socialist profs.
5. He established a friendship with a man who was a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, an Islamic terror organization, Prof. Rashid Khalidi.
6. His cordial association with two American Communist terrorists, William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. Both are unrepentant for their acts of sabotage and murder.
It is extremely unlikely that in a career in the U.S. Senate he would be approved for places on either the Select Intelligence Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee, since he would have to have access to state secrets and sensitive information.
This is a man you people want to have as CIC????
He is unqualified for the job in so many ways, I cannot begin to list them all. As a vet, I weep for the U.S. military that he would be their next Commander. He is unworthy of their service. He cannot even be worthy to carry the lowliest private’s jockstrap.
It’s scary that so many Americans think he has the gravitas to be CIC. He’s even suggesting unilateral nuclear weapons’ disarmament. He and his adviser, Joe Cirincione, also want to:
1. End the missile defense program.
2. End the F-22 Raptor program.
3. End the Virginia class submarine program.
4. Halt or slow down the implementation of new battlefield technologies.
This is why the nation’s enemies are so heavily invested in the defeat of John McCain and the election of Barack Obama and for fillibuster-proof majorities in the Senate and House.
They love him in Berlin, in Paris, in Rome, in Istanbul, in Beirut, in Tehran, in Damascus, in Jerusalem, even in the northwest terrritories of Pakistan, not to mention the United States of America. When he finally chooses to speak at the United Nations there will be a universal chorus of cheers and adulation. Who could unite such discordant cultures, political ideologies, bitter enemies, variegated religions and ethnicities? Before Obama, one would expect the answer to be the “Messiah” or the “Mahdi”. When Christians, Jews and Muslims, terrorists and leftists, can express uniform approbation and admiration for one person does that not suggest that the ‘person’ was delivered to us by Providence?
Obamamania is a backlash against George Bush. It is also the result of a dispassionate campaign by John McCain. His lofty rhetoric and chameleon persona can garner support from both Israelis and Hezbollah, from Muslims and Christians and Jews only because he attacks the one man that ALL of these groups hate, George Bush. There are legimitate reasons for disapproving of the President that promised to bring “freedom to the Middle East” but could not allow his armed forces to fight “freely” in Afghanistan or Iraq.
The Iranian Revolution was a backlash against the Shah, the Russian Revolution was a backlash against the Czar, the rise of Nazi Germany was a backlash against the Kaiser. We all know what these “backlashes” produced.
There is nothing “providential” about that long-legged mack daddy. The more I dug into his background and his formative influences the more concerned I was that we are sleep walking towards a disaster. Well, some of us are not, but these days we are in the minority view of this man. His popularity overseas only means that those nations earnestly seek our humiliation and even destruction. But, I think the nation will survive four years of him. The nation has endured worse. In the end, the people who voted for him will bitterly regret being fooled, and that lesson will be burned in their minds for the rest of their lives. Forget about the Far Left people. They are the Kool Aid drinkers and won’t mind at all that Obama’s presidency will injure the nation for many years to come.
Subject: Obama the Savior
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 01:23:44 -0400
ODE TO OBAMA
The Revend Right has had my ear,
Lo, for many a year.
Yet my ear refused to hear,
Though his message was loud and clear.
I am a patriot much like you,
But wear the pin I could not do,
As those who have no clue,
Who cling to guns and Bible too.
To those who say I have no faith
I urge to read Leviticus,
Which speaks of things to hate
To qualify for heaven’s gate,
Containing myth and lies,
The things I do despise,
From which I rescue all of us.
I am the Angel of Change,
All things to rearrange;
To bring together black and white,
As well as darkness and the light;
To show both the wrong and right,
So we know the day from night.
I am your Savior,
Can’t you see?
All opposites I do contain,
It’s evident in my identity.
If you do not vote for me,
The future will be bleak for thee.
The old hero has had his day,
It’s time for a better way!
You have waited for my birth,
Now let me save the earth!
Fred,
Obama’s rhetoric and message are so “messianic” that they suggest he sees himself as the “deliverer” the world has been waiting for, no less than the Israelites in Egypt were waiting for Moses. Lacking any experience or credentials, he acts as if God had spoken to him in a “burning bush”. Of course that’s impossible since God does not do the flip-flop every other day.
That Europe, Islam, and the Left in America want to see this country humiliated and punished there is no doubt. This was a trend that emerged in the Carter Administration and has continued unabated, with a brief interruption during Ronald Reagan’s terms. We have made mistakes because too often in Washington our elected and appointed officials have lacked humility and common sense, but overall, as President Reagan said, “America is the beacon of light” to the rest of the world.
Finally, the reason you and I, and so many others, are taking the time to express our thoughts and feelings is to PREVENT what you rightly stated: “Obama’s presidency will injure the nation for many years to come”. Not even George Bush’s pathetic tenure really “injured” this nation despite what liberals in all their manifestations might think.
No messiah, baby. Him what tramples free speech through covert coercion and intimidation perpetrated by his supporting network fits MUCH better.
A few weeks ago in Marietta, Georgia, a highly Christian-leaning area, reportedly a group spread out on a Saturday afternoon and vocally, visually denounced everyone’s lord while professing theirs was instead THE only one as they passed out copies of the Quran.
Sound familiar? Think about what our country is accused of doing when we push ourselves into other countries.
On the return gained from visiting our wounded troops –
One Word Answer – PRICELESS!
Question – Uplifting wonded troops spirits by showing up and foregoing ones personal regimen to tell them how important their sacrafice was to the country and its freedoms?
In his speech in Berlin yesterday, he stated that in addition to being a citizen of the United States, he is a citizen of the World.
No wonder Barack Obama appeals to our enemies.
I really only want to cast my vote for someone to lead my country who professes to be a citizen of my country First, Last, and ALWAYS. I do not want my president to be conflicted in his loyalties.
Further, the junior Senator from Illinois raised the spector of our country’s possible involvement in torture (as if this is what we do … all the time – we ARE at war, not in a police action) and embedded this highlight in a “nothing burger” of a cliche ridden speech. I felt that I was watching the “Dixie Chicks” as opposed to someone who wishes to represent our country to the rest of the world as its lead executive.
WOW – I ain’t swoonin’!
Was proud and happy to see an American cheered and so many waving the stars and stripes during Obama’s trip to Europe. This reinforces my own experience, Europeans do not dislike us, but, they as most Americans do not approve of or respect Bush and his cohorts.
Great observation, just one problem. that I am tired of hearing how America is hated around the world. That just doesn’t stand up to reality. For example:
1. The people of France, Germany, and Canada have all elected Pro-American leaders (after the “hated” President Bush led America stepped up against Terrorism).
2. South Korea was pushing away from the US in the 90s has pulled towards the US during the current administration.
2. Great Britian, Australia, etc. are still standing next to America in anti-terror efforts around the world.
3. The Eastern block countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, etc. (all of them with recent personal knowledge of brutal regimes) are standing with us.
4. China is cooperating (half-hearted is better than not at all) with our efforts involving North Korea.
5. Oh yeah, over 50 million people got to see what a free election actually looks like, up close and personal, participating even under death threats.
Hated?
Edward A,
Those cheeering Euros are cheering for the prospect of a diminished America.
The only country on earth where Communists/Marxists/Socialists have not yet been roundly defeated and discredited is right here in the U.S. One way or another this is a fight we have to win, either in this election or in the next one. This is unfinished business and the residue of the Cold War. Look at what the Red Diaper Babies, the New Left, the neo-Marxist Gramscians hath wrought.
My daily prayer now is that a miracle will happen to save us from this filthy Alliance of Evil: the Left and Islam.
Communism, Marxism, and Socialism are not the same things, duh… brush up on your reading. A lot of racism, intolerance, and fear going around this comment page. I suggest we stick to the facts of the issues, actually listen to what our candidates have to say, and not speculate as to what may or may not happen.
Hey “fred”…Communism, Marxism, and Socialism are not the same things, and should not be lumped together as such… brush up on your reading. A lot of racism, intolerance, and fear going around this comment page. I suggest we stick to the facts of the issues, actually listen to what our candidates have to say, and not speculate as to what may or may not happen.
“jim”… So the rest of the world likes us just fine? Some actual proof of what you speculate on, if you please… I’ve actually been around the world twice over and talked to various people of at least 20 countries. I had to defend myself as an American and even pretend to be Canadian at times so as not to get attacked. You need to get out more.
Smack, if you’d be so kind, I’d dearly love to know what country(ies) you were in when you had to pretend to be Canadian, and what happened to you — would you please tell the story? Thanks!
Smack, I want to hear your story! Where were you when you had to pretend to be Canadian, and what happened to you?
If my posts ever appear, sorry for the duplication…
Mary,
Any ‘American’ who pretends to be something else is a coward not worth your time.
I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Indonesia–the world’s largest Muslim country–last fall, on a dive trip, and we got a uniformly enthusiastic welcome from the locals. Young Muslim women ran up to my wife as we strolled on the beach near Makassar, begging to be photographed with her. People who deal with tourists there perfer American and Japanese tourists above all others, because we treat the locals respectfully–unlike the generally badly-behaved Russians, Indians, and Chinese.
Indonesian opinions about America were pretty low before the earthquake/tsunami in Aceh a few years ago. But the Indonesians took note of an American carrier taskforce showing up promptly and doing yeoman work to help the locals (meanwhile Indonesian military were stealing relief supplies to sell on the black market).
So now they generally like us, despite a huge anti-American propaganda campaign financed by our oil dollars sent to Saudi Arabia, which the Saudis have used to build a worldwide network of fundamentalist Muslim clergy and mosques.
And of course there’s no difference between Obama and McCain about how we’d use our military to help out in huge disasters.
And there’s also no difference between Obama and McCain regarding illegal immigration–both have pledged to put the needs of Mexican citizens living here illegally ahead of the needs of working-class Americans whose wages have been driven down 5-25% by competition from illegals.
And as far as “not fit to be Commander in Chief” harrumphing…you’re not going to sway independents like me with that kind of stuff. And we represent 40% of the electorate. You all supported the incumbent, who is arguably the most incompetent CIC in American history.
Conversely, who would have guessed FDR would be such a good CIC? Or Lincoln? Neither had a smidgen of military experience. OTOH Grant, Eisenhower and Washington all had significant military experience, yet Grant was a poor president, Eisenhower was OK, and Washington was perhaps the best we ever had.
So you can’t tell. Certainly commanding a squadron and getting shot down isn’t same as Washington, Eisenhower and Grant’s high-level command experience.
McCain’s experience is more like that of Bush I, who also got shot down, and whose mistakes at the end of the first Iraqi war dog us to this day (i.e. failing to annihilate Saddam’s Praetorian Guard on the road to Baghdad and allowing Saddam’s armed choppers to fly, which enabled Saddam to crush the Shiite rebellion in the south decisively).
Ironically, Obama’s shameless pandering to Meximerican voters is the single biggest mark against him in the eyes of most independents–and it’s the one card you can’t play, since McCain is basically the same here.
RE: @ 12:57 pm: You’ve got a good point, but I’d still like to know what countries were involved, so I can make sure not to visit them! (Hopefully none of them are on my “bucket list”…)
Smack, if you’re still reading, was physical violence involved, or were you only confronted verbally? That would make a difference to my travel plans, too.
What is with all the Hate and intolerance? War is NOT a good
thing, this isn’t 1947. We are Trillions in debt and the dollar
ain’t worth shit, jobs being lost left and right and the price of
gas is killing us. ….great Job GWB and the GOP!
please let’s give them 4 more years to fix it.
“I don’t think that the fact that young Palestinians like him, and that one Hamas official said something nice about him which was then retracted, is really legitimate grounds for criticism.”
Hamas is a bunch of brutal thugs and murderers. If it was the SS or Pol pot, would you be trying to rationalize that endorsement? Hams is just as bad, just as murderous.
MH, no, it’s not 1947. If it was the FBI would have you in a insane asylum, being checked out. That can take years and hours of shock treatment.
Jobs were fine and the deficit as a percentage of GDP was the lowest in 40 years until ’06 when the democrats took control of Congress. Remember Congress? The people who are responsible for the budget AND have the greatest affect on the US economy. Remember them? You voted them in and now you are paying the price. DON’T try to blame this administration for that. To those that do I offer 6 years of the best economy in American history and then a Democratic Congress screwin’ the pooch.
Fred is right, I am leftist [strictly independent now], and let me tell you, in the far left, and socialist left, for about the past five years there has been an increase in a political purge of sorts and infiltration by the hard core Stalinist-Maoist Islamists leftists. I know, I was in one of the parties and was a chair. I can’t go into all the details here but rest assured, what is coming out of the left camp [those behind the scenes pulling the cords] is extremely dangerous.
Think, a mix of FARC, Hezbollah, Stalinism [in parts], Race Nationalism/Idi Amin kind, and the worst forms of Nazi-Reds that there is. I was one of the ones purged or exiled out, because I absolutely refused to be silent and/or apologetic towards Islam, pedophilia, misogyny, totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, and fascism. I am also part of the underclass, not Ivy League, not bourgeoisie and damn sure not in support of imperialism or right wing fascism. But rest assured, believe me when I tell you,
the IMPERIALISM THEY ARE GOING TO PROP UP IS GOING TO MAKE WAGE SLAVERY LOOK LIKE WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
The Right wing is correct in parts in regards to the influence of the left, eg., Horowitz, etc., but it is far worse than most realize. Used to be, it was a mix of liberal new left and Leninists, though they were somewhat of a dying breed, even the CP-USA was not as bad as some of the other parties, that were influenced by those forces in South America, Central America and Africa/Middle East. And those types or varieties of socialism and communism were somewhat rejected, no one wanted to be associated with Stalinism or Totalitarianism,
but approx seven or maybe eight years ago that began to change. It started with, from where I could tell, younger generations coming in the parties mixing with some of the more hard core old timers, many of whom, were Extremely anti-Semitic, and I often wondered how many of them were truly Nazi’s rather than communists because they spoke more like Nazis. And the obsession over Israel, just got worse, and worse, until one day, it was like this take over, this demand for ‘party ideological purity’ and then the shit hit the fan. By that time I had already made enough enemies by being very outspoken against 80% of the party platform even before they went over to the ultimate of extremism. I had read enough to know the history and development and the flaws of Soviet Communism and Maoist communism.
Also being a feminist already put me at odds because the one main issue was over the lack of real women’s autonomy in the party and in the history of course, one of the biggest hypocrisies in the far left that there is. But if that wasn’t bad enough–the ‘plants’ from the more Nationalists, especially the race nationalists and the anti-Semitics/alliances with Islam were doing their work, not just in one party–several of them, until one by one, they were taken over. What I didn’t realize at that time was how much this force, this Cult de Force had also infiltrated a lot of the mainstream left, feminism included,
and because many of my close friends are from Russia, I knew, I knew the signs, the rhetoric, the language, and the methods. But what I was seeing made Bolshevism look liberal, what is in the left today isn’t even comparable to Bolshevism, oh no, its more of the North Korean&Po Phot version, mingled with the Opiate of Islamism.
It is NO coincidence between Obama’s links to Indonesia [remember East Timor, that genocide and, what is so damn ironic is how the duped stupid leftists in America ARE CLUELESS ABOUT THE SLAUGHTER OF COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERS BY THE JIHADISTS IN INDONESIA], and Kenya–Odinga, which, there is a very dangerous history there between Kenya and Idi Amin–also tied in with Islam.
These young leftists today are duped, not just in the parties but the anarchists as well–and it was So easy–all the leftists had to do was appeal to their nihilism and their ‘hedonism’ and it will be on those basis that they’ll be easily destroyed when they are no longer convenient, and the feminists and the GLBT community will be the first to go. And they will butcher them if they succeed,
all those leftists who march along side the Islamists in their multi-cultural and cultural relativist stupidity will be hung from poles and squashed like bugs. That I can promise you, because thats Exactly what these types of butchers do, they exploit, manipulate, control then they kill. And the left is notorious for doing away with their own comrades when those comrades are no longer ‘useful’ to them.
They sell a distorted lie–and anyone who has any knowledge of Marxism or has read anything written OTHER THAN THOSE PARTY PROPAGANDA PAMPHLETS AND PARTY POLITIBURO CIRCLE JERK knows damn well, that there is not a Worker’s Movement to control the means of production, not even…except for a few ‘tokens’ that they use to lure people in, no, its an upper class power apparatus that is hell bent on establishing or social engineering the forces of history to create their vision with them on top of course with us stupid peasants at the bottom licking their boots–and women peasants of course will be expected to have your ass in the air ready at all times.
Hate to be blunt about it but thats the truth…except NOW its going to be not just communism but communism with the iron fist of Islam. Actually, it won’t even be communism because communism is diabolically opposed to Islam, economically speaking, why they tend to get on better with socialism because at least with socialism they can have their serfdom tax and their SLAVERY. The left will ONLY focus on the right wing/capitalists propping up of the economies of Saudi and Dubai, etc., but what they WON’T TELL YOU is the SOCIALIST PARTIES that are also not just propping up of these
IMPERIALIST EMPIRES but that are also propping up on the backs of WORKERS, SLAVES, SEX SLAVES, AND BLACK MARKET ECONOMY.
And the left is very clever at turning issues to appease, especially when you point things out, its when you get militant and oppose them even using leftist theory to do so is when you’ll see just how nasty and vile they get…and liberation, of workers, of the oppressed,
oh hell no, thats the ‘big lie’. They use that misery to ride the backs to power on the backs of those very oppressed they speak of. The poor and oppressed are nothing but biological fodder to them, nothing more.
People need to remember something, the first peoples that Stalin, well even before Stalin, who were betrayed other than the women’s commissions, were THE WORKER’S COMMITTEES.
And its been that way every since. Sure they’ll ride the backs of the immigrant vote, they love the immigrant vote, better yet, they love the cheap labor AND the already accustomed to living under absolutism and/or fear of the state. And they’ll turn on them and render them to pieces, if those immigrants ever rise up and demand any type of rights. The minute they think you are getting too ‘uppity’ and truly getting that ‘consciousness’ they’ll dispose of you like you were nothing but a faint passing in the wind.
What we are seeing today Yes is reactionary, reactionary against yes, right wing extremism on many points, some however, that was necessity, if one truly understands how the international power political stage works. And a lot of it is just sheer STUPIDITY, and I say that, as a leftist, because its SHEER STUPIDITY to trivialize or dismiss the warnings by thousands of victims including leftists in Iran, its SHEER STUPIDITY to trivialize or rationalize the Gendercide and horrific oppression of the poor in Columbia by both right wing forces and by FARC. Its SHEER STUPIDITY to not see the dangers in appeasing a far worse imperialism that is blatantly open about their Supremacy, anti-Semitism and their institutions of BRUTAL SLAVERY,
someone mentioned on here what are we going to do about Bangladesh? They can’t be serious? Want to DO SOMETHING ABOUT BANGLADESH, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE IMPERIALISM OF THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM, THAT CULT OF ISLAM.
You’re worried about AIDS, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MISOGYNY OF ISLAM AND OTHER BARBARIC DESPOTIC REGIMES AND JUNTAS THAT ENFORCE AND SANCTION A STATUS OF WOMEN THAT IS LOWER THAN THE STATUS OF MAGGOTS, the projections of AIDS in AFGHANISTAN is going to make Africa look like a lab experiment with the brutal HOLOCAUST AGAINST WOMEN IN THAT COUNTRY BY THOSE VERY CORRUPT ISLAMIC FORCES THAT THE FAR LEFT WANTS TO BOW DOWN TOO,
and DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST IN SUDAN AND IN THE CONGO AND SOON TO BE IN KENYA IF THE ODINGA LOT GET THEIR WAY, AND ALL THE OTHER THUGS THAT THE FAR LEFT IS SO INTENT ON PROTECTING…
because the truth is, these horrors are remnants and/or deliberate MEANS BY THE LEFT/ISLAMISTS TOWARDS THEIR ENDS. And those who think other wise are deluded if they think it won’t happen here.
And here’s something else for you young duped leftists to chew on, I’m not the only one who sees this or who says something, a lot of the Old timers [80s-90s] from the far left have been seeing it too and they are horrified AT WHAT IS TRANSPIRING,
those old timers that are all happy dappy are the Anti-Semitics, which leads me to this, I did some investigation about the high percentage of anti-semitics in the left parties, Isn’t it amazing how in Europe and in Russia there was a movement of a mingling of sorts of Leninist [distorted that is] ideology combined with Hitler’s ideology and they are termed ‘red nazi’s’ and yes they do exist,
now, connect the dots: South America, Nazi’s who fled–and add Chavez [nationalist], for starters, Islamists in South America, the red-nazi groups that rose out of Europe esp after the fall of the Berlin Wall, that and the merging of hard core Nazi like nationalist groups and a Bolshevik party [a revisionist] in Russia, and the Islamist-Maoist camp in the Philippines and in other parts of Asia that are tied with also, the Egyptian Brotherhood and Hezbollah…and what do you get?
Then get a clue and do some research on the communists who were slaughtered in Indonesia, Iran, at times in Iraq, and find out Why they were and why in those countries, the worker’s parties that try to rise up, are taking care of accordingly and with swiftness.
As bad as Stalin was, that cult of personality, what is being propped up today, is going to be worse than Stalinism. And with one HUGE DIFFERENCE–
the deciding factor to you dumb duped hedonist leftists will not be the question of whether you are a class enemy or not, thats not even in the equation anymore…hasn’t been for years,
it will be, whether you are an infidel or not, whether you convert or not, and whether you agree to be the pond scum they say you are…and if you scream liberal rights they will hang you to dry and laugh the entire time. For you women, leftist women, they’ll pass you around like you are nothing baby, and dare you not submit or dare you not give it up when they demand it…kid yourself not.
You think slavery/wage slavery is bad now, baby you haven’t seen Nothing yet. You don’t know what misery is, but keep keeping your eyes closed and refuse to listen to wisdom, and trust me, you’ll be praying for death…because death would be desirable to what these despots have in store for us.
Me personally, I’ll fight to the death…and will take as many of them down with me as I can. Not because I am right wing, oh no, because I have that class consciousness and there is no way in Hell I’ll exchange one form of tryanny to bow down to an opiate dark ages medieval hell of an imperialism,
no way. And in my strong opinion, it will take a violent cult of force to rise up against the monster that is plotting against all of humanity as we know it.
To my American brothers,friends and collegues, as a Canadian, I will brave your criticism that I should butt out of your election process, but I feel I must offer you a warning. Do not go for the flash of Obama. We did in 1968 and elected Pierre Trudeau as our head of state because he was young and flashy and he turned out to be an unmitigated disaster for our country. Obama is all flash and no substance. Don’t be fooled by the hype.
Mary in LA… specifically with regards to the one time I felt it necessary to pretend to be Canadian when threatened with physical violence by multiple people over the ‘American’ issue was while in Israel. We were on our way on a tour bus from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and were stopped by Palestinian militants. Five boarded the bus, armed with automatic weapons. There were a wide variety of nationalities represented among us, including a great number of Canadians. Jews on board had quickly put away any hint of Jewish heritage (stars of David, etc), as this would have made the situation worse. When asked if I was Canadian, I simply said, “yes” so as not to incite any problems, considering the anti-american rhetoric I had heard among locals since we had gotten there… and I wasn’t the only one. In fact, all of us who were American decided to answer in this manner. After a tense ten minutes of guns in our faces, the Palestinians finally left and let us on our way.
Israel aside, I have had many experiences where I have had to defend my American citizenship and explain the difference between being a citizen and a government official, since the two seem to be inseparably mixed according to other nationals. The reason for this is because we hang our “democracy” over our heads like a banner everyday… so when our president or other official makes a bad or unpopular world decision, we citizens are blamed: “Well, you elected them, right?” is always the question I get. I explain that while we do have elections, that doesn’t mean that things go the way they should… we have a socialist democracy, not a pure one. I have been challenged by Brits, Scots, Irish, Egyptians, Phillipinos, Vietnamese… the list goes on and on. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve been to any other country without getting negative feedback on being American.
So those of you who don’t believe we have a bad rap overseas or have any answering to do… wake the hell up.
Oh, by the way, for anyone wondering… I’m an Independent, always have been. I’m for Obama on everything but gun control… and I’m a little skeptical about universal health care, but anything else is probably better than the mess we have now.
“Jews on board had quickly put away any hint of Jewish heritage (stars of David, etc), as this would have made the situation worse. When asked if I was Canadian, I simply said, “yes” so as not to incite any problems, considering the anti-american rhetoric I had heard among locals since we had gotten there… and I wasn’t the only one. In fact, all of us who were American decided to answer in this manner. After a tense ten minutes of guns in our faces, the Palestinians finally left and let us on our way.”
Geesh, from the Religion of Peace, you’re kidding? [sarcasm]
There are Two reasons why you are seeing the resentment towards Americans in Europe–
1. resentment over the US alliances with the EU–globalization and
2. the far left propaganda that they’ve been spoon fed for years
and want to know something–its going to be at their own demise, and its Why the nationalists and the Nazi groups are on the increase in every single country in Europe.
And I wouldn’t be ashamed of that democracy banner, especially in that Sharia law is Very close to becoming a reality in UK and I’m sure, once it is, there will be thousands of women who will want to see that DEMOCRACY BANNER,
and when the Islamists, as they have boldly declared without ANY REMORSE, get to that demographic percentage where they too will demand Sharia, the Europeans will be too,
wanting to see that Banner of Democracy,
BUT IT WILL BE TOO DAMN LATE.
and this isn’t right wing talking, I’m telling you what the Islamists are saying, in Europe and in Canada,
see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS2poWXCKLs&eurl
because guess what,
they don’t like the Democracy Banner either.
Smack,
Jeez sir, guess you just aren’t paying attention. AS I POINTED OUT, just with France, Germany, & Canada…The people of those countries VOTED for publicly pro-American administrations. If we were hated, those administrations would not have been voted into power. I gave you 3 elections (involving millions of voters) in 1 point out of 4 (not counting the China reference). You give me one personal anecdotal example-I think I’m still ahead of you by just a little bit.
As for your example, You pointed out your claiming Canadian citizenship was to Palestinian militants. Let’s look…they’ve hated America for DECADES. Hardly the fault of the current US Administration. By the way, I personally don’t have any problem with you not volunteering to be a victim in that particular circumstance.
And for the record, I am personally former Air Force with numerous family and friends that are active duty in all 5 branches (including many that are currently serving in Afghanistan & Iraq). I can give you plenty of anecdotal examples if you’d like…
Smack, you are a coward. People can sense that, which is why you think they don’t like America. What they actually don’t like is YOU. You are just to much of a coward to admit that.
Natasha,
There is a reason why Leftists now side with the Islamic savages: they have a common hatred of Western, Christian civilization. President Bush is just a convenient excuse for them to prattle false reasons; they will never tell the public the truth about why they have this alliance of convenience with Islam. They use invective directed at President Bush in order to appeal to the useful idiots of the soft Left and the Middle Muddle, who have their own political axes to grind with the President and his party.
My hostility towards Marxism/Socialism began around 1987, when I gravitated away from being a neo-Marxist (Frankfurt School)adherent. The truth about what really happens inside socialist countries made an impression on me. Also, I took conservative critiques of socialism seriously for many years. My project, as a Jesuit seminarian, was to train to be a philosopher/theologian and to try to find a “third way” socialism that would address the most important objections/critiques of socialist theory. I found Michael Novak’s critiques of Liberation Theology incisive and hard-hitting. My focus was to investigate the nature of the human being so as to see if human nature could indeed be improved, so as to make socialist principles more practical. Socialist thought is essentially utopian thought. All utopian thought assumes that human nature can be changed and perfected. I discovered it could not be, and I went all through psychology and what I could digest of neuroscience in search of any possibility.
The current crop of socialists in the United States and elsewhere has been devolving away from critical, rational thinking. Also, during my days on the Left I experienced quite a few of these people affecting condescension towards me because I remained a Roman Catholic Christian. I was not the enlightened atheist that they were. Despite my considerable learning and a disciplined approach to problems, I always got the feeling that I was regarded a hayseed. Moreover, I was actually motivated to help the least loved in the world, not to become powerful or recognized. In the final analysis, people mattered more to me than ideas and causes.
So, today I am not at all surprised to see that much of the Left has gone over into an alliance with Islam. Their common impulses are totalitarian and utopian, although in different ways (obviously). The Leftists are actually quite stupid now. They really do think that they will outlast the Muslims and that someday the jihadis they use to destroy the West will evolve into hedonistic physicalist reductionists.
I am quite aware of what the Khomeinists did to the Communists and Socialists in Iran after the Revolution. There were quite a few of them on the university campus I attended as an undergrad in the period 1980-82. They were utterly shocked by what the Muslims did to them. They felt betrayed, because they claimed that their role in the revolution in Iran was extremely important – and it was. The fact that today’s Leftists in the West are blissfully unaware of this fact convinces me that the Left is now so delusional as to be psychotic.
If as an American, your vote is determined by who the terrorists (our enemies) would prefer, then you certainly have no confidence in your own ability to make an informed decision. Im sure many good people of the world would vote for Obama and I am sure many bad and evil people wil vote for Obama. The same with McCain. Many convicted felons will vote for both candidates. Many terrific people will vote for both candidates. Foreign policy is a critical issue today as it has been for the last 100 years. But its not the only issue and it certainly not clear that McCain would be the best candidate for foreign policy because our enemies would vote for Obama. That is not logical. Decisions like this election are not so cut and dry.
Darin,
You need to go deeper into the thought process. All of the enemies of the United States know that Ploughshares director Joe Cirincione is Barack Obama’s point man on arms control issues. Obama and Cirincione are in agreement with each other that major programs like the missile defense one should be scrapped. Russia, China, and Iran are three countries that have a deep interest in seeing Obama as the next president because in one fell swoop their nuclear arsenals will once again have the ability to threaten and blackmail the world and the United States. And of those three only one of them is not susceptible to the logic of MAD: Iran.
And I take offense to your statement because it presumes that those of us who object to Obama’s foreign policy preferences are not deeply informed about the issues. Many of us are. I happen to have an in-law who is high up in the missile defense program, so within reason (he cannot divulge top secret stuff to me)I stay informed about this evolving and successful program.
An Obama Presidency is a windfall for our enemies. Bank on it. In four years what that man will do will make Jimmy Carter’s four years seem like “Happy Days.”
As I’ve said before, the visionary Bararck Obama sees right through the missile defense shield as a way to further intimidate countries at odds with the U.S. nation building policies.
Of course, Obama will scrap the sed shield. In fact, just read his book that states, “For a safer world, the U.S. should destroy its nuclear cache of weapons”. And just in case someone thinks the U.S. would be left defenseless, you’re obviously not aware of Obama’s intention to get signed affidavits from both countries and known terrorist organizations which pledge to destroy their own nuclear materials and never to attack an unarmed America. Should a country or terrorist freedom fighter renege on this agreement, the world court and the United Nations will immediately impose stiff but fair sanctions on the malicious miscreants, and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes.
Furthermore, should any U.S. city be attacked by weapons of mass destruction due to the demolition of the missile defense shield, President Obama will authorize Israel to retaliate in kind; assured mutual destruction is how Barack eloquently puts it.
Bottom line, President Obama’s disarming of America represents a bold “act of good will” which will undoubtedly lead to the United States being respected and trusted by other counties and any terrorists that are lurking within their borders.
Certainly, Obama not only is a voice of change but a visionary who, as Michelle says, “For maybe the first or second time, if my husband is elected, I’ll really be proud to be an American”. You go, girl. Me, too.
For a trusted America is an America our forefathers hoped this country would one day become. More than 95% of African Americans will be voting for Obama as well as many others of every race and creed. The leaders of Iran, Iraq, Germany, Russia and Switzerland have all said that if they could, they would also vote for Barack, too.
If we don’t elect Barack Obama, let me ask you this simple question: How will you explain it to your children that when this country was at a moral crossroads, you ran it into into a Republican ditch? Take the high road and cast your ballot for Osama. He will lead us to the promised land. For promises he makes are promises he keeps.
Oh, I forgot to mention one thing:
If you have plans for the weekend?
Change em’.
And hurry over to your local Borders where you can pick up a copy of “Obama Nation,” one week away from topping the New York Times best seller list. It’s a riveting expose that traces Barack Osama’s journey from child to Chicago left wing extremist to extremely charismatic Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Incidentally, reports say Oprah highly recommends “Obama Nation”, and is considering devoting an entire show to it.
why think its better to be hated if it going to lead to more war less money in are pockets and higher prices any longer and it will be the grate deppresion all over again with maccain