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Subscribe to RSSEgyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman took to the cameras and made a quick statement, saying Hosni Mubarak had stepped down and handed off power to the military.
Here's AP:
Egypt's Hosni Mubarak resigned as president and handed control to the military on Friday, bowing down after a historic 18-day wave of pro-democracy demonstrations by hundreds of thousands. ... 'In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic," a grim-looking Suleiman said. "He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succor."
NBC's Athena Jones reports, per the White House, that the president will make an on-camera statement later today.
From the White House:
The President was informed of President Mubarak's decision to step down during a meeting in the Oval Office. He then watched TV coverage of the scene in Cairo for several minutes in the outer Oval.
*** UPDATE *** We noted in First Thoughts the potential political peril for the Obama administration after the Mubarak not stepping down yesterday and the mixed messages coming from administration officials.
NBC's Mark Murray reports that a Democratic official said in an e-mail that this is "great news for the admin/president – people will remember – despite some fumbles yesterday – that the President played an excellent hand, walked the right line and that his statement last night was potentially decisive in brining this issue to a close. The situation remains complicated and delicate going forward – but this is a huge affirmation of the President’s leadership on the international stage."
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Congrats to the people of Egypt!
Yes THEY can & YES they did!
Watching the jublilation in the streets brings a tear or two to the eye!
President Obama did an outstanding job in his handling of this very fluid situation!
NO matter how hard the naysayers want to spin it otherwise!
Ok all you righties on the other threads today trashing our President about his policy on this. What do you got to say now. President Obama played his cards perfectly. The EEgyptian people have spoken, and they have won a big victory today. That stupid comment that he owns what happens in Egypt, does that mean he now owns the fact that Egypt is moving toward Democracy, does he put that in his win column. Of course not. This is a victory for a sovereign Nation.
They do appear to be MIA at the moment! lmao!
*crickets*
Obviously Faux new must have been "surprised" at wot has happened and hasn't been able to get the talking points out yet!
Democracy=handing over to the military---------LOL OK
CIA-Failed
Clapper-Failed
There's no stable Government-Fail
Muslum Brotherhoood (AKA Hamas) will postion their way in, but according to Clapper, their not a threat. But eh, let it play out and see what happens-right? Remember, you Liberals jump on news so fast before the facts come out is bits you guys in the a@@. If transferring power to the military works out for the good-good on them. I think everyone wants a peaceful solution.....
Paul S,
Weird, it's the same on Fox News and MSNBC...............where does the surprise come from?
Thumbs up ^.... Smile :-)
Feisty:
You called it and it only took a few minutes. The Egyptian Military said they support all the points the people wanted. They have supported the protester's from day one and continue to do so. President Obama played it correct and that is the bottom line. Once again he is several steps ahead. Just now the Military said they made up their minds last night not to support the Egyptian President and many of the Military said they were going to take off their uniforms and join the protesters. Instead that are now supporting the protesters in mass.
What did he do exactly? Besides flip flop every day as to whether Mubarak should leave....oh and make a complete idiot of himself in Michigan yesterday?
So yes.... he did about what he's done since the day he took office
(Oh which is nothing by the way....except take credit for what someone else did.... Go Barry!)
I hear you Navy - the 'shoot first' ask questions later crowd are very disappointed!
How could a peaceful transfer to Democracy take place without at least a couple hundred deaths and a trillion or so dollars (borrowed of course)!
What EVER will Fox News do without the 'visuals' they would have ran 24/7?
Feisty---looks to me like President Obama called Mubarak's bluff last night and the people of Egypt are the winners. The fact that the end game took a few more moves and 12 or so more hours to work out is insignificant in the big picture but will be like catnip to the right. So be it.
Handing the government over to the military...At first blush I thought; ouch. But as I thought about it, the military is on the side of the people, they can keep peace until a new government is formed. Not a bad choice.
President Obama managed this crisis very well. After all, the US does not own Egypt and this was an issue that needed to be resolved by the Egyptian people. Well done Mr. President.
Ron....again.... what, exactly, did Obama do? He made a couple speeches and acted like a little kid that no one is paying any attention to (shouldnt be new to him....thats what the world thinks of him anyways).....
Thats about it.
What did he do? The military running the government...lol...we will seee how this works out. The Middle East is not the U.S.
Mubarak is still in the house, so what is accomplished? The military will be found to be corrupt in the end.
5-10 yrs from now unfortunately the U.S. military will be deployed to Egypt. The contingency plans are already being drawn up.
US Navy,
I'm not a rightie. Call me a skeptic, but the situation is still fluid. First off I would like to agree with you and hope that this is the start of a peaceful transition. I'm glad that the people peacefully protested and got what they wanted. I hope the new Military Junta or whatever you want to call it will allow a peaceful transition to a civilian, secular government. We don't want another strong man arrise like what happened in Pakistan or Venezuela or .... fill in the blank.
The Egyptian people may yet get the type of free government and elections that they want. However, I'm not sure if Obama wants to own this just yet. As I mentioned the other day, it would be better if publicly he views this as a "we will wait and see how this progresses." Privately the administration needs to do a better job of looking at this over the long haul.
I agree with you, the righties on this blog tend to overstate the prominence of influence by the Muslim Brotherhood in this revolution. It has been reported that this was a true grass roots young, SECULAR movement. That is a hopeful sign. Hopefully the MB will not try to barge their way through the door and claim credit for the success.
While some in the GOP screech that Egypt's revolution will be a stepping stone sparking a middle east domino theory, that is probably not going to happen. However, it is right to point out that things are going to change. No matter how good the end result may be, even if a democracy is elected and all our thoughts and prayers for the egyptian people are realized things will change. WHOEVER comes into power will move away from the US. What fledgling government put into power by a people's revolution will want to follow in Mubarak's steps and lean on the US.
Obama shouldn't want to claim any part in this successful first step and in fact people shouldn't try to credit anyone other than those young Egyptians for accomplishing it.
It is a good begining but the possible implications are huge, remember - long haul. What happens if the new government annulls the treaty with Israel. How about if they impose huge trade tariffs for shipping through the Suez Canal. What will happen if the Egyptian Navy decides it isn't a priority to stop flotillas or contraband and weapons to flow into Gaza? How will this affect negotiations with the palestinians? This is but the opening move in a new and complicated chess game.
Ok back to my normal self - Democrat good rah, rah, rah. GOP bad. Boo, Boo, Boo.
There is no guarantee that this was a pro-democracy movement. Obama took to the public airwaves yesterday at a speech in Michigan and precipitated MuBarak's ouster by lauding the "transition in power." If Egypt goes fundamentalist Islam, as in Iran's case more than 30 years ago, it will be Obama's fault (as it was Carter's in Iran's case) for pushing too early. The only faction in Egypt with any sort of organization is the Muslim Brotherhood, which is anything but democratic and certainly not secular (hence the name!). Delaying elections until September would have at least given pro-democracy forces a chance to organize. Now, we stand to lose Egypt as an ally. Thanks, O-man.
Larry-2767404
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
You seem to have yours up your lower sphincter where you head is.
What you and the other Obama-phoebes fail to realize in your animus is that Obama taught Constitutional Law for 12 years and understands better than any pseudo-conservative in this country that the basis for the success of our society is responsibility and due process.
And I doubt if your gods of Beck or Limbaugh or O'Reilly would be willing to live with their mother-in-laws.
In the middle, the planning has been going on since the end of the Vietnam War. I would also say that we should keep our eyes wide open on this situation. It is to early for victory laps or condemnation. The one thing about the middle east is there has been conflict there longer than written history.
Obama did nothing to effect or expedite this change or the timing of how it has happened. His so called "handling" of the situatioin entailed his following the lead of MSNBC and their often premature announcements of Mubarak's removal from power. Obama gets no credit for how this has all transpired, but the good thing is, he can't be blamed for it either. That ought to make all the liberal very happy.
Lack of action does not equal action. The Egyptian people do not understand our role in this as the President did not do anything to assist them. They will only see us as Mubarak's long time supporters.
A player that sits on the bench will have no errors on the field, but the kids won't be looking for their baseball card either.
Larry, you say that "He made a couple speeches...". Maybe you think he should have joined the Egyptians in the Square?
And you have intimate knowledge of any clandestine negotiations that the Admin may have done? Are you revealing state secrets?
Yellowdog...I agree with your assessment...except your last line of course. ;-)
This situation is still extremely fluid and a lot of things can happen. This may not make sense, but I agree that the President really didn't do a whole lot to make this happen, but not doing anything was the best thing to do. The smart move was to wait it out and see what would happen. But just because he has agreed to step down from power, we don't know who's going to fill that void. So, I believe it's still a wait and see situation.
Hiya Grimey!
I agree with your assessment - ALL of it for that matter! ;o)
First drinks on me!
President Obama had absolutely nothing to do with this. This was about the Egyptian people and THEIR struggle for freedom. ALL credit goes to them. O to Obama. This says absolutely nothing about Obama's leadership. He would never have given Egypt a second thought if not for the millions of brave Egyptian protesters. He would have been quite content to let Mubarak rule Egypt for another 30 years.
JP1897 - "He would have been quite content to let Mubarak rule Egypt for another 30 years."
As would have any OTHER American President, JP 1897.
Thanks for the acknowledgement Frank Grimes.
Actually I thought my last line was the best. :}
Thanks for acknowledging my point Yellowdog.
Egypt is about the Egyptians , not the US , and not because of anything Our presidents have or have not done.
Peaceful revolution was spelled GANDI then MANDELA now it can be spelled THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE COOL GOOD LUCK and BLESS YOU
mikeSanJacinto..(# 1.15)....You got it right....this is a long way from "OVER" . It was a "popular uprising" in Iran, then the second half of the revolution took place when the Ayatolla Kockamaymy took control....It's quite likely the Muslim Brotherhood will fill the Vacuum in Egypt.....we'll all see in 6 months or so.....Uprisings are continuing to break out all over the Mid-East....The Caliphate is coming.....If I am wrong...it will be a happily given apology.
Congrats to the people of Egypt.
Your new freedom is well deserved, and you have shown others in the world living under dictators and authoritarian regimes that when the people truly unite, the freedom and life you desire can be achieved.
I believe they now have to have an election within the next 60 days. Should be interesting.
I guess the brilliant Sarah Palin will now want the president to reveal who he has secretly chosen to be the next leader. She is so dumb. (Psst Sarah! The people of Egypt will choose... not America).
Thank goodness with all of the GOTP blowhards have been spouting off about you would think that Obama and the Dems are the reason Mubarak was forced from power. Maybe it was the thirty years of living under Emergency Laws. Lets faced it the Egyptians were tired of living a substandard lifestyle under a corrupt despot. With what they accomplished I sure they don't need us to tell them what to do or how to do it. I'm confident they will figure this one out on their own.
The power of the people through, mainly, peaceful demonstrations toppled a corrupt and vicious regime.
Good Luck and Godspeed to the people of Egypt.
I am happy for the Egyptian people.
I heard several MSNBC commentators (Rachel Maddow and Brian Williams) say during yesterday's coverage of the Egyptian protests that Egypt was a rich country, but the Egyptian people were poor.
This just in: Same thing is true here in America.
The corporate owned media wants us to focus all of our energy on these uprisings in the Middle East, and they are indeed most important, but let us not forget that we have the power to do the very same thing right here in the U.S. of A.
The reason there is so much money spent on phony interest groups, advertising, and misinformation in this country is to keep us all arguing about minutia so we cannot come together and demand fair treatment. . . but that model cannot last forever.
Power to the people . . . wherever they live.
You & I are on the same page this morning Nash!
Good to see you GF! *hugs*
PS: When you get a chance drop by the vine - Clara's putting something together! ;o)
Nice to be see Feisty! :o)
(I'll head "downstairs" as soon as I can today! )
Good point to mention, Nashville.
Happy Friday, Nash. The middle class in America is definitely an endangered species. What is amazing to me is that so many are helping to destroy themselves, deluded into thinking they don't need the programs they want cut.
So Steeler do you count Obama in as someone who is "helping to destroy" the middle class?
After all the current tax rates are his, right?
Also what are the middle class doing to help themselves?
I think most of the middle class goes out every day to one or more jobs and works hard to get by during difficult times. I understand the compromise the President made in not increasing the taxes on those people who are working so hard. What amazes me is how conservatives will vote for measures that hurt themselves and help people who would not otherwise give them the time of day.
Hi Steeler Fan! I agree with you . . . the middle class is under tremendous pressure these days . . . and the folks below that are all but stomped to death.
The entire point of our divisive political system is to keep us all divided into warring factions, never realizing that together we have the power to demand the basic things we need from a government that is supposed to represent us.
I'm thinking that we the people need to spend less time begging politicians to do their job and more time demanding our right to life (healthcare anyone?), liberty (Is it fair for the "corporate people" to keep all the profits and saddle us with with the rescue costs?), and the pursuit of happiness (do we really need folks telling us who is allowed to be in love?).
Just sayin'.
Amen, Nash. As usual you said it better than I could. Just look at all the negativity here today----no one on the right can admit it is possible that the President did a good job on the whole Egypt situation. The closest is Grimey, who says the President really didn't do anything and it is too soon to tell.
Hey Steeler Fan...I honestly believe that doing nothing or very little was absolutely the right move. Interjecting ourselves into the situation would have done more harm than good. So, while I understand it doesn't sound like I'm saying something nice, I really am.
As for the situation, it's just way too soon to tell. But the bottom line is that the people of Egypt sought a change and have gotten it. We just don't know yet if that change is going to be helpful or harmful to our interests at the moment.
My point, Grimey, is that the President and his team made statements in public that urged an ally to consider the change his people were demanding. We do not know what was done behind the scenes and we may never know but I believe the President applied pressure to get to today's result and no one from the right seems to be able to acknowledge it.
SF...I understand what you're saying. But like you said, we really don't know what, if anything, was said or done behind the scenes. Is it possible that some pressure was applied? Absolutely. Is it possible not much was done? Sure. At this point, we really just don't know. I did however say before that the Administration handled this situation well in my opinion. And I stick by that assessment now. It was a delicate one and to me they didn't do anything to upset that delicate balance.
Really, I think our difference of opinion simply lies in what may or may not have been done behind the scenes. But I think we are generally saying the same thing, that the Administration handled the situation appropriately.
As stated above though, the kicker is going to be in who fills the inevitable power vacuum.
Good conversation today SF..thanks!! :-)
Speaking for the middle I will be the first to acknowledge that, yes, you have a belief that the president applied pressure. If you want real acknowledgement, show some proof.
The Egyptian constitution calls for the Speaker of the Parliament to be temporary President until elections are held within 60 days; however the military council is taking over, therefore this is a coup d'état.
Hopefully, there will be free and fair elections soon. If that happens we will find out how much support the Mulsim Brotherhood really has in Egypt and how they will actually govern. Hopefully they are more like Turkey's Justice and Development Party and less like Hezbollah and Hamas.
I thought you were off voting for Rahm.
Did Clapper give him that information? What about Leon? He admitted that yesterdays information came from Cable News, not his Intell guys. Hmmmmmmm..handed over to the Military eh??? Let the bullets fly.......you think Obama wants a do-over? What's really sad about this situation? Our intell comes from Cable News!!!!
Love to hear how MSNBC is going to spin this into a good thing? Maybe Matthews can comment on how Presidental Obama looks while staring at the TV getting his lates intel brief from a reporter in Cairo.
Maybe they got it from FOX, just like YOU did, Paul !
You righties can't stand the Fact, that the American Military was'nt involved here. From previous post, I know you were Military.
President Bush did'nt get what he wanted with Egypt.
President Obama did !
OK Rick, for one thing I watch both channels. So if I don't agree with you I'm a "rightie" eh? Well your Security of Homeland Security did call me a "right wing terrorist" I believe.
Yes, I served 20 years in the Army. Where is your logic that I want military involvement in Egypt? You ask anyone that served or serves that we want to go to war? I think you have growing up playing war while you were a kid confused with people that serve/served and not wanting to go to war. I didn't join the military hoping to go to war.
What did Bush want with Egypt?
And for the record Rick, the CIA chief did get his intell from Cable News, heck it's even on the Huffington Post, nice try though
Yes Paul, for the record, MSNBC(Comcast) has been running America's foreign Policy for 2 years now.
Such Foolishness you beleive!
No Shots Fired Paul from Our or Egypt's Military.
Live with it,because you'd have wanted the Have Nots to pay for the Bullets & Bombs, that your Intelligence says we should've!
Go back to FOX Paul, i'm sure Furer's Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity & the ChamberMaid Palin have something new for you to come here & Type.
Ok Rick, what are you trying to say? I don't understand jibberish. I'll try to break down what you wrote:
"Yes Paul, for the record, MSNBC(Comcast) has been running America's foreign Policy for 2 years now."
I never said the above comment which you're applying. What I said was and it even came out of the CIA Director's mouth is that he received his Intell from Cable News.
"No Shots Fired Paul from Our or Egypt's Military."
You have short term memory lost, the Army did fire into the crowd on the 1st. Look it up.
"Live with it,because you'd have wanted the Have Nots to pay for the Bullets & Bombs, that your Intelligence says we should've!"
No comment there, that doesn't make any sense whats so ever. Maybe word it in English and I'll try to answer it.
"Go back to FOX Paul, i'm sure Furer's Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity & the ChamberMaid Palin have something new for you to come here & Type."
Hmmmmmm..............this is a tough one to answer because again it doesn't make sense. I think it means that you're an angry guy with a closed mind and doesn't understand whats around him. Look up "Situational Awareness", let me know what you find?
Sometimes it's just sad that closed minds and closed mouths don't come as a set HUH
To echo Bill Press: Obama's support for the voice of the people and a few laptops have done more to bring democracy to the Arab world than all the bombs that Bush dropped on their heads combined.
Standing 'O' for sharing that!
Well said, Grand Moff Joseph!
Well, you see though Moff, Egypt wasn't exactly belligerent to it's neighbors, you know, doing things like invading them when ever it felt like. Egypt also did not have double digit UN Resolutions against it, a nasty dictator indiscrimiately killing off anyone he didn't like. Egypt also didn't commit genocide against it minority population.
So it's really difficult to understand why you want to make that comparison between Egypt and Iraq, well, other than to continue your hero worship of a man that hasn't had a clue about what has been going on in Egypt the last three weeks.
Joanne....again any way to tie Obama into this.....to make him look good...they will try to make that connection....
Barry has to be attached to anything good that happens....
Who would have thunk it? The pen is mightier than the sword. Love triumphs over hate. Before you righties start attacking those statements check the facts first. Throughout history it rings true over and over again. To quote someone who new something about noncooperation with tyranny:
God Bless the people of Egypt.
JoAnna: True, Egypt and Iraq are very different. However, in both cases, the people had been held back for decades by an absurd dictatorship, and all it would have taken as the right spark to get the people to rise up and win their freedom. Bush had that chance in Iraq but squandered it in favor of more bombs and more wild goose hunts for WMDs that were never there.
Well JoAnna, history proves different. Yes I will agree that Egypt under Mubarak did not invade its neighbors.
So if the people of Iraq would have "risen up", and Bush would have "supported them via laptops and his voice" what do you think would have been the end result? Or should we just look to the Kurds for our answer?
I'm afraid that if President Obama found a cure for cancer, they would blame him for the drug companies going out of buisness, if he walked on water they would say he poluted it.
They dont want him, or our country to get ahead, they want him, and us to go down the drain so they can get their right wing nuts into office.
Grand Moff Joseph
Amen, brother! From your mouth to the ears of all conservatives who are pissed this didn't come to 'arms'!
Not every situation is a US Military one. All we are saying is GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
Bravo, to the peaceful Egyptian protesters. What comes next for them will be difficult, we will not know who is next but I have faith in the Egyptian people to choose wisely. As one protester was quoted last night, the people of Egypt want a fair, free and secular democracy--there it is, secular. I do not believe the Egyptian protesters want to substitute a totalitarian Muslim government for the one they just ousted. Almost two years ago, President Obama spoke to Egyptians about democracy, they listened. In the crowds during the past couple weeks, we saw signs "Yes We Can, TOO"
I think most would agree that you are right about that. The question I have is what the Egyptian People want not what the Egyptian Protesters want. Only a small fraction of the 80M Egyptians were in Tarhir Square.
How great that the Egyptian people will get elections to have their say in the government they want. And there is a chance it won't be the same government we might think is a good idea but we wouldn't want them telling us how to run our country either. And we are free to attempt to influence them with ideas--such as President Obama's speech in Cairo and the exchanges of information we have with universities.
Jody, Iowa....."Bravo, to the peaceful Egyptian protesters."
Sure, sure.....only 297 dead, at last count...in 17 days.
"during the past couple weeks, we saw signs "Yes We Can, TOO"
Unfortunately, just saw 2 guys in the crowd telling a reporter "DEATH to America"...."Mubarak was America's puppet".....Muslim Brotherhood brothers perhaps ????
I see Glenn Beck finally got his talking points out to Mike in Delray,...
Be afraid, conservatives, be VERY afraid,...the Muslim boogeyman is coming for you, next!
The first place President Obama gave a speech about democracy, has a democracy. I am so proud of my President right now. Thank you Mr. President for giving American the world respect it once had but lost for 8 years under President Bush. I doubt any other dictator will invite you to give a Democracy speech in their country but it doesn’t matter. Democracy spreads like a wildfire on a continent.
Democracy 1. Totalitarians 0. . . . .Obama 1. GOP 0.
Ana, Please remember that democracy in the middle east started in Iraq and spread to Egypt. And Egypt does not have a democracy now. They only have the hope of a democracy. It is currently a government run by the military. But if you want to count a country under military rule a democracy, the correct score would be democracy 2, totalitarians 0. Let's hope that the Egyptians take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
Rocco, Really? Yeah but the Egyptians didn't need the POTUS to use our military on trumped up charges to bomb them back into the stone age to accomplish the birth of it.
Devie,
Excellent response to Rocco and thank you. Happy Valentine's Day!
Democracy is only a stepping stone to more totalitarianism....it fills a vacuum for a time. Our Founders did everything they could to NOT have a democracy.....and gave us a Constitutional Republic.
"Democracies have ever been specatcles of turbulence and contention; Have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property, and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths."--- James Madison , Essay #10 of the Federalist Papers
"We are a Republican Government. Real Liberty is never found in despotism or the extremes of
democracy."-- Alexander Hamilton
"Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself"-- Samual Adams
Forms of Government:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzQnBE3mYZg
This has to go down as one of the most amazing, moving, positive advances for peace and democracy on our global history. Martin Luther King and Ghandi would be proud. I'm proud some of the signs in the square referenced President Obama's "Yes we can!" slogan. I remember the speech he gave at a university in Cairo two years ago and wondering how it went over with young Egyptians. Now we know.
Yea , your right. I guess that little ole WW II thing was just a blip on the screen compared to this.
It seems to me Amy that the older leaders of the world are out of touch with the changes in communication over the past few years. The growth of the internet, social media, etc. means that people see alternatives and know what goes on in other countries and cultures. So the people of Egypt maybe couldn't attend the President's speech there in person but they could see it on the internet and be impacted by it---much more so than reading a dry article in a newspaper. And look what has happened only two years later. This is change we can believe in.
On Fox News blogs they are wondering if they could do this in the United States. Of course, it would not be peaceful as there are too many gun owners!
Yes we can, California Girl!
I seem to remember a certain Sanity Rally drawing quite a few folks . . . and a certain Inauguration . . . and I seem to remember the entire world celebrating President Obama's election . . . the only tool they can use against people power is misinformation and propaganda . . . and here in America it is an art form.
Not surprised that Fox would be concerned . . . they should be.
So the Totalitarians want an armed insurrection against Democracy. When pigs fly!
I though they all bowed and prayed in the direction of the Constituion several times a day. I'm shocked that they would entertain the idea of defying the US Constitution with a coup.
The Saudis dressed the presedent down, his intel team had no clue, the administration was all over the place on this and worst of all sent a message to the few remaining allies we have that if there the smallest bump in the road we will cut your knees out from under you. Since amature hour started in the WH we have lost ground and countries all over the middle east and rest have no respect for Obama!
the constitution is only meaningful to them IF they have power. If not, it's a quaint notion.
Congratulations to the brave people of Egypt! You are a shining example for the world!
Congratulations to the people of Egypt! How much more impressive is your victory since it was gained through non-violence! Congratulations to President Obama and his team for his calm, reflective leadership during this time of turmoil. I am sure that the right wing "I hate America" frequent posters will be here soon to congratulate all concerned.
The Egyptian people were very impressive keeping this protest peaceful. It worked for them where violence would not have. Congratulations to them and I hope that the democracy progresses the way we would all like it to. However, to say the Obama had a hand in this is ludicrous. This change in leadership was by the Egyptian people, for the Egyptian people. The fact that Obama wants to take credit for what the Egytian people did for themselves is not suprising though. His ego won't let him think otherwise.
See? That didn't take long to scare up one of the "I hate America" right wing, now did it?
The "I hate America right wing?" So in your opinion, half of America hates America! You really are pathetic. But then again, I knew that. never mind.
No, my opinion is that the far right wing hates America. If you are hoping for the President to fail, you are in that club. Not my problem if you are hypersensitive to truth.
Very classy newday..........Good post Rocco
That's not what you said newday, you said 'right wing", not "far right wing", it seems your difinition of a "right wing" is someone that disagrees with your view point.
Not up to you to tell me what I think. The far right wing and right wing are synonymous. All of those who post here daily with the "I hate President Obama and hope he fails" rants. Again, If you are part of that, you need to reflect on why you want this country to fail.
Gee NDD, You say it is your opinion and then say it is the truth. Which is it? Your sounding as wishy washy as Obama was on Egypt. I read an interview in the local paper between a reporter and an Egyptian college student. The student said that Obama was just waiting to see who wins and then will say that he supported that position all along. Looks like even Egyptian college students know Obama is a phony.
NDD:
So I guess everyone 50% of America that do not adhere to your form of Liberalism, hates America.....
True liberalism on display daily here.
Rocco, you ARE sensitive to being called out for wanting America to fail aren't you? Must be some truth in there somewhere!
newday,
See newday you fall into that, "wanting America to fail" bit too. You slam the people that disagree with your views as,"hope Obama fails" BS. You are just as bad if not worse than those people.
I never stated for Obama to fail, I don't like his policies. Is he a likable guy?-Yes he is, is his policies wrong for the country?-yes they are in my OPINION.
The Far Left nut jobs, you might be one of them, I don't know, wants failure for America just like the Far Right nut jobs do.
I didn't "tell you want to think", I just called you out on what you wrote. I didn't write it, you did. Don't get butt hurt, just drive on what you do best-insult people......
Yep, I'd say I scored full points for truth...poor Paul is still trying to make himself feel better!
OK, if you say so----LOL WOW, do you take meds? just wondering because you tend to forget a lot.
"...poor Paul is still trying to make himself feel better!"
Hooray for the Egyptian people and their amazing revolution!
Let's hope that it is the beginning of a new era for the entire region...
and the never ending left vs right nonsense shows up even here...sigh
and just yesterday you said it was going to get ugly,...
excuse me while I get used to this new found optimism on your part.
...And it was going to if he didn't step down, but he did. So let's hear it for the Egyptian people, and keep those cards and letters coming in...:)
President Obama said the following in Cairo in 2009.
"So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people."
Reminds me of President Reagan's "tear down that wall" speech resulting in the world demanding democracy.
Fox isn't even reporting it yet?
That;s because Karl Rove & Frank Luntz haven't handed in the 'talking points' yet!
OK Obama YOU got what YOU wanted.... whats the next step? How long until you send American troops into Egypt and this becomes YOUR Iraq?
I give it 2 months....seeing as there is no plan to actually form a new government in Egypt....oh but wait.... the Muslim Brotherhood is ready to step in...you know the guys that help form Al Queida and Hezbollah...
Way to make our security weaker Obama...... what a joke youve become (have always been)
And here is another one! Direct from the "I hope President Obama fails, no matter what it does to the country, after all I only watch Fox "news" and I will not be able to stand it if they are (gasp) WRONG!" Here's a hint, Larry, they are.
New day.... what is the plan now that Mubarak is gone? What is Ceasar Obama going to do now?
I mean you guys are giving him all the accolades.... doesnt that mean its up to him to fix their country?
He can't even fix ours.......
Larry, you are aware that Egypt is neither a state or territory of the United States? You do know at least THAT much don't you? Really? The people of Egypt have the right to determine their path. I am happy about the calm, reflective leadership of this President, and that he is mindful of our best interests and future relationship with that country. THAT is his job, he can not determine Egypt's path. Unless you prefer the shoot now ask questions later of the previous administration.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Larry and Paul,
You seem to have yours up your lower sphincter where you head is.
What you and the other Obama-phoebes fail to realize in your animus is that Obama taught Constitutional Law for 12 years and understands better than any pseudo-conservative in this country that the basis for the success of our society is responsibility and due process.
And I doubt if your gods of Beck or Limbaugh or O'Reilly would be willing to live with their mother-in-laws.
You can't have it both ways, Larry---you can't say that President Obama gets no credit for what his administration has done with the situation in Egypt--both in public and behind the scenes---and then demand that he take responsibility for running the country. He let our views be known in support of the Egyptian people and--get this---they prevailed. I hope our country offers support to the Egyptian people in running their election and taking the next steps---we have all kinds of smart people who could advise them---but they are making their own choices. And good for them.
http://www.foxnews.com/
Weird, they are hiding it under the headline "furious protests as Mubarak refuses to step down" keep the lies going a little bit longer I guess....
Same copy as when I posted the link 20 minutes ago...this MSNBC vs Fox stuff is positively from junior-high...
Every event is just another excuse to carp at each other...
From fox at 12:05 pm:
After 18 days, the demands of tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators were met as Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman announces that Mubarak has stepped down and handed over power to the military.
http://www.foxnews.com/
It is THE headline in every news outlet...sheesh!
http://www.realclearworld.com/
Wow, I remember a lot of people cheering when the Shah of Iran was over thrown with the aid of President Jimmy Carter. Everyone was proclaiming a win for the United States and freedom for the Iranian people. The cheering didn't last very long and it will go down as one of the biggest blunders in American history. I am willing to bet that in a few years Egypt will also be controlled by a Islamic government. By the way, I don't consider a country being ruled by the military a democracy. What assurance did the Army give that they would step aside once elections have been completed? Let's all hope it turns out better than Iran did, but I doubt it will .
Boy, do you have a different memory of that time then I do.
Carter administration
Shortly before the revolution on New Year's Day 1979, American president Jimmy Carter further angered anti-Shah Iranians with a televised toast to the Shah, declaring how beloved the Shah was by his people. After the revolution in February, the embassy had been occupied and staff held hostage briefly. Rocks and bullets had broken enough of the embassy front-facing windows for them to be replaced with bullet-proof glass. Its staff was reduced to just over 60 from a high of nearly 1000 earlier in the decade.[18]
The Carter administration attempted to mitigate the anti-American feeling by finding a new relationship with the de facto Iranian government and by continuing military cooperation in hopes that the situation would stabilize. However, on October 22, 1979 the U.S. permitted the Shah - who was ill with cancer - to attend the Mayo Clinic for medical treatment. The American embassy in Tehran had discouraged the request, understanding the political delicacy,[19] but after pressure from influential figures including former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Council on Foreign Relations chairman David Rockefeller, the Carter administration decided to grant the Shah’s request.[20][21][22]
The Shah's admission to the US intensified Iranian revolutionaries anti-Americanism and spawned rumors of another U.S.-backed coup and re-installation of the Shah.[23]
Revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - who had been exiled by the Shah for 15 years - heightened rhetoric against the “Great Satan”, the United States, talking of what he called “evidence of American plotting.”[24]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis
In Iran after the "fall" of the Shah, our CIA undercut the chances of the secular Iranian government in their attempt to re-establish the Shah as their agent. That allowed the Islamist to take control.
There is also documentation that Reagan's agents were supporting the Islamist hoping that by prolonging the hostage situation it would further embarrass Carter. Those connections also allowed Reagan to sell weapons to Iran as part of Iran-Gate and Oliver North's crimes.
The Iranian hostility to the US, however, is also justified since we also sold Weapons of Mass Destruction to Saddam in his war that killed thousands of Iranians as well as Kurds and Iranian Shiites.
Our CIA IS the Great Devil that the Iranians complain about.
The fact that this revolution in Egypt took place and our CIA didn't have a clue about it likely further illustrates that when it comes to the CIA, "We have met the enemy and he is us" to quote Pogo.
This is the best news of the day. God Bless, the people of Egypt.
And God bless Google (and their Egyptian manager) and Twitter and the internet.
I will also never again criticize Lucas' revised ending for Star Wars Episode 6.
Cairo looks like Coruscant.
This democracy movement didn't start in Iraq. It started in Tunisia when a street vendor was hassled by corrupt police and set himself on fire. It has it's roots in decades of plundering strongmen terrorizing their people.
Obama played our hand well. This was a tricky situation. He was in favor of democracy, but Mubarek was an ally. He was supported by Israel and the Saudis. The Saudis gave Obama an earful for not supporting Mubarek. Obama also engaged western allies to put pressure on Mubarek. The Brotherhood is only a small faction, but id play a role. Hamas and Al Queda hate the Brotherhood for renouncing violence and engaging in politics.
Egypt is not out of the woods yet. The same regime is still in power. They are like gangsters fighting a rear guard action against history. They hope Mubarek leaving will appease the protestors. It won't. So far the military is promising to back reform and that's encouraging.
I'm proud of the Eygptian people and my country. Instead of supporting tin pot dictators, as we have in the past (El Salvadore, Iran , Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Phillipines to name a few) we are backing the popular forces crying for their rights.
Larry, Paul, are you two really that clueless. The events in Egypt had nothing to do with President Obama. This is about the people of Egypt and their Army. It's what they wanted, and the future is theirs to determine.
Rick, OurPresident misspoke several times during the last week regarding Egypt. He would have been much better off just making statements stating that all parties should refrain from violence and leave it at that. By throwing his full support behind the people in the streets, he demonstrated to the world that if you are an American ally, you had better not depend on us when all hell breaks loose. I'm not saying he should have backed Mubarak over the people, but by throwing Mubarak under the bus so publically, our president has shown our allies that under his leadership, they had better not depend on us any longer. Another misstep by our misguided and naive President.
He didn't send a message to our allies that they can't depend on us. He did however send that message to Mubarak. Obama new his time was up and that he was going to be gone. He needed to send a message to the people in the middle east, that he will support them. That he and the American people will support any people who want a democracy. Obama is not naive, it was brilliant to support the people. Do you think that Obama is afraid of Egypt or making more middle eastern people hate the U.S. and adding more terrorist's to an already long list.
pants, over time, you will see for yourself what our allies think of our President. Our enemies love him of course. It's like having one of their own working against the USA from the inside. If it wasn't for our military's strong relationship with Egypt's military, our President would have been even more in the dark as to what was going on there. Just watch.
This victory goes to the Egyptians not any Washington politician and certainly not the President. In fact I don't hear anyone in the administration taking credit. But the "hate Obama" crowd are valready out with their foolishness and heads stuck in their rear with crazy comments. Someone needs to give them a lobotomy to correct this defect. These people can't run an ice cream stand, let alone an office or organization with people in it. But grateful to the internet that we can read or hear about this brainless comments everywhere.
Regardless of the future outcome in Egypt, it is their country and it is their deal. They will work through their demons, just like we are trying to work through ours. After all after 200+ years of democracy, I am not sure we have a good handle on it.
Next thing, Obama will want credit if the weather gets better. Does he HONESTLY THINK he was a player in this?
He was a factor and that can't be denied. He's not taking credit, just doing his job. Mubarek was counting on U.S. support. If he had gotten it, he would have felt free to use violen to try to crush the protest. The Egytian people would have never forgivin us for that and we could have had just what we don't need in that area, another country with a grudge against us.
When Obama made it clear to Mubarek that change had to come, Mubarek saw the writing on the wall. Did Obama cause these events-no, but he did play a very constructive role.
After the winter we've had, I would gladly give President Obama credit for any improvement. Heck, I'd give any conservative credit, too---I've had enough of winter!
Optomyst, Did you notice that all of the tanks and armored personnel carriers were American Made? Well where do you think they get them, the replacement parts or the ammunition from? It ain't China. And who do you think would cut off all financial aid to them? Well? That's what I thought. Maybe you should think before you post.
I HONESTLY don't know what went on behind the scenes, and neither do you. If you have a link to show that President Obama has taken credit, please publish it. It's better just to keep quiet if you don't know what you're talking about......
President Obama had about as much to do with the changes in Egypt as President Reagan had to do with the fall of the Berlin Wall........... Confused Righties?