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Subscribe to RSSIn his column today, political analyst Charlie Cook doesn't believe that Osama bin Laden's death will be a game-changer for President Obama.
The numbers of long-term unemployed are troubling. The enormous growth in demand for energy, particularly oil and gasoline in China, India, and other emerging economies threatens to keep energy prices unstable. Add to that the political instability in the
Middle East and North Africa, which are trouble spots from energy, security, and humanitarian perspectives.But for Obama and Democrats, this is a B-12 shot in the arm, or adrenaline, a great rush and a welcomed respite. But it’s not a cure.
Andrew Sullivan has a different opinion: It smashes the perceptions that Obama is a weak leader and doesn't believe in "American exceptionalism."
But the capture and killing of bin Laden ... does two things instantly: it tells us that an American named Barack Hussein Obama ordered the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. A man who symbolizes an integrative, tolerant, multicultural future defeated the symbol of a twisted, dark, fundamentalist past. A man who represents the human continuum of the developing and developed worlds defeated a man who seeks only one world and Shariah rule over all of it. And it also tells those who have been bombarded with lies and rumors and disgusting smears that this president, whatever they have been told, is no weakling, no terror-lover, no alien. He is as American as every new passport holder and every ancient Southern or Yankee family.
In the past several months, we've seen Obama's approval ratings surge above 50% (after his accomplishments in the lame-duck session of Congress and after the Tucson shootings), and we've seen it return to the mid- to high-40s (after higher gas prices and increased instability in the Middle East).
This seems to suggest two things:
1) Despite the worst of news for Obama -- high gas prices, Middle East instability, partisan messiness in averting a government shutdown -- Obama's base of support keeps him in the mid-40s. So if things do get better, he gets closer to that important 50% threshold.
2) Despite the best of news for him before Sunday -- after his Giffords speech -- his approval rating in the NBC/WSJ poll reached 53%, which would still result in a competitive general-election. (Obama defeated McCain in 2008, 53%-46%.)
Yet, as we wrote on Monday, what's more important for Obama's 2012 prospects than his poll numbers is the nation's overall psyche. Despite good economic news over the past few months -- the unemployment rate has decline, job creation is up -- the United States remains in a four-year national funk.
Obama’s presidential victory in 2008 boosted spirits (particularly Democratic ones), despite the sinking economy. And the GOP’s midterm wins in 2010 boosted Republican and Tea Party spirits. Yet nothing has united Democrats, Republicans, independents, and everyone else -- until now. As President Obama remarked last night, “Let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.” There was never going to be a V-E Day after 9/11, but this is as close as the country will get to one.
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If I'm to believe what I've read so far today from the teabaggers & birthers - the sun will INDEED set in the East this evening!
They've screamed bloody murder for the head on bin Laden the last ten years, now that it's been delivered, they spin to - why wasn't he brought to trial?
Bottom line is, there is no reason or sanity is the village of ConservatiVille - Land of the loathing and home of the afraid!
They lost the lack of leadership meme, once President Obama, FINALLY got the JOB done!
Faux & Freaks have REALLY outdone themselves this time!
Feisty:
Great posts today. That BS about bringing him to trial is just that. The right is mad (again) and have their panties in a bunch because "Our President" made a promise to America like Bush did, except that he (President Obama) made good on his promise. Bush on the other hand failed to do so.
They are still mad on how he suckered them on the Birther Issue and basically handed Trump and the others their own heads in a basket.
They are mad that the American People are not accepting their Agenda and in fact are speaking out against them even on their own home turf.
So I take it you disagree with the reporter in LA [CBS Sharon Tay] - regarding Osama's murder. Say Bev. what's Move On got on the "murder?" They still hate General BEY-tray-us?
This is going to move fast for you all. Bush was an evil "cowboy" yet here we have Obama acting unilaterally to execute, using a "CIA Death Squad."
See we have not forgotten you position from just a few weeks ago about torture, Gitmo, and Trials for Terrorists.
So come on Feisty shall we now simply execute KSM, and if not why not?
Yeah, Navy we are all mad...
I wonder are you at all upset that Obama cut taxes, increased the troops, engaged in Libya, executed without trial Osama, continues Gitmo and enhanced interrogation, used the fruits of that interrogation?
Cause those seem kinda conservative type actions.
And speakiong of conservatives - how about them Canadians, eh, Navy?
Give it up Republicans, your spin is not helping you at all. Try being adults for once. Good luck with that.
Did you see the video today of the inside of OBL's compound? I realize there was a firefight but the mold and filth was pretty obvious and disgusting. Before they buried him at sea I imagine getting him cleaned up first wasn't much fun either.
How sad that we see the Spankster in the throws of dementia so early in life.
Presidential candidate Barrack Hussein Obama took heat from fellow Democratic candidates & then from Military Expert GOP John McCain for this little diddy:
If we(I) have Actionible Intelligence about OBL & Pakistan Can't or Won't take Action:
I WILL!
Just another Promise kept to his fellow Americans!
Blow out the candles Spanky, your little Party is over!
After 1. 3 Trillion Dollars, American Troops & anyone associated with them, have Succeeded in Priority #1:
Revenge for the Attacks on 911!
Thru all the Nonsense, it is a Job Well Done!
Bring them HOME & give them the Praise that they've Earned!
Funny thing about this post is that a few minutes ago I was over on Huffington Post and they had an article written by Jason Linkins: "Study: Pundits wrong most of the time: Just like you always imagined" Now the title is misleading because the research, entitled, "Are talking heads blowing hot air?" revealed that pundits are wrong approximately half the time.
I like Charlie Cook and my bet is he beats the odds. but I think he is wrong on this issue. As I observe how excited the youth are about the demise of Bin Laden, 9/11 had to be a significant time in their lives. His death will be like a cloud lifted so "American Pride" can be restored.
I think I'm with Charlie Cook on this one. The example of George H.W. Bush shows how fleeting military victories can be for Presidential popularity. However, I applaud his decision to use a surgical strike instead of the blunt instrument of an aerial attack, and the dumping of the body in the ocean (oops I mean the respectful Muslim burial at sea) was a master stroke. (No martyrs grave).
Naw Rick the party is just ramping up.
Rick what shall we do with KSM? Execute, trial, or?
And now that he got the bad guy he will be ordering the soldiers to return - from Afghanistan, Iraq and stop bombing Libya, right Rick. Should all be done by the end of June?
Now there's some money saving I can really get behind. Also are we all done with Gitmo and the secret prisons? Just execute them - good enough for Osama, good enough for them all, right Rick?
Game changer. Okay, Obama got Osama. That's real good.
But the real game changer is deciding whether to fill up the car with gas, or buy food for dinner that night.
A Great Liar once said: "It's the economy stupid". And he wasn't lying about that one.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/05/average-gas-price-poised-to-hit-4-a-gallon-this-week.html
Gas up .23 cents this morning from last week.
Yikes.
Point 23 cents? Yikes, indeed. That's over a fifth of a penny. I think I need to go out and buy a bigger ride....
I'll go with Sullivan. This takes a LOT of arguments completely out of play and shows almost all of the pretenders for what they are -- petty and small.
For example, while Donald Trump was making himself look cheap and tawdry, running down what he had to know was a bogus birth certificate issue, the President was quietly handling both that issue and Osama bin Laden, visiting and reassuring the tornado-torn southeast, and the myriad of other things he does each day. Trump is nothing a small-time real-estate developer with WAY too much ego, vulgar manners, a spotty track record, and a really bad combover. Sarah Palin is just ... well, shrill. Honestly, I forget who all the rest are. President Obama, on the other hand, is in fact, the Commander in Chief, a legal scholar, a thoughtful, deliberative, and articulate leader who, despite all the provocations to do so, doesn't hold petty grudges, and is a clear survivor of the partisan wars.
I may disagree with the President on some issues, but who would I rather have in charge, whether we're talking about terrorism or talking about the economy?
Hello?!
So now it's up to President Obama to seize this moment and cash it in, but it's there for the taking, and 2012 looks better right now than I ever thought it would.
New Polls showing that Obama not getting much of a bump in the polls for this.
Most people understand that it was the Miltary and Intell that get most of the Credit for this.. Obama should get some after all he did say yes. but most Presidents would say yes.......... Osama is dead a good thing for the world. but the problems that people are worried about are still things happening in this country..
I'm with AM - He's good on taxes and now military [ok maybe too good - I still do not get why we are in Libya, but not Syria, or why we are still in Afghanistan or Iraq for that matter].
We just need him to reconsider energy prices. Thank goodness there is an election coming up so he'll have to do something.
And come on DBO - there really is nothing bigger. But hey that new Porsche is just about to come out. I think it gets around 20 mpgs. Except I'll probably go for the all wheel drive.
On foreign policy and national security......obama has nailed republicans. this is so sure for the 2012 race.
economics, ryan nailed the Gopers to the wall right there. ryan's and republicans proposal is moving like a wild fire. nobody is buying it.
come 2012, i wonder what Gopers will run on. i strongly believe nobody will want ryans wild fire and that will do the damage.
dems just need to double down on that.
Who would have thought Obama's saving grace, his ace in the hole, his trick up his sleeve, was his war-mongering? Goes nicely with his Nobel Peace Prize.
PEN - of course the republicans will run on that Job thing again - you know - all those programs they campaigned on last year to creat jobs! Just look at how many they have created so far - at least 1- for an undertaker!
Paul S..
Other then saying we need to get Govt off the backs of Business and its people What programs did the Republicans Mention?..
spanky
gas price? is that what your banking on? don't worry, ryan's wild fire will undo that.
Steve at `1.13. I just heard it's only a 1% bump. If he doesn't quit using this for political gain, I suspect his numbers will go down. I also suspect it will go down after people hear about the photo op in NYC. The 10th anniversary of 9-11 is coming in Sept. It seems he could wait until then. Right now, it somehow doesn't seem right. What's his purpose for going there? When Hitler was dead, did FDR run over to stand at his death sight?
And, for all those saying Obama's going there will bring "closure" for the 9-11 families, that's horse crap. Having lost somebody to murder, I can tell that watching the murderer fry in the chair isn't going to bring my loved one back.
Am I glad Bin Laden is dead? Yes. Do I think we should be celebrating? No. When I listened to the President make the announcement, my first response was "yes!". But then almost immediately, I started to cry because I was remembering "why" Bin Laden even mattered. I don't understand the street parties at all. Frankly, those out whooping and hollering, making a party of this look no different than those in the middle East celebrating after 9-11 or when dragging our servicemen's bodies through the streets. And, I feel Obama going to NYC will only add to this "party atmosphere".
Latest is 9% bump.
The 10th anniversary of 9-11 is coming in Sept. It seems he could wait until then. Right now, it somehow doesn't seem right. What's his purpose for going there?
There is no need for him to go there on the anniversary. His going there is cementing the fact that he kept his promise and now it is over. OBL is no longer hanging over their heads. I am sure if he did not go there will be someone criticizing.
Spanky, stop lying.
1)..Bush was an evil "cowboy" yet here we have Obama acting unilaterally to execute, using a "CIA Death Squad."....No death squad, navy seals.
2)..I wonder are you at all upset that Obama continues Gitmo and enhanced interrogation, used the fruits of that interrogation?......No more torture since this President took over. There were no fruits from torture.
Who would have thought Obama's saving grace, his ace in the hole, his trick up his sleeve, was his war-mongering? Goes nicely with his Nobel Peace Prize.....
......Here we go lying again. Because he killed the man that was the reason for the Bush war he is now a war monger. Do you even know what the words mean? He has earned his peace prize. You sound so envious. You are just so miserable because Our President is a success. He did in 2 years what Bush couldn't do in 7 years, and it's killing you. Thanks President Obama, one more promise kept...........
1 O' Canada.
2.Just heaard an anchor in LA refer to "the murder of Osama."
Oh No!
Oh, goody!!! Lookie-lookie who got his talking points for the day!
Just like he murdered American's on 9/11 Spanky. Payback is a b*tch as they say. You'll get no traction here for your diatribe of questioning innuendo. What does a conservative win in Canada have to do with this discussion anyway.
I believe they have a differnt breed of conservative in Canada than the likes of "Skankster, master of the misdirective interrogatory answer" ilk we have here in the states. They listen a bit better than our neocons. Off subject much?
BTW...What you got?
Well Missy I got a love of all things Olberman - CIA Death Squads bad, rule of law good.
And not talking points Noid, just rocking a little libbie push back on all things execution style. Me, I like it - simple and cheap, used all that good intel. I thought we were aboout civil trials, lawyers and such. Looks like not so much anymore?
Missy - please tell us how the Canda conservatives are different? It's all about cutting taxes up there - for corporations no less.
So Missy how is Canada cutting corporate tax rates different than conservatives calling for it here? Or is it your side that wants to cut taxes? Sure Obama did just cut them for the rich individuals. You think he'll do it for the corporation - other than say, GE?
More questions? I'm surprised. NOT.
And you not being able to form a response - sadly I am not surprised.
Missy, you do realize you asked me what I had?
Was that a question dear? :)
First, I'm glad Bin Laden is gone. He was a piece of scum. I wish he had been alive when they dumped him in the ocean. However, those are my feelings and have always felt that way about OBL.
I'm confused by our President's actions, though, because what he has said/done in past doesn't match his actions. He ordered no more "enhanced interrogations". He ordered that captured enemy combatants must be read their Miranda rights. He said Gitmo had to close because these despots' right to due process and civil liberties were being violated. But, ordering an assassination didn't violate OBL's civil liberties and right to due process?
Also, I've heard but haven't had time to research that President Ford signed an order stating the President has no right to order an assassination of world leaders. Has anybody read that law?
Just mirroring your usual salutation Spanker.
"What you got?" It's like a throw down line, a schoolyard bully line in the sand kind of behavior, that displays dweebisciousness in spades.
I was NOT asking a question of the questioner. No need. I pre-read your usual answers from your a talking point memo on FOX before I even come on this blog to discuss the issues of the day.
You wanna talk smack, go ahead. Type away like the blind little lemming you are. raptaptatpatpatpatptpatptpaptpatp!
Feel better now don't you, DEAR.
And yet still no response from you Missy?
Come on there - Canada is LOWERING corporate tax rates. Now just why would they do that Missy?
Feeling good Missy. Feeling good cause see this little execution adventure is not, in the long run, going to be good for O. Say what do you think Holder is up to right now? You remember him - he wants criminal trials in Federal Court for terrorists. Kinda the opposite treatment his boss just gave Osama, no?
Only time will tell. Right now President Obama and our intelligence/military did something amazing. They took out OBL without the loss of one single American Life.
I think this proves his leadership to the world and they now know that Our President will not just sit by. He has been seriously underestimated by the right and some leaders of the world
He has brought this country back from the brink of bankruptcy, created jobs, stimulated the economy etc and etc. He now also has added to his list of achievements the taking out of OBL.
The question should be is who does the right have that has a chance to win and to run against him???? I see nobody.
At the end of the day Navy, the 'scwary' Bad Man is dead and it was President Obama who gave the order to take him out!
Wasn't it that the plan all along from W and the Dick??
If this doesn't prove once and for all that these right wing nitwits possess an extraordinary amount of hate towards the President based on something of NO relevance, I don't know what will?
These haters couldn't say something positive if their very lives depended on it! PERIOD!
He could cure freakin CANCER and they would still HATE!
PS: Wonder where there critcism was, when Bush was standing on the deck in a flight suit yelling Mission Accomplished?
*crickets*
Feisty:
Could not have said it better. The GOP/TP is coming apart at the seams. They have nothing now and they know it. Panic Mode from the right.
Now you guys know why the righties call him 'The Messiah'. He is the closest thing to their God and he gets things done....Now they are scared..
Last night my Wife was crawling thru these Tubes that connect us all & found this little diddy as an explanation for recent events:
President Obama explaining the release of his Longer Form BC to American's in doubt
"My fellow American's, i'm sorry for Not releasing this info to you sooner, but i've been too busy Locating & Killing OBL!
Thank You for your Patience!
Total game changer in my mind ...i was only voting 3rd party ...now its Obama 2012 he just earned his second term with me ... he did what no one else could do ! And in spite of a rebellious congress who said no to everything this man tried to do .. because most of then are racists YES RACISTS ....i am not afraid to say it ..
They have tried to destroy this mans presidency from the very first day ..the good old boy network and the wealth protectors are now exposed ... FOR WHAT THEY ARE
I AM SO ASHAMED TO SAY THAT THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE AMERICANS !
this is no longer the America i was brought up in !
Me either!
What amazes me is they're not even bothering to hide behind their sheets anymore!
LOL... I find it humorous that you refer to his having to deal with a congress that has said 'NO' to everything he tried to do.
YOU IDIOT! For the first two years of his presidency he had a democratically controlled congress that did nothing but kiss his ass! (remember HCR and finding out what is in the bill AFTER we pass it!)
Now he has to deal with a republican HOUSE and a democratic SENATE! That hardly qualifies as CONGRESS that say NO!
Quit acting like he walks on water! Am I happy that we got bin Laden? RESOUNDINGLY YES! Kudos to the man for saying YES when asked if we should get him... but that's all he did and ANY PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE SAID YES TO THAT!
The REAL work was done by the CIA and the military! HOORAH!
Sick,
Get your facts straight. Obama didn't have control of anything other than the executive during the first two years. The democratic party had control of the house and a MAJORITY IN THE SENATE. Without 60 votes to end debate in the senate, nothing can happen if the minority party decides to make it so.
The preceding paragraph is fact, pure and simple. What follows may, admittedly, be colored by my own political leanings.
Unfortunately for all, Senate Republicans decided to play games to achieve their party's stated goal of doing whatever it takes to be sure President Obama has only one term. By most measures, while neither the president nor congressional Democrats achieved all their goals; but, the number of successes President Obama could boast is pretty impressive, considering the circumstances.
Jim, Indy
You are correct. The Senate was 57-41-2 (Dem, Rep, Ind) and the House was democrat controlled.
As I said earlier... that hardly qualifies as a congress that said NO to everything he tried to do.
AND... if I am understanding you correctly, any 'success' the president and his democratic majority in congress had could only have come about if republicans in the senate allowed it to happen...
SO... any success they had is directly attributable to the republicans.
Thanks for making my point!
Sick,
What we've shown is that, while the Democrats are willing to compromise, one of President Obama's campaign pledges, there are only a handful of Republican senators, the senators from Maine in the lead, who will sit an honestly negotiate a deal. Admittedly, even the gentleladies from Maine occasionally were apparently disingenuous in their dealings.
I would say that we should all be thankful for elected representatives of any affiliation or idealogical bent who are honestly trying to achieve what we sent them to Washington to do; the work of the people!
True Jim. True.
But some of us see the 'work of the people' differently. Blocking unwanted and dangerous legislation IS the work of the people. ;-)
GO USA!
Jim
Filibuster is BUSTED. Remember Snowe,Colin,and Specter?? They voted with the Democrats on Stimulus,and other Bills. Hell,Specter even CHANGED to the Democrat Party and got HELP from the White Hose trying to get elected in Nov. 2010. The 2 Independents ALWAYS voted Demcrat.
So lets see here. 57+2+3=62!!!! That's 2 more then 60!!
Then we have this--57+2+1=60!! Gee there is that magic number again.
So Filibuster is BUSTED. And don't forget RECONCILIATION. Remember that Nuclear Option??? Again Filibuster BUSTED. No more excuses for not getting anything done.
Gosh you can stretch the truth. Snow and Collins did not always vote with Democrats, neither did Specter. One independent was McCain's sidekick so I don't know where you came up with your facts. Oh, I forgot, you are a con.
What is a game change if it isn't a boost in the spirits of the American people? We saw that spirit with spontaneous celebrations in front of the White House (where our President lives) to let him know how much they appreciated that OBL was dead; at Ground Zero, on college campuses nationwide, in cities across the country--a celebration of justice servced. Sometimes a "B-12 shot in the arm" such as President Obama succeeding where Clinton and Bush failed is all that is needed to dispel the conservative chatter that the President isn't leading. It serves as a reminder to voters about why they chose Obama in 2008. It is sometimes all that is necessary to change the dynamics of the game and remind people that recovery is slow but it is getting better.
Great post, Jody. I have always had confidence in our President but if others needed more tangible proof of his leadership abilities and values, well, here it is. Someone yesterday asked that famous "Reagan" question---are you better off than you were 4 years ago? Well, that always struck me as a bit selfish because a person can be better off but the country not so much, but putting that aside, our nation surely is better off and it is thanks to the leadership of President Obama.
Murder? Last I heard, there was a firefight. The mission allowed for his peaceful surrender as well - so in that sense, it should be labled 'suicide.'
My goodness- looks like we suddenly have an Osama S Y M P A T H I Z E R in our midst today.
I can understand folks beign upset that the 'ditherer-in-chief' proved 'em wrong AGAIN, but My oh, My!
Maybe the narrative needs to be simplified and shortened, to, say:
"Osama Bin Ladan has done some very bad stuff to the USA. He has been hiding out for 10 years (at least). Now, the USA has found him, and made him pay the price."
Nothing more, nothing less. I think it makes a pretty good headline, and an pretty good ending to a very bad story.
Any one else?
All of you..Spankster..Feisty..etc. Cut the partisan CRAP..The President is going to visit ground zero...The best thing he could do would be to invite George Bush. Believe me I am no lover of Bush, but he was the President when 9-11 went down. It would be good for the country.
I'm throwing in with Torpedo...
I whole heartingly agree with you Torpedo. I somehow wished after knowing what has happened, that former President Bush had been brought to the WhiteHouse Sunday to watch also in Realtime. I don't know for what purpose, but watching President Obama for the last 3 years, it's evident the Man is Sincere in his:
Love Of Country!
God Bless America!
Agreed, DBO. (I can't believe I just said that)
Torpedo hit the mark with his/her post!
(voted both of you)
Here, SOTB- I'll pay y' one (vote) foreward....
Lovely thought Torpedo, but it was just a little while ago we were told by the fine folk at MSNBC not to politicize ground zero. Yet now we have a Victory lap.
Obama is definitely victorious, but he is doing what they said should not be done. Yet I'm guessing it'll be ok now, because it's their guy.
Again Olby said that CIA death squads were bad. Yet now, they are great.
All very conservative. Seems the libbies have lost a bunch of their ideas, which is great. Too bad it'll be temporary.
Spanky, with each post of yours, it's evident you have No Honor for America, you Only have Honor for the $$$$$$$.
Sad Life Indeed!
Could we hang a sign "MISSION ACCOMLISHED" off the Freedom Tower!
Spankster..I am a Blue Star dad and a Marine...One kid just returned from the AFG. He was at FOB Lagman..Judging from your posts it seems that you never had any "skin" in this game. Then again my kids were over there to uphold your right to spew your hateful S*$t.
Spanky..
You really are under their skin today.........
"It would be good for the country".
I don't think I agree with this....but I'm kind of on the fence.
I want things that are "good for the country".... we can never get too much of this. But I think we have to move forward from the old guard. For instance I don't think anyone wants our economy "explained" in terms of the previous administration and/or comparing to it.
I guess the reason I'm on the fence....I believe UNITY is what makes our country strong. Does UNITY between a current and previous President serve as an "example" we all need to practice... or does it deter us from moving FOWARD?
Thoughts?
Torpedo - those were MSNBC's words. It was they who decried that we not politicize ground zero.
As for the rest of your speculation about me, well, it is simply that.
Focus your anger on them, not me. I am pointing out that they seem to be whistling a slightly different tune.
Unless you think Obama will in fact call Bush down Thursday. Do you think he'd do that? That would be the right thing to do afterall.
If President Obama were serious about unifying this country it would be a good gesture for putting party politics aside.
Spanky..
Just heard on the News that Osama was not Armed. gotta love Our War Mongering President for taking out an UnArmed man.. I mean really you would think that the Libbies on this Page would be up in Arms about the Obama Death Squad killing a Non Combatant..........
Torpedo,
Obama did invite George Bush to the site. He was trying to end the bickering and of course George said "NO".
Monday I went to the doctor's office for a routine colonoscopy. One the wall of the examing room was a chart showing a diagram of a colon. The nurse pointed out places on the diagram where the probe would bend to exam the colon. After she left, my friend looked more closely at the chart and noticed someone had neatly labeled a polyp "George W. Bush" and a hemorrhoid in the rectum "Governor LePage!"Our governor has weathered the most controversial four months in any Maine governor's term. Even his own party objects to his performance.
I remember when Bush was President I heard some very elderly people say they were afraid they would die before they saw him leave office. It wasn't just partisan Democrats who felt that way, out of a hunger to be in power; This was the sentiment of the majority of Americans who were very angry over Bush's policies.
Americans do not feel the same rage with Obama, even if they are upset over unemployment and high gas prices. This doesn't seem to be noted by the punditry. President Obama has weathered personal attacks since he was inaugurated, and unlike Reagan whom we called the "Teflon President," the criticism doesn't seem to roll off him, but, rather, it is absorbed, like a boxer taking the punches. I think the Osama bin Laden execution was a K/O for the President. He took the punches from the Right, then landed the knock out on our collective enemy. I think his re-election is assured, and the next four years will be one of national unity.
By the way- if someone kills, and gets killed back, isn't that justified, as in, 'self-defense'? What if he/she kills upwards of 3,000, and promises to kill even more when the chance comes up again?
"Murder"?
Really??
Ask Holder - he wants civil trial so they can get their lawyer on.
I say execute them all. Much cheaper. Glad to see the slippery slope is not a problem for you.
So DBO - shall we off KSM right now? You just implied it would not be murder.
Oh and call up CBS and complain about their douche-bag reporter, wouldya?
Stow it Minnie. No one cares what you think.
Or what I think, either, I bet.
But- sure, off the guy. Wouldn't hurt my feelings. Why don't you dig out an old post of mine, and repost it here, where I said we should do otherwise.
No need DBO. We all know what you and others said about civil trials and such. It just warms my heart to see you all flip so far to the right.
No more trials, lawyers or rights for terrorists.
You are starting to sound an awful lot like Dick Cheney. I think he would approve of your position.
All of this self righteous posturing by the right is really disingenuous.
The right would blatantly take away the civil rights of Americans yet they claim to be affronted by the bin Laden news. And then they chide the left for being inconsistent. Bush claimed to be willing to hunt down bin Laden and eliminate him. Where was the right's concern then?
We cannot kill KSM because we already have him in custody. Or does the right really think that shooting fish in a barrel is acceptable? And we have promised a tribunal. If we can only find a place to do it that the right will not whine about.
Like Steve and the reports say - Osama was unarmed.
You know like shooting fish in a barrel, right fielden?
Time to execute, right. Goose and gander.
Spanky...This is going to move fast for you all. Bush was an evil "cowboy" yet here we have Obama acting unilaterally to execute, using a "CIA Death Squad."
You are wrong. Dick used CIA death squad. President Obama used our "Navy Seals". Good job Mr President....
He understands the energy problem, gas prices will never go down, they never have gone down much after huge jumps and they never will. Were paying what Europe has paid for years for gas, that's why they don't drive monster trucks to pick up a pizza. This president wants to move forward with alternative energy programs but is blocked by Republicans who worship big oil but complain about gas prices. I don't think anybody but the republican base blames the president for oil prices. In any event oil is a finite resource that the whole world wants, it is never going to get cheaper.
Here is something that I bet most of the punditocracy has not considered:
If President Obama is not re-elected, it will be our loss, not his.
If America doesn't want President Obama after his unbelievable accomplishments over the past 2 1/2 years, it is just fine with me.
I have perfect peace with that, and I am sure that President Obama does as well.
This man has left it ALL "on the field" as they say, and the scoreboard shows that America is a lot better off now than when he was elected.
Folks who vote on the actual issues really don't have much of a choice, but hey, whatever America wants to do is more than fine with me.
I am just glad I was alive to witness candidate Obama and President Obama in action . . . and to see how our political system REALLY works.
It's been quite an education, and I've learned a lot of things I wish were not true. But I am so glad to know the truth . . . it ain't about the issues, its about money, and "them's that's gots" will do ANYTHING to make sure that their ill-gotten gains are protected.
Period.
Everything else is just an elaborate theater production for our benefit.
The bottom line is a bad man is dead and very deserved death it is.
Trust me it is better for the world he died there instead of a trial where he can spread more hate and temp followers to free him or something more terrible.
When Saddam was caught alot of us in the military be better to put a bullet through his skull.
Trust me as a guy that had to go fight in the wars and now works for the DoD and still goes to the wars we are way better offwith Osama Bin Laden dead.
BTw Kudos to the CIA I worked with them in Turkey, Iraq, and Afghanistan and they deserve thier day in the sun.
Bet if you took a poll and asked people what the most serious problems in their life are, the economy, jobs gas prices will be the top 3. National security, specifically terrorism, the 3 wars we are in won't come up. Short term, and even for the 2012 election, I don't think his Commmander if Chief qualifications will be brought up again. We got Bin Laden but if gas prices and jobs are still a sticking point in 2012, I think people will be more focused on that than Bin Laden.
My oldest son was in 8th grade when 9/11 occurred. I came home from dropping him off and thought my husband was watching a movie as the first tower burned. Just as he said, "No, this is real", the second jet went into the second tower. I can even say what I felt because I couldn't process what I was seeing! Stunned is an understatement. My son then took the front page the next day showing the towers burning, framed it and hung it in his room. He Googled the Koran trying to find where it would say to kill people and tried to understand why anyone would want to slaughter innocent people.
My daughter was in sixth grade and her teacher's daughter worked at the Twin Towers. The teacher and kids were on pins and needles all day as he was unable to reach her. Luckily, she had called in sick that day. She lives with survivors guilt to this day.
Yesterday I bought the paper with BIN LADEN IS DEAD on the front page. I will frame it and hang it next to the one my son had put on his wall.
Wow California girl, thanks for reminding us what it's all about. I am sure I came face to face with Mohammed Atta on the streets of Portland. I made eye contact with a man I thought was a new immigrant and he returned my glance with the kind of look you get from a psychopath. I thought at the time perhaps I had violated a cultural more not to look a mid eastern man in the eye, and found his manner frightening, however I have never gotten that vibe from other Mid eastern men who have moved to my town, since then. If it was Atta I saw, I can tell you Bin Laden recruited sociopaths to commit these murders.
Don't anyone remember when the CIA was attacked by a Al Qaeda/Taliban bomber, killing 8 plus the station chief, this is their retaliation. You didn't think they were just going to let them get away with that attack. The CIA operatives ratcheted up the pressure till they got Osama.
There is a time for everything under the sun and this was a time to kill, President Obama chose the right time, after the Intel had been gathered and verified. He sent the right force to do the right thing the right way regardless of the rights opinion as well as the left.
Pakistan has been sheltering insurgents playing the sides against the middle so they don't have much to say about us infringing on their soveriegnty which has been sold out to the tune of billions of Americans tax dollars. So don't cry for them if you do then who's being an apologist?
This truly is a game changer and the Republican and TEA party elite know it! That's why they are in high gear talking down this wonderful accomplishment of "OUR" seal team effort. These "Seals" sealed the coffin of that "Murderer" and credit should be everyone involved with this operation, including the President who authorized the operation. All of the command structure who trained and equipped these brave men deserve respect and honor. Every outlet who broadcasts the naysayers are in over drive talking down "Our" accomplishments. "We" took down the most wanted man in the universe in less than forty minutes. This was a "We" effort because an endeavor like this one was sanctioned all the way to the top. "We" should be proud of their accomplishments! There should be one opinion of "Our" accomplishment, but the Republican and TEA party will not acknowledge this. There was a poll bounce for President Obama and his team accomplishments. Here's the real issue - Al Quida is wanting to strike back and everyone should be wary of that! Ted Poe of Texas is introducing legislation to stop funding to Pakistan in an effort to circumvent presidential or executive policies. That's like going to a fire with a gasoline can in hand. The current Congress should be legislating jobs for America. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.