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Subscribe to RSSThe New York Times editorial page: “It was a particular relief to hear him say that “the tide of war is receding” in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But he will need to do a lot more to explain why it is in this country’s strategic interest to stick things out for another three-plus years. And why his drawdown plan has a credible chance of leaving behind an Afghanistan that won’t implode as soon as American troops are gone.”
The Globe’s editorial page says “Given all the economic, political, and military considerations President Obama had to juggle” his decision “is the least bad option.” But a sound “political strategy” is how success will be measured in Afghanistan, it continues.
Conservative military hawk Bill Kristol: “Why bring home the surge troops by the summer of 2012? It had been widely expected that President Obama would announce the planned removal of some—perhaps even all—of the surge forces by early 2013. No serious person expected a drawdown of all 33,000 troops—one-third of the total force—within about 15 months... Because, one has to conclude, Election Day is November 6, 2012.”
The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank: “The policy itself was no triumph, just a split-the-difference compromise between the slower troop withdrawal from Afghanistan sought by the generals and the faster one many congressional Democrats and a majority of the public desired. But Obama packaged it nicely, wrapped it with a bow and declared, perhaps prematurely, that his “surge” in Afghanistan had been a success.”
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This is the best President we have had in my lifetime.
Agree Amy.
Then you must be only 2 years old.
Maybe, but she's STILL brighter than you!
and you must be from another planet
As are you! You're talkin' outta Uranus!!
Actually I don't recall any president since FDR as being exceptional. FDR only because of WWll leadership and in part to the depression. They all had their strong points and their weaknesses.
So far the only strong point obama has shown is his seemingly endless penchent for campaigning and desire to spend beyond an economic recovery. Hasn't anyone told him yet that he is potus and there are more important things to do other than spend and campaign?
Thanks Amy. My lifetime too, and I'm pushing 60. Makes the righites pretty upset, though, doesn't he?
Too bad.
"....desire to spend beyond an economic recovery"
A true conundrum. It takes spending to get the economic recovery kick-started. Where does the demand for goods and services come from when no one has a job? (no one in THIS country, I mean...)
People need money to spend or it gets worse and worse, private sector has no reason to grow until they have more customers, the government needs to spend here at home, there are plenty of things that need to be done, then you might get a little demand started for the private sector to hire. Otherwise I think the economy just gets worse.
He just lost 56% of his base ..it was all or nothing ...he blinked and bowed to the war mongers ...remember the war mongers dont pay your salary .. this has gone on for 9 yrs and we are no further ahead ....The American people are well aware ... the day we leave regardless of when it falls back to pre 911 ! .. Hope the president and congress & senate find a new job fast in 2012 ...YOUR ALL FIRED !
I agree with you Amy and Mo! President Obama is the best!
The President is doing his best. He is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't.
why Job - you may finally be beginning to see what politics are about. Unfortunately for any potus, they need to be unifiers not dividers. Obamas on the job training has cost America.
Like I said, "The President is doing his best. He is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't."
The President hasn't divided anyone. The Republicans-Tea Party has spread a crop of lies about the President and they are the ones dividing the people.
Job1- don't forget the overtime Fox puts into that dividing effort on a constant basis.
Job1 and others...for the multi-millions of us who actually support President Obama, we all have to stand up and support him loudly. We all have to be brave to stand next to the haters and liars and prove that hope is stronger that hate. This hope scares the haters, for all that hatred is eating them inside out. Barack Obama was born to be President, and he will go down in history as one of the best leaders ever!
Does it do any good to mention that Bill Kristol has never served in uniform? That the only thing he's ever had on the line is his mouth? Who gives a rat's @$$ what a bunch of chickenhawks think!
This was his 3 am call .....he rolled over and hit the snoozeeee button on the American people ...I guess he could care less about what the people want.. who pay his salary ! Good luck in the job search !
"...I guess he could care less about what the people want.."
WHICH peope would you be refering to? The right wants him to do one thing, the left wants him to do the opposite. Now- which people shold he care about here?
I know a man who made a fortune overnight in Desert Storm by supplying the government with parachute material that was used for lots of things at a ridiculous price. Of course no one in Washington wants to upset that sort of Golden Goose profiteering. Its just too lucrative, all those government contracts. We are losing PEOPLE in that God forsaken hell hole, which no one in history has ever been able to tame, just to make people rich. IT should end now, we can't afford this idiotic notion of nation building and democracy. What we have now in this country is a travesty of democracy and our nation, thanks to Washington and greedy corps, is headed toward 3rd world nation status. You occupy a country and you are hated for it regardless of the reasons you are there. Get out now.
Libs they always choke when it their turn to run with the ball ... 1/2 a** Had all 3 branches.. choke OBAMA...choke
He is pretty good but declaring him the greatest should be reserved until he completes his term, at a minimum.