Ever get the feeling that...

[Xolodno]

...Obama just threw this out to Congress to tell everyone else...."were done with this shit!"

I mean, he didn't have to send this to Congress...and knew full well that the majority of the people were not into another war no matter how "limited". If Congress votes thumbs down...it would be politically catastrophic for him to go ahead and launch the missiles anyway. (this is assuming Congress has some brains...oh wait....yeah I know, asking a bit much, but I'm assuming they want to keep their jobs.)

This would send a message to the hawks in Congress that...this war stuff isn't going to work anymore...and...

Tell Saudia Arabia...we don't care if you will pay for it...were not going to do it...and...

Tell the Middle East...you can't blame us for whatever because....we refuse to get involved...blow yourselves up...and...

Tell Russia and China...you want influence in this area...no problem...now you are going to have to own it.

There is a part of me saying that Obama isn't going to mess with this and sending it to Congress is his way of getting out of his "Red Line" statement...while at the same time telling everyone who wants the USA to get involved to go take a flying leap off a cliff. And this would make sense to...if you want American power to intervene in your behalf....its not going to be easy anymore.

[Warpy]

1. I think he was a little surprised by early polling

that showed Americans were not lining up like good little bots to support another war we have no business in.

I also think he's been taking a lot more critical look at the intelligence out of that country, such as it is.

[snappyturtle]

2. Wouldn't it have been easier to avoid all this drama by

just admitting he backed himself into a corner and has
reconsidered?

I listened to his Saturday address and concluded he
wants to do a 'limited' strike. imho

[Xolodno]

4. Easier to say plainly....but...

...not in the political world. If he did do that, the criticism would be he had no back bone...even to enforce an international "norm". By tossing it to Congress...he let them decide on the "norm", just like Britain did. He saves his political ass...and if goes to hell, he has a convenient scape goat.

And another point...this tells the middle east that their "America hatred" has been noted....and the USA will step back and let them handle it. For decades several of the middle east governments have kept their populace in line with hatred towards Israel and the USA. Now the US government is doing what the populace wants...stay out of its affairs. The current middle east governments are going to have to actually deal with the populace and note their issues. Something they have been able to avoid for a long time. Who knows, this may be the time when the USA (assuming it doesn't strike Syria) says..."handle your internal problems yourself, were not going to spill American blood over your 1500+ year issues anymore." Well, that's what I'm hoping....

[snappyturtle]

6. Oh, so we're supposed to put up with the drama so the

President can save his ass. Not acceptable. He would endear
himself to the electorate if he were to come clean on the
red line remark but then again, maybe he did it on purpose.
Sorry, I have become a hige skeptic....too many years on
this planet is to blame.

[2naSalit]

7. And it seems that

the general public has to have the drama or they can't live with the political scene. They have come to expect it in order for it to be worth paying attention to.

[snappyturtle]

8. I think the President could have raised lots of interest in

admitting he's vulnerable to making mistakes just like
this rest of us.

[2naSalit]

9. I agree with you on that

But I think that the drama aspect is what the GP seems to need in order to pay attention these days, sad but it appears to be the norm now.

[2naSalit]

3. Geeze

I sure hope that's what it is. I'm not thrilled with what I've been hearing from him lately... I want to ask him if his ears heard what his mouth is saying, ya know?

I have been trying to figure out his mindset on this and if he wants Congress to do what it usually does here, he's going to have to play the heavy until they vote and make it final. I sure hope he doesn't "go there" in the Bu$hCheney fashion, that would really suck.

[Xolodno]

5. Know what your saying, but gave this some thought...

...he can't portray himself due to politics as someone who doesn't want to do the "right thing". So its better to be ready to go "guns blazing" but have to put them back in the "holster" due to public opinion. That way he cant be accused of not doing the "right thing" while at the same time, state he was yielding to "American opinion"

.....but then again, he could see if the Senate approves and have Boehner drag it out for a month or two, where he then says he couldn't wait on the House or Representatives.

Way too many games that can be played...but I'm hoping for the former rather than the later.

[The Straight Story]

10. He is not running for office again. Won't have to work ever again.

I think he is doing what he is doing because that is what he feels is right.

bush went to war, 2 of them, his first term and used that as an excuse to keep himself in office (along with other methods....).

The bush worshiping, boot licking, rw is in a bind now. They love war, saw Syria as the axis of evil and terror supporting, and they are the ones now saying that Iraq was a mistake and are anti-war (ie, not patriots and don't love America as they used to say).

The republicans look like idiots now (not that they didn't before) especially considering Obama does not want a full war but a limited strike and they are, on the one hand, pushing for bigger involvement if we do anything and no involvement at all.

Tea party is dividing them, weakening them, and old party members are seeing that they were duped and were for a stupid war.

[mick063]

11. His Secretary of State lobbied diligently for a strike. The President lobbied hard as well.

To the American people. To the European Union. To Congress.

You can't spin it any other way. The President has lobbied hard for an attack on Syria. The only reason he put it up to a Congressional vote was because:

a) British House of Commons put the Kibosh on David Cameron's call for Britain to participate, hence setting a precedent. In other words, planting a seed in the minds of the American electorate and press that Congress should be involved as well.

b) Early polling showing overwhelming disdain for an American attack. Constituent correspondence to Congressmen and the President indicating Americans were against an attack. After drawing the "red line", putting this on Congress was the only politically viable way to back down and save face at the same time. After drawing the "red line" this is also the only politically viable way to proceed with an attack pending Congressional approval. The bottom line, is that the "red line", combined with overwhelming opposition, literally forced the President to put this on Congress.

This is precisely what happened. Precisely.

Stop the eleventh dimensional chess bullshit.

Just stop.