Thanks, Obama

[MannyGoldstein]

Last edited Mon Mar 31, 2014, 10:31 PM - Edit history (1)

As we should be critical of our President and other Democrats when appropriate, we should also praise the good stuff they do.

In particular, I'm feeling good about the way President Obama has handled the Russian takeover of Crimea.

The lead-up to the event was nothing to brag about, as far as I can tell. Western bankers and politicians were vying with Eastern oligarchs and politicians, both trying to scam the Ukrainian 99%'s cash through austerity of one kind or another. Ukraine was a sheep set upon by two wolves. The East won, the West didn't like it and helped fuel a revolution, the East grabbed Crimea and made noises about grabbing some more.

East and West both have dirty hands, but only one side made an overt use of force, and overt force is a huge problem. Not because Crimea is now in Russian hands (it seems that's what Crimeans wanted, anyway), but because of where it could lead.

As we all know, Nazi Germany started grabbing territories in the 1930s. It started by relatively bloodless annexation of German-speaking territories through bullying. As successes mounted, it grew to... well, we all know what happened.

More than ever, modern powers cannot afford war against one another, so it's critical to nip Putin's militarism in the bud. To be clear, Russia is not Nazi Germany: Nazi Germany was led by a rabid ideologue, while Russia is led by greedheads. Fortunately, greedheads are easier to deter than ideologues: take away their money, and they tend to behave.

President Obama took, I think, exactly the right approach. He made it clear that:

- There'd be no Western military response.
- There will be a price to pay, out of the wallets of the oligarchs.

Time will tell if this is the right thing to do, but for what it's worth, I think it is, and it's certainly a hell of a lot different than Dim Son, McCain, Romney, or another Republican would do.

Thanks, Obama.

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. Thanks Obama....Ignore the previous sarcastic post from THAT guy...

this one is QUITE heartfelt...

I am sure that 9.5 million other Americans who now have Health Insurance feel the same way.

[daybranch]

18. I agree on thanking him

for his handling of Ukraine, the ACA, the forcing of government contractors to pay better wages, and the inclsion of many in overtime pay. Thank you. President Obama. There is much more you can and should do in my opinion. Please do what you can and do not give up without trying.

[VanillaRhapsody]

20. Man oh man.....cannot give him a pat on the back....without an apparent obligatory

backhand...


Sigh

[Autumn]

2. Recommended. McCain or Romney would have bombed Iran over this already

Now I'm just gonna sit here with some and some thought I might need this too

[RobertEarl]

3. Syria, too

And we are getting out of Afghanistan. Obama is not a warmonger.

As for the r's, call them the opposition from now on, eh?

[Vattel]

9. Obama has gradually grown less hawkish.

He got suckered into the Afghanistan surge. He allowed the conflict to spread more and more into Pakistan. He did handle Crimea well. Syria was comedy of errors with the right outcome--no bombing.

[RobertEarl]

11. Yep

He heard us. Loud and Clear. No. More. Wars.

[MannyGoldstein]

13. +1 nt

[polichick]

4. I too really appreciate Pres. Obama's decisions regarding Crimea...

and also other hot spots, when RepubliCons would rather move in - especially because we know the prez must be pressured by the for-profit mic.

[Scuba]

5. Best foreign policy President in my lifetime, but I'm only 65.

[Glitterati]

6. Agreed.

But, I'm only 62.

I was going to add a response to the OP commenting on Syria as well, but someone beat me to it.

[Rex]

15. Yes without a doubt.

My lifetime too.

[mikekohr]

16. Me too

I'm 56.

[mountain grammy]

21. Me too, but I'm a ripe old 66.

I really had to think about it but, looking back, I think you're right. There is no doubt in my mind we'd have boots on the ground somewhere if Rmoney been elected. Thanks, Obama.

[Auntie Bush]

35. We'd lso have boots on the ground if McCain had won. In fact

we'd still be in WW111. I'd be the longest and most deadly war in history... maybe never ending or even Nuclear. Thank God Obama won the election. Our lives depend on it. Yes, there are a lot of other things he did that I don't like but, the good FAR outweighs the bad.

[mountain grammy]

36. Absolutely!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

7. Clear, simple, to the point.

Very nice.
Ukraine will regret turning to the EU, but unfortunately that looks like a lesson they'll have to learn the hard way.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Excellent point about money and power

It's why Americans will always make crappy totalitarians, which is a good thing.

I always thought Obama would shine on FP because of his intellect and temperament, even though that was supposedly the biggest question mark about him. Those same traits are, unfortunately, not always as useful here at home.

K&R

[Skittles]

10. I agree

yes indeed

[bvar22]

12. DURec for YOUR post praising President Obama.

and a link to my own post on March 17th praising him for the restrained, measured, calculated NON-Cheat Beating,
Non-Military threats way in which he has handled it.


My OP praising President Obama only got one Rec.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024679557

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Two recs now

Really good analysis.

Didn't see it the first time - that darned job of mine...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. I'm very surprised by this post. nt

[delrem]

19. I see no resemblance whatsoever to the Nazi era. nt

[eridani]

22. RE Russia "grabbing" the Crimea

They had a vote, actually. The Ukraine grabbed it in the 50s without the consent of the people who lived there. Let's face it--the Urkraine is one of those countries like the former Czechoslovakia that could use a Velvet Divorce. I can't see Russia trying to take over the western areas where they are pretty clearly not wanted.

Still, I certainly agree that Obama's calm reaction will very likely lead to better choices among a variety of possible bad outcomes. This guy is just NOT a macho bullshitter, and we should all be grateful for that.

[bravenak]

23. Good post.

[LAGC]

24. A big, fat K&R for First-Way Manny!!

[octoberlib]

25. K&R!

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. You were being serious?????

[rhett o rick]

27. Havent you learned that if you want long threads you wont get them by

praising the president. I see none of the BOG Posse here to agree with you.

Personally I see what you are doing. Very clever. You are totally confusing the "Manny Haters".

[Skittles]

28. they are confused by critical thinking

you must be ALL FOR or you are a HATER!

[Hoyt]

29. April Fools?

[zeemike]

30. Well I think it is a nice thing to say.

But the reality is that we would never go to war over the Crimea...not McCain, not Palin or even the wackes of the right...they may be stupid but they are not suicidal.
And we faced that down in the Cuban crissis...and Russia pulled it's missals out and we agreed n ot to invade Cuba because there would have been no winners in that one...and there would be no winners if we went to war with Russia...except maybe the cockroaches.

[delrem]

31. please google: "Khaganate of Nulands"

Thank you.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

32. When he's right, he's right. When he's wrong, he's wrong. DUers need to accept that Obama

is not infallible or immune to criticism if he does something boneheaded or Republican Lite.

Good job on Crimea. Good job on ACA (it's a nice start, but no where near perfectly acceptable yet), but i am hopeful.

Now, if Democrats don't shoot themselves in the food and stay home so we get four more years of teabaggers. . .

[n2doc]

33. Yes, Thanks n/t

[magical thyme]

34. agreed, 100%

I shudder to think what would have happened under Romney.

[warrprayer]

37. I said the same thing but...

"And I owe President Obama an apology - I didn't understand what he was doing when he had that soldier who had done 10 combat tours as his guest at the state of the union address. I thought it was just an applause getter. I could not have been more wrong. He was sending a message to the neocons in congress who were clamoring for war in Syria. Of all the talk of Obamas broken campaign promises, it looks like he is keeping the most important one - working for peace, even if it means working quietly with Putin behind the scenes. "

... I am a "Putinista" and a "troll", so what do I know?



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024679166