"What the facts tell us about President Obama's approach to foreign policy"

[Cha]

[font size=lg][font color=blue] This is Posted in the Barack Obama GROUP~[/font][/font]

snip//

"Amidst all the reactions to current events that attempt to play things for partisan spin, or confirm an existing false narrative, or generate link bait, I thought it would be helpful to simply lay out a couple of facts and build our analysis on them.

On Syria, lets remember that for almost 2 years now President Obama has been fighting off the hawks - even in his own administration (yes, that includes Hillary Clinton) - to avoid getting involved because, as the President said last night: "we cannot resolve someone else’s civil war through force." That one piece of information alone should make the idiots claiming he's a warmonger STFU.

Now we learn that the proposed diplomatic solution that some people suggest simply dropped out of the sky a few days ago is something the Obama administration has been proposing to the Russians for almost a year now (even before the Assad regime used chemical weapons on August 21st). For those who insist on trying to be mind readers to get at the President's real motives rather than just take him at his word - this indicates that his main concern has always been about Assad's chemical weapons.

Any analysis that leaves out either one of those facts is most likely based on mythology or projection. Its as simple as that."

snip//

"What President Obama has been laying out in his Syrian policy is an engagement in the world that rejects warmongering as a solution but also suggests that isolation is dangerous. He wants to promote diplomatic solutions that allow the people of Syria to decide their own fate while upholding the norms against the use of chemical weapons.

If that sounds like a "confusing" policy to anyone - its probably because engaging as a partner rather than assuming our own dominance militarily requires nuance and complexity. As Americans, we're not used to that in our foreign policy. But President Obama is asking us to move beyond the past and deal with the current reality."


Continue reading SP's analysis..
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/09/what-facts-tell-us-about-president.html

[font color=blue] BOG[/font]

[sheshe2]

1. SP, always seems to get it right.

Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; our progress must be shared.

http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/09/what-facts-tell-us-about-president.html

Thanks Cha~

[Cha]

2. That quote says quite a lot about PBO's view

of our place in the world and his foreign policy approach, she.

Thank you.. for highlighting it.

[NYC_SKP]

3. In one speech, Obama has undone at least two and as many as six or more prior presidential terms.

He made clear that he understands the constitution and that congress must support military action.

He spoke the truth, he spoke to me, he spoke to our country and it's values.

[Cha]

4. Mahalo, SKP.. it's too bad there are those

who have no clue what's going on.

At least many people do.. and EarlG gets it!

[Politicub]

6. +1

[freshwest]

13. Well said, NYC_SKP. Please speak out more often. TIA.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Thanks, freshwest!

I'll remember that!

[michigandem58]

5. K&R

Thanks Cha!

[Cha]

8. Thank you, michigandem~

[Politicub]

7. He doesn't try to dumb down issues and tell us what to think

I appreciate having a president who trusts the American people to think for themselves.

I still have your back, Mr. President!

[Cha]

9. Funny how different people interrupt

PBO's speech, Politicub. I've read everything from "he insulted us" to it was so confusing they didn't understand it".

Here's to those who got it.. like EarlG.

[Politicub]

10. I think those posts were queued up before he spoke

It didn't matter what he said.

The perpetually offended are going to stay offended, no matter what.

But the American people listened if polls are to be believed.

[IrishAyes]

12. Insulted us? Too confusing to understand?

What pit are these people squeeling from? Never mind, I know.

For my $ it called to mind the Emancipation Proclamation: Short, concise, to the point. And telling people what some of them don't want to hear is hardly insulting.

I wouldn't want to admit I was too stoopid to understand that speech!

(BTW, I'm enjoying my little 7" tv a lot. It sits right here close to the computer, I can easily follow what's going on with my favorite shows - whether what I say online is easy to follow or not! No telling what blunders await. But the pleasure helps make up for the misery of borrowed wi-fi. And with the volume kept so low, I'm sure to hear any yapping the dogs might start outside.)

[IrishAyes]

11. He thinks better of us than we sometimes deserve as a nation.

Yet that is still good, because it summons us upward, no matter how many drag their feet or even dig in their heels, screaming all the way.

[freshwest]

15. There it is in a nutshell. He believes in America more than many do. 'The last progressive POTUS'

is my name for him.

Unless Americans in the real world, as opposed to the dilettantes at DU, have come to understand what a progressive truly is.

A true progressive works within the system, for that is where the power resides and it's not for the faint hearted. It's hard as hell and dangerous.

Those doing the work do not have time to stand outside and cast stones. It's the only thing other than religion that has changed society.

Sorry, but to those who think complaining ever changed the world, they are being maliciously lazy and not contributing anything to anyone. To go after those who care so much that they will put themselves in harm's way, is a risk.

The complainers are like someone in need of a laxative. They simply aren't moving enough to get rid of the corruption and will only stand still and get nothing done. And their words stink.

JMHO.

[Politicub]

16. Constant complainers are also immoral IMHO

When they purposefully try to encourage voter apathy. That's unforgivable in my book.

We have a two party system, and it will take amendments to the constitution to get rid of it and move away from winner takes all. Clearly that's not going to happen. I agree with you that we must work within the existing power structure to bring about change.

Decisions and rhetoric from Obama are going to reverberate for generations and change our country for the better over the long term. Reagan's disgusting ideas and flogging of government has been a driving force in politics, for good or for ill - mostly ill.

What we can learn from that, though, is Obama's ideas and approach to progressivism will play out over decades to come. Th Bush I, Clinton and Bush II presidencies were devoid of new ideas for the most part. Instead they were either in reaction to Reaganism or a continuation of the anti-government zeitgeist.

I agree with others who believe the Obama administration heralds the next great alignment of American political discourse. Despite all of the attention paid to the tea party, the real majority is the Obama coalition.

The Obama administration is hard at work adapting rules and regulations for the modern America. An example is the rapid inclusion of GLBT acknowledgement in policy and cascading of DOMA decision throughout government. This can not be over estimated. And the end of the notion of pre-existing conditions limiting access to insurance is at hand. All of America potentially gets access to preventative care soon. We have a platform from which to build universal health care.

Not go overboard, but I believe the Obama administration is a miracle. I don't believe in miracles from a spiritual perspective. This is a miracle driven by the people. "We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change we seek."

[Hekate]

17. KnR. This is another good commentary

.... but since it's 1:00 in the ayem and I just totally nodded off at my keyboard, I think I'll have to finish this thread tomorrow. Thanks for all your comments so far.....

[Cha]

18. Glad you like it, too, Hekate~