Three actions by the President that put me solidly in his corner

[bigtree]

The first is his keeping to his promise to withdraw our troops from Iraq.

Supporters and critics alike have focused in on the societal and political challenges Iraq faces - both in the aftermath of a U.S. exit, and in the occupied nation's unstable present - and warned that an explosion of civil unrest and violence could spill into neighboring countries and ignite the Mideast in a wave of turmoil and strife, prompting the President to renege on his withdrawal pledge promising all troops out by the end of 2011.

Yet, President Obama has repeatedly stressed that politics in Iraq are for Iraqis to muddle through on their own. Recognizing that there will always be political and societal challenges and difficulties facing the Iraqis, the president has said in recent weeks that he is, nonetheless, committed to a full withdrawal on schedule.

"Understand this," President Obama had told troops (and Americans) listening as he introduced his exit plan, "We will not let the pursuit of the perfect stand in the way of achievable goals . . . We cannot rid Iraq of every single individual who opposes America or sympathizes with our adversaries. We cannot police Iraq's streets indefinitely until they are completely safe, nor can we stay until Iraq's union is perfect."

If he continues to pull troops out on schedule (as I believe he will) President Obama will have fulfilled one of my most engaging and consuming pursuits over the past eight years. He deserves my support as he works toward his stated goal of ending the Iraq occupation.

__________________

Secondly, the President's announcement that he will drastically cut back and postpone several projects in our space program - including the planned mission to the Moon and Mars - citing economic concerns, is right in line with my own objections that I expressed when he first announced his intention as candidate to continue to pursue those space projects to completion.

It should be remembered that there is no pot of money sitting around unneeded to dip into for these space projects. No starry-eyed mission to the moons of Jupiter can be sustained without the military bonanza of nervous cash; and you can't easily turn this industry off once you've given them the money and license to fiddle. There's no question that our need to prioritize our expenditures in a way which protects entitlements and our other financial obligations is being challenged by the weak economy. But, that's just one concern . . .

Former NASA chief, former Navy Secretary Sean O'Keefe said soon after Bush appointed him to head the space agency that, "I don't think we have a choice, I think it's imperative that we have a more direct association between the Defense Department and NASA. Technology has taken us to a point where you really can't differentiate between that which is purely military in application and those capabilities which are civil and commercial in nature."

The (unproven) nuclear propulsion technology that future Mars/Jupiter missions would employ was intended to demonstrate in ground tests the technology required for space reactor power systems which would power space lasers based on space-platforms to defend our military and commercial satellites. The nuclear reactor would also utilize new blends of "recycled" uranium fuel.

The main impetus behind our militarization of space through the introduction of space-based lasers is the Pentagon's desire to protect and defend our GPS (global positioning) satellites against an attack by a rouge nation (they presume China). They further want the capability to attack the Glosnass satellite positioning system which happens to be shared by China and Russia.

It's my hope that the limiting moves by President Obama signal a reversal of the Bush/Cheney approach which had threatened to ignite a new Cold War in space.

____________

Lastly, I am extremely grateful for President Obama's moves to eliminate Yucca mountain from any further consideration as a site for the storage of the nation's spent nuclear fuels.

At the end of January, the President announced that he would zero out funding for Yucca Mountain and "take steps" to withdraw the project's pending license application. Those moves would effectively end the long struggle to protect the sacred mountain from becoming a potentially leaky nuclear dump.

Pres. Obama's coming budget showed: "The Department of Energy’s Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management will be merged into the Office of Nuclear Energy. As part of the merger, funding for the proposed Yucca Mountain project will be eliminated and the Department will take steps to withdraw the license application in the near future. This reflects the Administration's commitment to pursuing a responsible, long-term strategy through the appointment of a high-level Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future.“

The land doesn't belong to the federal government:

Date: 1863
Title: Treaty With The Western Shoshone, 1863
Excerpt from the still-relevent treaty:
http://www.citizenalert.org/fctshts/rubyvall.html

"The 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley recognizes Western Shoshone homelands. For years, the U.S. has been claiming the area as federal lands and allowing massive corporate exploitation. One company, highlighted in the new report is Bechtel Corporation. Bechtel originated in Nevada and gained a foothold by its involvement in construction of the Hoover Dam. Bechtel's presence is now felt heavily across Western Shoshone lands. The company, through Bechtel Nevada, manages the Nevada Test Site and the Counterterrorism facility which conduct nuclear, biological and chemical weapons construction and testing on Western Shoshone ancestral lands."

The nuclear waste will never find a permanent home. That is why it is so important to keep this administration and others) and industry cronies from unnecessarily producing more than can be safely and reasonably stored or converted. But, Yucca Mountain, a high ridge near the Nevada Test Site, is a place of deep spiritual and religious significance to the Western Shoshone and Pauite tribes, a place where the people gathered and continue to gather traditionally in the spring and fall to worship.

President Obama has a lifelong friend in me for shutting this nuclear waste project down.


In fact, all three of these concerns which have been addressed by this new president give me reason and hope to be optimistic for the future of his administration. These decisions and efforts demonstrate a sincere concern for the welfare of our nation, our environment, and our responsibility to the world community. I further hope that these actions and decisions can be compounded by even more progressive changes in the months and years ahead.

[LWolf]

1. Three actions by the president that put me on the front lines of opposition:

1. His appointment of Arne Duncan and escalation of the war on public education. As an educator, this is enough. I don't need another 2 issues; I'm already at war.

2. His escalation of the war on terror: I've been against it, including afghanistan, since the beginning. I recognize a "dumb" war when I see it.

3. His refusal to support authentic health care reform, and his insistence on putting insurance companies before people.

There are more, but these three will do.

[bigtree]

2. good points of opposition

I mostly concur (except as support-breakers)

[Catshrink]

22. I could not agree more.

Maybe add fighting the windmill of bipartisanship (psst, Obama, it ain't gonna happen!).

[LWolf]

33. It's a good way to avoid actual positive change though, isn't it? nt

[Juche]

38. He ran on expanding the war in Afghanistan

I disagree on no. 2. He ran on a policy of taking the military out of Iraq and putting more in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region, where Al Qaeda actually is. He never ran on getting out of Afghanistan.

[LWolf]

43. What do you disagree with?

He certainly did run on a policy of escalating Afghanistan, which is one of the reasons why I vehemently opposed his nomination.

[AllentownJake]

3. Four reasons why he has lost me

1) Lack of prosecutions for the financial shenanigans of 2007-2009. You have a report issued by a commission that AIG committed fraud, Goldman Sachs activities have been well documented, and now there is a Lehman's report. The only person with any balls in this country appears to be Cuomo who decided to investigate Bank of America's actions during the crisis.

2) The war in Afghanistan. Al Quaeda left that area years ago. Their President is corrupt, and we are in an economic downturn. More blood and treasure just doesn't seem the right course.

3) Health Care Reform. A total reversal of everything he campaigned on in the primary and general election. Back room deals, no public options, and insurance mandates. Ridiculous.

4) The attacks on the public education system by his Education Secretary. Pick a Madfloridan thread of your choice for that.

[bigtree]

4. I still hold out hope for each of your four concerns

. . . although I think you are on spot with your objections. I'm not at the point where I don't believe the President can (or is willing to) influence each of your areas of concern to more positive outcomes.

[AllentownJake]

10. Thank you

For acknowledging my concerns. I don't think he's 100% awful, but those are the big issues of our day, and is what history is going to judge him on.

[Dinger]

13. I Concur (nt)

[Mari333]

17. I agree and ditto, also....

the occupation of Iraq

it is an illegal, illegitimate enterprise!!!


why is it still being touted as legitimate????? why is it not being viewed as a WAR CRIME

because NO ONE will investigate it as a WAR CRIME, a pre emptive attack on people who did NOTHING to us...a pre emptive attack to secure OIL contracts..

where is the outrage??? this admin. says it wont do a damned thing about it

it is being treated as tho it is still legitimate, as tho its a done deal, as tho we have a right to be there

and he intend fully on keeping troops there, our kids, for a long long time, including how many mercenaries??

Where in the world is the outrage over this as an WAR CRIME???



He lost me a long time ago.

[ReverendDeuce]

5. Iraq for me was not a huge issue...

Why? Because I knew it would draw down. It had to.

As far as NASA, I couldn't disagree more. More money into the space program, please!

I agree that the Yucca thing is good, but Obama has lost me on so many other issues... Health care being the biggest.

[bigtree]

7. I mostly credit the election for the drawdown

. . . and for that, credit flows to the President as he keeps to his word.

I thought I understood that NASA has had its budget increased, despite the change in priorities.

I can't hold the President personally responsible for the godawful way Congress has managed their legislative role. I attribute some blame to the President for resisting using a more heavy-handed approach on issues like the 'public option', but It's really this Democratic-led Congress which has allowed so many objectionable parties to influence their bills.

[NightWatcher]

6. less in Iraq more in Afghanistan. privatizing nasa missions, no Yucca but "clean coal" instead?

Dead is Dead is Dead if you are a soldier or a family member of a soldier it doesnt matter if he gets killed in Afghanistan or Iraq or Pakistan or...

So he reduces the number of combat troops in Iraq but increases the numbers in Afghanistan?

______
We have benefited greatly from space exploration and NASA's missions over the past fifty years, but now we are going to start privatizing more and more NASA operations? Havent we seen what happens when we start privatizing things left and right? I'm not in favor of wasting money on missions to the moon, but maybe if we werent spending so much on warS we could have a little more money left over for scientific research.


______

Yay, Obama decided to dump Yucca Mountain as a one stop storage location for nuclear waste, but he pumps money and support into "Clean coal" technologies. There is nothing clean about coal. Why not throw support and millions behind alternative clean energies?
Still permits for mountain top removal coal operations are expanding like mad
_____________________

I just dont feel like much has changed in DC and that's why I'm not so solidly in his corner.

[bigtree]

9. I think it's still a bit early in his administration

. . . to make a definitive measure of 'change'.

I take your point about the escalation of the Afghan occupation and the moot effect it has on the Iraq drawdown . . . but it's still going to be one less occupation and I'm grateful for that. Anti-occupation of Afghanistan was always a harder case to make for advocates. You can see that among members of our own party. I'm encouraged by the President's adherence to his stated plan to disengage from Iraq, in the 'handover' of security he's promised in Afghanistan. it's still very far from what I'm advocating, but I do have optimism for an eventual letting go of the Afghanistan pipe dreams when I see this president's willing and deliberate move away from the military's Iraq prize.

We still have time to work on the mountain-top removal, and 'clean-coal' initiatives will need to be defended against in Congress. I haven't given up that fight yet . . .

[NightWatcher]

12. early yes, but his direction appears set.

Very Corporate-Friendly which translates to People-Unfriendly, Environment-Unfriendly,....

He has bailed out the banks and the large companies while letting millions of little people fail. He seems ok with letting education fall by the wayside. He signs on with Clean coal because they've got the big bucks. Healthcare "reform" has been a lame fuckaround....

Sure, it's early, but he's taken a path that leads down to a dark place. He's got less than three years if he keeps this up before 2012 and 2010 is looking like he will lose the majority in Congress (like what has he done with this majority).

[Toots]

8. Obama gave an impassioned speech on how important it was to try terrorist within the USA

Then he flipped on that, making everything he said previously questionable. How are we supposed to believe anything he says when he changes his mind every time the GOP says too. When the GOP says jump Obama just asks "How High" "Beginning on Day One"..."One Brigade a Month" .."I support a Public Option" As long as you are there to tell us when he means what he says and when he is just talking to hear himself talk, all will be fine and dandy..

[salguine]

11. Statements of intent are not "actions". This has become especially glaring with Barack Obama.

[bigtree]

14. promises kept

The Obameter Scorecard (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/)

* Promise Kept 96

* Compromise 33

* Promise Broken 16

* Stalled 84

* In the Works 272

* Not yet rated 2


Promise Kept rulings on the Obameter: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-kept/

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

35. 5 of the promises kept on your link involve increased funding for space exploration.

I thought you said he cut that.

[bigtree]

42. I'm sure there are plenty 'promises kept' that I disagree with (or some will reverse)

. . . this, on the exploration cutbacks:

Nasa experts scale back moon and Mars plans in face of Obama funding cut fears

US space experts are downsizing plans to send astronauts back to the moon and possibly to Mars amid fears of funding cuts by the Obama administration.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/5760285/Nasa-experts-scale-back-moon-and-Mars-plans-in-face-of-Obama-funding-cut-fears.html


and this, before, from the campaign . . .

"Human spaceflight is important to America's political, economic, technological, and scientific leadership. Barack Obama will support renewed human exploration beyond low earth orbit. He endorses the goal of sending human missions to the Moon by 2020, as a precursor in an orderly progression to missions to more distant destinations, including Mars."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/5760285/Nasa-experts-scale-back-moon-and-Mars-plans-in-face-of-Obama-funding-cut-fears.html

[Dinger]

19. Yes, Actions Do Speak A Helluva Lot Louder Than Words (nt)

[fascisthunter]

15. bigtree... although I in disapproval of Obama's actions thus far

I appreciate your candor and the way you address those that disagree with you.

[bigtree]

21. fascisthunter,

thank you for your kind words.

[Marr]

16. Those are incredibly niche issues, with the exception of

drawing down forces in Iraq. And even that point becomes a wash when you note that he's increased forces in Afghanistan.

I don't see how these issues could put anyone 'solidly in' his corner, while the strikes against him are immense and systemic. Bank bailouts, the HCR scam, etc., etc.

[bigtree]

20. simple explanation

I recognize the limits of this president or any other in influencing policy or politics from their position in the Executive branch. The issues I've outlined, which have generated my 'solid' support, are ones which I have long advocated for (to a rather exclusive degree) and which I feel the President has supreme influence.

Congress, on the other hand, has a more concrete role in crafting legislation which I think deserves most of the criticism and scorn for their unnecessary compromises of Democratic principle and initiatives. I want an independent legislature. I think the president has been mostly correct in his role. I really expect more offered the White House to work with from Congress. After all, I believe the Executive's main role (outside of their 'bully pulpit') is in their enactment and defense of the laws Congress decides and advances for his (or her) signature.

By no means am I suggesting these should be some rallying point for support in general, rather, this is just a view of my own dedication to the support of this President and this administration as I press so many of my objections to their policy here.

[Forkboy]

18. I disagree with #2 because we don't spend the money on the things we need anyways.

People always cite economic concerns against the space program, but until someone proves to me that the money they don't spend on space exploration will actually go to something other than more weapons and wars I don't buy it. Let's cut the war budget instead and use THAT money to help people in these tough economic times.

K&R for a positive post though. :)

[bigtree]

24. I'm split

. . . between the impetus toward commercial space and the defense of the government subsidies. I realize the space program couldn't survive or prosper as it has without a flow of government cash, but I'm completely turned off when I see the tentacles of the military in almost every aspect of the space program. Now, I really haven't had the resource to assess this administration's priorities in space, but these seemingly benign programs are often corrupted and compromised by the very same MIC influences that fuel and perpetuate the worst of our nation's militarism. I'm just not going to be a fan until I'm convinced that the 'exploration' initiatives of the space program are sufficiently segregated from opportunistic defense priorities. In that, I'm actually coming around to encouraging private investment, backed by some public assistance. The point where I'm torn again is the manner in which our military describes their commitment to 'defend' commercial space along with their own military objectives.

Anyway, after all my rambling . . . :)

[Zoeisright]

23. One huge reason I like him:

Getting rid of the cruel and stupid limits on stem cell research put there by repuke idiots.

[bigtree]

25. that's understandable

. . . especially if you or someone you're concerned about is desperately searching for a cure to one of the illnesses they're researching the stem cells for.

[Wizard777]

26. He's also taking on Corporate America as promised. He's also getting his clock cleaned.

We really should be trying to prop him up to keep him fighting instead of trying to help Insurance companies, Pharmco's, Banks and Investment brokers tear him down.

[NJmaverick]

27. K & R

[bvar22]

28. You're pretty easy to please.

The Withdrawal Schedule Obama is following was "negotiated" by George Bush in the US-Iraq SOFA 2008.
If you are going to praise Obama for this, you must also praise Bush the Lesser.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.-Iraq_Status_of_Forces_Agreement

The withdrawal of troops is good, but the most damning component of the SOFA is that it forces the privatizationof Iraqi Oil on the Iraqi People.
We will leave, but ONLY after you give your OIL to the Global Corporations
SEE?..It WAS all about the Oil after all, and Obama agrees.

It is also more than a little deceptive. There will be a continued 30,000 - 50,000 US Military presence and nobody knows how many armed Military "Contractors. THis is a far cry from "End the WAR and bring the troops home".
Iraq WILL continue to be a HUGE (and unaffordable) drain on the US Economy for decades under Obama's (George Bush's) Plan unless someone steps in and says "No More".

The other two items I agree with, but are relatively minor on my scale of what it takes for my continued support. These "good" items have been far outweighed by the "bad".
I don't have to list them here, unless you want me to.

[bigtree]

29. I don't believe Bush would have honored his own 'agreement'

. . . and I think he only made one because of the political pressure from the strong Democratic campaign and the political pressure from our party. The 'privatization' of the Iraqi economy actually was done by the 'interim' government of Chalabi. The 'oil' benefit from our military action has been all OPEC's from the suppression of Iraq's bucking their market, not so much U.S. oil companies.

The 'mercenaries and contractors will soon be Iraq's responsibility. ALL troops are scheduled to be out by the end of 2011. The speculation that some significant amount of troops will remain is NOT part of the President's stated plan and has not manifested itself in any visible or concrete form.

And, as far as 'minor' issues go, I think we ALL have issues which we care deeply about and work to effect or change. You may well have a nobler list, but these are what will keep me in the President's camp. You need to make your own choices. of course.

[bvar22]

30. Prepare to be disappointed:

" At issue: Obama plans to leave between 35,000 to 50,000 residual forces in the war-torn country, serving in a training or advisory role to the Iraqi military.

All U.S. troops have to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, under an agreement the Bush administration signed with the Iraqi government last year. There are currently 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, indicated earlier this week that the residual force Obama is planning to leave in Iraq is too large"

.

But take heart, Obama also said he didn't run on a Public Option, and that he opposed "Mandates",
So there isn't really any way of knowing WHAT he is going to do.
Your guess is as good as mine.

[bigtree]

31. I don't know where you got that quote from but it's not what the president has said

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Iraqis Sunday for braving violence to vote in a parliamentary election, praising Iraqi security forces and repeating his end-2011 deadline for removing all U.S. troops from the country.

“As expected, there were some incidents of violence as al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists tried to disrupt Iraq’s progress by murdering innocent Iraqis who were exercising their democratic rights,” Obama told reporters at the White House, praising Iraqis for going to vote.

“But overall the level of security and the prevention of destabilizing attacks speaks to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi security forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls,” he said.

“We will continue with the responsible removal of the United States forces from Iraq,” Obama said, repeating that the U.S. combat mission would conclude at the end of August.

“We will continue to advise and assist Iraqi security forces, carry out targeted counterterrorism operations with our Iraqi partners and protect our forces and civilians. And by the end of the next year, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq,” he said.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Obama+keeps+troop+withdrawal+plan+after+Iraq+poll/2651975/story.html
_______________________________

it's a planned drawdown . . . in stages.

from the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy

By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end and Iraqi Security Forces will have full responsibility for major combat missions. After August 31, 2010, the mission of United States forces in Iraq will fundamentally change. Our forces will have three tasks: train, equip, and advise the Iraqi Security Forces; conduct targeted counterterrorism operations; and provide force protection for military and civilian personnel. The President intends to keep our commitment under the Status of Forces Agreement to remove all of our troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

[butterfly77]

41. Yes,because of republicon..

and bluedog meddling because they don't want anyone messing with monies that they receive in one way or the other they make the laws so they no where to invest it..

[Number23]

32. What a nice thread. It's interesting that some people's response to your thread stating

the reasons why you LIKE Obama is to automatically give reasons for why they DISLIKE him. Almost as if the idea that people here would support this President must be "qualified" in some way.

Very interesting. And very telling.

[bigtree]

34. heh

This thread is as good an outlet as any, I guess, for folks to highlight their dissent. I'm satisfied that folks can see the outline and depth of my support for the President, and, hopefully, measure my frequent criticisms of the administration's actions and statements against that solid support for this Democratic presidency.

[treestar]

36. There you go being reasonable

We can't have that on DU! Tombstone!

:sarcasm:

[Juche]

37. All in all, he is decent

He has kept the vast majority of promises he made during the campaign.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

And he has subtly shifted the consensus to be more pro-worker and anti-supply side. There have been numerous new taxes on the wealthy, eliminations of subsidies for the wealthy or attempts to put new taxes on the wealthy (wealthy individuals or corporations) to fund programs for the middle class.



My biggest regret is that he isn't pushing for financial reform and accountability. W/o meaningful financial reform we will have another massive economic collapse down the road.

[bigtree]

39. I like the Polifact site

It has the necessary, relevant links to back up it's assertions.

I think the President is regulation-minded enough to press Congress beyond the present debate which has sucked all of the air out of Washington. We'll keep pressing our representatives . . .

[butterfly77]

40. What irritates me is the people...

who are so angry about the withdrawal issues in both countries. They act like Obama was suppose to say we are leaving tommorrow,as though he didn't need to access the situations after Bush. Any President would have to create a plan.


Now,concerning NASA a lot of people on the payroll for years think that everyone else has to take some kind of cut but they don't and they are just the same as the military industrial complex. We don't need a lot of these projects just like we don't need many of those weapons. The other day I saw some little boy in the media complaining about budget cuts in NASA. These people will do anything to get what they want.

A lot of these projects are just welfare just like the subsidies that farmers get and corporations.