Searching in Vain for the Obama Magic

[emilyg]

Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America's new strategy for Afghanistan. It seemed like a campaign speech combined with Bush rhetoric -- and left both dreamers and realists feeling distraught.

One can hardly blame the West Point leadership. The academy commanders did their best to ensure that Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama's speech would be well-received.


Just minutes before the president took the stage inside Eisenhower Hall, the gathered cadets were asked to respond "enthusiastically" to the speech. But it didn't help: The soldiers' reception was cool.

One didn't have to
.....http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,664753,00.html

[polichick]

1. Reminded me of those awful videos where hostages try to sound okay. nt

[AndyA]

2. It was not one of his better efforts.

Neither is the decision to surge.

[onehandle]

3. They look pretty happy in these photos...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x31250

And on edit, that Der Spiegel article is pretty much just a slanted opinion piece.

[Cha]

4. These photos make a lie of the OP.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x31250

<snip>

"West Point Cadets React to the President's Speech"

West Point cadets discuss what it meant to have Obama announce his plan in person, and say they are ready to join his mission ...Several West Point cadets in the audience at President Obama's speech announcing a troop surge in Afghanistan told POLITICO they were ready to join the president's mission and talked about what it meant to have Obama announce his plan in person.

"Me and my classmates have come here to West Point knowing full well that this is going to last a long time," Jon Schleef, class of 2011, said. "I think everyone here knows that we?re going end up going over there, maybe, in one form or another. It's just really refreshing that he came all the way out here to tell us, to be direct with us."

Taneshina Wright of Las Vegas, who will graduate in May, said it was an honor to have Obama speak at West Point, the oldest military academy in the country.

"I received the order from him in person," she said. "He made the decision and it's my job to go out there and make it happen."

West Point's 2010 class president, Arron Conley, said the months Obama took to arrive at this strategy gave him confidence.

"I was even more assured," Conley said, "that his course of action was the best course of action for the war in Afghanistan."

"I'm in full support of the decision," he added. "My role is not to advocate policy but to execute it."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/1209/cadets_rea...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x32115

And, thanks for posting them earlier, onehandle.

[ClarkUSA]

5. Good thing Pres. Obama didn't listen to Hillary's advice since she backed up Gen. McChrystal, eh?

Cat got your tongue? :rofl: