Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

I honestly believe President Obama will have to end both wars to have a chance of getting re-elected

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » General Discussion: Presidency Donate to DU
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:30 AM
Original message
I honestly believe President Obama will have to end both wars to have a chance of getting re-elected
because it will be difficult to get re-elected if all he did was didn't.

Yes, he will get some credit for extending federal unemployment benefits, and he didn't raise middle class taxes, BUT.....

He didn't end the wars. This will have a significant negative bearing on Democratic voters and many Independent voters in 2012. We need every Democrat who voted in 2008 to come to the polls in 2012. Ending the wars would go a long ways toward making that happen.

He didn't put an end to Bush's taxcut handouts for the rich. This will have a significant negative bearing on many Democratic voters and some Independents. He won't gain a single vote for continuing Bush's taxcut policy because the Republicans will get credit for that, obviously, since they were the ones who concocted it. Yes, he'll get some votes from those who need their unemployment benefits extended and from poor Democrats & Independent people who didn't want to see their taxes go up, and he deserves to get those votes, but it won't be nearly enough to compensate for all the votes he will lose by not putting an end to Bush's obscene tax cuts for the rich.

He didn't go far enough on health care reform. It was a good start, but it's a watered-down version of what we were hoping to get.

He didn't go far enough to deal with global warming, and so on.

In many ways, he just didn't do enough to distinguish his own Democratic agenda from the the previous Republican agenda.

In 2012, if all he can say is that he didn't do this and he didn't do that, then how many swing votes is that going to get him?

Please, Mr President, end those wars if you want to have a fighting chance to win re-election. We cannot afford to have Republicans take over in 2012.

Most likely, the economy will not improve drastically before 2012, thanks to the war criminal, George W Bush. So, to have a chance of winning in 2012, I sincerely believe that President Obama is going to have to do something MAJOR so he can put it into his "did do" column. IMO, he has no choice but to end the wars to have any hopes for a second term. Otherwise, he might go down as the one-term president who was best known for what he didn't do, not for what he did.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Vinnie From Indy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:34 AM
Response to Original message
1. Hardly
If anything has become clear over the last two years, it is that huge corporate interests get served first and they get served exactly what they ordered. It would seem that Obama would endanger his chances in 2012 if he tried to stop these wars. Granted, many millions of liberals will hate it, but what are a bunch of purists and dope smokers gonna do about it?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #1
10. That's real cute equating Liberals to nothing more than "a bunch of purists & dope smokers"
If anything has become clear over the last two years, it is that huge corporate interests get served first and they get served exactly what they ordered. It would seem that Obama would endanger his chances in 2012 if he tried to stop these wars. Granted, many millions of liberals will hate it, but what are a bunch of purists and dope smokers gonna do about it?


Do you honestly think that Liberals are the only people who want to see the wars end? Gimme a fucking break.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Vinnie From Indy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:00 PM
Response to Reply #10
16. You should direct your outrage at those that have called us exactly that
And, that would be the Obama Administration which has described liberals as such over the last two years. Is that enough of a fucking break for ya?

Cheers!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
T Wolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:34 AM
Response to Original message
2. But you know that he will not end them. There is too much money being made by his
friends in the MIC to go against their wishes.

And unless he "wins" these wars, the pukes will label him as a coward and someone who lost the wars.

So he probably does not even see a way to "retreat with honor" if it matters at all.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:36 AM
Original message
If he doesn't end them, then I don't think he can win again for all the reasons I mentiioned
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
laugle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
36. He will never end the
wars; as he lacks the courage to deal with the aftermath......
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
3. I honestly believe
the that conflating all these things will have nothing to do with the President's re-election chances.

He didn't go far enough?

The Iraq withdrawal is on schedule for full withdrawal at the end of 2011, and he has already withdrawn combat troops.

The only thing that will matter in 2012 is the state of the economy and whether or not Americans seen an improvement.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
former9thward Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #3
32. How come soldiers are still dying in Iraq if he has withdrawn "combat" troops?
Just because they have been re-named does not mean their mission has changed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Willinois Donating Member (205 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:36 AM
Response to Original message
4. He made very significant progress on global warming.
The only way he could have done more is to get a cap-and-trade bill through the Senate. Most Americans can still understand when something is the fault of the Senate that it makes no sense to blame Obama.

He already ended one war. It will be politically difficult for him if he doesn't start to draw down troops from Afghanistan at least in early 2012.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:40 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. He didn't go far enough according to environmental activists
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #8
13. Enough of this
It's just unreasonable.

You do what you can on things like this.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Willinois Donating Member (205 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:51 PM
Response to Reply #8
25. I'm an environmental activist and I say he did great things that were within his power.
As I wrote, it makes no sense to blame Obama for the Senate's failure to pass an energy bill. Obama already did more to promote clean energy than the last five Presidents combined and he's pushing to do more.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Milo_Bloom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. What is sad is that the cap and trade bill could actually
solve many of the economic problems we face right now.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Willinois Donating Member (205 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:52 PM
Response to Reply #14
26. Rebuilding a green energy infrastructure is the best jobs plan anyone has come up with.
It's criminally stupid that the Senate failed to act.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DemocratSinceBirth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:36 AM
Response to Original message
5. Right
Because President Palin/Huckabee/ Pawlenty/Romney/Thune/Fill In The Blank will...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Proud Liberal Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. Exactly
Most Republicans are apoplectic that he set a timetable for our eventual withdrawal in Afghanistan. Anybody suggesting that he is not ending either conflicts is clearly not paying attention. The problem seems to be that he's not ending it on a "progressive" timetable however I don't think that people in general are upset at Obama about Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Exilednight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 05:32 PM
Response to Reply #5
34. /Fill In The Blank will...
not have to worry about their wealthy friends having to pay taxes, fight in wars, or robbing the middle and lower classes of their income as long as there is a President Obama.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
laugle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #5
37. Scott Brown???
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dokkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 06:12 PM
Response to Reply #5
38. its not about how
Pallain, Huckabee, Romney would manage the wars, its going to be impossible to win without the anti war votes who are probably going to stay home if he doesn't act soon to really end these wars. And ofc its very possible for an anti war libertarian to run as an independent candidate r even on the republican ticket.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bowens43 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:37 AM
Response to Original message
6. that won't be enough.
his only chance of re-election is if he is running against Palin. Then maybe.....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Crazy Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:37 AM
Response to Original message
7. He could run as a republican
Edited on Tue Dec-14-10 11:44 AM by Crazy Dave
He's been a great capitalist.

Most major corporations are having historic profits without creating any jobs, GM just got a $45 billion dollar tax break, BP got a slap on the wrist for all the destruction and deaths in the Gulf, we'll be forced to have medical insurance or pay a fine, still great to be Haliburton or a defense contractor, and if you are rich...now you can buy your spouse a Lexus for Christmas with a big red bow on it with your big fat tax break.

I really don't know why the right-wing calls Obama a socialist :shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
11. The average voter unfortuately doesn't care
Iraq is over unless you are going to torture the meaning in a way most voters don't accept.

Obama ran on continuing Afghanistan, so not ending that does not put him in any negative position.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AndrewP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 02:15 PM
Response to Reply #11
30. Bingo
They should. We all should. Most of us on DU do care.

But the average voter doesn't.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
stray cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
12. And be known for losing both wars and destroying both countries
I believe we should get out but not because it is a political winner
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #12
15. So you voted in 2008 for Obama to NOT end the wars?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Donald Ian Rankin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #15
44. You might want to (re)read the post you are replying to. N.T.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
thereismore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:01 PM
Response to Original message
17. He might have to escalate Afghanistan and invade Pakistan to get reelected. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jaxx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:13 PM
Response to Original message
18. He'll win on what he DID do.
* Signed executive orders to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ban torture and end the CIA’s secret overseas prisons and define treatment of Detainees.
* Reversed restrictions on stem cell research.
* Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Reducing discrimination based on gender, age, religion, or race.
* Signed an executive order reversing the ban that prohibits funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. Gag rule revoked (Mexico City policy).
* Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
* Creates the White House Council on Women and Girls "to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families."
* Signed a Presidental Memorandum extending federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers and announced support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.
* Reverses U.S. position on LGBT Issues at the UN: At the "Durban Review Conference," U.S. supports language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.”
* Signed the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 expanding health coverage for 250,000 children.
* Rescinded a Bush administration directive that effectively made it impossible for states to raise their eligibility limits under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) above 250 percent of the poverty level.
* Named Wilma Liebman as the next chairwoman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). As an NLRB member over the past eight years, Liebman challenged the Bush administration’s war on workers.
* Nominated Mark Pearce, a member of the New York State United Teachers union, and Craig Becker, current associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, to the to the National Labor Relations Board.
* Signed executive order requiring federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.
* Reversed a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.
* Signed executive order preventing federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.
* Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners.
* Expanded eligibility for the refinancing portion of the Making Home Affordable plan to help Americans struggling with distressed mortgages refinance at lower interest rates, even if they owe up to 25 percent more than their homes are now worth.
* Established a credit card "bill of rights".
* Expanded loan programs for small businesses.
* Extended and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.
* Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP).
* Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.
* Created a new White House task force on the problems of middle-class Americans, and installed Vice President Joe Biden as its chairman.
* Appoints Vice President Joe Biden to Oversee Stimulus Plan Payouts.
* Granted a reprieve to Liberian immigrants facing imminent expulsion.
* Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.
* Allowing Caskets to be photographed when the return from Iraq with family approval.
* Released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism.
* On Arab TV Network, Obama Urges Dialogue.
* Gave a speech in Cairo engaging the Muslim and Arab world.
* Bars independent contractors from conducting interrogations of terror suspects.
* Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba.
* Ordered the release of nearly a quarter of a million pages of records from the Reagan White House that were kept from the public during a lengthy review by President George W. Bush.
* Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.
* Released presidential records.
* Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
* Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors.
* Invites gay families to the Easter Egg Roll as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.
* Created a White House Office on Urban Policy.
* Increased funding for the NEA.
* Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy.
* Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.
* Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees.
* Investment in all types of alternative energy.
* Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars.
* Support for high-speed rail.
* Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.
* Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.
* Created the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers to help auto industry workers transition to new manufacturing opportunities, including jobs in alternative energy.
* Stop raids on medical marijuana dispensers.
* Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States, the first Hispanic to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
* Nominated Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States.
* Appointed more than 60 openly LGBT persons to positions in the executive branch.
* Issues Presidential Proclamation for Pride, proclaiming June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
* Signed a mercury reduction pact with 140 other nations.
* Signed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act to curb wasteful spending by the Pentagon. Intended to price contracts and budgets lower; may potentially save billions of dollars in defense.
* Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which serves to protect two million acres of land and creates a new system of land conservation for the Bureau of Land Management.
* Phase out government payments to crop producers making more than $500,000 a year and eliminates subsidies for cotton storage to help trim the U.S. budget deficit.
* Cut funding for a proposed U.S. nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain.
* Restored Endangered Species Act Provision requiring U.S. agencies consult with independent federal experts to determine if their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.
* Orders The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration "to protect and restore the health, heritage, natural resources, and social and economic value of the Nation's largest estuarine ecosystem and the natural sustainability of its watershed."
* Signed the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act designating two million additional acres of public wilderness areas the highest level of government protection from logging and other forms of commercial use and development.
* Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act which will expedite the search for cures and treatments for millions of Americans living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, Parkinson's and many other diseases and disorders.
* Established The Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, a new system for updating medical records of servicemen and women both during and after their military careers.
* Established the White House Office of Health Reform
* Created new and stronger safety standards to safeguard the country's food supply.
* Signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
* Overturned a 22-year-old travel and immigration ban against people with HIV.
* Extended the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program.
* Directed US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Proclamation. The UN treaty calls on all countries to guarantee equal benefits, protection, and justice for individuals with disabilities around the world.
* Largest increase in veterans funding ever - more than the VA had actually asked for.
* Signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act into law.
* Signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 into law.
* Signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act into law.
* Signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law.
* Signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act into law.
* Reversed the USA's negative global image in one fell swoop.
* Signed the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduces the disparity in the amounts of powder cocaine and crack cocaine required for the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences and eliminates the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.
* Signed into law the Small Business Jobs Bill that will help promote job creation and spur private-sector growth.
* Signed into law the most comprehensive financial regulatory overhaul since the Great Depression.
* Signed into law the Pigford/Cobell settlement funding bill.
* Signed into law Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ProudDad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #18
29. Nice list of incrementalist fluff and nonsense
Edited on Tue Dec-14-10 01:58 PM by ProudDad
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NYCGirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #29
33. This link is better:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
zulchzulu Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:19 PM
Response to Original message
19. When Obama becomes a monarch and doesn't have to deal with Congress and Senate, you might be happier
Until then, it's all about votes to get things passed. With Blue Dogs aligning with the Party of No, Obama has actually done a lot of incredibly good things considering the clusterfuck of Repiglified shit he inherited and who he has had to fight against.

I love that Bold feature!


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:21 PM
Response to Original message
20. Well recent polls show him leading all four leading GOP candidates in places like
Virginia and Ohio. Running well ahead in Minnesota and Michigan and running about even against them in North Carolina. And this at a low point in his presidency. If the economy is stronger in '12 it will be a blow out.

by the way these polls can be found on www.publicpolicypolling.com
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
EndElectoral Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:26 PM
Response to Original message
21. It would take the Repubs to nominate some extremist like Palin for Obama to have a shot
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:28 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Yup, I fully agree
that Palin is our biggest hope of re-election.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AtomicKitten Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:28 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. Pffft. That's ridiculous but clearly wishful thinking by some.
This thread is flypaper.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 12:31 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. then you're not paying attention or want to ignore it because
most polls indicate Obama is leading ALL GOP candidates mentioned and in key states like Ohio and Virginia. Compare that to Reagan who was trailing Mondale by 7-points in a January, 1983 Gallup Poll.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ProudDad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 01:29 PM
Response to Original message
27. Both of the obvious "wars" are only symptoms
of the "Permanent War Economy(tm)"...

The conquest of the corporate state and the Military Industrial Complex...

And neither Obama or the Dems have the desire, principles or courage to end it...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 01:56 PM
Response to Original message
28. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Ter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 03:22 PM
Response to Original message
31. Neither war will be ended under Obama
He may lie and call it something else, but there will still be 10's of 1,000's of troops left in both countries in two years. We're not the anti-war party anymore. In fact, I have a feeling the GOP will beat us to it one day soon and be the party against war, as more and more neo-cons are losing primaries to tea baggers.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JoePhilly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 05:37 PM
Response to Original message
35. Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet???
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
robcon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 06:23 PM
Response to Original message
39. I think the president is in a strong position to get re-elected.
He'll capture most independents, like he did in '08, because of the tax cut deal.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-10 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #39
40. I think he WAS in a strong position to get re-elected and may have blown it
by making Bush's agenda his own agenda with the two main issues: the war and taxes.

He'll capture most independents, like he did in '08, because of the tax cut deal.


How's he going to do that when he'll have to campaign in 2012 on the premise that the tax cuts are going to expire...again?

Don't forget, the extension is supposedly for two more years, and then he's supposed to call an end to them, not that I believe anything anymore. Still, if he follows through on his promise to end them in 2012, that won't sit well with Independents. This tax deal he made is going to come back to haunt him.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 10:59 AM
Response to Original message
41. You didn't pay attention. (nt)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 04:41 PM
Response to Reply #41
47. No you did. (nt)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
polichick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 11:05 AM
Response to Original message
42. This prez won't touch the mic or any of the other powers-that-be. Like those before him...
...he will hide behind a smile while the American people are robbed of every last cent and scintilla of hope.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Donald Ian Rankin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 03:07 PM
Response to Original message
43. Whereas I think ending either would probably harm him electorally.
When the American forces leave Iraq and Afghanistan, what follows will not be pretty, and most of the blame will attach to the person who took them out rather than the one who sent them in.

If electoral advantage were the primary motivation behind Obama's military policy, his best option would be to continue both occupations indefinately.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 04:35 PM
Response to Reply #43
45. It's sad how so many only care about the political fallout from stopping the war or their tax breaks
instead of standing up for (what used to be) Democratic principles. As far as the tax breaks, i don't mean you, personally. But to worry about the political consequences of him ending Bush's war instead of worrying about all of the people overseas who are being severely impacted by the war is a little bit selfish, IMO.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Donald Ian Rankin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 04:45 PM
Response to Reply #45
48. As far as I can tell, you're accusing Obama of doing that and I'm not.

I specifically chose the phrasing "*If* electoral advantage *were*" his main concern - I don't think that it should be, and I don't think that it will be (although I suspect it will influence him somewhat).

I don't know how much influence you think electoral advantage *should* have on Obama's military policy, but your OP fairly heavily implies that you think it *will* exercise a great deal.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #45
49. So worrying about political consequences is fine when you do it, but not otherwise.
Fine double standard you have.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 05:47 PM
Response to Reply #49
51. Don't get political consequences mixed up with traditional Democratic standards.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Donald Ian Rankin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-17-10 03:38 PM
Response to Reply #51
53. Isn't that rather what your OP was doing? N.T.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
vaberella Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 04:41 PM
Response to Original message
46. You realize on Afghanitsan helped him get reelected...right?!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #46
50. Oh yeah, I forgot he already got elected to a second term. Thanks for the reminder.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
vaberella Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-15-10 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #50
52. ~sigh~ obviously it was a typo. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 10th 2024, 07:18 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » General Discussion: Presidency Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC