2009-12-06

Eyebrow Raising Comments

Pretty astonishing stuff I heard on the McLaughlin Group this morning.

It comes by, not surprisingly, from Newsweek's Eleanor Clift. I don't think I've ever heard her utter a critical assessment of the Democratic party - ever. She may as well take Press Secretary Robert Gibbs job at this point.

She said, of Obama's speech at West Point, she didn't consider the rhetoric about the real danger of Al-Queda/Taliban getting the bomb to be "fear-mongering" by the President. Why? Because he apparently arrived at the same conclusions as Bush by methodically and carefully examining the issues by listening to all people involved in the fight. If Bush had said it, she would have dismissed it as fear-mongering. Of course, suggesting his conclusions, although the exact same carbon copy as Obama's, was somehow decided at the spur of the moment over chocolate milk.

Hm.

Think about this for a second.

Look at the logic.

Basically, they really believed Bush was too stupid to make any intelligent and rational or coherent decisions on Pakistan or Afghanistan. But, Obama, that's different. He sat down and listened to everyone. He was being prudent! What, did he think (or believe) he was going to hear something different from what was already clearly known about America's enemies? Was he hoping to find the Bush administration in some sort of lie he can pin on them?

Nonsense.

Bush was right all along. It didn't take a genius to figure that out. His administration, hate them all you want, was bang on when it came to assessing the war on terrorism. They didn't reach this realization on 9/11. The United States of America knew about all this for decades but it just wasn't a priority for whatever reasons. It's just that 9/11 forced it up the ladder of importance in foreign policy matters.

***

Mort Zuckerman also made a weird claim supported by Pat Buchanan. To the question whether Obama errored in not inviting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business to the "Job Summit" he argued it wasn't a big deal. Apparently, they paternalistically posited there were "more than enough" businesspeople there and "many great ideas were presented." Or along those lines anyway.

I'm sure this is true. Those people aren't stupid. They, Zuckeman included, actually made some coin. Butt hat's not the point.


Personally, I hate when self-annointed people I didn't sign a proxy sheet for or voted in speak on my behalf. I want to be at the table. I want to be heard.

Oh, let us all bow down because the elite came up with some ideas for the rest of the business classes! Let's put it this way. There's a sports summit. Hockey, basketball, football, baseball, tennis, rugby, cricket and lacrosse were all invited to save sports. But volleyball wasn't invited. No big deal because the rest of them came up with a solution even though volleyball may have had a different take or idea.

Yes, it was ridiculous to not invite them. Is it a "serious" mistake? Probably not. Life goes on. A day in the life of politics.

Of course, scratch a politician and you find political bull shit behind a decision. Apparently, both non-invitees have been a vocal opponent of Obamacare. We can't have that! So, out you go! Just another, silly, frivolous political game by a man who promised "change."

5 comments:

  1. I must admit that I am getting somewhat disappointed with Obama. At the beginning he had to follow through on the momentum created by the previous administration, all successors do. But over time you come to change, slowly, but change nonetheless what was going before you and put your stamp on things. Of course you know full well that your successor will undo part, if not all, that you have done...but that is life.
    Onama's quest for conscensus will be his undoing if he does not quickly set his foot down and pursue is announced agenda. That is what he was elected for and so far he does not deliver.

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  2. The consensus thing is over rated. To pull that off you need to master how the game is played in Washington and I'm not sure he has. He has no experience and it shows.

    Even within his messages there seems to be mixed messages. It's nice to be nuanced and thoughtful (he's no dummy) but can he be decisive?

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  3. Yes.

    By the way, shhhhh!

    If you criticize this administration you run the risk of being called a racist or right-wing nut!

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  4. I'll run the risk.

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