Obama, in his by now familiar ham-handed way, is attacking McCain for being too old, for being out of touch, for not being computer literate. Set aside the appalling ignorance of the last point–McCain’s injuries under torture do not permit him to type, thereby reprising Biden’s gaffe of a couple of days before, when he called upon a man in a wheelchair to stand up for a round of applause–and we’re left with a campaign that says ‘vote for me because i’m the young guy.’
Paradoxically, Obama is in some ways more a victim of age than McCain, although of a different sort. Obama is an advocate of ideas that have aged to the point of dementia. He’s an old-fashioned radical, and the leftist ideas that inspire him are no longer relevant to our world. As Hegel used to say, the world changes, and the ideas that once described reality, and could be used to effectively change it when necessary, no longer apply to the changed world. Obama’s political ideas have aged, which is why they have no policy saliency. They’re just words, fossilized remnants of a civilization that no longer exists.
Once upon a time, Obama’s vision of “change”–which is based on class structure and top-down collective enterprises–was not only contemporary but exciting. It inspired a generation of Americans to create the welfare state. But then the welfare state aged, and now, in the wild-west world of globalization, instant communication, the blogosphere and so forth, it is very old hat. The ideas are still hanging around, however.
Bill Clinton understood that, and since he wasn’t really committed to any particular political agenda aside from his own success, he was able to grab many of his opponents’ ideas and use them. I remember poor Bob Dole complaining that Clinton was stealing his ideas, and he was right.
Obama doesn’t get that, I suspect because he really believes those old, now-failed ideas. He can’t bring himself to say that the collectivist projects of the sort he promoted in Chicago are bad for the poor, although when pressed he ootches toward more sensible positions (as when, in Saddleback, he confessed that he had probably been a bit too negative about welfare reform). We’ve all noticed that Obama keeps moving toward McCain’s positions on many issues, even on the basic one: the war.
If you hold ideas that no longer work (and indeed don’t even explain anything contemporary), it’s hard to conduct an inspirational political campaign, and Obama, like almost all the other Democrats, is stuck with the knowledge that he’s going to lose most of the policy debates. But he still wants to win. And the only way he CAN win is to destroy his opponents, which is the strategy the left is pursuing, ever more frantically.
In the past few days, the polls have suggested that the Democrats may not only fail to gain the glorious victory they’ve been confidently anticipating for the past two years, but things may actually go against them in November. It would not surprise me. They have become the ultimate reactionaries, they cannot explain the world or suggest sensible ways to improve it. If the voters recognize this, they will take their chances with the mavericks. Holding their noses, to be sure, but they’ll do it.
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65 Comments
1. Alireza:I seriously believe the above post IS NOT by Dr. Ledeen, I believe someone got access to his password and posted this commentary. So at this point I will not go into pointing out how OFF are his comments about Obama. So I’ll wait a little more to get some sort of confirmation that indeed this is Dr. Ledeen’s real thinking and then I respond.
Sep 13, 2008 - 8:56 am 2. Jack Okie:Alireza:
We’ll all be waiting with bated breath, to then hang on every word! Thanks for alerting us!
Sep 13, 2008 - 10:37 am 3. Obama is Old : The New Nixon: News and Commentary about the President, his Times, and his Legacy:[...] AEI (American Enterprise Institute) explains that Obama’s use of aegism against McCain is a symptom of his affliction with idealogical dementia and a stubborn stance against the momentum of history: Obama doesn’t [...]
ML: I am now at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, no longer at AEI.
Sep 13, 2008 - 1:57 pm 4. Alireza:OK, let’s start, and I mean starting with STATING RECORDED FACTS vs. and made-up things:
“…Obama’s vision of “change”–which is based on class structure and top-down collective enterprises–was not only contemporary but exciting.”
This is categorically and FACTUALLY a false statement. You know it so well that Obama’s approach has always been from BOTTOM UP and not what you stated.
“Bill Clinton understood that, and since he wasn’t really committed to any particular political agenda aside from his own success, he was able to grab many of his opponents’ ideas and use them.”
Promising FACT is:
ALL major supporters of Bill Clinton, they indeed find the real person who can inherit Clinton legacy and leadership is Obama, but they also believe he is much much more inclusive than Bill C.
“If you hold ideas that no longer work (and indeed don’t even explain anything contemporary), it’s hard to conduct an inspirational political campaign, and Obama, like almost all the other Democrats, is stuck with the knowledge that he’s going to lose most of the policy debates. …”
Who is saying this? After almost 8 years of TOTAL 1000% ABSOLUTE INCOMPETENCE at GED level BOTH in International and domestic policies of Republicans, you are making such an unbelievable statement! Let me get my breath….
“They have become the ultimate reactionaries, they cannot explain the world or suggest sensible ways to improve it…”
And you want to tell me that the last 8 years of Bush and Republicans were able to know the De Vinci codes and yet they have been moving U.S. back for at least 15+ years and giving more powers to dictators around the world!!!
I still believe this post is not by you and someone took over your password and posted these shocking comments. Please come back and say so.
Sep 13, 2008 - 7:56 pm 5. Pajamas Media » Maybe It’s Obama Who’s Too Old to Be President:[...] Read the entire story here. [...]
Sep 14, 2008 - 6:23 am 6. Nan G:Bill Clinton was at skilled triangulating.
Sep 14, 2008 - 6:52 am 7. David P:Even people he disagreed with would come out of meetings with him feeling as though he had absorbed their side of an issue before deciding on a course of action.
0bama, on the other hand, decides always to the Left.
What did the ratings of all Congress show?
That 0bama is 100% the most liberal Senator in the Senate.
With that record 0bama cannot triangulate at all.
And, when he does adjust to one of McCain’s positions, it is blatantly obvious.
One must wonder if it is merely an expediency to get elected or a heartfelt shift to the Right.
My conclusion is that it is mere pragmatism, not an indicator of a changed mind.
Mr. Ledeen, as usual, has a finger on the pulse.
Alireza,
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:18 am 8. RE:A lot of these folks who’ve hijacked the Democratic party today just don’t comprehend the world beyond their western experience. They think its made up of people longing for the same aspirations and freedoms that everyday Americans value. Suggesting to them that the world is not how they perceive it brings accusations of racism and intolerance. Curbing protest, silencing debate and labeling unconventional ideas politically incorrect stymies change, it doesn’t promote it.
It is true. Obama is pushing the same old tired out Marxist-socialist agenda that’s been around for decades. Talk about ‘lipstick on a pig’!
It’s as if the Left thought they could use accusations of racism as a diversionary tactic to expand the role of the state. The Left wants American founding principles upside down. The state is not supreme in America, but the Left wants to make it so. The left’s disdain for individual liberty and self determination is palpable.
…and so they hate Governor Palin.
Government does not know what is best for us.
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:18 am 9. Sandra M:Terrific article, Mr. Ledeen. I agree with you that Obama’s collectivist ideas were totally discredited in the 20th century.
ML: “…Obama’s vision of “change”–which is based on class structure and top-down collective enterprises–was not only contemporary but exciting.”
Alireza: This is categorically and FACTUALLY a false statement. You know it so well that Obama’s approach has always been from BOTTOM UP and not what you stated.
No, Alireza, collectivism always claims to be the dictatorship of the proletariat, of the people, but it’s always very much top down.
“
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:30 am 10. Steve:Good point, David P.
Gerard Baker has an excellent column about Obama the speechmaker vs Obama the liberal politician:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4735295.ece
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:46 am 11. Herb:“McCain’s injuries under torture do not permit him to type.” Seriously? Hey, I don’t expect him to homerow his way to 50 words per minute, but he can’t even do the two-finger hunt and peck?
Sorry, bud, but that’s just not going to cut it. Even a man blinded in war isn’t expected to remain illiterate for the rest of his life.
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:50 am 12. mvargus:Wow, how can anyone be as dense as this poster. She thinks that collectivist thinking is “Bottom up”. But how can the bottom be brought up unless you attack a phony class structure and tear down the top through high taxes and restrictive regulations.
that’s why socialism always fails. It was originally put forth during the Industrial Revolution. 3 econonic ages ago, and wasn’t perfectly relevant then. Now more than 200 years later, its starting to openly fail, but the servants of Marxist thought only redouble their efforts to get the workers of the world to unite against imaginary oppression.
Obama might win. I’ve accepted that. My father is so anti-Bush he’d vote for a ham sandwich if it was the top of the (D) ticket, and I know a few others who are the same way. They won’t be casting votes for Obama, but against the GOP. However, I’m starting to believe that the (D) party can’t afford an Obama win. Unless his advisors once in office are a ton better than his campaign staff, he’ll do a wonderful job of sinking the economy in a hurry, and in doing so permanently tarnish the Hopey/Changey theme the D party is riding right now.
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:53 am 13. Alireza:8 Years of Republican leadership:
9/11 attack
STILL Bin Laden is sending video, text, and Youtube broadcasts from every mountain holes in Pakistan, who has EXCELLENT anti terrorism relationship with U.S.!!!! Is this a joke or what!!
Saudi Arabia is STILL a honey source of money for Bin Laden and its associates
Bush “JUDGING” and “SENSING” Putin has soul and calls him his great buddy!!! And this 100%-soul is the guy who managed to attack Georgia, as he seat next to Bush in China!!! Wow! Everyday I become more impressed with Republican leadership and “VISION”! Give me more! Give me more!
These 8 years indeed made Iran much much stronger and allowed ultra right people to come to power, WITHOUT Bush this would not have happened. No wonder Ahmadinejad loves to come to U.S. every year to keep thanking Bush for his great policies.
Deporting two U.S. ambassadors from Bolivia and Venezuela in span of few days and allowing Russian bombers stop in Venezuela for some beer and chit chat…Wow everyday I get more impressed with this 8 years of accomplishments!! McCain will only make it more exciting with some fireworks…
Subprime mess! You know, I’m no Economist and no Fed chairman, but in 2005, I knew so well that hard-to-clean-stuff will hit the fan where so many millions of homes will be wasted, so I sold my house at the top of the market when everybody was buying! I didn’t use a calculator and didn’t read any stat from any banks. Yet, the Fed Chairman with ALL the info. and statistics could not see what is hitting the fan. Instead of prosecuting Greenspan, he is given Medal of Freedom, along with CIA director!!!!!
Katrina! Anything else I need to add? This took place under the watch of 8 years of Republicans!!! When President’s men have to make him a DVD to show him what is going on in U.S., this reminds me of Ahmadinejad denying killing Jews in WWII.
Going into Iraq and managing it so far!! Need I say more?!!!
Afghanistan!! Opium, Taleban, any good news there?
Budget deficit.
U.S. economy. People’s income going down, while cost is going up
45 million people W/O Health insurance
Price of oil going from $20 to over $140 in 8 years
So what else?
Now get busy and start the clean up process and make up words and reasoning why U.S. is going down and down FAST…
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:17 am 14. Brian:Alireza,
Really? Seriously? You take umbrage to the authors points about the war of ideas and the left, specifically Obama, clinging to failed ideas from a now defunct era, so that must mean someone with an agenda has stolen the identity or credentials of Dr. Ledeen, because there is no way such an educated man could make such statements.
The factually accurate statement is that the Democrats are advocating more government solutions to issues such as energy, healthcare, poverty, unemployment, labor rights. And that is what is considered a top-down approach, government providing a solution.
No one is suggesting that ideas don’t work, however if you read the original article you might find that Dr. Ledeen is suggesting that certain ideas already attempted and failed should be discarded, rather than repackaged. And that Obama in selling such repackaged ideas is showing his age, or the age of his thinking.
The proof is in the context of the article, and the ranting of your response, the race isn’t about Bush, he isn’t up for re-election. And simply saying that McCain is a third term for Bush doesn’t make it true. The voters want to know how each candidates ideas will move the country forward, and substance not rhetoric is required for that.
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:17 am 15. MaE:Alireza,
Maybe you should have just stayed quiet.
Obama’s class structure is based on a top-down model. This mean he needs rich to support the poor. He’s suggested doing this by taxing the rich to pay for the poor. That’s top-down, hon. If you have no rich people, you have no way to support the poor.
The conservative model has always been a bottom-up model. Meaning that when the rich do well, their wealth creates opportunities for the poor. And those poor can capitalize on opportunity by being entrepreneurs. Obama does not support this model…even though it’s proven to work. Tech boom anyone? Speaking of the tech boom…
Bill Clinton did understand, which is why he, along with congress, reduced capital gains taxes in 1996, spawning the tech boom…which made many once poor people middle class and/or wealthy…or at the very least created another industry where the poor could advance into the middle class and beyond.
Then you go on to prove the hack you are. If you make more today – after accounting for inflation – than you did in 2001, then you haven’t a leg to stand on in this debate. If you don’t, it’s time for some introspection to see why you’ve been unable to advance your life.
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:23 am 16. SWLiP:Alireza:
Having a tough day at Revolutionary Guard HQ? Those latest numbers on Obama suck, eh? How could those evil Americans be such rubes?
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:35 am 17. Nine-of-Diamonds:“And you want to tell me that the last 8 years of Bush and Republicans were able to know the De Vinci codes and yet they have been moving U.S. back for at least 15+ years and giving more powers to dictators around the world!!!”
Yeah. Because, you know, Saddam Hussein is so much more powerful now than he was 8 years ago. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this Alireza character argues that Hussein “wasn’t a dictator”. I’ve encountered that way of thinking before…
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:54 am 18. Nine-of-Diamonds:Let me get this straight. Alireza cites the example of Iraq and then complains that Bush is giving more and more power to dictators. I understand (s)he’s probably bereaved at poor Saddam’s passing, but at least try to remember that SOME of us regard him as a dictator. Hence, Bush destroyed one of the most powerful dictatorships in existence at the turn of the 21st century.
Oh, and I don’t think Ali’s using quite enough exclamation points in his posts!!!!11111eleventy111
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:58 am 19. Steven Powell:Alireza,
You make some decent points, here’s my rebuttal:
9/11 – are you really blaming President Bush/Republicans for 9/11? If so, who do you blame for the WTC in 1993, the Cole bombing, the bombing of the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the Khobar towers? At least President Bush only saw 1 major attack on his watch (which had been planned since before he became President. Then he took steps to prevent more.
bin Laden – Because of AQ’s failure to follow up on 9/11 and the souring of the brand in Iraq (killing Muslims), bin Laden is now a poster boy for what NOT to do as a terrorist leader. This would only have been possible if we left him alive. I suggest you read Austin Bay’s article to this effect on Townhall.
Putin – name a Republican besides Bush that thought Putin wasn’t dangerous. I don’t remember any. I do remember a group groan from conservatives when he was quoted on this one.
Iran – explain to me how a different president would have handled the Iranian regime after 9/11, and prevented them from going down the path to nuclear weapons? You state your point as a given. Please explain. Even with a “friendlier” US, Iran would have used every excuse in the book to get nukes. Israel’s still around, right? And the ultra-right came to power in Iran in, what, 1979? It’s been variations on a theme since then.
Ambassadors – that’s what you do when your ambassadors are expelled. Bolivia started it. Chavez backed his protege. “allowing Russian bombers stop (sic) in Venezuela”? (I’m pretty sure it was vodka and not beer). What was Pres Bush supposed to do? Shoot them down? Bomb them on the ground?
I’ll stay away from economics – not my strong side. And I believe I happen to agree with you here.
Katrina – was a local problem, not a national problem. Federal assets were available, but they required local leaders for implementation. People from Louisiana understood that. That’s why there’s a Republican governor there now.
Iraq – in case you haven’t heard…we’re winning. And we’re planning for withdrawal in the long-term.
Income is not going down, I could point you to charts, but it’s been going up since the bubble burst in 2001.
Who are you blaming for the cost increase in oil? Katrina didn’t help. Neither did Gustav. Improving economies in India and China increase demand, but we’re hamstrung by regulations when it comes to increasing supply. When was the last refinery built in the US? I’m guessing not in the last 8 years. But I’d have to look that one up.
How about getting busy and actually proposing solutions instead of just bitching?
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:59 am 20. Self-hating boomer:Our troll just proves the point: the “new” left has become reactionary. Just listen to the tone. It’s all about “things have gone to hell, and we have to return to the glory days”. Dishonest as that is, it most certainly is an appeal to the voters’ conservative instincts. When radicals start masquerading as conservatives, the end of the charade is near.
Sep 14, 2008 - 9:39 am 21. Steve:Typical of the far left: ignore the points raised, and launch into a hysterical recitation of Bush Administration failures.
Hey, Alireza, rant all you want but it ain’t gonna do any good. The time for that narrative is gone. Haven’t you figured out that this election isn’t about Bush?
You say Obama works from the bottom up? You must be referring to his position on the Board of the Woods Fund. The Fund funneled money UP to various radical left-wing community organizations, which then funneled a percentage back DOWN to Obama’s Senate and Presidential campaigns. How progressive.
Or maybe you meant to mention the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a “bottom-up” education reform organization that even the L.A. Times knows was a failure.
But maybe you’re right. After all, Obama did launch his Presidential campaign with a fundraiser at the home of unapologetic Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers. That’s pretty low, and from the Ayers’ household, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Just face it, all of Obama’s ideas ARE “aged to the point of dementia.” And if you can’t face it, please refute it without redirecting the argument to George W. Bush.
And by the way, what is a “promising fact”?
Sep 14, 2008 - 9:43 am 22. Kelly:Alireza-Most of the Katrina victims were so used to the government “helping” them that they were (and still are)unable to help themselves. Did you notice how much crime went up in Houston after the government paid for those douche bags to go there and live? Once a government sucking parisite always a government sucking parasite. Not that all people from New Orleans are parasites. Some are good people. The ones that are used to working for a living and not sitting on their lazy butts waiting for their monthly checks to arrive. Just saying. Oh, I am one of those 45 million people without medical insurance and you don’t see me wanting to vote for Obama. I would rather have McCain as president than have medical insurance. Sometimes it is not always about “me”. Loser…..
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:04 am 23. RueDee:Awww, come on, John. There are adaptive technologies to help cripples use computers, so don’t play the POW card on this one.
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:07 am 24. Fred Beloit:Ali is probably one of the Obama campaign trolls paid to repeat the debunked litany of false charges the radical left came up with so long ago. For example:
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:47 am 25. Fred Beloit:–Bush hasn’t gotten bin Laden—Clinton had a chance to get him. He was in our sights. Clinton said don’t fire. Now it is likely that binny, if he is still alive, is in Pakistan, a sovereign nation. It would have been impossible politically, until recently, with Obama essentially calling for an invasion of Pakistan, to go after binny there.
–Iraq and Afghanistan failures—We deposed to evil and tyranical governments and helped the locals replace them with democratic governments. There is still mopping up going on.
–Budget deficit—The Congress is responsible for appropriating money in war and peace. As a seeming non-American, Ali may not be familiar with this.
–Health Insurance—Americans don’t want to pay for other people’s health “insurance”. The proposals for health insurance so far include all kinds of vacinations, examinations, preventive care, etc, not just catastrophic illness care. It’s like auto insurance that would include covering oil changes, engine tune-ups, new tires, etc. Americans won’t buy this open wallet approach. It would ruin our health care system.
I could go on, but I don’t want to waste any more time trying to convert someone whose head is made up.
Oops, “…two evil…”
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:49 am 26. airbound dude:obama is victim to both his arrogance and the facts that his ideas are no longer relevant to the 21st century.he’s young but his ideas are old, worn and discreted.
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:52 am 27. robotech master:“8 Years of Republican leadership:
9/11 attack”
Which was clinton fault for reducing our human intel source between 50-80% due to pushing BS intel bills which setup a bunch of BS rules banning the use human intel.(this is also the reason why our intel on iraq was so crappy because we didn’t have anything new all of it came from before the ban….)
“STILL Bin Laden is sending video, text, and Youtube broadcasts from every mountain holes in Pakistan, who has EXCELLENT anti terrorism relationship with U.S.!!!! Is this a joke or what!!”
Lay of the crack man. I don’t know what world view you see what its not the real world. Many in pakistan’s government actively support and protect the terrorists were seeking… We have decent borderline good relationships with a handful of government officers in the pakistan government nothing more.
“Saudi Arabia is STILL a honey source of money for Bin Laden and its associates”
So your saying we should invade them because short of waiting a good 50 years thats not going to change anytime soon…
“Bush “JUDGING” and “SENSING” Putin has soul and calls him his great buddy!!! And this 100%-soul is the guy who managed to attack Georgia, as he seat next to Bush in China!!! Wow! Everyday I become more impressed with Republican leadership and “VISION”! Give me more! Give me more!”
Wow your kind of half right on this one…. Yes bush has screwed up the russia china problems…. however your completely wrong about repubs in general… its the Dems that have major knee pads for both china and russia. Also russia isn’t really bush’s fault either… the real blame lays with the UN and NATO. If either of these groups stepped up and done their jobs the US could stop being the world ****ing police… but ppl like you want the US to be the world ****ing police and take the blame for everything.
“These 8 years indeed made Iran much much stronger and allowed ultra right people to come to power, WITHOUT Bush this would not have happened. No wonder Ahmadinejad loves to come to U.S. every year to keep thanking Bush for his great policies.”
Yes yes we all know about the evil jews and how they’ve taken control of the government and how we must purge them… o wait that was hitlers reasoning… Besides the whole hosts of reasons besides bush lets just take for starters the UN…. they are far more at fault then bush for letting things get out of hand… and wait its their JOB to deal with this stuff NOT bush’s unless once again you demand that the US be the worlds ****ing police… and if so you also must be demanding that we invade that fix the problem…. Ahmadinejad loves coming to the US because many insane leftist support his world view… and he is cheered and loved by leftists on college campuses… do you see how they cheered for him when he gave his speech…
Your world view is heavily dictated by porpaganda I would suggest you do a bit more research since most Dems are slobbing the iranian knob hard and support much of what it believe in… So at least your correct in that Ahmadinejad does like US coming to the US to meet his supporters and enjoy US policies written by Dems and leftists…
“Deporting two U.S. ambassadors from Bolivia and Venezuela in span of few days and allowing Russian bombers stop in Venezuela for some beer and chit chat…Wow everyday I get more impressed with this 8 years of accomplishments!! McCain will only make it more exciting with some fireworks…”
Being that obama and many Dems have been meeting with chavez and promising him peace and love if obama gets elected how is this bush’s fault… Also once again short of shooting the bombers down/invading venezuala what do you expect the US to do?
“Subprime mess! You know, I’m no Economist and no Fed chairman, but in 2005, I knew so well that hard-to-clean-stuff will hit the fan where so many millions of homes will be wasted, so I sold my house at the top of the market when everybody was buying! I didn’t use a calculator and didn’t read any stat from any banks. Yet, the Fed Chairman with ALL the info. and statistics could not see what is hitting the fan. Instead of prosecuting Greenspan, he is given Medal of Freedom, along with CIA director!!!!!”
Socialism is no ones friend… Once again the sub-prime mess is solely the fault of leftists… you could argue that bush didn’t do enough to stop ppl like obama and other leftist from causing the problem but thats about as far it could go… plus the problem started long before bush(either bush) anyway. Leftists demanded that the “poor” be given free money… and their friends be given government protection should these “poor” ppl not pay back their loans…socialism much? O what a huge surprise that they gave money away for free without a care in the world to anyone and everyone who asked… because it wasn’t their money. They got rich giving tax payer money away… thats pretty the whole way the socialism works.
“Katrina! Anything else I need to add? This took place under the watch of 8 years of Republicans!!! When President’s men have to make him a DVD to show him what is going on in U.S., this reminds me of Ahmadinejad denying killing Jews in WWII.”
Yeah BS…. katrina wasn’t bush’s fault(nor was it global warming). The poor handling of katrina was the fault of a mayor named ray nagan…. what a surprise he’s a Dem. Also a giant surprise NO is mostly Dem… without the government to tell all the brainwashed zombies what to do they just died off… The greatest part was the fact that the media is massive fear of leftism because exposed in its true form launched some of the most racist media coverage I’ve ever seen… they tried to paint it as if the only reason it was happening was both because blacks are stupid and because racism against blacks… all in a massive effort to cover up the real reason… leftist failure. If you both to do some research you’ll find this over thing called Rita… it did just as much damage if not more to another area nearby… many of those ppl having just dug themselves out quickly moved to NO to help them… they didn’t need massive government aid… but then again they didn’t depend on massive government to give them marching orders to even breath.
If you want to argue bush didn’t do enough to put nagan in jail.. thats more then reasonable. But to say that bush is anyway to blame for a cities at most state problem is classic leftist thinking… in the US the we don’t have an oppressive commie government that controls everything(much to the unhappiness of the Dems).
“Going into Iraq and managing it so far!! Need I say more?!!!”
Considering all and all been handled reasonable well.
“Afghanistan!! Opium, Taleban, any good news there?”
You blame the UN/NATO mostly for that… once again the US is going to have to do everything ourselves and just going to take more time….
“Budget deficit.”
Wow but the only thing we agree on… bush could have done alot more about it.
“U.S. economy. People’s income going down, while cost is going up”
Happens… it will go the other way soon enough… more quickly if we can get some oil flowing and blame global warming nuts from having any say in anything.
“45 million people W/O Health insurance”
Meaningless… Really we should be talking about how to get rid of health insurance not expanding it.
“Price of oil going from $20 to over $140 in 8 years”
The list of reasons for this is very long… but as above global warming stupidity is a good amount of it.
Sep 14, 2008 - 10:52 am 28. Javelin:Fred Beloit:,
Sep 14, 2008 - 11:07 am 29. mshatto:-Bush hasn’t gotten bin Laden
Is that false?
–Budget deficit
Always someone else’s fault, whenever Bush is involved. Good work, you are a true, unreconstructed Bushbot!
Alireza- The sad thing is despite all the points you make, the Democrats can’t come up with a winning candidate. Even if Obama pulls this election out, which was his to not to lose, he’ll be no better than Bush and most likely much worse. The ideas of the left were discredited in the 70’s yet Obama and his minions have rehashed and hardly repackaged them. In the case of the Democrats, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”
Go away and come back when you guys come up with something new. Clinton won two elections because he moved the party away from the far left and yet the Dems return to their socialist playbook. Stupid is as stupid does.
Sep 14, 2008 - 11:21 am 30. Sharon:Look, why isn’t anybody focusing on the real issue here. Barak Obama not only discriminates according to gender; he is the type of schoolyard bully that would beat up the weak if given the opportunity! Thankfully John McCain can take care of himself as is more than evident.
Sep 14, 2008 - 11:26 am 31. Nine-of-Diamonds:The question then becomes; how would Barak Obama treat the elderly and disabled once in office? Would he continue to mock them for their disabilites and their age? Would he feel they are less deserving of self respect and the ability provide for themselves allowing them to put food on the table? Would he want to see them able to overcome their disabilities or just put them out to pasture?
Shame on anyone that feels this is a winning strategy. I will take John McCains wisdom and experience anyday over Barak Obama’s keyboarding ability.
“I could go on, but I don’t want to waste any more time trying to convert someone whose head is made up.”
I understand how you feel. What’s more, many of the more radical Democrats probably don’t even want Bin Laden caught because they agree with his opinion on the United States. Radical Leftists and Salafists are basically two sides of the same ugly coin. This makes it a bit specious for them to whine about him not having been captured.
Sep 14, 2008 - 12:19 pm 32. Ed Wallis:Fred Beloit:
NAIL ON THE HEAD.
LOTS of O’bots out there: this “Alireza” is new, “Jeff” is old and talking out of both sides of his mouth (in the Charlie Gibson thread: “I hope McCain wins”…EVERYWHERE ELSE: “Obama is the greatest”).
“Javelin” is somehow just “out there” a loser in his own right.
SOCIALISM is Zerobama’s Alpha and Omega. He’s just 100-150 years too late. But it took the last 50 years for the Democrat Party to be infiltrated and taken over by these goons.
Some things DO move more slowly than others….
Sep 14, 2008 - 12:26 pm 33. RedneckJD:____________________________
NOTE TO AUTHOR: the phrase is either “heavy handed” or “ham fisted”….
The most interesting thing is that people still fall for the misinformation put up by the left in this country. One example is anthropogenic global warming. I wonder how many things are now controlled by this lie, and how many more rights we will lose if these old line lefties are elected. If you pair AGW with “for the children”, then we will be completely in their control. Obama is just the latest in the Marx/Alinsky line to seek to control the wealth and intelligence of the US, for their own power. They must be stopped.
Sep 14, 2008 - 1:04 pm 34. Paul Bunker:Clearly Alizera has no grasp of history. She should read Saul Alinsky’s book “Rules for Radicals”, then read with care the history of the democrats, and the changes in the republic since FDR.
The original democrat party has become the party of socialists, capturing many old time democrat party loyalists.
Alizera, be careful what you wish for!
Sep 14, 2008 - 1:14 pm 35. Javelin:Ed,
Sep 14, 2008 - 1:28 pm 36. Nick:I guess pointing out gross inaccuracies, hypocrisy and shallow cliches makes me out there, whatever that means. Better to be an “out there loser” than an utterly predictable insult and cliche spewing talk radio clone.
BTW Mr. Beloit,
Obama was slammed as dangerous and naive for suggesting cross border raids, now that Bush has done just that is Obama still dangerous and naive or is Bush dangerous and naive? Or since Bush did it, is it the right thing after all? After all, it was Bush who cobbled together this principled anti-terror coalition of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Unlike you or Mr Wallis, I try to be honest and consistent, if that makes me a loser, fine.
Why would anyone listen to a word this nutjob says. He’s an ultra-racist, ultra-zionist scumbag of the worst kind. He’s the ultimate neo-con and defiler of all this great about America.
Sep 14, 2008 - 1:38 pm 37. robotech master:Javelin maybe you should review your own info since your the one spreading “gross inaccuracies, hypocrisy and shallow cliches” Obama threatened to invade the paka’s… not “cross border raids as you say,
“Let me make this clear,” Obama said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaida leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.” …
Obama said that as commander in chief he would remove troops from Iraq and putting them “on the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
Denote the last part…. sending in uniformed US soldiers and what he is suggesting in size of battalion strength(or more) is Fing insane….
“When I am president, we will wage the war that has to be won,” he told an audience at the Woodrow Wilson Center in the District. He added, “The first step must be to get off the wrong battlefield in Iraq and take the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
And again full out were going to invade… not were going to send a handful of spec ops… no were going to send large normal units into your country and attack as we see fit….
Theirs a huge diff between sending in spec ops and intel groups into to attack/work with the local vs a full out uniformed invasion.
Also denote “Days after his chief Democratic rival Hillary Clinton branded him “naive” and “irresponsible” on foreign policy”
Make sure when your shouting propaganda you don’t get your propaganda mixed up with others….most importantly your own.
2nd and more importantly guess what the world isn’t static… things change. Pakistan has changed a huge amount since 2007….
Now unless you got a statement that says he was talking about small scale spec ops/intel border raiding your talking out your *** and don’t even know what obama did say.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080101233.html
Sep 14, 2008 - 2:26 pm 38. Marina:I always wondered, why the so called “progressive” views still reflect 19th century marxist ideology (with only a little bit of “lipstick”). The history of the 20th century is full of examples how this doesn´t work (including the countries of the EU).
Sep 14, 2008 - 2:28 pm 39. CALindie:On one point I have to disagree with the author: Obama himself doesn´t believe in these ideas! No way! For him, as for his guru Saul Alinsky, they are just useful lies to get the support of the “poor” (and of the dumb). His Chicago record of working together with slumlord Tony Rezko, with the corrupt political machine there (not caring about people living under horrible conditions thanks to his buddie´s crimes) should be proof enough. More, how come that apart from billionaire George Soros a lot of other very rich people support Obama. Does anybody think they are just looking for a way to get rid of their money? Certainly not Soros, who started his business career at the age of 14 selling his fellow Hungarian Jews to Nazis!
Alireza – As a Reagan Democrat, now firmly in the Independent camp, you and your friends (javelin etc.) are exactlly the reason I can’t call myself a Democrat any longer.
I’ll prove my point.
Alireza said: “So what else? Now get busy and start the clean up process and make up words and reasoning why U.S. is going down and down FAST…”
When has any nation or civilization since the begining of time existed in the utopia that you seek? When has any civilized society with ordered liberty been perfectly executed? Of course these are rhetorical questions because the answer is… NEVER!
Which begs the question; Why would challenges, struggles, setbacks and missteps in ecomomics, government and national security be exclusively Republican or conservative? Expecially in light of the fact that we have 3 equal but separate branches of government in which the Democrats control 2/3 of the equation?
Lastly, and this is the biggest reason why I can no longer stand with Democrats, how is your BRUTAL HATRED for our current President (1/3 of checks and balances), Republicans and conservatism in general solving any of your concerns about America POSITIVELY? How is your blatant negativism building up our country? This negativism has become so pervasive within liberalism it has me and Independents like me thoroughly disgusted and repulsed. Hatred is destructive, pragmatic optimism is constructive… always!
It appears to me that 43-45% of Americans that are your fellow “blind faith” liberals are in a downward spiral of negativism that has created an auto-gyro effect on your reasoning. This pschological phenomenon has never been more clearly visible than in your “post-decency” treatment of our current President, John McCain and Sarah Palin. Your hatred is sickening and it is the reason you will not and should not gain more governmental control than you already have.
I don’t expect you to have an epiphany and repent so don’t waste my time by responding. Your hatred is hopeless (read: without hope) and diametrically opposed to your messiah’s (little m) message.
Sep 14, 2008 - 2:29 pm 40. ~Paules:Mr. Ledeen,
“Class structure and top-down collective enterprises” as a system is hardly “old hat.” It’s called contemporary, European-style, democratic socialism, and it’s nearing its penultimate stage on the continent.
We Americans have so far avoided this pitfall because we understand that government power is antithetical to individual liberty. I would love to claim, as you do, that these ideas have been discredited, but it’s simply not the case. Such ideas have deep roots in the academy, and the vine will continue to produce more ideologues like Mr. Obama.
The core of the Democratic party, the elite leadership and the activist base, still believes in collectivism and redistribution. That probably won’t change in my lifetime. The mistake they made this time around was one of overreach. The Democrats have placed all their chips on the table this election hoping to grab all three branches of government. The next step would mean radical change toward socialism based on a (perceived) mandate from the masses. Too bad for them, and very fortunate for us, that they put forward a flawed candidate. I expect Mr. Obama to be defeated, but a conservative victory will be a respite in a very long war, not an end to discredited ideas.
Sep 14, 2008 - 3:16 pm 41. Brad G:Hey, all true believers line up behind Alireza.
Sep 14, 2008 - 5:02 pm 42. john from cinncinati:The tone of his/her comments comes from the standard hate Bush attitude, something any sensible person would have difficulty comprehending, especially since it is so vehement and savage: this creates an instinctive distrust in whoever isn’t aligned with such extreme, incomprehensible attitudes — so that whatever details you use to support your unyielding hatred don’t really mean much. Sensible thinking people might totally disagree with the Bush record, but they really have no reason for such profound disgust — noone who’s entire thought process isn’t tainted by prejudice would think of the man as evil, as all good soldiers of the liberal wing tend too. And the overwhelming hugfest over the latest liberal icon fits in ever so neatly with the inclination to hate Bush. Hate Bush = automatic love for Obama! Now tell me: does that sound like the makings of a true believer?
The endless use of little factoids to support your rabid allegiance to the latest liberal god don’t mean much, frankly. If you hate Bush, and all that he stands for, you will love Obama, pretty much no matter what. Facts are just a sideshow to bolster your belief in a new god.
BTW — I surely don’t love Bush. But I don’t hate him. I think he’s honest, which is a quality that will forever elude the intellectual elites from the left. Its the major reason Sarah Palin has added so much energy to the Republican ticket– that, and the fact that McCain, no matter how much you hate him, is honest also. He may be nothing else besides honest to a lot of people — but its a rare quality in politics, and certainly one that doesn’t fit Obama. Your mindless belief in him doesn’t mean he’s honest. It just means you want to believe in him — an all too eager emotion that is fed by your poisonous hatred of Bush.
Say what you want about the right side of the ticket; use all your stupid, twisted little tricks to make it seem like Obama is a good choice. Hate Bush. But McCain isn’t Bush, nor is Palin. And the big facts are, that when you place individual rights before government ownership of the individual, which the right side is prone to do much more than the left side, people who have any inkling of pride and self will always do better. Obama is your new god. You want someone to lead you, to help you, to take over your life, to make the world better. That’s what true believers want. Its a mentality in pursuit of what was once the manifestation of true utopia: Communist Russia! Certainly the same mentality that has any interest in upholding the original ideals of the United States!
the timing was wrong on the cross border raids. the other thing is GWB just did them and didn’t announce them. Obama shouldn’t try to sound like he knows when he doesn’t. remember loose lips sink ships. these raids could have been in the works when Mr. O opened his yap. shades of cambodia, the bad guys hanging out across the border. olly olly oxen free, or something to that effect. we are not presently in Cambodia, i say again. i guess we did learn a little something, something, back then…hmmm lawless tribal areas and they are complaining that they don’t have the biggest gun. to, to bad so, so sad.
Sep 14, 2008 - 5:41 pm 43. john from cinncinati:oh yeah here’s a cliche: it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission
Sep 14, 2008 - 5:48 pm 44. Brad G:I also tend to think that any fair minded person can see how lopsided Congress has been for the past several years. Its not like, as imperfect as Bush may be, he has totally trashed the American economy all by himself; you have a congress that is run by left wing halfwits, who can even understand that drilling for oil is a way to reduce the price of the stuff! They are so locked into their ‘alternative’ fuel crap, and beholden to their eco-freak multimillion dollar clubs, that they can’t budge towards any energy policy that makes sense.
Sep 14, 2008 - 5:53 pm 45. dpw:ali reza = arab subversive paid by obama camp to pollute sane writings of republic party?
Sep 14, 2008 - 6:06 pm 46. newscaper:Nonsense.
Bush had *already* been authorizing cross-border attacks, but it was a thing that, because of Musharraf’s dicey domestic political situation, had to be done as quietly and with as light a footprint as possible — and expecting Musharraf to keep a lid on by making some complaints for public consumption at home.
Dumbass Obama was loudly talking about an actual invasion. Talk about ham-handed. I get so sick and tired of leftists saying people on the right are incapabale of nuance.
Sep 14, 2008 - 6:20 pm 47. ProgMeister:the problem, sir, is that you have not said one damn thing about Obama’s ideas; as for his opponent, it’s all Milton Friedman, circa 1980: lower taxes, trickle down … it doesn’t work
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:13 pm 48. iconoclast:Mr Ledeen
Obama DOES understand that he supports a corrupt and archaic system. But he likes the corrupt part–worked for him in Chicago.
But Obama does know that his philosophy of government-think Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn, and Jeremiah Wright–is repellant to most Americans. So he is busy hiding it in plain sight–though the so-called news media is doing their best to help him.
Sep 14, 2008 - 7:47 pm 49. David P:-Javelin you are wrong
Sep 14, 2008 - 8:19 pm 50. Dave II:Before you credit Obama with yet another semi-original thought you should know the reckless young senator was given intelligence briefings only after it became clear that he may be the nominee. He used the information given to him at the time concerning cross border raids, drones. etc. to make some very irresponsible declarations about Pakistan. The ball was already rolling when he was briefed on it, in no way did Obama have any impact on the matter, he just made it appear that way by publicly suggesting what was already taking place behind the scenes.
-Fred, Alireza, knows a lot about Iran, however, he’s naive to think an Obama presidency will be a 2nd coming of the Clinton years when all were surfing that tremendous wave of positive economic growth. Its not that democratic party anymore, they’ve grown too cynical & unreasonable for Americans to put their trust in.
Look, you can argue with the few inaccuracies in this article (more nuances than anything) what you can’t argue about is Obama’s fossilized world view…the one he is so good at hiding.
From the communist-party member Frank Davis in his youth in Hawaii, to affiliations with the SDS in college, and then domestic terrorist Bill Ayers in trying to advance radical educational policies with the Annenberg Challenge, then 20-years in under racist spiritual mentor Jeremiah Wright’s church…it’s a litany of failed class-warfare Marxist victimology….the “boiled-down-to-the-essential-ingredients” of a far-leftist Democratic Party ideology.
It’s yesterday’s bad news, and though it appeals to many disgusted with Bush (and those having grown up on nothing but Bush/Clinton/Bush realities) it is as old as your great-grandfather’s old Victrola…still spinning the same old 78’s. Nostalgia in a new suit.
Sep 14, 2008 - 9:01 pm 51. Michael Lonie:The big revenue windfall of the Clinton years, that enabled the US government to finally avoid deficit spending for a short time period, was due to the Republican Congress passing tax rate cuts in the capital gains tax. This released a gusher of capital gains that people had been sitting on because the tax rates were so high before, but now that they were lower the profits from selling would not be crippled by the taxes. Obama proposes huge raises in tax rates of all sorts. Experience shows, by the way, that such high rates will not be confined to “the rich,” however the latter are defined. They filter down to the workers. The income tax itself was originally a rich man’s tax only, but very quickly was extended to just about everybody.
In any case you cannot tax your way out of governmental deficits, as the experiences of New York City ought to have proved to even the densest liberal. What is needed are spending cuts, and those depend on the government assessing its priorities and spending wisely, not slopping the trough for special interests. But wise prioritizing is something governments are loathe to do. McCain at least wants to do some of that with his campaign against earmarks. Obama is the one who in his first year as a senator, got a million dollar earmark for the hospital his wife worked at, and which had just given her a raise of $195,000. What a coincidence.
Obama should stay in Congress. With his Chicago machine background and earmarks like that one he’ll fit right in with guys like William Jefferson, Robert Byrd, and Ted Stevens (who loathes Palin).
Sep 14, 2008 - 9:15 pm 52. braininahat:7 years and no attack on American soil. Thank you, President Bush.
An economy on the upswing. Thank you, President Bush.
Victory in Iraq in sight. Thank you, President Bush and Soon-To-Be President McCain.
I know most of you can’t fathom what a loss in Iraq would have meant, and so you glibly dismiss this because you have no choice, but Obama was wrong about the war (the world is a better place because we fought it and will soon win it) and wrong about the surge. His policy to cut and run would have been disastrous for America and the rest of the world. This alone is enough to condemn him to obscurity.
Democrats are typically self-centered people.
More free stuff? Sure, Obama, tax the rich more. We’ll shamelessly take the handout.
No moral absolutes! No, moral values are relative — we decide! Yay!
Who are the most self-centered people? Young people. Who typically wins the youth vote? Democrats. Well, slap me silly and call me Susan.
What people are willing to sacrifice for something beyond themselves? Our military men and women. The majority of them are….come on….you know…..Republican.
Ah, well, what good will this do. You’ll just ignore it because it doesn’t fit in to your myopic world you.
Sep 15, 2008 - 12:55 am 53. Cyrus:I beleive to Michael words. as an Iranian and a person who lived in Middle East and US just can say” Selection of Obama is a nightmare for all of the world.
Sep 15, 2008 - 5:32 am 54. schnargley:if you want see what is will be happened in future with Obama look at end of Jimmy Carter’s term. that is set.
Pure extreme right-wing reactionaries on this blog. You idiots don’t get it. It is not that collectivism, statism, or socialism, as well as appeasement and acquiescatorial foreign policies, have all been tried and found wanting. It is that they were tried, found some glitches, and then abandoned before success could be achieved. All the years of failed economies, the millions who died in gulags, cultural revolutions or forced marches scientifically designed give natural selection a huge helping hand, do not mean that these policies were necessarily wrong, but only that the implementers were flawed. With a man of the stature and aura of Barack Hussein Obama at the helm, along with a brilliant cadre the our countries most brilliant and brightest, like Harvard lawyers, the cream of the crop of assorted idealists, planners, and John Lennon-type dreamers from the 60’s, actors from Hollywood and NYC, we can pull this thing off!
The dreams and hopes for a perfect society may be old, but our minds are verey, very, young!
Sep 15, 2008 - 11:27 am 55. Herb:“7 years and no attack on American soil. Thank you, President Bush.”
That line confuses me… You mean, I’m supposed to give Bush credit that we haven’t been attacked AGAIN?
What about the first time? That doesn’t count?
Sep 15, 2008 - 11:44 am 56. Robert Hurley:Let me see – what ideas have failed? Is it the Democrats who have been in charge for the last eight years. I would say that if we expect a different result, we need to try a different policy. Let measure the degree of econonic satisfaction for the previous eith years against the last eight years.
Sep 15, 2008 - 12:07 pm 57. Alireza:I hope you’ll consider my statement here as tough-love-kind of saying . Unlike some of you intellectually-challenged, I don’t name call people here.
As I read so many baseless comments regarding my post, it is clear, the same lack of mind, intellect, analysis and capabilities went to work in the last 8 years in so many aspects of life in this country to bring it this low. This America that I knew is losing it and it’s losing it fast. And some of you people are the fertilizers for this moving into the black hole.
I could simply say it is incompetence, but I know I’m simplifying it by all the nonsense here. My proof is the last 8 years. On this day that banks are going down and U.S. government must start investigating and charging Greenspan for treason and incompetence, you people call it free market. Some of you call me socialist!!!
Sep 15, 2008 - 3:18 pm 58. mike:Thank you President Bush and V P Cheney for keeping us safe since 9/11. Clinton had 10 chances to get Bin Laden and blew it.
Thank you Governor Jindal for what you did in Louisiana regarding Hurricane Gustav and Governor Perry for Ike in Texas.
Thank you Mr Greenspan for steering us through 9/11 and the dot com bubble. It’s not your fault borrowers and lenders do not have a clue anymore how to execute a mortgage like the old days – 20% down 30 year fixed rate. What has been going on is a bunch of crap and peple have nobody to blame but themselves.
Name three holdcthst one Accomplishment Barack Obama had done in his career other than winning elections with gutter Chocago ppliyics and nailing notices to telephone poles as a Community Organizer.
Sep 15, 2008 - 8:31 pm 59. Rob Crawford:“That line confuses me… You mean, I’m supposed to give Bush credit that we haven’t been attacked AGAIN?
What about the first time? That doesn’t count?”
Considering some of the 9/11 hijackers entered the US during the Clinton administration, and all of them entered with visas acquired under Clinton-era policies…
Sep 17, 2008 - 5:54 am 60. Alireza:We thank our Muslim brother Alan Greenspan, who lives and works under the cover as Jew to help its brother in Al Qaida.
Brother Alan! With love and brotherly kisses for you, we at the Al Qaida could not bring this much melt down by dirty bombs to U.S. economy that you have done! Wow!
May Allah be with you! You smart soldier knew by pumping the market with so many fraudulent loans indeed would bring this kind of 2+ trillion dollars damage to the infidels. Now my brother soldiers are saying they no longer want to wear bomb belt to kill themselves. No! Brother Alan, they want to go to Ivy League and a get a degree and then head to Wall Street to make some bad loans there!!! LOL…
Brother Alan Allah be with you and say shalom to our dearly sister Mitchell.
Sep 18, 2008 - 8:29 am 61. Alireza:It is nice to read leading newspapers like LA Time writes about the same thing I said about the impact of Greenspan on economy has been much more damaging than Bin Laden has done to U.S. Now here is what is more impressive:
The guy who criticizes Greenspan is the finance minister of Italy, who is a conservative!!!
Here is an extraction:
“ Giulio Tremonti excoriated the “voracious selfishness” of speculators and “stupid sluggishness” of regulators. And he singled out Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, with startling scorn.”
“Greenspan was considered a master,” Tremonti declared. “Now we must ask ourselves whether he is not, after [Osama] bin Laden, the man who hurt America the most. . . . It is clear that what is happening is a disease. It is not the failure of a bank, but the failure of a system. Until a few days ago, very few were willing to realize the intensity and the dramatic nature of the crisis.”
So I was not off demanding prosecution of Alan Greenspan as soon as possible. There must be a petition drive and demanding such an inbestigation. And PLEASE stop saying “free market…” “free market…” and then giving yourself a corrupted perception that you are a conservative. Please!
Here is the link:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-euromood20-2008sep20,0,7535469.story
Sep 21, 2008 - 9:26 am 62. Belmont Club » It’s now or never:[...] Sowell writes about Obama’s “worn-out economic ideas” can he really be serious? Michael Ledeen argues in dead earnest that BHO’s ideas are mostly obsolete. Paradoxically, Obama is in some [...]
Sep 28, 2008 - 7:13 am 63. Aristide:Alireza
Sep 28, 2008 - 5:07 pm 64. Math_Mage:Alireza:
“I hope you’ll consider my statement here as tough-love-kind of saying . Unlike some of you intellectually-challenged, I don’t name call people here.”
I guess you think we’re too “intellectually challenged” to spot the “idiot” behind your euphemism. I can only conclude that this statement was the product of serious cognitive dissonance.
Moving on to some of your actual content:
“8 Years of Republican leadership:
9/11 attack”
Did you seriously just blame 9/11 on the Republicans? Or are you arguing about what mistakes we made afterwards?
“STILL Bin Laden is sending video, text, and Youtube broadcasts from every mountain holes in Pakistan, who has EXCELLENT anti terrorism relationship with U.S.!!!! Is this a joke or what!!”
The real joke is that you think Pakistan has “excellent” anti-terrorism relations with the US. Who do you think stopped us from going into Pakistan? Hint: It wasn’t Bush and the eeevil Rethuglicans. It’s even more amusing that you think eliminating bin Laden should be a higher objective than incapacitating Al Qaeda. Argue about whether what was done was the best way to achieve the latter objective, sure, but don’t complain that the former wasn’t given precedence.
“Saudi Arabia is STILL a honey source of money for Bin Laden and its associates”
What do you suggest Bush should have done about this that he didn’t do? You recite a litany of problems, but provide no suggestions of better ideas.
“Bush “JUDGING” and “SENSING” Putin has soul and calls him his great buddy!!! And this 100%-soul is the guy who managed to attack Georgia, as he seat next to Bush in China!!! Wow! Everyday I become more impressed with Republican leadership and “VISION”! Give me more! Give me more!”
Gee, sounds like a good case for “Three letters: K.G.B” McCain. Bush was practically the only Republican who thought it was a good idea to say what he said, as was pointed out.
“These 8 years indeed made Iran much much stronger and allowed ultra right people to come to power, WITHOUT Bush this would not have happened. No wonder Ahmadinejad loves to come to U.S. every year to keep thanking Bush for his great policies.”
Gee, the Shah fell during Bush’s Presidency? Color me shocked for remembering such an insignificant year as 1979. I won’t contest that Iran has become stronger, but what do you expect when pursuing Sunni Al Qaeda?
“Deporting two U.S. ambassadors from Bolivia and Venezuela in span of few days and allowing Russian bombers stop in Venezuela for some beer and chit chat…Wow everyday I get more impressed with this 8 years of accomplishments!! McCain will only make it more exciting with some fireworks…”
If you paused to wipe the spittle from your mouth, you might notice that Venezuela and Bolivia deported them, not Bush. And it’s not like Bush had the power to magically stop the Russian bombers in their tracks. Again, you complain but provide no ideas on how to prevent what happened.
“Subprime mess! You know, I’m no Economist and no Fed chairman, but in 2005, I knew so well that hard-to-clean-stuff will hit the fan where so many millions of homes will be wasted, so I sold my house at the top of the market when everybody was buying! I didn’t use a calculator and didn’t read any stat from any banks. Yet, the Fed Chairman with ALL the info. and statistics could not see what is hitting the fan. Instead of prosecuting Greenspan, he is given Medal of Freedom, along with CIA director!!!!!”
Greenspan warned Congress, McCain warned Congress, Bush sponsored oversight legislation, and you’re blaming THEM for the mess?
“Katrina! Anything else I need to add? This took place under the watch of 8 years of Republicans!!! When President’s men have to make him a DVD to show him what is going on in U.S., this reminds me of Ahmadinejad denying killing Jews in WWII.”
Actually, this took place under the watch of the totally incompetent and corrupt Blanco and Nagin administrations, since it was their job to handle the effects of Katrina on their cities. Bush had 3 days to get involved; he took less than 2. Ask the Louisianians, who elected Jindal.
“Going into Iraq and managing it so far!! Need I say more?!!!”
Yes, otherwise there’s nothing to talk about. You think Iraq was a disaster, a quagmire, a war for oil, etc; I don’t. You’re not going to change any minds with one sentence.
“Afghanistan!! Opium, Taleban, any good news there?”
Another one-sentence, zero-substance remark. Try again.
“Budget deficit.”
Sounds like a good reason to elect McCain, since he’s all for spending cuts. I agree that Republicans, Democrats and Bush alike have all been spending like there’s no tomorrow for 8 years.
“U.S. economy. People’s income going down, while cost is going up”
Income is actually going up. And I’d like to hear your justification for why you blame the Republican administration for the economy’s downward trend.
“45 million people W/O Health insurance”
Only solvable if you think government-mandated health insurance is better. Another issue that’d take more than one sentence to resolve.
“Price of oil going from $20 to over $140 in 8 years”
And you complain that we haven’t been pressuring Saudi Arabia? Those are some unrealistic expectations you have there.
Sep 28, 2008 - 9:56 pm 65. FRI RI:this thing sucks
Oct 17, 2008 - 6:15 am