Regarding the increased number of troops being sent to Afghanistan by Pres. Obama:
I too, have my doubts as to whether this is a good idea. Even my favorite, Jon Stewart, showed clips comparing Obama and Bush on sending more troops. Even the wording was similar.
However, most of the nation voted for a Democrat instead of a Republican for president in Nov. 2008. He ran on “change.” He’s been in office almost 12 months now, and the world hasn’t “changed” as much as we hoped when we voted for him. How many of us when starting a new job, can “change” everything we don’t like immediately?
Old ways have to be studied and evaluated. New methods are unproven and always open to criticism. Change is hard, especially when another group that has 1/3 power, is constantly providing roadblocks to the desired change.
Yes, not everyone is happy about the war situation. Obama didn’t start it and is trying to end it. He, as opposed to Bush, has set a deadline. That is “change” that wasn’t in the past administration policies.
We live in a democracy. If, in Nov. 2012, we don’t like what the new administration has done, and if we don’t agree with the type of change that has taken place, or if no change has occurred, then we are free to vote for someone else.
It’s very easy to criticize politicians. However, how many of us would trade place with anyone of them?
The BackChannel Blog 
Bev you’ve read my mind!
“How many of us when starting a new job, can “change” everything we don’t like immediately?”
Dictators. Particularly those who ascend to office through a military coup.
In a democracy, not so much.
Another great post from the Bev-ster.
Excellent post Bev. Yes, Im sure if Obama’s campaign rhetoric was “I will end the war in Afghanistan by taking 11 months to develop a concrete strategy involving sending 30,000 more young men and women to fight for their lives for another 18 months. Yes! Thats it 9.5 years should be sufficient to declare victory in a country where no one has ever succeeded prior. And in 18 months I too can put on a flight suit like G.W did and declare victory!!!!!” Yes,Im sure he would of still been elected.
I have a hunch,and its just a hunch, that those gosh darn Afghanies juuuust wont be able to get the hang of becoming a Uncle Sam approved security force. So we’ll probably need to stay there for oh lets see maybe another 8 years? But hey,coincidentally maybe those US troops can pick up some extra work guarding the pipeline that begins being constructed next year! I hope Im wrong for Obamas sake. Because if this incredibly ambitious plan of 18 months turns into the extended war that every other war in modern history has turned into, then it might appear that we are there for the poppy crops and the abundant resources in the Caspian Sea,and we wouldnt people to get the wrong impression.
So I agree Bev we didnt quite get the “change ” we expected.
Thought for previous article below.
I think that the social secretary should testify and I’ll tell you why.
The Secretary is responsible for the guest list of who’s invited and who’s not. Someone from her office should have been available to confirm the people who were invited if there name was left off the list by accident, no one was there.
Also it has now been reported that a person from the press told the secret service that not only weren’t they on the list, but that they didn’t belong there.
There was no one to ask from the social secretary’s office to confirm they were not invited and that they should be removed.
From what I understand it was always the practice to have a person present from the social secretary’s office to make sure since they handle the list of who’s invited and would know if someone was trying to crash the party, they changed the practice and put the Presidents life in danger.
There is fault on both sides to this issue. The White House is at fault and so is the Secret Service personal who failed to follow up when told by a White House Reporter that the Saliha’s didn’t belong.
Just my two cents for what’s its worth.
God Bless.
PS: Peter King is a asshole and another republican who should be pulled out of his office by the people and be publicly executed for his acts of treason against our country.
Morning peeps
Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Sat, December 05, 2009 — 1:42 AM ET
—–
Senator Baucus Reveals Relationship With Woman He Nominated, A.P. Reports
A spokesman for Senator Max Baucus said the Montana Democrat
was in a romantic relationship with the woman he nominated
for U.S. attorney, the Associated Press reports.
The spokesman Ty Matsdorf said Mr. Baucus and his former
state office director, Melodee Hanes, began the relationship
in the summer of 2008. Baucus nominated Hanes for the U.S.
attorney post last March, but she later withdrew her name.
The White House Blog
Weekly Address: Pushing Forward on Jobs
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/05/weekly-address-pushing-forward-jobs
OMG – another one who can’t keep his pants zipped. No wonder the ED pills are so in demand.
On Baucus-gate, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. He only nominated his girlfriend, he didn’t give her a job, unlike the former VP who gave his daughter a job she was totally unqualified for as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
2. I’m guessing Harry Reid knew about this all the time. Hence Reid’s ability to change Baucus’s position on the public option…
Bev: excellent blogpost.
On a really micro level: how easy is it for any of us to change a personal habit we know we’d be better off without?
Now, take that macro, with a nation of 300,000,000 plus people, a lot of hurt and need, and too many people more willing to vent than to think.
Re Afghanistan: who knows if our “good” war would have been winnable, even without the distraction of a second war in Iraq and an unrealistic president? We will never know. It seems to have the graveyard of a lot of ambitions.
I am wondering if Obama is keeping more troops in the mix to be staged properly for any swift action needed in Pakistan.
In Defense of Desiree Rogers
Lynn Sweet
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/05/in-defense-of-desiree-rogers/
Dem leaders to members: Start bragging about accomplishments
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/70753-dem-leaders-to-members-start-bragging
Anybody out there?
One word: brrrr.
Cold wet sleeting snow here in Virginia. May it develop into something drier and more picturesque as it travels north.
Thanks for bringing that article to our attention Brian. I was going to make a comment about how hilarious the headline was but I think the comments posted under the article say it all,took the words right out of my mouth.
So let me ask you are you pro-global governance?
Morning peeps,
Too friggin cold this morning!
In keeping with Bev’s topic, here’s Col. Lawrence Wilkinson in The Washington Note, before the West Point speech Tuesday.
“Damned if you do and damned if you don’t”
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/12/guest_note_by_l/#comments
Point being: we’re royally screwed, especially by our debt, no matter what.
Happy Sunday!
And Frank Rich has a great column today as well.
Takeaway point for me was we’re a nation that will not sacrifice for its troops in the field.
Illustration of us as a nation playing golf. It could have been us reading about Tiger Woods, the Salahis, Jon and Kate, whatever …
And Evan Bayh agreeing with Jon Kyl that raising taxes to support our wars would be a bad idea. No sacrifice is too little for Americans to forgo.
I think Obama should ask us to sacrifice. Many of us are already in reduced straits; what’s another degree or two if it’s for the common good.
Why not go a lot further, with a tax on imported oil, some of it earmarked for research on traumatic brain injuries and continued support for our warriors who will not be able to work productively as a result of their service on our behalf? And for funding R&D of cleaner, sustainable energy sources and vehicles.
And for repairing our infrastructure, and putting Americans to work doing so?
People understand jobs. They understand that our young troops and their families get a raw deal.
Good Morning,
Ha,even cold here in Florida this morning,49..
Bev,
Nice posting.I think its very good to remind are selves that the President has only been in office a short time.Its also important to hold all the Dems feet to the fire..I love President Clinton, but I remember how rocky his first 2 years were.If by the time the next Presidential election rolls around the President doesn’t give us the Hope and Change he promised(especially on gay issues),well the top of my ballot will remain blank..I no longer will vote the lesser of 2 evils..
In Tempe it’s 40 on my back porch.
Thanks for all the nice comments about my post.
A cool idea: microfinance for education loans in the third world. A young entrepreneur applies kiva.org’s model to college funding.
http://www.vittana.org
Seems like a great idea. Bonus points to Mr. Chakrabarti for realizing, very young, that he’d rather try to change the world than sell more Amazon books. (Amazon will always find enough employees.)
Brian: my comment’s in moderation. (about vittana.org; maybe wordpress thinks too much posting??) Thanks.
you can only put one url in a post!
I guess Parliament House opens late on Sunday mornings aye Tony? Shouldn’t you be attending mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Gold Lame?
Watching MTP, how refreshing to see a SOD & SOS who actually like each other!
“I guess Parliament House opens late on Sunday mornings aye Tony? Shouldn’t you be attending mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Gold Lame?”
Oh,you BAD,BAD to the BONE!! Remember that one MR??
HA,so funny,one of my clients friends asked me if I was a Christian Thursday..Dan said usually people with attitudes like yours are Christians..I laughed and said nope not a Christian at all.Oh and then the proselytizing started..I should have faked and said a few praise Jesus things..
Brian
It is refreshing..I got to give it to the President, his good will seems to spread throughout his administration..
Interesting post by Matt Bai in the NYT Sunday Magazine on the blurred line between MSM talking head celebs (particularly cable) and pols.
It’s a balmy 19 degrees here, and that’s expected to be the high today and it’ll be colder tomorrow…
I was at a holiday party last night and I came up with a very effective technique I thought I’d pass along. If, during the course of polite conversation someone says to you “I listen to a lot of talk radio” cough into your sleeve a lot and say “I hope I’m not catching something.” They move away from you very quickly…
Good one d, I’m going to use that!
Me, too.
Great idea for thinning a crowd!
Many crowds should be thinned! Hey nanny how you feeling?
NEW THREAD