Obama’s getting a bad rap on the “superpower” comment
posted at 8:57 pm on April 16, 2010 by Allahpundit
This has been bugging me all week, and while I respect Ed’s opinion on it, I don’t respect attempts to bowdlerize what The One actually said. Here’s the full quote, which Ed posted a few days ago:
“When conflicts break out, one way or another, we get pulled into them.” True enough, and I don’t always “like” that we’re pulled into them. For example, I don’t “like” the fact that we have 30,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as cannon fodder in case the lunatic to the north ever attacks Seoul. But I accept it because I understand it’s an effective deterrent that saves millions of lives. I don’t “like” the fact that we’re forced to take the lead on Iran even though their military capabilities are more of an immediate threat to Europe and the Sunnis, but I accept it because the stick we wield is so much bigger than everyone else’s that we’re most likely to bring them to heel. I don’t “like” the fact that American troops have spent the past seven years dodging — and, sometimes, not dodging — IEDs in Iraq, but I accept it because I think having a democracy in the region will eventually put pressure on local autocrats to liberalize and held deflate jihadism. Disagree with my position on any or all of those if you like, but I don’t see how it’s controversial or demeaning to suggest that the world’s policeman, like any policeman, doesn’t always enjoy his job. In fact, less than six months ago, Pew found for the first time in 45 years that those who believe the U.S. should mind its own business abroad outnumber those who don’t. I think that isolationist impulse is nutty and a de facto invitation to malign powers to expand their influence, but then so does The One — which, I take it, is why he ordered the surge in Afghanistan, is going slow on withdrawal from Iraq, is stepping up drone attacks in Pakistan, and is keeping the troops in Korea and elsewhere in place. If we insist on playing “gotcha” with short soundbites that supposedly provide some insight into his thinking but aren’t even reflected in half of his policies, can we at least provide the full soundbite for context? Geez.
Blowback
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I’ll respond to you both at once, since you both doubt my assertion that our sovereign debt is our Achilles’ heel. Let me ask you both this: are you familiar with the Suez Crisis? If not, read up on it – you will recognize the significance to our current situation, as well as a fairly substantial historical irony.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Allah doesn’t support Palin…Palin doesn’t support Barry…Allah defends Barry as “misunderstood”…
Why do I suspect this only “bugged” Allah when Palin smacked Barry down…
I get the concept of carry a big stick and walk silently …and don’t make stupid remarks in a room full of diplomats from other countries… some of which are very hostile to us…
CCRWM on April 17, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Please forgive me if I’m repeating what others have pointed out. I’m all for fairness, but a man who utters barely a thought without a teleprompter is not likely to say something like this without it having an intentional meaning. He has teams of people who carefully put together each and every word he says. Remember when the words hope and change were just words? Not anymore. That was masterfully done. I believe that is what Obama is attempting to do with lighting bolt comments like this. There is nothing accidental about this guy.
redwhiteblue on April 17, 2010 at 12:28 AM
I’m afraid I must dispute that claim, Jenfidel. For FY2010, total US defense-related spending, including war supplementals, is approximately 25% of Federal spending (see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview/).
I certainly agree with you about that. However, it is very difficult for me to imagine ever entirely eliminating the social safety net – introducing means testing for benefits at least is more politically feasible in the near term and would result in significant medium-term savings. However, ring-fencing fully a quarter of the federal budget in a time of unprecedented and growing structural deficits is simply impossible (and remember, we need substantial SURPLUSES at this point to undo the damage). Continuing to maintain military outlays at a level so disproportionate to our share of global productive capacity is unsustainable. Surely we can still be secure if we account for one-third of global military spending?
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 12:41 AM
C’mon, Allah,
The full context doesn’t change much because there have simply been too many Blame-America-First moments to give him the benefit of the doubt.
If somebody else had said the same thing, we might give it to them. And that’s not unfair. For example, both Reagan and Obama said they wanted less nukes. Reagan got rid of entire classes of nukes. How?
By standing up to dictators. By challenging the moral legitimacy of the regimes. By deploying and modernizing. By building a missile defense and funding conventional arms. In other words, all the things Obama is NOT doing, or is undoing. Yet both Reagan and Obama said the same thing.
Only a Reagan can accomplish it. Only a Thatcher can say “We can do business with Mr. Gorbachev,”…because she stood up to Gorbachev first.
Noel on April 17, 2010 at 12:42 AM
Don’t be so sure. China thoroughly believes it would be a mistake to fight us only on conventional terms. So they will fight us conventionally and UNconventionally.
What does that mean? Chemical, biological, cyber, and limited nukes. Don’t believe me? Read Unrestricted Warfare. Written by a retired Chinese general it is VERY popular with the military leadership on China. We’ve already seen some of it in action.
A satelite killing missile. The implantation of viruses into the electrical grid and other important infrastructures of America that lie dormant until activated, and espionage on a level second to none.
Hard Right on April 17, 2010 at 12:52 AM
No, it isn’t.
xblade on April 17, 2010 at 12:58 AM
I think you forgot to include your argument and supporting points, my friend.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 1:05 AM
Measuring our military spending in relation to our productive capacity does not take into account that our productive capacity is greatly diminished, intentionally, by the expansion of “entitlements.” It is the beginning of an Obama-induced death spiral.
GaltBlvnAtty on April 17, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Such brilliant logic…
Look, if we want to have any chance of financial sanity, it is going to mean cuts in government spending IN ALL AREAS.
The military doesn’t get immunity simply because of the all the jingoistic GI Joes whose version of ‘smart power’ involves little more than ‘smart bombs’. Or because our current CIC isn’t fit to command a regiment of tin soldiers. Or even because it is a specified cost of government.
Either everybody’s pet projects take a significant budget cut and we learn to live within our means, or we follow the path of Rome.
Dark-Star on April 17, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Well, I did come for the waters…
We’ve given away a lot. We’ve also overreacted, to a certain extent, in our applications of ITAR – and especially in our mis-applications, since we brought on the international “partners” too soon. You want to know why developing this plane is taking so long and is so expensive – stop paying engineers and technicians to sit on their thumbs while awaiting “just-so” correctness in paperwork that should, frankly, not be needed at this early stage.
We’ve made mints selling F-16s to everyone and their grandmothers. The F-16 is the plane that the F-35 is to replace, incidentally – not the F-15, which was replaced by the F-22 (different cats for different rats). We didn’t invite those foreign customers to help pay for developing the F-16 though, and it sure didn’t take the better part of a decade to go from preliminary design to pre-production flight tests either. That’s where this whole process is ridiculous.
Blacksmith on April 17, 2010 at 1:17 AM
Government’s role is to provide for common defense, but only to promote general welfare (which, by the way, is never accomplished by wealth redistribution). So please do forgive us if we defend those defense projects that actually fall within the Federal mission statement while decrying such programs as Social Security that do not.
Blacksmith on April 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM
Good article on the F22 MC rates and reality
enjoy the freedoms that the military protects, enjoy the liberty that military defends, enjoy your life as an American because you can.
I feel sorry for you……….
dmann on April 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM
Certainly true, GaltBlvnAtty. This is why, after the necessary cuts have been made, and we are maintaining a steady and large budgetary surplus and paying down the debt which menaces our security as much as our prosperity, our economic growth will revive, enabling us to sustainably support the level of deterrent I am advocating we maintain in the years ahead: one-third of global military spending.
With any luck, we’ll be out of the hole in time to purchase some very impressive gen 6 fighters.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 1:25 AM
I do know, thats why I included this statement;
China will never prevail militarily unless we let them
dmann on April 17, 2010 at 1:26 AM
We don’t need your insincere sorrow, wingnut. We need you and the libtards to quit defending the budgets of your respective pet programs with the fervor of Billy Graham! There will be plenty of time for feeling sorry when we finally run out of funny money for lethal machinery and wealth transfers and our entire economy falls apart!
We need BOTH sides to agree now more than ever on this subject. If only one group cooperates, the other will surreptitiously funnel most of the money ‘saved’ to their own causes, and the end progress will be zip.
But…given the chances of true bipartisan cooperation on this subject…I’d say we’re screwed.
Dark-Star on April 17, 2010 at 1:29 AM
dmann, you never answered my question: are you familiar with the denouement of the Suez Crisis? In our present condition, China can prevail over us without a single missile fired. If you care about our national security, job one is returning the federal budget to a substantial (>5%) surplus, and paying down debt aggressively.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 1:30 AM
There are bad times just around the corner,
There are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
And it’s no good whining
About a silver lining
For we know from experience that they won’t roll by.
With a scowl and a frown
We’ll keep our peckers down
And prepare for depression and doom and dread,
We’re going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag
And wait until we drop down dead.
Cheers, mate!
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 1:39 AM
No cheers here. Must sign off for tonight…culinary midterm tomorrow and reading about our impending economic doom isn’t helping me.
Dark-Star on April 17, 2010 at 1:41 AM
I don’t like Palin. I also don’t like Obama.
Go figure.
You-Eh-Vee on April 17, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Dark-Star, you are truly clueless. The current crop of dems only want our capitulation and the destruction of America. There is no reasoning with them. Yet you sing kumbayah as a typical middle of the road fool who chooses the middle soley to feel good about themselves and superior to others who do not.
Coming together is not an option at this time because of the left-not the right, but I know you will never truthfully say that. You have too much emotion, wishful thinking, and ego involved to face reality. Piss off you gutless narcissist.
Hard Right on April 17, 2010 at 2:20 AM
Allah, we’ve heard Obama speak for 3 years now….non-stop, with one disparaging remark about the US after another. Therefore, in that context, my position is with Ed and Irish’s good summary.
In fact, I’d go one further that it’s even worse where about the US when it suits him and knock us when it doesn’t. This guy is one piece of work. It’s hard to give him the benefit of any doubt because he’s all politics/ideology all the time.
Renwaa on April 17, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Ugh, pre coffee. I mean to write he’s POSITIVE about the US when it suits him and KNOCKS us when it doesn’t. Apologies. Must be the volcanic ash over Europe messing with my typing!
Renwaa on April 17, 2010 at 2:32 AM
I do believe Allah has officially jumped the shark.
It would be one thing of Obama was being his usual self (acting stupidly)and somehow thought he was talking about breathalyzers or inhalators or some kind of lunacy.
But we all know from every action this is simply how Obama feels. And why wouldn’t he? Obama has marinated in un-American hatred all of his life, from his communist mama and daddy to Ann’s parents to his mentors Frank Marshal Davis and Bill Ayers. (and God only knows who else)
In all honesty, the poor bastard never had a chance to be anything but a radical America hating loon.
Also, Allah, one could buy your nonsense if Obama’s Science Czar, John Holdren hadn’t went down the same road this week, talking about how America needs to get over being number one.
Of course, never forget, what Allah is really doing here is bashing Sarah Palin, and while I have always secretly thought it, we now know Allah would side with Lucifer himself, if it meant he could bash Palin in the bargain.
Nice job Allah…..
gary4205 on April 17, 2010 at 2:43 AM
@AP,
I read Ed’s post that you linked to – and i read yours. both of them sounded reasonable, actually.
I’ll have to say – if any one else who didnt have Obama’s shady past and track record said this, people would not have a problem – i also have to say that you are inflating Obama’s record on these issues much like the value of a house in California or Florida
I think you are overselling the AfPak surge… from all available indications on this side of the world, the Obama Administration is back to playing geo-strategic games in the region.In my estimation, US will start its withdrwal from AfPak at the earliest (which is 2011 according to Obama himself) – you guys have come to the conclusion that US interests are best served by Paki military/ISI’s anointed succesors to Karzai
It took Obama a long time to decide on the surge because he knows that it was not going to last long and was hoping to see if he could totally avoid it. McChrystal kind of forced his hand with his public statements on the need for one.
Your defense of Obama on Iraq was nothing short of a joke – the hard work on Iraq including signing the SoFA agreement was done by Bush & Co – infact even Maliki needs to be commended on this one. But Obama ? This is the guy who wanted to start the withdrawal in March 2008 !!! Refused to acknowledge the success of the surge until it became undeniable and is now actually in charge of responsibly drawing down from Iraq.
Bigotry of low expectations on military matters from a liberal President, much ??
nagee76 on April 17, 2010 at 2:58 AM
Look at him on this video and any others of him at this summit. He looks like a little man…or rather a teenage boy who stands among men. His shoulders droop, he has no confidence, every bit of the persona he tries to put out is constructed for him and backboned by his woman. A boy among men with childish ideas and whims.
TheAudacityofNOPE on April 17, 2010 at 3:31 AM
Obama is getting a complete PASS on much worse, his administration is damaging the country faster than anyone can report on it, so why waste precious cyberspace bitching about people criticizing what was an awkward and dumb statement on his part to begin with?
American Elephant on April 17, 2010 at 3:35 AM
Own it Beeotchbama!
BHO Jonestown on April 17, 2010 at 4:40 AM
It seems Allahpundit has gone from the “worrying” stage about his job at HA
to constructively doing something about it by
looking for work as the new Brooks/Frum for the Administration.
Lockstein13 on April 17, 2010 at 5:50 AM
Is this hotair ot daily Kos? With Allah lately its been hard to tell the difference.
unseen on April 17, 2010 at 7:36 AM
America’s strength keeps us safe. We need a real president who understands this basic premise.
BottomLine5 on April 17, 2010 at 7:59 AM
John McCain.
Spirit of 1776 on April 17, 2010 at 8:05 AM
Obama knows to whom he is speaking and it’s not always the same audience. Here he’s clearly speaking to his base, not the American people who disagree with him. Haven’t we figured this guy out yet?
Randy
williars on April 17, 2010 at 8:08 AM
AP: The idea that Obama did a surge in Afghanistan because he is not an isolationist or thought it was the right thing to do from a public policy perspectives is pretty weak at best and foolish at worst. Obama did the late and less than required surge with an END DATE because of a domestic political calculation. Otherwise he never would have put an end date on it and he would have done the required numbers when it was requested. Obama calls Israel and “constant sore”, his airhead sec of state hillary would not support the brits on the falklands issue, he is cutting missisle defenses and the f-22, his new nuclear posture doctrine telegraphs our actions in case of attack supposedly on the basis if encouraging the NPT which of course is foolish because now we know that there is no one to enforce an NPT since Obama concurrently tells the world it is OK for the islamists in iran to get nukes.
Really, AP, you are either an Obamabot or you are tired and unthinking, or, well something else. You tell us
georgealbert on April 17, 2010 at 8:19 AM
I’m only surprised he didn’t say…
“Like it or not, I am a Superpower!”
Tony Soprano on April 17, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Really? We get pulled into them, as opposed to choosing to engage? Well then, the left has a point after all. The way to avoid that irresistible urge must be to disarm to some satisfactory level of weakness. Call it the AP doctrine: MAI–Mutually Assured Impotence.
Barnestormer on April 17, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Obviously the which aircraft to purchase is debatable and we would hope that he would take the advice of the expertise around him (not those Congress critters that were surely bribed in some way or another). But only an idiot that would cringe at binging a super power would refuse to make a speech in front of particular jet at a base in Alaska. You can’t take “like it or not” out of context, it was not a slip of the tongue and he does not like it. It doesn’t fit into his theory of fair. I would be willing to bet that he feels we have developed our might on the backs of Third World nations.
Cindy Munford on April 17, 2010 at 8:29 AM
From the speech:
“For example, I don’t “like” the fact that we have 30,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as cannon fodder in case the lunatic to the north ever attacks Seoul. But I accept it because I understand it’s an effective deterrent that saves millions of lives.”
What he wanted to add just after that but didn’t:
“And it’s what I inherited from The Administration of 1953 that decided a Cease Fire was better than a victory.”
TugboatPhil on April 17, 2010 at 8:49 AM
That quote is Allah’s, Tugboat, not Obama’s. Only the first sentence of that paragraph is a quote from the speech.
But I agree with your premise!!
IrishEi on April 17, 2010 at 8:55 AM
This has been bugging me all week, and while I respect Ed’s opinion on it, I don’t respect attempts to bowdlerize what The One actually said. Here’s the full quote, which Ed posted a few days ago:
Hey it’s been bugging me too. If a private citizen does not feel comfortable with the “super power” thing, that’s when you respect it.
Not a president.
ProudPalinFan on April 17, 2010 at 9:02 AM
It is a vital national security interest of the United States to remain a dominant military superpower to prevent conflicts from breaking out. But if we choose to engage, we must be victorious. And that’s the way we like it.
FIFO.
Noel on April 17, 2010 at 9:06 AM
After reading the whole thing-still with this nasty headache-the only conclusion I can come up with Allah, is that what you wrote is exactly what Ron Paul wants.
Ron Paul wants all bases closed and all the troops back in the US. I don’t have a good memory of many things, but I betcha there might be a clip on YouTube about this on a debate.
ProudPalinFan on April 17, 2010 at 9:18 AM
Here’s the Ron Paul proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ify0fcNYtj0
ProudPalinFan on April 17, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Obama gets a bad rap? After all the deception and thuggery he pulls on us, my sense of fair play says, “So sad, CRY ME A RIVER.”
petefrt on April 17, 2010 at 9:21 AM
My excuses for me writing so soon and so frequently, but this explains the reality:
OBAMA AND RON PAUL ARE PRACTICALLY EVEN ON THE POLLS.
ProudPalinFan on April 17, 2010 at 9:24 AM
FlickeringFlame or Allah? Or are they one and the same? How’s that soccer team doing?
You loose all credibility when you respected Ed’s opinion but you didn’t respect the Palin opinion. You claim she bowdlerized his comments? What did Ed say so differently to arrive at the same conclusion?
CTSherman on April 17, 2010 at 9:31 AM
I don’t get how anyone can give Obama the benefit of the doubt anymore. That ship sailed about 12 months ago.
angryed on April 17, 2010 at 9:42 AM
What did Ed say so differently to arrive at the same conclusion?
CTSherman on April 17, 2010 at 9:31 AM
It’s not what she said its the fact as far as Allah is concerned is that THAT WOMAN said it.
Allah has joined the forces of the Palin-haters IMO. He was boderline before but with her surge in the polls he has moved firmly in the palin-haters of america camp
Nothing else expalins his drive-bys of her PAC spending and the Fred Malak posts. Pure drivel, attack pieces with 100% skewed “facts”
unseen on April 17, 2010 at 9:44 AM
I didn’t miss the quote, and I think he said pretty much what he meant, which Palin nailed in her own piece.
There’s no confusion.
If you disagree, fine. But the problem isn’t misunderstanding him.
AnninCA on April 17, 2010 at 9:48 AM
dmann on April 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM
Good find on the MC rates…I knew inkblots was spouting B$…The F-22 won the Collier trophy in 2006…Unlike the Nobel prize, the Collier trophy is not given for nothing. The Air Force doesn’t like the F-22, they love it! It ran an 80-1 kill ratio in Exercise Northern Edge 2005. Unbelievable success for the Air Force, Lockeed, Boeing and the thousands of engineers and suppliers who developed this magnificant airplane…
As I said earlier, the Air Force leadership know that maintaining over-whelming superiority is the best defense. It means that you will rarely if ever have to fire a shot in anger…The F-22 delivers this over-whelming air superiority and it will foe decades…Obama cutting this program is a stupid, expensive, and dangerous move…
Nozzle on April 17, 2010 at 10:14 AM
President Sham Wow is ashamed of America’s power. He has apologized for America all over the World. He would very much like to change America into a weak, passive European craphole.
He gets no slack from me. None.
I will take a dump on him every day until he is gone.
Why not? He is doing it to America.
SurferDoc on April 17, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Allah, Ed carries this blog…I recommend you keep your comments with regard to Ed’s posts between you and your girlfriends…
Nozzle on April 17, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Yeah, while AP’s comments resonate with me *a little*, this piece felt a bit “doth protest too much” and the Palin connection came to mind as well.
Midas on April 17, 2010 at 10:23 AM
That was wholly uncalled for, imo. AP’s contributions here are significant and appreciated, even when not always agreed with.
Midas on April 17, 2010 at 10:24 AM
What Obama has shown us he believes… over and over and over again
-
-
What we are now expected to think he meant…
-
-
I’m sorry to have to tell you, but he’s anti-America to the core… Too many G.D. sessions at church and Bill the Bomber’s house have left him transparent in this. He just can’t help himself.
-
RalphyBoy on April 17, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Ask me if I care whether Obama is getting a ‘bad rap’.
jeanie on April 17, 2010 at 10:28 AM
If it came from someone other than Obama, it might be a possibility. As it comes from Obama, not forgiveable. It’s consistent with Obama’s anti-Americanism.
I do also get weary of AP’s continual exculpation of Obama.
drjohn on April 17, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Thread winner right there – what more really needs to be said?
Religious_Zealot on April 17, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Geesh AP – seems like the height of hypocriscy for you to complain about playing “gotcha” with soundbites – did you ever pass on a negative soundbite about/from Palin that you thought would generate lots of hits?
katiejane on April 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
-
Obama. Yo Momma, So w’as wit all the Drama.
You actin like a Dude who’s goes down wit Osama.
The shiite that you Sayin, it ain’t no longer Playin.
You be Bad like a Flu… in November you get painin.
-
Yo…. He’s down like that… In the polls he’s a wack….O
Pizza take out.
-
RalphyBoy on April 17, 2010 at 10:46 AM
AP
I’m late to this but it is in fact very simple. It doesn’t matter what you or Ed or I or any poster here thinks and says. It does matter what the President says or thinks. And that is the big difference here. If the President cannot make himself clear, be exact, etc. that’s a problem. When he said “we get pulled into them” it gives the appearance of weakness. He implies that other entities have the power to “pull” us. This is simply a weakness we cannot convey to the rest of the world in the times we live in. Actually we cannot convey any weakness to the world. Like it or not that is the way it is and has been for some time. So your post is pretty much pointless other than as your opinion,which is fine. But when you say…
it implies that we are stupid and this wouldn’t be the first time you have made this implication. When in actually it only clarified what Ed and others said. The President conveyed, to the rest of the world, weakness and unwillingness to accept his and our role in the current world situation and even the past. Something a President cannot and should not do. And apparently this President also needs new speech writers if he is coming off incorrectly or too ambiguous, which is obviously the case given the various intepretations of his statements.
Deanna on April 17, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Horrors!
Imagine pulling a quote out of context that reflects the Moron’s real thinking and claiming it reflects the Moron’s real thinking.
To do that, a real conservative like AP insists that you supply 15 months of context.
What an idiot.
notagool on April 17, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Geesh AP – seems like the height of hypocriscy for you to complain about playing “gotcha” with soundbites – did you ever pass on a negative soundbite about/from Palin that you thought would generate lots of hits?
katiejane on April 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Yeah the left never took the Palin quote about her reading newspapers out of context.
Or I can see Russia from my porch or the other countless times
unseen on April 17, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Midas on April 17, 2010 at 10:24 AM
It’s opinion…Not trying to speak for you or anyone else here…
Nozzle on April 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM
That was wholly uncalled for, imo. AP’s contributions here are significant and appreciated, even when not always agreed with.
Midas on April 17, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Yeah about as much of a contribution a Flea makes to a dog and about as much appreciated.
unseen on April 17, 2010 at 11:01 AM
When the site used to be just AP, his blogging seemed intelligent and insightful.
But when Ed came aboard AP’s blogging was revealed to be the snarky, emotional mediocre-ness that it really was.
And even Ed pales in comparison to Doctor Zero.
In fact, there are many other “Green Room” writers who deserve to be on the front page all the time.
It sure beats AP whining about Palin or Christianity or how poor, poor Obama is being mistreated.
Religious_Zealot on April 17, 2010 at 11:04 AM
See, 4 pages heading to a 5th and maybe, with a little luck, a 6th. Defending Obama pays.
TheBigOldDog on April 17, 2010 at 11:16 AM
At this point there’s nothing that you can say to convince me that Obama doesn’t despise this country. A majority of his actions and his words reveal this. He has contempt for those citizens who disagree with him, and he seeks to impose his will on the nation.
INC on April 17, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I think with a Google search there are a lifetime of examples to back up that he meant what he said. But you are right, in fifteen months there are plenty of examples and now the U.S. has to live with consequences.
Cindy Munford on April 17, 2010 at 11:19 AM
But you know AP was hoping for more.
There is usually very low traffic on the weekends, so this thread is most likely not even going to get 500 responses.
And he tried so hard for more – even making short, snarky comments just to stir the pot some more.
Religious_Zealot on April 17, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Actually any defense of President Sham Wow’s statement or any alleged attempt to generate hits is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
The fact that the current occupier of the White House thinks that his nation’s World leadership is a wrong thing that he is determined to change–matters
SurferDoc on April 17, 2010 at 11:29 AM
If Oliar had half of the criticism that Bush withstood FOR YEARS, he would have cracked by now, given his narcissistic disorder. That would be a victory since he’s aiming for the same for our country.
His personal ambivalence about projecting military power, in public speaking alone weakens the nation, and demonstrates his unfitness.
AP, I understand that you may feel the need to stir the pot to maintain controversy and fresh opinions. If however you are holding up the bar of “reasonableness” for your own gratification, keep in mind that if this despot wannabe gets his way, reason will have about the same eventual value as the dollar.
Any and all flack for this POS potus is warranted and obligatory. This is the same clown that just taunted more than half of the voters.
ontherocks on April 17, 2010 at 11:29 AM
I don’t know that I would say he despises America as much as he thinks loving it is beneath him. IMO to him it’s “just a place he lives”, no better than any other country. Just like the Tea Party movement amused him, I could think that strong patriotism and love of country either amuses him or more likely embarasses him.
katiejane on April 17, 2010 at 11:37 AM
His latest bow-wow to foreign dictators is the same “finger” he gave to Hillary and others just in a more cryptic format…The guy is a passive agressive juvenile clown on the world stage. I think if he tries another veteran’s day commemoration with his hands in his pockets while the National Anthem is played there will be a mutiny in ranks…The fool is a disgrace to the more than a million men and women who lost their lives fighting for our freedoms…Obowwow thinks he’s going to undo 250 years of our history and he is sadly mistaken!
Nozzle on April 17, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Disgrace is an important point, since as we may see it and feel it, Nitwit obviously can’t. That’s probably the most troubling part of his distorted personality.
ontherocks on April 17, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Did anyone see this? What a shock!
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/17/kyrgyz-interim-leader-says-base-unjustified/?test=latestnews
Cindy Munford on April 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Don’t forget: We should be THANKING HIM, according to His Majestic Oneness, for allowing us to keep some of OUR MONEY.
OUR MONEY, Herr Jug-ears. Get it? O U R – M O N E Y.
As in, not yours.
Your thin veneer has worn off; we see you for who you really are. I am so looking forward to your lame-duck status come November.
hillbillyjim on April 17, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Smart Powah! strikes again.
If Jug-ears gets any ‘smarter’, we might as well invest in a white flag factory.
hillbillyjim on April 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Agreed, but give AP credit. If he can’t handle the sandwich he can at least lick the crumbs off the table.
SKYFOX on April 17, 2010 at 12:03 PM
Huh. Allahpundit taking up for The One. Who’d a thunk it.
Oh, wait, that’s his normal stance.
Why do you people – those of you who really are conservative and not HuffPo/Dem infiltrators – still come to HotAir? I don’t get it. AP’s politics should be quite clear to even the thickest dunce.
THe man’s a fake – and I suspect that all along the whole HA crew are fakes. Debate is well and good, but AP’s posts consistently attack true conservatives and openly mocks them.
klickink.wordpress.com on April 17, 2010 at 12:09 PM
AP’s a conservative? Who knew?
I always thought of him as the Alan Colmes of the Hannity & Colmes schtick, with Ed playing Hannity.
My bad!
Sweet_Thang on April 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM
I guess, this is why I don’t come to this site much anymore. If there were any words Obama ever meant it was, “whether we like it or not”. He’s trying to destroy our country, period. If you think any credit is due to him, I’d have to agree that he is trying his best to live up to his stated goals to “remake” our country after the Marxist model he learned at Frank Marshall’s knee.
Hobbes on April 17, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Sorry AP, your point about taking things out of context is valid, however, not in this case, because the context goes way beyond just this set of remarks, it goes to the track record of things he’s said, (i.e. bitter clingers) things he’s done (apologizing for the country everywhere he goes) and the people he surrounds himself with (Wright, Ayers, Jarrett, etc.) When taken in that context, it’s a much bigger deal, and a window in to how he thinks.
jjverdi on April 17, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Context includes taking into account Barry’s fellow travelers and their anti-U.S. military activities. He is who his friends are.
Christien on April 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Shot, he was probably behind the overthrow of the original government. I really really am not fond of this regime.
Cindy Munford on April 17, 2010 at 12:35 PM
That’s fine principle AllahP has there. Where was it when he was calling his commenters “McCain haters” a week or two ago?
DaydreamBeliever on April 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
FIFY
Religious_Zealot on April 17, 2010 at 12:44 PM
My take on AP is that he’s basically rooted in a libertarian-left background who got ‘conservative’ after 9/11 and is drifting back to his default home base politics.
His atheism and aggressive secular posture is reflected in his sardonic antagonism toward “values voters” and “social conservatives” in general and, in his view ,the iconic representation of that element , Sarah Palin , in particular.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on April 17, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Hey, are you accusing me of lying? That WaPo from last summer was one of the many sources I recall that I based the ~60% MC rate on. Heck, the figure in the article is lower than that!
You are, of course, free to disagree with me, but I contend that the post on F-16.net that dmann posted is nothing but pure spin. I mean, look at at! It’s practically the definition of spin – it doesn’t dispute the facts in the news article, it just accuses it of having an agenda and then throws out every excuse and anecdotal success story it can find. And you know, that’s fine: it’s an article on a fighter enthusiast website, it’s not surprising that they want as many fighters to enthuse over as possible. But they’re certainly not being objective.
“It is a disgrace that you can fly a plane [an average of] only 1.7 hours before it gets a critical failure” – this is flat out true, no matter how you slice it. And I still maintain that for the type of conflicts we are likely to fight over the useful lifetime of our gen 5 fighter squadrons, the F-35, not the F-22, will be most useful.
Nozzle, did you not read my comments on sustainable defense spending and debt as a national security issue? I feel like I’m not getting through, here.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM
One wonders whether AP is bonused on the number of pages views he generates. Betcha.
1valle on April 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Hot Air is my favorite blog. I check it everyday and though I don’t comment on most threads I do read the analysis. This blog has a lot of readers and it’s very popular. For Allah to exploit that popularity, which granted he did help to build, in order to manipulate the participants into forming a negative opinion of Sarah Palin because he doesn’t like her is extremely unprofessional and unbecoming. He’ll post the most negative things and the most skewed polls to keep that constant drumbeat of negativity about her going and then he’ll sometimes write as if he’s criticizing the originator of the poll or article. But his true damage is done… he again got to showcase her in a negative light. He’s working hard to do this and it’s now very apparent to a lot of us. He throws in the occasional positively post to try to disguise it. Also, to be snarky and to constantly poke the predominantly “like Palin” group that participates on this blog is indicative to me of a lack of integrity and maturity.
I will read everything that Allah contributes with that understanding of where he comes from and I will not let him manipulate me and I hope the other participants here do the same.
I’m still waiting for his analysis on Romney’s Pac spending but because he got called on his hypocrisy and the hit job he did on Palin, like an insolent child he’ll not do it…in his apartment he’s probably saying, “Not going to do it neener neener neener”.
CCRWM on April 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Oh and in closing..I’d like to add:
Allah you dumped a huge stinky turd on us with this post…
Epic Fail!
CCRWM on April 17, 2010 at 1:44 PM
“Whether you like it or not,” what Obama says has no coherent relationship with what he does. And in that sense, I take hope in Obama lying that he won’t permit the US military whatever response THEY deem best (nothing off the table) when America is attacked next. But no use holding your breath, either.
/…My Mom would say, “You’re going to have fun whether you like it or not” as she’d drag me to an organized activity without appeal.
maverick muse on April 17, 2010 at 2:02 PM
“Whether we like it or not” is perhaps the solo inclusive reference Obama has made to date regarding all Americans as a whole. It’s as good as this divisive potus can get to directing his “unifying” message that so far as he is concerned, it is past time for Americans to learn not to bite the Marxist hand (his own) that intends to feed us anguish.
maverick muse on April 17, 2010 at 2:09 PM
The F-35 is verrsatile, but it’s frankly outclassed by other planes. It may be adequate for the next few years, but it takes at least a decade to put a new plane into production, and our F-15s are already starting to lose to new foreign fighter planes.
You seem to be ok with that, but I’m not. If you think military spending is bad now, just wait until we have to play catch-up.
When Reagan was elected, he had 3 goals above all: Fix the economy, strengthen the defense, and cut the deficit. He had tto give up any chance at the third goal because we had to spend so much on the military while recovering from the recession. First thing he did was to revive the B-2 bomber that Carter canceled.
But he knew that military spending is not optional. The debt problem is bad, but pretendding we can’t afford aa strong military is suicidal.
And measuring our spending as a percentage of global spending is a metric useful only for rhetoric. You spend what you need to spend to maintain your position and defend against anticipated threats. Many things go into that calculus, butglobal share of military spending isn’t one of them.
tom on April 17, 2010 at 2:18 PM
Probably an accurate analysis, but for brevity’s sake “douchebag” will suffice.
SKYFOX on April 17, 2010 at 2:44 PM
As predicted, the strawman has been set up. I have not said we can’t afford a strong military. Indeed, I haven’t said we can’t afford the STRONGEST military – at the level of spending I suggested above, we would still be spending as much on defense programs as the other top ten nations combined. If you think our fighting men and women aren’t capable of maintaining our security even with such a huge edge, you obviously have less faith in them than I.
And as I said before, pretending our debt problem isn’t a bigger risk to our national security than even the most cutting-edge Chinese fighter jets is what is truly suicidal. So long as China owns $1 trillion of our sovereign debt, we will never be able to fight them openly anyway, so having the best air superiority fighter would be completely moot.
Inkblots on April 17, 2010 at 2:46 PM
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