His approach to foreign policy has been a complete 180 from the Bush "my way or the highway" message. I think he has already done quite a bit to repair America's image overseas (any comments from non-Americans?).
Certainly, his domestic agenda will be much different than Bush's. However, he cannot simply rule by decree. Legislation needs to go through congress and we all know how long that can take. Also, I think his preferred list of priorities on which he campaigned all last summer was put on the back burner when the economy fell apart last September. Most of his domestic agenda has been forced to focus on that so far.
It's way too soon to make any conclusions about the accomplishments or agenda of the Obama administration. I don't agree with everything he has said or done so far but I do like the fresh and inclusive approach he has taken. It's also a pleasant change to have a leader who can remain cool under fire and doesn't seem to lose his temper like Bush did so frequently. He can also properly pronounce the word "nuclear".
It is disheartening to know that there are those who wish him ill-will and hope he fails simply because his political philosophies don't coincide with theirs. To do so wishes ill-will upon our great nation and, from my viewpoint, that constitutes a treasonous act. Every American should hope Obama is extremely successful, just as we all had (or should have) hoped that Bush would succeed.
Really? I guess this is just a smokescreen then....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...gnals-end-of-waterboarding-and-rendition.html
Well well, I will have to chime in. By 180 degree backward forward foreign policy, I suppose that you clearly know that Obama tries diplomacy at all costs, kinda like Clinton did in its time by kissing the UN and the arab nations asses. Unfortunately there are things that never change and that will never change, the fact that Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades, Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah and Ahmadinejhad are in the Middle East will only make things worse. Israel has given some of its territories because of peace talks during the Clinton administration, but has it improved things? Absolutely not. I think Israel has the whole right to defend itself againt any threat and it is not up to Obama or Clinton to tell to Israel what it should or not when Israel faces terrorism everyday. Spending less in the military is it a wise choice? Not necessarily. A poorly equipped army is prone to be tackled in difficult situations. Some people here are perhaps happy than no more f22s were ordered and that only a few f22 are flying. What makes a country strong is its military, not its healthcare system or social insurance system where honest hardworking citizens pay for lazy, unwilling to work and unwilling to integrate people.
You do not repair the image of a country by trying to kiss every other country's ass. The so called cool attitude is perhaps misleading, certainly Obama is under stress. That cool attitude (laxist attitude) doesn't give me a single bit of confidence. I always preferred Reagan who was very determined on his objective but who knew how to motivate his troops and prove them he was right. He was a decicated person to his task and a non negotiable person when it was necessary. Personally, I prefer someone unilateralist like Reagan who was a patriot and who knew what he stood for than someone like Obama.
There are perhaps several reasons why a lot of people wish him to fail, I have read and heard about them a lot. I have also discussed with Americans living in my town who were disliking Obama. You want me to list you a few reasons, so here you go:
-he closed Guantanamo and freed some detainees that were hi risk and dangerous ones (some people here talk about presumption of innocence). You don't let supporters of terrorism free.
-trying to implement a healthcare and social security system that has ruined some of the leading european countries financially is not going to work in the USA
-he want to give loans to students in order to finance their studies forgetting than not everyone is desserving them, only the hardworking ones deserve them, the others don't
-the fact that some of the industries that were flagships and the roots of the American economy are treated without any respect (Chrysler and GM)
-the fact that Obama was a Senator and that he hasn't done much to improve situation of Illinois is enough to justify that he was bad choice as a president.
What is treasonous is to have people like the clinton bitch, pelosi and rahm and make a shitload of promises that Obama will never ever fullfill. I am perhaps what you will consider as somewhat coldhearted but realistic and I don't live of dreams but I always stick to the reality.
have a great day
regards
georges
