Reader Posts
« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
Nobody Believes Obama
I've finally figured it out. Nobody believes Barack Obama. Clinton supporters don't believe him. McCain supporters don't believe him. And now it turns out his own supporters don't believe him.
That's the only way I explain the fact that a man who says he may decide someday to re-invade Iraq, and gives Al Qaeda as an example of a reason that he might re-invade -- I think we've heard that one before -- has any supporters in the Progressive blogosphere. Apparently, we just don't believe him.
He also says he keep the troops there if sectarian violence increases, leaving our troops in the middle of a civil war -- to restore order? Like the surge? We've heard that one before, too. But I guess we don't believe that one either.
I've watched Senator Obama carefully, trying to pick up the signals he's sending that tells us he's lying. I've tried to catch him laying a finger along the side of his nose, winking, dropping in a well-chosen word or two that signals he's just making that stuff up, letting us know he won't leave the troops in Iraq under any circumstances. That he won't re-invade under any circumstances. That he's not really keeping his options open about something like that. But, man, if he's passing esoteric signals to the crowd, I can't pick them up.
Comments (8)
I consider myself a liberal, a progressive, and a patriot. I'm proud of all of those things. I'm also pro-military. My family has had at least one member in every conflict we can trace going back to WWI, with some internal debate about the Civil War. I don't want to see a single Airman, Soldier, Middie, or Marine day for anything other than protecting America, American citizens, and American interests. I don't want to see a single member of our diplomatic corps put in jeopardy because of foolish, hasty, uneducated, uncaring, vengeful decision-making.
Between Hillary Clinton, John McCain, & Barack Obama, I trust one person, head and shoulders above the others, to do what is right in the interests of our warfighters and our peacemakers. I don't need to look for subtle signals or special codes. We're not electing a "Seriously, never going to fire a single bullet during my administration no matter what"-in-Chief. We're not electing a President to act based upon a set of known quantities that can be measured to the hours over the next four or eight years. We're electing someone who may well face variables that we can't even imagine today. If the American people believe Hillary Clinton is more qualified than Barack Obama to face those variables, they have opportunities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and even polling options abroad to express their views between January and August. If they vote for him and he wins the nomination, the American people will have an opportunity in November to express their choice between Barack Obama and John McCain on this issue (and others) in November. I'm sure you're not the only one looking for secret codes. Maybe the secret is there is no secret...
February 27, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bam.
February 27, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, billy, billy, billy, no ya don't!
Tell me with a straight face that there is person who can predict exactly and I mean exactly what is going to happen in the middle east? Let's see it seems that there is some sarcasm in your comments, so what is the ost pressing issue for you as a progressive?
Would you say that healthcare, the environment, immigration, trade policies or the economy rank high, possibly above military issues. Look I believe that the progressives have two candidates who care about many of there issues, which is more to say than what the Republicans have put on the platform. Keep on disagreeing but maybe it would be OK if we could all just accept the fact that America's republican party as it stands today delivers very little to benefit joe and jane american who work in the middle class. It delivers very little to those that wich for a smaller government. It does deliver for the private sector but so does most of Washington which is why good ideas go there and die.
February 27, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
What it seems you are really looking for is to be told that, "Yes, Billy, we should have picked you to be nominee. No one know as much as you do about what the future will portend."
The "Pizza Fridays" Candidate dropped out a while ago, hoping he might at least trade it for a coke machine in the foyer. The "No School on Wednesday" Candidate is about to get her "platform" handed to her.
Mean while, the rest of us realize that there is middle ground, and that is the best spot to meet up at. The Jocks and the Nerds can all get in on this party, should they desire.
February 27, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps Nobody Believes Billy Glad.
February 27, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy, you're a good writer, but your posts are increasingly based on arguments that revolve around reductionist (or flatly untrue) representations, false dilemmas and emotional appeals. This one is no different.
February 28, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am the well spring, from which you flow.
February 28, 2008 7:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are the well spring from which the logical fallacies I've mentioned above flow.
For someone who can't stop criticizing Obama's rhetoric, yours is pretty thin, my friend.
February 29, 2008 1:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Post a Comment