With US President Obama visiting the UK and Ireland this week and has said that he would still do another Osama Bin Laden style raid if it meant another key figure of Al-Queda or the Taliban was eliminated.
Is it fair that he's getting all this flack for trying to get the job finished, that the Blair/Bush era couldn't.
My opinion is no because at least he is showing that he will do what it takes to get the job done and it's about time somebody did.
The world needs more leaders like him in my eyes.
Any visit to the UK from a US President is allways a prestigious event, do I agree with his policies, certainly not, out of all the western democracies the US is probably the most corrupt and most unjust too, a retainest of the Death Penalty, smoking ban extending to outside aswell as inside, their biased approach when it comes to middle east politics, also every time America snaps it's fingers and decides to declare war on anyone they see fit the UK is all too ready to back them up irrespective of the cost of human life and sacrifice. I am only barely scratching the surface on this matter, but ever since the World Wars the UK has effectively been the bitch of the US government and policies.
Obama has been a real disappointment.
If you're interested in US political history, the similarity with Jimmy Carter is quite striking: also an extraordinary campaigner and very intelligent man, Carter got far too involved in the detail of government with the result that decisions were often too little, too late. Carter's intuition deserted him in office, as did his feel for what the "man in the street" thought and felt.
Obama's shown rather similar weaknesses, and is heading for a one-term presidency on current showing.
While killing OBL was popular, I believe it would have sent an even more powerful message to have seen Bin Laden emerging on from a USA plane, standing at the top of the stairs in handcuffs on his way to stand trial for his appalling crimes (perhaps at the International Court).
Outside the USA, I wonder if Obama would have been given such an easy ride if he wasn't the first Black president...
I thought he did quite well in Ireland, he gave a good speech and his visit put a bit of the feel good factor back in the country
I was and have been a fan since 2004. However, he hasn't turned out to be the President I expected. I am just not sure why things haven't worked so well for him at home.
Where as aboard he is a rock star. I honestly don't think it has to do with race. I honestly believe that Bush messed it up for anyone who was going to become President once he left office.
Also, most America's don't think outside the box. If you are a Republican of course you are going to hate a Democrat President. Where are Democrat will disagree with a Republican President but, not hate well, not as much as they did Bush.
Also, I don't think race is a issue anymore. He would have the support of many America's if he could fit the problems at home and then the world. But World leaders like him as he looks outwards to the rest of the world and them.
I do hope he is able to turn things around before the election in 2012 but, I really can't see it happen. Therefore I shall support Mitt Romney for President 2012.
(24-05-2011 17:43 )MeTarzan Wrote: [ -> ]Obama has been a real disappointment.
If you're interested in US political history, the similarity with Jimmy Carter is quite striking: also an extraordinary campaigner and very intelligent man, Carter got far too involved in the detail of government with the result that decisions were often too little, too late. Carter's intuition deserted him in office, as did his feel for what the "man in the street" thought and felt.
Obama's shown rather similar weaknesses, and is heading for a one-term presidency on current showing.
While killing OBL was popular, I believe it would have sent an even more powerful message to have seen Bin Laden emerging on from a USA plane, standing at the top of the stairs in handcuffs on his way to stand trial for his appalling crimes (perhaps at the International Court).
Outside the USA, I wonder if Obama would have been given such an easy ride if he wasn't the first Black president...
Here we go! The similarities with Carter are loose at best. Obama inherited almost certainly unprecedented economic and military challenges upon his election. He has done well to keep his head above water despite the establishment Republicans trying to drown him at every occasion. The healthcare program was driven through inside a year of his election, something the Clinton's always wanted but failed to deliver in two terms of his presidency. He has been clearly cognisant of the anger at fighting two wars seen as particularly wasteful, so when the middle east decided to become civilised he procrastinated,why? So they could sort their own shit out.
He has made errors but considering the cards he has been dealt he has done ok. The question is could McCain could have done any better. I would dread to think.
Ps. He has not been given an easy ride( lost both houses last year) and it is not because he is black!
Quote:Ps. He has not been given an easy ride( lost both houses last year) and it is not because he is black!
Great reply. But, he lost Congress and kept the Senate.
Well he was most definitely a better choice than the McCain/Palin republican option, I think the rest of the world like him simply because he's not them and most importantly not Bush. Was I the only one to slightly cringe at all the cheering when he was in Ireland? I don't dislike the guy, but what has he actually done to be so loved? just being the first black POTUS seems to be enough for some people. At least they haven't done something silly like giving him the Nobel Peace Prize, oh hang on...
I really don't know if he's a good president or not, he does seem genuine, but his speeches - particularly to the American people - just sound like rhetoric to me with no real substance.
Blair was elected on a wave of popularity and promise of change in 1997, but look how that turned out; Labour damn near bankrupted this country through their reckless borrowing, lies and failure to deliver on promises made. Well see how Obama handles the US economy - and it's frankly insane national debt - and I think that will determine to American's if he's a good president or not.
(24-05-2011 16:55 )Scottishbloke Wrote: [ -> ]I am only barely scratching the surface on this matter, but ever since the World Wars the UK has effectively been the bitch of the US government and policies.
I think its only fairly recently this has become the case, there's plenty of occasions when UK/US relations have been a odds, look at Suez in '56, Vietnam in 60s & 70s, Falklands in 80s, US meddling in Latin America during Reagan's time, all examples of times when the two countries have acted alone & at times in direct political opposition to the othrer. It's only really the Blair/Clinton, Blair/Bush era that has seen the UK supposedly become the US poodle.
I think Obama will go down as a decent President when people consider the shit heap he inherited from Bush, the legacy of two highly unpopular wars & massive financial crisis.
(24-05-2011 19:59 )sweetsugar007 Wrote: [ -> ]Here we go! The similarities with Carter are loose at best. Obama inherited almost certainly unprecedented economic and military challenges upon his election. He has done well to keep his head above water despite the establishment Republicans trying to drown him at every occasion. The healthcare program was driven through inside a year of his election, something the Clinton's always wanted but failed to deliver in two terms of his presidency. He has been clearly cognisant of the anger at fighting two wars seen as particularly wasteful, so when the middle east decided to become civilised he procrastinated,why? So they could sort their own shit out.
He has made errors but considering the cards he has been dealt he has done ok. The question is could McCain could have done any better. I would dread to think.
Ps. He has not been given an easy ride( lost both houses last year) and it is not because he is black!
Very odd rationale for the most part.
No evidence for his procrastination on Middle East to support your view - he's just miss-handled the situation, even more so recently.
My comments about his colour was preceded by "Outside the USA..." so what have the congressional elections have to do with it?