Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Victor Davis Hanson: President Obama’s First 70 Days. It really does all make sense
NRO ^ | April 1, 2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 04/01/2009 5:54:43 AM PDT by Tolik

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last
To: Billthedrill

... they also tend to prefer courses of action which ought to work for the right reasons over courses of action that actually do. That's a problem when you're in control of the economy.

Not just in economy.

See what Krauthammer said on the G-20 summit:

This is a test of the proposition that Obama had run on last year, that the source of our difficulties abroad, the source of anti-Americanism, of dissension among our allies and the alleged isolation of the United States was George Bush.

And Obama was not Bush, and he was going to be a new figure, a transcendent, multi-cultural, attractive, young, new American leader who would rally the world.

Well, we have a test. He's going to Europe. He's not even asking the allies for an increase in troops in Afghanistan, which we desperately need, because he's going to get a no.

He wants a stimulus in Europe. He's not even asking because he's not going to get it. The Germans and the French are against it for historical reasons and economic reasons, and the power of personal diplomacy that Obama ran on and pretends he has doesn't exist. It's all about national interests.

And then on the issue of Iran, he is not going to get anything. In fact, he is not even going to get assistance from the Russians, to whom he essentially offered new influence over Eastern Europe in return.

The bottom line is that personal diplomacy is a nice idea. It amounts to nothing. Nations act on their national interests. And he is weak in Europe because we don't have a lot of cards to play in this economic crisis.


41 posted on 04/01/2009 11:37:09 AM PDT by Tolik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: MrB
you’re still going to argue past each other because of base assumptions.

...which is why VDH uses the verb "believe". There is no arguing with "beliefs."

See my new tagline.

42 posted on 04/01/2009 12:31:07 PM PDT by maica (Politics is not about facts. it is about what politicians can get people to believe. - Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Tolik

<< I use the words *government bureaucracy* >>

&&&&&

I like your idea. We can effect change of thinking with control of vocabulary. For example, I note that even Senator Kerry is using the term “taxpayers’ dollars/money”. A few years ago everyone, including republican officials, said “government money.”

This afternoon, I heard bits of Sean Hannity’s show where he was discussing bonuses that were paid to Congressional staffers. We need to follow up on this and share it with our Obama-supporting acquaintances - Especially since the word “bonus” has recently been so demonized.

Are Congressional staffers not civil servants?
Are civil servants entitled to bonuses?


43 posted on 04/01/2009 12:38:27 PM PDT by maica (Politics is not about facts. it is about what politicians can get people to believe. - Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Obadiah

This election was inevitable, it just happens to have been the one in which the freeloaders decided that they really could just take whatever they wanted from the productive members of society.

I don’t really think we’re going to turn into Cambodia, but just become like every other country in the world. Which is only bad if you remember what America was like, or if you really did love liberty, and were willing to assume the responsibilities that came with it.

But that’s all water under the bridge at this point. With Rahm Emmanuel and Acorn running the next census, there is exactly zero chance that what we knew as America will be resurrected as a free and prosperous nation.


44 posted on 04/01/2009 2:40:11 PM PDT by absalom01 (It's time for plan B)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Tolik

Bump!


45 posted on 04/01/2009 2:48:53 PM PDT by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them or they more like we used to be?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: absalom01
Yes, it was probably an overstatement on my part, but it just breaks my heart that the greatness of America is on the glide slope down to complete impotence, both domestically and internationally. Obama and the left hate America. That is not an overstatement. They hate that we were the lone superpower. They hate that we were the beacon of hope to the world. They hate that we produced more than any other nation in history.

We will now be reduced to aspiring the mere crumbs of our fathers. We are indebted beyond our ability to pay. We will submit the glory of our great nation to every tin pot dictator in the UN who has long eyed us with utter jealousy and contempt. We will surrender to the world court and in effect lose our sovereignty.

In 90 short days Rahm Immanual and Obama have plotted and endeavored to undermine the dignity of a once mighty nation. The die has been cast. The corrupt MSM have cast their lot and the American people seem completely incapable of being able to discern the truth and thus willingly accept the poison gruel the corrupt MSM spoon feeds them on a constant basis. Americans no longer ask questions. No longer labor to uncover the truth, they meekly sit in front of their flat screen TVs and believe that someone - mostly the government - owes them their happiness regardless of the cost. No longer do they believe they themselves must work and carve out their lives; no the government owes them an easy life and the Democrats willing feed into that now common belief.

Unless there is some dramatic turn of events I believe we are doomed to a mundane and colorless life where we will always yearn for something else but will now be powerless to achieve. We are being emasculated as we speak.

46 posted on 04/01/2009 3:44:55 PM PDT by Obadiah (Party - my house - on December 22, 2012!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Tolik

bttt


47 posted on 04/01/2009 4:13:31 PM PDT by metesky (My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RipSawyer

Obama makes me miss the big idiot. I was just asking a friend last night, “Can you believe we thought we were miserable in the ‘90s?” This guy’s an f’in nightmare.

Of course, the secret to the Clinton years is that we had a Congress that was acting as the loyal opposition and on fire with ideas.


48 posted on 04/01/2009 4:18:07 PM PDT by Rastus (Jedi mind tricks would work on Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Obadiah

Can’t disagree with any of that.

I wish I could, but I can’t.


49 posted on 04/01/2009 7:45:37 PM PDT by absalom01 (It's time for plan B)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Tolik

If you believe that propagandists, financial oligarchs, socialization of risk socialists, international socialists/collectivists/progressives have foisted the perfect puppet on us with ZERO downside risk...


50 posted on 04/01/2009 8:04:36 PM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson