The U-turn president: Barack Obama’s top ten flip-flops

The Telegraph ^ | 4/11/11 | Nile Gardiner

[Nachum]

In 1980 Margaret Thatcher famously declared she was “not for turning”, and admirably stuck to her guns as prime minister through thick and thin. In contrast, Barack Obama’s presidency has been filled with the kinds of U-turns that would have made even Jimmy Carter blush.

President Obama’s decision last week to do a 180 degree about-turn on the issue of military tribunals is the latest policy reversal by a presidency that has become increasingly adept at making them, usually without batting an eyelid. Below, I outline ten of the biggest policy flip-flops by the Obama administration since taking office in January 2009, with an emphasis on foreign and security policy.

As this list shows, not all of Obama’s U-turns are bad. The top three flip-flops in US policy have been significant re-adoptions of Bush administration policies that were condemned by Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election campaign, but which are now deemed essential for national security. These particular shifts have been welcome developments that have advanced US interests, and have been largely forced upon the White House by Congressional and public pressure.

Many of the other flip-flops in my list however have fundamentally opposed US interests, for example the decision to drop Third Site missile defences in Eastern and Central Europe in the face of Russian threats, the appalling appeasement of the genocidal regime in Sudan, and the trashing of traditional US alliances.

So here are my top ten, which do not include shifts in policy on domestic political issues, such as taxes, health care and the economy.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Joann37]

Good list!

[Paperdoll]

It is just that he says one thing and does another. And we have to put up with another year and a half of it!

[MichaelAsher54]

[antiRepublicrat]

Notice an American had to go through the British press to get this published in the mainstream.

[arista]

I can think of a few more:

* No Tax Increase on Families Making Under 250k. He pushed hard for Cap and Trade, which would be a tax on everyone. Obamacare has many tax increases in the middle class. Furthermore, the first bill he signed raised tobacco taxes.

* Opposition to the individual healthcare mandate.

* Health care negotiations will be on C-SPAN

* The promise to wait 5 days after every bill passes before signing it.

* The promise to end earmarks.

http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2010/01/20/obamas-broken-promises/

[Publius6961]

11. Raising the debt ceiling is a horrible and irresponsible thing to do... (2006)

[Maverick68]

b

[Da Coyote]

I’m beginning to wonder of we should use the term “flip-flop” when it comes to the Obamaloon.

To flip or flop, one just first have an idea or concept to use as the prime reference.

The loon has no thoughts.

He has no morals, no real education, and most importantly, no intellect.

[Chi-townChief]

This list must have been compiled before he became Barry the Budget-cutter.

[technically right]

Boy, there sure is a lot of raw material for some great TV commercials come next year.

[TexasCajun]

"I did not have sexual relations with that man, Mr. Sinclair"

[RWGinger]

The most disgusting aspect to 0dumbo’s flops is the medis continuing to ignore facts and to fellate him to the public
some of whom will not know any better

[WKUHilltopper]

What?? They could only come up with 10? Every day is an excuse for a “flip-flop”.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Flip-flop is being quite kind to this neck-snapper. But in his honor, I have composed an Obama hip-hop tune.

(Language alert)

http://206.137.18.35/share/al/ilc_10.mp3

[JoeGar]

Obama is smart enough to realize that most of his supporters are not smart enough to recognize his flip-flops.