Helen Thomas: Obama's inner GOP

[kpete]

Obama's inner GOP

Democrats continue to labor to prove they are tough, tough, tough, so that they don't have to deal with a modern version of the old "Who lost China?" rant.
First published: Sunday, February 28, 2010

.............

The word peace has not been exalted in the White House for years and neither President Barack Obama nor his secretary of state seems to aspire to it. They fret that some critic somewhere will accuse the administration of being "soft."

............

The rhetoric from the Obama administration is framed in terms of "winning" and "victory" while a war-weary nation searches for an end to the war in Afghanistan, which has been going on for nine years and is gaining new momentum in the form of thousands of additional American troops being sent there.

On the Israeli-Palestinian front, former Sen. George Mitchell has been shuttling back and forth with not much success in trying to bring leaders from both sides to the peace table. Obama was not much help in breaking the stalemate when he buckled to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's refusal to impose a total freeze on settlement building. Instead, the Israeli leader offered a 10-month halt in expanding settlements. Such settlements are illegal under international law.

Unlike his domestic proposals where the President faces so much Republican opposition, Obama is in sync with the GOP in treading along the belligerent footsteps of his predecessor.

............

more:
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=905876

[msongs]

1. "all we are saying - is give war a chance" - brought to you by the military welfare complex nt

[avaistheone1]

69. It really does feel that way.

Sad, but true.

[G_j]

2. the Peace Prize thingy

not panning out...

[Donnachaidh]

3. I would still LOVE to know exactly WHO nominated him for that

what a pr coup!

[swilton]

65. There are/have been numerous nominees -

I remember during the term of President G W Bush - he was even nominated - the question is - how did they buy off the votes?

[berni_mccoy]

4. Wow, Helen, 3 Strikes Now, You're OUTTA HERE!

First it was Obama was a coward (now shown to be completely wrong).
Then it was baseless labelling Obama's Foreign Policy as war (wrong again, reducing troops in Iraq, getting Russia to talk Nuclear Disarmament, etc, etc)
Now it's Obama=GOP? Wow, Helen, you are really in desperate need of attention.

[G_j]

5. thank you for the updated definition of "war"

:sarcasm:

[berni_mccoy]

6. Is war the only element of his Foreign Policy?

I think not. In fact, there is more diplomacy and elements of peace than war. But, focus on what you want.

[G_j]

10. like trying to ignore

fucking Vietnam. But, focus on what you want.

[MyNameGoesHere]

74. Reality still trumps your logic

we are still at war in 2 counties, kids are dying in those countries, and that little gitmo thing is still happening. Other than Democrats NOT being against the war anymore, nothing much has changed.

[truedelphi]

101. Yep we are at war in two countries, and we also have

Military contractors and advisers in Colombia and in Pakistan.

And Hillary would have us nuking Iran in a minute.

Wolf Blitzer had this neat-o keen-o graph showing how endangered that our troops in Iraq and Afghanistran are by the possibility of short range missiles carrying a nuke from Iran.

Of course, Wolf didn't bother to point out the obvious - if we weren't so set on occupying those other lands, then those troops wouldn't be in danger.

[inna]

7. oh great, now Helen Thomas gets thrown under the bus.

[berni_mccoy]

9. It's Obama who is being thrown under the bus, not Helen. And when she's wrong, she's wrong.

[Skittles]

34. trouble is, she's not wrong

you are

[cascadiance]

59. +1000

[berni_mccoy]

67. Prove it. You agree that Obama is a Coward,

Obama's Foreign Policy is just WAR
and now Obama is secretly a GOPer.

PROVE IT.

She's failed to prove it and has been shown to be wrong. She's wrong again.

In fact, she's downright stupid with this argument.

[Skittles]

86. a strong person does not kiss repuke ass

[fooj]

90. FISA, PATRIOT ACT...

There's a shitload of proof, Bernie. But you already know that, don't you?

[Tesha]

85. Thank you. (NT)

[Tailormyst]

42. You are the one who is wrong.

And if you hate her, she must be doing something right.

[closeupready]

49. No, you are wrong. Helen's correct.

n/t

[fooj]

89. Bwahahaha!!!

Boo Fucking Hoo. Poor Obama. He's soooo misunderstood. :eyes:

[MadBadger]

13. So only she can dish it out?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[berni_mccoy]

17. Right, thanks for violating the rules.

[Forkboy]

21. Anytime.

Alert away. I understand. The truth hurts.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadBadger]

18. I think Berni is only using the same tone that Helen is.

Many people feel about Obama the way others feel about Helen. She calls him a War President, trying to reach his inner GOP, etc. Frankly I think you ask for a response like that when you use that rhetoric. And is certainly isnt any different then what people say about Obama.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Individualist]

75. You're comparing that to Helen Thomas?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[saracat]

25. They always throw her under the bus. Experience isn't appreciated by some.

Helen is an astute analyst and that is why effective leadership has heeded what she says.George W Bush didn't like her either.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

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[QC]

68. It's not an unfamiliar place for her.

She's been under here for a while now.

[mod mom]

70. Unbelievable isn't it?

[laughingliberal]

108. Yeah, but the company's good. A little crowded now but good company. nt

[amborin]

8. just as Summers promoted Reaganomics & is Obama's Economic Advisor!

and how about the unacceptable and insane escalation in Afghanistan?

[aquart]

11. Helen Thomas in need of attention?

Well, she has mine.

[Forkboy]

12. "Wow, Helen, you are really in desperate need of attention."

The fact that you typed that with a straight face tells anyone with a brain what to think of you. Reactionary, kneejerk....fill in the blanks, if I left any.

[omega minimo]

23. Funny

She said the same thing about you.

[Smashcut]

27. Yeah, I'm gonna go with Helen Thomas's assessment over yours.

"Wow, Helen, you are really in desperate need of attention."

You've gotta a lot of goddamn nerve.

[northofdenali]

29. Ms. Thomas has always called 'em like she see's 'em -

and in her long and illustrius career has rarely been wrong. This is a woman who know the issues, researches the issues, learns the issues and confronts, confronts, confronts. Would you have her barred from the WH newsroom as Shrubbie did?

[asdjrocky]

31. And you're not fit to shine Helen's shoes.

But that won't stop you from shooting off your mouth.

[Skittles]

33. I wish that was true of a lot of DUers

[upi402]

36. I think you're getting some unwanted attention now, aren't you?

You can make the case that Obama needs to act like a BushCo asshat until the media is douched. But if you slime Helen Thomas it is YOU that needs a douching, between the ears.

[DisgustedInMN]

39. Guess you missed Barack Obama...

...

ESCALATING OUR WAR OF AGGRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN

, didn't ya? What's the problem, no actual real world news where you live?

[berni_mccoy]

53. I guess you missed his campaign pledge to do so

[DisgustedInMN]

55. Do you always just ...

.. make up stupid shit to say or are you having a bad day?

By the way smart guy, I ALSO remember his campaign pledge to oppose a health insurance mandate. Do you? Or should I post the quote of him doing so AGAIN?

[berni_mccoy]

60. "make up stupid shit" that's all you can say when you know you are wrong.

And showing his failure to live up to his mandate promise has nothing to do with the fact that he did campaign on reducing troops in Iraq and taking the fight to Afghanistan, which is exactly what he is doing.

Not a single response to my post has factually countered that Helen has been wrong each time she's gone after Obama. And that's because the real truth hurts. That Helen has got something against Obama and she's allowed it to cloud her judgment. Like many, many DUers here.

[DisgustedInMN]

78. Where the...

.. fuck did I say a gawddamn thing about him not saying he wouldn't send more troops? I heard it, but doesn't mean I fucking agreed with him doing. I was gullible enough to buy into the hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two not so good choices. Don't get the wrong idea that I, and many many many others will make that fucking mistake again. You keep right on shaking those pompoms and pretending everything is all hunky dory. Come November, you and ObarahmCo are in for a VERY rude awakening. Can you say lame duck? And his failure to live up to the mandate promise has everything to do with that. Fact that, buddy.

[Kermitt Gribble]

106. She seems pretty consistent to me.

Or do you think she also had something against bush, as well?

[xiamiam]

43. bs

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

47. Outta Here? With all due respect, you don't speak for all of DU and you definitely don't

speak for me.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mike_c]

54. Helen Thomas gets my attention whenever she wants it....

She has EARNED it.

[swilton]

66. Hiding behind the military's apron strings is not courage -

It would take more courage to stand up to the military industrial complex and say no to these limitless wars.

I wish he would use some of the so-called backbone he has employed in engaging our military in these foreign policy follies and stand up to the Republicon and Democratic obstructionists and conduct some genuine domestic policy reform....And the foreign policy fiascoes and our domestic policy agendas (or lack thereof I should say) are linked - we have fewer resouces to spend on domestic initiatives because so many are being squandered for big oil and big defense abroad.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

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[berni_mccoy]

73. Wow, thanks for sharing. This response is a prime example of over-the-top criticism.

[Toasterlad]

80. What Did He Say That Wasn't 100% True?

[berni_mccoy]

84. Hahahahahaha omg hahahaha WTF did he say that WAS true?!?

Obama opposes equal rights?!? That's one seriously fucked up claim.

But go on... You are free to see reality in whatever fucked up way you want. Butyou aren't entitled to your own fucked up facts. A twisted claim is not a fact no matter how desperately you want it to be.

[Nikki Stone1]

93. You clearly misunderstand Obama's policies, Berni

You are working with an imagined Obama, the image you want to have of him, not with what he is really doing. You have to look at his actual policies to understand the damage being done on his watch.

[Toasterlad]

112. It's Entirely Typical Of You That You Would Try To Lecture Gay People About Obama's Gay Agenda

You don't know shit, jackass.

[RetroLounge]

87. Life must suck when you're in such denial...

When YOU spend 50 years in DC being smart, incisive, and correct, get back to me.

When DU fills YOUR office with roses, get back to me.

When YOU figure out Obama is not all that and a bag of chips, get back to me.

In the meantime...

RL

[tavalon]

94. Oh, bullshit

She's telling it like she sees it. She has an ongoing op-ed job. If you don't like what she has to say, don't read it. Helen Thomas has earned her chops and the right to disagree with the sitting President. Geez, put down the pom-poms, please.

[HEyHEY]

99. demo-facsist

[girl gone mad]

100. "Helen, you are really in desperate need of attention"

And the fail boat known as the Obama administration is in desperate need of a crew with some basic navigational experience. The bitter, angry PR machine just isn't cutting it anymore.

[sendero]

102. She's 100% right..

.... just like she was when she criticized Bush.

Too bad the truth hurts.

[defendandprotect]

105. No, this is an issue desperately in NEED of attention . . . and spotlight . . .

This is more of the game-playing ... of Dems moving to the right to prove

that they're not "soft" on war -- not "soft" on crime -- not "soft" on anything

---

but we have the brutalization of the nation, death of our soldiers, and the bills

from corrupt capitalism to prove that this is simple stupidity.

Dems have been financing Bush's wars for three years to prove they're not "soft" --

And now one day a Dem may nuke Iran to prove that Democrats aren't "soft" like the

right wing Nazi party says they are!!


Helen is right -- just as Jane Hamsher is correct in her criticism -- and as many

other liberals/progressives are correct in calling out this warmonger EVEN WHEN A

DEMOCRAT DOES IT!!

[madrchsod]

14. oh no helen`s being herself again...

drudging up years of observations on how politics is played in washington dc.

who`s going to replace helen when she`s gone?

[fascisthunter]

81. vee must valk lockstep

facts be damned

[Individualist]

16. K&R

Helen is right; DLC/NDC are continuing neocon policies.

[WillyT]

19. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Vidar]

24. Bless you Helen!

[emilyg]

26. k/r for Helen.

[northofdenali]

28. Can we organize this much-more-disparate DU once again -

and shower Helen Thomas with roses?

She is the queen.

[waiting for hope]

114. That was a beautiful gesture to a courageous woman ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x799674

[nikto]

30. My fondest wish...

Is that somehow, Malia & Sasha Obama would end up as regular Army soldiers
in Iraq or Afghanistan for multiple tours of duty.


But that would be so...UN-ELITE, wouldn't it?


I can dream, can't I?

[cascadiance]

63. I hope to hell that those wars don't last THAT long!

[asdjrocky]

32. Gotta kick and rec the truth.

[G_j]

37. k

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. K&R! nt.

[Libertas1776]

40. Bravo Helen

Don't ever stop speaking the truth. K&R

[Dinger]

103. Exactly

Helen is a national treasure! :)

[Echo In Light]

41. ANY "electable" candidate will of course have this 'inner GOP' thing going on bigtime

[c brand]

45. Pres Obama felt he had to prove he's macho - to dispel his effete liberal law prof myth

and he's using American blood and dollars to do it.......

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

46. Helen Thomas is a helluva lot "tougher" than Obama will ever be. K&R

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

48. K&R and a big hug for Helen.

[closeupready]

50. Keep speaking truth to power, Helen!

n/t

[asdjrocky]

52. K&R!

[Toasterlad]

56. Helen Thomas Is Obviously a Tea-Bagger

How dare she criticize Barack Obama??? Who does she think she is, besides a journalist who is responsible for covering the presidency???

[QC]

76. She's mean!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

92. I want my roses back~~!!!!11

:mad:

[sabrina 1]

57. We need a thousand Helen's in the press. That would stop

the garbage that goes on in DC. But she's one of the very few with the professionalism and guts to understand what a real journalist is.

Go Helen! She is exactly what is needed, she doesn't suck up to either party as she knows, her job is to inform the people. Too bad she appears to be the only one left in DC.

[GreenPartyVoter]

58. + infinity

[omega minimo]

62. Helen is what we had (more of) when we had a free press and precorporatized media

[leftstreet]

61. K&R

[Spheric]

72. Truth to power. Helen, ...

:yourock:

A hearty K&R.

[SlingBlade]

79. What Kinda Shit Bag Shill's have to bring Bernie Sanders

down in order to try and cover up what's going on right in front of their faces ?

Those are straight up Freeper Tactics !

PS: Helen Thomas Rocks:yourock: And YOU DON'T !

K & R

[fascisthunter]

82. I Have no Doubt anymore

I've seen enough

[MissDeeds]

83. "Winning" and "victory" sound familiar

During the * years, these terms were common memes. What exactly defines "winning" and how is "victory" achieved? Still waiting for an explanation, while the dying continues.

K&R

[warm regards]

88. This tired old woman needs a nap.

[Bluebear]

91. SHAME on you.

[stuart68]

95. i don't particularly like her...

but she is right.

[Name removed]

96. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[druidity33]

98. if you had bothered to read the article

you would note that in it, she's more critical of Clinton than Obama...

:shrug:

[Skittles]

110. that is typical of the bots

[totodeinhere]

97. Helen Thomas is a national treasure. It's too bad we don't have many more courageous...

journalists like her.

[defendandprotect]

104. Go Helen . . . as Dems prove they can be just as "hard" as Repugs and just as stupid!!

No "soft" on war Dems here -- !!!

[johnaries]

107. "There is more in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of

in your philosphy."

As someone who has always been a pacifist and yet was still bullied as a child, I can tell you that sometimes "turning the other cheek" only gets you 2 broken cheeks and a bloody nose... if not worse.

Sometimes, just standing up to the bully and refusing to back down is enough to avoid violence.

Sometimes, if the cause is JUST and all non-violent avenues have been examined and still the bully won't cooperate...

then it is time to employ violence.

Or a different example and/or perspective: I live in the woods. I have copperheads and rattlesnakes pass through my property all the time just to get to the creek for a drink. As long as they are just "passing through" I ignore them and let them go their way as I go mine. Unfortunately, there have been 2 occasions where first a copperhead and later a rattlesnake decided to take up residence in the "front yard" where my then 9-year-old ward and my dog were put in danger by their presence. Despite my pacifist nature and my love for animals, I had no problem grabbing my shotgun and blowing their heads off.

I regretted that it was necessary, but I did not hesitate to do what was necessary.

[laughingliberal]

109. K & R for Helen! nt

[flyarm]

111. Helen is the best and has been almost my entire 58 yr life..I regard her as the Queen of journalism

how dare anyone here even try to smear this lady..she has more credibility than anyone in the business..and more integrity than any politican..in my lifetime!

To say otherwise ..one only displays that persons utter ignorance/propaganda/ or on someone's payroll.. and the fact that they care more about one man than nation!

Thank you Helen for never selling out truth when so many in this nation sell out their nation so cheaply!

Helen is a treasure of which we have so little of left in this nation!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

113. K&R for Helen!