Does Obama have a clue?

[PhillySane]

You think in the very least he would denounce the harassment of reporters and journalists in Egypt for the last two days.
Maybe you think he should be diplomatic about the protest situation, but when journalists are being beaten, jailed, handcuffed, etc, just for reporting, how can he remain silent?
Today he prayed for Egypt. Nice.

How about a real statement on the current situation from the prez?

[Kolesar]

1. see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x605547

[readmoreoften]

5. He said a real statement. You know, a position. An actual position.

Remember how George Bush used to take positions and we disagreed with him? Just like that, except taking a position that's sane and smart. Apparently our choices are politicians who take terrible positions and politicians who ramble and speechify in the face of taking a position.

[ProSense]

9. "Remember how George Bush used to take positions and we disagreed with him?"

No, I remember disagreeing with Bush, but it wasn't particularly because he made clear statements.

[HuckleB]

10. +1

[hlthe2b]

11. Hell, he didn't even speak English... and most of us don't speak

'MORAN'...

[cutlassmama]

25. +10000000000000000000000

[madokie]

33. ROFLMAO

I hadn't spoke "moran" ever either LOL

fuck me a running my sides hurt

[Justpat]

32. .

:thumbsup:

[RegieRocker]

97. A statement from President Gibbs how nice.

[PhillySane]

101. Sure why not,

he speaks for us all.

[Arkana]

117. Aren't you the same people

who shrieked over and over during the "drug-tested" incident that "ARGH GABLARGH GIBBS SPEAKS FOR THE PRESIDENNNNNNNNNTTTTT"?

So does he or doesn't he speak for the President? You can't have it both ways.

[RegieRocker]

129. Are you kin to wrong way feldon?

You are definitely confused. No I am no people I am person as in singular. Look it up. Drug testing? Gibbs? Nothing that was important to me. So before you spew what you can't chew make sure you know.

[grahamhgreen]

136. I fear he is on the side of the power elite - not the people. "When they show you who they are -

believe them" - Randi Rhodes

The admin only needs to suggest Mubarak step down.

[countingbluecars]

2. also see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4720771

[gateley]

3. He has a clue. He knows exactly what's going on. Clinton just made a strong statement

and I'm guessing Obama's next one will specifically address this as they seem to be pretty fucking fed up with Mubarak.

[chimpymustgo]

59. The horse is out of the barn. He left the door open just enough for Mubarak to drive a tank through

I have a very sick feeling that this was the plan.

[DFab420]

Try Googling it next time.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/02/obama-white-house-condemns-attacks-on-reporters-in-egypt/1

[PhillySane]

12. There is a difference

between what the White House says and what the president himself says. A big difference. Obama needs to step up to the plate.

[thereismore]

4. I hate the "prayer" talk from him, but I don't doubt he is well informed. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Ok perhaps you did not see it

but Clinton did exactly this oh an hour or so ago.

There is more, short of parachuting the 101st there is not more they can do IN PUBLIC.

Oh and I am not all for an actual military intervention. That be a really bad idea.

[PhillySane]

17. Why not blame him?

Without directly blaming Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime, she said, "It is especially in times of crisis that governments must demonstrate their adherence to these universal values."

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. She is speaking for the Administration

they are walking this in ways that are very delicate. The other tool is... the army... I don't think anybody in the region or the US really wants to see US Paratroopers.

[FLyellowdog]

7. I voted for Obama because I was convinced he would make the right decisions.

I stand by that vote because I firmly believe he knows more about these issues than I do.
For me, the only decision I have to make is what to cook for dinner. I'd rather have my job than his. Opinions about what the President should or should not do are of no importance to a lot of people..we elected him. Those who don't appreciate what he's doing can vote otherwise in 2012.We can only hope that Palin isn't their choice.

[FiveGoodMen]

16. "Honestly, I think we should just trust our president

in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens."

[dionysus]

40. the britney quote is stale. try harder.

[RegieRocker]

88. Treason and unpatriotic to blindly just trust anyone you elect!!!

[PhillySane]

94. Yea you know

back in old Egypt, you know where the pyramids are, we thought this guy would be really great, 30 YEARS AGO! But shit man, I don't think we can trust him anymore!

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

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

[Ikonoklast]

134. Three WEEKS ago no one here gave two shits about Mubarak, or Egypt.

DU, The Official "outrage De Jour" Website.

[grahamhgreen]

138. Are you serious - why do you think we want to change America's violent foriegn policy?

[bluestate10]

140. The events in Egypt.

Are just another opportunity for some on DU to bash President Obama. The fact that President Obama is getting briefed hourly and is working to ease out a recalcitrant dictator that President Obama had nothing to do with putting in place means nothing to the critics.

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

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

[PhillySane]

102. What?

[Richard Steele]

105. Brilliant riposte. Particularly lovely footwork.

nm

[PhillySane]

109. Thanks!

[FLyellowdog]

110. So who is going to be your choice in 2012?

Perhaps yourself? Let us know when you'll be sharing all the answers to the world's problems. Me, I'll stick with Obama. He hasn't fooled me yet...but then I'm paying pretty close attention to what's coming out of the WH and watching what's happening around the globe.

Supporting the President is best done when one understands that the general public (1)often doesn't have all the facts of why he has made certain decisions and/or (2) doesn't have a workable understanding of the diplomacies involved in trying to maintain world peace.

Criticizing our leader is certainly our right but may only demonstrate one's feelings of inadequacy...akin to bullying... the purpose of which is to make oneself feel more important at the expense of others. And like it or not, President Obama actually IS more important than the rest of us.

If those who are constantly down on Obama really had solutions, I'm wondering why they aren't running things. Oh, that's right...they are the right wing haters who are trying to get elected...or are wannabes diguising themselves as Democrats.

Sad.

[PhillySane]

122. Jeez!

Why don't we just let him go for 30 years then! Maybe you prefer Presidents like Mubarak who shouldn't be challenged at all.

[Name removed]

118. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

120. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYC Liberal]

8. If he says something, he's "interfering."

If he doesn't say something, he should. Or it's not enough.

Oy.

[MineralMan]

13. Yes, he has a clue. He has many clues.

That's why he's doing exactly what he's doing. The President has to be a diplomat when it comes to international issues. You are only hearing his public statements. What makes you think he is not speaking directly to those he needs to speak to. Telling you and the rest of us the details of what he is doing would be counterproductive.

It's amazing that so many people don't realize that the President of the United States does not conduct foreign policy on internet forums or in public. I think he's spoken clearly about the Egyptian situation. Perhaps you just weren't listening.

[PhillySane]

14. Yea I listened

The day after he addressed the situation, Mubarak sent thugs out to stir things up. Today reporters are rounded up and taken off the streets. It just keeps getting worse.

[MineralMan]

15. What is it exactly that you think he can do?

Send troops? What is it that you expect?

President Obama is President of The United States. He has no power in Egypt, except in terms of the money we send there and to make his opinion known, which he has done through Gibbs.

What is your expectation, and what effect do you think a statement from President Obama would have on the immediate situation in Egypt?

You seem to have an incorrect view of the power of our President. How did you develop that?

[PhillySane]

19. Presidents

Such as Obama, have the power to clearly demonstrate the views and opinions of Democratic nations, such as ours, that there is no tolerance for Mubarak, his oppressive regime, his strong arm tactics, none of this. It's time for him to clearly speak out that Mubarak needs to go now, and we all need to see he is serious about change. We can clearly see he isn't. I happen to believe its because Obama has not be tough enough, vocally, about it.

And if that doesn't work, he needs to cut off the money.

[Fire1]

42. Why now?? That statement is about 30 years too late. n/t

[JuniperLea]

43. He cut off the money more than 24 hours ago...

Really, if you are going to diss someone, anyone, you should do your homework.

And he spoke very clearly, very... clearly... and used smaller than average words... very, very clearly.

He didn't wear cowboy boots or rattle a saber... is that what you wanted? A more BushCo response? Don't hold your breath. It wasn't good when Bush did it, and it wouldn't be good if Obama did it either.

[PhillySane]

48. The people who are risking their lives for their own freedom want Obama to

stand up and take their side, clearly, undeniably, completely. It's the least that he or anyone of us can do for them. They have put 30 FUCKING years into this shit, and have had enough! They are now being mowed down on the streets by a ruthless dictator that Obama has pleasant conversations with. He needs to pick the right side. ALL of our Presidents, no matter who they are, seem to think that it is enough to just pay lip service, go home, and when they wake up in the morning it will all go away. But the Egyptian protesters WON'T go away. Obama needs to acknowledge them, tell Mubarak to hit the road, and stand with the people for a change.

[JuniperLea]

55. Bush isn't our president any longer

This is what diplomacy looks like. There's no saber rattling, no stomping about in a pilot's gear, no saber rattling.

Obama, and his administration, have taken this to the very edge. To go any further with their words would be to invite more trouble than we have now.

Obama has been firm; there have been NO pleasant conversations with Mubarak. That is a lie, pure and simple.

Obama chose the side of the Egyptian people; he has reiterated that fact many times. That is another lie.

You'd need to have a pretty good crystal ball to prove the assertion that Obama is paying lip service. I'll just bet on that being another lie to save time.

Obama has acknowledged the Egyptian citizenry currently protesting against their despot, Mubarak. How many lies is this so far?

Obama told Mubarak he needed to hit the road... not in those words... ahhh... do you want Obama to get all pissy and in Mubarak's face with clenched fists, etc? Not going to happen. Wouldn't be a good thing.

Now, Obama has clearly done all you have asked of him. What else do you want him to do?

[PhillySane]

57. Did you get to listen to that phone call?

[JuniperLea]

60. What do you want?

To keep spinning your wheels demanding things that have already come about?

[PhillySane]

I want to move ahead

After 50 years or so of bad policy in the middle-east, we can now move ahead!

[bluestate10]

144. Ok. Explain how you would move ahead.

What would you do that is not already being done? How would you remove a dictator whose US funds have been cut off, but who still clings to power? How would you get a key US ally in the region, Israel, to ally it's concerns and trust your decision making? Please tell, you seem to have insight that veteran diplomats and foreign policy analysts don't have.

[PhillySane]

73. Pronto!

[bluestate10]

145. Sounds good. But how do you get Mubarak removed, PRONTO?

Talking is one thing, doing is an entirely different beast.

[bluestate10]

142. Well. Did YOU get to listen to the phone call?

None of us know shit about what Obama is saying to Mubarak during phone conversations. The only difference between some that know nothing about the phone conversations and President Obama critics is that the critics are willing to make unsupported assumptions that others stay away from.

[PhillySane]

83. Here's a guy who get's it

thanks for the link!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=342473&mesg_id=342473

[bluestate10]

143. Ok. So what did Kerry say that President Obama has not already said?

Kerry wants Mubarak to begin transfer of power and not run for office. Guess what? There is no deadline set on that transfer AND Mubarak is ALREADY not going to run again and leave office in September. Everyone want Mubarak to leave sooner, President Obama has been clear in this regard, but short of sending in US armed forces to involuntarily remove Mubarak, President Obama's hands are tied. I can only imagine the howling on DU if President Obama resorted to a US naval task force and a couple of army divisions to remove Mubarak, I can also imagine the enormous flames of US resentment that aggressive action would set off in the muslim world.

[PhillySane]

150. Kerry has already said it

Mubarak has to go immediately

[RegieRocker]

91. How do you know about the conversations?

Do you hear voices?

[JuniperLea]

130. I read the news. You should try it sometime...

Ignorance and insults are a deadly combo. Don't hurt yourself.

[Bragi]

64. Hear hear!

You have it right.

[treestar]

132. Why don't they bug the Presidents of other countries for the same thing?

Why don't they ask the UN?

Why not handle it themselves?

Some of them would tell Obama to butt out.

[Bragi]

50. Moved by poster, wrong place /nt

[Bragi]

54. He did not cut a cent. He put aid under "review" /nt

[Autumn]

72. Did he cut it or put it under review? The last I

heard he had it under review. :shrug: I might have missed it I was in town most of the afternoon.

[bluestate10]

141. So what if President Obama "clearly" says that Mubarak must leave "now"

and Mubarak does not leave? What then, send in two Marine divisions and the 82nd Airborne? President Obama is dealing with a dictator that has been in place for 30 years and has been coddled by past Presidents. People like Mubarak just don't pull up stakes and fly away. President Obama has so many strings that he can pull, short of using the US military to forcibly remove Mubarak, a President that is uniformly despised on DU tried that route to remove a former US supplicant dictator, the country is still paying the price in precious lives and treasury for that President's folly.

[madokie]

34. Thank you MineralMan

You said it very well indeed

[JuniperLea]

49. I'll second that, madokie

There's enough to be upset over in this world without making junk up.

This is getting tiresome.

[PhillySane]

38. "You are only hearing his public statements"

Yea, I guess that's why we have Wikileaks, so we can get to hear the other ones.

[dionysus]

86. !

:rofl:

[bluestate10]

146. Oh yes. Getting ahold of cables and discussions that are several years

old to shape policy this week is brilliant. Why doesn't people that are advising President Obama and are getting up to the minute intelligence think of that simple solution? Just call Julian Assange and get him to forget about his legal troubles for a few minutes while he leaks five year old documents. Mubarak will be walking to a plane headed for permanent exile from Egypt minutes after the leak. If only the real world worked that way.

[RegieRocker]

93. Clues are what got us into the Iraq war. Can you say WMD.

Fuck clues he had better be dealing with facts. Thinking what is going on isn't facts.

[uppityperson]

149. Thank you for this post. seriously, thank you.

[Matariki]

18. Good fucking christ. What is this shit?

The Obama administration certainly HAS been denouncing the treatment of journalists and violence against the protesters and asked Mubarak to step down.

What the fuck do you want? The US to threaten bombing Cairo or something?

[PhillySane]

20. Obama hasn't said a word about this yet

and Hillary didn't put blame on who it belonged. They're wimping out.

[cali]

22. Gibbs said quite a bit about it today. He speaks for the administration.

[Arkana]

119. No no, see, when Gibbs makes a sarcastic joke about the left

then he's SPEAKING FOR THE PRESIDENT AND OBAMA SHOULD BE DRAWN AND QUARTERED.

But when Gibbs speaks about something like this, he should be ignored because he doesn't speak for Obama.

[ProSense]

24. You know,

there's a trend to simply keep repeating disatissfaction no matter what is said or done. This is one of those instances.

The administration is never going to utter the exact words in the exact order with the exact intonation or inflection you want.

So their statements based on what they know and have determined to be the best approach will have to do.

[Matariki]

35. YES HE HAS. Do a damn Google search.

[JuniperLea]

44. Have you been in a cave for the past 9 days?

[bluestate10]

147. Have you been listening? nt

[JoePhilly]

21. Clearly we should have invaded by now.

[PhillySane]

23. Where do any of you get that from?

The last thing I want Obama to do is invade ANY country. Supporters of the revolution in Egypt would simply like him to clearly take their side and clearly denounce Mubarak for what he is. A thug.

[Matariki]

26. OBAMA himself - with his own voice - has called for Mubarak to step down NOW.

Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs clarified, " 'now' means 'yesterday.' "

YOU are just making shit up, for reasons unknown.

[JoePhilly]

30. When Mubarak says no ... then what?

If Obama pushes too hard, there will be MANY in the ME who will claim that whatever government emerges is one that OBAMA AND THE US put in place.

I'm not sure how anyone is confused about this ... the entire reason that folks in the ME hate us is because we tend to think that WE get to pick their leaders.

If Obama demands that Mubarak step down and that some one else step in, THAT person will be seen as our pawn.

We need to STOP the saber rattling and the hubris.

[Matariki]

36. +1000 - Well said.

[Fire1]

81. Absolutely!! n/t

[Number23]

115. Dear God THANK YOU.

[JuniperLea]

47. Obama has done all of that, several times...

Clinton has as well, and the WH press secretary has reiterated numerous times. You got what you wanted many times over. What now?

[MineralMan]

128. Did you ever consider the idea that the people in the streets

in Egypt have had enough of American meddling in their affairs? Let them handle their own revolution, OK? We'll act diplomatically and not order them around.

[Uzybone]

28. the poster is more concerned with sliming Obama

than with anything to do with Egypt.

[Fire1]

82. I think you're right. n/t

[Kalun D]

29. He May Have a Clue

but he also has puppet strings tied to the MIMC

[TBF]

31. Of course he has a clue, and his interest remains focused on protecting the Empire. nt

[Arkana]

135. The Death Star WILL be completed on schedule.

[Toon Me Out]

37. haz clue

haz clue!

[Blue-Jay]

39. do you?

un-fuckin'-rec

[dionysus]

41. this again? oy vey.

[ProfessorGAC]

45. Do You Understand The Concept Of Diplomacy?

It's a rhetorical question. I know you don't.
GAC

[PhillySane]

51. Sorry

now is not the time for that. And no, I don't understand diplomacy with the likes of Mubarak, especially when his people are screaming for his removal.

[JuniperLea]

56. So, you want Obama to remove Mubarak?

is that what you're getting at?

[PhillySane]

62. No

He can't. But he can be firm about his position. The Egyptian protesters do not believe that 6 more months of Mubarak will get them anything more than what they already have. They have decided that this is it. Many more will die. Our President has to understand this. They will not give up. Mubarak must go now. Obama must say that. Only that will save more lives. Only that will prove to them that we are on the side of Democracy, not business as usual. Allowing Mubarak to "transition" for 6 more months is not enough. If the protesters believed that, they would have all gone home on Tuesday, and there would have been no bloodshed, as we saw yesterday. This is an important moment. Let's not blow it.

[JuniperLea]

66. Again... you need to read what's been said by Obama and his administration...

He is NOT giving Mubarak 6 months. That's flat out wrong.

Breaking news... The Senate has issued something stronger that you should like... back with a link shortly...


Edit for link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x342473

[ProfessorGAC]

77. Reading The Statements. . .

. . . and having the facts would be far too contrary to a predisposed opinion.
GAC

[PhillySane]

80. Look

I'm not the only person in the world who thinks Obama has not gone far enough. If you want, I'll drum them up for ya.

[JuniperLea]

131. Indeed

I'm walking away from many of these conversations for that very reason. You can lead a horse to water...

[Khan Descend]

112. Okay, I'm confused...nation building is bad sometimes but it's good other times?

yikes

[ProfessorGAC]

75. An Answer Was Not Necessary, Nor Desired

Your initial post already answered my question. Hence the use of the word "rhetorical".
GAC

[Bragi]

65. Why are you so rude? /nt

[PhillySane]

69. Me rude?

Calling for the ouster of a ruthless dictator? I'm sorry. Didn't mean to offend. Guess I'll have to apologize to him too.

[PhillySane]

74. Sorry

think I missed the thread on this:)

[Bragi]

104. No problem. /nt

[ProfessorGAC]

76. Rude? That's Hilarious

You know this is a discussion board where people get to express opinions. I expressed mine.

I asked a rhetorical question regarding what, IN MY OPINION, is a clueless question.

Now, i know the clueless OP has allies.

How's that for rude?

Also, don't you think it RUDE to answer for someone else to a post clearly stated to be asking a rhetorical question?

I'd say you need to rethink your definition of rudeness.
GAC

[PhillySane]

78. I'd say

you were very rude for asking a rhetorical question in the first place. Disguising your ACTUAL opinion.

Just say what you mean.

[dionysus]

89. mass pwnage event.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RegieRocker]

124. Mass hypocrisy event

[Bluebear]

151. Irony.

[WillyT]

46. The President Doesn't Play Clue...

He Plays 3 Dimensional Chess...



:hide::evilgrin::hide:

:yoiks:

[PhillySane]

53. nice one

:)

[WillyT]

63. I Try...

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[bigwillq]

79. hee hee

:rofl:

[Raksha]

52. He can always appeal for calm and civility from "both sides,"

the Egyptian thugs and the journalists. :sarcasm:

Added to add sarcasm smiley, although I really don't fault Obama's handling of the crisis. I doubt that any other way is possible.

[JTFrog]

58. He has quite a few more than most here. n/t

[madokie]

61. Yes but I'm not so sure about you

Oh so smart one tell me what you'd do beside shit down both legs when you found out exactly what it is to be President. Its not only diplomacy either, thats only one part of the big job. Put the dicks and w' prior shenanigans in there to gum up the works and you should be able to understand the enormity of this job.

I about forgot: UNFUCKINGREC

[PhillySane]

67. take it easy

recs don't do it for me anyway

[Bobbie Jo]

68. What he said...

:applause:

[Number23]

116. Damn! Go get'em!!

:applause:

[madokie]

121. This damn Obama bashing for the sake of bashing Obama sucks

Too much of that going on around here for my taste.

[ncteechur]

70. I'm quite sure that President Obama knows a fucking hell of a lot more foreign policy than you do so

I think I will stick with him rather than you.

[PhillySane]

71. Go right ahead

dig that avatar!

[msanthrope]

84. Yet another example of why the 'unrec' function is needed. n/t

[dionysus]

85. unrec won't stop it. there is no sense of shame even involved....

:(

[PhillySane]

90. May be you want to try

beating me up or stealing my camera. A few hours in the gulag might do me some good.

[dionysus]

92. and there we have it folks.

:spray::rofl:

[WillyT]

99. Shame ??? - Shame For Questioning Our Elected Leaders ???

Wow... someday, somewhere, somebody is going to introduce you to this country.

Shame???

:rofl:

:banghead:

[PhillySane]

103. Come on now...

you press the button inside the booth and that's it! You know that! That's all there is to Democracy! Easy! Simple!

[RegieRocker]

125. And you are trying very hard to keep it that why is that?

[treestar]

133. No but you don't get to run the country as President yourself

when you were not the one elected, either.

You can't elect your personal puppet - if you want to do that you have to run and win yourself.

[dionysus]

126. you call baseless insults and wierd conspiracy theories "Questioning Our Elected Leaders "?

hookay.

[PhillySane]

87. Haven't registered a single rec on this one yet!

Go right ahead!

[bigwillq]

96. I rec'ed it!!!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

95. You man you unrec'ed this?

Totally got a rec from me.

:rofl:

[Bluebear]

106. he had a Prayer Breakfast to go to. nt

[PhillySane]

108. Oh, I forgot.

Pancakes?

[Disintermedia8]

127. FYI

During that prayer breakfast he specifically called upon the Almighty to help the people of Egypt. You obviously expect him to wave a magic wand and a give miniature camel to every Egyptian. Those people should work within the system and elect the President they want.

[Bluebear]

139. FYI that prayer breakfast was sponsored by those advocating for death to gays, so spare me.

[PhillySane]

107. This just in...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.obama.reaction/index.html?hpt=T1

[somone]

111. He's probably waiting for advice from God

[burrowowl]

113. No Suleman is a CIA

enabler for torture!

[A-Schwarzenegger]

114. Will Mubarak be gone

before you?

[PhillySane]

123. sure hope so

[Honeycombe8]

137. You say "diplomatic"? Enter the SOS...and she did, and made a bold statement about it.

There is more than one person in teh administration. Hillary Clinton, being SOS, is a key player in this drama.

[Crabby Appleton]

148. He has, at 4:30 in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=preIE7u3nsY