[mezz]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

No, he has not, "....left the war on terror on autopilot....". It has been taken into a covert hunt and assasinate mode as it should have been done in the first place. This is how we got bin-Laden and what has other al-Quaeda leaders in hiding and on the run. Massive military action against a cell terror structure is a massive waste of time, resources and last but certainly not least---Human lives. Swatting at a swarm of bees--with a baseball bat. It NEVER made any sense. You will swing until you are exhausted and there will still be bees to sting you. That is the whole point of utilizing a "cell" strategy.

While I don't disagree entirely I do believe that it has been a progression. Bush destroyed the hive and now it is in a 'hunt and assassinate mode'. This was going to occur anyway and Obama has virtually done nothing for which he can legitimately take credit to advance these operations. The infrastructure, the intelligence, the dirty work of invading these countries was all undertaken by Obama's predecessor. Can anyone really imagine Obama ever having the stuff to take any decisive action of this nature.

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

My only gripe with Obama is that he hasn't shut down "occupation" operations in Iraq and Afghanistan quickly enough.

"Obama does not embrace a leadership role for the US in the world. Read his book." Niether do I. I want my country to CEASE trying to run the entire world.

Here we go with the "spreading Democracy around the world" nonsense as the Repulican Party actively tears Democracy down here in the states, claiming, "We are not a democracy, we are a representative republic!". Attacking any citizen activist groups it disapproves of and disuading individual participation in the electoral process while bolstering corporate and plutocratic influence over it.

Can't have it both ways, my friend.

Come on now, neither can you. Obama has been clearly paying opposition to all of the above lip service while pursuing exactly the opposite agenda all the while.

I also don't believe that requiring proof of citizenship to vote is designed to "disuading individual participation in the electoral process", but is being pursued partly because it is well understood that the typical liberal's ethical compass does not preclude the condoning fraudulent voting practices. Playing fair is considered a sucker's game to them.

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I say we stay concentrated on protecting our own borders, shorelines and shipping lanes while strengthening Democracy at home. We must get our own house in order first, or we will destroy ourselves trying to control everyone else.

You could say my approach to international affairs is more conservative than that of most modern day conservatives.

Dave

I'd say your approach is more isolationist. The world has shrunk considerably since the last time this position held predominance over US foreign policy (pre-wwII). One thing 9/11 taught us is that the oceans alone cannot protect us. We need to remain intricately involved in forein affairs. Obama's foreign policy has been a bumbling mess, easily the worst (and most non-existent) in my lifetime.