Obama gets what McCain does not
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William H. Westhoff
Published: June 2, 2008
America needs to use “real-politics” that is based on military force and diplomacy, working together since neither work effectively alone.
This is true because “power lacks purpose and negotiations lack force.” Americans understand their “great historical moments have occurred when realism and idealism have combined.”
Barack Obama has the proper moral calculus and sense of proportion needed to reconcile the realism of war and idealism of peace.
His stance for change is needed to chart a real-politics course for peace and prosperity.
McCain’s 100-years-of-war mindset is the insanity of doing exactly the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
America must deal realistically with the world for its own national interests.
At the same time America must be willing to extend the hand of peace and understanding as part of its inalienable national values.
Obama’s gets it, sadly McCain does not.
WILLIAM H. WESTHOFF
Woodbridge
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Posted by ( willow703 ) on June 08, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I am neither rich or poor, but I can’t afford a president who will take away my rights or negotiate away my country.
You say John McCain supported George Bush for 8 years. So, how many years did George Washington support King George III?
People change - there’s that word again - some for the better some for the worse.
I’ve changed; some would say for the worse because I’m no longer a Christian.
I would disagree because my concern for my fellow man hasn’t changed.
You want change? Change what, why, when, how and at what cost?
I know what I would change, but that will have to wait for another day.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on June 08, 2008 at 10:06 am
If you actually have change in your pocket these days, then yeah you’re probably one of that 20% who can afford to support Bush and/or McCain.
No offense, but you’re being a little dense complaining that all Obama is offering is “change”. Gas is going to hit $5/gallon by July. The economy sucks, and there are seven foreclosed houses on my street. Oh yeah, and we’re spending billions each day in Iraq.
Is it really so strange that people are demanding CHANGE??
If Obama wasn’t promising to be a change from the Bush Republicans why WOULD we vote him?
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Posted by ( RonCharest ) on June 07, 2008 at 11:24 am
I don’t know willow703,
But I served 22 years active duty starting in the Vietnam Era. I have to wonder how many other people who post in these comments threads, who routinely call me a traitor, brain damaged, coward, or worse, have ANY military service?
I also have to wonder why, over the past 15 or so years, it is the children of poor families who are most commonly joining the military, while those children of privileged families do not. Even when it is those privileged people most willing to start new wars (see: Bush twins Jenna and Not-Jenna).
I also wonder why those people most willing to start wars are least willing to support our troops in ways that REALLY count - like ensuring they receive proper medical care for combat injuries, and have a chance for full education after honorable service (note: McCain and Bush actively oppose the Webb Educational Bill, Bush and many Republicans have consistently cut VA funding ever since 2000).
All this, and our 2007 military budget is about equivalent to the military budgets of all nations of the entire rest of the world combined.
No, I don’t know where we might have gone wrong.
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Posted by ( willow703 ) on June 06, 2008 at 8:01 pm
barnun,
Obama has not promised anything other than “change”, “hope” &; what was that other thing?.
Change wears a hole in my pocket & I can only hope that my wife will mend it before I lose something more important than change.
If the Democrats have better people to choose from than the Republicans, whose fault is that? If the Democrats have better people to choose from, where were they?
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Posted by ( willow703 ) on June 06, 2008 at 7:49 pm
RonCharest,
“Talking” is Obama’s new strategy? Like “talking” to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, telling them he would do everything in his power, everything!, to ensure that Iran didn’t acquire nuclear weapons? Sounds like a threat to me. I , of course, would say it’s not a threat, it’s a promise.
You might want to ask yourself: Why is our military stretched to the breaking point? In 1945, with a population half as large as today, we had three times as many people in our military forces. Where have we gone wrong?
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Posted by ( barnun ) on June 05, 2008 at 11:34 pm
willow, obama has promised every crowd he’s talked to that he will give them exactly what they want. Hillary had the support of about 47% of the democrats and she said Obama is not qualified. That is probably because he’s not. McCain was not my choice for the republicans. I think the Democrats had better people to choose from
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Posted by ( RonCharest ) on June 04, 2008 at 6:39 pm
No willow703,
I think he’s figured out that using a tactic called “Talking” might bring greater dividend than “threatening to bomb Iran back into the stone age.“
Especially when our military has been stretched to broken by Bush’s war of choice in Iraq, and is hardly in a position to engage in yet another losing war.
Especially as the Iraqi government we helped set up is now talking to Iran on a regular basis.
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Posted by ( willow703 ) on June 04, 2008 at 11:12 am
I heard Sen. Obama speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this morning. He said that as President, he would do everything in his power to ensure that Iran doesn’t acquire nuclear weapons.
Everything!
Does Obama finally get what McCain gets or is he just politicking?
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Posted by ( RonCharest ) on June 04, 2008 at 8:45 am
Pwanon,
John McCain is John McSame when it comes to following the policies Bush has already established.
* 100 more years in Iraq - check
* Continuing to shortchange our veterans on educational benefits - check
* Cutting taxes on the wealthy so the middle class have to pay more and get less - check
* Privatizing Social Security and turning over SS financial management to the investment houses currently going bankrupt - check
* Continuing to deny that our planet’s climate is changing, with adverse effects on the entire human race - check
* Continuing to deny poor children healthcare under S Chip - check
* Continuing to allow lobbyists for the banks that are going broke due to inept business practices dictate our nations financial policy - check
* Continue to make torture the official American policy - check
When it comes to being a “Republican Maverick;“ during his senate career McCain has voted with the Republican Party position over 90% of the time.
Barak Obama doesn’t have to be a perfect president; he just needs to do things completely different that Bush/McCain.
I think Obama already gets this.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on June 04, 2008 at 8:39 am
“The position of President should only be about setting the agenda and providing for a commander when the need arises. Outside of that, the position itself isn’t that powerful. “
In the same post where you write that the position of the President isn’t as powerful as congress, you tell us that Barrack Obama is personally going to disarm every American.
Yep, that’s logic for you. How is going to do that exactly?
You were right that congress passes laws, not the President. Congress wants nothing to do with touching the 2d ammendment these days. The American people have proven again and again that this is a surefire way to guarantee you won’t be reelected. Its a clear third rail.
I guess when the economy is in the tank and gas is $4/gal, you need something to rally the troops. Nothing like an oldie but goodie!
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