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Obama Needs a History Lesson

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by carpro, May 23, 2008.

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  1. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/05/obama_needs_to_study_history_b.html

    May 09, 2008
    Obama Needs a History Lesson

    By Jack Kelly

    In his victory speech after the North Carolina primary, Sen. Barack Obama said something that is all the more remarkable for how little it has been remarked upon.

    In defending his stated intent to meet with America's enemies without preconditions, Sen. Obama said: "I trust the American people to understand that it is not weakness, but wisdom to talk not just to our friends, but to our enemies, like Roosevelt did, and Kennedy did, and Truman did."

    That he made this statement, and that it passed without comment by the journalists covering his speech indicates either breathtaking ignorance of history on the part of both, or deceit.

    SNIP

    Elie Abel, who wrote a history of the Cuban missile crisis (The Missiles of October), said the crisis had its genesis in that summit.

    "There is reason to believe that Khrushchev took Kennedy's measure in June 1961 and decided this was a young man who would shrink from hard decisions," Mr. Abel wrote. "There is no evidence to support the belief that Khrushchev ever questioned America's power. He questioned only the president's readiness to use it. As he once told Robert Frost, he came to believe that Americans are 'too liberal to fight.'"

    That view was supported by New York Times columnist James Reston, who traveled to Vienna with President Kennedy: "Khrushchev had studied the events of the Bay of Pigs," Mr. Reston wrote. "He would have understood if Kennedy had left Castro alone or destroyed him, but when Kennedy was rash enough to strike at Cuba but not bold enough to finish the job, Khrushchev decided he was dealing with an inexperienced young leader who could be intimidated and blackmailed."

    It's worth noting that Kennedy then was vastly more experienced than Sen. Obama is now. A combat veteran of World War II, Jack Kennedy served 14 years in Congress before becoming president. Sen. Obama has no military and little work experience, and has been in Congress for less than four years.

    The closest historical analogue to Sen. Obama's expressed desire to meet with no preconditions with anti-American dictators such as Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the trip British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French premier Eduoard Daladier took to Munich in September of 1938 to negotiate "peace in our time" with Adolf Hitler. That didn't work out so well
     
    #1 carpro, May 23, 2008
  2. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Again - substance, thank you.

    Senator Obama apparently hasn't a clue about realpolitik. His idealism may be refreshing to some, but we don't live in a day when we can afford his naivete.
     
    #2 NaasPreacher (C4K), May 23, 2008
  3. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    "Substance" doesn't generate much interest, does it?

    Obama enthusiasts are certainly not interested.
     
    #3 carpro, May 23, 2008
  4. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Close, Kenedy was in both the congress and the senate but we get the point.

    What about Obama time in state legislation? Does he get any credit for that?
     
    #4 LeBuick, May 23, 2008
  5. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Very little in my mind. But ot be fair he did represent part of Chicago. Yet, on the other hand again he would only know big city politics.

    Either way, his experience is minimal.
     
    #5 NaasPreacher (C4K), May 23, 2008
  6. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Not really. It's a part time position and indications are that Obama's attendence was only part time of the part time.

    He also had the disturbing habit of voting "present" on key pieces of legislation indicating lack of knowledge or political courage. Neither is a recommendation for President.
     
    #6 carpro, May 23, 2008
  7. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    But what really is the difference in State politics? You are approached by lobbyist and special interest groups. You must make allies on both sides of the isle. You only care about the people during the election.

    Perhaps the "Hill" is a grander stage but I think politics is politics...
     
    #7 LeBuick, May 23, 2008
  8. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    Just look at the vast experience in the Bush administration - Vice President Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Doug Feith, Richard Perle, etc. - and the mess they have made of our foreign policy.

    For instance, Iran is stronger today after these men took over the guidance of our foreign policy than before they were placed in positions of power.

    IMHO, the value of experience can be overblown if it is not coupled with sound judgment.
     
    #8 KenH, May 23, 2008
  9. hillclimber1

    hillclimber1 Active Member
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    This just shows the vacuousness of your understanding. You long ago quit watching facts, and instead, chose to listen to the siren song of the left.
     
    #9 hillclimber1, May 23, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2008
  10. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Fair point, but Senator Obama has already made fr too many foolish statements on foreign policy. He doesn't seem to realise that America has enemies, real enemies; enemies who seek her destruction. This, combined with his comments on the destruction of all nuclear weapons, would have us negotiating from a position of wekaness.

    Does anyone remember Allen Drury? He was a political novelists who wrote back in the 50s and 60. His books were designed like a history lesson. Obama reminds me of one of the politicians who thought he could handle all of America's problems by appeasement and weakness. The end results were disastrous.

    I agree that the last 16 years have not been the best for foreign policy. But can we afford a president who starts out by saying, "I want to disarm and sit down with our enemies?"
     
    #10 NaasPreacher (C4K), May 24, 2008
  11. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    Some posters could use a 'Civics' Lesson.

    Last time I checked, the Senate was a part of the Congress. :rolleyes:
    Ed
     
    #11 EdSutton, May 24, 2008
  12. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    No. Neither can we afford a president who starts out by saying(singing), "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran."
     
    #12 KenH, May 24, 2008
  13. NiteShift

    NiteShift New Member

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    "Obama said global leaders must do whatever it takes to stop Iran from enriching uranium and acquiring nuclear weapons." - LINK
     
    #13 NiteShift, May 24, 2008
  14. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Of course not - we are stuck.
     
    #14 NaasPreacher (C4K), May 24, 2008
  15. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    Obama will have to come to grips with the fact (as McCain and Clinton have) that sooner or later he'll have to be allied with the military industrial complex to move into the White House. "It" makes sure there are always enough weapons to be had for everyone and that "foreign aid" (taxpayer) money keeps flowing freely to "it's" consumers.

    Obama should think twice about taking on that giant. Armed enemies = big business.
     
    #15 poncho, May 24, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2008
  16. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    i stands corrected, he was in both the house and the senate...


    Thank you Sir... :thumbs:
     
    #16 LeBuick, May 24, 2008
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