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Obama: Time to refocus on domestic matters

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Connery

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"President Barack Obama says his goal of defeating al-Qaida is within reach and that it's time to turn the country's attention to domestic concerns.

Just four days after his trip to Afghanistan, Obama said that money saved from ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should help pay down the national debt and go to health care, education and infrastructure. "After more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation-building here at home," he said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday. The president took note of the agreement he signed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday that shifts security to the Afghan people.

But he said the nation now should concentrate on economic issues such as tax disparities and government spending.

"That's why I've called on Congress to take the money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt and use the other half to rebuild America," he said."

Obama: With goal of defeating al-Qaida within reach, time to refocus on domestic matters - chicagotribune.com
 
The time for that was about a decade ago, but ok!

Although I might point out that you can't use half the money saved from the war to pay down the debt because we were borrowing it in the first place.
 
Yeah Obama. Spend money we don't have paying for money we don't have, and the rest goes down your shovel-ready rabbit holes.

Who believes this crap ?
 
Connery said:
"President Barack Obama says his goal of defeating al-Qaida is within reach and that it's time to turn the country's attention to domestic concerns.
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*HIS* goal? Seems to me he was left with that from the previous administration, it was never *HIS* goal. While I agree with the sentiment that we ought to be spending our money and effort at home, the fact is, we haven't defeated al-Qaeda. Oh sure, the group once run by bin Laden is essentially no more, but there are tons of upstart terrorist organizations adopting the name and mannerisms of al-Qaeda because, once again, we've spent our time running around the planet swinging our dick at everyone. This supposed "War on Terror" has done little to stop terrorism and lots to encourage more of it.

Just four days after his trip to Afghanistan, Obama said that money saved from ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should help pay down the national debt and go to health care, education and infrastructure. "After more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation-building here at home," he said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday. The president took note of the agreement he signed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday that shifts security to the Afghan people.

But he said the nation now should concentrate on economic issues such as tax disparities and government spending.

"That's why I've called on Congress to take the money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt and use the other half to rebuild America," he said."

Obama: With goal of defeating al-Qaida within reach, time to refocus on domestic matters - chicagotribune.com
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This coming from the guy who proposes to spend more than he takes in for the next fiscal year? Somehow, I don't buy that he's interested in balancing the budget or reducing the debt.
 
The problem is that there are a whole bunch of liberals and other idiots in this country who will suck up the swill Obama gives them.
 
This guy has to work for my vote. I would like to see just how he will accomplish this or at least make some serious inroads in such a short period of time. He has squandered the novelty of his administration and the enthusiasm of the public on some pretty far reaching goals. Results are needed.
 
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I despised almost everything Bush Jr did in office, except his decision to go into Afghanistan after Al Qaeda. When he blew it by holding back the lion's share of military force needed for the job (planning on his Iraqi offensive, I believe) and allowed the entirety of Taliban and Al Qaeda trapped at Tora Bora to waltz into Pakistan, shaking the hands of Afghan military on the way, he lost all of my support.

That said, I didn't vote for Obama because he was an unqualified professional campaigner. I submitted a write-in vote. I've hoped for the best from Obama, and he did some of what I'd hoped by repealing DADT, but he squandered most of his time in office accomplishing nothing more than a convoluted health care plan that may sound good, but scares my personal physicians half to death.

I appreciate the guts it took for him to make the call on bin Laden. However, I wanted to see him provide some results as promised in his campaign. I'll probably end up with another write-in vote. Neither major political party seems interested in what's good for the nation. Rather, they are only interested in consolidating power for themselves, to force their own agendas on the American people.

It truly sucks. :(
 
DiAnna said:
I despised almost everything Bush Jr did in office, except his decision to go into Afghanistan after Al Qaeda. When he blew it by holding back the lion's share of military force needed for the job (planning on his Iraqi offensive, I believe) and allowed the entirety of Taliban and Al Qaeda trapped at Tora Bora to waltz into Pakistan, shaking the hands of Afghan military on the way, he lost all of my support.

That said, I didn't vote for Obama because he was an unqualified professional campaigner. I submitted a write-in vote. I've hoped for the best from Obama, and he did some of what I'd hoped by repealing DADT, but he squandered most of his time in office accomplishing nothing more than a convoluted health care plan that may sound good, but scares my personal physicians half to death.

I appreciate the guts it took for him to make the call on bin Laden. However, I wanted to see him provide some results as promised in his campaign. I'll probably end up with another write-in vote. Neither major political party seems interested in what's good for the nation. Rather, they are only interested in consolidating power for themselves, to force their own agendas on the American people.

It truly sucks. :(
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I did appreciate and respect his bank reform as that took an unwieldy situation and gave it some direction. The financial industry needs direction, without which greed is the rudder for a titanic failure. His new Jump-start Our Business Start-ups (JOBS) Act is an ambitious and gutsy move to assist in creating a market and revenue, which, to some may speak to a leveling or democratization of the financial playing field. Like all such measures time will tell if it is a good idea.


The Presidency for all the pomp and circumstance is just a job and their are many applicants so this guy better get on the stick.
 
DiAnna said:
I despised almost everything Bush Jr did in office, except his decision to go into Afghanistan after Al Qaeda. When he blew it by holding back the lion's share of military force needed for the job (planning on his Iraqi offensive, I believe) and allowed the entirety of Taliban and Al Qaeda trapped at Tora Bora to waltz into Pakistan, shaking the hands of Afghan military on the way, he lost all of my support.

That said, I didn't vote for Obama because he was an unqualified professional campaigner. I submitted a write-in vote. I've hoped for the best from Obama, and he did some of what I'd hoped by repealing DADT, but he squandered most of his time in office accomplishing nothing more than a convoluted health care plan that may sound good, but scares my personal physicians half to death.

I appreciate the guts it took for him to make the call on bin Laden. However, I wanted to see him provide some results as promised in his campaign. I'll probably end up with another write-in vote. Neither major political party seems interested in what's good for the nation. Rather, they are only interested in consolidating power for themselves, to force their own agendas on the American people.

It truly sucks. :(
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I like your post. But the call on Bin Laden took no guts. Trust was an easy call beyond belief. There was no enemy. The Pakistani's were not going to shoot down our helicopters. And despite all teh bloviating after the fact, they raised not one hair's worth of resistence during the operation.

The only folks saying it was a "tough call" are Obama's propagandists. A private in basic training could have made that call.
 
As strange as it may seem, an economy works or doesn't work in large part because of confidence.

When people lose confidence, the velocity of money slows. People spend less because they are worried about the future and they want to retain the potential for later. When spending slows, production slows. When production slows, people get laid off. Now they don't have the kinetic value of money because they aren't getting paid. The businesses try to conserve their money, i.e. their potential, for fear they'll need it in the future, but won't have money coming in. So you get a vicious, downward spiral.

Bottom line ....there's no confidence in Obama. The sad part is....In 2008, Obama won an overwhelming mandate (at least in the sense he had all the power) with a Democrat President, Democrat majority Senate and Democrat majority House and he ****ed it ALL up
 
And Reagan oozed confidence. Its what leaders do. It was certainly a major part of his success.
 
Eighty Deuce said:
And Reagan oozed confidence. Its what leaders do. It was certainly a major part of his success.
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Correct. Reagan changed, the mood of the nation almost overnight. As soon as Reagan took office it was as if America rolled up its sleeves and said "Time to get down to serious business and un****, the bull**** Carter did".

What followed was one of the greatest era's in US history, and the time when US power, prestige, influence, and economic performance reached its apex.
 
ric27 said:
Correct. Reagan changed, the mood of the nation almost overnight. As soon as Reagan took office it was as if America rolled up its sleeves and said "Time to get down to serious business and un****, the bull**** Carter did".

What followed was one of the greatest era's in US history, and the time when US power, prestige, influence, and economic performance reached its apex.
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Very true, and I believe we can get back there again. But, it can not be with a leader that believes that America is ignoble as a concept.

j-mac
 
j-mac said:
Very true, and I believe we can get back there again. But, it can not be with a leader that believes that America is ignoble as a concept.

j-mac
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What would lead you to believe that Obama feels this way?
 
Connery said:
"President Barack Obama says his goal of defeating al-Qaida is within reach and that it's time to turn the country's attention to domestic concerns.

Just four days after his trip to Afghanistan, Obama said that money saved from ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should help pay down the national debt and go to health care, education and infrastructure. "After more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation-building here at home," he said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday. The president took note of the agreement he signed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday that shifts security to the Afghan people.

But he said the nation now should concentrate on economic issues such as tax disparities and government spending.

"That's why I've called on Congress to take the money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt and use the other half to rebuild America," he said."

Obama: With goal of defeating al-Qaida within reach, time to refocus on domestic matters - chicagotribune.com
Click to expand...


Was he sober when he said that? Half to pay down the debt? someone tell him to sleep it off when he wakes up he will find his deficit for this year is about 1.3 trillion. Unless he considers going less in debt the same as paying of what we owe.
 
Hare said:
What would lead you to believe that Obama feels this way?
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Well, there is more than one thing...It could be how he dismisses the concept of American Exceptionalism, or, it could be how he tells an interviewer that the founding fathers got it wrong making the constitution a "charter of negative liberties...." etc.

j-mac
 
j-mac said:
Well, there is more than one thing...It could be how he dismisses the concept of American Exceptionalism, or, it could be how he tells an interviewer that the founding fathers got it wrong making the constitution a "charter of negative liberties...." etc.

j-mac
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He pandered to the liberal rejection of American exceptionalism (a dumb rejection by the way, because most-like conservatives- don't even know what the hell it is) but includes American exceptionalist rhetoric throughout his speeches. As far as his constitution comment is concerned, can I see it? "Negative liberties" refers to what government ought not do, and does not mean "bad liberties."
 
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j-mac said:
Well, there is more than one thing...It could be how he dismisses the concept of American Exceptionalism, or, it could be how he tells an interviewer that the founding fathers got it wrong making the constitution a "charter of negative liberties...." etc.

j-mac
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Seeing as American Exceptionalism has become a buzz phrase usually used in place of actual policy ideas, I'll dismiss it as well. Regarding his second statement, if you actually listened to the entire soundbite he was simply pointing out that the constitution places many restrictions on what the government can and can't do, but leaves the interpretation of what the government and state must do as an open ended argument.
 
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Hare said:
Seeing as American Exceptionalism is simply a buzz phrase usually used in place of actual policy ideas, I'll dismiss it as well.
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:roll: Here we go. Yet another person who has no idea what it is.
 
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Fiddytree said:
:roll: Here we go. Yet another person who has no idea what it is.
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I'm aware of it's technical definition, but the context in which it's used presently is usually as a convenient substitute for actual policy or debate.
 
Obama: Time to refocus on domestic matters
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i agree.

we can start by repairing our decaying infrastructure. we also need to build a 21st century electrical grid. it's going to have to be a public / private partnership, and i don't care how that is weighted as long as it gets done. preferably nuclear and renewable, and hopefully thorium.

we've talked about it. let's do it.
 
Hare said:
I'm aware of it's technical definition, but the context in which it's used presently is usually as a convenient substitute for actual policy or debate.
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But Obama doesn't dismiss it (he usually readily embraces it), so why would you?
 
Fiddytree said:
But Obama doesn't dismiss it (he usually readily embraces it), so why would you?
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I dismiss the notion that it should be a prevalent topic in serious discussions regarding current policy.
 
Obama said: "That's why I've called on Congress to take the money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt and use the other half to rebuild America,"

So is Obama really saying we should continue borrow approximatly $0.40 of every dollar spent by Congress. How is this going to cut the deficit? I want to see a full proposed budget, not political grandstanding.
 
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