• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

So how is that "Smart Power" working out?

How is "Smart Power" working out for the United States?

  • Smart Power has made incredible foreign policy gains for us

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Smart Power helped us "reset" relations with Russia et al.

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Smart Power works, but turned out to be Bush Doctrine Lite

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • We are so screwed that we now lose no matter WHAT we do

    Votes: 17 81.0%
  • Total voters
    21
ocean515 said:
On the other hand, for those challenged by the concept of taking responsibility, the years 2001-2008 have sure helped dig holes for many to bury their heads in.
Click to expand...
ocean515 said:
Actually, I believe it's the State of Mind. A place many observe ProgLibs are in daily...
Click to expand...
You still have yet to make a valid point, what responsibility for the 2001-08 Bush Doctrine do the "ProgLibs" need to answer for?
 
humbolt said:
they will automatically line up to blow the living hell out of Syria
Click to expand...
Is that what is being called for?
A: No it isn't, so you have created a straw man.
 
American said:
Every president has been educated. Next.
Click to expand...
Too bad you couldn't be bothered to even understand what the term "Smart Power" means, let alone find out the the OP is referencing a NRO screed.

C'mon cons, raise your game a little.
 
Gimmesometruth said:
You still have yet to make a valid point, what responsibility for the 2001-08 Bush Doctrine do the "ProgLibs" need to answer for?
Click to expand...

It would seem you have difficulty reading. I'm sorry, but I have no interest, nor ability to assist you with that.

Next.
 
ocean515 said:
It would seem you have difficulty reading. I'm sorry, but I have no interest, nor ability to assist you with that.

Next.
Click to expand...
Ah, you me you never really read the original post of mine that you responded to!

How ironic!
 
Gimmesometruth said:
Too bad you couldn't be bothered to even understand what the term "Smart Power" means, let alone find out the the OP is referencing a NRO screed.

C'mon cons, raise your game a little.
Click to expand...

Too bad all that was irrelevant to the exchange.
 
American said:
Too bad all that was irrelevant to the exchange.
Click to expand...
Actually, it is directly related to the fact that all of the cons are ignoring what the term "Smart Power" refers to.

Raise your game.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
An education is great, but if all you have in your resume is an education, and then you step into the real world armed only with an education, well you have one has seen how that's working out,: not so good well.
Click to expand...

Why is it that people who show contempt for education tend to be the very same ones who use atrocious grammar?
 
ocean515 said:
On the other hand, for those challenged by the concept of taking responsibility, the years 2001-2008 have sure helped dig holes for many to bury their heads in.
Click to expand...
Lets try this again salty, If "ProgLibs" are somehow responsible for the Bush Doctrine, you will need to explain.....which you have not yet.
If you mean that the Neocons have never taken responsibility for the Bush Doctrine....well, salty, that WAS MY POINT.

If you can't bother to clarify your obtuse rhetoric, just walk now instead of muddying the waters further.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
Academics should stay in the class room or the teachers lobby and discuss theory, they just don't have what it takes to actually govern. The real world is far more complex and messy than the ivory tower.
Click to expand...

Worked well for T.E. Lawrence. Although he was more of a military commander than a statesman, he was obliged to perform in both roles.

There is no special category of people that has all of what it takes to "actually govern." Business people and professional politicians dominate the government and have made it generally corrupt.

And much like effective parenting or any type of leadership, an effective government is as much a gift of the people to ruler as it is a result of the ruler's personal merits.
 
Last edited:
spud_meister said:
I agree, politicians should do something to help communities or go traveling around the world or work as a lawyer or something before entering politics...
Click to expand...

I would prefer they entered the workforce or even started their own business. Nothing in real life teaches us more than does failure. I would prefer they had the opportunity to fail on their own time, not ours. It's not at all surprising to see our current president run the economy in to the ground considering he had never been exposed to it before he was given the chance to **** it all up.
 
Gimmesometruth said:
Lets try this again salty, If "ProgLibs" are somehow responsible for the Bush Doctrine, you will need to explain.....which you have not yet.
If you mean that the Neocons have never taken responsibility for the Bush Doctrine....well, salty, that WAS MY POINT.

If you can't bother to clarify your obtuse rhetoric, just walk now instead of muddying the waters further.
Click to expand...

As I wrote before, I have no interest in assisting your improvement in reading.

Not once did I claim ProgLibs were responsible for anything related to Bush.

Perhaps you were right to bring to my attention the micro issue present in some people I engage with.

It's becoming clear it's a valid consideration.
 
Phys251 said:
Why is it that people who show contempt for education tend to be the very same ones who use atrocious grammar?
Click to expand...

Get over it. It's an online forum and often people (I know this sometimes happens to me) type something that looks a bit off but it isn't worth the effort to correct it as long as the point is clear. For instance I may have about 2 minutes to read here before my parts show up and then it's back to work. This isn't some classic literary tome. I suspect many are unable to spell or conjugate properly anymore anyway considering the shorthand that comes with speed texting.
 
ocean515 said:
As I wrote before, I have no interest in assisting your improvement in reading.

Not once did I claim ProgLibs were responsible for anything related to Bush.

Perhaps you were right to bring to my attention the micro issue present in some people I engage with.

It's becoming clear it's a valid consideration.
Click to expand...
The issue is the inability to present direct comment, but then it a technique to obfuscate in area of ignorance.

Carry on with your SOP.
 
Gimmesometruth said:
I suppose if one completely forgets 2001-2008, where having "dumb" people execute "dumb" policies which has caused directly and indirectly much of the instability in the Middle East today.....then one could incorrectly define "Smart Power" and whine about the situation in the ME.

What depth of understanding and vision!
Click to expand...
But when does the "Smart Power" actually kick in, then?
 
Gimmesometruth said:
The issue is the inability to present direct comment, but then it a technique to obfuscate in area of ignorance.

Carry on with your SOP.
Click to expand...

Well, first, I do try to write a coherent sentence, which some apparently are incapable of accomplishing. Again, perhaps it's that micro thing that surfaced in an earlier post.

In a gesture of good will, let me clarify my original comment and present it in a manner appropriate to those who stuggle to comprehend facts.

Here goes:

​
Because Bush was President in 2001-2008, ProgLibs can bury their heads in the sand and blame everything on him, so they can fearfully ignore the present.

I trust this clarification has been helpful and will allow those who were confused with the original to avoid further embarrassment.
 
Gimmesometruth said:
I suppose if one completely forgets 2001-2008, where having "dumb" people execute "dumb" policies which has caused directly and indirectly much of the instability in the Middle East today.....then one could incorrectly define "Smart Power" and whine about the situation in the ME.

What depth of understanding and vision!
Click to expand...
ocean515 said:
Because Bush was President in 2001-2008, ProgLibs can bury their heads in the sand and blame everything on him, so they can fearfully ignore the present.
Click to expand...
This still makes no sense, "ProgLibs" never ignored the absolute disaster of the Bush Doctrine .....nor are those whining about the reintroduction of "Smart Power" claiming the "ProgLibs" are ignoring its application.

You make no sense on multiple levels.
 
Last edited:
Dooble said:
I asked you first.
Click to expand...
No, you did not. You have not shown any understanding of the term, you did not ask me to define it.....you made the assumption it is not in action without showing it is not....so you are wrong on all fronts in claiming " you asked me first".
 
Boo Radley said:
I do. It's commentary of comments that exhibit hatred for education. it's one of the larger issues in schools today: the attitude that knowing information, having been educated is a bad thing. These comments propagate that mentality.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with education but it is only one part of a resume to be pres not the end all be all.
 
humbolt said:
The political left loves to make excellent arguments which deny reality. We saw this just yesterday with the president. The reality is that even though there are many, many signatories to the Geneva Conventions, that does not mean they will automatically line up to blow the living hell out of Syria because the president says it's required. Reality is a stubborn thing which steadfastly refuses to succumb to argument, no matter how eloquent.
Click to expand...
Were that true, Obama could never have been elected.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom