What I liked about Tulsi Gabbard

[bluedye33139]

I liked her boldly challenging our military presence around the world. I thought that her attacks on Hillary Clinton were stupid and misguided, but I agree with Gabbard that the United States has overdone its military policing of the globe. I think that many of our overseas engagements have been stupid and wasteful and misguided.

I liked her for her grudging acceptance that, even though she was raised to hate gays, LGBT people deserve equality and civil rights. I mistrusted her so much on gay issues because of her past, but I did come around to accept that she is a civil libertarian and believes in equality.

If not for the attacks on the DNC and attacks on Hillary Clinton, I would have wholeheartedly supported Gabbard. Her negatives seriously outweigh the positives, however. I'm not going to go into a full list of her negatives. I assume that we all know them!

[bucolic_frolic]

1. "military policing" is what defends democracy against dictators, despots, and terrorists

It's what NATO, the UN, and World War II were all about. For those of you who haven't a clue.

[Turin_C3PO]

3. True

but some our military adventures are bullshit, like much of the Reagan’s Central American interference in the 80s and, of course, Bush II’s Iraq War.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. There is foreign policy for patriotism, there is foreign policy for corporations

which is really just reconstituted empire. We stripped European imperialism and substituted proxy states for economic development and loans.

But yeah, tin pot wars don't help us, especially when our leaders seemed to think the fall of the Berlin Wall would magically - Adam Smith invisible hand-style - usher in freedom and democracy everywhere with no effort.

[bluedye33139]

5. It also leads to us sending troops to defend dictators

The United States military being used to support Saudi Arabia, for instance. I find it really hard to look at our military support for Saudi Arabia as an effort in defense of democracy.

[NurseJackie]

2. Good description. The word "grudging" reveals much. It suggests to me...

Good description. The word "grudging" reveals much. It suggests to me that her words of acceptance were just that: words and words only. Insincere. Scripted. Or, half-hearted. Knowing that's what is expected if she wants to continue to play the game.

All I'm saying is this: she hasn't convinced me.

[bluedye33139]

6. I took it as meaning that she still has religious objections to homosexuality

Kind of like how Janet Reno was opposed to abortion, but decided that rule of law and our tradition of secular government is more important than religious belief.

I used to be really opposed to Gabbard.

[denem]

7. Insincere, scripted, or speaking in tongues,

Gabbard has put to bed any prospect of a third party run, and increased the pressure on Sanders. I'd take it even was credible evidence that she's a DARPA animatronic special project.