General Discussion

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

71. I see. He was putting us all on, was he?

Tue Sep 10, 2013, 06:54 PM

Sep 2013

The President of the United States put on an enormous puppet show for the sole benefit of a failing Middle Eastern dictator, to the point of requesting Congressional approval to begin a war, in hopes he would be given the opportunity to back out of it and score a deal? He put himself and the Democratic Party into a political kill box, which threatened the credibility of the rest of his administration, and national elections for decades to come ... on a goof? A scam? Kabuki theater?

He just kept backing down until ... he won?

This is maybe the saddest hyper-partisan Obama scheme hatched yet.

Why not just settle for the truth -- Obama didn't have the support for the war he requested, and wisely leapt on an opportunity for a face-saving compromise?

That's a good result. It's just not magic. Because Obama is not magic.

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On this occasion we should be grateful that Obama failed. [View all] Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 OP

He didn't fail. Winding down wars is not the hallmark of a warmonger. CakeGrrl Sep 2013 #1

"He didnt fail". And that's the most important thing. That might be rhett o rick Sep 2013 #13

+1 Marr Sep 2013 #19

Whether he failed or won is a matter of perspective and secondary to rhett o rick Sep 2013 #25

Well, he didn't fail. Skidmore Sep 2013 #23

I think Obama did plan to attack, and still may do so. TwilightGardener Sep 2013 #2

maybe he felt strongly about chemical weapons used on kids. we know he has no ulterior motive for seabeyond Sep 2013 #3

I'm sure he did. I think his cure was probably even worse than the malady, though. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #14

Agent Defeat Weapons VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #26

Putin openly admits they discussed the Russian initiative last week. phleshdef Sep 2013 #4

But the story does not start at the G20 which was 5th and 6th September Bluenorthwest Sep 2013 #9

Clearly O forced Putin to make a stand larkrake Sep 2013 #5

At this point, I don't care if they bungled their way into this solution deutsey Sep 2013 #6

Of course you don't VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #28

God, you make me laugh deutsey Sep 2013 #30

Yeah and today...I am laughing my ass off in the faces of alot of folks around here... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #38

"that dared step to me" deutsey Sep 2013 #41

Andy Kaufman? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #44

Ibby-dah? deutsey Sep 2013 #45

He hasn't yet said he will not attack. DirkGently Sep 2013 #7

It was the intended result... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #29

The stated goal was to punish Assad with missile strikes. DirkGently Sep 2013 #56

The threat of such was the ONLY thing that would get Assad to play ball... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #59

Yeah. Nobody thinks that. DirkGently Sep 2013 #61

So you seriously think they don't have a range of scenarios about what might happen VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #62

Sure. Failure to get the war they wanted IS a win. DirkGently Sep 2013 #64

President Obama did not fail, he succeeded in averting a war. I don't think it was 3-d chess LaydeeBug Sep 2013 #8

I don't think averting the war you wanted to start DirkGently Sep 2013 #65

Apparently "failure" means that you didn't predict the exact outcome from the beginning. Skinner Sep 2013 #10

I was thinking of starting an OP to this effect. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #12

Glad to see you commenting on this. Number23 Sep 2013 #21

I completely agree, very well said. nt Waiting For Everyman Sep 2013 #24

there's 2 issues here that aren't clear vis a vis what the "failure" is nashville_brook Sep 2013 #66

No. One good chem compromise. One failed war. DirkGently Sep 2013 #68

Good post. tammywammy Sep 2013 #75

Agree. kentuck Sep 2013 #85

Obama and Kerry kicked ass and took names. They did not fail. They WON big time. Zorra Sep 2013 #11

On t he contrary, I'm pleased by the outcome. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #15

How could it have happened without a credible threat from... Motown_Johnny Sep 2013 #18

and you "know" this how? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #31

I think you're confused. You're talking to me, not to somebody else. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #48

Yeah I am talking to you..."Ian" VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #51

Except actually you're not. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #52

Right...whatever you say "Ian" VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #55

Failed? I count 4 wins... Motown_Johnny Sep 2013 #16

Praise be! whatchamacallit Sep 2013 #17

You're right. I think the fact that the American people were against military action SomethingFishy Sep 2013 #20

I say it was part of the entire plan...Obama would not be looking so resolute VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #32

Yes, well, you would. SomethingFishy Sep 2013 #36

You damn skippy I would... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #40

you're hilarious. I came down off my mountain to say Obama F'D UP!!! Pretzel_Warrior Sep 2013 #22

I tend to agree. I will also illustrate the worst possible reading of this whole situation quinnox Sep 2013 #27

As I said before...this man is a pragmatist... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #34

I agree. ocpagu Sep 2013 #33

Its better than what you got...which is a big fat zero! VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #35

It's not about me, is it? ocpagu Sep 2013 #54

Conspiracy theory????? An Embarrassment???? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #57

Yep. A conspiracy theory. ocpagu Sep 2013 #60

And even presuming so, what would of happen if Russia didn't follow along and Congress said "yes" NoOneMan Sep 2013 #37

How else would Syria have been drawn into the CWA without the threat of violence exactly? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #47

Syria is between a rock and a hard place. They are in a Civil War NoOneMan Sep 2013 #63

K&R Rewriting of history by the politically invested is a dangerous thing woo me with science Sep 2013 #39

So you think Putin and Obama are both lying when they said this geek tragedy Sep 2013 #42

could you clarify what exactly is Obama's failure in this scenario? Sheepshank Sep 2013 #43

It looks like the US will not attack Syria. Obama was trying to arrange such an attack. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2013 #50

really......? Sheepshank Sep 2013 #58

He asked America for war. America said "No." DirkGently Sep 2013 #69

A very public, loud, persistent push for military intervention, sent it's own message Sheepshank Sep 2013 #70

I see. He was putting us all on, was he? DirkGently Sep 2013 #71

Running from one extreme statement to another in an incredulous tone doesn't create validity Sheepshank Sep 2013 #72

The extreme position is the notion Obama didn't adjust DirkGently Sep 2013 #73

Ahh I see you position Sheepshank Sep 2013 #74

Backing down & negotiating was the right thing to do. DirkGently Sep 2013 #76

"Obama certainly tried to keep the threat of a strike alive in his speech last night. " Sheepshank Sep 2013 #78

I do not think U.S. threats are the sole power in the world, no. DirkGently Sep 2013 #80

looks like my assertions were not too far off the mark after all Sheepshank Sep 2013 #81

Youch. Not a credible source, to say the least. DirkGently Sep 2013 #82

see you are back to the extreme... Sheepshank Sep 2013 #83

You cited an OP that claimed Obama planned it all. DirkGently Sep 2013 #84

He may not have "failed" but, thanks to the Brit Parliament and the polls, we won. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2013 #46

Thanks to the Brit Parliament? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #49

The Brit parliament voted against the war. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2013 #53

He didn't fail, he went before Congress. Rex Sep 2013 #67

If say that avoiding war through diplomacy, be it accidental or not, is NOT a failure. cleanhippie Sep 2013 #77

Yep, that's step one. Step two will be you taking credit for the outcome. great white snark Sep 2013 #79