General Discussion

zipplewrath

(16,698 posts)

67. The priming that Obama asked for

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 03:35 PM

Apr 2014

Mr Bush said a marine battalion that had been scheduled to go to Iraq in November would go to Afghanistan instead, and that that would be followed by one army combat brigade, which would take part in a "quiet surge" against the Taliban. There are 31,000 US troops now serving in Afghanistan, along with 8,000 British military personnel.

Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, who has advocated pulling all American combat forces out of Iraq within 16 months of taking office, said that keeping so many troops in Iraq would still leave the military overstretched.

The Illinois senator said that he was "glad that the president is moving in the direction of the policy that I have advocated for years", by shifting troops to Afghanistan, which the Democrat describes as the central front in the war on terror. His rival, Republican Senator John McCain, favours keeping US troops in Iraq for longer.

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What overall grade would you give Obama at this point in his presdiency? [View all] Skip Intro Apr 2014 OP

B AZ Mike Apr 2014 #1

I'm going to go with a B+ Ohio Joe Apr 2014 #2

Exactly! He inherited a massive pile of shit to deal with. I go with B+ too. n/t RKP5637 Apr 2014 #3

I voted B+ also trueblue2007 Apr 2014 #18

He not only inherited a shitpile Warpy Apr 2014 #77

A mog75 Apr 2014 #4

I gave him an A+ MannyGoldstein Apr 2014 #5

Well you said you'd rather overturn the election of Obama than the election of Reagan Cali_Democrat Apr 2014 #7

Your stalking is a little creepy, but ultimately flattering. Why don't you be a dear, MannyGoldstein Apr 2014 #8

Sure thing, boss Cali_Democrat Apr 2014 #19

LOL Skittles Apr 2014 #10

B: I'm still sore about the Wall Street and Detroit bailouts Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2014 #6

The Wall Street bailouts were under Bush's watch... Diamonique Apr 2014 #68

Both bailout policies began under Bush and Obama put them into overdrive. Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2014 #72

C+ PeteSelman Apr 2014 #9

C+ (B if measured against repukes) Skittles Apr 2014 #11

Agreed. PeteSelman Apr 2014 #13

A+, with extra credit for every day he keeps the neocons out of Iran. ucrdem Apr 2014 #12

That raises his grade somewhat for me as well. War with Iran would make our Iraq catastrophe nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #15

It is one of the few redeeming facts in his foreign policy. Democracyinkind Apr 2014 #30

I agree. He's fairly moderate on most issues, but our current foreign policy makes him look more nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #31

Sadly, only about a C+ even with post-Bush grade inflation. nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #14

C+, at best. Vashta Nerada Apr 2014 #16

Are any of the A+ grades sincere? Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #17

there's plenty of DUers who literally think Obama can do no wrong Skittles Apr 2014 #20

I don't think *any* president has earned an A+. Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #21

correct Skittles Apr 2014 #22

Please tell me you're joking. ucrdem Apr 2014 #23

Did you just say that Obama reversed the global financial crisis? Democracyinkind Apr 2014 #29

I'm going with a straight C because I am a liberal. gvstn Apr 2014 #24

I went with a "D" for pretty much the same reasons as you mentioned Victor_c3 Apr 2014 #27

I am giving him an A plus. MADem Apr 2014 #25

I respect your argument, even if I think an A+ is an extremely inflated grade. nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #32

Well, here's my take... MADem Apr 2014 #46

Only one Clinton thing left zipplewrath Apr 2014 #61

It's funny, though, how people who despise NAFTA--and I'm not overjoyed with it, either, MADem Apr 2014 #64

Wrong zipplewrath Apr 2014 #66

Well, that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. I don't find your view controlling. MADem Apr 2014 #70

Cart before the horse zipplewrath Apr 2014 #74

Well, I don't think everyone sees it the way you do. You're ignoring the "wages" piece of the puzzle MADem Apr 2014 #78

Actually, you are zipplewrath Apr 2014 #80

Understood. And I very much do subscribe to the "lesser evil" argument even when the Dems nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #71

I agree. Managing to turn the economy around at the crisis point it was handed to him while under stevenleser Apr 2014 #41

Huh? "getting us out of.. Afghanistan" Dawgs Apr 2014 #43

Yes. MADem Apr 2014 #50

Exactly. We are still at war (which should only be as a last resort) almost 6 years after elected. Dawgs Apr 2014 #53

"Hardly acceptable as a Democrat?" What does that even mean? MADem Apr 2014 #54

How many? zipplewrath Apr 2014 #60

His predecessor primed the Afghan "surge" pump. MADem Apr 2014 #62

The priming that Obama asked for zipplewrath Apr 2014 #67

There weren't too many people who weren't saying that Bush was fighting in the wrong country MADem Apr 2014 #69

But it wasn't pump priming zipplewrath Apr 2014 #75

Saying "You were an ass who fought the wrong war" isn't the same as endorsing "pump priming." MADem Apr 2014 #76

Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan zipplewrath Apr 2014 #81

+1,000 nt MADem Apr 2014 #47

A lamp_shade Apr 2014 #26

Where's your vote, Skippy? RandiFan1290 Apr 2014 #28

Gave him a "B" based on a steep curve think Apr 2014 #33

C+ I don't like his support of another unfare trade agreement. B Calm Apr 2014 #34

I'm going with an A madokie Apr 2014 #35

Overall, a monumental opportunity democrank Apr 2014 #36

D DiverDave Apr 2014 #37

I forgot about Pharmaceuticals gvstn Apr 2014 #39

if people have health care who didn't and couldn't arely staircase Apr 2014 #51

"who cares if insurance companies make money" NCTraveler Apr 2014 #55

I think most liberals care more about access to arely staircase Apr 2014 #58

If Skip Intro, the OP will give Obama a grade in his own poll, so will I CreekDog Apr 2014 #38

"Deemed to have deserved honours". Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #40

I give him a B because he is doing the job TBF Apr 2014 #42

Solid A. closeupready Apr 2014 #44

given the political realities of how rightwing economics came to dominate both parties a few decades Douglas Carpenter Apr 2014 #45

Incomplete FarCenter Apr 2014 #48

I gave him a C, but it's ONLY because Obamacare is working out better than I expected. Raksha Apr 2014 #49

D!!!! Dawgs Apr 2014 #52

C CrispyQ Apr 2014 #56

C+ BlindTiresias Apr 2014 #57

A good solid B+. hrmjustin Apr 2014 #59

he is a more effective DLC president than Bill Clinton. yurbud Apr 2014 #63

I gave him an "A" hamsterjill Apr 2014 #65

I'm going with C+ Spirochete Apr 2014 #73

A - because he will be the first POTUS my daughter will remember underpants Apr 2014 #79

why won't you respond to your own poll question? CreekDog Apr 2014 #82

Where are A-, B-, etc? KamaAina Apr 2014 #83