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Octafish

(55,745 posts)
91. Is This Barack Obama's 2nd Term? Is it Bill Clinton's 3rd? Or Is It Ronald Reagan's 9th?
Mon May 30, 2016, 10:53 AM
May 2016
They say that elections do matter, and that there are real differences between Republican and Democratic presidents. But backing up the view to 30 years, that difference looks a lot more like continuity, both at home and in America's global empire.

By Bruce A. Dixon
Black Agenda Report managing editor

The answer is yes to all three. Ronald Reagan hasn't darkened the White House door in decades. But his policy objectives have been what every president, Democrat and Republican have pursued relentlessly ever since. Barack Obama is only the latest and most successful of Reagan's disciples.

SNIP...

In Barack Obama's case all he had to say was that he wasn't necessarily against wars, just against what he called “stupid wars.” Corporate media and “liberal” shills morphed that lone statement into a false narrative that Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq, making him an instantly viable presidential candidate at a time when the American people overwhelmingly opposed that war. Once in office, Barack Obama strove mightily to abrogate the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq which would have allowed US forces to remain there indefinitely. But when the Iraqi puppet government, faced with a near revolt on the part of what remained of Iraqi civil society, dared not do his bidding, insisting that uniformed US troops (but not the American and multinational mercenaries we pay to remain there) stick to the withdrawal timetable agreed upon under Bush, liberal shills and corporate media hailed the withdrawal from Iraq as Obama's “victory.”

Barack Obama doubled down on the invasion and occupation of large areas of Afghanistan, and increased the size of the army and marines, which in fact he pledged to do during his presidential campaign. Presidential candidate Obama promised to end secret imprisonment and torture. The best one can say about President Obama on this score is that he seems to prefer murderous and indiscriminate drone attacks, in many cases, over the Bush policy of international kidnapping secret imprisonment and torture. The Obama administration's reliance on drones combined with US penetration of the African continent, means that a Democratic, ostensibly “antiwar” president has been able to openly deploy US troops to every part of that continent in support of its drive to control the oil, water, and other resources there.

The objectives President Obama's Africa policies fulfill today were put down on paper by the Bush administration, pursued by Bill Clinton before that, and still earlier pursued by Ronald Reagan, when it funded murderous contra armies of UNITA in Angola and RENAMO in Mozambque. It was UNITA and RENAMO's campaigns, assisted by the apartheid regimes of Israel and South Africa that pioneered the genocidal use of child soldiers. Today, cruise missile liberals hail the Obama administration's use of pit bull puppet regimes like Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda, all of which shot their way into power with child soldiers, to invade Somalia and Congo, sometimes ostensibly to go after other bad actors on the grounds that they are using child soldiers.

CONTINUED...

http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/barack-obamas-2nd-term-it-bill-clintons-3rd-or-it-ronald-reagans-9th

Wealthiest times in human history and We the People must settle for Austerity and STFU @ the Wars Without End.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Obama's "behind the scenes" work on the TPP has been reported on for a very, very long time. bjo59 May 2016 #1
The influence of Goldman Sachs on TPP hasn't gotten all that much press. Octafish May 2016 #2
Recommend.... KoKo May 2016 #50
Trash... SCantiGOP May 2016 #59
Any reason you trash DUers? Octafish May 2016 #60
The post I responded to said "Recommend" SCantiGOP May 2016 #68
I'll tell you what I do know: People who trash DUers can't find something wrong with what they post. Octafish May 2016 #70
Because they do things that deserve criticism. Fantastic Anarchist May 2016 #65
This message was self-deleted by its author Octafish May 2016 #67
That some people are so anxious to give away felix_numinous May 2016 #3
We the People need to fire the secret government. Octafish May 2016 #6
Wealthiest times in human history, and they're prescribing austerity for commoners, LongTomH May 2016 #10
And the rich get beyond rich. Octafish May 2016 #13
Ironically, I just watched "The Big Short" last night......... socialist_n_TN May 2016 #51
Socialism for the wealthy, and not the rest of us. nt Fantastic Anarchist May 2016 #66
I agree--this bunker mentality has created more problems than it solved felix_numinous May 2016 #14
Keepin' us doped with religion and sex and tv... Dark n Stormy Knight May 2016 #27
Don't forget the iPhone and those text messages. greiner3 May 2016 #40
"CIA moonlights in corporate world". The real reason for warrantless wire taps and email snooping. GoneFishin May 2016 #33
Mark Mezvinsky was hedge manager that bet libdem4life May 2016 #71
+1776 nationalize the fed May 2016 #37
Rec, Rec, Reccety, Rec, Rec, Rec! Dont call me Shirley May 2016 #61
TPP’s ISDS is a give-away of governmental sovereignty. Arizona Roadrunner May 2016 #4
Explains Robert Froman's dual citizenship: Wall Street and Washington. Octafish May 2016 #9
K and R!!! You bet! And the kitty youtubes is most awfully kewt! (Don't look at the man Akamai May 2016 #30
The bushes wanted to build a one world government so we jwirr May 2016 #11
look at those two babies. that will roguevalley May 2016 #5
Detroit, Flint, Puerto Rico... Octafish May 2016 #19
Interesting Poincare May 2016 #7
You're on the right track... ReRe May 2016 #23
'Goldman Sachs urging him to push for "robust commitments" on Investor-State Dispute Settlement' think May 2016 #8
Legalese for 'Extortion Racket.' Washington runs protection. Octafish May 2016 #63
do not doubt it oldandhappy May 2016 #12
A List of Goldman Sachs Ties to the Obama Government–including Elena Kagan Octafish Jun 2016 #92
hehe2 -- that's one of many reasons I'll miss him so stupidicus May 2016 #15
But, but, he's very photogenic and funny! jalan48 May 2016 #16
I'm not laughing. . Thanks Obama. SammyWinstonJack May 2016 #22
I hope this one is Filed under: NO SHIT SHERLOCK! Ferd Berfel May 2016 #17
Played.... SammyWinstonJack May 2016 #24
omg ... polly7 May 2016 #29
Let's not forget that CLinton wants to be Obama's THIRD term Ferd Berfel May 2016 #56
It looks more like Bill's 5th term to me. bvar22 May 2016 #77
Point! Ferd Berfel May 2016 #90
Is This Barack Obama's 2nd Term? Is it Bill Clinton's 3rd? Or Is It Ronald Reagan's 9th? Octafish May 2016 #91
..... 840high May 2016 #43
This message was self-deleted by its author mrr303am May 2016 #46
they fight hard for social issues wallyworld2 May 2016 #55
Yup, been saying that for a long time.. whathehell May 2016 #73
Recommend Read! KoKo May 2016 #18
Don't worry, someone will be along shortly to tell you zeemike May 2016 #20
You don't have to! Two great threads, imo, about conspiracy theories. merrily May 2016 #45
You are right, they are both great threads. zeemike May 2016 #48
You are most welcome. Just tell the merrily May 2016 #86
The USTR and the Wall Street banking crooks are one and the same. Elwood P Dowd May 2016 #21
big Kick. bbgrunt May 2016 #25
Too bad the people didn't listen to Bernie mrr303am May 2016 #26
Obama said he wanted his successor to have the same ideals as him greiner3 May 2016 #41
Lieberman 2006: I Will Help Obama "Reach to the Stars" OnyxCollie May 2016 #42
Michael Froman has said that American wages should be lower than they are now Akamai May 2016 #28
Just another snake in a suit. sulphurdunn May 2016 #31
Obama's legacy will be as devastating as Bill Clinton's emsimon33 May 2016 #32
There's a "Thank you, Sir" thread currently worshipping him as the best President ever. MadDAsHell May 2016 #34
If the TTP passes the revolution is on! mudstump May 2016 #35
Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast May 2016 #36
Complete and utter Thirdway Policy. Phlem May 2016 #38
Obama's ultimate betrayal. Scuba May 2016 #39
.+1 840high May 2016 #44
This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc May 2016 #47
I much prefer those posts of pictures of Obama with his family where all the responses all Gene Debs May 2016 #49
Well, Classic Reds have been fighting this forever....... socialist_n_TN May 2016 #52
$250k speeches and this wallyworld2 May 2016 #53
He made a lot of money, however. libdem4life May 2016 #74
Similarly, environmental groups, unions, etc., sent letters to Obama and Congress on TPP. Hoyt May 2016 #54
And it's obvious that those e-mails end up in the trash Teamster Jeff May 2016 #80
Actually,you are quite wrong. While you were whining about TPP, he slipped Paris Accord Hoyt May 2016 #81
Most of the TPP has nothing to do with trade Teamster Jeff May 2016 #82
Most people can't see beyond the end of their street or next week. Hoyt May 2016 #83
Thank goodness for laws requiring gov e-mail servers and the FOIA. Except for Hillary of course Teamster Jeff May 2016 #57
Because she's special! And a woman! dorkzilla May 2016 #79
It was the State Departments Fault! malletgirl02 May 2016 #84
Especially one so notoriously unpleasant dorkzilla May 2016 #89
How anyone could be surprised political marxist May 2016 #58
Damn, Obama has been a huge disappointment. Fantastic Anarchist May 2016 #62
Verbal manipulation. Phlem May 2016 #64
K & R AzDar May 2016 #69
Conspiracy Theorist Smear billhicks76 May 2016 #72
Those that conspire will try to cover themselves by trying to denigrating anyone that rhett o rick May 2016 #75
Bookmarking. Thank you. nt silvershadow May 2016 #76
More Information: bvar22 May 2016 #78
I don't know why anyone is surprised, he had no problems signing Citigroups Rex May 2016 #85
We should rename the WWW.internet the WWW.umbrella nolabels May 2016 #87
K&R!!!!!! burrowowl May 2016 #88
Obama Administration Bars Release of Clinton's TPP Emails Until Post-Election Octafish Jun 2016 #93
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Emails Show TPP 'Collusio...»Reply #91