Turkish Student Asks Obama The Right Question & Reminds Me (kpete) To Be Patient

[kpete]

Q First, I will ask about the Bush and you differences at the core, because some say just the face has changed and that -- but core is the same still. They will have a fight with the Middle East and they will have a fight with Iran.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: The first question, if I understood you correctly, is the suggestion that even though I present a different face from Bush, that the policies are the same and so there's really not much difference.

And, you know, I think this will be tested in time because as I said before, moving the ship of state is a slow process. States are like big tankers, they're not like speedboats. You can't just whip them around and go in a new direction. Instead you've got to slowly move it and then eventually you end up in a very different place.

So let me just give you a few examples. When it comes to Iraq, I opposed the war in Iraq. I thought it was a bad idea. Now that we're there, I have a responsibility to make sure that as we bring troops out, that we do so in a careful enough way that we don't see a complete collapse into violence.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_pr...le-In-Istanbul/

[babylonsister]

1. Thanks, kpete. That virtue has been in short supply around here. nt

[Voice for Peace]

2. I love that he's using the metaphor of the big ship.

That's exactly how I pictured it throughout the election, that the change he was talking about was going to be like trying to turn the Titanic in order to miss the iceberg. It's a great metaphor. Not a moment too soon, and I think, not a moment too late. A close call but I think we have a new direction.

[zeemike]

3. It is going to be a long 4 years.

And even though Obama has won and is in the Oval office the right wing still has a lot of power and I expect them to use it in any way they can to bring him down...I think history has proven that.
To use the boxing metaphor it would not be wise for him to go for the KO in the first round but bob and weave and establish the jab. Let them take there best shots and do some rope a dope.
But metaphors aside it will be up to us the people to help him out...not loose faith and encourage every positive move he makes.
The change we seek will come from the bottom up.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Thanks for the link!