Politics and religion.

[Karen]

If you look back in recent history, every sitting President who was up for reelection used the State of the Union for that purpose. This is nothing new.

[lizbud]

If you look back in recent history, every sitting President who was up for reelection used the State of the Union for that purpose. This is nothing new.

Yes,..........." it was ever thus" besides I'm a glass half full sort of person, or I try to be. We already know the bad stuff
I want to hear about the future, perferably the good stuff.

[kuhio98]

"America is back" -- Pres. Obama

Really? Sure doesn't feel like it to me. I've seen my property value almost double and then return to exactly where it was when I bought it. Everything costs more, gasoline, milk, my health insurance. And I'm getting less. I'm paying the same price for ice cream and getting 1 1/2 quarts instead of half a gallon. Lots of people are still unemployed. Lots of people can't get the health care they need. America will be back when people are working and the economy is robust again.

Also -- I don't think it is right that in an election year the current President uses the State of the Union address as a campaign speech. That is not the purpose of the address.

Thanks for letting me rant!

100% agree also. The current administration doesn't get it. They have no plan -- except to recycle ideas that have failed before. All my Hope for Change has disappeared. My faith is gone also.

It occured to me during the last election -- Is this the best we've got? I couldn't get excited about any of the candidates last time, and I'm feeling the same way these days.

[Karen]

I merged the State of the Union thread into this one, as of course, it's all Politics!

[Randi]

OK, I admit I don't know much about US politics, but my impression of B. Obama is very positive - the American people who live here also seem to prefer him. It seems a lot of you don't like him. Do you think another president would have done better? In the light of the financial crisis (which is not B. Obama's fault, and that is an entirely different discussion), I think the outcome could have been far worse. At least B. Obama is trying to do something for the less wealthy people and he withdrew the troops from Iraq.

Can you imagine what would have happened if any of these other ignorant candidates had made it into politics! I think you got a good deal with B. Obama. If only we were so lucky here!

[Lady's Human]

It was former Pres. Bush who set up the troop withdrawal timeline for Iraq, not the current President.

Frankly the last three US Presidential elections could have been handily won by "none of the above".

[Edwina's Secretary]

It was former Pres. Bush who set up the troop withdrawal timeline for Iraq, not the current President.

President Obama has been severely criticized by "leading Republicans" for following the troop withdrawal timeline established by President Bush. His critics have included Romney, Cain, Perry, McCain, Bachmann (who called it a complete failure...)

Perhaps why somepeople feel if Presient Obama found a cure for cancer he would still be criticized....

[cassiesmom]

I think it was Malcolm Gladwell in "Blink" who wrote that although Herbert Hoover had the appearance and bearing of a President, that after he was elected he had a lot of struggles.

[Lady's Human]

President Obama has been severely criticized by "leading Republicans" for following the troop withdrawal timeline established by President Bush. His critics have included Romney, Cain, Perry, McCain, Bachmann (who called it a complete failure...)

Perhaps why some people feel if President Obama found a cure for cancer he would still be criticized....

The first problem with that statement is referring to McCain, Perry, et. al. as leading Republicans. The only way they can comprehend leadership is with a dictionary (which leaves Dan Quayle out of the running.... )

I had issues with the timeline. I still have issues with any military leader publishing a timeline for action for strategic reasons.

That having been said, however, when the country you're assisting gives you a date and says be out by then, you move. Only time will tell whether it really worked, it's far to soon to pass judgement, but somehow I doubt you've seen the last of the insurgents in Iraq.

[RICHARD]

It was former Pres. Bush who set up the troop withdrawal timeline for Iraq, not the current President.

Frankly the last three US Presidential elections could have been handily won by "none of the above".

I think I would like to see his birth certificate, first.

[RICHARD]

And who shook Nutsy Pelosi's tree?

What does she know about the "Neutster" that we all don't.

I wonder what it feels like to put a high heel in your mouth?

[Edwina's Secretary]

That having been said, however, when the country you're assisting gives you a date and says be out by then, you move. Only time will tell whether it really worked, it's far to soon to pass judgement, but somehow I doubt you've seen the last of the insurgents in Iraq.

Getting rid of the insurgents! Oh so THAT'S why we were there...(It has always seemed as bit confusing. WMD...regime change...bogey man...insurgents)

Even scorched earth and the elimination of every person living in that country would not put an end to "insurgents." Sadly.

[RICHARD]

I'm really ticked off about the 'blood for oil' deal.

[Lady's Human]

Getting rid of the insurgents! Oh so THAT'S why we were there...(It has always seemed as bit confusing. WMD...regime change...bogey man...insurgents)

Even scorched earth and the elimination of every person living in that country would not put an end to "insurgents." Sadly.

The initial reason we were there had nothing to do with insurgents, unless you count the Bath party as insurgents. After all, when you invade, you ARE the insurgents.

However, the resulting 3 hour tour of Iraq came under the heading of we broke it, we fix it.

The reason we've still had troops in the country since the invasion was an attempt to stabilize an inherently unstable political construct. Since that we've seen multiple rewrites of the SASO (stability and support operations) manual, changing acronyms (which unless you've been part of a staff you have no idea what a semi-humorous PITA that is) changing TTPs, (tactics, techniques and procedures), ad nauseum.

[Edwina's Secretary]

The initial reason we were there had nothing to do with nothing and certainly nothing to do with the US.