General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bwaaaaaaaaaaaah poor ReTHUGS [View all]freshwest
(53,661 posts)They didn't want Obama to actually be a real C-in-C and thought the wars would end sooner. I think there were contracts and promises made that carried over.
Reading complaints about Obama's actions using the military, I restrained myself from saying what I really thought on other boards I used to post on. If I had, it would have read like this:
I was not voting for second coming of Jesus Christ, to bring eternal love and peace to the entire planet. I voted for the best POTUS. The job description entails life and death decisions that one can stand aloof from and safely look down on as a civilian. Obama can't.
The USA has been the major military power on this planet throughout my lifetime. It's not what I wanted, but that is what it is. Many of us who are anti-war may have benefited from that, though we don't like it. Much of the world doesn't see the anti-war movement as innocent, they assign collective guilt to every American, which is pretty much what the argument for invading Afghanistan, etc., was.
I felt no joy or sorrow about the death of Bin Laden, as he knew the game he was playing, but was relieved for the announcement itself. Because perception matters in such things. It could change the national focus, which needs to be here at home. I felt relief, even if it was only an 'excuse' to end the war and not invade Iran.
It could have Obama's Nixon moment of 'declaring victory and going home,' for all I cared. I care about the results. The right wants to keep the wars going and they have mobilized all their forces, the churches, media shills and lobbyists to argue for it.
The reason Bush gave for going to war was primarily Bin Laden & Co. That reason was eliminated in the most public way by Obama's announcement, which did not satisfy the left or the right, although nothing Obama has ever been or said meets their approval and never will, and that was enough for me.
I don't think this will work as both camps will find different reasons to be offended by emphasizing it.
Some of the left will say it was improperly done, that he should have been brought in alive, that his death proves Obama to be a warmonger and assassin.
The right will continue to say OBL is still alive because they haven't seen the body. Both sides argue OBL was dead years ago after seeing news stories and edicts he is alleged to have made during the Bush years.
So for that reason I think the campaign needs to focus on the basics and not this issue. IMHO.