Does President Obama deserve the benefit of the doubt?

[ecstatic]

Poll question: Does President Obama deserve the benefit of the doubt?

Regarding the situation in Afghanistan!

[redqueen]

1. deleted

[mdmc]

2. I don't think Obama thinks that ther will be a

pro west, unified, stable, secular Afghanistan by 2011.

He knows that the M-I-C is out of control and he will try to do what he can to curb it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Of course not.

Clearly he's a socialist secret Muslim citizen of Kenya who hates white people and who is a warmongering capitalist tool of the military-industrial complex.

[ecstatic]

4. hehe

[jefferson_dem]

13. You forgot...

Borg.

[treestar]

5. Yes

Just as Bush did not.

[Thickasabrick]

6. NO politician deserves the benefit of the doubt nt

[LaydeeBug]

7. the question is too vague, and therefore, loaded. Just deciding someone deserves the

benefit of the doubt sorts of involves shirking your CIVIC DUTY to keep you eye on the ball, and his agenda from straying too far from he said he was when he was campaigning.

[ecstatic]

11. True, but just answer it for this moment. Specifically for this moment nt

[noamnety]

8. This is not about Obama, and whether or not he's being slighted.

It's about the Afghan citizens, and whether they deserve this.

I don't know why people are so determined to make this about Obama when he's going to be one of the people least affected by it in the grand scheme of things.

[stray cat]

9. I suspect he may have more information than I do

and even I don't think his decisions are really as easy as the DU mantra war bad peace good. I don't trust anyone who declares war is not the answer if they are incapable of providing a real answer themselves.

[Taverner]

10. On AfPak, no

Health Care, yes

[jefferson_dem]

14. Oh my...

I love your pic of Edie, the Velvets and Warhol. All are passions of mine. :)

[MNDemNY]

12. On what?

[ecstatic]

15. Afghanistan

[MNDemNY]

16. No, he is going down a road proven to be the wrong one, time after time.

[Fleshdancer]

17. I voted no because I don't think any politician deserves this

The benefit of doubt is something offered to friends and family. Not government officials...and I say this as someone who still has a lot of mixed feelings about the escalation in Afghanistan and as someone who voted for Obama.

[TheDebbieDee]

18. I think that he has access to more info than when he was a Senator

or candidate and I'm sure that the situation there is fluid.

Maybe Afghanistan has to be our jumping off point in case we need to take action to secure nukes from religious nuts in Pakistan.

Anyway, this is not a "laid-back, Bring-it-on!" President and I trust THIS President to have done a thorough job of research.

[gleaner]

19. I voted no ...

I think his actions are perfectly clear and leave no room for doubt. I know by now when I am being sold out. There is no doubt about that.

[justanaverageguy]

20. I voted no

I voted no. Because I no longer understand the point of it all.

I understood the point (and supported) of initially going into Afghan. I do not understand why we are staying so long. It really cracks me up to hear politicians on both sides refer to a need to "win this war". War with who? You are either at war with Afghanistan or you are not. You can't be at war with part of a country's population (Taliban) but not the other part (everyone else). Wouldn't that be a bit like a country invading our country and saying "hey, we're not at war with the USA just the Irish Catholics!!". Guess what....you may only be after the Irish Catholics and I may hate them as much as you do, BUT YOU ARE STILL FUCKING UP MY COUNTRY!!! So now I hate you even more than I hate the Irish Catholics. Maybe even enough join the Irish Catholics to fight you. Am I wrong here? To me this isn't a left vs. right or liberal vs. conservative position. It's just freaking common sense. Not to mention, WE ARE GOING BROKE HERE!!! How many more billions are we going to spend on this.

Proponents of this escalation refer to our national security. Really? I don't really feel threatened by Afghanistan or the Taliban any more and I think we have proved our point. You may be able to blow up a few buildings, but we can come blow up your entire country!!! So leave us alone. Time to bring the troops home.

Usual disclaimer:
I am much more "conservative" than most on this page. I'm not a troll. I only post when I feel I have something to add to the conversation, not to sow discord. I love the discussion on DU. They often force me to challenge and/or reconsider my own beliefs.

[QC]

21. He's already used up all of his benefit of the doubt opportunities.

This latest is only the most recent of a long line of betrayals.

[Bluebear]

22. Not when he is playing war with actual soldiers.

[Vidar]

23. He used up that benefit with with Rahm, Geither, Summers & the other

corporate criminals wh advise him.

[Johonny]

24. I guess, but that doesn't mean I have to believe his conclusions

we can disagree with out feeling he is some how deceiving me. I can believe Obama believes in what he's doing and believes it's the right thing, and still think he's probably wrong.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. No.