What now, Mr. Obama? Support the people or their dictator?

[chimpymustgo]

Get in front of history or stay behind it? This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to the middle east - but only if you PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

How will you help the people of Egypt???

[brooklynite]

1. Unrec'd

Please explain how President Obama is "supporting their Dictator"

[walldude]

13. By allowing his Vice President to say shit like this:

"When asked if Mubarak was a dictator, Biden responded, "Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things and he's been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interests in the region, Middle East peace efforts, the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing the relationship with Israel ... I would not refer to him as a dictator."
"I think the time has come for President Mubarak to begin to move in the direction that — to be more responsive to some of the needs of the people out there," Biden said after stressing that he shouldn't resign.

"Violence isn't appropriate and people have a right to protest," he said. "And so — and we think that — I hope Mubarak, President Mubarak, will — is going to respond to some of the legitimate concerns that are being raised."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/140923-biden-mubarak-not-a-dictator-protests-not-like-eastern-europe

I hear much talk of diplomacy, but this isn't diplomacy it's following the fucking wind. The Administration could come out in support of DEMOCRACY but that would be "siding" with the Egyptian people, so what the administration decided was as usual to wait and see.

Fuck waiting and seeing, what ever happened to doing what is right?

[tekisui]

2. He is supposed to speak soon. Interested in hearing what he says.

[chimpymustgo]

4. He has to let the PEOPLE know we are with them.

[gateley]

7. chimpy, he has to do what is best for our country. I don't pretend to understand

all the machinations that must take place, but there are deeper concerns and possible ramifications of certain actions than we're aware of.

[JuniperLea]

16. Indeed...

And the saber rattling being called for here has a bad history and shouldn't be repeated.

Slow and steady is what we need... too many reactionary measures and Egypt will be left wide open for some evil group to take over.

[chimpymustgo]

19. So he tells the millions in the streets of Egypt, "Slow and steady?" I am saying this is a critical

juncture to win hearts and minds and help a people we have helped heap misery upon. What does Obama say to THEM? Nothing? "Chill out, I got this." This is a moment in history. We have to lead. And we have to let these people who are throwing off their chains that we respect their wishes.

[JuniperLea]

20. OFFS...

This isn't a microwave recipe you know. WTF do you think it says to the people when Obama told Mubarak it's time to split this taco stand?

Jesus God... what the fuck?

[chimpymustgo]

21. OFFS yourself. The Egyptian people are risking their lives in the street. THEY are calling on Obama

to come out more strongly for them. This middle east could be on the verge of changing forever. The people want to hear something from Obama. What should he say to them?

[gateley]

23. I'm wondering if Obama got a script before hand or if he was hopeful maybe, just maybe,

Mubarak had realized the wisdom of his advice and was as stunned as we were when we saw the statement.

If that's the case, maybe he'll be ready to come out and say it to the people. This has moved so fast, our stance has changed from "we don't tell another country what to do" (even though we do), to "he needs to listen to the people" to "he should not seek reelection" in just a few days. Maybe in a few more...:shrug:

ETA: Listening to people who spoke w/Baradei who said he doesn't really want to step in, but will if it's best for Egypt. So... maybe before we play no more Mr. Nice Guy we need to be sure we're there to support an interim leader. Again, :shrug: We just don't know what is going on behind the scenes, but I bet the joint is jumpin;!

[chimpymustgo]

25. No doubt. I think Obama will do the right thing, but he needs to move quickly to reassure the people

of Egypt that we are with them and NOT Mubarak. "With all deliberate speed" is a tactic we're quite familiar with here in the states.

[AlinPA]

3. The President's first statement was supportive of the Egyptian people, not Mubarek.

What are you saying ?

[walldude]

15. Then he should have put a leash on his dogs...

Biden came out in full support of Mumbarak, the quote and link are in my reply upthread.

[gateley]

5. Andrea Mitchell said the message to Mubarak from Obama was that not running

for re-election would "not be enough".

Obama's doing this right, even though we may not think so. We have no idea what's going on behind the scenes.

[chimpymustgo]

10. It's really less important what WE think, than what the EGYPTIAN PEOPLE think. That is my point.

This is a historic moment. Whither Obama?

[gateley]

24. Agree, a point I overlooked while disagreeing with you.

:7

So often here we all go "Obama MUST do this!" or "Obama MUST say that!" because we KNOW it's the right thing and it seems so cut and dried to us -- choose right or choose wrong, so I was responding in that vein. Very good point about Obama showing support for the Egyptian people.

I feel for him, I honestly think he probably feels as we do and is as supportive as the people as the rest of the world, but man, with a gig like Prez, it gets complicated.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Mubarak is toast. Appearing to cling to him is a bad policy, bad in the long run.

even if the immediate aftermath of revolution will be as "chaotic" as Mubarak warns.

[Bragi]

8. Mubarak is a murderous, torturing thug. He HAS to go now /nt

[Buzz Clik]

9. How about he keeps the hell out of it entirely.

[tekisui]

11. He hasn't so far. And, is due to speak soon.

[Buzz Clik]

12. As long as he leaves it simply as talking, he's doing well.

I personally don't care where his rhetoric comes down.

[Sienna86]

14. A sign in Cairo: Yes We Can Too!

The people want a change and are gaining their voice.

[JuniperLea]

18. That's what is being supported now...

And it's the right thing to do.

[pampango]

17. Support the people but don't steal the credit for their impending success.

Mubarak will be gone soon. As long as Obama keeps the military from firing on civilians, Mubarak cannot survive fot long. He is making more concessions everyday because he cannot believe that his time is over.

When the revolution succeeds, no one should say "He left because the American president told him to go" - only that "Through sustained and massive peaceful protest, the Egyptian people gave him no choice but to leave." It will be a victory for the Egyptian people and if people there or here want to criticize Obama for not taking charge of the uprising that is good for Egypt in the long run. The American president will have had nothing to do with their success. Any role he played behind the scenes will, hopefully, not be known for a long time.

[JoePhilly]

22. Obama should go with BLUSTER and SABER RATTLING!!!!!

He should threaten to send troops to help the Egyptian people oust Mubarak.

That always works out well for us.

:sarcasm:

[chimpymustgo]

26. Rep. Ackerman making my point with Cenk now. We have to show the people NOW that we support them.

Otherwise, it looks as though we are STILL behind Mubarek.

[JuniperLea]

27. WTF do you think all this is about anyway?

Obama is taking it one step at a time. How are the people of Egypt going to find out what the fuck Obama said when they have lost all communication?

He's handling it just fine, imho, and imho some people need to chill the fuck out.

[chimpymustgo]

28. Ackerman saying now: Obama could have made it clearer Mubarak needs to go sooner

rather than later.

Cenk is wondering if this is a win for Mubarak.

[JTFrog]

29. Cenk is an asshat.

Who cares what he thinks? He voted for Bush. Fuck him.

Obama, as usual, is doing the right thing.

Why people have to contort themselves to try to prove otherwise is beyond me.

[JuniperLea]

31. No fucking shit!

Jesus GOD! This is maddening. It was crystal clear. There was no motherfucking doublespeak... DU is seriously fucked up.

[JuniperLea]

30. I say they are both full of shit...

It was very clear. Obama used the word "now." I'm quite sure I understand that word and the context in which it was used. As for the rest of y'all, I'm not sure...