By Sella

July 6, 2010 1:24 AM | Link to this

I want less government. Laughable. The oil spill is on the hands of the Republicans. If Obama had done nothing and not bailed out anyone, we would all be standing in the soup line now. I really think that is where this country is going to have to go to re set the thinking of all the hate brewing in this country. Too many tax cuts for the rich. That is why we are where we are today. People talk stupid now. Gravel roads, wanting people to work for 5 bucks an hour with no benfits. The Republicans are going to destroy this country. Or start a Civil War. So for all you idiots, check out other countries having a Civil War. It is not a pretty picture.

By Eli Jones

July 2, 2010 7:14 AM | Link to this

“THIS IS WHO ELANA KAGAN IS, NO WONDER OBAMA WANTS THIS RADICAL ON THE SUPREME COURT. BETTER CALL YOUR ELECTED REP AND DEMAND A FILIBUSTER NOW” She is a radical judicial activist, who agrees with former Justice Thurgood Marshall that the Constitution given to us by the Framers was “defective” and that it contained “outdated notions of liberty, justice and equality.” Her “judicial hero” is former Israeli justice Aharon Barak, who said a judge “may give a statute a new meaning…[t]he statute remains as it was, but its meaning changes, because the court has given it a new meaning that suits new social needs.” She is anti-military and pro-homosexual. While dean of the Harvard Law School, she kicked military recruiters off campus, in defiance of a federal law which had been upheld by the Supreme Court on a unanimous vote. She said she “abhorred” the military’s ban on open homosexual service, and called it a “moral injustice of the first order.” She believes in the supremacy of international law over the Constitution. While dean at Harvard Law, she dropped the required course in the Constitution and replaced it with a required course on international law. She is pro-abortion and anti-life. She has contributed financially to pro-abortion groups, and believes that abortions should be taxpayer funded. She believes that the government may ban political pamphlets and books during an election season, in violation of the First Amendment’s free speech protections. She is anti-Second Amendment. She is “not sympathetic” to the claim that individuals have the right to keep and bear arms under the Constitution. She is pro-Muslim. At the same time she kicked military recruiters off campus, she allowed Saudi Arabia to recruit lawyers for work on Shariah-Compliant Finance. She is anti-capitalist and pro-socialist, once writing glowingly of “socialism’s greatness.” Former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork said that if Kagan is confirmed “you will have a court that is much more to the left than we have today.” “IMPEACH BARACK OBAMA” http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/

By Eli Jones

July 2, 2010 7:07 AM | Link to this

Speaking of Obama’s unpopular Marxist policies,did anyone know that Obama exempted Muslims from his Obamacare but you will be prosecuted if you don’t carry Obamacare.. Remember Obama’s discrimination against America’s non-Muslims this November! Vote out Obama’s rubber stamp Democrats! http://search.aol.com/aol/search?query=muslim+exemption+from+Obamacare&sit=keywordrollover http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp Barack Hussein Obama, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm

By Stephen

July 1, 2010 11:32 PM | Link to this

John I dont have to answer to you. Who do you think you are giving anyone advice. We are complete strangers and you haev no right to tell me ANYTHING. And if you didnt have any desire to debate an issue with me, then you wouldnt keep reading what I say and try to dispute it. And again, dont tell me what I was feeling or wasnt. You have no idea who I am or whether I am offended or not. I dont have to answer to you or anyone, or explain my position or opinions to you. I have every right to defend myself when I am being attacked. So maybe you should take your own advice and move on. Now I asked you to quit harrassing me politely. The next step is that I will bring it to the attention of the paper.

By Stephen

July 1, 2010 11:29 PM | Link to this

John I dont have to answer to you. Who do you think you are giving anyone advice. We are complete strangers and you haev no right to tell me ANYTHING. And if you didnt have any desire to debate an issue with me, then you wouldnt keep reading what I say and try to dispute it. And again, dont tell me what I was feeling or wasnt. You have no idea who I am or whether I am offended or not. I dont have to answer to you or anyone, or explain my position or opinions to you. I have every right to defend myself when I am being attacked. So maybe you should take your own advice and move on. Now I asked you to quit harrassing me politely. The next step is that I will bring it to the attention of the paper.

By John

July 1, 2010 6:04 PM | Link to this

Likewise Stephen. I have no desire to try and debate any issue with you because it is very apparent that you have no real convictions, rather you cite the tired, worn talking points, a trait of the uninformed. Some advice for you in the future though. Expressing your opinion is fine, but don’t expect everyone to agree if you post. And if you get responses that offend you which you obviously were, simply don’t respond back.

By Stephen

July 1, 2010 2:26 PM | Link to this

Dear John, Im not here to debate my position with you. If you read my post it clearly says that. I came in to post my opinion on the story I had read. Now leave me alone and quit harrassing me. I dont care what you think about my opinion.

By John

July 1, 2010 11:40 AM | Link to this

Impressive points all Positivethinking if one is into conspiracy. I knew that eventually the left’s boogeyman Dick Cheney would would rise from the ashes in this thread. I love good conspiracy theories as much as the next fellow. So why then if this was all true didn’t the current administration do anything about these things you allege? Let’s throw out another theory. Could it be maybe that it had something to do with campaign contributions? BP was one of Obama’s largest donors weren’t they? That could also explain the exemption last year the current administration gave BP. Could it also explain the total lack of action on Obama’s part now? It’s almost like Obama wanted this disaster to happen. “Let me beat up on you for this so I can look like a leader and score big points with the environment crowd and in return I will make sure you won’t go bankrupt” That theory is another matter and we can discuss that another time. Bottom line of this last year and a half of the Obama presidency is that he is an utter failure and plays the blame game very well. The herd of “sheeple” who once blindly followed him is thinning…

By TRS

July 1, 2010 10:43 AM | Link to this

Nice try positive - but it was the Obama Administration which issued the exception in April of ‘09 which gave BP carte blanche with no oversight. The regs were there but were waived…..again, another progressive trying to shift responsbility….

By TRS

July 1, 2010 9:50 AM | Link to this

One does grow weary of “its not my fault”. To get the record straight, for about 6 1/2 of the eight Bush years the economy worked, particularly considering the inheritance of the dot com bubble and of course 911. Most all economists agree it was the housing bubble which created the crisis so what brought the bubble about? The Clinton administration encouraged home ownership for all as did the Bush. Clinton’s Sec of Housing, Andrew Cuomo (running for Gov of NY God help them) placed high lending targets for at risk buyers thus guaranteeing lenders that Fannie and Freddie would purchase these loans. Lenders complied, lending $$ to those less qualified knowing they wouldn’t have to live with the loan as Fannie and Freddie bought everything in sight. A moral risk was created in good part by gvmt policy and that seed sprouted into the housing bubble. For the record Bush and Republicans tried to reel in Fannie and Freddie but the likes of Barney Frank and Maxine Waters among others precluded that from occurring. Currently we have bailed out Fannie and Freddie to the tune of about 160 Billion with an expected additional 250 Billion more to come. Yes, the banks, Wall St and others were bad actors as well and the swaps were particularly harmful, but to blame the entire economic mess on Bush is like blaming Obama for the oil spill itself. In sum, we have about 1 1/2 years, not eight, which could be attributable to Bush and he along with the Congress of those days, both Democrats and some Republicans, are responsible for where we were at the end of 2008. Sadly, some of the partisan hacks we see on this blog refuse to admit that all parties shared in this mess..so please, cut the excuse, the political childishness as seen in Obama’s speech yesterday and man up for a change - take responsibility, quit being cutesy, thin skinned and trying to take this country where it doesn’t want to go. Folks don’t want campaign rhetoric, they want leadership and a responses that work to economic issues. So far, he hasn’t provided either

By positivethinking

July 1, 2010 9:42 AM | Link to this

WHY THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES- LEST WE FORGET a) Cheney secret meetings energy task force, 2001, which created the conditions for the Gulf spill. b) Tripling of permits for offshore drilling by 2003 c) Quadrupling of exemptions from procedure/equipment for platforms by 2005 d) Energy bill signed in 2005 containing multi-billion dollar direct payments to Big Oil to drill deepwater wells, broad exclusions from public oversight and impact analysis for exploration and drilling, and limitations on state rights to protect their own coastlines. e) Doubling of tax breaks for oil companies for “safety improvements” by 2006 f) Proof of deep and persistent corruption in MMS by 2007 g) A standard established for waivers that ignored the limits for safety equipment by 2007 AND final approval of the spill safety plans. h) In 2008, 60 days before leaving office Bush signed a second energy bill (the Midnight Regulations) that opened up 2 million acres to oil shale mining. lifted a number of workplace safety regulations, further lifted employee rights to protest safety concerns and narrowed the window during which the public could protest energy related decisions. i) In the final week of the Bush presidency, the president signed orders that allowed the Bureau of Land Management to auction off a half million acres of protected lands and exempting the land from the Clean Water Acts.And where is crusader Cheney right now? Hunkering down in a bunker. It is his pattern. When the environment is unfriendly you hide out.

By irishguy

July 1, 2010 9:19 AM | Link to this

I think it should be obvious to everyone that Mr Obama is in over his head. He simply had no prior executive experience. He just isn’t a leader. Perhaps all those “present” votes were an indicator after all. He’s not a decisive man. Not to mention he’s awfully thin skinned. His constant blaming Bush is getting old. He’s been President 18 months now. Anyone rembember Hillary’s campaign ads about Mr O not being ready to handle a crisis??

By Champsummers

July 1, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this

Americans have opened their eyes. They see that Obama’s goals are a much bigger intrusive government that has its fingers in everyone’s lives. More taxes to feed this government. More regulations on small employers and people from ObamaCare and Cap & Trade. All of these things reduce employment something that our President said he was working on from “Day One.” Words are Cheap Mr. President. Your actions show that you aren’t concerned about the economy or jobs; just making political points. We need a Leader instead of teleprompter. I can’t wait for November to change the direction of this country.

By John

July 1, 2010 8:14 AM | Link to this

union born & raised, I agree with your opinion about Palin. She is a motivator but sadly lacks what it will take to lead this country. While the 2012 election will be vitally important, I feel that the upcoming elections this November will have a much greater and immediate impact as to the direction of this country. We as a country can neuter Obama if we stand as one and say “No”. I’m with you….

By Banks lending????

July 1, 2010 7:58 AM | Link to this

First off, I failed to see where someone saying “What fantasy world do you live in” as being a personal attack, but whatever. I’ve read a couple of comments complaining about the lack of bank lending. That is a complete lack of factual information to criticize the banks for not lending. That is taken directly from liberal talking points. The banks are not being allowed to lend. The single biggest item that got us into this mess was the lending that was going on to people who shouldn’t have been borrowing. We became a society of living on debt, and debt was too easy to come by. Politicians can blame the banks for not lending, but regulators won’t let them lend. So many restrictions have been put on them. Higher credit scores, better balance sheets, and larger amounts of cash from the borrower are now being required. And actually it is the way it should be. The feds are telling the banks that they have to screen their borrowers more closely, and at the same time are being bashed for not lending. You can’t have it both ways.

By union born & raised

July 1, 2010 7:54 AM | Link to this

I’ve never voted Republican in my life in any local, state or national election, but I did in 2008. I hated McCain but I hate Obama more. The Republicans had better come up with a better candidate next time, or Obama will complete his planned destruction of the U.S. in his second term. Obama’s administration can be defined by 2 words - hypocrisy & lies. If the Republicans let Palin get anywhere near a spot on the ballot, they can kiss the country goodbye. She’s a good motivator for their party, but does NOT have the qualifications for national office. There are plenty of Democrats like myself who are looking to the Republican party to offer voters someone who can beat Obama’s Crook County thug political machine, but they had better be exceptional, otherwise, our kids & grandkids are doomed.

By John

July 1, 2010 7:50 AM | Link to this

I note in your reply Stephen that you ignore the debate and focus on the “attack” you perceive from those of us with differing opinions. That tells me that you cannot debate the issue, rather you duck into a defensive posture and attack from an emotional view. Of course people will differ and if that offends you then why post? Post and ignore the repsonses or defend your position.I can respect that. People are very angry Stephen, or as you refer to it “insane” over our political landscape. Liberals can’t seem to wrap any intelligent thought around the fact that this “enlightened God” who was elected to office is purposely attempting to socialize America and we the people are objecting. There is an intelligent design to what he and the far left element of the Democratic party is attempting and the fact that the majority now see this and resists drives you liberals just as “insane”. How can the right be so ignorant as to not see the brilliance of this man?Liberal dissent was fine during Bush’s tenure, even labelled “Patriotic” by the MSM, but now that conservative dissent is on the rise it’s suddenly subversive, racist, akin to sedition. I resent that coming from a bunch that feel they are morally superior and infinately more “enlightened”, a bunch that view America as “evil” and feel that our founding principles are outdated. Expect rebuttal if you are going to post touting the Obama talking points. This country is polarized unlike any time in our history since the Civil War and make no mistake, this community organizer, ( and that is all he is) we have in the White House is not the man to heal America’s wounds. He is an empty suit as far as leadership is concerned, nothing is his fault, it’s always the previous administrations. That’s my “opinion” and it’s shared by an ever growing majority, America is waking up to the clear and present danger this man represents, a fact that dismays and freightens our liberal brethren, apparently you included….

By DOC

July 1, 2010 7:37 AM | Link to this

This is the worst Prez in history. we made a mistake electing him, as well as give the democrats control. I will be voting for Kasich At least he believes in God. Obama is a pro homo, anti god agent of the devil.

By DOC

July 1, 2010 7:37 AM | Link to this

This is the worst Prez in history. we made a mistake electing him, as well as give the democrats control. I will be voting for Kasich At least he believes in God. Obama is a pro homo, anti god agent of the devil.

By Stephen

June 30, 2010 11:57 PM | Link to this

She did attack me. Im sorry you don’t interpret her post as an attack, but her tone is very derogative towards me. “Give me a break.” I don’t know what fantasy world You live in.” She has no right to tell me anything about what world i live in. I was posting my opinion. Why do people in these forums feel it is necessary to bash everyone elses posts they disagree with. I was not leaving a comment to argue with people who will never agree with me anyway. What is the point in that! I was leaving a comment to voice my opinion. And everytime i do it in these forums, I have some conservative attacking me. And it is between her and I, so Im not sure why you feel the need to say anything John. Of course you agree with her and will stick up for her, she shares your views. And dear R U Kidding Me: who do you think YOU are saying anything about my sexuality or who I am….you don’t know who I am either. How dare you! I think people need to get a grip here about their political views and just chill out a little bit. People are acting INSANE and its just a bit too much. get ahold of yourselves. There is no need to be totally insane over politics.

By Stephen

June 30, 2010 11:56 PM | Link to this

She did attack me. Im sorry you don’t interpret her post as an attack, but her tone is very derogative towards me. “Give me a break.” I don’t know what fantasy world You live in.” She has no right to tell me anything about what world i live in. I was posting my opinion. Why do people in these forums feel it is necessary to bash everyone elses posts they disagree with. I was not leaving a comment to argue with people who will never agree with me anyway. What is the point in that! I was leaving a comment to voice my opinion. And everytime i do it in these forums, I have some conservative attacking me. And it is between her and I, so Im not sure why you feel the need to say anything John. Of course you agree with her and will stick up for her, she shares your views. And dear R U Kidding Me: who do you think YOU are saying anything about my sexuality or who I am….you don’t know who I am either. How dare you! I think people need to get a grip here about their political views and just chill out a little bit. People are acting INSANE and its just a bit too much. get ahold of yourselves. There is no need to be totally insane over politics.

By John

June 30, 2010 9:46 PM | Link to this

Stephen, I read again the posts between you and Jennifer and I fail to see where she attacked you personally. Could it be that she presented facts you could not dispute? She disputed your post, presented some facts, and did call Obama an idiot which I do disagree with, He’s not an idiot, rather he is radical ideologe who is hell bent on destroying the free market. Saul Alinsky would be proud of him. In no way did she attack you, please…….You say Obama has delivered tax cuts to working families. Ummm, are you referring to the $400 work credit some got, others didn’t? I have to ask you then, have you personally benefited from the Bush tax cuts your party wants to cut through the years? And why were they bad and Obama’s pittiance good? It must be wealth envy. Envy of those who create jobs in this country, the fair aspect I keep hearing Obama talk about…Obama stated unless the stimulus passed unemployment could reach 8%, not the 10% you claim he said. He’s done nothing to encourage lending, thus creating jobs, The jobs created have predominately been in the government sector, not the private sector. He handed GM to the unions as a payback. He has in just a year and a half raised our debt ratio to the GDP by 33%. His party extended unemployment benefits true, but at the cost virtually bankrupting the states. He wants amnesty for illegal aliens which put further strain on our economy. This isn’t going to turn around soon as you wistfully suggest. Listen to the news, even the MSM is reporting bad data. And Bush did not cause this finally. It began long ago with the Fair Housing Act, a boondoggle compliments of Mr. Carter and a democratic controlled house and senate, further assisted along the way by the Acorns and in 2004 by the likes of Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and company when they stiffled reform on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Oh yes, Bush spent like a drunken liberal true, but the community organizers spending makes Bush look puny in comparision. You can either debate with intellectual honesty or whine about being attacked. Man up…

By sampson29

June 30, 2010 9:09 PM | Link to this

Yea … It reminds me of a spoiled brat blaming someone else because he can’t get his way. It really shows the character of this man. Fact: Obama has spent $4.9 billion per day compared to his predecessor’s $1.7 billion per day. And that doesn’t even take in consideration the cost of this socialized health care.

By R U Kidding Me

June 30, 2010 9:02 PM | Link to this

Stephen you sound like a gay oversensative, democratic, union based government bureacrat. Our economy was in trouble in 2007 and headed rapidly downhill - and as a devout conservative I’ll admit some of this was W’s doing for abandoning conservative principles but just as much if not more was precipitated by the liberal braintrust who decided to force banks to look at a person’s race and ethnicity and forget their inability to pay back lent money. You are a good representative of your parties symbol the jack a$$. Their is no way this economy is headed anywhere but down. Hussein Obama, the black liberal token has taken our country to the brink of economic armegedon. He misdirected the stimulus from shovel ready job sites and gave funds to teachers and to local and state governments so they could retain bureacrats on the payroll. Union paybacks. We are now - trillions more in debt and have nothing to show for it. Hussein has painted us into a corner where he can’t have any more recession busting stimulus programs without threatining the economic stability of the entire world. And in case you don’t know this - government doesn’t produce anything to pay for itself. They take money out of the private sector to fund their silly petty programs and pay their ridiculous bloated bureaucracies. Husssein Obama a discipled socialist understands this and is trying his damdest to take our country down the failed road of socialism. Only a democrat, a taker from society, would sympathize with this token clown. Your pathetic whine and hurt feelings don’t play well here in Dayton Ohio where the majority of the population suffers and will suffer for years to come as the result of the actions implemented by the token president, the most divisive, inept and inexperienced man ever elected president.

By Stephen

June 30, 2010 7:55 PM | Link to this

dear Jennifer, Dont come in here attacking me and telling me I live in a fantasy world. You dont know me. And just because I disagree with you does not give you the right to attack me. If you disagree ok. But you attacking me and then calling our president an “idiot” I think says it all about the kind of game you are playing. It is below the belt and it is pretty dirty.

By John

June 30, 2010 6:58 PM | Link to this

I agree Jennifer. The tired old line of everything being “Bush’s fault” is wearing very thin. Obama is beginning to sound more like a child who blames the kid next door for the broken lamp long after he left. One might believe it the first time but even the most gullible parent eventually catches on. At the end of 2008 unemployment was at 6%. The federal debt was 39% of the GDP. Today those numbers are at 10% and 62% just a year and a half in and Jerry and Stephen want us to give him “a chance”??? Wait until healthcare kicks in and any other spending he tries to shove through against our will.

By jennifer

June 30, 2010 6:27 PM | Link to this

Jerry & Stephen-Give me a break. Just because you state the democratic talking point doesn’t mean it is fact. I almost laughed when I heard, once again, that everything that Barry does is always Bush’s fault. What an incompetent, unqualified idiot this president has been!!! I don’t know what fantasy world you live in. Barry has created the biggest deficit than any other president that has been elected. There is no evidence what-so-ever that the stimulus did anything. Barry said, “If we don’t pass this stimulus, umemployment will hit 8%”. Well, its at 10% now. Remember Bush….when it topped 5%???? And as far as creating government jobs….take a look at Greece. Furthermore, under Obamas pathetic leadership…more soldiers have died in Afganastan than Bush’s 2 terms. What an embarrassment he has been to America. I am so glad that people are finally seeing what a failure this goon is.

By Jerry

June 30, 2010 6:01 PM | Link to this

Bush left office with housing problems-banking problems-unemployment problems - 2 failed wars - and the biggest bucket of debt in American history. 8 years of Bush got us into this mess. At least give Pres. Obama 4 years to get things going in the upper road. It is a lot easier to make a mess than to clean one up. The republicians do not live up to their logo- the elephant( has a good memeory)-Republicians forget who made this mess - u should have complained when it was taking place before your eyes. Bush was in power - Not Obama.

By Stephen

June 30, 2010 5:58 PM | Link to this

I believe we need to give Obama’s policies time to work. Asking to see results after a year and a half is not long term enough. Obama said when he came into office that unemployment could likely reach 10% and it did. Evidence is showing that we are just about at the end of the recession and may be climbing out. To blame him for unemployment numbers doesnt make sense. This recession started before he was in office, in early 2008 to be exact. It came crashing down in Oct of 2008 and hit rock bottom. Obama has done everything he can to try to help since he took office. He has cut taxes for working families, he has created thousands of government jobs through stimulus spending and infrastructure projects, and he has extended unemployment benefits to the needy. The goverment has actually turned a proft on the loans to the banking industry as well. The economy will turn the corner soon. The President and government can help ease a recession through spending and tax measures, but they cannot stop it. It is part of the natural business cycle. People on both sides use recession for political purposes to score points, and it is misleading and untrue to do so.

By TRS

June 30, 2010 11:21 AM | Link to this

Probably to no one’s surprise, I voted unenthusiastically for McCain but it was in reality more a vote against President Obama. I find him personally likeable, a good orator and a good family man, but had great concern about where he would lead us, particularly with an overwhelming majority in Congress, and that has been borne out. Max’s well written thoughts note the tightness of bank lending which I believe goes to a greater issue. Dislike the affluent, the corporations, the businesses and the Wall Streets of this world all you want; we are still left with the fact that it is not the gvmt who is the economic engine of this country, it is those in the free enterprise system which makes it tick. Specifically it is their short and long term views that determines how they allocate their resources. Question - if you were a bank and woke up the other morning to find that Congress has unexpectedly added a substantial tax to the financial reform act specifically directed at you (the bank), how quick would you be to let go of your assets? Those who could invest are hesitant to do so for this very reason - this administration and this Congress cannot be trusted. The politicians are thirsting for revenue and seek it out at every turn. The “bad guys” listed previously realize they are the targeted group for this revenue and are in in the income preservation mode rather than aggressively looking for investment and lending opportunities. What bit we have recovered is the result of a dynamic economy struggling to come back, even against an unfriendly administration and Congress. Add to that the European Apoligy tour, the return of the Jimmy Carter “maliase” effect, overreaching legislation such as healthcare, cap/tax, etc is it any wonder he’s “underwater”.

By dale1

June 30, 2010 10:28 AM | Link to this

Max - very well stated. I didn’t vote for Obama because I knew everything he said was a lie.I research his past speeches and his past aquiantances prior to the election. Our economy is still going down and most of the jobs created are tempoarary census jobs. The goal of the Afgan war is to stop Al Queda. We could do this with special forces and air attacks. Now we have a new goal of trying to nation build at the same time we are trying to defeat the Taliban. Lets win the war first than nation build like all the other past sucessful wars. Obama is in over his head and the americans are finally waking up.

By Max

June 30, 2010 9:57 AM | Link to this

OK, I can fess up. I voted for Obama and, partially, as the only alternative to what I viewed as Mccain having ‘stability’ issues which, in my opinion, have been verified since the election. But, I am seriously disappointed in Obama’s performance even after allowing for taking campaign promises tongue in cheek. The President took a lengthy European ‘victory’ lap while tossing health care reform to Congress which, predictably, led to polarization via Speaker Pelosi. From then on it has been trench warfare even while holding a majority in both houses. Obama has done nothing to pressure banks in releasing interest free money it gets from the treasury to consumers for business and refi/mortgage modifications. Instead, he stands by as the same banks take a modest profit from T-Bill investments thus becoming ‘lien holders’ to the national debt they helped create. Afghanistan speaks for itself. There is no policy. The Afghan government is corrupt as is Pakistan. ‘Hearts and Minds,’ ‘Nation Building,’ and ‘National Security Interests’ are ambiguous catch phrases for justifying a bad idea getting worse by the moment. McChystal knew this as does all senior officers about who Obama blantantly lied saying they (McChrystal, specifically) supported his (Obama’s) starategy in Afghanistan. Gen, Petraeous is known in the military as an old school, cold war, anti-insurgency strategist. That has never succeeded as a military policy even in Iraq today; insurgency continues and a decade or more presence will be required, not for success but until the American people tire of the rhetoric. Even more recently, I feel embarassed for President Obama’s ‘lecture’ to participating nations at the G-20 Summit. To encourage other nations to increase their respective deficits with additional stimulus measures was shocking and self-serving to his own failed stimulus advocacies here in the US. That the nations unanimously rejected Obama’s ‘suggestion’ does speak to his creditabilty and influence he has abroad which is also being felt here at home.