Thoughts & Commentary on the Obama Administration

[Lord Winter]

A sad display of communication from the White House:


Sheesh.

CR

So your mad that Obama can't read every letter sent to him, even ones in polish?

[Xiahou]

File this under 'slightly creepy'.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

There's just something inherently wrong about the White House asking people to turn in anyone spreading "disinformation"...

Take him to... Detroit

Nice find.

[Xiahou]

Shocking, I know, but extraordinary renditions are continuing under the Obama Administration.

The Obama administration will continue the Bush administration’s practice of sending terrorism suspects to third countries for detention and interrogation, but pledges to closely monitor their treatment to ensure that they are not tortured, administration officials said Monday.

Human rights advocates condemned the decision, saying that continuing the practice, known as rendition, would still allow the transfer of prisoners to countries with a history of torture. They said that promises from other countries of humane treatment, called “diplomatic assurances,” were no protection against abuse.

[Ronin]

File this under 'slightly creepy'.There's just something inherently wrong about the White House asking people to turn in anyone spreading "disinformation"...

I would say that the inherently wrong thing is the disinformation in the first place....wouldn´t you say?

[Centurion1]

I would say that the inherently wrong thing is the disinformation in the first place....wouldn´t you say?

it is there constitutional right to spread whatever they want to. As long as it does not directly harm anyone.

[Xiahou]

From the McClatchy: Pentagon worried about Obama's commitment to Afghanistan

"I think they (the Obama administration) thought this would be more popular and easier," a senior Pentagon official said. "We are not getting a Bush-like commitment to this war."

Monday's assessment initially was to include troop recommendations, but political concerns prompted White House and Pentagon officials to agree that those recommendations would come later, advisers to McChrystal said. Although the White House took a hands-off approach toward Afghanistan earlier this summer, Pentagon officials said they're now getting more questions about how many troops might be needed and for how long.

Some White House officials said the administration feels it was pressured to send the additional 17,500 combat troops and 4,000 trainers earlier this year, before the administration was comfortable with its plan for Afghanistan , because of the country's election in August.

After all the talk on the campaign trail of Iraq being the wrong war and Afghanistan being the right one, it looks like there are some early signs that the administration is already beginning to waver....

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The afghanistan thing seemed like something he touted so he could criticize the iraq war without looking like a pacifist.

[Xiahou]

The afghanistan thing seemed like something he touted so he could criticize the iraq war without looking like a pacifist.

Yeah, I'd agree. But then again, I thought Obama spent most of the campaign trying to (and succeeding) convince voters that he was something he was not.

[CountArach]

After all the talk on the campaign trail of Iraq being the wrong war and Afghanistan being the right one, it looks like there are some early signs that the administration is already beginning to waver....

Good.

Also - see Sasaki.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

So your mad that Obama can't read every letter sent to him, even ones in polish?

He could have had someone translate it. If you're pouring out that much money in stimulus you can probably afford it (it's a mini-stimulus in itself anyway). And he has time for one letter, one single letter, from the mother of one of the soldiers of whom he is in command. This is especially disgusting after the gruesome details of what happened to the couple.

I'd be insulted if I were a Marine.

[Lord Winter]

He could have had someone translate it. If you're pouring out that much money in stimulus you can probably afford it (it's a mini-stimulus in itself anyway). And he has time for one letter, one single letter, from the mother of one of the soldiers of whom he is in command. This is especially disgusting after the gruesome details of what happened to the couple.

I'd be insulted if I were a Marine.

I think the blame rides in the bureaucracy reading the mail. Unless if they already had orders to look for the name there's no way you can expect special treatment.

Also the event in question happened in Bush's reign.

[ICantSpellDawg]

This administration is becoming a nightmare rather quickly. I honestly didn't think Democrats had the balls to incinerate our country.

Can anyone honestly say that the new "pledge to serve our president" video doesn't make your skin crawl?

[Lemur]

Can anyone honestly say that the new "pledge to serve our president" video doesn't make your skin crawl?

Had to Google that one. Taking a look, it's rather silly. A bunch of celebs pledging "allegiance to the funk," etc. Ridiculous? Certainly. Making my skin crawl? Only to the usual extent when Ashton and Demi think that their opinions matter to me.

I note that this video dates to January 2009. Are you referring to something newer?

[Adrian II]

I look in to this thread from time to time to catch the latest Obama gossip, but it disappoints me every time. This month there appears to be something about a letter that's gone wrong. And some anonymous source in the Pentagon saying that Obama is not showing the commitment to the Afghan war that some anonymous source in the Pentagon expects. And .. well that's it, really.

Big deal.

[drone]

Well, I hear he drinks the blood of children to stay young and vibrant...

In reality, there just isn't that much news right now. He's too smart and media-savvy to pull real boneheaded moves in public like Bush did. Congress has been out of session. And apart from outlandish tales told be the righter side of the media, the press seems to be giving him a pass for now. I'm thinking that this will end this winter, once his first year goes by they will start being more critical. At this point, his administration earns a big "Meh". Nothing too bad, but nothing too good either.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I look in to this thread from time to time to catch the latest Obama gossip, but it disappoints me every time. This month there appears to be something about a letter that's gone wrong. And some anonymous source in the Pentagon saying that Obama is not showing the commitment to the Afghan war that some anonymous source in the Pentagon expects. And .. well that's it, really.

Big deal.

The action is in healthcare. Everything's simply spend on discussing that. Both in the Backroom and in RL.


The good news is that the Republicans don't have anything better than some pimped and sensationalized non-stories to create outrage over Obama with.
Meanwhile, Obama occupies himself with settling dramatised and sensationalized liberal non-stories with beer diplomacy in the White House Garden.

All of which means he is free to throw his weight where it's needed, in healthcare. I even suspect Obama of being politically savvy enough to deliberately avoid controversy for the time being.

[drone]

Had to Google that one. Taking a look, it's rather silly. A bunch of celebs pledging "allegiance to the funk," etc. Ridiculous? Certainly. Making my skin crawl? Only to the usual extent when Ashton and Demi think that their opinions matter to me.

I note that this video dates to January 2009. Are you referring to something newer?

He might be referring to this:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/02...t-left-behind/

[Don Corleone]

I don't know Louis. That teflon is peeling in layers now. I don't think anybody in the Backroom would confuse me with an Obama supporter, and even I feel bad for the guy over this.

This is about as low as it gets. The guy tries to talk to kids about working hard, setting goals for themselves and staying in school... and we get... comparisons to North Korea.

Partisanship, at the expense of statesmanship.... I'll grant you Obama has been a bit wounded lately, but you all mark my words, the Republicans seriously overplayed their hand this time and its going to boomerang on them. Yes, the Democrats were petty in 1991, and gave H.W. Bush grief. This was the Republicans' chance to show that they are better than that.....

... or not, as the case may be. What the hell has happened to us?