Clinton the new Iron Lady?

**Seamus Fermanagh** · 01-15-2009, 23:34

Originally Posted by Bopa the Magyar

I will enjoy it more when Obama is finally seen as the real Bush III, and the Democrats as even greater warmongers than the Republicans. Tbh Clintons elevation has pretty much secured the coffin...

Don't hold your breath. Obama will shift US policy back towards a more Clinton-era model. I think he's too hardnosed a pol to take it back to Jimmy Carter's approach (which the EU crowd would adore). This shift will be 6-18 months in happening.

My point was that anyone expecting a policy shift to happen no later than Jan 23rd is being unrealistic.

**Incongruous** · 01-15-2009, 23:45

Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh

Don't hold your breath. Obama will shift US policy back towards a more Clinton-era model. I think he's too hardnosed a pol to take it back to Jimmy Carter's approach (which the EU crowd would adore). This shift will be 6-18 months in happening.

My point was that anyone expecting a policy shift to happen no later than Jan 23rd is being unrealistic.

I respect the view, and I would almost agree with it, were it not for a few unfortunate talks about commiting the USA to more "important" wars.

But even if you are right, Clinton for me was one of the worst Presidents, simply beacuse he got away with it

But we can both agree on the unrealistic hopes people have pinned upon the 20th.

Hmm seems I got hat one wrong, I was of coarse talking about the symbolism of the 20th...

**Lemur** · 01-16-2009, 00:02

I'm sorry if I'm being dense, but what is the special significance of January 23rd?

**Goofball** · 01-16-2009, 00:39

Originally Posted by Lemur

I'm sorry if I'm being dense, but what is the special significance of January 23rd?

It's the day I will have gone 18 days without a cigarette.

*returns to biting fingernails down to bloody stumps*

**Devastatin Dave** · 01-16-2009, 00:44

Originally Posted by Goofball

It's the day I will have gone 18 days without a cigarette.

*returns to biting fingernails down to bloody stumps*

Oral fixations are hard to break, right Lemur...

**CountArach** · 01-16-2009, 01:00

Originally Posted by Goofball

It's the day I will have gone 18 days without a cigarette.

*returns to biting fingernails down to bloody stumps*

Good luck.

@ Lemur - I assume he is just saying that those who want radical transformation from the very start (Day 3 of the Obama Administration being the absolute latest - ie Jan 23rd) will be sorely disappointed. Which is true.

**Seamus Fermanagh** · 01-16-2009, 03:43

Lemur: Arach has the right of it.

Bopa:

As a symbol, the 20th is one of my nation's greatest. The outgoing "leader of the free world" sits there quietly while another takes the oath and supplants him. All the power shifts, and nobody is lined up and shot, the reprisals are limited to patronage jobs, and the nation continues.

Louis:

That means we DON'T change republics like we change socks (You lovable frog you).

**Beren Son Of Barahi** · 01-16-2009, 06:05

I think this line is quite predictable; any dialog with Iran/Hamas will come from a hard lined very low level approach. I think the new administration might be willing to put more pressure on Israel and give more incentives to the Iranian /Palestinians then the last administration but nothing drastic and certainly nothing very public.

my prediction is NATO will pull some of its troops and resources out of Afghanistan and will have international/ EU/ Egypt/nato forces/peace keepers (makers)/observers in and around gaza and the west bank at some stage in the next four years.