Commenter “loveourcountry” posted the text of Obama’s anti-Iraq war speech in 2002 in repsonse to another discussion about Campaign Finance, and it was the first time I had read it. It was courageous for Obama to take such a stand in a climate of revenge and deference to the President. And he was right.
The President was a two term governor of Texas, his father a President and former director of the CIA, his VP a former Secretary of Defense and Chief of Staff to President Ford, his Secretary of Defense one of the most experienced to have that job. And the Administration got it wrong. They misunderstood the facts and the context. It can be argued that this uncommonly experienced administration got it consistently wrong on Foreign affairs, energy, environment, trade, economic and fiscal management, health care, education… on just about everything except how to divert public funds to their friends in Oil, big Pharma, and the Military-Industrial complex.
Familiarity with a situation is very handy, and it can be the critical factor when all other factors are equal. But it is not the only, or the best, indicator of future success. Senators Clinton and McCain would both provide leadership that I could be content with. But from almost everything Obama has said, and the way he has conducted himself, his is the intellect I would prefer making the hard calls for the future of my government.
I agree with Obama’s refrain that it is as important to be “right” on day one as it is to be “ready.”
Born 1950, Married, Living in Austin Texas, Semi
Retired Small Business owner and investor. My political interest
evolved out of his business experience that the best decisions come out of an objective gathering of information and a pragmatic consideration of costs and benefits. I am interested in promoting Centrist candidates and Policies. My posts are mostly about people and policies that I believe are part of the solution rather the problem.