Obama vs. Pirates

[smokystein.livejournal.com]

I'm a little confused as to how a bunch of half-wit Somali Pirates became the first test of Obama's Security cred, but whatever. What I am amazed by is the number of conservative voices giving the new president Kudos for handling the situation correctly:  giving Navy Seals  permission to kill the fuckers.

This may surprise some of you, but I read a couple of conservative blogs/Web sites. One of my favorites is www.littlegreenfootballs.com. And they get credit for making a very reasoned point about this whole issue...

littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33361_To_Everything_There_is_a_Season

"President Barack Obama is the Commander in Chief of the US armed forces. I certainly don’t agree with a lot of his policies, but I’ll be damned if I won’t — at the very least — respect the office and give him congratulations when it’s deserved. And when the US military succeeds in a critical mission, the CinC deserves congratulations."

I'm also amused at this little Gem from Fox News...

Watch on YouTube

Even Goldberg is turned off by conservatives foaming at the mouth to criticize the president over every little thing.

So my question to conservatives is this: did Obama do the right thing in this instance?

Does this reassure you about Obama's ability to protect Americans at home and abroad?

Do you agree with other conservatives who are congratulating Obama?
 

Comments

[pantsu.livejournal.com]

Disagreeing with Obama's policies doesn't outright mean the conservatives are going to try their hardest to bring him down. Contrary to popular belief - especially in this community - the blood grudge conservatives have against Obama is purely on policy - if he does something right, he does something right. The vast majority of respectable people aren't going to deny him credit where it's due.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

This.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Unless its Limbaugh.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Respectable people.

[vacant-thomas.livejournal.com]

I would agree with this. The irrational kicking and screaming, on both sides of the party line, are usually done by a minority of people that get the attention merely because they are being loud. Most respectable critics have issues with policy, not persons.

[rumorsofwar.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately not everyone is a respectable person.

[squidb0i.livejournal.com]

B-b-b-but he's the new Jimmy Carter!
Isn't he? I'm so confused now!
O'Hannity! Tell me what to think!

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

However it worked out, the Navy got a kill order or were able to interpret it as such. How Obama decides to approach this long term is more important to me than this, but, at least early, it appears he's not going to be afraid to act. That's a positive.

Now, the other side is this - no one likes the Somali pirates. I don't even think they like themselves. So this wasn't exactly a hard call to make - you do what you can to rescue the guy, since you have all the leverage and no real fear of condemnation. Let's see what happens when US troops get blown up on the Pakistani border, or if they're kidnapped and brought into Pakistan, or if there's terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia, or if Russia makes a threatening gesture toward our interests.

[bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com]

I’ll be damned if I won’t — at the very least — respect the office and give him congratulations when it’s deserved.

There we have it, folks: a reasonable and loyal opposition. More This.

Obama's bank plans need some serious critique and in the meanwhile we've got conservative wackos like Glenn Beck teabagging. Get fucking serious, conservatives - learn how to be taken seriously. Glenn Becking it and teabagging it is not the answer.

[reality-hammer.livejournal.com]

The only thing worse than that would be bord_du_rasoiring it!

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

[ladypolitik.livejournal.com]

Obama's bank plans need some serious critique and in the meanwhile we've got conservative wackos like Glenn Beck teabagging.

No fucking kidding!

I've already determined that one cant seriously expect said authentic critiques from among right-ringers who insisted on harping on theories that Obama is a Seekrit Mawzlem/Non-Citizen/Terr'ist/Marxist/Soshulist/Fascist/Elitist/White Wimmin-Stealing Black Nationalist™, well before the guy had even won his party's presidential nomination.

Thus far, the most compelling and serious critique of his bank plans have come from among liberals, or from other spectrums of the left, and/or from among his supporters.

It's a limited voice of opposition, but it's nevertheless a start, since it contains the seeds of credible, intelligent opposition that most of the right presently dont have. *shrug*

[reality-hammer.livejournal.com]

He should have nuked them from orbit.


It's the only way to be sure.

[new-wave-witch.livejournal.com]

Is that a Reagan joke?

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

Aliens, one of the greatest movies evar.

[ygrii-blop.livejournal.com]

Obama handled this situation well. However, the job is unfinished. The next step will be to invoke the Bush Doctrine and invade Nigeria.

[prog-expat.livejournal.com]

"The next step will be to invoke the Bush Doctrine and invade Nigeria."

Because, after all, they sold uranium to Iraq!

[kunaifusu.livejournal.com]

USA has ways to go - in a mature communist/fascist society every single success is attributed to the leader or to the ruling party at the very least.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

But,
had negotiations fail?
We were told he was gonna talk to the terrorists.
You mean the conservatives lied to us?

[valknott.livejournal.com]

I agree with you in terms of being confused about this being a "test" of Obama's will or whatever. I mean, the decision was a fucking no-brainer. You let the military determine whether the captain was in mortal danger and whether lethal force was needed in the situation and give them the go-ahead to use their judgment. Anybody would have made the same decision... As usual, the media glommed onto it and made it into a bigger deal than what it was.

[pitbullgirl65.livejournal.com]

As usual, the media glommed onto it and made it into a bigger deal than what it was.
Oh god yes. And they reported with all earnestness that the Captains' family was saving him a "chocolate easter egg". I rolled my eyes. And only an egg? I'd want a mini vacation after that mess.

[ladypolitik.livejournal.com]

So I'm *not* the only one thinking this; hooray!

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Yeah but this is just the beginning. The Pirates will strike back.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

And then we'll have the Return of the Empire.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I beat you to this, albeit between Goldberg and Limbaugh, a bit below, it's the post that says "Bring on the Circular Firing Squad, boys!"

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

I beat you to this
And by a large margin ^^

[verytwistedmind.livejournal.com]

I'm still stuck on you reading a conservative blog. Does the blogger know you're reading it? I think he should block your IP address.

[jlc20thmaine.livejournal.com]

After the numerous major flubs, Obama finally gets something small correct. And he had to have the military take care of it for him. I have full faith that he will flub this as well.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Yeah the president should have gone out there on air force one and snipered them himself huh. That's what all the previous presidents did.

[valknott.livejournal.com]

Oh no, that's too easy. He should have SWAM out to the boat from shore, with just a combat knife clenched in his teeth, climbed up on the lifeboat, broke the windows with his fist, climbed in, and knifed all three pirates. But then Rush would complain about the deaths being too gory and the wingnuts would complain about him wasting his time swimming around the ocean when he should be spending time working on cutting taxes for rich folks. Yeah!

[ladypolitik.livejournal.com]

I suspect you'll keel over from sheer bitterness well before that can be confirmed or not!

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

did Obama do the right thing in this instance?

Yes, he let the military handle it.

Does this reassure you about Obama's ability to protect Americans at home and abroad?

No, it gives no indication as to how he'll do when it matters.

Do you agree with other conservatives who are congratulating Obama?

I don't disagree with them.

[smokystein.livejournal.com]

Thanks for answering those in the correct order!