The Obama Watch
The Four Pillars of Obamaism
Will anyone dare call it the Obama Doctrine?
Although it is still too early to speak of an “Obama Doctrine,” four trends, already apparent, will define the Obama administration’s approach to foreign affairs in the years ahead. They are: Cosmopolitanism, Soft Power, Appeasement and Global Meliorism.
Cosmopolitanism: In his final book, Who Are We?, the late Samuel Huntington defined the “Cosmopolitan” approach to foreign affairs as one in which “the activities of Americans would more and more be governed not by the federal and state governments, but by rules set by international authorities, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, customary international law and global treaties and regimes.” That is, instead of leaving the rest of the world alone unless the United States, or its allies, are directly threatened (the conservative/nationalist approach to world affairs), or trying to make the rest of the world more like the United States (the Wilsonian /Bush approach), Cosmopolitan elites, “who increasingly identify with global institutions norms and rules rather than national ones,” try to make the United States more like the rest of the world.
That Barack Obama is America’s first Cosmopolitan President is already evident from his trips abroad. Obama behaved not like an American President determined to justify America’s ways to a skeptical world, but like a global citizen who just happens to be America’s President, and who shares the world’s skepticism. Such an individual is more than ready to identify America’s faults (real or alleged) and apologize for them, but has little to say in defense of American virtues, unless they begin with “multi” — as in multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. The Obama administration has already announced that the U.S. will run for a seat on the United Nations’ viciously-biased Human Rights Council. Look for a great deal more involvement with the United Nations in the future.
Soft Power: The Kennedy School’s Joseph Nye, who coined the term “soft power” and wrote a book about it, defines it as “the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. It arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals and policies. When our policies are seen as legitimate in the eyes of others, our soft power is enhanced.”
Obviously, Cosmopolitan elites are attracted to theories of Soft Power, as it enables them to argue that by abandoning unilateral actions in favor of a multi-lateral, U.N.- centered approach to national security, we are actually strengthening America (by making our policies “legitimate”), and not, as virtually our entire political tradition asserts, weakening America by tying its hands. And Soft Power doesn’t just mean giving the U.N. a larger say in our affairs; it also means making America a better place by lightening our “carbon footprint” and becoming “greener,” by pursuing greater economic “justice” and redistributing wealth, and by abandoning arrogant notions of American “Exceptionalism” and becoming a decent, non-threatening Social Democracy — a Sweden writ large. These actions, it is argued, will so increase our Soft Power that our foes will realize the errors of their ways and will “buy into” our values, thus enabling us to regain our “world leadership” without firing a shot.
Of course, all this is pure moonshine. But as Angelo Codevilla points out in Advice to War Presidents, Soft Power “is not about empowering America but about making Americans do what people like Joseph Nye want — people such as [those who] meet at the Davos World Economic Forum, teach at places like Harvard’s Kennedy School, and rule the prestigious media…” And, one might add, people such as currently occupy the White House.
Appeasement: In his March message to the people and leaders of Iran, President Obama offered “the promise of a new beginning” and declared that “the United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations,” — a striking departure from the Bush Administration, which wanted the Islamic Republic of Iran overthrown. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, called President Obama’s appeal “very constructive,” which means, of course, that it’s actually very destructive. Should Obama’s initiative result in serious American-Iranian negotiations, look for Tehran to put forward a long list of grievances, which the Obama administration, conscious of the many wrongs we have supposedly committed against Iran, will duly set out to appease. The difficulty, however, will be to accord Shi’ite Iran its “rightful place” in the international community without unduly alienating our traditional Sunni “allies,” Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both of whom loathe and fear Iran. Fortunately, both Sunnis and Shi’ites hate Israel, so look to the Obama administration to bash Israel as a way of appeasing Sunnis and Shi’ites alike.
Global Meliorism: This is a truly bi-partisan American tradition, which historian Walter McDougall has defined as “the socio-economic and cultural expression of an American mission to make the world a better place.” President Truman embraced Global Meliorism when he launched the Point Four program in 1949 — “a bold new program [Truman said] for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas,” and President Eisenhower also endorsed Global Meliorism in 1957, when he declared that “the freedom of nations can be menaced not only by guns but by the poverty that communism can exploit.” The United States has been devoted to Global Meliorism ever since, and while such critics as the late British economist, P.T. Bauer, have denounced American foreign aid programs as doing more harm than good, look to the Obama administration to step up foreign aid to anti-American regimes in the hope of winning their friendship through bribery. That this approach will fail goes without saying — ideological enemies must be defeated, not co-opted — but in the meantime, President Obama and his team will be hailed for their bold new thinking, their willingness to discard the stale orthodoxies of the past, and their readiness to take risks for peace and face up to the realities of a new century.
Look to these four approaches — the essence of an emerging Obama Doctrine — to win our President a Nobel Peace Prize, even as the world itself descends into chaos and war.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (107) | Leave a comment
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Deborah D | 5.5.09 @ 6:39AM
Nothing like depressing the American people both nationally and internationally, economically and militarily. He really hates his country, doesn't he? It was obvious to me for a very long time. Do those who voted for him hate their country as well? Of course they wouldn't call it that -- just that they want to change everything about it. Okay, I'll give them that -- then what do they like about their country? What does he like about his country? That they voted him president? Now we must take our medicine?
Deborah D | 5.5.09 @ 6:53AM
Chaos -- is what the world will devolve into in the next four years.
Robert Rosencrans| 5.5.09 @ 7:20AM
Although I don't disagree with the article, it leaves out other important features of Obamaism. Without those other features, those 4 pillars would not exist.
First, there is the unrelenting belief in the power of government solidarity and not individual citizen responsibility.
This type of political thought process undermines individualism by promoting simple minded statism. A part of the process involves ridiculing individual wealth, while the government acquires all the legislated power that the public will allow.
In the meantime, individual wealth is purposely wiped out, through higher taxes, stealth taxes like cap and trade and an outright seizure of individual wealth through the enlargement of government.
Without statism, it is highly unlikely the 4 pillars you define could exist.
One by product of statism is the weakening of the press. That is not Obama's doing, but is the end game of a long term trend where journalists redefined themselves in a closer relationship with the liberal political class which thrives on destroying individualism.
jack| 5.5.09 @ 7:42AM
yes,Obama appears to be ushering in the end of the American Empire. Americans need a leader like this every 30 or 40 years so we are forced to fight for our freedom over and over again. Only this time we are choosing not to fight the statists, the opposition party is gutless and would rather go along to get along than do the right thing,and most cower in fear of being called racists.
this is the new mccarthyism. Not only are we afraid to call the Obamanists what they really are, communists or socialists,but we are afraid of being called racists by the left. Anyone who defends freedom and American excellence is called a racist. Its working,and our country is coming apart like a cheap suit.
D BYERS| 5.5.09 @ 7:58AM
I always picture Obama huddled up in the west wing with his advisors brainstorming for even more socialist/extreme left wing policies, knowing that Reid and Pelosi will deliver. My question is: how far left will they be permitted to go before MSNBC says enough? How many industries need to become federalized before even Pelosi says enough. What is the eventual goal? All business run by the government? Is that acceptable for the NYT? Where 's it stop?
History Repeating| 5.5.09 @ 8:19AM
A pop quiz: Who am I?
See if you can guess who I am:
I love dogs.
I love art and am a struggling artist.
I am a jazz aficionado.
I believe in taking some from the rich and giving to the poor.
I support Affirmative Action.
I believe in women's right to choose.
I believe a strong teachers union is important to education.
The media for the most part support my positions.
I am a vegetarian.
I was raised by my single mother.
I have some past associations that may raise some eyebrows.
I believe in a strong federal national government.
Who am I?
Am I a liberal or a conservative?
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 8:48AM
History:
Well, you could be Tom Paine but he is Fascist with a red shirt.
But I think you are refering to former German Chancellor who is a Fascist wearing a Brown Shirt.
Northern Rebel| 5.5.09 @ 9:10AM
The thugs that are "President" Teleprompter's administration, make John Gotti's gang look like the essence of benevolence.
At least mafia crime lords did their extortion in the shadows!
BTW, whoever is doing the Mathews imitation, is the funniest man in America! :o )
I wish I'd thought of it.
Appleby| 5.5.09 @ 10:04AM
I have a sister who, forty years after graduating from University, behaving in wildly inappropriate ways in order to make a Political Statement. She is always the last one to see that what she is doing is not only insane, but dangerous. The one time she woke up and smelled the cappucino was on a visit to Cambodia, where she saw for herself what she and her hippy dippy friends had accomplished in their opposition to the Vietnam War. A couple of days seeing the Killing Fields up close and personal shocked her out of her shoes and was very good for her.
I wonder when I see the Chicago Flash strutting through Europe, looking like a bad caricature of the old World War II Warner Brothers Cartoon drawings of Hitler (except for the yelling), if a couple of long visits to real Communist Countries, where he would actually live with the people and not in upholstered American Enclaves with the nomenklatura, might be a cold shower bath of reality that would assist him in maturing enough to recognize reality when he sees it.
Nah.
Old Texican| 5.5.09 @ 10:19AM
Hi David Mathews
IROFLMAO
Do you people truly believe Obama's ilk can run your lives better than you can?
That is the only question that needs to be answered to know exactly who you are and what you are.
You can squeal, and moan and point fingers all you want. Youall are still what you are.
stmichrick| 5.5.09 @ 10:23AM
History Repeating;
I know it's tempting but please do not smear jazz aficionados as unmistakeably Left.
Nat Hentoff and I are pro-life and pro-Israel.
Don't know about Nat but I like dogs, red meat and hate Crow Jim Affirmative Action and teacher unions when they preen as advocates of quality education.
So there.
Bo Darville| 5.5.09 @ 10:56AM
Has anybody else noticed that there haven't been any hurricanes since Bush left office? Plus, the temperature here today is the same as yesterday. Thank you Dear Leader.
El Rey| 5.5.09 @ 11:21AM
Why do you peoppe continue to dialogue with this "David Matthews.'
To do so is to cast perarls before swine.
Ignore this odious troll, and it'll eventually leave. Feed it with response, and you will only encourage it to stay.
Son Of Sam | 5.5.09 @ 11:50AM
Let's see: Obama went on his "world tour", during which he apologized for that horrible nation America to the continent that gave us Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini, bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia and all but french kissed Hugo Chavez in his eagerness to suck up to him. And the results? NO ONE will help Obama in his new "surge" into Afghanistan. NO ONE wants to take in any of those poor misunderstood souls down in Gitmo. NONE of the countries where Obama went a-courtin' is helping us in any meaningful way.
Yup, the magic of that "soft power": its sheer brilliance is just absolutely blinding.
stay strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam
http://www.geocities.com/samadamssos
Al Adab| 5.5.09 @ 12:09PM
Has any other nation in history made a concious decision to abandon its founding principles and to pursue a program which supposses that the world will be better off without it? National suicide is not a policy of reason and delivering the world into a new dark age is abhorant. History will judge us harshly should this trend continue.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 12:18PM
I'd like to see some more evidence of "Appeasement" as a part of Obama's strategic world view.
He clearly has a respect for diplomacy, as did Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Reagan may well one day be regarded as one of the most important diplomats in American history.
Those who know history know that "appeasement" means a willingness to cede territorial gain in exchange for peace.
Obama has not done this, and he has shown no inclination to do it.
Are we now to understand -- despite the facts -- that Obama is both an "appeaser" and a "fascist" or "nazi"?
Conservative critiques of Obama are least effective when they appeal (appease) the hysterical and paranoid impulses of the Republican base.
Be temperate, and people will listen.
Old Texican| 5.5.09 @ 12:29PM
Tom Paine
ROFL
Duh no ceding territory?
How about Israel?
How about Pakistan?
How about Citibank?
How about Chrysler private investors as opposed to Unions?
To quote myself:
IROFLMAO
Do you people truly believe Obama's ilk can run your lives better than you can?
That is the only question that needs to be answered to know exactly who you are and what you are.
You can squeal, and moan and point fingers all you want. Youall are still what you are.
Tom| 5.5.09 @ 12:45PM
David Mathews, I usually don't answer to the garbage you spill out but this time I am going to make an exception.
I am a retired firefighter/instructor, was a line officer in the county haz-mat team and a state radialogical response technician. I have received training from FEMA and had worked with them.
The Katrina fiasco blame belongs to Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco. They played politics at the expense of the citizens. When you learn something on how is set up by congressional law then just maybe it will sink into you head that Bush was not to blame.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 12:51PM
Old Texican --
I will try to respond to your inchoate list, but really, writing "ROFL" and so on is really shallow and foolish. Clearly you need to devote your energies to writing correct sentences, with subjects and verbs.
The "two state solution," proposed formerly by George W. Bush, can hardly be considered "appeasement." The Israelis want it and the legitimate Palestinian authorities want it. Who are you to tell them it's a bad idea?
I don't know what territory you're talking about when you ask about Pakistan. You don't seem to have many facts to work with or much understanding of the topics upon which you try to make comments.
How is "Citibank" an example of "appeasement," and exactly what aggressive dictator is being appeased?
My advice? Try to make comments on fewer topics and confine your remarks to things you know something about. Or, maybe just spend more time reading and learning about the world so you have something interesting in productive to say.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 1:20PM
Tom Paine:
Has Obama's softpower approach led to North Korea giving up its ICBM and Nuclear programs?
Has Iran stopped making genocidal statements about Israel and Jews?
Has Chavez reversed his course to a red Fascist state?
Has Russia stopped meddling in Georgia? (and please don't come back with any nonsense about Russia because you think it is still a socialist state. Putin is as anti-communist as Reagan)
Has Hamas and Hezbollah seen the light and accept the two state solution?
Friend and foe alike see Obama as ignorant of world affairs and weak in the face of pressure. (See the comments made by President Sarkozy, the attitude of Benjamin Netanyahu and NATO’s non response to his requests.) Obama’s biggest accomplishment in his first 100 days is to reduce the United States to a non-player on the international stage.
Follow up comment to our last exchange.
You might want to check your facts on Heidegger’s views on Mussolini. Rather then an ocean between them, Heidegger thought Mussolini’s theories were brilliant. Perhaps he was mistaken but he saw in Mussolini a man who spoke fluent English, German and French as well as Latin; new the great works of literature by heart (he could recite Dante on command and spend his last days reading the works of Dostoyevsky); and most importantly wrote a theory of collectivism that has outlived all its rivals and we see being practiced today by the Obama Administration’s quasi-nationalization without compensation of the American auto industry. Leon Trotsky was the only other deviant leader of the 20th Century who could match Mussolini’s intellect. It all proves that intelligence and intellectual accomplishments do not endow anybody with moral superiority or common sense.
The problem with modern Progressives is that post-modernism has made them both intellectually arrogant and ignorant at the same time. Paul de Man has played the biggest intellectual con in the history of western thought. He has subverted the so-called Progressive movement and changed your color from red to brown without you even knowing it. For that I have to give de Man his due.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 1:42PM
I see Tom P is busy here again attempting to disinform and propagate. Everything Obama has done so far in regards to foreign policy smacks of appeasement and weakness. His foolish apology for America in France, his bow to the Saudi King, his handshake with Chavez and his glad acceptance of an anti-American Marxist tract as well as sitting there for all of Ortega's hateful diatribe against us with his only response being at least he didn't blame him for something that happened when he was 3 months old. Not sure what evidence TP is looking for but it is stacking up day by day.
His uncritical support for Hamas and the "two state solution" should surprise no one with his twenty year history at Rev Wright's virulent anti-Semite Church. If you pulled your head out of your ass TP, you would know that Hamas and their allies do not support a two state solution but they will play the game to further weaken Israel's hand so they can finally achieve the "final solution". Who exactly are the legitimate Palestinian authorities you refer to? I believe the people elected Hamas into power so I guess that makes them "legitimate". Israel is not interested in the two state solution anymore because they know it to be a sham, their election of their new PM is evidence of that. I believe I saw a poll where 75% of Israel now supports a strike against Iran to prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons. You are a fool.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 2:06PM
jerryofva --
It's ironic that most of the international issues you cite as areas of Obama's failure actually came to be crises under George W. Bush. You might do well to remember Obama has been in office for just a few months.
N. Korea seemed to be coming around under Bush, and Bush's leadership seems deserving of considerable credit when it comes to that awful country. However, as I'm sure Mr. Bush would agree, N. Korea is dangerously unreliable, and we are limited by what actually can be done.
Under Bush's "axis of evil" thinking Iran became increasingly more hostile, and our actions may even have precipitated the election of the lunatic currently acting as president there.
Chavez came to power when Bush was president.
Again, I don't think Bush deserves as much criticism for these things as he sometimes gets from the left, but I'm damn sure Obama doesn't deserve any blame for them (yet) either.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 2:08PM
Todd --
You make a few remarks that anyone could here on Sean Hannity or Michael Savage's radio programs. I'm not sure what the point of repeating them is. If you have any reasonable points to make, I'll be happy to review them.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 2:09PM
error: "...that anyone could h-e-a-r on Sean Hannity..."
not here
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 2:17PM
jerryofva --
Perhaps you read about Hamas agreeing to renounce terrorism and embrace a two state solution?
This probably has little to do with Bush or Obama, but still.
Heidegger may well have been impressed by Mussolini's learning; Heidegger was notoriously naive about politics. He deserves criticism for his politics, and he gets it.
Paul de Man is quite another matter. He was not really related to "post modernism" in any way that seems meaningful to me. Perhaps you're thinking of "post structuralism"? At any rate, deconstruction was famously apolitical; Paul de Man did not ever write in English about anything remotely political. He wrote about poetry and philosophy. He had almost no noticeable effect on the New Left, and his influence today, even in the academy, is very slight.
I must say I don't understand the distinction you and others here seem to make between "liberals" and "progressives." The distinction has no heuristic value that I can see. Conservatives seem desperate to come up with labels for their opponents: it used to be a dogged attempt to demonize "liberals." Then we became "socialists." That didn't work, so fools among you started referring to us as "fascists" and even "nazis." Now, I'm told, we're to be maligned for being "progressives."
You probably should give more thought to what it means to be a conservative. If all it means is calling everyone you disagree with an unkind name, who'll listen to you?
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 2:23PM
Tom Paine:
As usual you simply change the subject.
As Vice President Biden warned Progressives, that President Obama would be tested. Kim Chong Il's test was the recentTD2 launch. Obama failed the test and now Kim is moving towards further provocations. UN resolutions and stern warnings only show Kim how weak our President is.
As a typical Progressive you continually show a shallow understanding of the facts. Iran has shown constant and unrelenting hostilitiy to the United States under Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II. Every President has tried to coax Iran toward a more responsible role in the Middle East and each adminstration has been rebuffed. Reagan was the only President that has has some success in moderating Iran's behavior but only after he took strong military measures during Operation Praying Mantis and the shock of the Vincennes incident. Iran wants to destroy Israel and dominate the Sunni Arabs. Israel remians the only stumbling block to those ambitions. We know that Obama is hostile to Israel and has just sent Rahm Emanual to deliver bullying threats at the recent AIPAC meeting. Israel's political leadership holds Obama in utter contempt, which is about the only thing that Israel and Iran agree upon at the moment. Israel knows that Obama is weak and they will move to settle things with Iran when the time comes regardless of what the Prince of Hope orders.
Bilwick| 5.5.09 @ 2:24PM
"Soft power" doesn't work with statism, so Obama is kind of at odds with himself here. Personally, I'd like to see a socialism based on "attraction" rather than coercion. Then I could tell Il Dufe, "Sorry, I'm just not that into you," ignore him and live my life and spend my money as I see fit,not as he and the rest of his gang see fit.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 2:36PM
I refer specifically to what Obama has done to weaken the country and appease our enemies dismiss it as you want like a fool. I would never listen to Michael Savage, I am a proud Mark Levin listener. Only a fool like you would take Hamas's word to renounce terrorism for a two state solution but Obama will also go for it of course. It is a matter of fact that Rev. Wright supported Hamas openly in his Church, Hannity just brought it out in the open. jerryofva is right on the mark, Israel will take matters into their own hands because they know that Obama will never support them in defending themselves against Iran and terrorism. Rahm should be ashamed for betraying Israel for liberal politics but he has much company among American Jews.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 2:44PM
jerryofva --
I did not change the subject. I responded virtually point by point to your post.
I brought up Bush because in month three it is a little weird to blame Iran, N. Korea, and Venezuela on Barack Obama.
Since you bring it up, Reagan's administration illegally sold WEAPONS to an Iran that had until recently been holding U.S. civilians hostage. Of course Iran warmed to Reagan.
In 2001 and 02, Iran helped the U.S. in its invasion of Afghanistan and looked like it was considerably moderating its stance towards us. True to form, Bush announced they were a part of the "axis of evil," shocking and alienating moderates in Iran.
Despite all this, I still don't know how Obama can be fairly described as an "appeaser." It just doesn't make sense. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place.
Todd --
You're kind of a jackass, aren't you?
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 2:45PM
Tom Paine:
Once again you show how little you know. de Man's influence on politics is legion. From the development of critical legal studies to his mentoring of Edward Said he has had a profound influence on Progressive thinking. One does not have to write a political tract to influence politics. That is a very narrow view of how political ideas get transmitted. And by the way Post-Structuralism is just an alternative term for Deconstruction and is a major component of the Post-Modern movement.
It's funny how you accuse me of name calling. It shows that you are not a serious person. Show me where I have called you names. I use the terms Socialism, Progressive and Fascist in their true meaning. When I classify someone, you for example as a Fascist, I am not using it in the Progressive-Stalinist name calling sense. In fact, it is somewhat of complement because it is a serious and successful form of collectivist political and economic organization. Socialism and Progressivism (at least in its Post-War application) are both subspecies of classical Fascism. Our use of the term liberalism has mutated form the English version to that of the 19th century Russian definition. If you have ever read Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed" (sometimes referred to as "The Devils”) you would know that liberalism on the continent referred to a Marxist and not a supporter of limited consensual government.
Old Texican| 5.5.09 @ 2:47PM
Tom Paine
Call me out will you? Heh!
My name is Ken Bean, former CEO of not one but two fortune 500 sized companies operating all over the world. Helped people develop their countries.
I spent 20 years at that...lived in the mid-east for two years with lots of travel from there.
I now write (number one) bestselling books, and help my wife with her worldwide medical practice just for the joy of it.
Call me out, heh, Check me out on google or at amazon.com/books type in "Bean's About Baseball".
So now I am outed. My dad sold sewing machines. America allowed me to make a contribution to the world on a rather larger scale.
I have decided here to simply enjoy the flack you "pajama intellectuals" can gin up against me personally. Come on and get some.
I have decided finally to just cram you idiots down with some reality. If you cannot take intuitive leaps from "territory" to "statism" that is your limitation, (heh), certainly not mine.
Yeah, I am shallow...about ten feet of water over your head.
I must quote myself one again, (smile).
Do you people truly believe Obama's ilk can run your lives better than you can?
That is the only question that needs to be answered to know exactly who you are and what you are.
You can squeal, and moan and point fingers all you want. Youall are still what you are.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 2:50PM
Having been in on the planning of the Operation Enduring Freedom I am unaware of any support that Iran gave to the United States.
Reagan didn't get Buckley back alive. Iran double crossed him. It wasn't until Reagan decided he had enough of Iran and struck them hard did they temporarily back down.
Were you even alive during the Reagan adminstration?
Old Texican| 5.5.09 @ 3:09PM
Tom Paine and fellow travelers:
Ahh, you might want to goggle KENNETH BEAN.
...SAVE YOU INTELLECTUALOIDS IN PAJAMAS SOME INTUITIVE LEAPS. heh.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 3:21PM
Old Texican:
Our Progressive friends truly believe that they are intellectually superior to anybody else, as is befitting the vangaurd of masses, but when they get confronted by opponents who demonstrate more knowledge run for the hills or continually change the subject even as they claim not to.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 3:38PM
jerryofva --
Calling me a fascist is unacceptable, jerry. I served my country in the military and will not be maligned in that fashion. So you can fuck off.
I'm a member of the Democratic party, the party of Wilson and Roosevelt. If you consider that fascism, then you're an idiot.
Second, I'm not going to hold a seminar on post-structuralist literary criticism on the Am. Spec. website. You're understanding of de Man and his significance is shallow and not very interesting, but I hardly see the reason to worry about it.
Iran cooperated with the United States in the invasion of Afghanistan. It was widely reported and it is common knowledge. They did not offer troops, but the allowed the us to use its air space and I believe they let us use air strips. (The latter fact I'm not entirely sure of.)
I've pretty much had enough of the debate about whether liberalism, socialism, and fascism are all the same thing. Did it ever occur to you that there are different words (socialism, fascisim, liberalism) because there are different systems to refer to? I don't see any point in arguing this anymore. Cancer, pleurisy, and schizophrenia are all diseases, but that doesn't mean they're the same thing.
Fascism is best understood by what fascist countries do. Fascism is always associated with extremely aggressive militarism and virulent scape-goating of minority groups. All of this blather you're reading and repeating about economic plans is really not historically accurate or all that salient.
There are, however, plenty of socialist countries that do not oppress their people and that do not aggress against their neighbors. Sweden, for example. There are some who do, but generally it's the hard line communist nations that become totalitarian and dangerous.
Liberalism has nothing to do with any of this; "progressivism" is a word the Republicans used about their interventionist philosophy in the early 20th century, and it has sometimes been adopted by "liberals." Like I said, it's not a distinction that makes any difference whatsoever, and I fail to see why you even use the word. "Liberalism" will do.
jack| 5.5.09 @ 3:38PM
No evidence of appeasement???? are you insane? this is neville chamberlain without a brain. the guy is a fool, a crooked fool,but still a fool. he is a product of racials preference,and we are all paying the tuition while this grifter tried to understand what its like holding down a real job
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 3:42PM
Old Texican --
I'm not a physician or a psychologist, but your post makes you sound positively bonkers. (I'm aware "bonkers" isn't a clinical term. But I'm a layman, you see.)
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 3:44PM
Jack --
The idea that Obama is a product of "racial preference" is seriously dim-witted. You don't have to agree with Obama, but I'm afraid in order to be taken seriously you have to appeal to reason, not racial anxiety.
Pingback| 5.5.09 @ 3:51PM
Terror in New York - Obama will not release photo op pictures « Jim Blazsik links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 3:59PM
Did TP actually say that Iran cooperated with the invasion of Afghanistan and let us use air space and to use air strips (though he was not really sure as he fabricated all of that out of thin air)? Yes you are the party of the racist Wilson who thought the Constitution was out-dated and of no use to him. He also was treated those who opposed our involvement in WW1 by throwing them in jail and was very militaristic so I think he meets your definition of a fascist. FDR also decided to throw all Americans of Japanese heritage in internment camps with no due process, sounds a bit fascistic to me. The irony is absolutely delicious I must say, I am enjoying myself today.
JP| 5.5.09 @ 4:08PM
"I'm a member of the Democratic party, the party of Wilson and Roosevelt. If you consider that fascism, then you're an idiot. "
Tom,
Wilson was a pro-typical fascist, so much so that his administration from 1916-1919 was a huge inspiration to Mussolini. Here are a few things that Wilson did:
1)Severely curtailed civil liberties. Over 200,000 Americans were arrested for the crime of dissent, civil disobedience, printing editorials, and speaking German. Wilson's AG Palmer was infamous for his Palmer Raids (over 80,000 were locked up for "dis-loyalty"). Hundreds of newspapers were locked up, hundreds more were threatened. Wilson's Goon Squads scoured the streets looking for slackers, people speaking German, or speaking ill of the goverment.
2)Created partnerships with big businesses to limit competition. Almost all big busineeses were nationalized. As later as 1919, Wilson attempted to continue this War Socialism despite the surrender of Germany.
3)Backed Eugenics programs against the blacks, Southern Europeans, and mentally disabled.
FDR had his own politcal police -the Blue Eagles. Like Wilson's Goon Squads, these para-military groups looked for those people who "didn't get with the program". Rossevelt also prosecuted people for growing thier own food (a violation of the Agricultural Adjustment Act); confiscated private holdings of Gold; closed newspapers, threatened labor unions; and like Wilson, FDR was open to sterilization of minorities, hobos, and mentally disabled.
BTW, FDR rounded up over 100,000 Japanese Americans, confiscated thier property and put them into camps.
jerryofva:| 5.5.09 @ 4:08PM
Tom Paine:
Before commenting on the tone of your last post I am going to show that you are completely bound by the Stalinist definition of Fascism.
You claim: "Fascism is always associated with extremely aggressive militarism and virulent scape-goating of minority groups. "
Well guess again Tommy. Dr. Antonio Salazaar, the long time Fascist dictator of Portugal not only did not scapegoat minority groups, he opened his doors to the Jews of Europe. He also supported the Allied Cause during the Second World War.
He was not an aggressive militarist.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco was the Fascist leader of Spain. He did not scapegoat minorities and rescued tens of thousands of Jews in Europe. He also said no to Hitler in 1942 three years before socialist Sweden did. He was not an aggressive militarist.
Benito Mussolini, Il Duce, a title acquired when he was the leader of the Italian Socialist Party, was indeed an aggressive militarist but he did not scapegoat minorities. It is true that once the west drove him into the hands of the Nazis he passed some anti-Semitic laws which barely enforced. You might be surprised to find out that Mussolini was not a racist, just the opposite. He believed in the mixing of the races. His central organizing myth was a rebirth of the Roman Empire with its concept of universal citizenship in the empire.
So you read that”Iran cooperated with the United States in the invasion of Afghanistan. It was widely reported and it is common knowledge. They did not offer troops, but the allowed the us to use its air space and I believe they let us use air strips. (The latter fact I'm not entirely sure of.)” I can assure you as someone involved in the planning and execution of the initial phase of OEF that the common knowledge is wrong.
I suspect my knowledge of post-modernism and Paul de Mann far exceeds yours. I have wife with two higher degrees in Literature and have spent much more time in that community then you have.
Believe what you want about Fascism but real Fascism, as opposed to the Stalinist version that you subscribe to, is a well thought out collectivist political system. You might want to check this article and some its references:
http://groups.google.com/group/can.politics/msg/7404a92e347a8429
Face it Mr. Paine, what you think you know and what is reality are two different things. You are the typical Progressive. You can dish it out but you can’t take.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 4:26PM
Thanks for the additional info on that fascist Wilson JP, reading Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg really opened my eyes about Wilson and FDR and their abuse of power. I am guessing TP didn't learn about that public school but nobody does because it is the dirty secret of the progressives.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 4:34PM
Wilson and FDR had their bad moments. They were not fascists, and I am sure as hell not a fascist.
jerryofva --
If you really are in the military, or were, you'll understand what I'm saying when I tell you that your understanding of political science is ate, the fuck, up. As is your understanding of literary theory.
Spain's fascist government most certainly did target minority groups.
And ALL fascist governments share this in common: they define what they are AGAINST communism. They all justify curtailing liberties in the name of fighting socialism.
But you come here to tell us that socialism and fascism are the same thing.
Just like post-structuralism and post-modernism (and fascism) are the same thing.
So let me get this straight.
Mussolini is Heidegger who is Paul de Man who is Obama. And they're all Hitler.
Have I got that right?
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 4:35PM
As far as I can tell, the "common knowledge" is that Iran provided intelligence and allowed the US to use its air space when we invaded Afghanistan.
kmichaels| 5.5.09 @ 4:40PM
Tom Paine: The "two state solution," proposed formerly by George W. Bush, can hardly be considered "appeasement."
The two state solution was proposed first by Jimmy Carter. When Bush supported it, it was totally conditional on whether Palestinian leaders gave up their terrorism.
Tom Paine is pretty confused on every issue so it is no surprise that he is yet confused again today. And yes, Paine will be confused tomorrow and next year and next decade.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 4:42PM
Post-modernism is best thought of as an artistic style, like Impressionism or Expressionism.
"Postmodern thought" is a problematic and generally useless term.
It is easy to see why a person would be confused by all this.
Post-structuralism is a well-defined school of thought that includes certain trends and movements in literary studies, philosophy, and anthropology. Derrida, Lacan, and Foucault are the chief figures associated with post-structuralism. They may have influenced people who produce postmodern literature or art, but they are not "postmodernists." Derrida and Foucault received a rigorous philosophical education in France. They did not produce works that could be characterized as "postmodernist," nor did Lacan. All were highly influenced by Heidegger, of course, and all were influenced by Hegel, Freud, and Marx. But none of this has anything to do with postmodernism.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 4:49PM
kmichaels --
As near as anyone can tell, Obama is adhering fairly closely to Bush's policy with respect to Israel and the Palestinians. He is meeting with Perez today, and we'll see what happens.
But I think most of you discount the continuity of American foreign policy. It is actually pretty rare for a president to alter prior policy all that quickly, and when he does, it usually gets attention. I don't think Obama's any different. Rhetorically he has a much different style than Bush, but I think much too much is made of style, on both the left and the right.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 4:52PM
By the way:
All you hysterics who spent last week convinced that Obama was hell bent on prosecuting Bush officials on torture and convinced that Justice would walk in line, I think you should check out reports coming over the wires:
The Justice Department is DECLINING to prosecute administration lawyers over torture.
Wrong again, guys.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 4:58PM
Part of your confusion TP is that you automatically think that fascism equals Hitler which is incorrect. Fascism was not invented by Hitler or defined by him, Nazi Germany is a specific case. The rest of your confusion is because you accept the teachings of liberal progressivenism as fact. Your "common knowledge" is as bogus as is the history taught by progressives. Funny how you now say Wilson and FDR had their bad moments after proudly saying you are of the party of Wilson and FDR, who were easily the most fascist leaders in US history. FDR wasn't all bad in some respects but Wilson was rotten to the core.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 5:07PM
Not because many of you "progressives" TP didn't want to prosecute them but because Obama knows it would be political suicide. Pelosi told them to back off now because it is a fact that she knew about the enhanced interrogations and never objected. Why did she not object back then? Because it would have been political suicide for her to, apparently her conscious felt just fine about it when it was politically expedient. Nothing but cheap smears but when push came to shove, they had to drop it or be exposed as the hypocritical liars they are. We know how you bastards operate and you are the one who is wrong. I believe you were all for these prosecutions were you not? What a chump.
kmichaels| 5.5.09 @ 5:09PM
As always, Tom Paine gets everything WRONG. Obama is not following the Bush approach with Israel. Obama is far more weak on the issue. Obama rarely backs up Israel. Obama is too prone to appease the extremists. Obama is far less concerned about pre-conditions. So please, Tom, dont try to BS us in thinking Obama and Bush policy are remotely the same on Israel. Secondly, we were not saying that Obama would prosecute Bush admin. Most of us thought and continue to think that the threat will remain out there, that Obama will never actually do it, but Obama will keep the story alive strictly for one reason. Because he thinks that it helps his politics. Obama, is nothing but a self-serving politician. What most would recognize as a GLORY HOG. The type of self centered moron that, US be damned, is hoping to make a big name for himself. That is the worst part of Obama. His obvious priority of self over nation. That is typical of most leftists. They really are nothing but self serving people. Look at abortion. Leftists call it privacy when in reality it is purely leftist selfishness at the expense of innocent human life.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 5:16PM
kmichaels --
So let me get this straight.
Leftists are "collectivists" and "statists," but they're really all about the "self" and the individual?
You're going to have to work on that one, buddy.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 5:18PM
Todd --
Germany generally is what people think about when they think about fascism.
You are correct is pointing out that many countries were fascist, and they weren't all like Germany.
The U.S. supported fascist regimes in Central America, especially during the 80s, generally because they were anti-communist. (Note, again, they were ANTI-communist, not communist.)
Wilson wasn't a fascist and neither was FDR. It's silly and completely wrong to believe they were.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 5:20PM
Todd --
There's nothing wrong with me saying that I'm a part of the party of Wilson and FDR while admitting they did bad things. That's just considered being reasonable.
Something to consider.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 5:22PM
What evidence do any of you have that Obama is being "weak" on Israel or that he is not "favoring" Israel?
Perez was just on television talking about Obama -- and Pelosi -- as "great friends" of Israel.
I'd like to see some EVIDENCE. I'm sick of reading your witless regurgitations of what you heard on Rush Limbaugh.
kmichaels| 5.5.09 @ 5:31PM
Tom Paine: "So let me get this straight.
Leftists are "collectivists" and "statists," but they're really all about the "self" and the individual?"
This is really not that difficult. A statist leftist is the one that wants the power of the state to be held in the hands of a few leftists. Sorry if logic is not your strong point Tommy. Hitler was a statist in practice but a very self centered power hungry person personally.
Most statists are hoping that they are THE ONE or one of the few that are left holding the power.
Tom, are you really that dumb that you dont think a statist is also after their own personal power and their own personal glory?
Surely even you Tommy, cannot be that short in the brain department.
As to Perez calling Obama and Pelosi friends publicly, he would hardly say otherwise, even if he thought they were the worst enemies of Israel in recent history. Obviously Perez underststands that Obama and Pelosi are currently in power.
Again, Tom Paine seems like such a shallow thinker.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 5:35PM
kmichaels --
Your opinions on these matters are fascinating, but again, I'd like to see some hard evidence.
Where are the facts?
You simply argue that the absence of evidence is evidence you're right. It's simply not credible.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 5:37PM
Tom Paine:
I don't see why you continue this losing argument with every post you show more and more ignorance.
Post-modernism, Post-Structuralism and Deconstruction are all part of the same movement. But what they really are is just an arcane set of academic jargon that is little more then Professor Irwin Corey speak. Do you know how many times these academics get fooled by spoofs put together from this jargon?
You left off one of Heidegger's principal influence and that is Georges Sorel. I am beginning to suspect that you don't know who Sorel is.
I also see that you are changing the definition of Fascism again now that I have presented counter-examples to the Stalinist defintion. Now its about anti-Communism. So you are back to the Stalinist definition of Fascist, i.e., anybody who opposes Communism. You agree with me in the end.
Real Fascism, as defined by Sorel and Mussolini, is a collectivist political organization built upon a central organizing myth. Socialism is just another central organizing myth. Get over it. You, like all Progressives, wish to twist the meaning of words so you can make them mean what you want them to.
Here is some information for you. what turns Fascism towards genocide, like the deliberate murder of 10,000,000 Ukrainians in an engineered famine, is its marriage with utopianism. Socialism, Nazi-ism and now Eco-ism are all utopian philosphies and will alway lead to a culture of death. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese Facists weren't building utopias and did not engage in mass murder.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 5:48PM
And Tom, your definition of Fascism as anti-Communism is also wrong. Mussolini wasn't an anti-Communist by nature. He corresponded with Lenin and was very supportive of the Soviet State. Mussolini considered it a brother Fascist enterprise.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 5:50PM
I did not say that Wilson and FDR were explicitly fascist, just that they were the closest thing we have had to fascism in the US. I think in a number of regards, you can make an argument for Wilson being a fascist but not in the same regard as fascist in Europe since the Constitution still stood despite Wilson's contempt for it. A true fascist leader does not give up power democratically so Wilson was not a true fascist in that regard.
I will give you some credit for facing up to their failures and abuses of power. If you are intellectually honest, you would admit they abused the Constitution far more than Bush ever did. What is worse, using water-boarding against dangerous terrorist like KSM in an attempt to save citizens lives or imprisoning citizens that disagree with your policies like Wilson or on a basis of ethnicity like Roosevelt? If you answer this honestly and correctly, I will gain some respect for your opinions even if I disagree very much.
kmichaels| 5.5.09 @ 5:52PM
Evidence of how Obama and Hitler were statists but still self-glory hounds? Hey, if you cant see it yourself you are truly blind. I guess I could bother with giving evidence that when it rains things get wet but heck, some things are obvious. Obama wanting to spread around the wealth is statist. Obama controlling banks and car companies is statist. Obama wanting socialist health care is statist. If you need more proof Tom Paine then you are too stupid to learn.
Todd| 5.5.09 @ 6:00PM
Excellent posts jerryofva for clarifying the definition of fascism and the different forms it takes. TP has certainly taken a beatdown that is for sure. Always a fun one to debate progressives on fascism since they have no idea what they are talking about.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 6:10PM
jerryofva --
"Deconstruction" is a mode of analysis developed by Jacques Derrida. It has nothing whatsoever to do with fascism or postmodernism.
Post-structuralism is a very precise term defining a well understood and well known body of intellectual work in the post-war period.
Postmodernism is less well defined but generally refers to a style in the arts, especially architecture.
By mushing them all together you just create needless confusion.
George Sorel is a minor thinking of the 19th c. Heidegger may have read him, but it is absurd to think of him as an "influence." Heidegger's primary influences were Hegel and Nietzsche.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 6:13PM
I have not changed my "definition" of fascism. I merely point out that most fascist regimes oppose communism. Hitler loathed communism and he especially hated the Soviet Union.
The fascist countries of Central America -- especially El Salvador in the 70s and 80s -- brutally repressed their people in the name of fighting communism.
It's simply pointless to consider communism and fascism the same thing. There are in some cases some similarities, but they are not the same.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 6:24PM
Tom:
You are really some kind of guy. The best way to deal with someone like you is simply to point out that emperor has no clothes and you are naked.
Your attempts at "jargonizing" things just isn't working. I don't think you are particularly well educated in a meaningful sense.
Sorry, George Sorel was major figure in European political thought. He simply dispossessed Marx of his primacy. His and Mussolini's theories have outlived Marx and have many witting and unwitting adherents today. All you have to do is read today's paper to see that the Obama adminstration has taken a page from Il Duce's thugish playbook in the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings. Extortion is an impeachable offense although there is no hope that this will happen.
I see that you no longer challenge me on the definition of Fascism because you exposed yourself as a slave to Progressive/Stalinist thinking on the what Fascism is. Fascism is what Mussolini and Sorel say it is. It is not what Stalin and people like you say it is.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 6:24PM
Tom:
You are really some kind of guy. The best way to deal with someone like you is simply to point out that emperor has no clothes and you are naked.
Your attempts at "jargonizing" things just isn't working. I don't think you are particularly well educated in a meaningful sense.
Sorry, George Sorel was major figure in European political thought. He simply dispossessed Marx of his primacy. His and Mussolini's theories have outlived Marx and have many witting and unwitting adherents today. All you have to do is read today's paper to see that the Obama adminstration has taken a page from Il Duce's thugish playbook in the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings. Extortion is an impeachable offense although there is no hope that this will happen.
I see that you no longer challenge me on the definition of Fascism because you exposed yourself as a slave to Progressive/Stalinist thinking on the what Fascism is. Fascism is what Mussolini and Sorel say it is. It is not what Stalin and people like you say it is.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 6:30PM
Tom Paine:
I guess I was wrong about you. You don't know when to quit. The only true Fascist regimes in Central America and Carribean in the 1970s and 80s were Cuba and the Sandanistas in Nicaragua. Not all dictators are Fascists or is that the new definition that you propose? And what is wrong with opposing the communist form of Fascism? Red Fascism murdered 100 million people in the 20th Century. Did you know that by 1933 the Soviets murdered more people then Hitler will kill during his reign?
You have revealed yourself as anti-anti-communist or in otherwords you are supporter of Red Fascism that you choose to call Communism.
kmichaels| 5.5.09 @ 6:43PM
History has no idea of Hitler opposed communism. What was obvious is that he opposed competition. Hitler, like many evil dictator types, simply made choices that would increase his own power base. The motivation for evil men is almost always the same. The same for Obama. But Obama will take steps that will help him slowly gain power. So what he says along the way cannot be trusted. He will be careful as is necessary but his goal is still the same. Label him statist, fascist, communist, marxist it does not really matter. The goal is to get personal power for himself. Tom Paine, official Obama butt kisser is just one of millions of useful idiots that will gladly hand over more power to the likes of Obama. That is why they call people like Tom useful idiots. They give over the power on cue and of course display an idiotic thought process too. Obama cannot gain power without the help of his many useful idiots. And Tom Paine kicks up a stink to make sure that Obama knows that he is on his side. Again, all part of the role of useful idiot.
Tom Paine| 5.5.09 @ 6:49PM
kmichaels --
Comparing Obama to Hitler is just idiotic.
I'm sorry fellas. I'm bored.
Have fun.
Jim| 5.5.09 @ 7:15PM
There is no need or benefit to repsonding to Tom Paine's moronic jibberish. He is an angry leftist useful idiot.
jerryofva| 5.5.09 @ 7:39PM
Tom has taken his beating, picked up his bat and has slinked off home. I will not be engaging him anymore since like all Progressives his indoctrinations has left him unable to deal with people who he cannot bully.
Charles Martel| 5.5.09 @ 7:40PM
Wow, well done all. I resisted the temptation to jump on the beat-Tom train until having read to the end, and now I have nothing to add that would not be redundant.
Except this, for "History Repeating": if you are attempting to draw parallel portraits of Hitler and Obama, then you have several points wrong.
Hitler was a sentimental sap who cherished the Strauss waltzes of his native Austria and the fire and brimstone of Richard Wagner. He thought jazz a decadent abomination spawned by the untermensch that sapped the will of Aryan youth.
Hitler sent six million Jews to the death camps, along with millions of Gypsies and Slavs. I'm fairly certain that he would have laughed derisively had anyone ever described for him the concept of "Affirmative Action".
They gave medals to women with many children in Nazi Germany, and abortion of an Aryan child would likely have gotten the practioner executed: Hitler was not "pro-choice".
And finally, I was not aware that Barack Obama is a vegetarian. Didn't he just spend several thousand dollars of our money to order a pizza from St. Louis? Don't tell me it was the veggie special. What a waste!
+++
Louis Jenkins| 5.5.09 @ 7:56PM
Just 2 cents worth. Biden and Obama were photographed today in a hamburger joint. Just ruined their amature standing amongst the green people.
Bobby| 5.5.09 @ 8:19PM
""Chavez came to power when Bush was president. ""
Bush was President in 1998???
""Comparing Obama to Hitler is just idiotic. ""
More like Juan Peron or Hugo Chavez lite
ds80| 5.5.09 @ 11:35PM
Tom Paine: "Wrong again, guys"
... which merely proves that a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then.
History has shown that everything Obama says comes with an expiration date.
ds80| 5.5.09 @ 11:51PM
Expiration date, indeed: the NY Times is reporting the Chicago Thug wants to disbar Bush lawyers.
Government of the Schoolyard Bullies, by the Pre-School President.
Sam H| 5.6.09 @ 2:21AM
Tom Paine,
Once again, you are completely wrong in stating "Germany generally is what people think about when they think about fascism. "
Most people, at least the ones that know something, do not equate Germany with fascism. Germany is equated with National Socialism. Germany possessed an aggressive government ruled by a megalomaniac and his acolytes, driven by hate-fueled and half-baked racial theories combined with a rising sense of national and cultural destiny and an inexhaustible desire for living space.
Most people equate Spain of the 1930s, Italy of the 1920s and Wilson's America with fascism.
Please read Sir...something....anything.
Old Texican| 5.6.09 @ 1:09PM
Ladies and gentlemen
I fully expected "repercussions" after outing myself.
Bring it on!
Tom Paine and his ilk HAVE NO google references to attack. They sit in their momma's house and write stupid stuff anonymously.
The people who killed six million innocent Jews in Germany were momma's boys too.
Sadly we have lots of them here in America in these days.
I await the answer to the simple question I asked Tom Paine and his friends : Do you people truly believe Obama's ilk can run your lives better than you can?"
That is the only question that needs to be answered to know exactly who you are and what you are.
You can squeal, and moan and point fingers all you want. Youall are still what you are.
ds80| 5.6.09 @ 1:45PM
Old Texican:
Copperhead Tom Paine has refused to answer my previous question, too (re: abortion): "which babies is it OK to kill?"
Like most liberals, TP's comments are full of sound and fury, but signify nothing.
Hey Tom ... c'mon and post here. Get your daily dose of I Love Me.
Old Texican| 5.6.09 @ 6:42PM
Well...Tom Paine ...will now change his "moniker" (user name).
I am going to ask him/her one simple question ...ONE MORE TIME!
Do you people truly believe Obama's ilk can run your lives better than you can?"
That is the only question that needs to be answered to know exactly who you are and what you are.
ds80
These pajama intellectoids cannot answer questions. They hide behind their computers and their mommas' skirts.
I shall not read "Tom Paine" any more until he answers my simple question above. Neither will I answer him any more. He/she has proven to be an empty "pajama suit".
Pray with me for our country.
haymaker| 5.8.09 @ 1:35AM
I am not concerned with whether Obama is far left or socialist, what I wonder is, why does he say
"Pah kee stahhn" then following with
"Aff gann iss stan"?
It's a bit like saying "I like mashed po-tay-toes but can't stand stewed toe-mah-toes."
wrinkle cream | 5.11.09 @ 6:32AM
That Barack Obama is America's first Cosmopolitan President and i like it Barack Obama
wrinkle cream | 5.11.09 @ 6:34AM
That Barack Obama is America's first Cosmopolitan President and i like it Barack Obama
resveratrol | 5.14.09 @ 3:16AM
I think Obama will being change to Washington and help make America a better place to live in. And yes, he does deserve to be president of the United States, he was more qualified than John McCain
resveratrol | 5.14.09 @ 3:17AM
I think Obama will being change to Washington and help make America a better place to live in. And yes, he does deserve to be president of the United States, he was more qualified than John McCain
greentea | 5.14.09 @ 7:30AM
Obama is a very good president of America.i like his attitude
Rick Josey | 5.18.09 @ 3:01PM
Obama is a "globalist" who leans towards one world government. He's more interested in "fitting in" with the world system than "standing out" as its leader. Classic mental position of an "immature person." Read The Liberal Mind...
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resveratrol supplement | 5.21.09 @ 5:34AM
i think Obama is strongest president of America in last ten year.he has a cool attitude,and after became president is take many good decision for America.
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I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale