alea, I wish these matters were more trivial.
These are the matters of hearts, lives, blood and treasure.
While a POTUS can modestly affect the direction fo an economy, choosing between austerity and balanced recovery ... these distinctions are modest.
But getting it hideously wrong as things evolve in the M.E., taking a side against the popular efforts, failing to appreciate that these things to do take time, and recognizing that not every islamer is a wako islamist (any more than every cristian is a wako wacko), and that critically the greatest statement of all is at times one of discretion and deference ... to sit patiently (with 3 nuclear aircraft carrier battle groups sitting offshore, more than essentially the rest of the world combined) and let people be people, let people struggle.
Temperament.
I had o idea when I voted in 2008 whether what I voted for was temperament. I hoped so, but I had no reason to know. He spoke of a new surge, out of Iraq, surge into AFGAN. He uses drones as if thy are casual notions.
BUT.
STUFF HAS REALLY HAPPENED.
And Where are we? America largely exerting constant influence, but jumping into nothing. The EU, jumpy with Libya was supported. Turkey, well challenged, acting rationally knowing completely and without confusion that the US seeks calm ... calm in the presence of 3 aircraft carrier battle groups (that is a heck of a lot of stuff for those who are unaware, that is a heck of a lot of calm).
So, shock and awe? That got old. Stuff is flying off the handle n the M.E., and this guy, one I had no reason to believe in, this guy, cool hand Obama ... he is doing a remarkable job.
And WWIII won't happen. And so, he will not go int the books for this,
csl and others really need to think this through, Obama has done a masterful job with something that essentially every president has massively failed at.
I think his drone strategy is over the top ... but opn reconsideration, it may well play into the comparative calm that we see. Three carrier battle groups (I at times wonder if one carrier battle group could conquer the world, yes I jest), and active drone program ... but otherwise a program of NOT just pumping guns into everything, and let local people express themselves while durable siding with and supporting moderation.
His team: HRC, Panetta, Alexander, Inglis, Patraeus ... the evidence is they are a well assembled team. The writing is on the wall who Romney would replace them with, and on that the facts speak for themselves.
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