Obama’s Foreign Policy Successes

I was initially disappointed in how Obama handled US involvement in Libya. Its not that his failure to obtain approval from Congress was any worse than what we have become accustomed to, but that this was an area where I had hoped to see change under Obama. At least American involvement was limited, without loss of life and, at least so far, it doesn’t look like we are going to be involved in prolonged nation-building or antagonizing people in the region. Andrew Sullivan quoted a reader:

Bush and Saddam – One Trillion dollars and thousands of US lives.

Obama and Qaddafi – One Billion dollars and zero US lives.

There’s also this score card for Obama’s foreign policy:

To rid the world of Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and Moammar Qaddafi within six months: if Obama were a Republican, he’d be on Mount Rushmore by now.

One reason for Obama’s success on foreign policy–the Republicans are not able to stop him for political gain as they have been able to do on the economy.

Gadhafi Had A Crush On Condi

Which is weirder–finding porn in Osama bin Laden’s compound following his death, or finding tons of photos of Condoleezaa Rice in Moammar Gadhafi’s compound? We might have predicted this after Gadhafi talked about Rice in an interview with Al-Jazeera television in 2007:

“I support my darling black African woman,” he said. “I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders. … Leezza, Leezza, Leezza. … I love her very much. I admire her, and I’m proud of her, because she’s a black woman of African origin.”

Quote of the Day

Fox News reports: “Events in Libya are unfolding faster than we can make them up.” –Andy Borowitz

Bonus Quote of the Day

“Sarah Palin said on Fox News that we are in a ‘squirmish’ with Libya. When she was corrected, she said, ‘Listen, I shouldn’t be expected to get everything 100 percent Accura.’” –Conan O’Brien

She can see an Accura dealer from her house.

Quote of the Day

“If Moammar Gadhafi goes into exile, there are only three places that would tolerate a raving madman like that: Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Fox News.” –Jay Leno

Quote of the Day

“Sarah Palin continues to make significant contributions to the English language. She asked, ‘Is Libya a war, an intervention, a squrmish, what is it?’ Squirmish is how I feel every time I hear Sarah Palin talk.” –Jimmy Kimmel

Obama v. Clinton

Overall Obama is doing a great job and I never expected to agree with him on everything. I do find it annoying after the big primary battle that the decisions I disagree with the most are cases of Obama doing what Hillary Clinton would have done and I expected Obama to be different: the individual mandate, weakness on civil liberties, and going into Libya without Congressional approval.

[Above is my current Facebook status which has led to quite a discussion, along with a couple of de-friendings (plus several likes) . The statement that "overall Obama is doing a great job" received some objections. On the other extreme,  one person defriended me because of seeing any criticism of Obama at all as leading to President Palin. As I responded to her, no president should be above criticism. The fact that there can be much worse is no reason not to point out that there are areas of disagreement. On the other hand, I have no use for those who not only have disagreements with Obama but go from there to claim that he is as bad as Bush or as bad as GOP options for 2012.]

Quote of the Day

“President Obama gave a speech about Libya last night. The title of the speech? “No, I Wasn’t Born There.” –Conan O’Brien

Quote of the Day

“House Speaker John Boehner says President Obama should have clearly outlined his exact plans before bombing Libya. Apparently it’s only Iraq where you don’t have to do that.” –Jay Leno

Quote of the Day

“We’re at war? Again? Don’t we already have two? Wars aren’t like kids, where you don’t have to worry about the youngest one because the other two will take care of it…And aren’t we out of money? You can’t simultaneously fire teachers and Tomahawk missiles.” –Jon Stewart