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Barack the neocon
NY Post ^ | September 1, 2010 | John Podhoretz

Posted on 09/01/2010 3:33:19 AM PDT by Scanian

Last night, President Obama did something amazing. He delivered -- dare I say it? -- a rather neoconservative speech, in the sense that neoconservatism has argued for aggressive American involvement in the world both for the world's sake and for the sake of extending American freedoms in order to enhance and preserve American security.

Perhaps Obama did not even realize it, but when he said that "as the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction -- we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people," he was echoing ideas developed in neoconservative journals over decades of argument about how the United States can best project its power for its own sake and for the sake of the betterment of the world.

When he said that "we must use all elements of our power -- including our diplomacy, our economic strength and the power of America's example -- to secure our interests and stand by our allies," he was speaking in the voice of those neocons who argue that American geopolitical power is enhanced when we use it to bind our friends closer to us.

And when he said that "we must project a vision of the future that is based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes -- a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also the limitless possibility of our time," Barack Obama was offering a more secular version of George W. Bush's assertion that liberty is not something unique to the American constitution, but is "God's gift to humanity."

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; iraqspeech; neoconservative; obama
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I'm skeptical about "heartfelt words about his predecessor." I think the brief reference to W was extremely grudging indeed.

Hussein can't be decent to Bush because the hard left will excoriate him for it. Also, I believe that 0 actually believes himself to be the architect of any success the US has had in Iraq: that's how deluded he is.

1 posted on 09/01/2010 3:33:20 AM PDT by Scanian
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To: Scanian
Obama's vision of "liberty" is different than Bush's. Anything which advances Obama's objectives will be defined as "liberty." Obama wants to advance socialism. But most of all, he wants to promote himself, not just as "leader of the free world," but leader of the whole world. President of the United States is just too low a position for him.

Any action which supports that objective will be taken. A reason palatable to the majority of Americans will be supplied.

2 posted on 09/01/2010 3:47:49 AM PDT by Rocky (REPEAL IT!)
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To: Scanian

“Just words - just speeches”

I don’t buy his rhetoric - socialists/mooseslums always lie to achieve their goals.


3 posted on 09/01/2010 3:51:18 AM PDT by newfreep (Palin/DeMint 2012 - Bolton: Secy of State)
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To: Rocky
Obama wants to advance socialism. But most of all, he wants to promote himself, not just as "leader of the free world," but leader of the whole world. President of the United States is just too low a position for him.

Which is why he's positioning himself for a run at Secretary General of the United Nations. It wouldn't surprise me terribly if he walks away from the presidency to accept the position in January 2012.
4 posted on 09/01/2010 3:54:44 AM PDT by Renderofveils (My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. - Nabokov)
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To: Scanian

I agree with the previous posts, and he definitely wants more power than the presidency.

I also got the feeling that speech was carefully crafted, showing more humanity towards Bush, support of the military, and a firmer hand to our enemies. Probably a distasteful speech for him to give, weakly delivered but fairly well written. I wonder if Beck’s powerful rally may have had an effect on the wording.

Perhaps the Salesman-In-Chief is hoping to sell himself to a new crowd.


5 posted on 09/01/2010 3:59:19 AM PDT by drierice (Fact: Last year's 'stimulus' cost more than six years of the Iraq war.)
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To: Renderofveils

You are so right!


6 posted on 09/01/2010 4:00:18 AM PDT by jazzlite (esat)
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To: drierice

“Perhaps the Salesman-In-Chief is hoping to sell himself to a new crowd.”

I got the impression that Skippy was spitting out any series of words that he thought might bolster his failing presidency, no matter how distasteful he found them personally.

He was trying to act tough, but failed miserably. And his disingenuous nod to Bush was hopelessly transparent, just not able to give any credit where credit was due.

He looked sour, dour, uninspired, unmotivated, angry, and petulant.

It took two glasses of good red wine for me to get through the twenty minute performance. And some popcorn.


7 posted on 09/01/2010 4:13:59 AM PDT by Tigerized (pursuingliberty.com)
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To: Tigerized
He looked sour, dour, uninspired, unmotivated, angry, and petulant.

Yeah he did.

But good red wine and....popcorn? What are ya, some kind of a....?

8 posted on 09/01/2010 4:17:25 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate: Republicans freed the slaves Month.)
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To: Scanian

Obama is a Neocommy.


9 posted on 09/01/2010 4:17:28 AM PDT by dancusa (Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. W. Churchill)
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To: Scanian
obama promised more communism and sharia... that is what he was referencing. This article is delusional at best... propaganda is what it is.

LLS

10 posted on 09/01/2010 4:23:34 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

“But good red wine and....popcorn? What are ya, some kind of a....?”

Well, it was either that, or jump up and down while screaming at the TV and flipping the bird between curses. And I didn’t have the right cheese and crackers, so made do with what was available.

I’ll do better next time. Promise.


11 posted on 09/01/2010 4:24:25 AM PDT by Tigerized (pursuingliberty.com)
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To: Tigerized
"He looked sour, dour, uninspired, unmotivated, angry, and petulant. It took two glasses of good red wine for me to get through the twenty minute performance. And some popcorn."

What are you, crazy? Don't you know that white wine goes with popcorn, potato chips, and cheetos? Red wine goes with pretzels and cheese crackers.

Man, what is this site coming to anyway ....

/s

12 posted on 09/01/2010 4:26:34 AM PDT by BlueLancer (I'm getting a fine tootsy-frootsying right here...)
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To: BlueLancer

yep but what the critic didnt’ say was that Obama’s list of “our interests”, “our allies” is not the same as our usual intersts and allies. His friends are not the friends of old.

And popcorn does not go with wine, it just is so wrong, white or red.


13 posted on 09/01/2010 4:31:47 AM PDT by cajungirl
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To: Tigerized
it was either that, or jump up and down while screaming at the TV and flipping the bird between curses.

Nothing wrong with that, that's what we were doing.

I’ll do better next time. Promise.

Well..OK.

Bye-bye

14 posted on 09/01/2010 4:33:36 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate: Republicans freed the slaves Month.)
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To: Tigerized

You did yourself a grave disservice to have even listened to this crap. The great reader of the teleprompter is pissed; He does not like this job one bit except the perks and is resentful that he has to listen to the complaints. Did not read the job description at all...he thought it was an American Idol contest.


15 posted on 09/01/2010 4:34:15 AM PDT by DooDahhhh
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To: DooDahhhh

“You did yourself a grave disservice to have even listened to this crap.”

You can’t believe how much torment I go through when deciding to subject myself to Old Purple Lips one more time. On one hand, I have a severe case Obama Fatigue that goes back to before his election, and every time I turn on the TV there he is again! He just won’t shut up!! And he thinks even MORE exposure will get everyone on his side! We just don’t “understand” his agenda. Oh, yes, we do! And THAT’S why his base is evaporating!

However, it’s still my duty as a concerned American to hear his words with my own ears, and not risk the interpretation of some media pundit. His expressions and body language also speak volumes about who or what he really is.

The only way I can get through his unending, self aggrandizing blather is with a bit of the grape to deaden the rage. Otherwise I’d be risking a stroke, or heart attack for sure.


16 posted on 09/01/2010 4:57:25 AM PDT by Tigerized (pursuingliberty.com)
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To: Scanian

Is this what they called “nuance”? Or is that word sooooo 2008?


17 posted on 09/01/2010 4:59:56 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: Renderofveils

What real power does the Secretary General wield? The UN doesn’t have their own funds, but must raise it from the rest of the world. Any troops/materiel are from international levies, are not warriors and are peacekeepers only under their own ROE. The UN supports vast numbers of NGOs, linguists and academics with no real power base. In a collection of bureaucracies, they are a cost, not an asset. They are disliked in the country where they are headquartered and also disliked in the field, mainly because they are corrupt, impotent and actually destructive.

No one listens to the UN, while everyone attempts to use it to their own national advantage. They would have less support if they actually had any real power. They are just a talking shop of collectivism, disguising a rent-seeking agenda.

The entire world knows the name of the POTUS. How many can name the UN head? Individuals of the world do not vote for UN SecGen, it is just a popularity contest among professional bureaucrats who pose as one-worlders while actually being in the business of self-aggrandizement.

Besides the convention that no P5 national will be head of the UN, the next SecGen will likely be some bureaucrat from an African nation, since it is their “turn”.

zerO will become a personality, like BJ Clinton. He will give speeches, put his by-line on articles/books written by others, and fundraise for Progressives. He will be something like Carter, as former Presidents go: an inept darling of the failed professional left in a world increasingly full of individuals who want to govern themselves, even if they give lukewarm recognition to one or another nation-of-birth/residence/convenience.

if zerO attempts to gain some sort of personal international platform, he will need something other than the UN from which to launch. He will, as a failed former US President, not even have any access to the funds necessary to become a power broker. He will need every dime anyone else is willing to pay him just to keep a place on the international scene. He has so many secrets that he is forever vulnerable to every competitor, once he no longer has the trappings of the American Presidency behind which to hide. He is a snorkler in the ocean of international politics, unprepared for an encounter with barracuda and sharks.

If neither Carter nor Clinton could secure an official position on the international scene, why could zerO? What qualifications does he have, besides having been not only the tool of the billionaire financiers,but one who failed at that position?

He may spend the rest of his life attempting to build a “community” that he can then attempt to organize.


18 posted on 09/01/2010 5:02:57 AM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: Scanian

Just goes to show he’s a PUPPET. This would never jive with his personal beliefs.


19 posted on 09/01/2010 5:03:38 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: Scanian; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker; DoughtyOne; FromLori; Gilbo_3; NFHale; ...
RE :”Perhaps Obama did not even realize it, but when he said that “as the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction — we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people,” he was echoing ideas developed in neoconservative journals over decades of argument about how the United States can best project its power for its own sake and for the sake of the betterment of the world.

Yep! Two birds of a feather.

Don't forget the liberals on cable all praising Bush for being pro-islamic and asking him to stick up for Obama.

20 posted on 09/01/2010 5:07:30 AM PDT by sickoflibs ("It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=tax delayed")
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