Monday, November 10, 2008
TERRIBLY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
I probably should have said this before but I feel very sorry for president-elect Obama. Expectations are high but he has inherited terribly difficult situations ... and things change quickly, not always for the good.
He is getting his team assembled quickly though and I can appreciate that. I am sure they will be having some significant impact before he even takes office. I am okay with that but I do think it is important that they study and know the issues very well before influencing policy.
President Bush, for the most part, did not bring on a lot of the troubles he has experienced. I know some folks won't agree with me on that but bear with me. I only say it to point out that things can happen fairly quickly which have a bad impact.
The roots of the current financial crisis are clearly from before Bush took office. Should something have been done sooner? Absolutely, and John McCain and Barack Obama both apparently encouraged that at different times earlier on in the Bush administration.
9-11 was also rather unforeseen but obviously had its roots way before Bush took office. And, to his credit, in the times following 9-11 when his approval ratings were very high, Bush pledged that another attack on our country would not occur during his watch. So far, so good. But many lives have been lost regardless. That is not good.
It's easy to criticize the Iraqi War but I think it's also easy to clearly see that the whole area is just a maelstrom. Al Qaeda is going to move wherever they can operate ... and you clearly can't shut them down in all countries. In the immediate months after 9-11 when it was made hard for Al Qaeda and other extremists to operate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq is where they headed. Say what you want but that is very clear. So we made it tough for them there and they moved back to Pakistan and Afghanistan as bases. We tried to help Pakistan protect itself from that but that has not gone real well. And, of course, Iran has been one of their next focuses.
So, in the end, all you can do is chase them around and they will pop up someplace else. I wish Obama all the luck and success in the world but I am afraid he will find the same situation there.
As far as our economy ... it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I honestly think that Obama and his cadre will in the end after analysis be too smart to see big government as the answer. I hope I am correct on that. We'll see but I really wonder if his economic policies will end up looking more Republican / conservative than Democrat / liberal. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part but ... well, like I said, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
So, I wish the president elect and our country only the best. I do not envy his position.
He is getting his team assembled quickly though and I can appreciate that. I am sure they will be having some significant impact before he even takes office. I am okay with that but I do think it is important that they study and know the issues very well before influencing policy.
President Bush, for the most part, did not bring on a lot of the troubles he has experienced. I know some folks won't agree with me on that but bear with me. I only say it to point out that things can happen fairly quickly which have a bad impact.
The roots of the current financial crisis are clearly from before Bush took office. Should something have been done sooner? Absolutely, and John McCain and Barack Obama both apparently encouraged that at different times earlier on in the Bush administration.
9-11 was also rather unforeseen but obviously had its roots way before Bush took office. And, to his credit, in the times following 9-11 when his approval ratings were very high, Bush pledged that another attack on our country would not occur during his watch. So far, so good. But many lives have been lost regardless. That is not good.
It's easy to criticize the Iraqi War but I think it's also easy to clearly see that the whole area is just a maelstrom. Al Qaeda is going to move wherever they can operate ... and you clearly can't shut them down in all countries. In the immediate months after 9-11 when it was made hard for Al Qaeda and other extremists to operate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq is where they headed. Say what you want but that is very clear. So we made it tough for them there and they moved back to Pakistan and Afghanistan as bases. We tried to help Pakistan protect itself from that but that has not gone real well. And, of course, Iran has been one of their next focuses.
So, in the end, all you can do is chase them around and they will pop up someplace else. I wish Obama all the luck and success in the world but I am afraid he will find the same situation there.
As far as our economy ... it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I honestly think that Obama and his cadre will in the end after analysis be too smart to see big government as the answer. I hope I am correct on that. We'll see but I really wonder if his economic policies will end up looking more Republican / conservative than Democrat / liberal. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part but ... well, like I said, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
So, I wish the president elect and our country only the best. I do not envy his position.
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