Once again, the talking heads in Washington are being jerked around by the politicians and their talking points. I have been following American politics since I arrived here in the United States in 1980. Yes - arrived. I came here on a visitor's visa, overstayed it, and became an illegal alien one year after I arrived. But thanks to Ronald Reagan's common sense immigration policy - I was put on path for citizenship - otherwise you would not be reading this blog! I did not intend to commit a felony against the United States at that 'dangerous' age of eight.
But I digress. What Barack Obama has achieved is simply remarkable. What can the GOP field - all with zero (0) foreign policy experience - criticize him for? Imagine the current crises in the Middle East under a Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann presidency. Yes - then prepare to duck-n-cover. Bush tried to Get Bin Laden for nearly seven years but failed miserably. Obama Got Him - Dead! Under Obama, to liberals displeasure, drone attacks on suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan has increased. He has managed Bush's wars better than 'W' ever could have. Furthermore, and again, going against his base, Obama has kept Guantanimo as is, and the Patriot Act largely in the same status as the Cowboy.
Now look where we are. If the battle is fought only on domestic issues, it will inevitably become a contest for the middle class and independent voters. And as that group of voters weigh in on the 2012 campaign - the mantra "democrats are weak on defense" will not hold an iota of truth. In recent months - the Republican party has caught itself playing to less than 20% of the voting public - while basically giving the finger to the center - which is the sweet-spot of the American electorate. They could always fall on National Security - but that dog won't hunt anymore. Domestic issues like tax fairness, entitlements, and indeed, middle class is foreign territory for republicans when it comes to national politics.
Watch that fella from Chicago people!
But I digress. What Barack Obama has achieved is simply remarkable. What can the GOP field - all with zero (0) foreign policy experience - criticize him for? Imagine the current crises in the Middle East under a Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann presidency. Yes - then prepare to duck-n-cover. Bush tried to Get Bin Laden for nearly seven years but failed miserably. Obama Got Him - Dead! Under Obama, to liberals displeasure, drone attacks on suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan has increased. He has managed Bush's wars better than 'W' ever could have. Furthermore, and again, going against his base, Obama has kept Guantanimo as is, and the Patriot Act largely in the same status as the Cowboy.
Now look where we are. If the battle is fought only on domestic issues, it will inevitably become a contest for the middle class and independent voters. And as that group of voters weigh in on the 2012 campaign - the mantra "democrats are weak on defense" will not hold an iota of truth. In recent months - the Republican party has caught itself playing to less than 20% of the voting public - while basically giving the finger to the center - which is the sweet-spot of the American electorate. They could always fall on National Security - but that dog won't hunt anymore. Domestic issues like tax fairness, entitlements, and indeed, middle class is foreign territory for republicans when it comes to national politics.
Watch that fella from Chicago people!
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