If that means changing your position on just about everything you campaigned on, of course. Not that this is a bad thing - it is a very, very good thing. Jennifer Rubin lays it out:
President-elect Obama is dropping the idea of a windfall profit tax on oil companies because . . . well, there’s not so much windfall.....You have to love the Left whining: “Between this move and the move to wait to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, it seems like the Obama team is buying into the right-wing frame that raising any taxes - even those on the richest citizens and wealthiest corporations — is bad for the economy.” Yeah, really who could imagine that raising taxes in a recession would be a bad idea? (Well, other than John McCain and every Republican running in 2008.
The New York Times now supports every move to the right that Barack Obama makes - although they would have bitched up a storm with the girls over brunch were these manuevers to be made by a Republican:
From the “now they tell us” files at the New York Times: “Campaign Promises on Ending the War in Iraq Now Muted by Reality.” Funny how no one at the Grey Lady during the campaign ever suggested Obama’s promises were out of touch with reality. Next we’ll be hearing that it really isn’t smart to block free trade agreements. Can’t wait for the raves from the Times when Obama denies hand rogue state leaders a diplomatic coup by refusing to offer high level meetings.
Finally - is Obama changing his mind about closing Gitmo? Let's asks his new/old Sec of Def, Robert Gates:
....the Wall Street Journal reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will be staying on in the new administration, says, yes, we'd love to close Gitmo yesterday, indeed shutting it down remains a "high priority," but, whaddya know, it may take a while to get that done. Why? "Mr. Gates said the Democratic-controlled Congress would need to craft legislation resolving legal issues before the prison could be closed. Specifically, he said the bill would have to bar freed prisoners from seeking asylum in the U.S."
Here's the killer:
Be prepared for all sorts of things that were "constitution-shredding" for the last seven years to transform before our very eyes into "smart, effective counterterrorism."
Hypocrisy, lies, and flip-flopping by the Democrats and their media. Will either one of them ever man up enough to gives us the truth on anything?
First of all, every candidate says things during the campaign that if elected they cannot produce. McCain would have been in the same position. Campaign rhetoric from either side has to be taken with a grain of salt. It has always been that way, it will always be that way.
ReplyDeleteThat said, Obama on many issues is showing great flexibility on his part, a trait he seems to have that sadly our former president either lacked or only possessed in small quantities. Some times things change, some times you discover conditions you did not know about before hand. I would much rather have a president willing to learn, grow, and make the needed changes rather than like the past admin that took years to correct the errors in its Iraq policies.
On many fronts Obama is showing great promise. His selections of people for his administration show a desire to govern from the center where he can reach the majority of the American people. I would suggest people give him time, at least UNTIL he IS IN OFFICE before condemning him.
We need to pull together. It is sink or swim time, boys and girls.