Obama says Bush not solely to blame

[rodeodance]

Source: ap

Obama says Bush not solely to blame

By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 2 minutes ago

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Not all the nation's ills can be blamed on President Bush, Democratic candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday as he called on Americans to change the nature of politics and institute more openness in government.


"Part of the problem here is not just George Bush and the White House," Obama told a crowd of hundreds gathered at a park in Cedar Falls. "We can't just change political parties and continue to do the same kind of things we've been doing. We can't just go about business as usual and think it's going to turn out differently."

Obama, a senator from Illinois, said average Americans must be brought back to the table when dealing with every issue, from health care to education to trade.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_el_pr/obama_open_government;_ylt=AgCYIbmFVtaEGdBq4kjS8xis0NUE

[villager]

1. from the standpoint that Americans allowed him to take office, after losing an election

he's right...

[saracat]

2. I disagree.The Buck stops at Bush.Others contributed but the blame

must rest with Bush.Even Bush admitted that,He said he "accepted responsibility" He is the "Decider" remember? What about that is Obama not getting?

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Almost Half Of Those Who Voted, Voted For Bush

We have met the enemy and they is us.

[saracat]

5. But Bush is the "Decider" and the CIC! He takes the blame.The others

can share it but the blame is his.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Perhaps If It Were An Isolated Awful Decision Or Two

But, as the saying goes, "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me"

[Patchuli]

25. I think we should remember that many votes were stolen,

with the help of ESS and Diebold machines. We should also remember that Republicans are good at dirty elections tricks, such as caging votes, and other sleazy practices. I think it is more than the enemy is all around us...

[John Q. Citizen]

8. I hate it when people bash our Dem candidates. Why would you drag down Obama

by suggesting he "doesn't get something?"

He gets it. bush was enabled, and is still being enabled today, by people who aren't part of his administration.

What about that isn't "getting it?"

Or are you suggesting bush killed one million Iraqi citizens all by himself, from crawford? You would have to believe bush is omnipotent.

Obama speaks an inconvenient truth. Sorry that it's inconvenient for you. It's also inconvenient for Obama, when you think about it.
I'm glad he's got the guts to say it, though.

[saracat]

9. It is NOT bashing to say I disagree with someone.jiminy Christmas. I like Obama but

on yhis issue, we disagree.If Harry Truman could take the responsibility for Hiroshima and all it entailed Bush gets the credit for Iraq.That is MY opinion.Obama is free to differ.I understand and respect his point.I don't agree.I don't feel he "gets it' or phrasing it another way, understand presidential responsibility according to MY definition of it.His may be different.

[closeupready]

15. I agree with you. And why is Obama making excuses for

Bush? That's a waste of media coverage. He should be going on the offensive about other things. Pukes will defend Bush - they don't need help from Dems.

[Xipe Totec]

3. He's right; lets not forget the enabling congresscritters

and assorted senatorial apologists.

It is wrong to focus on the chimp at this point and blame him for everything.

Blame the Republican party, and everybody associated with it.

[wake.up.america]

7. I have saying this all along. In order to prevent another "Dubya" from appearing...-

America needs an educated electorate.

[defendandprotect]

10. Obama worries me -- plus his ignorance of a stolen election????

[badgervan]

11. He's Right

Don't forget cheney.

[Quantess]

12. What a fucking windbag.

[davsand]

14. So, ALL the Senators and Congress members who voted for this stuff are blameless?

I dunno--seems to me the windbags in this all would be the ones saying our Legislature hasn't played a role in this mess.

Sure as hell, it wasn't the Asswipe in the Oval office all by himself that voted to go into Iraq, nor did he pass the Bankruptcy Reform laws or even this most recent legislation on domestic surveillance. Take a long hard look at what our Legislative branch has done to help us out and you may want to re-think your position that Obama is so wrong in his assessment.

You can VOTE however you want to in the Primary, but surely you can't dismiss some of the facts that ANY of the Dem candidates are are putting up.


Laura

[Tempest]

18. Exactly

Obama is spot on with this observation.

[EFerrari]

13. Beth to Obama: the average elected official must be brought back

to reality when dealing with every issue.

[quiet.american]

20. Well said. nt/

[EFerrari]

22. Hi there, quiet.american. Lately my head wants to explode

from how divorced from reality most of the politicos' rhetoric is. Even good guys like Senator Obama.

7 years of the Bush Cabal has had consequences for all of us, even the way we talk to each other. :(

/punc

[quiet.american]

23. Indeed. There seems to be an unspoken agreement.

Republicans are free to say the most outrageous, derogatory things about Dems, but Dems must be ultra-polite and conciliatory towards Republicans, otherwise, they are "attacking" them (God forbid!).

[Zhade]

28. Which means they have to first be BOUGHT back from corporate interests.

NT!

[donsu]

16. smack his mouth! the bushmilhousegang neo cons are to blame for everything

nt

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tyler Durden]

19. The "Average American" has an IQ of 100 and wants someone to tell them they're EINSTEIN.

If he wants "Average Americans" at the table, I suggest that he not run for office, and instead push for government by some kind of computerized consensus, which won't work either.

I want people running the show who are SMARTER than the "Average American." Does ANYONE remember how easy it was for the Republican Party to torpedo the honest attempt by the Clinton administration to revamp health care coverage with a few lousy TV sound bites?

Sorry. Anyone who thinks, as that stupid commercial spews, "People are SMART" like some LOAN COMPANY wants you to believe, is either stupid or naive.

Obama is not listening to good handlers.

[davsand]

21. Elitism is part of how we GOT to this point.

Doesn't matter what kind of contest you are in, it is a grave mistake to underestimate the opponent and not to survey the field. That is BASIC strategy stuff.

In this case, I fear elitist attitudes will be our collective undoing.

Frankly I suspect that there are a LOT of folks out there who are damn tired of being told they don't matter and their issues don't count for much. The GOP historically makes this mistake when it comes to "the average Joe/Jane" voters, and I hate like hell to see the Dems make it too.

Joe and Jane are pretty freaking tired of worrying about paying for groceries, health care, house payments, orthodontia, school tuition, and gasoline to get to work. Joe and Jane average could GIVE a shit if it is a Dem or Republican up there talking, ALL they are gonna hear is HOW the candidate plans to fix it. Joe and Jane give a shit about making life better for themselves and writing them off as "too stupid" to vote is a serious mistake.

Basic rule of organizing is to invest people IN the cause if you want to make anything happen. We have a nationwide voter turnout UNDER 50% of eligible voters. Meanwhile our country is swirling down the crapper. In this case we need to invest the voters in a vision of a better nation rather than writing them all off as "stupid" or sheep.

Regards,


Laura

[Benhurst]

24. Oh, well, we all say stupid things from time to time. Maybe not

this stupid, but stupid nonetheless.

Sometimes it's better to keep one's mouth shut. Even presidential candidates don't have to share every though which comes to mind, especially dumb ones.

[xxqqqzme]

26. sorry, but if scotus hadn't installed the

rat bastard, very little, if any, of what is going on today would exist. The Constitution would still be the law of the land; john roberts would still be working for the bushies; gonzo would have to actually practice law & dimson could go back to drinking himself into an early grave. Iraq would never have happened; we would be farther down the road to energy independence; we would be serious about curbing our production of green house gases; and the World Trade center towers would still be standing.

[PittPoliSci]

27. oh there's plenty of blame to go around don't worry...

justice department, supreme court, congress...obama himself, lazy uneducated public...on and on and on...

[TankLV]

29. Sorry obamabot - but it is SOLELY bush* and the REPUKES BLAME

THEY are the ones who LOCKED THE DEMOCRATS OUT OF MEETINGS...

THEY are the ones who HAD NO IMPUT OR DISCUSSIONS with Democrats because they DIDN'T NEED THEIR VOTES to pass what they wanted for 12 fucking years...

THEY are the ones who had REPUKE ONLY MEETINGS with the White House, etc. - and DIDN'T CARE WHAT THE DEMS HAD TO SAY...

NO - obabmabot - bush* the WAR CRIMINAL owns this lock stock and barrell...

ANOTHER proof of why this guy is NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME...