Will an Obama/Clinton face on foreign policy make it easier to sell U.S. military action

[Skwmom]

to the American people and the world?

Bush was so unpopular that he could no longer sell anything. But now we have the fresh face of Obama and the Clintons (and we are repeatedly told how the world loves the Clintons).

So would the team of Obama/Clinton be able to sell military actions that Bush no longer could?

I was struck by how Obama, in one of his debates with McCain seemed to question his own decision not to support going to war (seeming to question his own judgment in deciding to be against the war). He is now surrounded by Biden, Emanuel, the Clintons, all hawks, and is being praised by the Neocons (so they must be happy about something).

Let's say Obama ordered the bombing of Iran (with nuclear bunker busting bombs). What do you think the reaction would be of the American People, the world?

Biden did say Obama would be tested within six months.

[dkf]

1. I hope not.

I must admit, Hillary Clinton as SOS scares the bejesus out of me. I thought a lot of her pronouncements were way too aggressive.

I liked Obama a lot better, but now it looks like Hillary might be doing the speaking for him. Very distressing indeed.

I wonder if Hillary is supposed to play international bad cop, like Rahm is playing domestic bad cop. I've just never associated Hillary with being a pacifier. She's always seemed like more of a rhetorical bomb thrower to me.

[brianna69]

2. Hillary as SOS will carry out

Obama's foreign policy directives. She works for him, she will not be an independent entity. I have also heard reports that James Jones might be installed as Obama's national security adviser. If that happens, the Whitehouse will be running the State department on a tight leash. What they say will go and Hillary will simply be carrying out the policies that are laid down.

[dkf]

3. You ever try speaking for someone else?

Somehow your own personality and verbiage gets into the mix. Its hard to change that.

For example that dopey Michele Bachman was trying to channel Sarah Palin and boy did she get herself into trouble.

Or look at Sarah Palin trying to speak for John McCain. What a joke!

Even Bill Clinton didn't do well speaking for Hillary. Michelle got in trouble for her "proud" statement, which I agreed with, but I bet Obama wouldn't.

[cali]

6. oh, for the love of reason. there are many effective surrogates

not everyone is as stupid as Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman.

[dkf]

10. I haven't seen Hillary on TV as a surrogate for Obama.

Claire McGaskill was always excellent. Debbie Wasserman Schultz got really good at it too. Robert Gibbs was good, but even when he took on Hannity (classic!), that was something Obama would have never done.

But that is why the SOS needs to be in sync with the President. I don't see that. She always seemed a few notches above him in aggressiveness.

[Skwmom]

7. Hmmm.. it seems to me that the person involved in the DIRECT negotiations

can maneuver the outcome, regardless of what the directive is from above (which is why sending someone in to negotiate, who is in AGREEMENT with your policy, seems like a good idea to me).

[dkf]

14. That would make sense to me too.

Also, it would make sense to have someone who agreed when people should be sent in with the amount of "preparation" that has been done.

What happens if Hillary doesn't think its been done yet gets sent in because Obama simply wants to talk? Isn't it a lot easier to sell when you yourself are sold?

[Skwmom]

21. Your negotiator can sabotage the outcome. This whole thing makes no sense which

is why I'm just wondering what in the heck is going on.


I also firmly believe when you no longer question things, you might as well become a Bush Republican. History is full of examples of when people failed to question those in authority.

[cali]

25. I agree that keeping an open mind is vital.

I see absolutely NO evidence from your posts that you do so.

[cali]

4. Will monkeys fly out of your butt and break into a chorus of

over the rainbow? And please start backing up your claims. like the one about how Obama questioned his own decision not to support the IWR. Post quotes for us to see, and if you can't, please apologize for making crap up. not that you ever would. You have no evidence whatsoever for positing in a backhanded way that Obama would do any such thing as you suggest.

God, I hate stupid.

[leftofcool]

8. The only thing I ever heard Obama say

is that he could not be sure how he would have voted if he had been in the Senate at the time. That is not lack of confidence in one's decision, that is just being smart. That may be what the poster in referring to but I don't see how the above statement constitutes Obama, "questioning his own judgement."

[Skwmom]

15. It struck me because I had always heard Obama strongly defend that he was right about deciding

against the war. But this time he didn't and I wondered if he'd been listening to others too much.

[leftofcool]

18. Yes, but knowing you are right about something

and not knowing how you would have voted on something are two entirely different things. Obama will be agressive militarily when needed and not when it isn't needed.

[Skwmom]

20. I just hope that he remains confident in his belief that his decision on not going to war with Iraq

was right and he doesn't start to doubt himself. He is surrounding himself with a bunch of people who have said he is naive and they were the ones who were right. I can understand listening to opposing voices but to surround yourself with them?

[NashVegas]

29. No Need to Attack People Ad Hominem For Wondering Aloud

It makes it look like you're trying to suppress an idea or something. Surely a thoughtful DUer such as yourself would be loathe to do that ...

[leftofcool]

5. If Obama needs to us military action, he will show us the proof.

I can be sold a war if there is proof of why one is needed. I can not be sold a bill of goods on fake/manufactured/cherry picked evidence.

[sufrommich]

9. Obama the warmonger?

:crazy:

[leftofcool]

11. Only if he has to be, no pre-emptive strikes

just good decision making if we get attacked first.

[sufrommich]

13. I don't doubt that at all. I was being snide and commenting on the

OP's obsessive need to paint Hillary Clinton as evil personified even at the expense of President Obama, whom he claims to support.

[leftofcool]

16. I think Hillary is a bit more agressive but neither

are war mongers and neither will put up with bullshit from any foreign govt.

[sufrommich]

17. Which is exactly the balance a sane government needs. nt

[leftofcool]

19. Yep

[Skwmom]

23. She voted to go to war without reading the NIE.

Plus, you think she is going to play hardball with Israel? :rofl:

[cali]

12. why yes. according to some

but they really do utterly marginalize themselves with their stupidity.

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. If it is necessary to initiate military action, we need the best team in place

[peace13]

24. Hilary sold the Iraq war like a republican.

Obama will have his hands full. I go with his decision although I will never forget Hill dissing the soldiers who protected her in Bosnia. As she travels she will be protect by the people she willingly tossed to the side for an election ploy. I wish Obama well as he tries to reign in the Clintons.

[Skwmom]

26. Will Obama reign in the Clintons or will the Clintons reign in Obama (or have they already)?

I'm not sure.

[peace13]

27. I hear you.

After the ugliness and the personal attacks laced with lies from the Clintons I don't know how Obama can select her as SOS. She is a proven liar. But....I will stand by Obama and his choice at this time. I don't go willingly but what choice do we have. I do feel that Hill and Bill put us all in danger of being closer to the one world order that they so desire. Peace, Kim

[NashVegas]

28. I Believe That Is the Main Purpose of This Excercise

We're such rubes, aren't we?

[peace13]

30. How will Obama feel when one million Americans show up at the WH gates?

He knows that we have been awakened. He sees that people will get off of the couch and do something now. I hope that impacts his decisions when he is tempted to sell us out.

[TheKentuckian]

31. To answer the OP-Assuredly

All three (I'm including Biden) people command much more respect and credibility than the shrub ever did. Between being liked, respected, and trusted as those three people are means that they will have huge levels of influence.

Positives always have drawbacks. That's life, what makes the situation a threat makes it have the potential for big things.

[Lilith Velkor]

32. That's been the plan all along.

They're not going to nuke anybody, though, because that would make us look bad.

Like the Clinton admin, the Obama admin will do their killing relatively quietly, and any protests will be drowned out by the right shrieking about trivial things.