*****Official Thread: President Obama addresses the nation live tonight at 9 PM*****

[steve2470]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/10/20424916-obama-speech-big-reveal-will-consider-russian-proposal-on-syria?lite

[steve2470]

1. bump nt

[steve2470]

2. bump for 7 minutes nt

[msanthrope]

3. Bump---edit with asterisks and make the the OFFICIAL THREAD!!! nt

[steve2470]

4. good idea ! nt

[msanthrope]

5. Excellent. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Apparently Rand Paul will give some kind of response

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251323229

[msanthrope]

11. Pre recorded??? After Rubio and Bachmann, that's probably a smart move. nt

[msanthrope]

7. I'm streaming c-span.. less asshattery.

http://www.c-span.org/

[steve2470]

10. asshattery ? nt

[msanthrope]

13. Behavior by asshat pundits. nt

[steve2470]

14. oh ok gotcha nt

[Kaleva]

8. Thanks for posting this. Opened the link in another tab.

[polichick]

9. They changed location from Oval Office to East Room

[quinnox]

12. Watching CNN now

[Catherina]

15. Be still my beating heart. Please stand firm Mr President. Go for peace. n/t

[KoKo]

20. It's the death, Sarin Gas, Thousands (?) killed and videos on "Social Media."

(Missing...that USA has used Napalm, White Phosphorus, Cluster Bombs and "other things.&quot Why doesn't he realize that.. Whatever... We aren't uninformed. Lots of us remember Vietnam and the killing in Iraq, Afganistan, South America (Chile and elsewhere) and whever we go.

[RebelOne]

21. No matter what he says, I stand firm against any military strikes.

I am sick of war.

[KoKo]

25. He says the US doesn't do "Pinprick Strikes."

[NYC_SKP]

42. I missed it. How'd it go?

I'll go find the transcript but I value your opinion.

How was it?

[MADem]

63. I thought he did a great job. He summed up my precise feelings on this entire business.

We don't want to Pottery Barn Syria, we can't tolerate them gassing little kids, they need to get correct or we'll cause al Assad some pain to dissuade him.

It ain't about war.

[KoKo]

108. I didn't think it went so well...

Will Pitt gets some of what I felt in his post about it..and,I posted at the bottom of his thread more detail about what I had problems with speech.

[NYC_SKP]

113. Thanks, I'll check out your other reply downthread.

I came into just the last few seconds.

[RebelOne]

49. Heard that, so then there would be heavy strikes,

more like the Shock and Awe strikes.

[steve2470]

16. I can hear him lightly thumping his podium....I must have my sound up pretty loud nt

[LukeFL]

18. I love my president. I stand for him

[snappyturtle]

116. In my world the Constitution comes first, then party and

finally the President. I've been an avid supporter for his first four
years....tough as that was at times....but not now. I'm skeptical
and critical and supportive when I can be.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

123. That WAS annoying. The microphone picked up every thump....

Compare and contrast.

[msanthrope]

17. 98% of humanity is on board. nt

[avaistheone1]

50. Nada.

[Madam Mossfern]

19. Define "Target"

Still nothing more than rhetoric.
Sorry.

[KoKo]

22. He says we are asking the "Hard Questions." Explaining Now...

[malaise]

23. Wants that Congressional vote

I want them to vote no

[Safetykitten]

24. We don't do pinpricks...wow.

[FarPoint]

106. Really got my attention with that one too!

[brooklynite]

26. "I will not put boots on the ground in Syria"

[avaistheone1]

72. Obama has changed his tune on strategy before.

I would not read that as any kind of guarantee.

[Safetykitten]

27. Not teh world police, but we are the drone kings.

[polichick]

28. Nice to see him looking rested again.

[Kingofalldems]

33. How is Obama making a fool of himself?

[LukeFL]

51. Just shut up and go cry somewhere else you

Obviously didn't listen

[AngryOldDem]

59. Here's my take.

He laid out a case for action. But, he is deferring that action to give the Russians (and the rest of the world, hopefully) time to put pressure on Assad to give up his weapons. If that fails, then Obama will go back and seek authorization for strikes.

Pretty well-reasoned approach, if you ask me. There is still time for a non-belligerent resolution to this. But the fact remains that the use of chemical weapons cannot be tolerated.

[Ghost Dog]

89. What about the CW presumably in the hands of the 'rebels'

and their 'supporters'?

[LukeFL]

111. Exactly take on it

[snappyturtle]

118. You know that's a bit hypocritical, don't you?

You agree that chemical weapons cannot be tolerated but support
the President who uses drones for his indiscriminate killing. Dead is
dead.

[LukeFL]

124. We can't ho to war with everyone sorry

[trueblue2007]

92. President Obama is not making a fool of himself.

You ... I and lots of other folks think he is GREAT. It's only this GOP person you asked that calls the President names.
We shouldn't waste our time talking with folks who hate him.

[arcane1]

35. Can you elaborate, for those of us who can't watch?

[AngryOldDem]

46. How so?

He's going to give the Russian proposal a fair shot, and has postponed the vote.

What the hell more do people want?

And while I may get flamed for this, he did put this crisis into some kind of correct historical perspective, which could help bring more international support.

[kestrel91316]

48. If you voted for Obama, I'm the Pope.

You people get so tiresome.

[narnian60]

60. +100 nt

[Whisp]

61. can I kiss your ring, even if it's the bathtub one. ;)

[truth2power]

53. It made me sick, him talking about the children... He wasn't much worried about Alawki's son...

Guess some children are more valuable than others. Gaaak!

Also, I saw NO evidence about WHO is responsible for the attack.

I should believe Obama because he says it was Assad? It is to laugh!

[Ghost Dog]

67. (eg. many Nigerian, Congolese, ... mothers and children, and good males too).

[Old and In the Way]

81. If it wasn't Assad, then he has a very good reason to get rid of his weapons, no?

Then it's either other bad actors - AQ or Saudi Arabia - or his own military that's gone renegade. Either way, Assad is a fool if he doesn't cooperate and rid his areenals of CW.

[truth2power]

126. I agree with that part of it. If Assad does get rid of his CW, then if there's another

incident, I guess the US will have to blame the people we've been supporting.

Wouldn't that be interesting.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

99. Everything changed on August 21 with over...

1,000 gassed. Watch the videos!

Guess the other 99,000 killed weren't as significant. But I'm someone who found the images of Syrian children hiding in caves, not knowing if their parents would return from searches for food, almost unbearable to watch. And that's been going on WELL before 8/21.

Charles Duelfer, former UN Weapons Inspector, on tonight's NewsHour:

What Are the Ground Rules of Transferring Weapons to International Control?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/july-dec13/weapons_09-10.html

[malaise]

30. Congressional vote postponed

PHEW!!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

37. "Phew!" for him --

He knew there was no way in hell he was going to get a "yes" vote. Now Congress, along with O, are off the hook.

[Ghost Dog]

58. Excuse me, exactly who decides whether to debate/vote or not?

In your congressional system?

[BlueCheese]

100. Generally, the leaders of each chamber.

But with the Senate in Democratic hands, Obama can get a vote there whenever he wants. For the House, given the magnitude of the situation, they'd probably vote too if Obama pressed for it.

[El Supremo]

31. Vote postponed!

Whew!

[polichick]

32. Americans don't want to be "the enforcer."

[TCJ70]

38. +1

[avaistheone1]

75. Shucks, then why do we become the enforce then?

[polichick]

79. Because the gov't doesn't represent the people.

[Safetykitten]

34. We are the freedom anchor all right, it's tied around our neck and we are going swimming.

[Madam Mossfern]

36. Nope

Still don't know what "target" means.
View the videos.....

[KoKo]

39. Well...he's working hard for a Diplomatic Solution...and answered Questions from Public.

Talking with Putin in the coming days and sending Kerry to talk with his CounterPart in Russia.

He's pointing out to friends on the Right and Left to view videos of kids writhing on the floor suffering from poison gas.

So...Go to You Tube and Facebook. Then you will understand how important this is and we must be Leaders on this.

He's trying he says to work this through....but, we need to Act and that's what makes us Exceptional.

[Skittles]

62. graphic videos are used to pimp for more war

Last edited Tue Sep 10, 2013, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)

never for less war

[steve2470]

122. correct nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

64. Cheap.

"...to view videos of kids writhing on the floor suffering from poison gas. "

So the 100k+ Syrians blown to shreds with conventional weapons are chopped liver?? Are the victims of our own strikes not worthy of such international "justice"??

"Exceptional" -- hardly.

[TheProgressive]

40. I also think killing children with drones should be stopped as well...

And on edit, let me add that the drones are United States of America Drones.

How would you like to live in world where anything flying above (heard or not heard) can kill you
and your family in one push of a button 5000 miles away.

[polichick]

43. Definitely.

[Madam Mossfern]

45. Yep

Can we "view the videos" after that?
You can be sure the rest of the world will.

[avaistheone1]

69. I think killing children and civilians in America who do not have health insurance

should be stopped too.

We kill about 40,000 each and every year of our own people senselessly who can not afford to access medical care.

[allareequal]

82. I also think killing children with drones should be stopped as well...

Totally Agree. Who's going to step in and save the children who live under this threat? America is a hypocrite and does what it pleases to suit whatever its agenda is.

[TheProgressive]

91. Welcome and thanks for your post...

There are no such thing as 'acceptable' means of Killing... all forms are disgusting.

[RedCappedBandit]

102. Yeah. I don't understand why it's only an issue when it's chemical weapons doing the killing.

[kestrel91316]

41. Well, fuck, I tuned in just as he said his LAST SENTENCE!!!!

[Avalux]

68. A Republican would never have made a speech.

And would bomb without even considering a diplomatic solution.

[Texasgal]

52. I'm sorry Obama...

I am not sold on this. I STILL say no.

[polichick]

54. Chris & Chris (msnbc): Can't enforce int'l norms unilaterally.

[Bluzmann57]

55. He's trying hard to use force if neccessary

He did say that he has asked Congress to suspend the vote on the use of force but he still wants to do it. But I feel hopeful, sort of.

[avaistheone1]

73. Sounds like he is frustrated he can't get his war on.

[polichick]

84. Does seem like he wants that strike...

Maybe for once the people stand in the way of the mic.

[Madam Mossfern]

56. OK, I know I'm getting a bit annoying but

What the hell is a "targeted strike?"

[snappyturtle]

109. The Pentagon, as I understand, picks out targets that

would slow down Assad's war efforts....landing strips, airplanes, etc.

[polichick]

57. Ed (msnbc): We've been the enforcer but we're not the world's police...

Who are we? he says.

[LukeFL]

71. The beacon of freedom?

I mean, look at Russia ( another supposedley super power) not even there gays and lesbians have any say on anything- and SOPA passed and its the law if the land.

So, yes, we are the example of world

[polichick]

76. We don't even have voters' rights - and we're the bombers of the world...

"Beacon of freedom" sounds like propaganda at this point.

[avaistheone1]

78. Obama's confused.

Sounds like a contradiction in terms.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

65. Well. That was anticlimactic. (n/t)

[earthbot1]

66. where do they get

all of the chemical weapons????

[SidDithers]

70. The ODS is strong in this thread...nt

Sid

[Madam Mossfern]

80. Sorry

What is an "ODS"?

[polichick]

86. Old dead skunks??

[steve2470]

90. obama derangement syndrome nt

[Old and In the Way]

93. One would think PBO was supposed to be talking with DU exclusively.

Or maybe, The entire world posts here?

[Bjorn Against]

74. The speech was awful, totally unconvincing and undiplomatic

After a major diplomatic breakthrough he spent most of the speech advocating bombing, he seems to want war and is only using diplomacy as a means to delay the vote in Congress.

[LukeFL]

88. Your point of view not mine

Once again you are not supporting him and giving your back. How do you know if that speech is to put MORE pressure on Assad?

I sometimes feel I hate du

[Bjorn Against]

95. Hell no I am not supporting him on this insanity, nor do the majority of people

We are not just talking the majority of the US opposing him, the majority of the world thinks he is wrong about this. It was extremely stupid of him to advocate bombing right after a major diplomatic breakthrough, this speech could seriously damage the diplomatic talks that were happening. Truly an awful speech.

[LukeFL]

97. His speech was more pressure for assad

To not bluff and accept the deal.

Gosh you guys are stupid

[Bjorn Against]

101. Assad had already said he would accept, now is the time to focus on diplomacy not bombing

Thanks for calling me stupid for disagreeing with you though, I am sure you are a brilliant mind.

[LukeFL]

110. And for those really paying attention

the less obvious indication
"Oh, btw ... the Unitary Executive doctrine, is dead."

I can see how most here are having trouble

[avaistheone1]

125. I thought it had a lot of doublespeak

which has me very concerned.

[markiv]

77. Putin is the professor, Obama is Gilligan

the only question remaining is

Mary Ann, or Ginger?

[FarPoint]

103. Ahhhh

not really...........

[markiv]

107. - 1

[Avalux]

112. - 1000000

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

83. No sale. No war.

[Ghost Dog]

94. No sale.

Civil war.

[Catherina]

85. Sad Mr President. Very sad n/t

[tom_kelly]

87. What happened?

I was watching Housewives of Topeka.

[polichick]

96. This speech was for those citizens who haven't been paying attention...

He used lines from his interviews and other appearances that those of us here have already heard.

Not everyone pays such close attention - a lot of Americans heard it for the first time tonight.

[snappyturtle]

98. It was the same old, same old....all avenues left open.

[polichick]

105. At least he didn't say we have to strike or we're doing nothing...

That's the way they presented it earlier - now diplomacy is on the table.

[snappyturtle]

115. I would have liked him to say strikes are out. This afternoon

Putin said Syria can not surrender weapons if a threat of strike
exists! Piers Morgan and Sen. Menedez both referred to it after
the address. I think we've been had.

[JohnnyLib2]

104. Great comment!

That view, along with the ever-changing situation, really puts the speech in context.

[polichick]

121. Thank-you!

[polichick]

114. Eugene Robinson: "He made the moral case tonight."

[polichick]

117. Howard Dean: "It was what the American people wanted to hear."

Not so sure about that.

[RebelOne]

119. Not what I wanted to hear. n/t

[polichick]

120. Maybe he was talking about people who hadn't heard it yet...

Kind of a strange comment.