Does President Obama have a spine?

[HooptieWagon]

Will he stand up to genocidal murderers, or will his legacy be the American Neville Chamberlain?

[JaneyVee]

1. He has great posture, so I'm guessing yes.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Not really to the point, but that was the one of the most striking things about him when I saw him

in person. Major league posture.

[MineralMan]

2. Does a potato have eyes?

Please describe exactly what you would advise the President to do. Details please...

[HooptieWagon]

52. Announce an indefinite suspension of all aid.

Inform the UN Security Council the US will not block war crimes investigations. Netanyahu is playing Obama for a fool... he thinks Obama will do nothing more than send a strongly-worded letter. Show him otherwise, that the US expects a standard of behavior from Israel, and if they continue to act a rogue state there are consequences.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. If my aunt had wheels, would she be a pastry cart?

[MineralMan]

5. LOL!

I was thinking more along the lines of a pony cart, or in the case of one of my aunts, an ox cart, bless her heart.

[Aerows]

26. If my butt passed gas

would I be a hot air balloon?

[COLGATE4]

66. No, but if your Aunt had a penis

she'd be your uncle.

[BillZBubb]

4. It is not in Obama's nature to be confrontational.

His big weakness is believing the other side, be it republicans or Israel, have an interest in dealing with him fairly.

He has finally got the message from the republicans. He still doesn't understand how Netanyahu undermines him at every opportunity.

His legacy won't be Neville Chamberlain on Gaza. It will be he was Israel's sock puppet, just like all the presidents since 1967.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. I think you under-estimate President Obama ...

and his leadership style.

[jen63]

21. I agree

he doesn't go off half-cocked.

[sendero]

18. Exactly..

.... all I see is a man that thinks if he is fair, his opponent will be also. He could not be more wrong, and it took him 5 effing years to figure it out with the Republicans, so don't expect any change.

[IrishAyes]

33. It must be splendid to see so clearly into the heart and mind of a man with whom you have no

direct contact. What a wizard you must be. You've got it all wrong, not surprisingly.

[sendero]

58. No, you do..

.... the proof is in the pudding. There might a subtle shading of what the actual motivation is, but it hardly matters.

It's funny what a nerve it hits when you tell the truth about someone's hero. It took Obama 5 years to figure out that anything he was going to accomplish after the first segment of his tenure when he had some advantage in Congress was going to have to be done without them. Most of us figured that out in year 3.

The constant "reaching across the aisle" after his face was spit into over and over and over is not the mark of a statesman, no it is something else.

[VanillaRhapsody]

34. You know its not just about him.....he has to play his cards right....or we could lose it all....

every piece of ground we made could be stolen away.....if you don't tread carefully....thankfully Obama does..

[HooptieWagon]

46. What ground is there to lose?

Israel has already shown they won't negotiate in good faith, and the situation has hit rock bottom. Only way to let them know we mean business is to cut the purse strings. With no US arms, no US money, and no US skirt to hide behind in UN, they might get the message.

[NanceGreggs]

56. What I see is a man ...

... who understands that a willingness to compromise for the greater good is much like the old saying about justice: it needs not only to be done, but must be seen to have been done.

Obama has offered the olive branch to the GOP time and again - and very publicly - only to have it, time and again, slapped away.

Obama never relied on the citizenry taking his word for it that the Republicans won't compromise on anything, even when compromise is in the citizenry's own best interest. Instead, he has shown them who the GOP are, and what they are capable of not doing for their constituents, or the country at large.

A once obscure black community organizer did not become POTUS by being stupid. There was no five years of "figuring out" here. If you think Obama didn't know exactly how the Republicans would react to him or his agenda, or didn't know how to best them at their own game long before they played it, you are truly naive.

[sendero]

59. All that "compromise".

..... got us/him exactly what? Yeah that is right, NOTHING. In fact, negative nothing.

[NanceGreggs]

74. You've missed the point.

Of course Obama's reaching out to the GOP has gotten him nothing. That's something he knew all along.

To say, "I won't even bother trying to work with the other side, because I know they'll reject any opportunity to do so," is political rhetoric.

To show the other side repeatedly refusing to work together makes their unwillingness to do so a political fact.

Obama has been masterful at luring the GOP into demonstrating, time and again, the fact that they would rather sit on their hands and do nothing than work with Obama and his party in accomplishing the very things even their own supporters want done.

At this point, Obama is driving home the fact that the GOP's stubborness is standing in the way of anything and everything - from the creation of jobs, to rebuilding infrastructure, to affordable heatlthcare, etc. And no one on the other side is able to say "we were willing to work with him, but he never asked".

The Republicans are now left in an indefensible position, their unwillingness to DO ANYTHING productive now having been clearly demonstrated over and over again.

[babylonsister]

80. YES! His acting like a statesman actually annoys people of

both parties. Who would have thought?

[grasswire]

25. His orientation is that of a community organizer.

The job of a community organizer is to seek consensus.

An orientation that does not particularly serve us well, with Congress obstructionism.

[randome]

31. And what would serve us well with an obstructionist Congress?

They only listen to the constituents who promote hate and discrimination.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]No squirrels were harmed in the making of this post. Yet.[/center][/font][hr]

[MineralMan]

6. Does a horse wear shoes?

Are they Adidas?

[sheshe2]

7. Yes, he does. nt

[CBGLuthier]

9. You think Israel is going to invade Poland?

Seems unlikely to me.

so,

FAIL!

[steve2470]

11. I think he'll do the best he can....

Given the harsh domestic political realities surrounding Israel, there's only so much he can do. I don't recall ANY American president ever publicly rebuking Israel.

[AgingAmerican]

13. None thus far have had the guts to

nt

[mcar]

12. He stands tall

So I presume he's got a spine.

What are your specific recommendations for what he should do? I think anyone who proffers such an "interesting" question should be willing to share.

[bigwillq]

14. I hope he has a spine

and decides we need to stay out of it. We can no longer afford to be the world police. We can no longer try to save every country when we cannot even save our own anymore.

[HooptieWagon]

44. Doesn't require being the world's police.

Only requires to stop being Israel's arms supplier.

[okieinpain]

91. how is any president going to stop

Being isreal arm supplier.

[4now]

15. Plonk

Welcome to my plonk file.

[MohRokTah]

16. .

[Cali_Democrat]

17. Face it, there's nothing we can do about Israel

They went rogue a long time ago and there's nothing America or the Europeans will do to stop them. Israel knows this.

When people like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have essentially declared total support for Israel, there's really nothing that can be done. Rand Paul, who is pretty non-interventionist, has been pretty much silent when it comes to the current conflict.

High tech weapons transfers to Israel will never stop since they have almost total support in Congress. Most of these appropriations are attached to massive bills which Obama will not veto.

The US will pay for the Israeli destruction of Palestine via military 'aid' to Israel and the US and Europeans will foot the bill for the clean up.

Rinse repeat.

[Scuba]

27. Nothing? Not even speak out? Publicly condemn Israel? Nada?

[Cali_Democrat]

29. Nothing

Sure Americans can speak out, but it's essentially futile at this point.

[Scuba]

60. You must perceive him to be the least powerful President ever.

[Cali_Democrat]

64. The Senate just passed a resolution by unanimous consent supporting Israel's actions

This included YOUR Elizabeth Warren. Why does YOUR Warren support the slaughter of Palestinians?

She supports sending high tech weapons to Israel which are used to slaughter Palestinians.

The fact is that everybody in Congress is on the same page. Obama is not going to jeopardize his relationship with everyone in Congress on this issue.

That's crazy.

[Scuba]

67. Elizabeth, of course, is not "mine". Nonetheless ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5310456

[Cali_Democrat]

70. Fair enough. nt

[Drew Richards]

19. Mark my words. He will announce a freeze on aid and arms to israel until they stop their

Genocidal incursion into palestinian territory...

And the the Republicans will try to use that to sweep midterms and possibly 2016...

Not sure if its all kabuki theater or if 50% of the world is really in the cult of death.

[Maedhros]

32. That would be the politically courageous thing to do.

Alas, electioneering means more to our politicians than do the lives of Palestinian children.

[VanillaRhapsody]

37. and how does that help us get more Democrats into power in the Fall?

You realize we Yellow Dogs are still a minority right?

[HooptieWagon]

43. Congress is irrelevent.

They don't set foreign policy, the President does. Every congressional candidate can spout whatever gets them elected. Obama is not running for reelection, and is free from political ramifications to do the morally right thing... if he has the spine.

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. Yeah right.....we have gotten sooooo much done with this irrelevant Congress

haven't we? Yes Obama has gotten everything he wanted exactly as he wanted it because Congress is soooo irelevent right?

You do realize that Obama is not the only Democrat and some of them have "relevent" elections in the Fall....not ONLY in Congress....we have to maintain control of the Senate too..and that's not just "relevent".....its crucial.

Not only does he have a spine...he has a brain...and he knows how to use it!

[HooptieWagon]

47. How many children have to die to get Dems elected?

Do you have a specific number in mind? You do realize Dem candidates can state their opposition to Obama stopping the genocide, if they choose?

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. So you are saying that WE are to police the world?

How do you feel about Bombing Russia to stop Putin too???

What do you suggest Obama do in this case....Bomb Isreal?

He is a United States President.....not Superman.....He is supposed to solve the Isreal/Palestine problem now too?

Me thinks you would blame Obama if he DID decide to go to war again anyways....and you understand....that would be the "Do Less than Nothing" Congressional responsibility right? That irelevent Congress....they hold the purse strings....

How many of your kids are YOU willing to sacrifice to solve it? (Everything the other Presidents have tried short of it hasn't seemed to work)

[HooptieWagon]

51. We don't have to be police...

... only to stop being an enabler. Cut off aid to show we mean business.
Suppose Obama doesn't get firm with Netanyahu... what message does that send to Putin? That he can do whatever he wants, and Obama will only send a strongly-worded letter at most?

[VanillaRhapsody]

76. You are again asking us to police.....THAT is what POLICE means.....

[HooptieWagon]

78. Do police sell arms to criminals?

Strange definition you have.

[VanillaRhapsody]

82. Do police decide who is guilty?

strange definition YOU have....

[HooptieWagon]

83. Would you take car keys away from a drunk friend?

When a "friend" is out of control, better to stop them than be an enabler.

[VanillaRhapsody]

84. and if your friend resists....do you beat the shit out of him?

how do you get the keys if he refuses?

By this analogy we SHOULD be the world's police.....by your accounting. So anytime our "friends" are at war....we are supposed to get involved.

[HooptieWagon]

85. Did I say we should wage war on Israel?

No. You're imagining shit. I said aid should be indefinitely suspended. No more giving them the weapons to kill babies with.

[AgingAmerican]

55. This is exactly the thinking

that has lost us elections over and over and over again.

[VanillaRhapsody]

75. Exactly!

[AgingAmerican]

94. Indeed

We heard this over and over before the 2010 midterms. That Obama couldn't take bold actions because it would hurt Democrats in the midterms. Obama took no bold action, and instead kissed GOP ass, and the Democrats got their asses handed to them because independents, given the choice between a Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican will choose the real Republican every time.

[VanillaRhapsody]

95. apparently you didnt watch the same country i did...

[Octafish]

72. By attracting voters to a Party that stopped the killing of children and other innocent people.

Other than that, what are you worried about?

[HooptieWagon]

41. I certainly hope so.

Israel certainly doesn't need more arms... all the Arab countries who might attack them have severe internal problems except Iran. I think Israel can defend themselves against Iran. Israel is using the arms we supply them with not for defense, but to oppress and annihilate a poor people, who certainly have a legitimate beef over Israel's treatment. Israel refuses to negotiate in good faith. When dealing with a petulant child, you don't increase their allowance. Aid to Israel should be indefinitely suspended, until they realize Obama isn't going to put up with their BS. Obama is not running again, Congress can squawk all they want. HRC can talk tough and woo neo-cons all she wants. At least give Palestinians a break for a few years.

[Spazito]

20. What do you think he should do?

Congress supports Israel unconditionally with money, with arms, etc. What exactly can President Obama do on his own, using the only two powers he has which are Executive Orders and his veto power. Should he issue empty threats, threaten sanctions or the withholding of monies knowing he doesn't control those powers Congress does.

If fingers are to be pointed, imo, it is toward Congress, those who actually have the power to try and rein in Israel's attack on the Palestinians.

[IrishAyes]

36. More importantly, the finger points to the schizophrenic American electorate in general

who keep setting up these situations and then scratching their head wondering why it itches.

[Spazito]

49. That too, one would think by this point a lot of those voters would realize...

they are voting against their own best interests because their church or their neighbor or Rush told them to. One can hope.

[L0oniX]

42. He should do what he does best ...give a speech.

[Spazito]

50. Very trite response, disappointing but not unexpected n/t

[Cha]

92. Mahalo, Spazito.

[Spazito]

93. Mahalo, Cha!

[stillcool]

22. definitely has a spine..

but no cape.

[Aerows]

28. Only Michelle Obama

could tell us if he has a magic wand.

(No offense intended - it was just sitting there, and I couldn't resist )

[11 Bravo]

23. Yes, he appears to be a member of Phylum Chordata.

[nomorenomore08]

24. Sure. But I wish he'd show it more often. n/t

[conservaphobe]

30. Only conservatives accuse President Obama of weakness. nt

[HooptieWagon]

35. Actually, they accuse him of being too strong.

Thats what the "lawsuit" is about.

[IrishAyes]

38. Actually they accuse him of both - that way they can squawk no matter which way

he turns. And yet President Obama has been remarkably successful even so. Haters gonna hate, that's all they know.

[Major Hogwash]

57. Exactly! The Republicans are wishy-washy on all of the issues, on purpose.

They don't want to be wrong.
So, what do they do, they back both sides!

It's like betting a half of a dollar for one football team to win the game, and then betting 50 cents on the other team to win.
That way, after the game is over and the outcome is known, they can ALL jump up and say, "See, we backed the right team!" in one voice.
As if they are smart.
Meanwhile ignoring or shouting down people who remind them that half of their bets were for the other team.

Foreign policy shouldn't be undertaken by armchair quarterbacks, but unfortunately for the GOP, that's all they got!
That, and a few water boys, and a few bench warmers.
But, one thing is obvious, they are 2nd stringers all the way around.
Not one starter out of the whole bunch.

I'm curious to see how long it will be before Senior Senile Senator John McCain starts calling for "boots on the ground" to stop the genocide currently taking place in the Gaza Strip.
Since the Republicans have pandered to every desire, wish, and request the Israeli lobby has had for the last 50 years, it will be interesting to see how the Republicans dance around this one on their tippy toes to keep from criticizing Netanyahu for killing 100s of innocent children.

Genocide by any other name is still . . genocide.

[flvegan]

39. Of course he does!

He just chooses to use it somewhat sparingly at times.

[L0oniX]

40. Message was hidden by jury decision.

Now what is this about Obama? Spine? Who's? His? Sorry ...can't say what I really think of his tact and policies ...too many here will hide and censor my opinion. Not exactly the place for discussion that concerns the faults of Obama ...is it.

[Prophet 451]

54. Y'know, Chamberlain gets a bad rap

The facts are that, at that point, Britain was simply incapable of fighting a war. We didn't have the troops or the equipment. Chamberlain's peace treaty brought us time to re-arm, re-train and heavily fortify our coastline.

Anyway, does Obama have a spine? I honestly don't know. Sometimes, he seems to have some courage (use of executive orders). Other times (healthcare bill), he seems to be the cowardly lion.

[Hekate]

61. Very long spine (he's well over 6 feet tall), excellent posture, works out. Yeah, he has a spine.

And just because people aren't paying attention doesn't mean he's not working on issues in Gaza, the Ukraine, and the US-Mexico border.

SOS Kerry has been working like a dog on brokering a cease-fire in Gaza. Just because it fell apart at the last minute through no fault of his own doesn't mean he didn't try. And will continue to try. Kerry et al. don't head out into the world without the POTUS's say-so, so yes this is Obama's spine at work.

According to Rachel Maddow Obama just imposed the toughest sanctions on Russia since before the Cold War ended, and is gradually bringing Europe along too. So there's some more spine for ya.

As for the US-Mexico border crisis -- do you suppose you can get Congress to do their damn job? Oh wait, they just headed out for summer vacation. From what I read, Obama is looking into an Executive Order on that, but those things can't be produced overnight or they won't hold up the next day or week. More spine there, too.

[NCTraveler]

62. His spine is more sound than your logic.

Or your vocabulary.
Or your.......

[Doctor_J]

63. He's stands pretty strong against liberals and liberal ideals

Confronting conservatives is not really his strength.

On this matter he doesn't have much choice. AIPAC wields tremendous influence and our government, including the president will at length do what they want.

[HooptieWagon]

65. To be sure, AIPAC has bought off most of Congress...

... see Harry Reid for example; who is not disgusted by hundreds of dead children, but is disgusted by a UN report critical of the slaughter of hundreds of children.
Obama has a unique situation, however. He doesn't have to worry about reelection. He is the singular most powerful polititian in DC, being in charge of an entire branch of govt. He is the singular person in DC that can tell AIPAC and Netanyahu to go fuck themselves, and all their squawking won't affect him one bit. All he needs to concern himself with is his own morals, security of the US, and his legacy. I suspect he is privately outraged by Israel's actions, and failure to negotiate in good faith. I think he realizes Israels actions do not increase US security. He may or may not care about his immediate legacy, but most likely wishes future historians will judge him as doing the right thing. The only question is, as I posed, does he have the spine to do the right thing? Or will he cave to a bought-off Congress, a powerful lobby, and a bullying foreign leader?

[BlueCheese]

68. No more Hitler comparisons, please.

By the way, who has killed more Arabs in the last few years: the US government, or the Israeli government? Does that make us genocidal murderers too?

[HooptieWagon]

71. Yes, it does.

I believe the vast majority of DU believes W, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc committed war crimes, whether or not they believe there should have been prosecutions.

[LordGlenconner]

69. Is this satire?

[MineralMan]

73. Unwittingly, it is, I believe.

The satire is, however, unintentional on the part of its author.

[cwydro]

77. Not in my opinion.

I lost all respect for him way back during the Gulf oil spill. When he acted like BP's lap dog.

Numerous examples since then. Yeah. I voted for him. Twice.

He's not lived up to many of our expectations...nor his promises.

[HooptieWagon]

79. I lost a lot of respect for him in Gulf Oil Spill.

Since then, he's squandered the remainder. I regret those two votes. "Change" turned out to be same ol', same ol'.

[cwydro]

81. Yep. nt

[applegrove]

86. The White House has attacked the GOP for their plans of impeachment. He's

about to let some illegal immigrants get temporary papers. He's starting an audacious run of politics & policy. Just you watch.

[HooptieWagon]

87. Meanwhile, 10 children a day are being killed in Palestine.

Maybe he'll make time to send Israel a strongly-worded letter to be included in the additional artillery shells and morter rounds we're selling them.

[flamingdem]

88. We don't want him to have "spine" with Putin

Too many nukes pointed our way.. That's McCain territory.

On Israel he's better than most.

[HooptieWagon]

89. Disagree.

Showing some spine will keep Putin more cautious. Act like a pushover and Putin will walk all over him. Whether Putin or Netanyahu, the only way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them.

[okieinpain]

90. I keep waiting on people like this poster to run

For office. But it never happens I wonder why.