An open letter to President Obama.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

Posted with permission from http://sane-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/05/open-letter-to-president-obama.html

Dear President Obama,

I voted for you after being inspired by your platform of "Change." The problems that you inherited are as big or bigger than any President who preceded you. It was said that the country needed another Abraham Lincoln to make the difficult decisions to turn our nation around and as you discussed reading his biography it seemed that you understood the challenges at hand.

So far you have been a disappointment, largely because CHANGE has not come as you are making politically expedient decisions. Those which kick the can down the same old road so that repercussions can be dealt with later.

I will address several of your decisions:

The Economy - the United States is in a state of undeclared bankruptcy as your predecessors have created a massive deficit which is sustainable until it isn't. Continuing down that path (only at an increased pace) will only put the time-frame and decision of when the government will have to live within its means in the hands of those countries that buy our treasuries. CHANGE is stepping up, ending the deficit cycle and using your eloquence to convince the country that we must make the hard decision now and sacrifice. That day is coming, the only decision is whether you make it happen or allow it to happen after making things worse.

The Iraq War - Ending it in 16 months was the policy of CHANGE of Candidate Obama. Your policy as President is exactly the same as the last President. In fact your speech announcing the "new" policy was almost verbatim as Mr. Bush's.

The War in Afghanistan / Pakistan - Increasing our commitment to this is a huge mistake although I can’t argue that it isn’t a change. Please Google the history of Afghanistan and note that this region is where empires go to die.

In short it appears that you are letting the military set our foreign policy. As I mentioned in discussing the massive spending of money we don't have; we are borrowing to kill and build in these countries which is fomenting hatred and using precious resources (blood and treasure) which are desperately needed at home. This is CHANGE that Dick Cheney would believe in but not those who want to end the killing and spending.

Dan Choi - This is the most disturbing example of your lack of leadership so far. Candidate Obama said that "don't ask don't tell" was discrimination and would end that policy. You are now confronted with a West Point Graduate who has led troops in 2 tours of combat duty in Iraq AND is an Arab linguist. As he has now admitted to being gay, he is being discharged under "don't ask don't tell" on your watch. What is troubling is that you know this is wrong yet you either choose or are unable to lead. You do not exert your power as the Commander in Chief and do what you know is right (at least that is what Candidate Obama said was right). When you choose to sit silently in the face of injustice then you are showing a lack of courage and are choosing to play politics. This discrimination imbues the same shameful policies into our history books as those that kept blacks out of the military.

Leadership is making the tough decisions that bear consequences. You are being a politician instead of being the Abraham Lincoln that is so desperately needed. Candidate Obama was in tune with the majority of America as they wanted and voted for change. Stop playing politics and kicking the can down the road and become the LEADER that you were elected to be. That is what our citizens wanted and what our nation needs. Your legacy and our future is in your hands!

Sincerely,

Kyle Kazan

Posted with permission from http://sane-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/05/open-letter-to-president-obama.html
---------------------------------------------

Comments? Agree or Disagree?

Thanks!

[cali]

1. shrug.

it comes off as petulant and somewhat childish to me. can't stand it either when someone purports to speak for me and millions of others.

[ksoze]

2. +1

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

3. OK, Thanks. nt

[beachfnt]

12. Please clarify Cali

Dear Cali,
I'm not sure how you felt that the letter signed with my real name spoke for you or anyone else. On the President's home page it says the following:

CONTACT US

President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history. To send questions, comments, concerns, or well-wishes to the President or his staff, please use the form below:

to which I did. The letter that I posted on the White House website was shared on a blog, thus the "open letter."

Regarding "petulant and somewhat childish," I'll respect your opinion and will look forward to reading your posts as I'm curious as to what you think about the current policies.

In petulance,
Kyle

[Starry Messenger]

19. Welcome to DU, Kyle

Great letter. I recommended it awhile ago and am happy to be able to thank you in person (as it were.) :)

[Blue_Roses]

15. I agree and well said!

nt

[kid a]

4. If you think Obama's foreign policy decisions should be based on "Googling", well... (nt)

[spiritual_gunfighter]

6. What is wrong with Googling? n/t

[kid a]

16. nothing - great for high school research papers and quick FYI's - but i would hope

the President of the United States, while googling to finish the crossword on Sunday mornings, develops an understanding of a region well beyond a "google" entry.

[frog92969]

5. Agree

I still believe he meant well but it appears that he's working for someone besides us.

[peace13]

7. The economy was way screwed before Obama come on the scene!

People are actively working to make him unsuccessful on this bullet point. I will agree with you that Iraq is a disgrace and the tactics that our military are using continue to be shocking and shockingly unsuccessful. If he is not in control of the military he should say so now. If he is, he needs to rethink his position. The fact that our government has fired people who are needed desperately to translate our way out of this situation is appalling. Obama's lack of leadership in this arena is startling. But...the man has had a calming affect on the world and things could be a hell of a lot worse than they are. He is working in the right direction in many areas. Peace, Kim

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

9. Thank you, Kim

"and things could be a hell of a lot worse than they are." That's for sure.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Another member of the "Nothing you do is good enough or fast enough for me" Party!

What Obama is doing in Afghanistan is exactly what he spoke of doing as a Candidate. Kyle may not like it, but President Obama is doing pretty much what Candidate Obama said he would.

As for Iraq, I'm not sure what Kyle is talking about, as Obama is drawing down troops there as we speak, and his Iraq policy still appears close to his original timetable......and he always did state that there would be residual troops, and that he would reserve the right to reassess his policy if he became President.

As far as DADT, it is unfortunate that Pres. Obama is not going about doing things based on Mr. Choi's timetable, but it appears that this is the case. I agree that this stinks badly, but DADT is a law which needs to be repeal by Congress regardless of what Obama's executive order would do, as I don't think that he can repeal a congressional law passed all by himself. He could most likely dictate via an executive order for the military to stop investigating those suspected of being Gay, but I'm not so certain that if someone chooses to come out loud and clear, that Obama can sign an executive order requesting that a law made by Congress be ignored. I don't think it quite works that way.....but I may be wrong. Plus, I don't recall Obama saying that in his first 4 or 5 months in office that DADT would be history.

Oh...and Abraham Lincoln was a leader and a politician....and at one point was a candidate....and he, just like Barack Obama made a lot of tough decision, even if Kyle doesn't recognize such. Legacies are made in four years time, not in less than six months.

Kyle Kazan must eat at McDonalds everyday, I would guess, cause he obviously likes his fast and instant. Beyond that, he isn't even telling the truth. :shrug:

[beachfnt]

11. I wrote the letter

Thank you to No DUplicitous DUpe for posting my letter! I appreciate the comments and will share that I don't work for any group and have no agenda except that I am gravely concerned about the state of our country. And as I live in California, the state of my state.

The Democrat vs. Republican or Liberal vs. Conservative arguments seem more rooted in personalities than in policies. My most conservative friends didn't call BS when Bush was running amok and thusly the Republican Party was and continues to be marginalized. My hope is that supporters of Barack Obama do not fall into the same trap and justify positions / policy instead of standing up and shouting BS.

FrenchieCat's point of President Obama carrying through on his plans in Afghanistan are correct. While I strongly believe that this will prove to be extremely costly and misguided, it was the stated policy of Candidate Obama. For those that didn't appreciate my "Google" reference, please consider going to your local library and reading up on the history of Afghanistan. If you do, you will share my conclusion that this is a region where empires go to die.

Regarding Iraq, Jon Stewart did a wonderful job showing the stark similarities between the words/policy of President Obama and President Bush: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220241&title=Mess-O%27Potamia---The-Iraq-War-Is-Over. This war was wrong from the start and continuing it will make the Obama administration complicit in the killing. I am concerned that Mr. Obama will not stand up to the Pentagon and this quagmire will get deeper. Remember that President Johnson didn't start the Vietnam War but the legacy greatly tarnished an Administration that did some exceptional things for the country (Great Society, Civil Rights Act of 64, 65 and 66, Truth in Lending laws, etc...). Perhaps I'm jaded since Speaker Pelosi ignored the "mandate" that swept the Democrats to a majority and she played politics while people died.

Regarding DADT and passing it off to Congress, please allow me to refer you to minute 4:16 of President Elect Obama's "Open for Questions" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrtpMrtnGJU as he addresses this. Unfortunately he did not give a time-frame and his silence today is deafening. When is the correct time to do the right thing? Is discrimination alright in the first 6 months or first year? How long will you give the President a pass? Were you this patient with George W. Bush?

Kyle Kazan used to eat at McDonald's but since the metabolism has changed over time he had to eat healthier. I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that I'm not "telling the truth" although I understand that to my most ardent Obama supporting friends any discontentment over his actions as President illicits an angry response and often a personal attack (i.e. what is my agenda, I'm not telling the truth).

I'm hopeful that we are not getting lost in personalities since history will judge policies and so far I do not know why the conservatives are so upset. Stem cells and a Supreme Court Nominee should be a good trade for the continuing of much of their POLICIES. You can label me anything you want except a hypocrite since I call foul no matter who is playing.

Thank you for reading my letter!
Kyle Kazan

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

13. That is an excellent follow-up, Kyle....

My favorite part:

"My most conservative friends didn't call BS when Bush was running amok and thusly the Republican Party was and continues to be marginalized. My hope is that supporters of Barack Obama do not fall into the same trap and justify positions / policy instead of standing up and shouting BS."

[Blue_Roses]

17. are you really as naive as you sound?

Seriously? :wtf: To respond to some of the dumb shit that is posted on this board would take hours, leading into days...:eyes: It's not worth it when people like you are too naive to really, REALLY "google" for the truth.

While I'm all for criticism of our political leaders and HACKS, that's how we keep our democracy alive, but when we just got through EIGHT FUCKING YEARS OF PURE HELL, I find it hard to pull the rug out from the guy who FINALLY IS DOING HIS BEST TO GET THIS COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN.

I'm so sick of "Monday morning quarterbacks" and their bullshit.

:rant:

[beachfnt]

18. Aren't you being hypocrital Blue Roses?

There are people who feel as strongly as you do only that Bush put the country on the right track and now they are going through "PURE HELL." Aren't you "Monday morning quaterbacking" Bush?

I'm talking POLICIES not grading Bush's or Obama's effort as they both likely did or are doing their "BEST."

It is irritating being personally attacked as NAIVE, NOT TELLING THE TRUTH OR questioning MY AGENDA instead of discussing the specific issues. Shall we just sit back and not question issues that are going on now (Sunday morning quarterbacking might be more accurate)?

So please tell me what track is different from the previous eight years other than stem cell research and a liberal/moderate nominee for the Supreme Court? I'm very interested in your response...

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

23. Excuse me? Calling new members "Freepers" is rude and against the rules here...

Besides, you don't know what you are talking about, and you don't add to a civil discussion with your personal rudeness.

I should alert the mods, but I'll let it slide.

Kyle, Welcome to DU! :hi:

[snowdays]

10. There will be no change if Obama does not start actually doing

some leading with health 'reform".

Caving to the insur. industry is what is happening right now.

[solstice]

14. You can speak for me anytime. It's sad that any Democrat would "shrug" at a plea for gay rights./nt

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[beachfnt]

22. Thanks for making my point about personal attacks

Thrill,
It is much easier to duck the issues which is likely what the "Freepers" did under Bush and they rightly got what they deserved in the last election. I guess if people question the policies of our current President then they aren't on board and must be attacked personally (while ignoring the points made).

Please elaborate your post on policies without slinging mud.

Ps. I voted for Obama...

[tavalon]

24. Welcome to DU, Kyle and I'm sorry that my fellow DUers

have chosen to label you a freeper because of your low post count and unwillingness to toe the party cheerleader line.

It's common for that tactic to be used here but that doesn't make it right.

[beachfnt]

25. Thanks

Thank you Tavalon!

[tavalon]

27. No problem

See ya around the big tent!

[BR_Parkway]

26. Great letter