Is Obama in Therapy?

For one brief moment the President had me:

"But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad."

But of course, there was the mumbo-jumbo before and after, denigrating America, that totally negates it.

It feels to me as though Obama thinks he's in couple therapy. That he believes he has to make amends for the tiniest of transgressions. That he has taken on the role of a neglectful husband who has to bend over backward to appease a mistreated spouse.

But he had it right in that above quote -- America is the one who has been wronged. Have we been perfect? Perhaps not. Have we been leading the charge to make the world a better place? Undoubtedly.

Seriously -- ask anyone, anywhere in the world. When the chips are down, and you're in need in a bad way -- who do you want to come save the day?

If there was a natural disaster, if you're country is in the midst of a famine or has been stricken by disease, if an enemy is at your door, if someone in your family is being held as a prisoner or hostage -- which country would you want to hear is on its way to help?

France? Germany? Heck, any nation in the EU other than Great Britain? Would they hope that China or Venezuela or India was responding to the call? Ok, maybe Russia for the hostage situation -- but come on -- Canada?!

No way. They would all want the good ol' U.S. of A. to have their back.

It'a about time they all showed us the respect we deserve. Obama better get a spine soon. Enough of this touchy-feely stuff. Time to be the leader of the greatest nation on the face of the earth -- without apologies.

Comments

[Mushy Middle]

Your most shortsighted commentary yet. Congrats. Why don't you take a look at the International Red Cross's 40-page report on torture carried out by Americans under the Bush Administration? Yes, we're the greatest nation in the world, and it's time we started acting like it. People like you who believe that as a nation we're infallible are just naive. Given the results of the Red Cross's report, we should be issuing apologies left and right.

[Colette Moran]

Shortsighted? No. I am not the myopic one honing in on the regrettable actions of a miniscule fraction of our military forces.

Never said we were infallible. To the contrary. I have said many a time that we are imperfect.

The issue of torture is a complicated one -- yes, I have not said much about it because it's definitely one of my most nebulous opinions...

But it's so easy to run to that. It's so easy to point out *anyone's* flaws.

*Start* acting like it? We do act like it -- each and every day. Tha vast majority of the time, as a nation, I believe that we are the standard for emulation.

[Mushy Middle]

Please! "A miniscule fraction of our military forces?" Torture was condoned by our president! And that is NOT "anyone's flaw," it's a major problem to those of us who'd like to see our country uphold the standards we expect from everyone else. You cannot overlook our torturing of "enemy combatants" if you're a true patriot.

[Colette Moran]

Please! Define torture -- no don't! Because I don't have the time to go over that now. Let me just say that we all should acknowledge that it is a complicated issue.

Alright quickly -- for example, I'm on the third season of "24" and an American is being "sensory deprived" by the US govt to get info. It looks terribly discomforting -- but is it torture? Debatable, depending on your definition. I personally don't think it is.

Seriously -- looking at our armed forces as a whole are you going to say that *more* than a miniscule fraction has not been a model of honor?

Of course any patriot wants our country to uphold the highest of standards, but I also don't think that people should be held for "breaking" rules after they have been changed.

It is clearly not an open and shut case. If torturing someone without doing permanent physical injury(and please, don't tell me that mental injury is the same -- it is treatable -- are we going to put waterboarding on the same level as the heinous practices by other nations?) -- if it could have prevented 9-11, would you say we shouldn't have done it?

If someone you loved were in peril, would making someone who has info to free them *think* that they are about to die -- would that be off the table? I doubt it.

No, we shouldn't use it without valid reasons -- and even that (whether or not reasons are valid) is debatable. I don't know everything about this topic, and I'm still working my way through it, but I know one thing:

Most of those who beat up the Bush administration about it are usually sadly misinformed. E.g. saying that nothing has ever come of it. Intentionally DIS-reported by the media...

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTEzMjc3YWU3ZmJiNzA3NThhNjdiMmY4MDkzNjRlMDY=

I'm willing to bet the farm you have never read anything like that article. (I'm willing to bet half the farm that you won't read that article all the way through now.)

In short, far too many Americans and foreigners are so quick to find fault, and so slow to give credit where it's due.

Already far too much -- I gotta go!

[Mushy Middle]

You're right -- I won't read that article, because it's clearly right-leaning. What I read was an account by the International Red Cross. What's the lean there?

As a parent, I'm my childrens' biggest fan. I applaud them when they've achieved something good, and I make it my priority to correct when correction's due. As a patriot, I except nothing less from my country -- that it recognizes when correction's due and then the correction is made. And I know all about the honorable armed forces -- I'm the spouse of a war vet, and if you know anything about being married to a soldier, then you know the family of a soldier serves right alongside his or her spouse. I'm proud of my family's long-standing military history, but torture is wrong, no matter when and no matter who does it.

Also, you seem pretty smart, and I'm guessing you've been out of the country a time or two. Grab your passport and share your "show us the respect we deserve" philosophy abroad. That'd be just what people from other countries expect from an American, and it's time for that to change.

[Colette Moran]

So without reading the article you know "it's clearly right-leaning" -- so much for trying to be in the middle -- I thought that means you get opinions from both sides. The National Review is a very respectable and fair magazine. I stand by what that article says and challenge you to come up with a reputable source to dispute it. (I doubt you'll find one.)

The International Red Cross is a great organization but hardly beyond reproach or unbiased. (There have been accusations that they sneak terrorists across lines in their ambulances http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michelle/malkin_ambulances_for_terrorists.php3 -- yes it's Malkin, but there is *video.*)

And the Red Cross report is not eyewitness accounts from their workers -- it's testimony from the likes of Al Queda trainers. Yeah, *they* have absolutely *no* agenda or reason to lie about their treatment. And the report uses words like "amounted to torture" -- again I think we're talking waterboarding here, not electrifying privates or killing family members in front of them.

So if waterboarding a terrorist could save the lives of millions from a nuke -- you say nope, we have standards? The radical islamists *love* to hear that kind of talk -- esp'ly from a President!

That is not to say we give people free reign -- I'm glad to hear that you feel the military is honorable for the most part and that your husband and extended family have done their part to make that so -- I sincerely thank them for their service and for their high standards. I hope they continue to help to keep our nation proud of its armed forces.

And as a parent -- yes we give correction when correction is due -- but not over and over again for the same offenses that happened ages ago, and we do not proclaim these indiscretions to strangers who are not party to the infraction.

AND -- are we supposed to be less proud, and not care that we're not given enough credit, simply because other countries are ingracious cowards unwilling to make the sacrifices that Americans do? Are we supposed to flagellate ourselves when we go abroad -- when their own behavior is even more reprehensible in their inaction?

No sir-ee, Bob. Not in my book.

[mushy middle]

When you assert that the Red Cross has an agenda and call other countries ingracious cowards (which I take great offense to, as the daughter of a European immigrant who made her way in this country), then I'm going to decline to continue this conversation.

You're becoming irrational.

[Colette Moran]

I did not assert that the Red Cross has an agenda. I suggested that -- like any organization -- it is not infallible or untouched by bias. (Heck, even Mother Teresa had her critics.)

I am a woman of European ancestry -- my foremothers and forefathers left several different countries to come here. Why would I take offense if someone points out that the countries they left have turned to policies where they leave it up to the U.S. to do all the heavy lifting and then criticize the U.S. for fighting fire with matchsticks?

Nice tactic -- calling me irrational and declining to continue the conversation. Silly me, I thought we were simply having a discourse. At no point did I attack you personally. But I think it's rather obvious: You're not "in the middle" -- despite your family's military service (assuming anything you said is true) you are employing tactics of the far left, so that must be where you fit in.

[Mushy Middle]

So because my family's a military family, then we have to be on the right? To people who think like you, I guess so -- McCain (a war hero!) was still an abysmal failure to Repubs because he wasn't right enough.

I'll claim the far left if you claim the far right.

[Colette Moran]

Never suggested you had to be on the right -- you claim to be in the mush. I think you -- like so many who claim to be "moderates" -- are not.

Nobody could have beat Obama -- as I've said, between the lies about his politics, the lie about not taking the money (therefore having something like 8X as much to spend), the lies about the money he did receive and the unprecedented bias of most of the media -- it's to McCain's credit he came as close as he did.

I would say I'm easily "far right" in defending life, and I'll stick up for the far right to hold their beliefs, but on a few issues I'm simply right of center and on others we don't see eye to eye at all and I side with the left.

At least those on the right are open to debate about it all. And usually you can count on a fair fight. Unlike what I've experienced from the left.

[Mushy Middle]

Well, I suppose if you thought you were debating with someone on the right you'd feel like I was more open to your point of view. I guess you feel you've got me pegged, then. I'm sure I have you pegged, too. You remind me of a few women in my neighborhood who all dressed up as Sarah Palin last Halloween and took their children trick-or-treating. They weren't open to political discussion, either, once they found out I was voting Dem. I'd be willing to bet the farm you dressed up as Sarah last Halloween, too!

[Colette Moran]

Wow -- I made it clear that I looked at you as someone who declared herself as being from the middle, which I always suspect really means more-so from the left. And yet I was perfectly comfortable (if at times frustrated by the limitations of this medium) discussing this all with you -- until the "irrational" comment. (I admit I was then rather peeved.)

I would never say I totally know someone with whom I have had so little contact, and I highly doubt you have me "pegged" considering your comments -- but it would be a lot easier for you to do so, considering you know who I am, you can read every single one of my posts, and you could easily find me on Team Sarah and see me in my Halloween costume.

And did you ever consider the women in your neighborhood weren't "open" to political discussion bec of the way they had already been treated by those who weren't supporters of Palin? Not everyone is as "brave" as I am.

[Mushy Middle]

"But I think it's rather obvious: You're not 'in the middle'"

"I think you -- like so many who claim to be 'moderates' -- are not."

"I made it clear that I looked at you as someone who declared herself as being from the middle"

I'm a little confused now, and I'm not certain what your perspective is at this point regarding what you think my political affiliations are. I don't believe I was the first between the two of us to start the pigeon-holing as far as politics are concerned.

BTW, I didn't see you on Team Sarah. The Palin costume comment was a guess (and a good one, I see)!

Wishing you the best, anyway.

[Colette Moran]

What pigeons? What hole?

I have made it very clear where I stand on issues, and I identify more with one party these days, but I don't put *too* much into labels of left, right, and middle, since everyone seems to have differences of opinion on them.

Again -- I have little to go on, but I made a stab at where I think you actually fall on the spectrum. If you aren't willing to divulge where you stand on other issues, as I have -- I understand. But anyone can call themselves whatever they want -- doesn't necessarily mean that's what they are, in others' opinions. It's kinda silly if you think about it, the way people argue about it.

I'm mostly basing saying you are more to the left on the Bush bashing -- sure, there are those who may be in the middle who aren't fans of his. But more often than not, folks who I consider to be moderates cut him more slack.

I don't know how many of my posts you have read, but I don't think you made a huge leap with your costume guess. And I have no idea why you would be unable to find me on Team Sarah, as I am listed under my full name.

[Mushy Middle]

Didn't say I couldn't find you on Team Sarah -- I wasn't looking for you.

Don't believe I Bush-bashed, either. I just said he condoned torture, which is the truth.

[Colette Moran]

Yeah, I guess I misinterpreted what you said about Team Sarah. Whatever.

And yep, you said Bush condoned torture. Very matter-of-factly and I'm sure with no malice.

You have no idea exactly what he condoned or not, and there still is the debate as to what actually constitutes torture.

You're always calling me out for declaring that things are the "truth" -- yet you seem to have no trouble saying it yourself. Hmmm.