Cairo: The Emptiness of Obama’s Rhetoric
By SusanUnPC on June 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM in Al Qaeda, Current Affairs, Gender Bias, Jihadists, Middle East, President Barack Obama, Sexism, Terrorism, Unitary Executive Powers/Signing Statements, Women and Children, Women's Suffrage
When Peter Daou writes, I read. As many of you know, Peter Daou headed Hillary Clinton’s campaign Web site and her site’s blog operations. I always admired Peter’s attempts to post at Daily Kos (one of his countless tasks), where he was cruelly torn apart for supporting Hillary. But he kept on, hoping that a few would read him and view Hillary in a new light. Formerly, Daou — an intellectual heavyweight — was Salon’s chief blog reporter and essayist. Like those of Glenn Greenwald, Daou’s essays on civil liberties are timeless. Here is Daou today, at Huffington Post, on Obama’s Cairo speech which, MSNBC claimed, is “historic”:
“Let Women Wear the Hijab: The Emptiness of Obama’s Cairo Speech“:
I know many will gush over President Obama’s Cairo speech and I’m likely swimming against the tide of the media and my fellow Democrats and progressives. But reading the transcript, I was struck by two things:
1. Aside from a few platitudes, it is disappointingly weak on human rights and specifically women’s rights.
2. It betrays a naiveté, perhaps feigned, about how the Arab world works. [Susan's Note: Here at NoQuarter, we're all familiar with Obama's inexperience and lack of knowledge that lead to his dangerous naivete.]
I sometimes preface my posts by explaining that my Mideast perspective is that of an American-Lebanese-Christian-Jew who grew up in Muslim West Beirut at the height (or should I say depth) of the Lebanese civil war. The tumultuous and bloody intersection of religions and geopolitical interests is painfully real to me.
Yes, Obama is targeting the Arab ’street’ and global public opinion - but to the corrupt regimes that dominate that region of the world, his oration means virtually nothing. Repression and suppression will go on uninterrupted. And to those whose abiding hatred of Israel (and thus America) is absolute, Obama’s words will be seen as empty and hypocritical.
Egyptian blogger Hossam el-Hamalawy explains:
Right before he took off from DC, on what the media has been depicting as some “odyssey,” to address the Muslim World from Cairo, President Obama had described the 81-year-old Egyptian President Mubarak as a “force for stability.” This week Cairo and its twin city Giza have been a showcase of what this “stability” cost.
The capital is under occupation. Security troops are deployed in the main public squares and metro stations. Citizens were detained en masse and shops were told to close down in Bein el-Sarayat area, neighboring Cairo University, where Obama will be speaking. In Al-Azhar University, the co-host of the “historical speech,” State Security police raided and detained at least 200 foreign students, held them without charges in unknown locations.
Is there an overarching purpose to Obama’s speech? Is it to repair our image after eight years of a radical rightwing administration? Of course. But if the goal is to repair our image, then how about shunning the barbaric concept of indefinite detention? How about heeding the increasingly distressed calls of those who view the new administration’s actions in the realm of civil liberties as a dangerous, disturbing, and precedent-setting affirmation of Bush’s worst excesses?
Glenn Greenwald writes:
The White House is actively supporting a new bill jointly sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman — called The Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act of 2009 — that literally has no purpose other than to allow the government to suppress any “photograph taken between September 11, 2001 and January 22, 2009 relating to the treatment of individuals engaged, captured, or detained after September 11, 2001, by the Armed Forces of the United States in operations outside of the United States.”
What kind of a country passes a law that has no purpose other than to empower its leader to suppress evidence of the torture it inflicted on people? Read the language of the bill; it doesn’t even hide the fact that its only objective is to empower the President to conceal evidence of war crimes.
That this exact scenario is now happening in the U.S. is all the more remarkable given that the President who is demanding these new suppression powers is the same one who repeatedly vowed “to make his administration the most open and transparent in history.” After noting the tentative steps Obama has taken to increase transparency, the generally pro-Obama Washington Post Editorial Page today observed: “what makes the administration’s support for the photographic records act so regrettable” is that “Mr. Obama runs the risk of taking two steps back in his quest for more open government.”
What makes all of this even worse is that it is part of a broader trend whereby the Government simply retroactively changes the law whenever it decides it does not want to abide by it.
Glenn has been documenting - and railing against - dozens of similar instances. I echoed his concerns in a recent post:
[...]
I wish I could quote Peter’s essay in its entirety. I have written an e-mail to him, requesting just that.
In the meantime, read all of “Let Women Wear the Hijab: The Emptiness of Obama’s Cairo Speech.”
Here is the full text of Obama’s speech.
For more blog reactions, check Memeorandum.com.
(List Price: $27.95 - Your Price: $15.47)
By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
I read the speech. Its typical Obamatalk, none of it means anything. Its illustrates how stupid his believers are and how much of a believer in huge government he really is.
Also, how about my right to NOT wear hijab, Mr. Obama? Where do you stand on that? Is that SoS Clinton I see walking three steps behind you, wearing a headscarf?
Stuff like this is just complete BS on almost any level you slice it:
“On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.”
Obama said:
and HC 123 rightly replied:
But my favorite part of Obama’s speech was:
Translation: We can destroy uppity women too but we just go about it differently.
The outreach to the Muslim world is, in itself, a good thing. But, it seems to be based on Obama’s personal popularity. And, we have a vital interest in keeping
Iran from getting nuclear weapons. If Obama takes military action or assists Israel, his popularity in the Muslim world will disappear. So, the question is, which is more important to him,
a) protecting America’s vital interests or
b) being loved in the Muslim world?
I think the answer is “b”.
Yeah, what happens if we get attacked again and Obama has to make a hard choice that the Muslim world doesn’t like?
I think outreach is a good thing, but I think a lot of his speech was double talk, and I also don’t think that the people who are likely to attack us will change. We are not exactly dealing with the sane! We’re dealing with and Iranian sociopath who is in denial of the Holocaust and religious fanatics who think we’re evil for not being Muslim. How can any form of outreach change that. FDR tried to appease Hitler and look how that turned out.
The USA didnt enter WW2 immediately, but generally Neville Chaimberlain is regarded as the father of German appeasement.
Obama may indeed follow in his footsteps as the father of muslim/Iranian/North Korean appeasement, time will tell.
Right now hes busy eliminating Polio and funding electronic patient records with green technologies - in Muslim majority nations, of course. With your tax payments of course.
What a guy!
FDR tried to appease Hitler?
Uh, NO.
mary kay, did you fail american history? it sure looks like it. fdr never tried to appease hitler. the american people wanted neutrality for awhile, unitl they were attacked of course. fdr had been shipping goods to europe and supporting england thereby keeping it in the battle. he knew war was coming and tried as best he could to prepare america.
it is upsetting to see how many poorly informed people there are regarding american history.
And it’s really upsetting that our President and his immediate predecessor fall into that group.
B I N G O !
I am so afraid that Obama will not stop his egotistical crap until our country is totally destroyed.
And the money for all those new programs and organizations is going to come from where????
I bet from the American people pockets one more time and not from the coffers of all those petrodollar monarchs and dictators. ENOUGH!!! Can this guy do any thing else but advocate spending in one way or another? If the Mulsim world wants some scientific universities built, they can finance them themselves.
From the money that was cut from the American educational system.
Keep America stupid and I and those like me will rule.
Keep sending the decent paying jobs overseas and we can keep Americans poor and stupid.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
What is ironic about it is that historically many fine scientific universities have been built by Muslims.
What I find equally bizzare is that BO and others use the term “the muslim world” as if it is a monolithic and seperate ball of wax spinning in space.\
Please do not tell me that BO is going to apease the Sulfist who reject modernity while he talking like Rodney King.
BO is missing in action…AGAIN!
MSNBC is replaying the speech in full. Doubtless, CNN will do the same.
Amazingly, Ed Morrissey at Hot Air writes: “Obama’s Cairo speech: Surprisingly good.”
So much for the right’s concern about human rights and women’s freedoms. But, then, they’ve shown their true colors about their attitude towards women in their attacks on Sonia Sotomayor.
Not all of us Republicans are entirely convinced that Hot Air is truly on the right. He seems to be a 9/12 Republican who feigned interest in foreign policy after 9/11, but as the years go by, he appears to be swinging back to the left. He usually attacks (fellow?) GOP & goes out of his way to defend Obama. Most of the PUMA blogs were more gung ho about McCain in 2008 than Hot Air. His political progression seems to be from a Dem, to a neo-con, to a neo-obot.
Certainly the comments are right-wing.
Not always Aeguy, it seems to depend on who is writing the article. What the article is about. They seem to get a pretty good mix of commentors like here, as you go through the comments.
I started reading Hot Air pretty regular during the primaries when someone here posted a link. I’m not saying they don’t have their moments. We sometimes have ours also.
Unless I see them going radical right wing I’ll continue reading their blog. I like to get views from all sides now. Read what people are thinking on both sides. I just try hard to avoid the radical views on both sides.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
Todays post and rundown of “the speech” (yet another one…~)
Its a very long article, but VERY enlightening. msmbo and cnn should show it too. (oh! but that might be disclosing something factual!!)
Jihadwatch is a blog owned by a notorious bigot who has devoted his life to spreading hateful messages and propaganda about Muslims. He has no academic training in Islam or the Arab world. He purposefully misquotes and
You want to read some thoughtful writing about the Muslim world that isn’t apologetic? Read Larry Johnson’s friend Patrick Lang’s writings, who is a West Point graduate on Islamic studies. His blog is linked here on NoQuarter (”sic semper tyrannis”).
Bigots like Robert Spencer (I’m not playing the “hate card” here. Spencer is an Islamophobe.) want you to think Islam is a monolith. It isn’t.
If you want to learn objective facts about the Muslims, start with Lang’s “Islam is monotheistic, but not a monolith”. It’s a good beginning.
If you want to read propaganda that’s meant to halt discussion, then go ahead with jihadwatch.
islam is a monolith in reference to it’s belief of the inferiority of women.
Shhh, you arent supposed to say that out loud. Remember, Obama will protect our rights to wear the veil - just like Nasrallah in Lebanon.
Not really. If you’re talking about tribal areas, then of course, women are certainly seen as inferior. But that kind of barbaric treatment does not exist in more progressive places like Lebanon, UAE, and Kuwait. These abuses of women existed long before Islam was founded in tribal culture. Today, in some Muslims countries, there are more women in college than men. There are some Muslim countries where women have been elected to government positions.
If you want to debate what’s written in the Quran, we can do that. I studied religion a bit in college. It states that men and women are equal in the eyes of God. Women were allowed to inherit property 1400 years ago, something that did not occur in the west until the 19th century. Women were encouraged to study. Many of the early Islamic scholars were women. In some way, the seeds of feminism started in the Muslim world that then expanded to Europe and the West. Sadly, in many ways, Muslims were more progressive 1400 years ago than they are now.
I don’t see the hijab as a form of oppression unless it is forced upon like it is in the Taliban (which isn’t mainstream). Keep in mind that our Virgin Mary wore a hijab and many early Christian women followed her in that regard.
Before anyone goes crazy, I’m talking about mainstream practices in places like Lebanon, Kuwait, and UAE. Obviously, I’m not talking about Taliban and the abuse of woman in primitive tribal areas in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. So don’t come at me with examples of barbaric practices in these tribal areas. I already know about it.
Are you sure you are o.k. with that like it reads?
hopium started there, lol.
I understand how that reads and I’m sure that it will shock many given the present situations in the Muslim world. But in a lot of ways it’s true. In the Muslims world 1400 years ago, before any other society at the time, women for the first time, were allowed to inherit or own property (something that did not occur in the West until the 19th century), receive a divorce, and obtain an education (many of the early Islamic scholars that stimulated the European Renaissance were women).
In the pre-Islam Arab world, female infanticide was normal. Unwanted newborn girls were killed or left in the desert to die. Islam prohibited this and punished anyone who would do it.
Women were also finally allowed to start their own businesses. The Koran is also one of the most open religious books that talk openly about sex and sexuality. The topic became a normal thing to discuss and do at the time.
When you consider the status of women before Islam was founded, this is a massive progressive and yes feminist movement to give equal rights to women.
It’s amazing what you can learn with comparative religion. Despite all the hot air, the three monotheistic religions are not so different.
did I say I supported any of them either?
and they kill female babies now, as well as mutilate little girls, behead people, and stone women with sharia sized rocks.
FAIL.
Please learn to read. I’m saying the practice is banned by the Quran if you bothered to study it.
It still goes on by some very backwards people, but it is not mainstream. Over 1 billion Muslims in the world.
you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Clearly you don’t. Every major Islamic group denounces stoning. It has NO BASIS in the religious texts. It is a practice that has existed for thousands of years, BEFORE the founding of Islam. Sadly, some very backwards people still engage in it.
But go ahead with your agenda.
actions speak louder than words. There are many nations that prctice sharia law and stoning women is a part of sharia law. Stoning has occured in Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Kurdistan (at least) within the last year.
Your intent to portray this religion as neutral as regards women is detestable.
What’s detestable is claiming the actions of the backwards Taliban is representative of what a.) over 1 billions Muslims think and do and b.) what the Quran teaches when you’ve never read it. That’s truly an intellectual crime.
I’ve read the Bible and the Quran. Do you want me to quote some truly objectionable verses from the Old Testament? And then use those verses to trash the entire religion? Because that’s exactly what you and your friends here do.
I am not a christian. Feel free to quote your bible verses, I find it just as loathesome as your precious quran.
AS for the quran outlawing stoning, that is a lie. Quranic scholars still debate the so-called lost verse on stoning which is the basis for the punishment of stoning under shariah law. The missing verse is referenced in numerous other muslim religious texts.
You can state what a great holy book it is til you’re blue in the face, it has crucifixion and whacking off alternate hands and feet as an punishments appropriate for defying islam.
Hamas recently reinstated crucifixion as a lawful punishment, and they are part of an elected government, not a few random tribesmen in the hills as you suggest.
Not to mention, I find your assertion that the murder of women by tribesmen somehow shouldn’t count more than a little
crazyrepugnant.“What’s detestable is claiming the actions of the backwards Taliban is representative of what a.) over 1 billions Muslims think and do and b.) what the Quran teaches when you’ve never read it. That’s truly an intellectual crime.”
Don’t put words in my mouth asshat. I haven’t mentioned the freaking Taliban.
Huh? Catholic who believes in religious pluralism.
I don’t parse religious texts. Sorry.
I didn’t call you a muslim; I made a comment on your devotion to defending the indefensible.
I see what you are saying in looking at it from Abrahamic law. I would agree, most of the big three old religions are very similar in terms of the old testament.
I spent a month living in Egypt. you’re just plain wrong suggesting that domination of women is restricted to rural areas.
I agree. I visited Morocco when my brother-in-law was working there. One of the first things he did was take me by the multi-level prison in one of their major cities. He told me to please be careful what I did because, since women were considered the “property” of the men, if I committed a crime such as wearing shorts in public, it would land him in prison.
aeguy,
Unfortunately, since you choose to say “Because that’s exactly what you and your friends here do.”
you have no credibility.
On one hand you decry that the Sulfist and other intolerant forms of Islam paint a disparagingly broad brush on the Entire Islamic Body , yet you would choose to denigrate others with a different point of view than yours using the same brush.
I hope you take my point to heart.
Insha’Allah.
Lebanon, where Lebanese women cannot give citizenship to their own children? The UAE where a man named Daad (no joke) got a free house from one of the 7 Emirs for fathering 100 children with a village of Bangladeshi import brides who were divorced and sent home, or died mysteriously?
The Quran explicitly allows you to beat your wife, and declares men overseers of women. (Surah 4:34, I am sure as a Quran scholar you know the one.)
Mohammeds FIRST wife was a business owner and wealthy woman in her own right, before Mohammed invented Islam. So no, Islam didnt invent property ownership for women.
Islam is not an early form of feminism. It is a patriarchial, monotheistic religion that hasnt progressed much in 1400 years.
Barbaric treatment of women happens everywhere, not just in Islamic countres. But they certainly seem to lead the way.
Psst…ask for links and references from our visiting KIA….
KIA=know it all
You’re wrong (as usual). Property ownership was not allowed in the pre-Islam Arab world.
I’m not a scholar, but I know a thing or two. I minored in Arabic and comparitive religion in college.
The Arabic word “qawwamun” does not mean ‘overseer’, it means ‘guardian’. There isn’t a perfect translation, but guardian would be the best fit: to protect and take care of. The “beat them” phrase, again, is not a perfect translation. In hadith, it is further explained that no physical harm must be done. The common interpretation at the time is that what is meant is a vigorous shake.
I make no apologies. There are men who use the phrase to actually beat their wives. A disgusting act.
It’s dangerous, when dealing with ancient languages, to liberally use definitions so that it can fit your agenda.
Yep. A woman is raped every 6 seconds in the US, but I don’t think that has anything to do with religion.
the code of hammurabi allowed women to own property, you are in error (again).
Arabic is my native language. I have read the Quran in my native language. I was born and raised in a muslim family. I spent my first years in a predominantly muslim area.
Literary arabic is not an “ancient” language. The language of the Quran is exactly literary arabic today - but of course you know this as you have a minor in Arabic. Its not allowed to change over time because muslims believe god spoke arabic directly to Mohammed.
Here is the sura. Beat means beat. Oversee means oversee. Not kindly care for/be nice to/send flowers regularly. Khadija was a wealthy and powerful woman before she met Mohammed and after.
As for the “You’re wrong (as usual)” comment, you are clearly a nasty person with some serious issues. And a flexible definition of facts.
My sura text wont paste, guess its a font thing. But for those interested, Sura 4:34 is well known and documented.
There are plenty of apologists for it, the best one I have read is translating beat as “tap lightly with a toothbrush”.
Thanks very much HC123. One must never underestimate the backgrounds of the folks posting on NQ. I know I’ve been guilty of that, usually to my regret.
yes, thx! lol, I will try to restrain myself from pleading with you to translate arabic websites for me!
Nom Nom Nom, for translations try babelfish. You can get a full translation of web pages and sites there. There are several sites where that sort of translations are available. Just google “translator” and pick one.
Thank you for your perspective on this subject, HC123. I continue to learn from the intelligent posters here and I am truly grateful.
A woman is raped every 6 seconds in the US.
It has everything to do with religion, one may argue.
Still a very violent number anyway you look at it.
Thanks HC123.
aeguy,
So I’m assuming you’re a guy so do you honestly think you should comment on whether or not the hijab is a form of oppression.
As for inheriting property when you write “the west” to what geography does that refer?
If you mean Western Europe I must take exception to your history recitation
well… I have all the ‘uninformed’ propoganda I need just by reading YOUR post… Wow!
Face it aeguy.
You got outed and pwned.
Thanks for the link sjc-tx; the Article on “jihad watch” is profound and well worth reading.
Makes one wonder what BHO’s real motives are in all this. I knew he would be terrible but PBHO is worse in reality then one could of even imagined.
Some Examples:
1). US economy in ruins, government now owns major US Corporations and plans for more government take over, i.e. government run health care;
(2). Incoherent foreign policy, i.e. continuation of the worst of Bushes mistakes and Hillary Clinton prevented from REALLY doing the job of SOS;
(3). Waste of Trillions of Dollars of Taxpayer’s Money with more waste planned and a National Debt so huge that within a few years the US could well be bankrupt;
(4). Seeming endless need by BHO for adulation and worship through constant stream of press conferences, interviews, TV appearances, hamburger runs, dates with Michele and photo-ops with the nearest celebrity or Saudi King.
The list of PBHO’s disastrous choices is endless. If so inspired please add some of your own favorite examples of how awful the GREAT PRETENDER POTUS really is.
All I can say is Hillary in 2012; that’s of course if we survive that long!
What constitutes a “good” speech?
Is it one filled with platitudes that appeal to everyone? (Clean water. Eradicating disease.)
Is it accurately pronouncing all the words without stumbling or saying “uh”?
Is it the cadence that lulls with a sense of well-being?
Is it the knack of suggesting everything without really promising anything at all?
Under those parameters then I suppose BO gave a “good” speech.
That was a great post on Obama’s speech.
I got up early to watch it and then read the text after.
In the end I don’t think his speech is going to have any effect on the hearts and minds of Muslims. All he did was elevate himself and had no effect on the image of this country.
I still believe that the only solution to Islamic extremism is for Islams to reject it themselves and erase it from mosques around the world, which is not being done at all.
Some are trying although few and far between. We have to give Kudos to those that are. I read an article last week from the UK…Remember the soldiers coming home that were greeted with protests? A group of moderate Muslims took matters into their own hands…
Here you go this isn’t the same one I read. This one is more indepth with pictures included.
http://tinyurl.com/n7vj9r
Diana - Thanks. That is a great story. One can only hope that this will be repeated over and over again. Certainly in Iraq success did not begin to happen until the moderate Muslims took matters into their own hands and said “enough is enough.” Radical Islam is a problem that only Islam can and should resolve.
oblahblah is on drugs… When do we get to deal with things is the REAL world???!
Jackass.
Yeah… obama just makes another BS speech, waves his hands and thousands of years of arab culture and religion just turn into fairy dust… (btw… wasn’t a Brit just beheaded yesterday?? And isn’t N Korea setting uplong range nuc missile facilities???)
I’m afraid it will take a major catastrophy to jarr people back to reality
I fear that nothing will jar people into not believing what they want to believe, only listening to what they want to hear, looking for a free ride, and loving to follow leaders like Obama.
Its a failure of the electorate that we have this clown. Scumbags and powermongers exist, its the job of an enlightened electorate to see them for what they are.
So far, not so good.
Obama wants to help empower women, yet he lied and cheated in order to steal the DNC nomination and didn’t stop them from breaking their own rules. He allowed Hillary to be stomped on in the name of his rise to power.
Sanity is not one of his stronger qualities.
What a freakin’ hypocrite.
I can no longer even entertain the notion that Obama has any good intent.
Yes… I guess Sarah Palin, her daughters, Ms Ferarro, et al don’t count… WHAT a F’in hypocrite.
WHEN is someone going to hold him accountable for all this non-sense rhetoric, instead of just continuing to hump his leg everytime he reads one of his patronizing ’speeches’??? Even Hillary??? How and WHY does she not speak up?
“WHEN is someone going to hold him accountable for all this non-sense rhetoric, instead of just continuing to hump his leg everytime he reads one of his patronizing ’speeches’??? ”
Never.
The majority of humans are incapable of this level of critical thought. I think we (I) need to get used to that.
I disagree. More often than not, I find, people are uninformed.
The first step in the healing process–welcome.
Nothing Earth shattering. His supporters will love it, his opponents will say it’s crap. As someone who is neither a supporter or opponent, I think it was a good first step to establish trust with mainstream Arabs. Something that will be useful when it’s time to negotiate with Israel and the Palestinians.
I see the popular anti-Islam bloggers like Robert Spencer are already having fun with the speech. They’re free to say what they want of course, but for people to call them “scholars” is a fkn joke.
You are trying to mislead — YOU are a 0butt-head supporter.
You have already exposed yourself — as a chauvinist PIG and all MCPs are 0butt supporters.
Now go away — and don’t choke on that kool-aid.
Oh and get HELP — professional help.
Wow….this site sure is hostile to other views! My Lord.
Jennifer, this site is like the wild wild west. The coroner starts measuring folks as soon as they get into town. But there is some honest vitality here, and it is a living entity. Who knows what it will look like one year down the road?
You made me laugh. Thank you; I needed this levity after reading the details of BO’s speech.
There is absolutely no connection between what Obama says and the reality of his actions. What he says and what he does are more often than not at direct odds with each other, and randon chance can explain those few instances where something he has promised has actually occured. A review of the ever shifting and evolving positions he has blabbed endlessly about since he rose to public prominence will reveal to any sentient being that Obama has only a few core beliefs, and he doesn’t dare talk about those convictions because it would be political suicide. In his driveway chat with Joe the plumber, and in an elite San Fran gathering, he gave us a brief glimpse at his true nature; He’s a socialist, and he has utter contempt for gun tottin’, bible thumpin’, bitter Americans (you know, the type of people that built the most just and powerful nation the world has ever known).
All of his lofty and ubiquitous orations are nothing more than poorly scripted distractions, just shiny gift wrapping covering a booby prize. It is pointless (beyond mere curiosity) to listen to one damn thing that leaves his mouth, and dangerous to believe any of it. His purely self serving verbal gushing is nothing more than an endless string of lies punctuated with platitudes. Watch what he does, ignore what he says.
I agree with all you say here… except maybe one thing… I don;t even think obama is a true Socialist… He is too self-absorbed and obcessed with money. Take all his (and meeshe$$lls) away and he would crumble. He sees money as the answer to all things; by nature of what it can buy - including power.
Facist, not socialist.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. “isms” mean nothing to Obama. He is all about power and money. He gets his “fix” from the next victory, the next adulatory crowd, the next great headline, the next power grab, the next big paycheck.
I call him a socialist only for brevity. His actions are more accurately described as fascistic.
Like all tyrants, Obama feeds the masses on the deceptively attractive tenets of socialism/fascism/communism that promise Utopia. Historically, very few leaders with a statist mindset have ever practiced what they preached (Jerry Brown may be an exception). They use the promise of Heaven on Earth as a means to pacify and control the masses, while they themselves consolidate power and live like kings. So, no, I don’t believe that Obama is actually a devoted socialist, but he is using socialism as a means to an end. He’s building the world’s largest pedestal for His Most Exalted Earthly Body to reside upon. Is this a more accurate description of the guy?
You nailed it with your description.
Yes like he uses religion, like he uses unions, like he uses everybody… as a means to an end. He is building a tower of babel unto himself. You do have his number.
I have said that the timing of his announcement to run for president was suspiciously close to the revelation of how much the Clintons have earned since Bill left office. I think Obummer saw that $100 million number and started salivating and counting the money. Too bad he isn’t the speaker or writer that Bill Clinton is. And I doubt his administration will leave the country in as good shape as Clinton’s did. Obummer and his greedy wife aren’t in this game for public service, despite their orations to the contrary, they are in it for personal profit.
Michelle needs a new pair of $600 earings.
For the dog maybe… Queen Mee isn’t going to wear nothing that cheap anymore.
Gota agree with you here–I’m not yet up to speed.
LMAOOOOOO!
That’s what I tell my students; listen to what he does and not what he says.
I personally was torn. There is a place for a “good speech” that makes people feel more hopeful. I wish everything he said he wanted in the world would happen. But I also understand tha critics–and they make valid points.
We should lie to people to make them feel happy?
I honestly feel that there should be no place for that sort of speech, but clearly people eat it up.
I am not trying to be flip, I really think there is something wrong with needing to “believe in something” so badly that you will believe anything. Or being so swept up in a movement you cannot think clearly.
Absolutely right!
I know people want to hear optimism, but if it only leads to future heartache when the lies are revealed, does it really do any good at all?
If I were sick, I would want my doctor to be frank about my illness. I don’t want or need to hear sugar-coated hope if it’s untrue. Tell me the cold, hard facts and let me decide how to deal with it.
Or to put it more bluntly, don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
For those that voted for Obama I can appreciate their strategy of trying to blunt the hate of the Muslim world to the United States by electing a president that looks and has a name that they may identify with.
However,in their quest to make a peaceful world they are unknowingly letting our guard down and giving our enemy an equal platform in which to expand their power
In other words..They are winning because we are surrendering.
Unilateral surrender has never worked and always leads to bigger wars.
Yes… it’s like giving a child molester the keys to the nursery…
or an alcoholic the key to the liquer cabinet
Or like giving a fraud the keys to the White House.
Isn’t it rather doubtful that Obama’s polished delivery of hollow rhetoric will change anything?
How many times has the olive branch been given to the Muslim world? How many times have they then poked us in the eye with that branch? We could offer them a whole friggin olive tree and it would not make a difference, they don’t want peace. They want our heads delivered on a platter. They scoff at pacifist gestures, they respect power. You’re right SM, we’re being lured into a trap by our noble hunger for peace. We shouldn’t take the bait.
It’s OK in this instance to talk nice, but a Hallmark card would have been just as effective as this very expensive and pointless photo op trip. The whole thing is like a big “do over” for Obama, he desperately wants to show the world that he can resist bowing to the Saudis this time.
i doubt there is anyone in the muslim world who gives a daxx about obama’s speech. they are going on with their everyday lives and problems like us hoping he’ll shut up and actually do something useful.
So you are saying the Muslim world is our enemy?
Forwarding a bleg from Ace:
Bleg: What Rules Make it Harder for Muslims to Meet Zakat in the U.S.?
The consensus on ace is that Obama was referring to rules that prohibit people from donating to terrorist organizations &/or their fronts. Any dissenting opinions here?
That was the first thought I had.
My take on the President’s Cairo speech is that this was a terrible blow for our foreign policy and diplomatic efforts. Question: Is or is not the U.S. bound by the letter President Bush provided Israel as part of the Gaza disengagement deal, which was explicitly relied upon by the Israeli Knesset in voting to approve the removal of every settlement and soldier from Gaza? Apparently the Obama administration insists that only Israel alone is bound by the “roadmap” but the US isn’t bound to it’s obligations.
At the time of the disengagement from Gaza, there was a written agreement between the U.S. and Israel on the principles governing the later negotiation of final status issues including settlements, in exchange for Israel undertaking the extraordinary political, social and economic costs of that disengagement and the even greater military and strategic risks of turning over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Now, how can any nation believe that Obama will adhere to previously negotiated obligations? Will the US now rescind its agreement and if so magically restore the lost world of Gush Katif, or the lost security of southern Israel, or the lives that thousands of rockets traumatized, or the property that was destroyed?
Can Israel, or South Korea, or anyone rely on the US to meet it’s obligations anymore?
I so wish I could answer yes to your question and then reassure Israel and S. Korea. Apparently BO offers no such reassurances yet.
I’ve been called “ignorant” and a “bigot’ already by Obama-lovers who just do not ever really listen to the drivel he spouts. It is still not OK to question The One. Do not comment on what he says, or wht he leaves out. And if you bring up the issues to which Peter Daou refers, you are reminded that Hillary didn’t mention civil rights when she was in China. I reminded them that she has to do what Obamas wants, even though he has adopted almost her positions as his own.
“I reminded them that she has to do what Obamas wants, even though he has adopted almost her positions as his own.”
Sandi this is one of the reasons I cannot fathom Hillary running in 2012. Right now Hillary is one of Obama’s best allies, and campaigners. Hillary is the reason many outside of this country think better of Obama.
If in the off beat chance people finally open their eyes to Obama, do you guys really think that people are going to be looking at the people who worked with and for Obama for and as President?
I don’t believe that Hillary would run against an incumbant Demcocrat, even Obama, unless something completely unexpected were to happen. I can’t even begin to imagine what that might be.
IMO, Obama’s biggest problem is himself. Hillary is bigger than Obama and has more respect from people in the US and worldwide than Obama can ever hope to have. She is getting excellent reviews for her work as SoS. She is everything that he is not, brilliant, knowledgable, and most of all, caring and sincere. I don’t believe that being SoS in hs administration would seriously be held against her.
I read a comment somewhere, but don’t know if it’s true, that Hillary was wearing the hajib and walking two steps behind Obama? Does anyone know if that is true?
When she has gone to the middle east on other trips, did she do this?
I can’t stand that she went to China and basically said that human rights would have to be put on the back burner, and if she is wearing the beehive and didn’t do it before (I’ve never seen a photo of her like that, ever), then I will never forgive BO. I hold him responsible for muzzling her. I don’t hold her to the same level of responsibility, because I think she sees this job as a way forward, for us and for her.
They are in a mosque, where a scarf is mandatory for females, except in Turkey where magically its not.
Shes sporting the “white girl scarf” where her hair hangs out the front. Local ladies and non VIPs generally are not allowed that liberty.
Shes generally walking several steps behind the males.
Here ya go, one of the many photo galleries.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=42836
But why is she then in the mosque to begin with? Is it so that BO can drive home the imagery that he is superior? He is one sick puppy that one is.
Thanks.
Uggghhh.
I wonder if this is why MO doesn’t go to Arabic countries - if she refuses the subjugation.
I sure hope Hillary writes another book someday, and let’s us know how she really feels about all she has had to sacrifice to be in politics, especially in the current administration.
lorac, I agree with your analysis wholeheartedly. I find this spectacle of Hillary wearing a white humble-scarf walking behind Thee One totally repugnant. No way should that have happened, IMHO. I agree with Docelder: she shouldn’t be in a mosque to send that visual message.
thanks, I hadn’t found a pic yet!
Clinton has a worn a headscarf on numerous occasions in the past when in muslim countries and this is apparently customary for women diplomats and wives of diplomats; even women monarchs (Speaker Pelosi, former first lady and SOS Hillary Clinton, former first lady Laura Bush, former SOS Condoleezza Rice, Queen Sonia, Queen Elizabeth…).
I have not seen her wear a hijab though, and I really hope this story is false: imo that’s crossing the line between respect and slavishness. I have not found any pics yet.
There is a pic of former first lady Laura Bush in a hijab, but she was being shown how they are put on– I don’t believe that she actually wore one about– she took a lot of heat for wearing an abbaya in Saudi Arabia though.
One might also recollect this picture of Bush 2 in a yarmulke. LOL!
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/06/white-house-celebrates-rosh-hashanah-a-week-early/
Hi NomNomNom–here are a couple more pics, from a site that I do not endorse:
http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/2009/06/hillary-in-hijab-in-cairo.html
I will confess, my gut instinct to these pics is nausea. I love Hillary, and if you can make me feel better about these pics, please do so.
Are my old eyes seeing this right? She appears to be barefoot, while he is wearing shoes (?!?!)
i think they are both barefoot,and the scarf it,s protocol
and our Hill is a master of protocol.
ot.today s Dorthy Rodhams 90 th birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thanks for giving us Hillary our hero…..
woot! Happy Birthday!
thx for link!
in the worldbulletin link there was a pic of Clinton and BHO laughing. She looks very genuine and sincere: I would say that if she ever does attain another high office, she would not be a vindictive POS like someone else. She seems to be a woman who tries to make the best of any situation: very presidential.
Here she is looking beautiful with Chelsea and PM Benazir Bhutto, wearing traditional clothes, no headscarf.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bhuttoclintons533.jpg
pics as SOS:
Here she is the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico with monsignor Monroy; she really does look great in red!:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KO4lwcnBZ9A/Sc0vMYRuh3I/AAAAAAAAEc0/quTxvEgTQKk/s400/Hillary+and+monsignior.jpg
2 pics with Hamid Karzai, that slimebucket–I think they are before and after, lol, hee looks like he’s a little scared in the 2nd one
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/086o3mp7zdgNi/610x.jpg
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/img/040409_clintonkarzai2.jpg
Arriving in Japan
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0blh7ZKgvM1bK/340x.jpg
NomNomNom–thanks so much for the links–the pic of Benazir & Hillary & Chelsea literally sent chills down my spine and brought tears to my eyes.
yes, isn’t she beautiful? that was my screensaver for most of the primaries
spaminator, please let my comment go, I would give you a sacrifice but the cat ate my last chicken, thx
I hear you Sandi but I think so many think that the answer and the solution to our problems will lay with Hillary running in 2012.
The only way Hillary would be able to run in 2012 is like you said if Obama steps down (Very Slim Chance) or if she runs independent…Why would she do that in 2012 when she didn’t in 2008 and she had the momentum.
All Obama cares about is glory from the masses.
He wants the adoration from the big crowds - exactly why he won’t stop campaigning and do his job.
I can’t wait to read Larry’s opinions on this “speech”.
Is it 2012 yet ? I just can’t believe the slap in the face Obama has given to Israel.
Magi… Just tell me there were no odd astrological events as of late.
Well, they did just do a bunch of stuff to the Hubble telescope. I believe they turned it toward Earth to study the growing monetary black hole in DC.
Well, the Mayan calendar predicts that an astrological event will end the world, as we know it, a month and a half after Obama is re-elected in 2012. I think the Mayans have it just about right.
This man is an egomaniac plain and simple. Here he is traipsing once again around the world acting as if he is king of the world purely for the adulation he so desperately needs.
This is the same bozo who just deliberately presided over the unnecessary destruction of GM and all the people touched by it-just stomped on good hardworking Americans-and he has the gall to be somewhere else offering anything his speechwriters tell him to say! He cares for/of nothing but his own glory.
This individual surely must be psychotic or sociopathic or something.
I don’t need him to lecture me or people in Egypt or anywhere else about anything.
Oh, and by the way, if he (Obama/Obozo) wants to be seen as good-I suggest he stop slaughtering people in IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, and PAKISTAN. He is the current US war criminal-nothing he says is worthy of any praise.
Watched a movie the other night, about a young woman who gets cross-ways with a group of ruthless Russian mobsters in the U.S. — with Naomi Watts (one of my favorites) and Viggo Mortensen.
Anna (Naomi) has come into the possession of a diary written by the son of the elder and leader of the Russians, a diary they want back very badly.
Anna works a trade, the diary for the address of a young woman’s family in Russia (it’s important to her, but not for this post).
They meet.
Anna hands over the diary.
She says (paraphrasing), “So, what’s the address?”
Nikolai (Viggo) says, “What address? I don’t know what you’re talking about” and leaves.
There’s more, but the point:
“Barack The Naive” goes on a pilgrimage to the Middle East (that’s what it appears to be, and he goes bearing gifts, a most polite gesture, to insinuate himself into their inner circle), and presents great offerings to the Muslim people (without defining exactly which or what Muslim people he means — but that’s a silly detail).
HE (not the U.S. but HE, with our money) will build this and that and give this to these and them and those and cover all in technology (presuming that only America has technology to give, I suppose) and universities and grand monuments to HIM (my suggestion), at no cost to anyone (other than American citizens).
What would you do, were you in their place?
I’d smile and say thank you.
And then, when Barack The Naive says, “Now, about that Mideast Peace and Equality for All,” the response?
How much larger can this fool get? How much more hot air is there in the fawning public and media to pump up this puffed up puppet?
I am shocked that he didn’t do the loaves and fishes trick for an encore.
hijab?? right to wear a f#cking hijab??!!?
BHO is a disgrace to his nation and a betrayer of his mother, wife, and daughters. Sickening.
Why do I get the feeling that BHO is a Trojan Horse set to destroy USA, Israel and its allies?
Pretty close, except that he didn’t need to even hide in a wooden horse. He has been painfully honest what his intentions for us are. Nobody wanted to listen. People in this country are like bugs flying into the bug zapper light. Deep down they know better, yet they just can’t help themselves.
Good one — Very Sad But Very True
Well, Doc, I don’t know why Thee One is so damned popular. I guess Chuck Berry’s explanation is as good as any:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzap..there goes another one.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244034988150&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
The Jerusalem Post has Obama in arab headgear.
Is that the one like Arafat used to wear? LOL
Yea, JP is very right wing. I prefer Haaretz.
here’s what happens when you let this religion get established in your country: they start wanting to stone women there.
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2009/02/atiq-malik-british-politician-calls-for-stoning-adulterous.html
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d7a2bd098f
I wonder how the parents of that marine that was shot by the convert to Islam a couple days ago in the USA is feeling after watching the POTUS give his little speech to the Muslim world.
As a grieving mother what comfort did she get listening to the President saying we must be tolerant to Muslim and talking about what a great impact Muslims had on America.
I swear someone tell me this is all a bad joke, it has to be.
Everyday I keep thinking that this crazy horrid Obama dream will be over. I keep thinking that it just cannot possiblilty be true that people are letting this man literally destroy our county financially, emotionally, phycially, historically and the list goes on for I know many here can think of more atrocities that Obama is doing to our country.
Being Jewish, I learned about the Holocaust at an early age. I remember thinking, Hitler didn’t kill 6,000,000 Jews all by himself; it took thousands to kill millions and, for the most part, they did this just by standing by.
Has Obama commented yet on that killing? I don’t remember reading about it anywhere. Obama went on and on about the killing of the Dr.
Where is his sympathy for a Marine that probably would have been sent to fight in anyone of the three wars we are fighting?
I can guess what the GIs currently in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq are now feeling. I doubt those feelings are warm and fuzzy.
Since Obama has taken it upon himself to apologize to the Muslims, he should also apologize to the Jews for turning them away in 1939:
As the ship neared Havana, only 27 passengers with “valid” entry documents were allowed to disembark before the vessel was turned away by Cuban officials. The St. Louis then steamed toward the Florida coast, where passengers saw the lights of Miami in the distance. Once again, the ship was turned away, this time by the U.S. government, which cited quotas that limited the number of immigrants who were allowed into the country each year.
On June 6, 1939, as the ship sailed back to Europe amid growing media publicity about its fate, European Jewish organizations and government representatives arranged for Belgium, Holland, France, and Great Britain to receive the remaining passengers.
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/082108/moStLouisSurvivorReunion.html
He said:
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and
never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
What about the soldiers gunned down in Little Rock on Monday by a muslim terriorist? He has not mentioned it publicly or called the parents of the boys as yet.
He said:
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
What about the soldiers gunned down in Little Rock on Monday and he hasn ‘t addressed it publicly or phoned the parents as of yet? The dirty, lying fraud!
Nancy,
That’s not important. What’s important is that the Muslim world realizes we really like them.
Does Obama really not know that the Saudi government funds many of the radical madrassas where they teach you how to “discipline” your wife and other lovely concepts?
I’m sure if Obama had made a speech about, or phoned the parents of, the dead GI the news media would still be singing his praises.
Remember the justifiable criticism of Bush for not attending any GIs funerals slain during the war(s)? Has Obama attended any? He is the CIC you know.
Hillary took the position of SOS because the political reality is that she needs black support to have any political future in the Democrat Party. Had she run against him as an Independent, they would have rioted and/or stayed home. If blacks see how bad he is and turn on him by 2012, then I think she has a chance. I think, however, he will start to lose white support and then blacks will cling to him even more strongly. In the end unfortunately, after his tenure, with country ruined, there will be a backlash against minorities, blacks in particular, and no person of color will probably be President for the next 30 years. Obama doesn’t care about that though!
Google KAUST, that’s the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and see the billions the Saudis are spending on this project. Why don’t they just give a little to other Muslim nations to help with everything Obama thinks America should pich in with? I am sick of his pandering to these people, and if Muslims don’t want to help other Muslims, why does it then become our responsibility to do it? With all the money in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, why have the Palestinians been living in refugee camps for so long? They could have been living in refugee palaces with the help of brother Muslims. Of course that wouldn’t have envoked the same anti-Israeli rhetoric around the world, now would it?
[...] lecturing the modern world that they should allow the women, Muslim women, to wear the Hijab (See Susan’s post on Peter Dauo’s article: “Let Women Wear the Hijab: The Emptiness of Obama’s Cairo [...]
[...] to our friend Susan at No Quarter for pointing out a great piece written by Peter Dauo for the Huffington Post this week on President [...]
[...] women’s rights and human rights (”Yo, Bitches, Wear That Hijab,” and “Cairo: The Emptiness Of Obama’s Rhetoric” address that issue nicely); and a teacher who gets all of 5 years for repeated sexual [...]