But, you know, on the other hand, there's shit like this:
The brave Egyptian people deserve the credit for making this revolution happen, but it was crucial that our president signaled his support for the effort, did everything he could to protect them from a violent crackdown, and finally put his finger on the scale at the crucial moment. We will learn more details in the years to come. There is no doubt that there has been division within the administration, with Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and even envoy Frank Wisner showing support for a continuation of the Mubarak regime. But the president didn't waver and he kept the promises he made in Cairo nearly two years ago.Yes, fortunately he signalled his support, semaphoring wildly from the roof of the White House, so that the Egyptian people could fulfill the promises that Barack Obama made to them about them. And, Inshallah, he managed to fight back that atavistic triumvirate of his own employees, persevered against the terrible hardship of having several subordinates make glancingly contradictory statements before the PR department got out the proper talking points to all the front-line staff. Oh, it was rough and tumble, getting everyone on the same page . . .
He has not disappointed me. His leadership validates my belief in his instincts.
Now to anyone paying the slightest attention, "Our President" notably and loudly vacillated and hedged through the first two weeks of Egyptian protests, for which he was routinely criticized by everyone from the softy liberals with the first hint of a hard-on in years at the Egyptians' spirit of 68 right through Glenn Beck who thought the President had orchestrated an Islamic revolution, or whatever. The President loudly and firmly planted himself at precisely the point of having no position at all whatsoever, hinting only vaguely and in mostly veiled terms that Uncle Hosni probs oughta not appoint the fruit of his own loins as his successor and might want to think about maybe not fixing elections quite so dramatically in the future . . . until at last, when it became obvious to every other human being in the world that Mubarack had to go and that the military would probably see to it that he did if it came right down to it if only to preserve their own vaunted legitimacy within the aparatus of the Egyptian state, only then did Barack Obama step to the mic and issue his habitually schoolmarmish declaration that Egyptias too could Win The Future, a chicken in every pot, an MBA in every Jr. Executive Office.
17 comments:
I still recall a similar event back in 1986 when "People Power" in the Philippines toppled Ferdinand and Emelda "three thousand shoes" Marcos.
At first the US was totally pro Marcos. Then, when it was clear he hadn't a prayer of staying, the Reagan admin tossed Marcos over board like a dead rat by the tail and acted like "we were with the people all along."
All the while the wingers were talkng about what a staunch ally he was against...what was it back then? Oh yeah, communism. And bemoaning the fate of Clark AFB and Subic bay.
The interests of the Philippines weren't even an afterthought.
The more things change...
I have stopped understanding IOZ's point. I am as minarchist as he is, but I just don't give a fuck. As long as the champagne keeps pouring, the hotelrooms furnished in magnificent fashion, brilliant parties keep being thrown like so many fireworks bursts, the tailor suavely turning out dinner jackets and tasteful suits, the décor as delightful as ever...who fucking cares? People've got lives to live.
Keep the party going, dude.
Well, I am somewhat in agreement with Booman. President Obama didn't disappoint me and his leadership validated my belief in his instincts too, I think where we diverge is in our expectations and beliefs.
"Mubarack had to go"
That reminds me, Chris Matthews kept mixing up the names Barack and Mubarak all through his coverage of the uprising, which cheered me no end. At one point he even referred to the "Obama regime."
Booman... Digby... different fish, same barrel!
IOZ,
How did you know I hadn't a hard-on in years? Obviously, Barry continues to not disappoint you.
Remember, '68 is just before 69. Words to the wise.
Caddy, hold the pin, please.
The Real Donny
The tone and content of Obama's early words on Mubarak were of advice, of the nature of the benefits of "soft power" and benign dictatorship.
Mr Mubarak should not try to quell dissent, not because it is corrupt and immoral, but because it doesn't work. He should institute the "reforms the Egyptian people crave" so as to ensure he will not be out on his ass by Monday.
Now this I can get behind.
Some Jewish groups, like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group, favor the Obama administration’s review of the substantial military aid the United States gives to Egypt, said Josh Block, a partner in the Davis-Block consulting firm and a former spokesman for Aipac. “It’s obviously appropriate for the administration to review America’s aid to Egypt,” Mr. Block said. “There are key factors to look at,” he said, including whether Egypt continues to support peace with Israel and sanctions against Iran; helps in the pursuit of terrorists; and allows international traffic, including Israeli and American transit, through the Suez canal."
Wait, I think we are missing the bigger picture here! Has IOZ plumbed the depths of the internet and found yet another doofus liberal to mock!? How many of these clowns can one man handle? Don't spread yourself thin, sir!
Now let's go tear that fat fuck Matt Ygleasias a new asshole.
Wouldn't an MBA in every pot make more sense? And be more tasty?
And, hey, Booman's not yet another doofus liberal. I mean, sure, he's a doofus, but he does get to listen in on the con calls from the White House and all, so he's got what passes for access....
But what if this hurts Obama's feelings? He's doing the best he can despite the bad people that hate him.
Was gonna "like" this but then realized I didn't have a fucking The Facebook account after all.
You don't need to go back all the way to Marcos to find a precedent for the President's "wait until Mubarak's on the plane and then declare that we support the Egyptian protesters" attitude, you only need to go back a few weeks to Tunisia.
I believe MuBarak Obama also mentioned MLK. as he is apt to do...
Here the latest lionized media outlet's contribution to the "restoration of order/normalcy".
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121484743645699.html
outstanding work, sir!
..meanwhile, there are complaints from the usual quarters that Our Crypto-Muslim President favors a reappraisal of those old fuddy-duddies The Muslim Brotherhood. and i would say, yeah, the State Dept. is - for the time being - intent on playing nice with them. Why? they are "our" only (potential) lever in Syria, where they are outlawed .. and for good reason, mind you, because Syria is a thoroughly secular dictatorship. Washington would, i presume, prefer a client state dominated by Saudi-sponsored Wahhabists. but more bizarre is the Iranian thing, where Krauthammer & Co. are banking on a native *Marxist* org to topple the government. thing is, though, they were pretty much wiped out back in the days of the Shah (that was part of his job description, no?). they still exist in the sense that the Wobblies are still active in America ..
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