Can President Obama Become Competent?

[PoliticalChic]

"The botched Christmas Day bombing seems to have taught the Obama administration—if only belatedly—that when you’re in a hole, stop digging. Team Obama’s response to the incident aptly demonstrated why the president was correct to describe his administration’s handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab’s nearly successful effort to blow up Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight 253 as a “systemic failure,” “totally unacceptable,” and a “catastrophic” near miss. And the administration’s ham-handed statements and actions after that near miss only compounded the intelligence and security failures that led up to it.

As awareness grew of the enormity of the missteps involved in the security community’s failure to stop the young, wealthy, and well-connected Abdulmutallab from boarding the plane, Obama finally emerged from his secure compound in Hawaii—three days after the attack—to declare that a still-dysfunctional security system had brought the country to the edge of catastrophe. The president seemed to jolt his national-security team—most of whom, as far as the public was concerned, had gone missing in action after the incident—back to reality. Press secretary Robert Gibbs quickly dropped his happy-talk echoing of Napolitano and began discussing the flurry of “secure” telephone calls between the president and his national security team, CIA director Leon Panetta, and key members of the White House staff.

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

 

[Si modo]

Are those in the Obama administration really doing "the work of isolated extremists" here?

 

[Gatekeeper]

PoliticalChic 0912AM

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."

Terrorists or Extremists, which came first? Extremists become terrorists as soon as they act on their beliefs in a violent manner. They both go hand in hand once that action has begun.
Hopefully Obama, as I have said before in here, has some awakening, and brings America back from the brink. As much as I disagree with this man, I am hoping he pulls us all out of the toilet and back into..........., OMG, back into what , give me some time to think back, I'll get back to ya's.

 

[Zoom-boing]

Yeah, this administration learned a lesson . . . . that's why the bomber was charged as a criminal rather than a terrorist.

 

[PatekPhilippe]

On the job training from progressive/socialists is NOT conducive to effectively dealing with the War on Terror and killing bad guys. When the first thing you do is hamstring the military and CIA with a bunch of touchy feely new guidelines, declare the war on terror no longer exists, treat terrorists captured on the field of battle as common purse snatchers and then you botch a missile attack and kill 200 civilians it should be a sign that you and your fucked up strategies are FAILING.

But anyone criticizing The Barry and the revered War Coucil is immediately set upon by the libtard blogosphere. So...we have what we have. Looks like we will have to go back when we get a President with some balls.

 

[rdean]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

HEY dumb ass? He did not board a plane in the US. You will have to ask the British and the Dutch why full body scanners were not being used.

 

[saveliberty]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

Filing under partisan hack, subfile geographically challenged.

 

[Xenophon]

No.

 

[PeterS]

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

No doubt. 911 was a failure to connect the dots. This incident was a failure to connect the dots. Since it is communication protocol between security agencies that is clearly the culprit here the question begged is why the leaf was never turned over by anyone.

And I do like the fact that you see nomenclature as the problem...especially since clearly it had no effect on communication protocol in the past.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

Last I checked the ACLU is not a bastion of Republican power or ideology. And they have sided with the privacy issue, which by the way, DEMOCRATS side with also.

How many times do we have to remind your dumb fucking ass that the Demos have 60 VOTES in the Senate, nothing they want passed can be blocked by the Republicans and 257 VOTES in the house, where it only takes 218 votes to pass a bill. If a bill was defeated on full body scans under Obama it is DIRECTLY because the DEMOCRATS don't want it.

 

[saveliberty]

I hope so, that way we can find him guilty.

 

[PoliticalChic]

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

No doubt. 911 was a failure to connect the dots. This incident was a failure to connect the dots. Since it is communication protocol between security agencies that is clearly the culprit here the question begged is why the leaf was never turned over by anyone.

And I do like the fact that you see nomenclature as the problem...especially since clearly it had no effect on communication protocol in the past.

Do you realize that under President Obama, there have been more terrorism incidents than any year since 2001?

 

[Wry Catcher]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

Last I checked the ACLU is not a bastion of Republican power or ideology. And they have sided with the privacy issue, which by the way, DEMOCRATS side with also.

How many times do we have to remind your dumb fucking ass that the Demos have 60 VOTES in the Senate, nothing they want passed can be blocked by the Republicans and 257 VOTES in the house, where it only takes 218 votes to pass a bill. If a bill was defeated on full body scans under Obama it is DIRECTLY because the DEMOCRATS don't want it.

How many times do you need to be reminded the Democrats have 58 members, and two Independents. One independent is a hawk, the other a socialist and some of the 58 are "blue dogs". The Republicans enjoy unanimity, lock-step partisan voting; Democrats do not, never have.
Last I checked the ACLU is an advocate for civil liberty, so much so they even defended Rush Limbaugh during his legal troubles. And, isn't it a tenet of conservatives that liberty is all important?

 

[PatekPhilippe]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

Your stupidity never ceases to amaze us all. First...the Republicans haven't controlled anything in Congress since 2006 and....the hammer drops....

Dodd attached an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010

Dodd’s amendment SA 1443 states in part,

“The total amount of appropriations under the heading ‘AVIATION SECURITY’ under the heading ‘Transportation Security Administration’ under title II of this Act, the amount for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems under the first proviso under that heading, and the amount for the purchase and installation of explosives detection systems under the second proviso under that heading are reduced by $10,000,000.”

have a lovely day rdeanyweenie

http://victoriataftkpam.blogspot.com/2009/12/democrat-diverted-millions-of-dollars.html

 

[Si modo]

Obama is competant. If the full body scanners had been in place, this guy never would have been allowed on the plane.

Why weren't they in place? Go ahead, ask that question.

Because Republicans blocked funding. They feel these scanners are an, get this, an "invasion of privacy". This is the party of the Patriot Act and "spy on Americans" and "recorded phone calls" and they feel someone looking at your "kibbles and bits" is an "invasion of privacy? No wonder the entire world thinks they are as stupid and bag of rocks and more dangerous than al Queda. They ENABLE al Queda.

And Republicans keep saying they have no power.

Last I checked the ACLU is not a bastion of Republican power or ideology. And they have sided with the privacy issue, which by the way, DEMOCRATS side with also.

How many times do we have to remind your dumb fucking ass that the Demos have 60 VOTES in the Senate, nothing they want passed can be blocked by the Republicans and 257 VOTES in the house, where it only takes 218 votes to pass a bill. If a bill was defeated on full body scans under Obama it is DIRECTLY because the DEMOCRATS don't want it.

How many times do you need to be reminded the Democrats have 58 members, and two Independents. One independent is a hawk, the other a socialist and some of the 58 are "blue dogs". The Republicans enjoy unanimity, lock-step partisan voting; Democrats do not, never have.
Last I checked the ACLU is an advocate for civil liberty, so much so they even defended Rush Limbaugh during his legal troubles. And, isn't it a tenet of conservatives that liberty is all important?

LMAO! One of those 'independents' is a socialist. Both caucus with the Dems.

 

[PixieStix]

No.

Agreed

 

[mudwhistle]

"The botched Christmas Day bombing seems to have taught the Obama administration—if only belatedly—that when you’re in a hole, stop digging. Team Obama’s response to the incident aptly demonstrated why the president was correct to describe his administration’s handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab’s nearly successful effort to blow up Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight 253 as a “systemic failure,” “totally unacceptable,” and a “catastrophic” near miss. And the administration’s ham-handed statements and actions after that near miss only compounded the intelligence and security failures that led up to it.

As awareness grew of the enormity of the missteps involved in the security community’s failure to stop the young, wealthy, and well-connected Abdulmutallab from boarding the plane, Obama finally emerged from his secure compound in Hawaii—three days after the attack—to declare that a still-dysfunctional security system had brought the country to the edge of catastrophe. The president seemed to jolt his national-security team—most of whom, as far as the public was concerned, had gone missing in action after the incident—back to reality. Press secretary Robert Gibbs quickly dropped his happy-talk echoing of Napolitano and began discussing the flurry of “secure” telephone calls between the president and his national security team, CIA director Leon Panetta, and key members of the White House staff.

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

Fat chance. It will take more then one foiled attack to change decades of Liberal/Marxist/Communist upbringing and change this guy's mindset.

 

[Zoom-boing]

"The botched Christmas Day bombing seems to have taught the Obama administration—if only belatedly—that when you’re in a hole, stop digging. Team Obama’s response to the incident aptly demonstrated why the president was correct to describe his administration’s handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab’s nearly successful effort to blow up Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight 253 as a “systemic failure,” “totally unacceptable,” and a “catastrophic” near miss. And the administration’s ham-handed statements and actions after that near miss only compounded the intelligence and security failures that led up to it.

As awareness grew of the enormity of the missteps involved in the security community’s failure to stop the young, wealthy, and well-connected Abdulmutallab from boarding the plane, Obama finally emerged from his secure compound in Hawaii—three days after the attack—to declare that a still-dysfunctional security system had brought the country to the edge of catastrophe. The president seemed to jolt his national-security team—most of whom, as far as the public was concerned, had gone missing in action after the incident—back to reality. Press secretary Robert Gibbs quickly dropped his happy-talk echoing of Napolitano and began discussing the flurry of “secure” telephone calls between the president and his national security team, CIA director Leon Panetta, and key members of the White House staff.

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

Fat chance. It will take more then one foiled attack to change decades of Liberal/Marxist/Communist upbringing to change this guy's mindset.

I don't think anything can or will change his mindset as he believes his mindset to be correct.

 

[PeterS]

There may be a silver lining to this troubling affair. If it awakens the Obama administration to the threat that America faces, and if we begin to hear more about our war against “terrorists” rather than against “extremists,” it may well have been worth it. Happy New Year. It’s never too early to turn over a new leaf."
Obama's Near Miss by Judith Miller, City Journal 4 January 2010

No doubt. 911 was a failure to connect the dots. This incident was a failure to connect the dots. Since it is communication protocol between security agencies that is clearly the culprit here the question begged is why the leaf was never turned over by anyone.

And I do like the fact that you see nomenclature as the problem...especially since clearly it had no effect on communication protocol in the past.

Do you realize that under President Obama, there have been more terrorism incidents than any year since 2001?

And do you realize that the communication protocol between security agencies was the same under Obama as it was under Bush?