Czernobog
Gold Member
Now, I'm sure that those on the right are going to have an entirely different view of this, but here is my take, anyway. I like Obama. I have never denied that I like Obama. I voted for him - twice. However, just because I like him, does not mean, contrary to popular opinion, that I agree with everything he's done. Flashback to his first campaign. Obama "promised" to close down Guantanamo Bay. I cringed when he said that. i cringed because I knew that was a promise he couldn't keep. obama, when he made that romise, obviously did not understnad the reality that closing down a military base - any military base, even Gitmo - requires Congressional approval. So, to make that promise was really promising something that obama had no real control over.
Now, he did it again. During the last election, Obama made a very clear promise:
This week, he signed a new security agreement with the leaders of Afghanistan.
Like I said, I'm sure those on the right are going to insist this was a "lie". I submit that this wasn't so much a lie, as it was unthinkingly making a promise that relies on things beyond one's ability to control; which, admittedly, isn't a whole lot better.
So, here's my advice to future politicians: be careful what you promise. make sure that before you promise something, that you are not making a promise that relies on the actions, and decisions of others in order to fulfill. I mean this is "If you like your plan, you can keep it" all over again. Obama keeps making promises that he does not have the ability to unilaterally keep - the promises rely on the ations of others to fulfill. don't do that, unless you want to come across as someone who makes promises they either won't, or can't keep.
Just my two cents...
Now, he did it again. During the last election, Obama made a very clear promise:
“We are bringing our troops home from Afghanistan. And I've set a timetable. We will have them all out of there by 2014,” Obama said in Boulder, Colo., in September 2012. “Gov. Romney doesn't have a timetable. I think he's wrong. That's what's at stake in this election.”
Now, admittedly Romney was also promising to end the conflict in Afghanistan. the only difference is that he wasn't willing to publicize his timetable, as he felt that was telegraphing our plans to "our enemies". Unfortunately, Obama was again being a bit short-sighted. he didn't even conceive of the possibility that circumstances in the region could change, and our presence may be needed longer than anticipated.
This week, he signed a new security agreement with the leaders of Afghanistan.
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on January 1, 2015, after the Parties notify one another through diplomatic channels of the completion of their respective internal legal requirements necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement. It shall remain in force until the end of 2024 and beyond, unless terminated pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article.
Like I said, I'm sure those on the right are going to insist this was a "lie". I submit that this wasn't so much a lie, as it was unthinkingly making a promise that relies on things beyond one's ability to control; which, admittedly, isn't a whole lot better.
So, here's my advice to future politicians: be careful what you promise. make sure that before you promise something, that you are not making a promise that relies on the actions, and decisions of others in order to fulfill. I mean this is "If you like your plan, you can keep it" all over again. Obama keeps making promises that he does not have the ability to unilaterally keep - the promises rely on the ations of others to fulfill. don't do that, unless you want to come across as someone who makes promises they either won't, or can't keep.
Just my two cents...
