The Obama Cabinet
I have to say that Obama looks to have put together a very strong Cabinet. He has wisely abandoned his pre-election rhetoric about change, and stolen half the former Clinton Administration, including the Clintons! Also has abandoned the nonsense about just fleeing from Iraq by keeping on Bush’s Secretary of Defence. So who are the appointments:
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Brillant for Obama as neutralises them, forces Bill to have his diary vetted, and his administration gets to benefit from the massive set fo contacts the Clintons have internationally.
- Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel is an economic liberal (anti regulation) and a very tough politician. Those who think Obama will pursue a socialist agenda, should look at Emanuel’s record. Of course Obama promised all sorts of socialist stuff, but he deosn’t actually have to deliver on that as people will love him anyway. Emanuel also voted for the Iraq War and doesn’t blame Israel for all the problems in the Middle East. He’s not a Republican, but he’s my sort of Democrat.
- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Geithner is President of the New York Federal Reserve. He actually arranged the Bear Stearns bailout, and is a very experienced choice for these times.
- Peter Orszag is the Office of Management and Budget DIrector. He currently heads the Congressional Budget Office and even blogs from there! A bit left for my liking but definitely experienced.
- As previously mentioned Defence Secretary Robert Gates will remain in office – the first ever Defence Secretary to do so across parties. Gates was CIA Director under Bush 41.
- Attorney-General Eric Holder has a very good career in his early days but blotted his copybook with involvment in the disgraceful Clinton pardon of Marc Rich. I suspect he will not last a full term.
- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is to be Homeland Security Secretary and is well regarded as a competent Governor. Homeland Security is huge though and will be a challenge.
- Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary is anotehr former Governor. Very sensible making use of people with executive experience. Plus it is a reward for him for deserting the Clintons.
- Tom Daschle I do not like. A nasty man. I think Secretary of Health and Human Services is beyond him and like Mrs Clinton he will fail at healthcare reform.
- Absolute genius to appoint Paul Volcker to head a Economic Recovery Advisory Board, Volcker is a God.
- General James Jones is inspired choice for National Security Advisor. Jones is a four star Marine General and has served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe and as Commandant of the Marine Corps. Condi Rice tried to get him to be Deputy Secretary of State. He declined but has done work in the Middle East for her.
So far, so good for Obama. Of course the real challenges lie ahead.
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Tags: Barack Obama, United States
December 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Rahm Emanuel’s middle name is Israel. Literally. His father fought for Irgun, the Jewish insurgent/terrorist (take your pick)organisation that was active in British Palestine prior to the formation of Israel.
Rahm is also widely believed to be the inspiration for the Josh Lyman character on ‘West Wing’, notwithstanding the producer’s denials.
Anyone expecting the new administration to have a warm fuzzy approach to Middle Eastern politcis may be in for a rude shock.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I can’t remeber if it was Sullivan or Rupert Murdoch who started pushing this line. It is so obviously stupid.
Anyone with any respect for Obama’s judgement or with any knowledge of what happened after the primiaries would be able to see this as the continuation of the demonising of the Clintons that so many even liberal pundits felt they could indulge in.
“whore”, “evil” – that’s what Hillary was being called – and this line of reasing is just a continuation of that vileness.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he accepted President-elect Barack Obama’s approach to scheduled troop reductions in Iraq, arguing Tuesday that the hotly debated subject of timelines for withdrawal largely had been settled by a new U.S.-Iraq security agreement.
“That bridge has been crossed,” Gates said a day after he formally agreed to remain as Obama’s Defense secretary.
LA Times, 4/12/2008
[DPF: Which is not fleeing. It is exactly what would happen if Bush remained President. The surge has largely worked (which Obama was against) and as more areas become stable the Iraqis take control and US troops can leave. No one wants US troops to stay there in combat roles longer than necessary but it was reckless to be insisting on unilateral withdrawal when doing so would plunge the country into chaos]
December 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
My My. I am surprised. You could certainly knock me down with a feather.
Reading Kiwiblog pre Nov 4, I was convinced that an Obama Administration would be terribly leftwing, packed with hard left personalities, anti free trade and weak kneed in foreign policy.
BTW Geithner was a moderate Republican who changed his affiliation to Independent.
Plus Obama has quietly dumped the idea of a windfall tax on oil company profits – I guess with a drop in the oil price their profits will be lower anyhow.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Well, you were right Mr. Farrar in agreeing with the NYT’s predictions that Clinton would take the AG job. I’m amazed really. I thought she had more political nous. Obama is a train wreck waiting to happen, and any wise politician would try and distance themselves from what will undoubtedly be one of the worst administrations the US has ever seen.
Actually, given the fact that there seems to be mounting evidence of the fact that Obama was really born in Kenya, he is constitutionally barred from becoming POTUS. Interesting to see how far this story can go before the lying cheating mainstream media, those left wing scum who have replaced real journalists, allow it to become known to the general public.
Interesting to see the outcome when the truth of where he is born is finally discovered. This will happen when the detail on the Birth certificate held on file in Hawaii that Obama refuses to allow to be seen is finally revealed. I guess that might not happen though if Obama is successful in his attempts to keep what is on that document secret.
What is wrong with today’s media that they do not get off their arses and investigate this?? I’ll tell you. They are not journalists. They are the propaganda arm of Socialist International, and they have worked assiduously over the years to ensure that no real journalist will ever sit behind a desk in any media outlet they control.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:12 am
From “Obama’s One-Trick Wizards” By “Spengler” at Asia Times:
“One wants to ask the Wall Street wizards who comprise the talent pool for the incoming administration, “If you so smart, how come you ain’t rich no more?” ……
“……Shares of Citibank, the current firm of Bill Clinton’s treasury secretary Robert Rubin, last week traded at less than a tenth of their year-earlier market price……
“……Rubin, a transition advisor to president-elect Barack Obama, was mentor to Treasury secretary designate Timothy Geithner. Even Goldman Sachs, the thoroughbred trading machine that gave us Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson as well as Rubin, is trading at a fifth of its peak value.
These facts came to mind while reading David Brooks’ November 21 New York Times panegyric to Obama’s prospective cabinet, which gushes, “Its members are twice as smart as the poor reporters who have to cover them, three times if you include the columnists.” Brooks added, “… as much as I want to resent these overeducated Achievatrons … I find myself tremendously impressed by the Obama transition.”
Has Brooks checked the markets? The cleverest people in the United States, the Ivy-pedigreed investment bankers, have fouled their own nests as well as their own net worth, and persuaded the taxpayers to bail them out. If these are the best and the brightest of 2008, America is in very deep trouble.
The one-trick wizards of Wall Street had one idea, which was to ride the trend and pile on as much leverage as credulous investors and crony regulators would allow. It has gone pear-shaped, and those who didn’t cash out early along with the cynics are poor. Fortunately for them, Obama will let them play with the budget of the US federal government for the next four years……
“……..Without leverage, the clever folk around Barack Obama are fleas without a dog. None of them invented anything, introduced an important new product, opened a new market, or did anything that reached into the lives of ordinary people. They wore expensive cufflinks, read balance sheets, exercised regularly, sat on philanthropic boards, and assumed that their flea’s ride on the Reagan dog would last forever.
All they knew was leverage, and now that the world is de-levering, they are trying to put leverage back into the system. One almost can hear Mortimer Duke, Don Ameche’s charcter in Trading Places, shouting, “Now, you listen to me! I want trading reopened right now. Get those brokers back in here! Turn those machines back on!” …….”
December 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Read the whole thing:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JK25Dj06.html
That’s “Change”, for you, eh?
December 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
“flee” is a bit far fetched. He called for a timeline but if you go back and read his words he always acknowledged that a withdrawl would premised on facts on the ground and would have to be flexible.
He didn’t abandon any position.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
“He has wisely abandoned his pre-election rhetoric about change”
I think the change here is that he has created a strong-willed Cabinet who won’t be total yes men – he’s not an idealogue if that’s what you mean in that he’s not just stacking people who completely agree with his thinking.
You said so yourself:
“As previously mentioned Defence Secretary Robert Gates will remain in office – the first ever Defence Secretary to do so across parties”
That’s a pretty big piece of change if ever I saw one.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:38 am
yes, Change was partly marketing but his choice of Cabinet is not evidence that this was a hollow promise. In fact he’s chosen a team capable of implementing change.
In areas such as health care and foreign policy there wil be change. He’s chosen a lot of Clinton people because they have experience, that can be relied upon – a team that would be much the same if Hillary had won.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Question for both the Obama critics and the National critics: Does [Obama/National] represent either (1) an extreme, radical administration, hell-bent on resurrectin’ ideological horrors from the past; or (2) a do-nothin’ government whose supporters are never gonna see the change they thought they voted for? Cos it can’t be both.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Stupid Redbaiter has his head up his arse – again- over the supposed birthplace of Obama.
The hawaii birth certificate has been produced, and all he offers is nonsense. Obama of course supplying it
McCain of course wasnt born in the US , being born in the Panama Canal Zone
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/27/obamas-birth-certificate-part-ii/
December 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
This guy will leave Israel high and dry, no doubts. Obammy’s top Middle East envoy is Daniel Kurtzer who is well known for wringing unreasonable concessions from Israel. He will apparently report directly to the Obamessiah himself and not through the Secretary of State! Puzzling. I’m fairly certain the Israeli’s are aware that Obammy is not going to be, shall we say, overly friendly to the Jewish state. Like Rahm Emmanuel, this guy is just another hard left JINO.
Thank God for the, yikes, current economic crisis, this guy would have definitely pushed his socialist agenda through if the books were looking good. Make no mistakes about it, he’s a hard-left, Muslim friendly idealogue alright! It’ll take a while but….when it hits the fan, I told you so.
Also, expect Obammy to pull troops out of Iraq reasonably quickly. The surge has definitely worked although you wouldn’t think so to go by the MSM. He will look to take credit for the hard work already done in the last few months.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Danny-boy
In Nationals case, if they have any nuts, number 1.
In Obammy’s case, probably 1 after a good period of 2.
Good for us, scary for the Yanks.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
There is a problem with his economic team which comprises Geithner, Summers and Volcker all of whom are independently minded. Who will call the shots.
In addition I think Willem Buiter wrote at Maverecon that ‘Larry Summers never saw a bailout he didn’t like,
December 4th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
“The hawaii birth certificate has been produced, and all he offers is nonsense.”
It hasn’t fuckwit. What do you think all the court cases and the millions being paid to lawyers is all about? Money being spent by those who want to see the real certificate and those who seek to keep it hidden. Go on. Answer that you dipshit.
Shheeesh you people are always sooooo thick and uninformed.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
The proof that BH Obama is in fact a lizard/human hybrid not actually having been produced yet, things do look reasonably good- especially compared to what could have been.
Could the appointment of Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services be a move to have him fail- so as to excuse the dumping of a set of promises that aren’t going to work?
December 4th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
next baboon faced RB will be saying Obama is a secret muslim
December 4th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Couldn’t answer . Go away you shallow bore. You’ve got nothing.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
jacob – when a “real” certificate appears we shall know it because it will be on some right-wing propaganda website or on Fox News.
(It must be quite good to be Redbaiter – if you read something you agree with, telling you lefties are evil and there’s a vast corrupt commie conspiracy, then you believe it and feel affirmed that someone shares your paranoia. If you read something that doesn’t agree with your views, then you can assume it is the propaganda of that vast commie conspiracy. The self-referential way that this kind of thinking continuously reinforces itself would be quite beautiful to behold, if it wasn’t such a pathetic spectacle at the same time!)
December 4th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Has anyone seen John Key’s birth certificate?
December 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Mike Williams I suspect!
[DPF: LOL]
December 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
“jacob – when a “real” certificate appears”
It already has appeared you dumbfuck, and its on file in an Hawaiian hospital but not able to be viewed unless Obama gives his permission. Imagine how the media would be jumping if it was Bush’s certificate. This just proves what I have always said. There’s no journalists any more. They’ve been replaced by leftist political activists.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
“Has anyone seen John Key’s birth certificate?”
No doubt if they asked to see it they could. Shame the same can’t be said for Obama.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Obama has given permission and my link shows the scanned copy but here it is.
http://www.politifact.com/media/img/graphics/birthCertObama.jpg
meanwhile GWB records from the TXANG are still missing, but we allready know he was a shirker at least and possibly a deserter , wjho may have even had his flight status terminated since he was a drunk
December 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Sorry Redbaiter but your first post is a right wing rant completely without substance. It actually reminded me of the left wings rant about how John Key is apparently a train wreck about to happen ie with mindless speculation about privatisation, how Key cant handle Foreigh Affairs. Utter nonsense. Redbaiter & Ratbaiter/van leftdog you are all hopelessly out of touch.
Farrar, while this post is quite informative, why say you dislike someone without any basis for it, particularly when commenting on the US cabinet, the ins and out of which many of us do not know. So why dont you like Tom Daschle? Also, are you willing to back down on your claims before the US election that Obama is some left-winger. I dont see it and have never seen it. The cabinet is the already evidence he is a moderate. More to come I’m sure. His administration is certainly a long way right of Team Labour/Green. In fact Obama and Key have a number of things in common (despite Key being riduculed by the lefties here for saying so). Surely one cannot deny it was time for a change in the US.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
“Obama has given permission and my link shows the scanned copy but here it is.”
You really are a retard you know that. I ask you again, what do you think all of the court cases and the supreme court action is about you halfwit? That is not the birth certificate that is on file in the Hawaiian hospital, the one that Obama refuses to allow others to see. Fuck off, you’re light years behind the play, and you cannot even comprehend or answer the most simple arguments and questions. You’re just wasting everyone’s time.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
The court case has been tossed out, yes they can appeal but the result will be the same.
The Supreme court will decide Dec 5 whether to take the case but I guarantee they wont as the previous court decisions are satisfactory on a baseless case
December 4th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
“The court case has been tossed out, yes they can appeal but the result will be the same.”
There are at least 17 court actions underway you sad uninformed moron. Go away. You’re just wasting time here you child.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
In lieu of any real proof of being born in the US, Obama is an imposter, and if he is inaugurated as President, when the matter is finally revealed, and it is discovered he was born in Kenya as so many allege, he will be impeached. Today’s media clearly don’t think such a circumstance is newsworthy. That’s because they are not journalists.
BTW, the document on file that Obama refuses to release is vitally different to the copy circulating on the net that Jacob Van Einstein has linked to above. Much more detail.
Comparison here-
http://www.youdecide2008.com/2008/10/28/obama%E2%80%99s-born-identity/
December 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Bet they change their minds real quick if it happens.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
jacob
As soon as McCain was challenged on his potential ineligibility, he produced what is called the long form or vault Birth Certificate. It showed that he was born in a US Navy Hospital to parents who were both natural born US citizens. Under the US Constitution that is the same as McCain being natural born and that ended the story.
Obama has not been so forthcoming hence the court cases. What has been shown to the public to date (posted on his website, Daily Kos and then also examined by Fact Check) is what is called the COLB (Certificate of Live Birth). This is a computer generated document produced by the State of Hawaii and is the same as if you went into Births, Deaths and Marriages in NZ and asked for a copy of your BC. It is NOT the ORIGINAL long form or vault certificate. It is this document that Obama refuses to produce and has become the subject of various court cases some of which have made it to the Supreme Court. Some have been thrown out due to the plaintiff having no standing (ie suffering no harm or detriment from Obama’s failure to produce the vault BC). Presidential candidate Alan Keyse suit against the CA Sec of State compelling her to certify Obama’s eligibility is likely to have more traction as, were Obama to be ineligible, his prospects as a rival candidate would’ve been harmed.
Whilst there are some who claim that he may not have been born in the US (that would automatically mean he is ineligible to be POTUS due to not complying with the 14th Amendment), others claim that his vault certificate would show he has the adopted name of Seotoro being that of his mother’s second husband who was Indonesian. I am neutral on such claims because there appears to not be verifiable proof of any foreign birth. The impact of the adoption MAY be that Obama had Indonesian citizenship that was not properly renounced and if so, the presence of such dual nationality would also breach the 14th Amendment. There is sufficient muddiness with both claims to make it difficult to make a definitive decision.
The issue for me however is Obama’s unwillingness to clear up any uncertaintly (as McCain did swiftly) by simply producing the long form vault BC. The long form vault version has 8 extra fields not contained in the COLB he has already released and two of these fields include the hospital of birth and the attending physician. Under Hawaiian law at the time, it was possible to register a birth and have the state of Hawaii issue a BC even if the child was born out of state. That ability opens the door to the possible veracity of some of the claims made. The fact that Obama has hired a crack team of very expensive lawyers to fight each case tooth and nail is very suspicious. He could very easily close the door on all speculation very quickly but chooses not to.
Back to the subject of the thread. The centerist nature of the appointments was mildly surprising. The GOP Senators are only likely to fight Holder due to his key role in the 11th hour Clinton pardon of fleeing fraudster Marc Rich (who conveniently loaned Hillary’s brother a $400l ‘loan’). But the crucial thing will not be who was chosen to govern but HOW they govern. Obama’s lack of a clear definitive direction on the economy even by way of pronouncement of intended policy is causing market volatility. He campaigned on steeply raising the capital gains tax, reinstituting the death tax, increasing taxes on those earning more than $80k and allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire (effectively a tax increase). Those are all policies that have proven in the past to deepen and worsen recessions (witness Hoover increasing taxes in 1932 thus plunging the US from recession to depression). If Obama announced that all proposed tax increases were off the table until the economy ws growing again, market sentiment would surge dramatically.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You realise that “The Corner” is satire right?
December 4th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
If Obama was born in Kenya, there will be no certificate in Hawaii – the USA only issues birth certificates to people born in the USA.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Under the US Constitution that is the same as McCain being natural born and that ended the story.
The US Constitution does not define the meaning “natural born”. It is only through common assent (barring a few loons) that McCain was a natural born born citizen for the purposes of presidential eligibility.
The impact of the adoption MAY be that Obama had Indonesian citizenship that was not properly renounced and if so, the presence of such dual nationality would also breach the 14th Amendment.
The 14th amendment does not bar dual nationality. The State Department did have a policy that one could not have dual nationality but that was an outmoded crock of shit.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Until you’ve actually seen it, doesn’t it stand to reason he was probably actually born in a village in Kenya?
December 4th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
metcalf
Please furnish evidence that the dual nationality policy is “an outmoded crock of shit”
December 4th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
“The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person’s allegiance.
However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws.”
http://careers.state.gov/docs/DualCitizenship.pdf This document was dated 1 June 2007.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Dec 5th US Time is when the Supreme court will give its decision on whether to hear this case. But of course a no decision will just fuel further speculation
December 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
The issue of dual nationality is highly relevant due to POTUS’s role as Commander in Chief. That was at the heart of the founding fathers agreeing to the Article 2 natural born citizen requirement later clarified in the 14th Amendment.
Obama travelled to Pakistan in 1981 as a student when there was a travel ban in force for US citizens so it would be interesting to know how he could’ve travelled there on a US passport. His dual Indonesian nationality (that he admits to having for a period of time) would’ve allowed him an Indonesian passport then that would’ve made the travel easy. It is a matter of public record that he attended school in Indonesia when he was 8. It seems clear that the type of school he attended at the time he went there was restricted to Indonesian citizens only and indeed that is the citizenship his mother wrote on the school enrolment form – a photo of which was posted on the LA Times website for a time.
My personal view – he was born in Hawaii but his vault certificate has the name Barry Soetero being the name of his adoptive Indonesian father. Adoption means the original BC was destroyed and replaced by a new long fault certificate. He later changed his name to Barak and took back his birth father’s name Obama and the COLB (the computer generated one he has produced) reflects that change. I believe there is a grey area surrounding when, if and/or how he renounced his Indonesian citizenship. He is fighting to keep the vault BC hidden because he didn’t want the dual nationality issue to become a distraction during the campaign. If he can show a clear documented trail renouncing Indonesian citizenship then he would likely withstand any legal challenge to eligibility.
Why he’s fighting to keep the vault cert hidden is anyone’s guess. I think the born in Kenya thing is a red herring. The real issue is when, how and did he renounce his Indonesian citizenship. It will be interesting to see if the Supreme Court is willing to press him to show the vault long form BC.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Just as well Harry Duynhoeven decided to stand for New Plymouth and not for the US presidency is all I can say.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
jacob
The 5 Dec hearing is for the Leo Donofrio’s case (rejected by the NJ Court of Appeal). I don’t hold out much hope – I believe he too will be judged to be lacking standing. The Keyse case against the CA Sec State is the most interesting and that is before the CA Court of Appeal who will likely uphold the Superior Court finding that the CA Sec State doesn’t have to prove eligiblity. Keyse will take it to the CA Supreme Court and then through the 9th Circuit Federal Appeal Court and I’m picking the SCOTUS will have a look. Keyse has co-joined all 57 Obama CA electors who are due to join the Electoral College to cast their votes for Obama on 15 December. If all 57 are prevented from voting for Obama due to the eligibility question then that opens the floodgates to other states’ Obama electors being sued etc etc. It will be hard for SCOTUS to say Keyse lacks standing. We might be in for some interesting times ahead!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
When I said there where serious questions about Obama’s birth certificate before the election I was told to grow a brain and piss off. Someone told me to check “Fact check?” as they knew it fucking all. Well it appears “Fact Check” is a left wing arse licking operation and the birth certificate on it’s website is a forgery. Google “rense” and you will find the link to this story, very long!.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Sorry for my naivety but what good to American people (middle class) did eight years of “right wing” conservative government bring?
December 5th, 2008 at 12:04 am
“If Obama was born in Kenya, there will be no certificate in Hawaii – the USA only issues birth certificates to people born in the USA.”
This assertion is completely wrong. Look it up.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Okay, even if he’s born in Kenya – the best way to defeat Obama is not through some constitution loop-whole, but through ideas.
Well, not if his cabinet is anything to go by. Purportedly a pretty moderate bunch which has disappointed the hard-left & the ‘change’ advocates.
Also, I don’t think being pro-Muslim and a good president of the USA is mutually exclusive. So what if he’s pro-Muslim – who cares?
As I said the best way to defeat the left is with ideas. The right in America needs someone to articulate that the best way to a better society is through individual responsibility, and more personal freedom which should intern imbued one with a better social conscious.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:48 am
“Okay, even if he’s born in Kenya – the best way to defeat Obama is not through some constitution loop-whole,”
Yep, lets just throw the whole Constitution in the dustbin.. fuck it..
December 5th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Well, we don’t have one. Thought I’m not sure if that an argument for or against a constitution given what Helen tried to do in her third term.
FYI – Obama lectured in constitution law @ Harvard University, so I suspect he knows it better than most.
December 5th, 2008 at 4:17 am
The Obama administration is going to be a train wreck waiting to happen. Lost of laughs ahead I predict.
December 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Sorry Redbaiter, I’ve worked with several US state departments of health and I stand by what I say – a birth certificate can only be issued after notification of birth within the USA. So if Obama was born overseas, he doesn’t have a US birth certificate..
December 5th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I just found the reference-
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138537/posts
December 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
“FYI – Obama lectured in constitution law @ Harvard University, so I suspect he knows it better than most.”
Actually Obama did SFA at Harvard, but that’s another issue. Look. Its not a damn “loop hole”. The Constitution specifically states that any President must be a “natural born citizen”. Anyone born in Kenya cannot be this. Too hard for you or what?
December 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
But that was never his postion.
If you go over what he has said on this you’ll see he always left it open – he indeed emphasised urgency but being the clever lawyer he is there were always conditions. And taking into account how he had to differentiate himself from Bush for marketing purposes it’s pretty obvious that he was never in favour of a withdrawl timetable that would put in danger the the security gains of the surge.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
[DPF: Which is not fleeing. It is exactly what would happen if Bush remained President. The surge has largely worked (which Obama was against) and as more areas become stable the Iraqis take control and US troops can leave. No one wants US troops to stay there in combat roles longer than necessary but it was reckless to be insisting on unilateral withdrawal when doing so would plunge the country into chaos]
Actually your likely wrong there. Studies have shown that the reason there is reduce violence is not because of the surge, but because Sunnis have left in droves. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080919074830.htm In other words, a successful ethnic cleansing of Iraq not the surge is what has been successful. If your like me, that’s not a good thing but I’m betting Bush is happy. They’re just god-forsaken Muslims, who cares about them right? As long as they don’t kill us…
December 5th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Redbaiter, I heard Bush was born in hell, so he’s not a natural born citizen either. Don’t believe me? It doesn’t matter. By your logic you have to prove Bush was born in the US even though no one has seriously challenged this claim, and all authorities agree Bush was born in the US.
P.S. If anyone is going to dispute the success of ethnic cleansing in Iraq, I’d like some scientific answers. In other words, references from peer-reviewed journals which dispute the success or argue it’s not the primary reason for the drop in Iraqi violence. Fox News nonsense is not welcome. Nor is bull-shit coming out of the Bush camp is not scientific evidence as anyone who has noticed Bush’s attempts to destroy scientific integrity in the US will realise. (E.g. the abortion-cancer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion-breast_cancer_hypothesis#National_Cancer_Institute bullshit attempt)
December 5th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
[In fact Obama and Key have a number of things in common (despite Key being riduculed by the lefties here for saying so). Surely one cannot deny it was time for a change in the US.]
Obama has vowed to increase taxes for the wealthy, increase the availability of public health-care, protect the environment via the government (not hope and pray the private sector does the right thing) and has always been opposed the war in Iraq. The only three things Obama and Key has in common is that they’re both young, people appear to find them charming and they both won their respective elections.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
For people who can’t understand why Redbaiter is so obsessed with this
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/12/05/birth_certificate/
In terms of Obama’s cabinet, it’s a great move, as he is now perceived to be a centrist, and Gallup shows he has won broad approval for his team. You couldn’t ask for a better start to his presidency.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Thanks for the photo of Hussein at four. God his mum is ugly. Guess thats why he had a Kenyan father who shot through pretty quick (as the darkies do). Redbaiter is definitely on the right track here I think.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
The trolls are hungry today…
December 6th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
As an American, I can say that this is a wonderful review of the Obama cabinet.
It is however not “HAPPY MISCHIEF”, it’s blatant fucking stealing
It’s a complete word-for-word ripoff from an American website, a REAL political commentator.
http://www.theworld.org/?q=aggregator/sources/77
Not a thieving charlatan like David, the writer of the “KiwiBlog”.
Does the word “plagiarism” mean anything to New Zealanders? A simple Google phrase search has revealed many stories you’ve claimed to write are COMPLETELY STOLEN. Just like the other kiwi blogger in Oz, Michael “dole bludger” Moore.
[DPF: Your link doesn't go to any story remotely like my one. And even if it did, then it would be stolen from my site because I did write my review myself.]