Deeds, not words


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Readers' comments



supamark in reply to Mark S. Oller

Wow, your tin foil hat must collection must be impressive.

What's more likely:

A bunch of Jews get together to erradicate themselves from the world that they run -OR- that a lot of people (Christians/Muslims, the competing religions of Abraham) don't like Jews and periodically try to exterminate them?

abu tayyi in reply to Jean Michel

Yes. That, of course, means to end once and for all our support for militant zionism -- the best thing this country could do to improve its strategic position, be it political, military, economic, moral....

Pompatus in reply to teacup775

It was clearly given ex officio as a diplomatic statement. That's the problem. You can express your personal opinion all you want, and you should as both a President and a politician. But you should be very careful when speaking as the Commander and Chief. The office wears many hats, and you have to be careful which one you've got on.

You should speak like a your party's leader at fundraisers or the convention, as the President at the State of the Union, and as Commander and Chief when Representing the United States of America abroad. It's a matter of style, I guess, but it's important, and Obama has been a bit to casual.

What you absolutely should not do is denounce one of your own citizens while speaking officially. The correct thing to say is "I, personally, disapprove of this video" or "this video does not represent the views of most Americans"- a statement of fact.

guest-iswewaw in reply to roryt

consider the problem. TE clearly wants to take a nonpartistan appapproach to American politics. Yet there is little doubt that the Conservative movement has become almost entirely divorced from facts has come to despise facts and intellect hence its popularity with extreme religious persons who also are at odds with facts and reason. this cannot help but move them into losing touch with reasoned analysis if they are to appear neutral.

Alternatively, they may be getting ready to endorse Obama. And want to be clear that they gave Romney every consideration . . . before deciding that he is a disaster waiting to happen on the economy and on foreign affairs. That actually seems much more likely than an endorsement of Romney.

What about Bob

"The squabbling began after Mitt Romney accused the Obama administration (actually only the American embassy in Egypt)..."

So the State Department and embassies are not part of the executive branch? Thus not part of the Obama Administration. Interesting very interesting and complete bullshit.

Even the White House criticized the Embassy for its comments. All this shows is that there is a disconnect within the administration. Now the question is why and to what extent? Granted It could have easily been just a stupid mistake or it could reveal deeper problems. I am sure most people remember the fueding between Rumsfeld DoD and Powell State department in the Bush admin.

If an Obama did follow Bush, you may be right. But comparing GW Bush to Obama, Bush really shine.

Unemployment 1/2009 7.8%
9/2012 8.3%
Median income 1/2009 $54,893
9/2012 $50,909
Gas Price 1/2009 $1.84/gallon
9/2012 $3.82/gallon
Deficit 1/2009 $458.5 billion
9/2012 $1.29 trillion

Look at how the economy degraded, I take Bush back any day.

As a businessman for over 30 years, I have more confidence in someone who understand business. I know it takes a lot to succeed. With Romney, we have someone who gave his inheritance to charity and build his own fortune himself. He did something for himself and by himself. Given how well he did for himself, I sure like to give him a try in doing it for the country. If he can did so well in managing his own life, there is a reasonably good probability he can do a good job with the country.

Fossil American in reply to cshima

cshima wrote "...Anyone with a shred of emotional moderation can tell that Obama acted maturely..."

* * *

Cshima, are you trying to be funny? Four people died for the us represent the US of A. This is not a time for joking around.

Fossil American in reply to Ralph C

The blessing is, it would be better than what we have today: An Obama at the top, a Hillary by his side, a Valarie ensuring left turns.

Anything is an improvement over the what we got today. A total failure that is the Obama administration.

Even Air Force One will save some gas - less ego to carry around once Obama is out.

Fossil American in reply to CA-Oxonian

CA-Oxonian wrote "...the only constant element of his "platform" seems to be his conviction that he should be voted into office. Everything else is malleable..."

* * *

Mr. CA-Oxonian,

I understand his approach perfectly well. In a contest of the lesser of two evils, it really doesn't matter what the platform is.

I am tired of seeing my friends unemployed. I am tired of seeing businesses close. I am tired of friends loosing their homes. I am tired of seeing hopelessness. I am so tire of Obama's failure I would vote for a gold fish before I vote for Obama.

I think Romney sensed that feeling in America and he is tapping in that general feeling that many Americans shares: we must change direction and change as soon as possible. Everything else is merely detail. Throw Obama out of office being priority. Beside, there is no damage Romney can do that is beyond what Obama has already done and will do if he gets another 4 years.

Whether it is a majority-feeling or not, I don't know. But "right direction v wrong direction" polls would say more think we should change than not.

Anakha82 in reply to New Conservative

Actually, the Economist's timeline is correct. The protest began outside the Cairo embassy before it issued its first statement condemning the film. It also continued to issue similar statements after the riots and storming of the Benghazi embassy.



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