Iraq quagmire
Mixed. Given, for instance, my stance on abortion (last answer), I find Mr. Obama's strong backing of abortion extremely troubling. Conversely, I find his efforts toward scaling back nuclear weapons, cutting down on greenhouse gases, getting more access to healthcare for individuals... as commendable (and in line with the Consistent Life Ethic I espouse). I would, however, push for much stronger action on each of these fronts. (Granted President Obama might have as well in some of these categories, but, as has been the case with healthcare, he has been hamstrung to a degree by Congress.) I do disagree with the president's troop surge strategy in Afghanistan. I believe this will lead to a situation analogous to what essentially devolved into the '
.' And I believe the stepped up drone attacks in the mountain region between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a mistake, considering all the civilians being killed. (What we so often refer to as a war's “inevitable collateral damage,” is: children, moms, dads...) Admittedly however, when it comes to both Afghanistan and Iraq, Mr. Obama inherited tremendous dilemmas, with no easy solutions. On the environmental/energy front, I strongly disagree with Mr. Obama's plans for more drilling offshore in the Atlantic, and promoting a new generation of nuclear energy plants... For more on our energy policy, see:  In regard to personal characteristics, I do admire Mr. Obama's tenacity, which was demonstrated graphically in the last election process and with his relentless pursuit of the healthcare bill. An addendum: There has been much written about Mr. Obama's oratory skills and negotiating skills. Yet I believe this has to be weighed in the context of: Is he saying the right stuff? Is he negotiating for the right stuff? In my opinion, not always.
Wikinews interviews Joe Schriner, Independent U.S. presidential candidate