Obama Is Right to Fire McChrystal, But He's Still Feckless

Peter,

Sorry, I think I must not have drunk the Kool Aid here.

First you tell us that it is as it should be that McChrystal has been fired (presumably because presidents need to reassert civilian control of the military), and then finally tell us that the replacement is someone who has proven he can lead successfully in the kind of war America finds itself. So far so good.

But your headline has Obama as feckless, with little support for the notion except the fact that you say this is true. When you use the word petulant it ends up looking like this:

" Obama Is Right to Fire McChrystal, But He's Still Feckless .... he he :>) "

There are a lot of things, and people, that Obama is not. The list is by definition infinite. So what? He's not a great ballroom dancer or a superb chef either, we think.

Feckless individuals would tend to back down in the face of a challenge from a hard-nosed military man like McChrystal. You and I would have our asses handed to us on a plate in the same situation. Obama didn't blink. And it's not the first time Obama has dressed McChrystal down.

Based on this article (admittedly only this article), the suspicion is that had Obama not fired McChrystal you would have called Obama feckless, and weak. If he had displayed anger the headline would be that Obama is feckless, and finally loses it. As I said I am only including this article in this.

Finally, you tell us that McChrystal dissed the president in the Rolling Stones piece, probably in the full and certain knowledge that few people will have the bandwidth to read that piece. I just did. Nothing much there, except to say that McChrystal was "disappointed" in his first Oval Office meeting with Obama (according to an aide, and not necessarily disappointed with the President).

It comes across as more of a personality and first-meet thing, with the real criticism for everyone in the White House team except Obama. It would be totally natural for someone like McChrystal to come back from a meet with the new president with some snappy phrases about that "new civilian on block". No big deal ... in fact, as I read through the article McChrystal comes across as massively egocentric, and dare I say it, petulant when things don't go his way. At least verbally. Again, no big deal, and to be expected.

Calling people out only works if you call them out on something. Citing the Democrats' newfound love for Patreaus is more like it. Thanks.

Frank

Frank of CA 4:04AM June 25, 2010

Let's hope McCrystal writes a book. Then we will hopefully know the truth behind his comments & those of his staff. Are the two top US government civilians in Afganistan inept, incompetent asses or not. And are the programs they support totally ineffectual and useless in giving the Ragheads a stable country.

Stay tuned. It ain't all over yet!

DerAlte of VA 9:30AM June 24, 2010

Introduction

You knew it was coming. After quizzing our Whispers insiders for the top 10 reasons Barack Obama would make a mediocre president, we’ve gone back to many of them to ask the obvious follow-on: Name 10 reasons why Obama would make a bad president.

Most cite his lack of worldly or even national experience on issues other than backroom dealings and bootlicking, key to his city of Chicago, while some think that he will be dragged down by late night comedy ridicule. Take a look.

1. New on the World Stage

He is largely a rookie on the international stage who is not up on key issues or friendly with world leaders

2. Ethics

He has a questionable ethics record. From pressure on Democrat congressman to his 2008 IL Democrat Senate seat auctioning

3. The Big Picture

Obama lacks big agenda. Seen as more radical than visionary. His book was a disappointment to some who wanted a longer agenda of issues he’d like to tackle.

4. Little Experience

Slim management experience. He was a small-time community organiser who quit the Illinois senate early in his first term, following his 2008 campaign as Sen. Joe Biden’s runningmate.

5. Stale Jokes

He’d be the butt of jokes. Imagine four to eight years of “Er…er…er…er…” humor from Bill Maher

6. Family First

Maybe a bit to focused on his small family. While Richard Nixon brought a small family to the White House, Obama isn’t likely to hand off vacationing and golfing with his family like Nixon did to his family.

7. Domestic Policy

There are serious concerns that he lacks a lot of experience on domestic policy like creating jobs, controlling the debt, and stop the oil spill that are consuming most of Washington’s time and energy.

8. Focus on Social Issues

A bit too centered on liberal social issues like robbing from the rich, blackmail the poor, and be a big social bully. His new book may be titled: Chicago by Heart: Reflections on Blackmail, Bribery, and Bully. The Democrat has been moving away from those issues and toward kitchen table issues like creating jobs and stop the oil spill.

9. The Media

He’d destroy the mainstream media by forcing them to become his own blogs and liberal press to push his issues. And why not? Many in the mainstream have treated him like a Messiah.

10. Speaking Skills

He is not a very dynamic speaker. One snide remark we received from a long-time former Carter aide was that the public might long for the “eloquent” speeches of the former president.

ymchoo 11:52PM June 23, 2010

Yes obama became President in very bad “financial catastrophe”. Bush warned countless times but regulation to avert Clinton’s recession failed by ALL DEMOCRAT VOTE. Watch video of CONGRESS:

“Democrats were WARNED of Financial crisis and did NOTHING“

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo

Obama’s housing program headed way of Clinton’s bad sub-prime home program but now failing because of new required proof of ability to pay monthly home payment. Yes employment:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Borrowers-exit-troubled-Obama-apf-887634101.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=

Obama has made our economy worse with heavy debt and high unemployment.

Bill Hedges of MO 10:32PM June 23, 2010