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November 20, 2008 at 21:31:04

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Promoted to Headline (H2) on 11/20/08:

You're Scaring Me, Obama: Let the Bush Years Die

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By Heather Wokusch (about the author)     Page 1 of 3 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Heather Wokusch - Writer

To be honest, Obama, you lost me when you voted for the PATRIOT Act reauthorization in 2006. You lost me again when you voted for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) amendment in 2008. And you lost me every single time you voted for yet more war funding.

Don't even get me started on your vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

I cast a ballot for you in November, but I just can't share in this moment of collective euphoria over your election.


So, if your transition team really wants feedback on "where President-Elect Obama should lead this country," here's a Top Five list:

1. Dump the Bush Doctrine and don't start more wars

You've made it clear that the US has to "take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights" and you've argued for "more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11."

What exactly does that mean?

Take troops out of Iraq and shove them into Afghanistan? Further destabilize Pakistan?

The whole idea of preemptive war (a.k.a. the Bush Doctrine) has no place in a civilized society and must be laid to rest, along with those sacrificed in Bush's military adventurism these past eight years.

Yet your approach to preemptive war, Mr. Obama, is nuanced at best.

During the January 2008 Democratic presidential debate, you said that if the US had "actionable intelligence" and Pakistan didn't "take on Al Qaida in their territory," then "I would strike." You added, " And that's the flaw of the Bush doctrine. It wasn't that he went after those who attacked America. It was that he went after those who didn't."

No, the flaw of the Bush Doctrine is that it's just plain wrong. We've learned that the hard way.

2. Ditch the warmongers

What's with all of the hawks in your new administration?

You presented yourself as a peace candidate and then chose Joe Biden as your VP. Yes, he brought in the white male vote, but he also backed the invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Just last month Biden warned that if you were elected, there would be "an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." He said that you would make some "incredibly tough decisions" that could alienate the Democratic base, because if decisions are "popular, they're probably not sound."

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http://www.heatherwokusch.com

Heather Wokusch is the author of The Progressives' Handbook: Get the Facts and Make a Difference Now, which went to #1 on Amazon's political activism charts in December 2007 (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

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Valid criticisms made by JohnPeebles on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2:29:26 AM
Pancho Villa by Harold Barre on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 2:44:44 AM
Thank you, Heather Wokusch. by GLloyd Rowsey on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:27:55 AM
Here's a shorter list, Heather by Alan MacDonald on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 9:56:08 AM
Raimondo will quickly be proven wrong -- When Hillary is by Richard Mynick on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:49:16 AM
Barack's brain dead supporters by wagelaborer on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:42:26 PM
Indeed! by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:50:35 AM
No to violence by Elizabeth Johnston on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 12:01:49 PM
Mr M said nothing of the sort. You must have reading by Richard Mynick on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 12:17:16 PM
My Dear Elizabeth ... by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 3:30:09 PM
A sensible fool by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:21:01 AM
Taking it a step further by wagelaborer on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:53:03 PM
spare me.. by jersey girl on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 11:25:21 AM
I see Monday morning coaching is still popular by virginius "gin" arnold on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 11:43:50 AM
hope in a false prophet.... by jersey girl on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:08:37 PM
Huh? The Right People? by Deborah Wells on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 7:33:30 PM
Excellent post Deborah !! by jersey girl on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 9:24:17 PM
and other thing... by jersey girl on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:14:58 PM
VGA's statement: by richard on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2:39:11 PM
This article reminds me of Palin by Sharon Roach on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 3:19:39 PM
the positive change.. by jersey girl on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:16:07 PM
You're a piece of work ... by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:17:01 PM
Sharon by virginius "gin" arnold on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 5:06:34 PM
Hey, Gin - go Cheney yourself ... by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 5:57:40 PM
It's Not Against Obama by Deborah Wells on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 7:35:33 PM
a note of clarification by richard on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 5:23:16 PM
Oh, and Virginius, by richard on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 5:30:40 PM
Dear wagelaborer by oliver j dragon on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:05:44 PM
thanks by wagelaborer on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:21:20 PM
No change of administration by Bill Samuel on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:10:00 PM
Ughh! We're Arguing Again, While the Walls are Closing In by boomerang on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 9:20:04 PM
Radical Right Wing by pratliff94 on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 9:49:56 PM
Drink a lot of Kool Aid, do ya'? by Mr M on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:07:24 PM
Ignorance is Bliss for some by boomerang on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:34:02 PM
Ignorance is Bliss for some by boomerang on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:34:12 PM
Holding Obama's feet to the fire. by io on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 4:38:32 AM
my beef by shirley reese on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 12:53:41 PM
Bravo Shirley ! by jersey girl on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 at 8:05:08 AM
Bravo Shirley ! by jersey girl on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 at 8:05:30 AM

 
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