Comments on: Like Water Flowing Downhill http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/ Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy. Wed, 23 May 2012 12:36:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dean Esmay http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166081 Dean Esmay Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:16:21 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166081 You know if we were to just embrace and nurture democracy in Iraq, that might, just might, establish for us a sane and stable ally in the Middle East and be the beginnings of a reshaping of the entire region toward greater freedom and human rights that's also much less likely to produce radical terrorism. A new administration requires new visions. Obama would be brilliant and courageous to embrace such an innovative and forward-looking agenda. You know if we were to just embrace and nurture democracy in Iraq, that might, just might, establish for us a sane and stable ally in the Middle East and be the beginnings of a reshaping of the entire region toward greater freedom and human rights that’s also much less likely to produce radical terrorism.

A new administration requires new visions. Obama would be brilliant and courageous to embrace such an innovative and forward-looking agenda.

]]> By: Dave Price http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166080 Dave Price Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:33:08 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166080 Yeah, I just shake my head at some of the spin out there.  Even on straight news stories I'm seeeing versions of "Obama wanted timelines for withdrawal when the country was falling into civil war, and now the security situation is good enough for everyone to agree on timelines, so this vindicates Obama." Yeah, I just shake my head at some of the spin out there.  Even on straight news stories I’m seeeing versions of "Obama wanted timelines for withdrawal when the country was falling into civil war, and now the security situation is good enough for everyone to agree on timelines, so this vindicates Obama."

]]> By: Dean Esmay http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166073 Dean Esmay Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:47:59 +0000 http://deanesmay.com/2008/12/01/like-water-flowing-downhill/#comment-166073 Rather ironic that Thomas Friedman manages to spin this as something great Obama's done, and basically says without admitting it that if Obama and the Democratic Party just embrace the Neocon agenda on Iraq it would be a wonderful thing for the country, the world, and their party. Part of me says he's too smart not to know what he's really saying, because he wants to sell Democrats on the idea. That's the only reason I'm going to try not being extremely sarcastic. If the goal is to follow through on our commitment to Iraq and on reshaping, over the long hard slog of time, our strategic relationship with an area badly suffering from lack of freedoms, then, we do what it takes to get that goal accomplished. Ronald Reagan had a sign on his desk that said something to the effect of "it is amazing what a man can get done in this world if he doesn't care who gets the credit." If Obama and his party do the right thing on Iraq and get all the immediate glory for it, let 'em. History will be the real judge anyway. Rather ironic that Thomas Friedman manages to spin this as something great Obama’s done, and basically says without admitting it that if Obama and the Democratic Party just embrace the Neocon agenda on Iraq it would be a wonderful thing for the country, the world, and their party.

Part of me says he’s too smart not to know what he’s really saying, because he wants to sell Democrats on the idea. That’s the only reason I’m going to try not being extremely sarcastic. If the goal is to follow through on our commitment to Iraq and on reshaping, over the long hard slog of time, our strategic relationship with an area badly suffering from lack of freedoms, then, we do what it takes to get that goal accomplished.

Ronald Reagan had a sign on his desk that said something to the effect of "it is amazing what a man can get done in this world if he doesn’t care who gets the credit."

If Obama and his party do the right thing on Iraq and get all the immediate glory for it, let ‘em. History will be the real judge anyway.

]]>