At least seven killed at Fort Hood

[kdilks]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

You bet your azz I've "got issues!" I've got issues with people (you included, evidently) who cannot tolerate any criticism, no matter how mild, of Obama. So the fact that a former president has found time to visit with the victims and the current president has not, in your mind, becomes a AAA issue, to be sorted out by a travel agent. He could have gone to Fort Hood Thursday afternoon if he'd wanted to (I'm not suggesting that he should), there are very few restrictions on what and where and when a president can travel. He's "probably busy as the current President," eh, doing what, exactly?

If you agree that Obama didn't need to make an immediate appearance, than exactly what criticism are you making that I'm not tolerating?

 

[walrus]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

Obama is heading there on tuesday for a memorial service

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

I might be way off base here but with all the stuff they were trying to figure out wouldn't a visit be detrimental? If they are scrambling around trying to piece things together and then they need to scramble for his security I would think that would be a nightmare.

Probably, that's why I specifically said I wasn't suggesting he should have gone on Thursday (do you ever read what I post, just wondering). However, today is Saturday and still no plans to visit. The Secret Service can provide for his security just about anywhere, so that's not an issue.

This is more than a huge crime or a natural disaster. This was a mass killing by a U.S. Army officer of other soldiers on an Army base. He is commander in chief, his responsibilities are great and his response so far has been, luke warm at best.

Now you can rationalize, temporize and justify what some see as a lack of concern any way you want. But there is considerable criticism out there, and not all of it comes from Republicans. The first criticism, to my knowledge, came from his hometown NBC station.

I'm reminded of the episode of West Wing where president Bartlett was conflicted about going to a tornado ravaged town because he feared he'd be in the way and would hinder relief efforts. IIRC, he concluded that he was right, but that people in the town also benefitted from seeing him.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

If you agree that Obama didn't need to make an immediate appearance, than exactly what criticism are you making that I'm not tolerating?

Your obtuse response evidently rests on your definition of "immediate." Thursday WAS immediate, Saturday is not, and neither is Tuesday. Specifically, I'm criticizing him for not going to Fort Hood TODAY. Okay?

 

[kdilks]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

However, today is Saturday and still no plans to visit.

Obama is heading there on tuesday for a memorial service

Obama isn't in the immediate area and is probably busy as the current President, so he's attending the memorial service on Tuesday.

Read much?

Also, nice touch defending your point with something that happened on West Wing.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

our President IS a figurehead. not with the Queen's type of power - the right to dismiss her Government - our President can't do that - but a certain degree of hand holding, speech giving, appearing to care is part of the job. he needs to convince us that what he chooses to do on any given day IS what is important for the nation. health care, commemorating 911, comforting Fort Hood troops, etc are all important. golf at Camp David isn't.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

Read much?

Also, nice touch defending your point with something that happened on West Wing.

He should have gone today. Going Tuesday is the absolute minimum.
I like Jed Bartlett, could have easily voted for him. This is a president who whacked the Prime Minister of a friendly country. What's not to like?

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

our President IS a figurehead. not with the Queen's type of power - the right to dismiss her Government - our President can't do that - but a certain degree of hand holding, speech giving, appearing to care is part of the job. he needs to convince us that what he chooses to do on any given day IS what is important for the nation. health care, commemorating 911, comforting Fort Hood troops, etc are all important. golf at Camp David isn't.

It's kind of dicey. On one hand: the president is entitled to take a weekend off now and again. Every president as far as I can remember has spent plenty of time at Camp David/a Texas Ranch. Also, there really isn't a whole lot of difference between him being there today and him being there Tuesday.

On the other hand: It definately wouldn't have killed him to make an appearance today for a few hours and then head back to Camp David this afternoon/evening.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33754750/ns/us_news-life/

"Dr." Hasan would doubtless approve: town doesn't want to use the phrase "muslim terrorists" on a memorial to a 9/11 victim. How did this poor man die, daddy?

 

[leswp1]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

As long as he had his tele prompter.

I have seen this comment a lot recently and it truly confuses me. What is the big deal about a teleprompter?

Probably, that's why I specifically said I wasn't suggesting he should have gone on Thursday (do you ever read what I post, just wondering). However, today is Saturday and still no plans to visit. The Secret Service can provide for his security just about anywhere, so that's not an issue.

This is more than a huge crime or a natural disaster. This was a mass killing by a U.S. Army officer of other soldiers on an Army base. He is commander in chief, his responsibilities are great and his response so far has been, luke warm at best.

Now you can rationalize, temporize and justify what some see as a lack of concern any way you want. But there is considerable criticism out there, and not all of it comes from Republicans. The first criticism, to my knowledge, came from his hometown NBC station.

I'm reminded of the episode of West Wing where president Bartlett was conflicted about going to a tornado ravaged town because he feared he'd be in the way and would hinder relief efforts. IIRC, he concluded that he was right, but that people in the town also benefitted from seeing him.

Seeing that I can not recall replying to you more than a few times I am wondering why you would ask this. I am not sure that the big O is the next Messiah but I don't exactly see him as Satan either. For those that don't like him I doubt his walking on water would be enough and those that love him will never see anything he does as wrong. I am guessing he is somewhere in the middle.

No matter what he does half the people will continue to be happy and the other half will vilify him. Not sure how this thread digressed to a referendum whether the president is acting the way he should.

 

[walrus]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

I have seen this comment a lot recently and it truly confuses me. What is the big deal about a teleprompter?

.

It gets a rise out of his supporters?

 

[huskyfan]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

we've got to **** and moan about something, huh?

 

[leswp1]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

It gets a rise out of his supporters?

I got some email saying something about it and I thought 'Well at least he has figured out he can't talk without help. A bit of an improvement from just being plain inarticulate.'

After Regan and CLinton no one seems to have a silver tongue

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

It's kind of dicey. On one hand: the president is entitled to take a weekend off now and again. Every president as far as I can remember has spent plenty of time at Camp David/a Texas Ranch. Also, there really isn't a whole lot of difference between him being there today and him being there Tuesday.

On the other hand: It definately wouldn't have killed him to make an appearance today for a few hours and then head back to Camp David this afternoon/evening.

I agree. Presidents actually rarely get a day "off." At Camp David or other places they can focus on important matters in a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer interruptions. But they're still working.

The claim on President Obama's time here is greater than other situations because he is the commander in chief. These people work directly for him.
A one hour visit, to the wounded, chatting with the base commander, and back into the air wouldn't have hurt him. But as has been said already, so far he's had a tin ear on this one.

Frankly, I'm not a big believer in these presidential drop-ins because they frequently (usually?) become glorified photo-ops. But many of us have come to expect them. And sometimes they are a great benefit. I was at Johnson Space Center when Reagan spoke after the Challenger disaster and then comforted the famillies. I cried like a baby.

President Clinton did himself proud after Oklahoma City. And yes, the George W. Bush appearance at ground zero, with his arm around that firefighter, was powerful and at the time greatly appreciated by the vast majority of Americans.

President Obama has a chance to stifle this criticism on Tuesday. I hope he hits it out of the park. The people who are hurting deserve it.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

I have seen this comment a lot recently and it truly confuses me. What is the big deal about a teleprompter?



Seeing that I can not recall replying to you more than a few times I am wondering why you would ask this. I am not sure that the big O is the next Messiah but I don't exactly see him as Satan either. For those that don't like him I doubt his walking on water would be enough and those that love him will never see anything he does as wrong. I am guessing he is somewhere in the middle.

No matter what he does half the people will continue to be happy and the other half will vilify him. Not sure how this thread digressed to a referendum whether the president is acting the way he should.

I asked the question because your response seemed to indicate I was advocating an immediate visit to Fort Hood, which would have complicated matters for law enforcement, investigators and so on. Therefore, I specifically rejected such a visit. However, dropping in today for an hour or so wouldn't present that problem.

As to the larger issue of whether or not the president is a messiah or a satan, I'll leave to the hysterical types who can't countenance any criticism of him, no matter how muted, ever.

 

[Slap Shot]

The first criticism, to my knowledge, came from his hometown NBC station.

So now NBC news is credible to you? You saying that he, "isn't going until Tuesday" is just an excuse to harp on him.

However, dropping in today for an hour or so wouldn't present that problem.

You don't know that.

 

[Patman]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-07/major-hasans-hidden-militancy/full/

for the ostrich community amongst us... read this... as far as i can tell the author is at least nominally muslim but the article is taken from a fairly even take and tries to dig deep into Hasan and his muslim/Islamic identity. It goes into some of the dissonance between loyalty to one's country and the loyalty to one's religious group as mandated by the Koran.

It seems to me the fight of western islam is that between the rigid arab influenced intellectuals and leaders... those whom tend to hold control of the major "rights" groups... and those who seek to fuse their understanding of the world as flavored by Islam and what they have before them in Western society. We've seen over and over again that a certain section is being radicalized and much of it is owed to the structure of the fundamentals of islam. Lets recall the actions and nature of the most perfect person (Muhammed) and the god that anointed him so.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

So now NBC news is credible to you? You saying that he, "isn't going until Tuesday" is just an excuse to harp on him.



You don't know that.

Only to the extent that they aren't Fox and assumed to be critical 24/7.
He is the commander in chief, Fort Hood is an Army base, he is directly in charge of that base. No power on earth could stop him from going if he wanted to. Perhaps they suggested he stay away, always a possibility. But I doubt it.

I don't need "an excuse" to "harp" on him. Nor permission.

If you're referring to the investigation, he wouldn't interfere with that at all by paying respects to the victims. There's no investigation going on at the hospital.

 

[kdilks]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

If you're referring to the investigation, he wouldn't interfere with that at all by paying respects to the victims. There's no investigation going on at the hospital.

The shooter is in the hospital. I think there might be a wee bit of investigating going on there.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: At least seven killed at Fort Hood

The shooter is in the hospital. I think there might be a wee bit of investigating going on there.

"Dr." Hasan has been transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. I'm not suggesting the president go there.