Stepping onto my soap box for a minute

Warning, this is very long!


Tonight, trying to be a good American I chose to watch President Obama’s address about the war in Iraq. I’ll be honest and say that I can’t stand to listen to that man speak. But to be a well informed citizen I had to suck it up and listen. Anyone that knows me knows where I stand when it comes to politics. There is no questioning that I am a conservative voter. I like to defend my side and tell people why I feel the way I do. I did not like the majority of what the president said tonight, and feel that he turned his speech into a speech to rally supporters for his cause. He spoke of creating jobs, sustaining and strengthening our leadership, ending our dependency on foreign oil, and strengthening our middle class. To quote the president, “Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for- the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.” Really, did he say “work for it”? I thought everyone was entitled to a better life. I thought that we all deserved a better life, now you tell me we have to “work for it.”

It baffles me that anyone can still believe the filth that spews from Obama’s mouth. He said before he was elected president that the surge of troops to Iraq was a mistake. Now he, as president, is sending a surge of troops to Afghanistan. So my question is how is the surge that Bush requested different from the surge that has now been requested? There must be a reason he now believes in a surge, but in January 2007 did not agree with one. It’s funny, but sad at the same time to listen to the remarks Obama made regarding the war, before he was president. How can people still believe this man? How can anyone still have faith that he is doing anything good for our country?

I do not agree at all with putting a specific withdrawal date for a war. There has been a date of withdrawal from Afghanistan of July 2011. To quote the Commandant of the Marine Corps, “In some ways, we think right now it is probably giving our enemy sustenance,” regarding the July 2011 deadline. I believe the same to be true regarding Iraq. The Taliban have been sitting back waiting for our withdrawal date from Iraq and now that most of our troops are out of there the attacks will begin again. Is it smart to put a deadline on a war? No, it specifically tells the enemy that if you sit back and wait till said date, you can start attacking again.

“As long as I am president, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veteran as well as they have served us.” My question to the president is how are we supposed to maintain the “finest fighting force” when you have cut the funding for the military? How are we supposed to be able to “serve our veterans” when there isn’t enough funding to give them the help and care that they need? It is a shame to know that so many men and women put their lives on the line daily for pennies on the dollar. They deserve much more than they get paid, but the president doesn’t think so.

I don’t believe the president when he says that he is “proud of their service”, and “awed by their sacrifice and by the sacrifices of their families.” I don’t think that the president is proud of our men and women in uniform. If he was proud of them, then he would be more willing to give them the funding that they need. If he were proud of them he would when asked for more troops willingly call up more troops to the areas that need them. It’s clear that he doesn’t support our troops, or want what is best for them. He only says that he cares because he knows that we as Americans want to hear that.

To quote the bible, Ecclesiastes 10:2 (Amplified Bible) A wise man’s heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool’s heart toward his left.

You can say I’m wrong, and try to tell me how great Obama is. That is fine, I will listen. But I will be ready to defend my point and will be able to do it without using talking points. Will you be able to do the same? Can you tell me why you chose to be a democrat?

Just to be clear, I don’t hate on anyone who is “on the other side” and doesn’t agree with me. I like to hear people’s opinion and be able to also give mine at the same time. I like having adult conversations and letting each person get their point across. I find that some people have trouble allowing someone with a differing opinion speak it.

Well I guess I should step off my soap box for the night ;)