swishnicholson wrote:Except he (the President) didn't say that, nor is he quoted in any way that you could draw that conclusion from that unless you were already predisposed that way.

It's just disappointing since you're far more well-versed in these matters and I count on you to recognize substantive articles that might actually contribute to the understanding of policy decisions and informed debate rather than just provide cheap political, or more often personal, shots. I thought this might be one of them, even with the meretricious political rhetoric, but apparently I was wrong and entirely missed the point if I didn't gather from it that Obama was cluelessly naive. I apologize for misreading the article and the intent of the political thread. It's not the first time.

jerseyhoya wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:Except he (the President) didn't say that, nor is he quoted in any way that you could draw that conclusion from that unless you were already predisposed that way.

It's just disappointing since you're far more well-versed in these matters and I count on you to recognize substantive articles that might actually contribute to the understanding of policy decisions and informed debate rather than just provide cheap political, or more often personal, shots. I thought this might be one of them, even with the meretricious political rhetoric, but apparently I was wrong and entirely missed the point if I didn't gather from it that Obama was cluelessly naive. I apologize for misreading the article and the intent of the political thread. It's not the first time.

But the president did refer to ISIS as JV, and it's absurd to suggest otherwise. This doesn't really require coming in with some preconceived dislike of our beloved Obama.

What Obama Said About Islamic State as a 'JV' Team - Politifact
Spinning Obama's Reference to Islamic State as 'JV' Team - Washington Post

If I snidely post a link to ISIS hacking off some people's head and say 'JV,' that's a pot shot. If an author who is framing how the West misunderstands/underestimates ISIS uses examples of the most powerful man in the West misunderstanding/underestimating ISIS doing so, that seems like a pretty reasonable writing tactic.

And how we think about terrorism has to be defined and specific enough that it doesn’t lead us to think that any horrible actions that take place around the world that are motivated in part by an extremist Islamic ideology is a direct threat to us or something that we have to wade into.

jerseyhoya wrote:It's hard arguing 10 different liberals at the same time.

At the core of Obama’s thinking is that American military involvement cannot be the primary instrument to achieve the new equilibrium that the region so desperately needs. And yet thoughts of a pacific equilibrium are far from anyone’s mind in the real, existing Middle East. In the 2012 campaign, Obama spoke not only of killing Osama bin Laden; he also said that Al Qaeda had been “decimated.” I pointed out that the flag of Al Qaeda is now flying in Falluja, in Iraq, and among various rebel factions in Syria; Al Qaeda has asserted a presence in parts of Africa, too.

“The analogy we use around here sometimes, and I think is accurate, is if a jayvee team puts on Lakers uniforms that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant,” Obama said, resorting to an uncharacteristically flip analogy. “I think there is a distinction between the capacity and reach of a bin Laden and a network that is actively planning major terrorist plots against the homeland versus jihadists who are engaged in various local power struggles and disputes, often sectarian.

Werthless wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:It's hard arguing 10 different liberals at the same time.

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:You do realize I was being facetious about the Logan act?

Werthless wrote:

At the core of Obama’s thinking is that American military involvement cannot be the primary instrument to achieve the new equilibrium that the region so desperately needs. And yet thoughts of a pacific equilibrium are far from anyone’s mind in the real, existing Middle East. In the 2012 campaign, Obama spoke not only of killing Osama bin Laden; he also said that Al Qaeda had been “decimated.” I pointed out that the flag of Al Qaeda is now flying in Falluja, in Iraq, and among various rebel factions in Syria; Al Qaeda has asserted a presence in parts of Africa, too.

“The analogy we use around here sometimes, and I think is accurate, is if a jayvee team puts on Lakers uniforms that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant,” Obama said, resorting to an uncharacteristically flip analogy.“I think there is a distinction between the capacity and reach of a bin Laden and a network that is actively planning major terrorist plots against the homeland versus jihadists who are engaged in various local power struggles and disputes, often sectarian .

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/ ... distance-2

I'm sure he regrets using that analogy.

jerseyhoya wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:You do realize I was being facetious about the Logan act?

I dunno. I thought you might be serious. The top five results on Google for boehner netanyahu logan act are "Is Boehner's Netanyahu Invite Unconstitutional?" "Israeli Official: Boehner And Netanyahu Conspired 'To Defy and Humiliate President Obama'" "Time To Prosecute House Speaker John Boehner For Violating Federal Law" "Is John Boehner a Traitor?" and "Did John Boehner Violate the Law by Inviting Netanyahu to Address Congress?"

It had not occurred to me that the Speaker of the House might be breaking a law inviting an ally to speak before Congress because the idea is ludicrous on its face. So after reading the post I googled it to see if it was a thing being discussed on the Internet, and it seemed to be.

According to Haykel, the ranks of the Islamic State are deeply infused with religious vigor. Koranic quotations are ubiquitous. “Even the foot soldiers spout this stuff constantly,” Haykel said. “They mug for their cameras and repeat their basic doctrines in formulaic fashion [hmmm..."formulaically", as if they really don't have any idea what the fuck it is their words might actually mean], and they do it all the time.” He regards the claim that the Islamic State has distorted the texts of Islam as preposterous, sustainable only through willful ignorance. “People want to absolve Islam,” he said. “It’s this ‘Islam is a religion of peace’ mantra. As if there is such a thing as ‘Islam’!

pacino wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:

The Crimson Cyclone wrote:You do realize I was being facetious about the Logan act?

I dunno. I thought you might be serious. The top five results on Google for boehner netanyahu logan act are "Is Boehner's Netanyahu Invite Unconstitutional?" "Israeli Official: Boehner And Netanyahu Conspired 'To Defy and Humiliate President Obama'" "Time To Prosecute House Speaker John Boehner For Violating Federal Law" "Is John Boehner a Traitor?" and "Did John Boehner Violate the Law by Inviting Netanyahu to Address Congress?"

It had not occurred to me that the Speaker of the House might be breaking a law inviting an ally to speak before Congress because the idea is ludicrous on its face. So after reading the post I googled it to see if it was a thing being discussed on the Internet, and it seemed to be.

Didn't know tcc was now considered liberal. Guess it shows how far right the discussion has gone.

Anyway, please plug in the reaction had Nancy Pelosi done this move in a flipped roles universe.