Obama was so insistent that his "red line ultimatum" should be respected that he ordered 5 destroyers and a MEF carrier offshore of Syria. He tried to ram the accusation home that Assad had committed the gas attack when there was no proof whatever. The stooge, Kerry, would swear for whatever Obama thought about Syria.
So, the U.S. Navy sits offshore to bombard what? The UN investigation isn't final, and when it is, the UN will verify only whether poison gas was used or not. It has no proof who used it, it won't accuse Assad because Obama's getting pressure from Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood to depose Assad any way he can. S.A and MB are interested in grabbing Syria and "purifying" it under sharia law and to install a Sunni Muslim leader.
Now, comes information that Bandar visited Putin about 3 weeks ago, tried to influence Putin into deserting Assad by offering Putin "protection" from Chechen terrorists who "might attack" the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia, Feb.2014. Bandar indicated that he controls the Chechens. Putin refused same indicating that he's known for over 10 years that Saudi Arabia had a hand in Chechen attacks and that he would handle that. Bandar further offered Putin a deal at the OPEC table, to which Putin also refused. Bandar's trip to the Kremlin went for naught. Silence and frustration in S.A.!
Then, P.M. Cameron brought his cooperation with Obama to the UK Parliament for a vote. That was voted down, Cameron was defeated. The Brits wanted definite proof, it wasn't available.
In the meantime, the U.S. Congress must have grown some intestinal fortitude and Obama must have been put on notice by other high Democrats that they didn't want to be part of bringing this nation to war. If Obama ordered it, that would be an impeachable crime. Suddenly, Obama is looking haggard. Perhaps he's visualized what life would be without those benefits he's been working overtime.
He looks like a whipped child, it dawns on him that major democratic world powers are ridiculing him, that Putin put him(Obama) in short pants, and Democrats fear that he'll leave a mark on that Party it won't recover from.
(My opinion, based upon news from here and offshore.)
If any leftists on this forum care to offer their opinions or convert this to name-calling, be advised to put it before the general forum, I'm sincerely not interested.

astrolite:

The young, black, liberal arts student you mentioned and you being exposed to the college environment, I suppose at their respective ages and maturities, they can afford to be "true believers." The Bolshevik Revolution was charged with such "true believers" who upon waking up a few years later after the government they fought to have became more of a reality than a slogan, they began to understand that they were as Vladimir Lenin confidentially called them, "useful idiots." Now we have this black kid who worships a guy whose complexion is his PC protection, and though I at least give him credit for having a job, a part-time job, his blinders will fall off when he discovers that his college credits probably won't be saleable on the private sector job market for much. He'd have better long-range possibilities if he learned to be a very good machinist. Of course, that is not palatable endeavor for those who fear manual labor of any kind. By no means do I demean a college education, but lots of these kids can barely tell you what country they live in, what state on our southern border abuts another sovereign nation, or who's buried in Grant's Tomb.
Somewhere, their educations skipped quite a few beats and yet colleges accepted them. So, they automatically become overnight intellects and experts in judging community organizers as their deliverers. For that lad's sake, I hope he has life figured out before too long.

Bojester:
One can only be a brain donor if one has a brain to donate.
You ought to try substantive text, the childish name calling is so obviously due to a limit of intelligence, it happens all the time when there's nothing civil and thoughtful to say. However, in true Alinsky mode there must be an attempt to demean, trivialize, and finally pluck a sophomorically-coined name out of a very limited vocabulary to express distaste because some folks have their own beliefs and not yours. It's almost as though you really believe you're righteous. Thankfully, there are many of us who will never follow your example.

It's far less important regarding "who wrote Obama care" than who voted to pass it into law. Those votes are part of the Congressional Record and available to any citizen interested enough in his citizenship to seek that information. However, it's not for the lazy and apathetic. All they know how to do is wring their hands and say "What'll I do now?" Here's the crux to the issue: A Congress that sees each other voting "for" and follows its perceived leaders, rather than care for its constituents, is a Congress that will shove a bill right down your throat...and they did with minority exceptions!
They didn't read that bill, those 2700+- pages were written to confuse while Democrat leaders whipped the elected politicians to vote for it and everything will be just fine in America. This is a lazy, irreverent Congress, led by a lazy, irreverent, America-loathing President. Pelosi, in her perpetually stupid way, was at last being as honest as she could be, "We have to pass it to see what's in it." She has the mind of a programmed robot.
How many reading this would sign a contract brought to you, unauthorized, no chance for your attorney to read it, and you're told just "sign here" and the sun will shine for you always, and that this piece of contract is the best contract you'll ever sign in your life?
Well, enough Americans gave Obama and that corrupt Congress a blank check signed by those who voted for these crooks. Whether you think your own elected representatives are fine people or not, there's a possibility that they're not, that the oath to serve you and this nation was strictly a means for a career with lifetime benefits.

The "Labor" big-whigs are backing away from Obama's "Affordable Healthcare Program," in anticipation that the Labor rank and file are not going to swallow it.
When they see corporations like UPS cancel entire group family coverage and just provide the group benefit for the individual employee, because UPS can't afford the terrific cost increase, it's time to "think." Too bad these Labor leaders didn't think more when they formed a common front behind the Obamacratic Party. Now, the rank and file will suffer with the rest of the non-union population, other than Muslims who are exempted. You all ought to feel real good about that! Vote Democratic and give them power to make choices that should be yours and this is the result, just a sample...more's to come.
Obama didn't do this all by himself, he's a figurehead placed there so all the PC ignoramuses would vote for him to prove they were PC.
Is America stupid, uninformed, and apathetic or what?
I suppose there's not much of a cure for adult stupidity, and those college kids, chasing mortgaged degrees, are just as dumb. Talk to them like you're "cool" and they'll sell their souls for a BS story.
Good Lord! It doesn't get more disgusting than that! I hope there's people out there who realize that before Obama, we had a world-leading, wonderful country. Anyone remember that?

I agree with your comments. I think we're in a period of self-examination, as if we've just awakened from a sweet, protective, sleep only to find that the awakening brought with it hard decisions....especially if we're Republicans.
We find ourselves in disagreement with today's Democratic Party, we also have come to a fork in the road regarding the Republican Party. The "establishment" Republicans are very jealously guarding their "territory" against the growing trend towards constitutionalism and conservative ideology. We aspire to have candidates like Ted Cruz, he's admired for his "never say die" attitudes. He will be given one difficult time by establishment Republicans, it happened to Ronald Reagan too, until the establishment came to understand that Reagan really was the choice of the people. It meant the GOP could probably win with Reagan and the GOP got behind him. It did choose one of its own for the VP position, GHW Bush.
Therefore the conservatism of Reagan lasted for the two terms, USSR lost to Reagan's leadership, then the GOP returned to its former standards with GHW Bush.
The Republican Party as we know it can't help itself, it naturally gravitates to its usual stance. Only when an exceptional, driving, Conservative appears does it accede to that Conservatism.
I think it's inopportune to go third party at this time, we need to free this nation from the doldrums of a failing, inept, Obama presidency. Therefore, first things first.
Republicans can regain the Senate, while holding the House. Leadership in the House must change, the Minority Leader in our Senate cannot be the Majority Leader, the job requires action, not inaction and he's a "bad fit."
There needs to be primaries against Republicans who've become the quislings of the Beltway. They've been swamped by the status-quo of a too long Washington, DC experience. They want to be in constant accord with the opposition and the people's needs have become secondary to them. They need to be voted out.
The GOP/RNC will back their own people in office, they won't be much assistance to GOP challengers. If we want to return to adherence to the Constitution, Conservative challengers need to be elected. The GOP financial assistance will go to incumbents.
What I'm stating is that it'll be the people's task to financially support our choices. We probably can't match the money the GOP/RNC can raise, but we can keep our candidates in the game. Small donations from many folks can be effective. Personally, I have stopped donating to the RNC. I'm not wealthy, but what I can donate goes to Senate Conservative Funds, Heritage Foundation, and individually known Conservative Republicans.
Decisions must be made, the pondering must be ended. Unity must take its place.

It's time to understand the political motivations of Vladimir Putin. He served his nation well as a KGB leader in German Democratic Republic during the Cold War.
If he ever was a Communist, he is now the President and leader of Russia. Russia has rejected Communism but not its desire to be among the strongest. Any comparison between Putin and Obama has to tell us that Putin is a strong nationalist, he loves his country and aspires for it to be great. He believes in its greatness. Now, in your own minds, count the ways Obama is nothing like Putin and can never be. Obama is a neo-Leninist Communist.
Yes, the Cold War has left its mark on both United States and Russia, but the Russian people are far more nationalistic than ever communistic. They lived under the yoke of Communism and know it better than any other people, probably with exception of China and No.Korea. Russia has the most experience with Communism and only a small percentage of Russians today would care for its return. These are similar types to an element living in the USA who would trade everything for government's "free " programs. Except, such programs, as you know, are not "free."
We, in America, are similar to Russians in that we love our country, but hate our government. This is the experience in Russia too, it has gone through more phases than America about hating its government because it's an older country. Whether it lived under the iron fist of Communism or Czars, it was still an "iron fist." We now experience the same here, except the fist wears a velvet glove. Notice that Putin described the condition of the USA as "suicide."
Can you argue that it's not? He obviously meant we voted for it as a nation and we now receive what we voted for.
I understand that many will respond that they never voted for "national suicide," but we were outnumbered by those who hadn't any idea what they voted for.
The leftist leadership in this country outthought, outdid, lied as much as required, all for the power they wanted and got. Ben Franklin once said, "We have a republic if we can keep it." Obviously, apathy overtook us and that republic will be sorely missed if we don't stop the apathy trend.
The United States is still "that shining place atop a hill," and when Russians think about it, that's what they believe.
The average Russian is not our enemy, he is just trying to get by, just as we try. If anything, we now have the sympathy of Russian folks, they would like to see America again take her place at the top.
Among requirements not strongly sought after for leadership in American politics is one that we took for granted; that those pursuing political leadership had love for this country. It's not to be taken for granted. As you know by now, Obama and his entire regime display an acute disdain for our country. Their interest is only reaching for whatever power they can grab.
Now, we have our work before us, damage has been done, a democratic republic is a fragile balance, we must rebalance it by all taking part in its restoration.

What a case you are! People who start out poor aren't entitled to start at CEO and work down, they must start at entry-level if they have sufficient basic education and drive to attain entry level. You're dreaming of a Utopia where everyone is equal, which in the case of Communism means everyone has equal pain....except the big-shots. That's like what Obama is presently doing while talking about you to get a piece of what someone else already has.
I'm sorry for you, you can't come to terms that people in a free society of a free market economy, derive incomes commensurate with their value to the free market. They just don't cash in on success because they're "there."
Instead, you're going to project your fantasies and denigrate anyone who doesn't endorse them.
Why don't you write a few checks to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, or even volunteer to work for the Salvation Army? They don't come on here to deride other people's political beliefs, they work at helping the poor within the bounds of reality, while you project what you can't achieve...you're a pathetic whiner. Now, are you getting enough attention to satisfy yourself? I won't tell you that you make no sense again. You're very confused, and it's not noble...only you think so.

You can't be taken seriously, because you make it obvious that you don't care, you just vote which way the wind blows, therefore you need to discover what it is to have principles instead of judging what a group does is what you'll identify with.
You say you vote for a Party that will do the most for most people.
Does that mean that if everyone unemployed/underemployed, a nation dying because it's out of control with its misdirected social spending, its elected leader won't stop increasing debt because he really wants to destroy the country, all this and more is fine with you? If not fine, you go along, you don't care.
If everyone committed suicide because someone said it was best for the most, you'd commit suicide.
'Sounds like an acceptable plan, right?
Of course it does, you already believe in "death panels" under Obamacare. You don't care.
I'll waste no more time with you, the soul you had was erased, but no problem...you don't care.

You've made it evident how you feel. Try to understand that Conservatives feel otherwise.
You are championing a hijacked Democratic Party, which at one time in its history would never have thought of undermining The Constitution of the United States.
There's a difference between us and you. That difference is you worship whatever today's Democrat Party believes in.
We Conservatives are civilly fighting for our country.
You'd give that country away, piece by piece and feel righteous about it.
I will not settle for giving one iota of my country away, I want to sustain that country that existed prior to the mass ignorance that took place starting Jan. 2009.

I wouldn't even dignify the paranoia of the Leftists. They're noticing that a few journalists upon whom they've been counting, are starting to see through the Obama regime fog. Despite their partiality to the Left, sometimes they do remember they're journalists, hoping for a future if and when the nation comes to its senses.
So, they're a bit critical of all the Obama regime distortions, cover-ups, and lies. It is warranted, even if these journalists are only slightly responsible types.
The problem for the Left is, it's not used to truth in journalism and doesn't expect it to be introduced by the current crop in the media. Well, that media obviously slips up and tells half a truth which damages the Obama-hijacked Democrat Party brand, which becomes Democrat hysteria because there's one thing that cannot be allowed....the truth.

It'd be better if Obama stayed out of it. He'd only screw it up worse than it is.
Don't expect much from this guy, he's absolutely inept, so let him slide. Let him have his good time. Believe there is no President in traditional terms, in the Oval Office.
The guy was a "Community Project" of people that thought he ought to have a chance. Well, now we see the rotten fruits of that chance given.
The United States is reaping the consequences of low-information, federal dependent, apathetic, ignoramuses whose standards for political leaders are so low that all one has to do is appease for votes by having the tax-payers finance the subsequent mess.

Well, Obama made it clear that he didn't like the USA and its "unfair" Constitution from the beginning. He made that more apparent by going on an apology tour overseas.
As it turns out, his apologies went for naught, other countries were probably looking askance at him and saying "WTH is he talking about?" "This guy's the American President?" His esteem sunk and stayed sunk, therefore so did ours.
After that, it was all downhill, allies were alienated, the Muslim Brotherhood was brought closer. Russia and China teamed up, encouraged No. Korea. Allow me to remind you all that gasoline was $1.81 per gal. when Bush left, our hopes were dashed about drilling for our own, Canada literally begged us to hook up that pipeline and participate in a good move. Instead, it had to sell oil that was sitting to China. If Obama had been a soldier, which he was not, the only order he'd understand would be "To the rear...march!" Enough said.

I will say this: If America doesn't boycott an MSM that so distorts news/commentary, to a degree that one has to go overseas on the 'Net just to compare reporting, then we deserve the media who screws us.
If any other business did to this country what this media has gotten away with, that business would have been put out of business, for lack of consumers, long ago.
At one time, the news media was considered the Fourth Estate. It could be counted upon, not to campaign for and embellish the images of politicians, but to be honest, above all, about everyone in the public eye. We have a long way to go to return to those days when the media held an almost sacred position in American life.
The only pressures it's susceptible to is lack of circulation and audiences. This one's up to everyone to straighten them out. What happens against Republicans, can happen against Democrats too. The ball takes odd bounces, therefore we're all in the same boat as regards the needs, not for TV celebrities, but an honest and true media.

Homestead: I know you didn't mean to leave out what's happened to the Democratic Party. It isn't Pappy's Democratic Party anymore, the name's the same, but the Party's been hijacked by Communists and those who think they're not Communists because they haven't yet applied for a CPUSA card.
This thing will boil down to Commies who want to be called Progressives this week, rather than Socialists. How much difference there is between Communists and Socialists is like a "photo-finish."
Then, we have the Republicans, the original slow-moving Party which internally fights those who believe absolutely in what brought us to at least 2009, The Constitution.
The Old Guard Republicans like McCain, Graham, and other good 'ol boys just don't want guys like Cruz, Lee, Toomey, Rubio, Paul around. They're scared to death by these rookies, because the rookies have good ideas and aren't surrender monkeys. Washington, DC isn't their main interest, America is!
I'm putting my money on a new Republican Party staffed by adherents to our Constitution, small government, states rights, excellently equipped and ready military, dissolution of IRS and replaced by flat income tax, cut that EPA to smaller size, it's too much in everyone's life, and utilization of all our energy assets instead of fattening Saudi wallets. We can be an export nation with energy.
Did I include most everything...there's got to be something I inadvertently omitted...my apologies for the oversight.
Oh yes, max. term limits for members of Congress. We have 311 millions of people here, there's plenty of patriotic talent to draw from.
I'm hoping for two political parties (at least) who care enough about our nation not to ever let what's happened to it, ever happen again.