(President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (Full Version)

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TheHeretic -> (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/24/2010 7:06:47 PM)

An evil neo-con sums up the first act


I think we've recently come to a moment in time that future historians will call significant, when the books are written about the Obama administration. The first act has ended, and the second began today, I think, with the burger summit, hot on the heels of firing his second Afghanistan commander.

I get out to the theater just often enough to have seen some really bad stuff. The worst of the worst, going a notch beyond the community playhouse's minimalist interpretation of Carousel, was Medea. It wasn't just the bad acting, and the too loud sound, and the awful lighting design, or that it was performed in a rented church with damn uncomfortable seats, but the fact that I was with a girl who had to write a paper on the play, and I was stuck there for the whole thing. (Being a silver lining kind of guy, I did fuck her brains out later, and then never called her again. She thought that play was "daring.")

Rather than attacking the author of the article, or Bush II, or me, I'm wondering how else this administration might be characterized, if we are using the metaphor of theater, and call the first third of Obama's term the first act, or does the Greek Tragedy make a good model?




FirmhandKY -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/24/2010 7:11:54 PM)

Greek Tragedy

Hubris
(HEW-brihs)
  Ancient Greek term usually defined as "excessive pride" and cited as a common tragic flaw.

Hubris: Overweening pride or insolence that results in the misfortune of the protagonist in a tragedy. Hubris leads the protagonist to break a moral law, attempt vainly to transcend normal limitations, or ignore a divine warning with calamitous results.




popeye1250 -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/24/2010 9:08:32 PM)

Speaking of "Greeks" Obama is probably what Mike Dukakis would have been like as president, thin-skinned, ineffectual, uninvolved.




slvemike4u -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/24/2010 9:30:52 PM)

Certainly there are some issues.....but Obama as Dukakis is one hell of a reach Pops...Attributing the necessity of firing McChrystal to Obama is also a stretch.
After the great mastermind of special ops proved what an insubordinate ass he is with that article.....President Obama had no choice bu to accept the idiot's resignation.....to do any less would have been a clear dereliction of his duty as Commander in Chief.....The military must remain subordinate to civilian control....the military must maintain fidelity of ,and respect to the chain of command.....and McAsshole violated all of those principles,duties and obligations.
Really ,really simple.....if McCarthur can be relieved of command.....certainly McAsshole can.




TheHeretic -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/24/2010 10:09:36 PM)

There is already a pretty good McChrystal thread, Mike. Got any guesses on where the second act is going to take us?




popeye1250 -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/25/2010 12:07:43 AM)

Yeah, I wasn't talking about Mc Crystal.




slvemike4u -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/25/2010 5:30:11 AM)

Apologies Rich.....Pops ,I realise Rich's "Greek" referrence opened the door for you....but Dukakis? Not even close.
As far as  where his second act takes us .......Re-election seems as likely a place as any.No credible Republican challenger and despite another silly thread that is going on here no responsible member of the Democratic Party will mount a serious challenge to an incumbant's nomination.....certainly not a member of his own administration(FDD is just blowing smoke as usual, HRC is not going to run for the nomination,....no way, no how)
Asking for predictions as to the substance of his remaining time in the oval office is asking a little much....The President is after all just one of many players on the world stage..and has no prior control over most events....save for his reaction to them.




vincentML -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/25/2010 12:38:58 PM)

Rich, greek tragedy makes a good model for most war presidents I think. Consider Abe Lincoln.

As for Obama the first act was the campaign. IMO he should have channeled Dwight Eisenhower: "I will bring your boys home from asian wars during my first term." But noooo. He would have been hammered by Hillary and then by McCain if O had gotten into the Presidential. That was his tragic flaw imo. Not hubris. He might have gotten away with it after Hillary was dispatched. McCain (I am returning to washington to fix the economy) panicked and was dead fish in september. Would have been a great time for O to dissociate himself from all Bush policies. Sadly, he drank the Afghanistan koolade or didn't have the balls.

But presidents and circumstances change after the campaign... act two. Remember, GW Bush said this during the 2000 campaign:

"If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road. And I'm going to prevent that."

Not criticizing, just saying act two is a pivot off act one, the campaign. Or in terms of greek theatre - shit happens.

As for Victor Hanson, well sorry I can't resist taking a shot at him. I have read his books. Victor has a statue of the greek god of war and bloodlust - Ares - in every room of his home, and the statue suspiciously resembles Donald Rumsfeld. [8|]




popeye1250 -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/25/2010 10:09:03 PM)

Vincent, I agree, we need to stop "giving" things, money etc to foreign countries. We simply can't afford to be doing that kind of thing anymore.
There was some type of "meeting" the other day, "g-20" or something and they made an announcement that poor countries need another $18 B from rich countries.
Well, how's it feel to need? I just don't want my govt. in the foreign aid business. If individuals want to do that kind of thing with their own money fine but our govt. shouldn't be doing that kind of thing.




slvemike4u -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/25/2010 10:28:17 PM)

How the fuck did you dosey doe  into a "foriegn aid " bitch. spot?....You are one nimble fuck for a man of your advanced years.....LOL




Politesub53 -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/26/2010 2:55:38 AM)

Dont be so harsh Mike. Popeyes first post was on track, give him some credit at least.

Rich, if I cant attack you or Bush, then I aint playing. [8D]




Owner59 -> RE: (President) Obama's Greek Tragedy (6/26/2010 6:22:45 PM)

I think history will remember this week not by McChristal`s gaffs or even by the goBP`s gaffs.

This week will be remembered as the moment when the most sweeping changes to the financial system since just after the great depression, were passed.

They will soon be on President Obama`s desk to sigh into law.

No goBP yes votes,btw.Who`da thunk?[:D]




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