Critics of Obama way off base on this one
Yes — the not-so-bright, would-be terrorist from Nigeria got though international and domestic security mechanisms supposed to have stopped him long before the jerk lit his underwear afire before landing in Detroit. And yes — the incident happened during the administration of President Barack Obama. But the sniping at the president by Republicans, including former Vice President Cheney, and by conservative radio and TV commentators, borders on — if not passing into — asinine.
The criticism has included such childishness as blasting Obama for waiting a few days before making a national speech on the incident. For heaven’s sake, the president was briefed on the incident from the moment it occured; he made statements almost immediately indicating his concern and that he was being regularly briefed; he took time to gather the facts and meet with his national security team; and then he appeared publicly to give a rational, measured, but hard-hitting response. And for this, a former vice president criticizes him.
Partisanship truly has pervasively infected our political system when a reasonable, measured, factual, timely and substantive response by a president to a single security incident — the roots of which clearly indicate long-simmering problems that predated his tenure in office — is publicly blasted as irresponsible. In point of fact, those levelling such counterproductive attacks are the ones engaging in irresponsible behavior.
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822 comments Add your comment
Boots
January 7th, 2010
2:37 pm
Comparing Bush’s handling of Katrina with the most recent terror attempt is laughable.
And, Bob, you are absolutely correct in your assessment. Cheney’s criticism that Obama was “dithering” caused me to wonder how different the world would be today if Bush had “dithered” instead of rushing headlong with the Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeldt plan which, in fact, was no plan but a seat of the pants invasion of a country who had nothing to do with 911.
Good job, Bob.
Bud Hollingsworth
January 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
The Muslims are accomplishing their mission of destroying the U.S. economy. Obama says he will side with the Muslims when the going gets tough. Instead of getting tough and solving the problem the Washington crowd is trying to tip toe around and not condemn the Muslims so they can continue to consolidate power for socialist conversion
mike
January 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
Once upon a time a democrat president had a sign on his desk, ” The buck stops here”.
Truman meant this to mean responsibility, to O’s administration it means $.
Jilli
January 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
JD
January 7th, 2010
2:31 pm
Agreed. My problem is with this Administration’s actions after the incident. This guy should be in a military prison, and should have already been interrogated. He should not be in a federal prison, as they say, “all lawyered up”. On this, the republicans, and the talk show hosts, are correct.
–
Do you pay attention at all – to any credible media? It doesn’t appear so. It’s been widely reported that he was singing like a canary right after he was taken into custody. There was no need for torture or harsh interrogations, but I guess that type of nonsense makes cowards feel like big men. He’ll be prosecuted and imprisoned just like the shoe bomber – in accordance with the Constitution and laws of this country as he should be.
Sheesh, I’ve never seen a bigger pack of uninformed bedwetters.
Doug
January 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
Re: Jilli
“Would it have made you simpering cowards feel better if the current president thumped his chest and spouted some nonsensical bumpersticker slogans? ”
What like “yes we can” or “hope and change?” Bush did a lot of stupid things, Obama is doing lots of stupid things too. One thing people like you do not seem to realize is that the government does not give a crap about you. If a major disaster hits, you are on your own. If you wait for the FEDERAL GOVT to bail you out, you are stupid. Not only is government inefficient, but you are waiting for the 3rd tier of government, the one the farthest away, to help. You are amongst a growing number of the populace that has drank the government kool-aid for so long that you no longer have any ability to think for yourself or be self-sufficient. Government IS the problem, this includes Bush, Obama, Dem, Reb.
mike
January 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
Enter your comments here
Liberalism is disease
January 7th, 2010
2:39 pm
Barr is irrelevant just like the democrats will soon be again!
Jackson
January 7th, 2010
2:39 pm
So interesting that you fail to address how quickly Obama addressed the incident in Boston, but how something as critical as almost blowing up a plane requires several days to collect the facts. Pathetic – you truly have tunnel vision as do some other people who are blinded by the media.
Nathan McDowell
January 7th, 2010
2:39 pm
Thanks, Bob Barr. You as always, are a true class act.
Tyler Durden
January 7th, 2010
2:40 pm
What a turd fondler.
Chuck
January 7th, 2010
2:41 pm
Bob said, “The criticism has included such childishness as blasting Obama for waiting a few days before making a national speech on the incident. For heaven’s sake, the president was briefed on the incident from the moment it occured; he made statements almost immediately indicating his concern and that he was being regularly briefed; he took time to gather the facts and meet with his national security team.” You mean like how he waited to get the facts before stating that the Cambridge police acted “stupidly?” C’mon Bob, pull you’re head out and take a look around you and what is going on in this country.
Ron
January 7th, 2010
2:41 pm
Anyone wo thinks our democracy is supposed t succeed…if it is a democracy, it will surely fail as all democracies end in Tyranny. If we were a constitutional republic, like the Constitution structures, then we can succeed.
We can’t fix our problems without getting rid of the idea that this is supposed to be a democracy. Our framers went to great lengths to make sure this was NOT a Democracy.
Calvin Hobbes
January 7th, 2010
2:41 pm
To experience failure the first time can be understandable. To be deliberate in denying a problem and reversing actions which were taken to avoid it again to redirect a nation onto a catastrophic course is unforgiveable. Leadership is not just about failure, it is about doing what needs to be done. Obama and his homeboys are so incompetant they should be dismissed and relieved of their official duties, roles, and in any national guidance. This nation, these people, will not tolerate such abject failure and incompetence which is seen as consequential of September 11th.
creig speed
January 7th, 2010
2:42 pm
I am shocked that former Rep. Barr would come out in defense of the president. I commend Mr. Barr for his rational and timely common sense statement. It took courage to come out like Bob Barr did. I wish more people would follow Rep. Barr’s example.
Swan Trumpet
January 7th, 2010
2:44 pm
I suspect that Mr. Barr harbors some personal animosity towards former Vice President Dick Cheney. I recall several months back a Bob Barr column attacked Cheney for a position that has subsequently been demonstrated to be correct. When the DOJ goes off the deep end looking to criminally prosecute CIA agents for doing their jobs, our intelligence and national security is compromised.
See here http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2009/09/09/cheneys-disdain-for-the-law-is-appalling/
President Obama has a long record of accusing the Bush Administration of exaggerating the terrorism threat, of fear-mongering for political advantage. In his eleven months in office, his most significant actions on the national security front have been to cut the budget of the DoD, to appoint an incompetent to lead the Department of Homeland Security, and to permit the AG to open criminal investigations against the CIA as well as Navy SEALS. He’s also instituted a program known as “Diversity Visas” where muslims from states sponsoring terror are encouraged to immigrate to the US. He’s alienated our allies, and prevented our intelligence agencies from working closely with British and Israeli intelligence operatives as they had done under President Bush. He’s treated the Fort Hood terrorist as an isolated instance of mental illness, and indeed, had Major Hasan serve on an advisory panel during his transition.
Not only are Obama’s critics correct, they ought to be even angrier than they are. The president has abrogated his oath of office.
P.F. Undit
January 7th, 2010
2:44 pm
Let’s see now… Instead of improving our ability to prevent known underwear from getting on a plane outside the U.S., we focus our effort on being able to see everyone’s underwear in the U.S.
Swede Atlanta
January 7th, 2010
2:44 pm
Ref Bud Hollingsworth @ 2:38
ROFL. If I were a drinker, smoker or drug user I would ask you what you are taking because I want some.
You spout off such gibberish that is totally not only unsubstantiated but utter lies.
I hope you have kneepads to pray for forgiveness.
JB
January 7th, 2010
2:45 pm
The simple fact is: that as long as we have the dribbling fools in charge in DC we will continually be attacked by the muslim community. When an elected official allows our enemies to come into our land and attempt to kill us without sense of serious repercussion, in their native areas, then our enemies will feel emboldened. When our dear leader and his DOJ hack comfort the enemy by allowing them due process and constitutional rights, as though they are an accused American citizen, then our lives are in danger. Are we politicizing our liberty when we talk of failed obama policy when he and his DOJ hack are in cohorts with law firms that are and have benefited from defending people who want you, your children, your parents, your grandparents and every other American citizen dead. Our leaders are aiding and abetting our enemies by giving them the equally rights you have, and you put up with it. These fools have lowered you to the level of barbarian and you call people who fight to protect liberty partisans. Is this what we stand for? It’s not what I stand for and political bickering it may be but don’t you people hail bickering and dissent as American. Or is it only American when you do it?
Don Carlos
January 7th, 2010
2:46 pm
Mr. Barr, The Dems are the vulgarians.Taking the high road, as Bush and his cabinet did, left them open to obscene, disgusting Dem assaults. The Right has gotta get down and dirty to fight them at their own filthy level, no holds barred (pun!). You, sir, live in the last century.
xJonx
January 7th, 2010
2:46 pm
With regards to the healthcare debate and bipartisan efforts (I don’t know how this became the topic, but here’s my two cents):
The Democrats are willing to compromise on HOW government eventually takes over the private medical sector, but not that government WILL eventually take over. And so, without debate as to the merits of a government run system vs. government regulating a private run system, there IS no compromise.
And if the Democrats would drop the necessity of a government run healthcare system, then there would be plenty of areas for debate left.
For instance:
* Why wouldn’t simply forcing the sharks (insurance companies) to have to swim in each other’s waters (operate across state lines), bring cost down.
* What have been the effects of CURRENT government intervention? Have such things as disallowing hospitals from asking for insurance before providing NON-life threatening care caused hospitals to have to shift the cost to patients WITH insurance, thus raising the cost of insurance as a whole?
* Why not have a middle-man system between the would-be plaintiff and the court system to reduce the cost incurred by frivolous law suits. Such a system couldn’t work because we couldn’t trust anyone to carry out such duties? But we trust the lawyers and judge don’t us?
With regards to the actual article:
The issue I have with Obama is not his response to this particular incident, but that fact that he is shifting the entire problem from a war between the civilized societies vs. terrorists to a police action between America vs. Muslims (just listen to his speeches; he speaks about tensions between Muslims, not terrorists).
mike
January 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
Look at the trends after year one. 2 (TWO) Terrorists attacks / Granting rights and freedoms to terrorists / Shutting down gitmo / Control over the financial, auto, and health industries. Way to show those terrorists were not going to take crap from them! Some commander and chief, he is an EMBARRASSMENT TO AMERICA! B+ huh? I think his approval ratings would disagree with that. I wish I could be this crappy at my job and still remain employed.
Doug
January 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
Jake: wow you are incredibly ignorant or just overly emotional, like a good liberal. You are the one that brought up camps (much like the great FDR when he rounded up Japanese in the US into camps.) What I said, is that you screen where the threats are, if you have extra time or money, expand out. Israel has a system of 4 guys at Tel Aviv airport that screen all passangers, and they have the safest air flight system in the world. They talk to people, find out what is going on, and profile likely threats (one way tickets, no baggage, etc). People with something to hide give away signals which you then can do a more intense screening. Here in the US we screen everyone equally thinking technology will save us because we do not want to be called racists by hand-wringers and limp wrists such as yourself Jake. People with your mindset will get a lot of people killed. I am just glad I do not reside in a big city that is the target of terrorist attacks such as NYC, Chicago, LA.
Jim Gammon
January 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
It was illogical to blame Bush for dropping the ball on 9/11, but it is a bit – if only a bit – more logical to hold Obama accountable for 12/25/09.
Lew
January 7th, 2010
2:48 pm
9/11 The President was visiously attacked by democrats for being on air force one, President Bush was attacked relentlessly for hurricane Katrina even thought the democrat mayor of New Orleans and the democrat governor of Louisiana sat on their as ses instead of getting people out of the way of the storm.
It is painfully obvious that Bob Barr is a Bush hater, no, a Republican hater and a obama lacquey.
matinva
January 7th, 2010
2:49 pm
Just where the hell were you, Bob, when President Bush and VP Cheney were being unfairly excoriated for all the imaginary BS the Democraps threw at them, hmmm? You were nowhere to be found. Now you’re having sympathy pains for Obamao? A lot of us out here think you should just sit down and shut up.
Chuck
January 7th, 2010
2:49 pm
If people would truly be intellectually honest with themselves and put political party aside, they would see that Obama and the Democrats are KILLING this country. Be HONEST with yourself and wake up!
Tom
January 7th, 2010
2:49 pm
With the experience of 9/11 in our past no one should be able to buy a one way ticket with cash and board a plane with zero luggage for a trans-continental flight without at least being pulled aside for a secondary check. In addition, how does anyone get a visa with a one way ticket? The critisism of the Obama administration is warranted because they continue to take the job of protecting our nation too lightly. When liberals choose to make every terror fighting tool a civil liberties fight they better be ready to take the consequences when innocent people lose their lives. I find it interesting that Obama appears more concerned over Harvard Professors than Detroit passengers.
Don the Graybeard
January 7th, 2010
2:50 pm
Yes it is true that government has it’s own inertia, and he is after all only president. The problem is the bureaucracy. The failures of Katrina, at the federal level were due to the inflexibility of government, not GWB, and the lapses here are not the fault of BHO. Having said that, the president IS showing nothing but weakness. I learned in the sandbox that bullies only respect strength. For that a pox on his house.
Shad
January 7th, 2010
2:50 pm
Bob, your an idiot. Look back at President Bush…the liberals ripped him apart and still blame him for this issue and that. But, god help a conservative when they criticize and turn it around when the liberals screw up. Its politics…partisanship has always and will always exist. Its only becoming worse that everyone is either on the far left or far right. People have the right to criticize our government, so shut up, you yourself have done it for years. I am sick of the liberals, you just don’t like it when you are being criticized. Get over it, everyone has got an opinion. We all know Bush’s reaction time to 9/11 in the school and to the shoe bomber..it’s similar to President Obama’s reaction. Whatever, we should be upset all around. The real issue now is that people did not do their jobs, people need to be fired in the administration from the Homeland Secretary to the NCTC director Michael Leiter. They failed to lead and perform their assigned duties to protect the US. Our freedoms, our security, our way of life is slowly coming to an end all because of greedy, selfish, and bullish politics on both sides. Things need to change but it each American that needs to bring the change. The people we have running our government are too weak and comfortable to do what needs to be done. The voters put their “hope” in a man, one man, what the hell did everyone think would happen. Enough said, until America wakes up, we are the ones to blame since we support these parties and politicians.
Old Skeptic
January 7th, 2010
2:51 pm
Bob, I voted for you because I thought I did not have a better alternative. Now I fear I may have been wrong!
K Jan
January 7th, 2010
2:51 pm
Gee, Bob, it’s remarkable how patently skewed your perspective is. Think back…
You Distort, We Deride
January 7th, 2010
2:51 pm
Had Bush only concentrated his and our efforts on Afghanistan, and not made an unnecessary and unrelated diversion to Iraq, perhaps the head of the AQ serpent would have been severed and there would have been no 12/25 bomber.
Same argument that the deceivers use to deflect criticism of Bush for 9/11 onto Clinton.
SamAdams
January 7th, 2010
2:52 pm
Once the Dems had 60 votes they knew they could be partisan. Why compromise to Republicans when you don’t need their vote? Wait till 2011, alll you will here is the need for bipartisanship by the weakened yet still in the majority Dems.
Uncle
January 7th, 2010
2:52 pm
Bob went off the reservation about the same time he ate Borat’s wife’s breast milk cheese.
Bob Tabor
January 7th, 2010
2:52 pm
Grow up … EVERYTHING is politics. It always has been, it always will be. Did you defend Bush against those who felt he was responsible for 911 despite being in office LESS time than Obama?
I mark this brief article up to flamebait. Nice work, AJC … this is probably the most pages views this site has seen in some time.
Keith
January 7th, 2010
2:53 pm
“Partisanship truly has pervasively infected our political system when a reasonable, measured, factual, timely and substantive response by a president to a single security incident — the roots of which clearly indicate long-simmering problems that predated his tenure in office — is publicly blasted as irresponsible. In point of fact, those levelling such counterproductive attacks are the ones engaging in irresponsible behavior.” This line shows how clearly slanted you are. Did you just come out of the coma you went in to in 1992? OMG . . .
JJ O'Neil
January 7th, 2010
2:53 pm
Nice one Bob Olbermann. While you’re at it, try to make Napolitanoreno look good too.
Jenna
January 7th, 2010
2:54 pm
President Obama was not “briefed on the incident from the moment it occurred.” He learned about the terrorist attack three hours after it occurred and said nothing to the nation for three days. Even after three days of briefings, the President didn’t know the basic facts, referring to a terrorist trained by an Al Qaeda-affiliated group as an “isolated extremist.” Of course, this is the kind of negligent reporting I would expect from someone who refers to a terrorist attack as “the incident.”
WISE
January 7th, 2010
2:54 pm
@Tea, Arnold, etc
Have you people even read the Constitution? W trampled all over it and spent your kids money like a drunk sailor, but these dolts in the WH and Con-gress are making all that look like child’s play. There is a reason this Country has advanced mankind more in our short 233 year history than any nation in the previous thousand years. Men (a general term which includes women for you PC idiots) of free will acting in their own self interest…personal responsibility…PRIVATE PROPETY (which includes the fruits of your labor–$) and a civil society–are these things what are pervasive in our culture today? Or do we see a society that is breeding entitlement?
I find humor in the enlightened progressives that think social justice or confiscation of property ($) will somehow advance our society and America will always be here. Actually, its sad. The America that has transformed the world and advanced society is being dismantled…been going on since the 30’s.
jeff smith
January 7th, 2010
2:55 pm
Seems like if you don’t agree with Left 100%, you have to just be quiet according to their logic. If you complain or speak negative of Obama or the left – you are considered to be “attacking” them. It speaks volumes to how the left works. Can you all remember how the left treated Bush for his last term? Remember he didn’t act quick enough on 911, or quick enough on Katrina. Remember how Hillary screamed that “dissent” was a good thing while bush was in office, but now Republicans disagree and it is a different tone! So stop calling the kettle black. Republicans want TORT reform!! Left doesn’t. You want your health insurance rates to go down. Pass that – and stop telling me more of my tax dollars gotta pay for other peoples health!
Chuck
January 7th, 2010
2:55 pm
TO: You Distort, We Deride…….Yeah, and they planned it all during the 8 months Bush was in office too right? You are a MORON!!!! Really you are.
Mike Kelley
January 7th, 2010
2:55 pm
Bob you ignorant slut………..
Don
January 7th, 2010
2:56 pm
Who care what this insignificant little stooge thinks. What’s his following – 5 people??
John
January 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
Hey Bob, perhaps Obama was briefed on the situation but I am not sure if the head of the NCTC cared. He couldn’t give up his ski vacation to determine the reason, or reasons(s), how this nut-job slipped throught he cracks. As we learn more, it does appear Cheney had a point. Just ask yourself, which whack job in the White House do you trust with your security? I think we know that answer/
Duude
January 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
Bob Barr can’t see the forest due to the trees. While he attempts to defend this administration dabbling in the finer points of nothing, this country is being assaulted by an administration ignorant of the risks they’re putting Americans into. When Napolitano first gave her initial report of success with Homeland security, she was likely following administration protocol in attempting to discount any alarm regarding terrorist actions. Over the last year, we can connect the dots.
First, Obama declared that the term, “war against terror” would no longer be used, and even refused to use the term terrorist for an abbreviated period of time. Then they refused to call the Ft Hood slayings as being done by a Muslim terrorist but rather a deranged person. This most recent attempt by Napolitano was an attempt to usher the panty bomber out of the news as quickly as possible. Her initial claim is that all agencies were notified about the attempt after the fact and that was a somehow a sign of success for homeland security. By that same standard, 9/11 was a success in homeland security.
Don
January 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
Congressman Barr, I voted for you in 2008. You should have one.
I agree that Pres. Obama can’t be personally held responsible for the guy getting on the plane, and the three-day thing isn’t a big deal to me.
However, treating this guy like a common criminal rather than an enemy combatant is absurd. He committed an Act of War against the United States. He’s a saboteur against civilians. He should face a Military Tribunal, then be shot after he’s of no more interrogative value.
JJ O'Neil
January 7th, 2010
2:58 pm
The worst thing any US president can do is hurt the feelings of others, or that’s what seems to be the case under Hussein.
K. Hughes
January 7th, 2010
2:58 pm
What in the world is Barr smoking?!?! I’m thinking this man has spent far too much time in Washington to hold such an assanine assessment of the Obama Administration’s reaction to this terror threat.
Warren
January 7th, 2010
2:58 pm
Oh, please. There were no incidents after 9/11 on the Bush watch and this is with the Ft. Hood shooting, is a double miss. The “not so bright, would be terrorist” as you put it, was an engineering graduate who got a bomb past security and actually is a terrorist who failed in his mission. As your opening premise is so flawed, so was the rest of your article. Poor job of defending failure. Sorry.
mark
January 7th, 2010
2:59 pm
Mr. Barr – you are an idiot.