President Obama’s speech to the United Nations was well-received, at least by the world leaders and ambassadors assembled for the occasion. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Obama “sought to distance his country from the era of his White House predecessor, vowing that “America will live by its values” on human rights even as he said he would take to task the abuses and failures of allies and foes alike.”
“The U.S. president clearly tried to turn the page on the Bush era. He spoke of his decisions to ban the use of torture and close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The U.S., he said, has “moved from a bystander to a leader in international climate negotiations.” He pledged to soon seek the ratification of the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty and pursue deep cuts to the U.S. nuclear arsenal…
As he spoke, the dramatics that had greeted some of the addresses of President George W. Bush were nowhere in evidence.
But Mr. Obama did call on the world to give up a “an almost reflexive anti-Americanism, which too often has served as an excuse for our collective inaction.”
“Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone. We have sought — in word and deed — a new era of engagement with the world,” he said. “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.”
Over the National Review’s Corner, however, the reviews were not so kind. Words such as “shameful,” “appalling,” “galactic obliviousness” and “staggering naivete” were being bandied about. Former UN Ambassador John Bolton called it “a post-American speech by our first post-American president.”
Here’s the text of the speech. Go read it yourself, and judge for yourself. Personally, I think the folks at the Corner have utterly lost it.
337 comments Add your comment
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:39 am
All you right wingnut whackjobs can now roundup your immigrant friends and tip them to the new website to update their status. The vast majority of them work as hard as you do to benefit this country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092202424.html
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
5:46 am
Seems as though Obozo’s patriotism is the real question at hand on this blog-
Gadhafi, who spoke just after President Barack Obama, had praise for the U.S. leader. “The election of Obama is the beginning of change,” he said and applauded Obama’s stated commitment to nuclear disarmament.-Urinal
Any questions?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:52 am
What would bite most of you wingnuts in the butt first? A moose or a Federal Reporter?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:55 am
The more people, however bad their past, that praise a US leader at this time, the better. A lot of people are dead because they hate bush and the moron right wing whackjobs that blindly followed him.
A significant portion of people in places like Iran and other “third world countries” are inclined to be pro-US, and it’s all about educating the young and giving them productive reasons not to want to blow your butt up.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:06 am
This should disturb every American, democrats and Republicans alike, brainwashing innocent children, especially of this age, is not what we send our kids to school for-
SHOCK VIDEO: School kids taught to praise Obama…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aqMTD5UFmU
This is so Pol Pot.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
6:16 am
“…democrats and Republicans alike.”
Just like blacks and Whites, right White Welching bigot?
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:19 am
These liberals prey on children-
“The American people…just like your teenage kids, aren’t acting in a way that they should act,” the Wall Street Journal quoted Chu as saying earlier this week, which added that environmental officials in the Obama administration have “launched a cross-country tour of 6,000 schools to teach students about climate change and energy efficiency.” Neumayr, AmSpec
Never mind the depravity and sickness, is it any wonder we have the lowest SAT scores for any developed nation?
This is an outrage.
Bud Wiser
September 24th, 2009
6:23 am
All the uppity muslim was missing while he continually trashed America was a turban, a bedsheet, and that little whip they use when they beat themselves.
It was the most disgusting grovelling on a world stage ever, and it was by our president.
Aren’t you libtards and 94 %ers proud now?
You disgust me.
Sluggo
September 24th, 2009
6:28 am
Obama is a naive moron who is just not up to the task before him.
I was embarrassed by his speech and afraid for my country.
USinUK
September 24th, 2009
6:41 am
“Bush was a naive moron who was just not up to the task before him.”
there. fyt.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:07 am
Sluggo
September 24th, 2009
6:28 am
I’m embarrassed for you.
Sluggo
September 24th, 2009
7:10 am
RJ needs to wander over to Cyn’s blog for the lunacy discussion. Put the scissors down first.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:10 am
Never mind the depravity and sickness, is it any wonder we have the lowest SAT scores for any developed nation?
Just add it to the long list of things that the Republicans left us to fix.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:10 am
“America armed, but guns not necessarily loaded”
“We are working overtime and still can’t keep up with the demand,” said Al Russo, spokesman for North Carolina-based Remington Arms Company, which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. “We’ve had to add a fourth shift and go 24-7. It’s a phenomenon that I have not seen before in my 30 years in the business.”
“Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition a year, according to the National Rifle Association. In the past year, that figure has jumped to about 9 billion rounds, said NRA spokeswoman Vickie Cieplak.” (Good source of revenue?)
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/america-armed-but-guns-145010.html
(Not necessarily, but probably.)
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:12 am
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
5:46 am
Wasn’t it the previous administration that gave him legitimacy?
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:14 am
Anything that Obama does that embarrasses a neocon or anything that a neocon hates about Obama are both most excellent things. Great job, President Obama. You are indeed the President of the United States of America.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:17 am
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:06 am
I couldn’t understand the words, but we wouldn’t want our children to respect their president now, would we? Besides, it’s needed to overcome the misinformation some of them are getting at home.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:19 am
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:19 am
Heaven forbid if we actually teach our children about their world. SAT scores? Look no further than our breeding habits.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:21 am
Bud Wiser
September 24th, 2009
6:23 am
I shouldn’t comment since I didn’t see the speech and haven’t read it, but wasn’t he more or less challenging the entire world, not just America?
stands for decibels
September 24th, 2009
7:22 am
I am shocked, shocked, that the same teabaggers who believe “their” country was destroyed in November of 2008, think that Obama’s UN speech was offensive.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:23 am
Sluggo
September 24th, 2009
6:28 am
I doubt that you could even identify that task, and people like you scare the hell out of many of us. Have you stocked up on your ammunition? Better hide it from your wife and kids.
stands for decibels
September 24th, 2009
7:23 am
Um Jay, my 7.18? moderated? why?
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:27 am
stands for decibels
September 24th, 2009
7:23 am
Must be your lucky day! Buy lottery tickets.
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
7:27 am
NeoCons hate it?
Well, then ……. That makes it a very good thing.
Cheers for our President Obama. I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to vote for him.
oh and, hatey hate hate, hateful, haterism, hate-o-ghetti.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:30 am
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
7:27 am
Well, I voted for him, but I’m a little disappointed so far. He needs to give the doctors in Congress an audience, for one thing. And to continue to say he isn’t going to raise taxes on the middle class (income?) isn’t realistic.
Finn McCool
September 24th, 2009
7:31 am
Criticizing the president during wartime is fine. Hypocrisy, on the other hand, isn’t. You either unequivocally support the president in wartime or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways, wingnuts.
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2009/03/convenient_patr.html
OUCH!
stands for decibels
September 24th, 2009
7:32 am
NeoCons hate it?
Well, then ……. That makes it a very good thing.
Strictly speaking, no, it doesn’t. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.
That said, I heard a big chunk of Obama’s speech unfiltered (audio podcast in the car, only way to go, folks–here’s one of my favorite feeds if’n you’re interested) and felt it struck a responsible tone for that forum.
Normal
September 24th, 2009
7:33 am
MR. PRESIDENT, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!
—————
environmental officials in the Obama administration have “launched a cross-country tour of 6,000 schools to teach students about climate change and energy efficiency.”
———————
OMG. SOCIALISTIC BRAINWASHING!!!
Imagine the depravity of teaching our children to be responsible to our planet! Oh, the Humanity, the sky is falling, the sky is falling…
——————
brainwashing innocent children, especially of this age, is not what we send our kids to school for-
Where were you when children were brainwashed by having to recite the Pledge of Alliegence, every morning in school, complete with the added Theocratic phrase “Under God”? Poor Whiner.
stands for decibels
September 24th, 2009
7:34 am
Must be your lucky day! Buy lottery tickets.
maybe. Funny thing is, my post consisted of a verbatim copy/paste of Bud’s racist screed, followed up by a polite wish that the AJC had picked Bud instead of Kyle Wingfield to represent the right wing on their editorial page.
Can’t fathom what the electronic bluenose found offensive about that.
Finn McCool
September 24th, 2009
7:38 am
I don’t see many illegal hispanic immigrants cruising blogs all day. Perhaps they are out working?
Those of you who lambast them all day on the blogs, what exactly are you doing? Perhaps you are paying them to do your work so you can cruise the blogs all day?
We know who keeps this country afloat: The working man, no matter his/her skin color or employment capacity. And these working folks will not be denied health coverage any longer.
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
7:41 am
TN
Can’t agree with ya’.
The doctors in congress can say all they wish, I remember that Bill Frist certainly did. I’m more comfortable with the opinions of Doctors who are still praticing – still in the trenches so to speak.
AND, I don’t think his promise to raise the taxes on the middle class is the least bit unrealistic.
Consider this “The tax legislation enacted under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2006 will cost $2.48 trillion over the 2001-2010 period.” (Citizens for Tax Justice) This was a change in the tax rate from 39% to 35% on the teeny tiny minority of the wealthiest Americans.
These are the folks who’s taxes will and should increase.
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
7:44 am
I wonder …..have Lou Dobbs and Michelle Bachmann seen this?
“A U.S. Census worker found hanging from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery had the word “fed” scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.”
here:
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/census-worker-found-hanged/
Normal
September 24th, 2009
7:54 am
Upstairs, y’all
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:00 am
Mrs. G,
There are some some sick twisted minds out there. It looks like at least one of them is holed up in Kentucky. Justice will be served, hot or cold.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
8:03 am
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
7:41 am
Didn’t you mean NOT to raise taxes?
Everyone got a tax break under Bush, just most of it didn’t mean that much to anyone but the most wealthy among us, but only because the Democrats insisted. With a nearly $2 trillion deficit this year and over a trillion for years to come, we’re all going to have to start paying our fair share. We aren’t paying anything, but I planned it like that. Do you feel like you could kick in a little more and not be over-burdened?
Mrs. Godzilla
September 24th, 2009
8:09 am
TN – yep you’d be a great editor.
…right now it would be a burden, but I’d do it for my fellow Americans. I just don’t think the top of the ladder is actually paying their fair share.
N.J.
September 24th, 2009
1:11 pm
Of course because the very premise of the neo-con philosophy is for America to rape the rest of the world in order to keep Americans living the American lifestyle. Ever read the PNAC document. Founding document of the Neo-Cons, it espouses creating an American world empire using military force to overthrow government that are important to American vital interests(read “large American corporations overseas”) Basically it is an imperialistic, colonial policy.