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Newspaper Reversal: 'We Were Wrong' : Billings Gazette

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Damn those "Racist Radical Extremist Tea Partiers", that just won't give him a chance...

http://m.billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/article_f7f51100-0eb8-5726-922f-b1bf460fcf87.html?mobile_touch=true


"The Billings Gazette," a Montana newspaper that endorsed President Obama over John McCain in 2008 (but went with Romney in 2012) admitted Friday that they were wrong -- Obama is in fact worse than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Apparently, the potential collapse of Iraq (and the disastrous worldwide consequences sure to follow) was the last straw.

"[W]e were wrong," the editorial page notes,"We said things couldn't get much worse after the sub par presidency of George W. Bush. But, President Barack Obama's administration has us yearning for the good ol' days when we were at least winning battles in Iraq."

According to the site Left in the West, this is what the "Billings Gazzette" wrote about Obama in its 2008 presidential endorsement:

At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad.

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance."

In their reversal today, the "Billings Gazette" editorial board does not stop with Iraq. The laundry list of their disappointments is wide and deep: Obama's un-American surveillance state, the Bowe Bergdahl swap, the mishandling of the VA, the "boondoggle" of ObamaCare, and the administration's many sins against the media.

Without even getting to the economy, the editors sum it up with, "[T]aken in completely, these demonstrate a disturbing trend of incompetence and failure."

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2014/06/27/newspaper-reversal-we-were-wrong-obama-worse-than-bush






Let's recap some of the mistakes:

- Maybe the worst and most widespread invasion of privacy occurred when the Obama administration continued a controversial National Security Agency program of spying on millions of citizens culling their phone records to intercepting online information. The administration has done nearly nothing to safeguard civil liberties or put in safeguards to protect our Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

- The Obama administration has continued to ratchet down on emissions from coal-fired power plants while giving consumers little new innovation to replace the power supply. Meanwhile, Obama continues to thwart other energy projects that might be helpful to the economy, like the Keystone XL pipeline. The war on carbon might not be so bad if indeed it was being counterbalanced by true innovation.

- Iraq was an inherited quagmire from the Bush administration. But six years later, Obama has to own the current situation which, as this is being written, looks perilously close to civil war and a complete breakdown of government in Iraq. If that were to happen, the sacrifice of thousands of Americans' lives would be cheapened, if not in vain. His handling the situation seems uncertain and we can't help but wonder if the same type of inaction will lead to a civil war similar to Syria's?

- The Bowe Bergdahl situation is an example of right instinct, completely wrong handling of a prisoner exchange. The Obama administration should be lauded for not wanting to leave any American solider behind. But, surprising Congress, trading possible terrorists and not doing enough to vet the background of Bergdahl had the net effect of looking incompetent. What should have been an easy public relations victory for bringing a lost soldier home turned into a public relations nightmare, and continued to erode public confidence, leading some to wonder if Obama's team can't even get something as important as bringing home a captive soldier correct, what can it be successful at?

- The VA scandal showed that wait times for veterans access to health care was so bad that some veterans actually died before they could get the medical care they were entitled to. While the VA system was not invented by the Obama administration, after six years of management, it's clear that problems were not be corrected quickly enough and that our nation was not living up to the promise it made to take care of soldiers. The most recent debacle led to the sacking of retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, but it was another black eye for the administration which appeared to look incompetent when it comes to taking care of wounded, or in-need veterans.

- Speaking of health care, Obama had also pledged that his administration would embrace new stem cell technology, and part of the hope and change we heard so much about would happen as lives improved through medical innovation. But as his presidency has continued, we see little evidence that Obama is pushing for new cures, science or solutions when it comes to medical problems.

- For years now, reports by watchdog organizations and journalists that have shown despite Obama's promises of being more transparent, his administration has actually cracked down on journalists, spied on citizens and retaliated against those who leak information to the press. In fact, the Obama administration has become so opaque and difficult that it has earned the reputation of being far worse than Nixon, the disgraced president whose terrible clampdown of information led to federal law being changed for more transparency.

- Finally, Obamacare has become synonymous with boondoggle. To be fair, there has not been enough time to judge whether the comprehensive health care reform program works, but one thing is certain: The public presentation and roll-out of the program was so riddled with technical glitches and problems, it greatly undermined the public's confidence in the system.
 

Traveler

Well-known member
- Speaking of health care, Obama had also pledged that his administration would embrace new stem cell technology, and part of the hope and change we heard so much about would happen as lives improved through medical innovation. But as his presidency has continued, we see little evidence that Obama is pushing for new cures, science or solutions when it comes to medical problems.

It appears his solution is the Obamacare disaster on so many levels and death panels.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
It appears to me that those that voted for Barry, like OT, thought he could get everything he promised, accomplished through corruption, coercion, intimidation and fraud.

Because it wasn't his negotiating and leadership skills they were counting on, that's for sure...
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
A wise newspaper will change their mind; a foolish newspaper never does.

At least the Billings Gazette realizes the folly of their earlier endorsement, and is trying to get back on the right track. I, for one, tip my hat to them for eating crow, even after it has grown cold. :tiphat:
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
Damn those "Racist Radical Extremist Tea Partiers", that just won't give him a chance...

http://m.billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/article_f7f51100-0eb8-5726-922f-b1bf460fcf87.html?mobile_touch=true


"The Billings Gazette," a Montana newspaper that endorsed President Obama over John McCain in 2008 (but went with Romney in 2012) admitted Friday that they were wrong -- Obama is in fact worse than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Apparently, the potential collapse of Iraq (and the disastrous worldwide consequences sure to follow) was the last straw.

"[W]e were wrong," the editorial page notes,"We said things couldn't get much worse after the sub par presidency of George W. Bush. But, President Barack Obama's administration has us yearning for the good ol' days when we were at least winning battles in Iraq."

According to the site Left in the West, this is what the "Billings Gazzette" wrote about Obama in its 2008 presidential endorsement:

At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad.

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance."

In their reversal today, the "Billings Gazette" editorial board does not stop with Iraq. The laundry list of their disappointments is wide and deep: Obama's un-American surveillance state, the Bowe Bergdahl swap, the mishandling of the VA, the "boondoggle" of ObamaCare, and the administration's many sins against the media.

Without even getting to the economy, the editors sum it up with, "[T]aken in completely, these demonstrate a disturbing trend of incompetence and failure."

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2014/06/27/newspaper-reversal-we-were-wrong-obama-worse-than-bush






Let's recap some of the mistakes:

- Maybe the worst and most widespread invasion of privacy occurred when the Obama administration continued a controversial National Security Agency program of spying on millions of citizens culling their phone records to intercepting online information. The administration has done nearly nothing to safeguard civil liberties or put in safeguards to protect our Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

- The Obama administration has continued to ratchet down on emissions from coal-fired power plants while giving consumers little new innovation to replace the power supply. Meanwhile, Obama continues to thwart other energy projects that might be helpful to the economy, like the Keystone XL pipeline. The war on carbon might not be so bad if indeed it was being counterbalanced by true innovation.

- Iraq was an inherited quagmire from the Bush administration. But six years later, Obama has to own the current situation which, as this is being written, looks perilously close to civil war and a complete breakdown of government in Iraq. If that were to happen, the sacrifice of thousands of Americans' lives would be cheapened, if not in vain. His handling the situation seems uncertain and we can't help but wonder if the same type of inaction will lead to a civil war similar to Syria's?

- The Bowe Bergdahl situation is an example of right instinct, completely wrong handling of a prisoner exchange. The Obama administration should be lauded for not wanting to leave any American solider behind. But, surprising Congress, trading possible terrorists and not doing enough to vet the background of Bergdahl had the net effect of looking incompetent. What should have been an easy public relations victory for bringing a lost soldier home turned into a public relations nightmare, and continued to erode public confidence, leading some to wonder if Obama's team can't even get something as important as bringing home a captive soldier correct, what can it be successful at?

- The VA scandal showed that wait times for veterans access to health care was so bad that some veterans actually died before they could get the medical care they were entitled to. While the VA system was not invented by the Obama administration, after six years of management, it's clear that problems were not be corrected quickly enough and that our nation was not living up to the promise it made to take care of soldiers. The most recent debacle led to the sacking of retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, but it was another black eye for the administration which appeared to look incompetent when it comes to taking care of wounded, or in-need veterans.

- Speaking of health care, Obama had also pledged that his administration would embrace new stem cell technology, and part of the hope and change we heard so much about would happen as lives improved through medical innovation. But as his presidency has continued, we see little evidence that Obama is pushing for new cures, science or solutions when it comes to medical problems.

- For years now, reports by watchdog organizations and journalists that have shown despite Obama's promises of being more transparent, his administration has actually cracked down on journalists, spied on citizens and retaliated against those who leak information to the press. In fact, the Obama administration has become so opaque and difficult that it has earned the reputation of being far worse than Nixon, the disgraced president whose terrible clampdown of information led to federal law being changed for more transparency.

- Finally, Obamacare has become synonymous with boondoggle. To be fair, there has not been enough time to judge whether the comprehensive health care reform program works, but one thing is certain: The public presentation and roll-out of the program was so riddled with technical glitches and problems, it greatly undermined the public's confidence in the system.

Interesting the Billings Gazette printed a retraction of sorts, old that it may be. It is normally a very LIBERAL newspaper, owned by Lee Enterprises out of Iowa. They also own every daily newspaper in the state of Montana except the Great Falls Tribune. (Heck, by now, they might own that one too.) Every one of them has a liberal slant. Maybe Obama's corruption has woke up a giant.
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. :lol:

In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. :lol:

After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad. :lol:

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance." :lol:

Can you believe idiots all across America fell for that crap? I can. The biggest idiot waddles in Valley County.
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
Whitewing said:
At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. :lol:

In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. :lol:

After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad. :lol:

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance." :lol:

Can you believe idiots all across America fell for that crap? I can. The biggest idiot waddles in Valley County.

And has the number for the Scooter Store on speed dial!
 

Mike

Well-known member
loomixguy said:
Whitewing said:
At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. :lol:

In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. :lol:

After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad. :lol:

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance." :lol:

Can you believe idiots all across America fell for that crap? I can. The biggest idiot waddles in Valley County.

And has the number for the Scooter Store on speed dial!

Are you kidding? John Deere doesn't make a scooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

iwannabeacowboy

Well-known member
loomixguy said:
Whitewing said:
At this extremely challenging time, America needs a uniter, not a divider. :lol:

In this economic turmoil, America needs a thoughtful, cool-headed optimist who envisions a bright future for all citizens. :lol:

After several years in which worldwide respect for America has been diminished, our great nation needs a new leader who can inspire confidence at home and abroad. :lol:

Obama is that leader. As Gen. Colin Powell said last week, Obama is the president America needs now "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities. ... He has both style and substance." :lol:

Can you believe idiots all across America fell for that crap? I can. The biggest idiot waddles in Valley County.

And has the number for the Scooter Store on speed dial!


You mean the one caught with their hand in the Medicaid jar of fraud?
 
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