Sunday, December 19, 2010

Evaluation metrics from a previous post

Seems to be a standard parlor game, so here was my criteria for next president:

  1. cut deficit in ½ as measured by % of GDP. Must be for last year in office or 2 consecutive years is top of list.
  2. closing Gitmo.
  3. over riding Bush's executive order sealing past presidential papers.
  4. ending DADT.
  5. rescinding Bush's Cuba restrictions.
  6. enacting some sensible policy for medical marijuana.
  7. sensible withdrawal from Iraq.
Obvious no's are: 1, 2, 6. If we do eventually bankrupt our nation or end up like Japan then both Bush & Obama will go down in history as failed presidents.
Obvious yes as of yesterday is 4. Overall satisfied with 7.
Believe that 3 & 5 are complete - haven't looked up #3.

Biggest disappointment is continuation of too much of Bush's civil liberties policies (right to assassinate an american on executive authority only, state's secrets, stating that even if someone is acquitted it won't make a difference). Afghanistan is probably #2.

Comments:
You're goals are far too timid. Some observations:

1. Cutting a gargantuan budget in half still leaves one that exceeds anything during the Bush years by a sizable margin. This doesn't strike me as being fiscally responsible.

2. Closing Gitmo and leaving Bagram and CIA black sites open is not progress, as it merely shifts the location where the outrage takes place.

3. Why stop at presidential papers?

4. Who cares?

5. In case you didn't know, the Cuba restrictions have been in place since the early 60s. And why stop at Cuba?

6. Limiting marijuana use to cancer patients implies that the government owns the bodies of non-cancer patients. If the government has the power to tell us what we can put in our bodies, aren't we slaves?

7. Sensible? How about a presidential order prohibiting all military patrols by US forces anywhere in the world followed by a complete withdrawal?

As for Bush's assassination policy, at least he had the good sense to keep it hush-hush. With Obama, it has become an overt policy goal! The arrogance of this man is breath-taking.
 
Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?