Obama: Ignoring Russian Aggression Would Have Global Consequences

[Mr Khan]

Kasz216 said:

Mr Khan said:

thranx said:
I think Obama has nailed the coffin for dems in the next election with how he dealt with Russia. He has made the US look weak. He has shown how naive he is if he thinks russia will stop there, how many land grabs have they done in the last decade? seems like its been stepping up not winding down. I also have to say Sarah Palin said it well, if the United States stops helping out other countries, if we take a back seat, someone will fill that void, and its most likely Russia and China. So the question is how safe do europeans feel with having Russia and China calling the shots over there? I dont think many europeans would want that. I could be wrong, i'm not european, but I wouldn't feel safe with a countries that have been on land grab sprees and military build ups on my front door step unless we are close allies already.

How many land grabs in the last decade? Uhh, one?

Crimea was the first international land-swap since Macao in 2005, the first annexation since either the West Bank by Israel or Irian Jaya by Indonesia (maybe India's seizure of parts of Kashmir post-dates it. Not sure).

Anyway, the Crimean situation is insanely far down Americans' list of priorities. 2014 is all about the Affordable Care Act, where the Republicans unfortunately seem to control the optics, but the numbers are beginning to move the democrats' way (enrollment goals supposedly being met).

Eh i'd disagree on both counts.

It was the first brazen annexation.  However the whole Georgian thing more then qualfies as a land grab as well.

Also, enrollment goals aren't being met on Obamacare.  Milestones are being hit... behind schedule, but pretty much has to happen...

and even then the milestones being hit are using a bit of slight of hand, as originally the numbers they were looking for was insured people through the exchange, when now they're citing people who sign up for insurance. ( of which anywhere between 10-20% of people will never get insurance because they won't be able to pay their premiums).

 

That said, I don't even think 2014 is about Obamacare.  I mean, it's being done pretty incompetantly, and people will complain and stuff, but it's similar to like... your DMV at this point.  It's there, and it's going to take longer then it should and be a giant pain int he ass, but it's just part of the machinery now.  At the end of the day people will care more about if they're employed/feel like jobs the economy is on an upswing.

Since the 2014 run is more legislative, it could be more focused on a referendum on that piece of legislation. Certainly the Republicans are banking on it, thinking the law more unpopular than it actually is (since a chunk of the "disapprove" percentage are the people who want France or the NHS, not a return to the pre-2009 status quo)