President Obama - Is Too Good Not Good Enough?

(Courtesy of pinterest.com)

I support the President; I voted for him - twice.

He is very smart and not in need of my advice.

But I've started worrying, with all that's in the news,

If I'm being too dismissive of the Right Wing's views.

Not about Obama Care, despite the current mess.

'though it needs some tinkering, it will be a success.

Not on the economy, which didn't crash and burn

(Even though the job growth rate is slower to return.)

Seems to me, domestically, he's doing all he can

Given that Republicans will not work with the man.

It's the other problem - with his image overseas.

Countries aren't afraid of him and, thus, do as they please.

Not as if he'll go to war 'cause, once a war begins,

People start to die and, in the end, nobody wins.

Unmanned drones cut down on that so using them is smart

Even if our foes believe they prove we lack the heart.

Putin's seized Crimea and the Syrians are slow

Handing in their chemicals to us because they know:
 President Obama is too rational to fight,

Drones don't pose the kind of threat that keeps them up at night.

When you win the Nobel Prize for Peace you're kinda stuck.

If no one's afraid of you they tend to push their luck.

So, Republicans believe a cowboy's what we need.

Do they have a point?  Can someone be too good to lead?

The 113th Congress - What Kind of Example is This?

Do we want to show the world that we'll negotiate

If the threat is big enough?  Well, isn't that just great?

Less than perfect timing (just to understate the facts)

Threaten world economies until the Congress acts.

With a common enemy the Arab street unites;

We're that common enemy - ignoring sovereign rights.

Two raids into Africa; a city street, a beach...

One man's being questioned but the other's out of reach.

Egypt doesn't like the fact we can't support their coup.

In Afghanistan their President is angry, too.

Karzai says he won't agree to sign a long-term deal

'cause we never stop to ask the Afghans how they feel.

Pakistan and Yemen hate that we use unmanned drones;

All the world is mad the NSA is tapping phones.

Now they get to watch and see our government not work...

Anyone who'd sign up for this kind of thing's a jerk.

Drone Strikes and Due Process

Photo/ProPulica.Org

As a former member of the military, I

More than understand why drones are authorized to fly;

Maybe save a soldier's life with less civilian loss.

No trials for al-Qaeda members? I don't give a toss.

If your aim is to destroy America then, fine;

You have just declared yourself at war with me and mine.

Am I truly horrified when innocents are killed?

Yes.  Despite the fact our troops are trained and highly skilled

People on the side-lines in a war zone tend to die;

Whether by stray bullets or a bomb dropped from the sky.

I suspect that fewer people die when we use drones

And, no matter how much that the ACLU moans,

'though we skipped due process when we killed a citizen

It was not a question if  he'd try something, but when. 

Still, it's not a bad idea if, when the next drone flew

It was first submitted to some judges for review.