I want to thank the various commentators who answered this question. I learned a lot from these comments.
I won't repeat my earlier comments about Obama's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. What else is there?
Well, I find only one thing he has done that I support: His apparent decision only to prosecute people for federal marijuana crimes when those crimes also violate state law. This decision, like so much else from the Obama Administration, seems a little unclear. But assuming it will be followed (and assuming it is a departure from previous practice), I say it is a good thing. Not the most important thing in the world, but a good thing, in my book at least.
But that is about it. That Obama has distanced the US from Israel -- if that has in fact occurred -- is a bug not a feature. It is true that Obama has made the Democrats responsible for foreign policy issues and that has forced them to stop assuming there are costless solutions. But that is not really something Obama has done. It is merely the result of a Democrat assuming the presidency. (Someone also mentioned the credit card legislation, but I haven't really followed the issue, so I can't say. I will look into it.)
Overall, from my perspective, there is very little to like and a great deal to strongly dislike. Still, I appreciate the efforts by the commentators to come up with something.
It is worth observing that Obama has been precisely wrong about Iraq (actually the winnable and worth winning war) and Afghanistan (the longer running war, seemingly unwinnable, and most doubtful war)
Posted by: josil | July 13, 2009 at 10:39 PM