Oliver Stone: Don't Betray Us, Barack -- End the Empire

[tekisui]

Source: Alternet

"Suddenly, a season of peace seems to be warming the world," the New York Times exulted on the last day of July 1988. Protracted and bloody wars were ending in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia and Nicaragua, and between Iran and Iraq. But the most dramatic development was still to come.

(snip)

Fast-forward to 2008, when Barack Obama swept to office on a wave of popular euphoria, mesmerising supporters with his inspiring biography, lofty and exhilarating rhetoric, welcome rejection of unilateralism and strong opposition to the Iraq war - qualities that made him seem the antithesis of George W Bush.

Bush and his empire-building advisers - the sorriest crew ever to run this country - had saddled him and the American people with an incredible mess. After two long and disastrous wars, trillions of dollars in military spending, torture and abuse of prisoners on several continents, an economic collapse and near-depression at home, disparities between rich and poor unheard of in an advanced industrial country, government surveillance on an unprecedented scale, collapsing infrastructure and a global reputation left in tatters, the US did not look all that attractive.

Obama has taken a bad situation and, in many ways, made it worse. He got off to a good start, immediately taking steps to reverse some of Bush's most outlandish policies - pledging to end torture and close the detention facility at Guantanamo as well as the network of CIA-administered secret prisons.

much more: http://www.alternet.org/world/150630/oliver_stone%3A_don%27t_betray_us,_barack_--_end_the_empire_?page=entire

[FrenchieCat]

1. Just keep working hard at it......

Pretty soon, when folks' ass are totally getting kicked, stepped and stomped on
by the Republicons....as they ascend to complete control (Dem senate is at stake in 2012 bigtime),
please let us know then what Mr. Oliver Stone has to say about that,
and what he will then suggest be done, since he sounds soooo smart!

Till then,
Thanks! :hi:

[tekisui]

2. Your post makes no sense.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[PurityOfEssence]

17. Quite simple really: any criticism of the President is aiding and abetting the Republicans

Anyone who tries it is doing so out of ego, since no real issue could really exist to prompt such a thing.

Anyone questioning this "truth" is subject to being deleted, because holding this view is more important than the well-being of society.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[joentokyo]

14. Discerning a difference between Obama and the Republicans is beyond my limited

understanding. I guess I didn't take enough Hopium.

[PurityOfEssence]

18. Har.

Hopium.

Thanks for that.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[Keith Bee]

5. At the end of the movie, Stone reveals that he is Obama's father

But Barack refuses to join the Empire or embrace the Dark Side.

Oh. Sorry. Didn't mean to spoil it. :freak:

[Phx_Dem]

7. When Obama, or anyone, starts taking advice from Hugo Chavez-loving

Oliver Stone, there will be reason for concern.

[BeFree]

8. Thanks for your concern

It must tear people up to realize the Empire is collapsing?

But, hey, don't feel bad, it's only natural.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. "Citizen of the World"

"It must tear people up to realize the Empire is collapsing?"

Are you a native of this country?

[Teaser]

9. OBAMAHITLER, PLEASE DON'T BETRAY OLIVER STONE1!1!11!

.

[tekisui]

10. Inane response.

[KoKo]

11. K&R...amazing the lack of recommends.

[PragmaticLiberal]

13. Why is that amazing?

[bigwillq]

15. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi: