Roger Cohen: "Get Bold, Barack" Or "Get Real, Roger"?

In a New York Times op-ed entited "Get Bold, Barack" (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/opinion/02iht-edcohen.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss), Roger Cohen today expresses his disappointment with the president and observes that "the disappointed are not misguided but rational, even scientific." (Apparently, Cohen is always receptive to adulation, even if it need come from himself.) In this same modest vein, Cohen writes with regard to Obama:

"He needs to become serious about balancing the budget. He needs a foreign policy that reflects a changed world not a churlish Congress."

Become serious about balancing the budget? A rational, even scientific Cohen fails to acknowledge that Obama's deficit budget over the past two years has been squandered on the escalation of a senseless ground war in Afghanistan and on bonuses for bankers, instead of being spent on infrastructure, education and jobs for middle class, working families. Instead of fiscal stimulus, we have witnessed an Obamination, which will not be reversed anytime soon.

A foreign policy that reflects a changed world not a churlish Congress? Stop right there! Congress has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's dismal human rights record, involving a refusal to acknowledge human rights abuses in China, Iran, Egypt, Burma, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and a host of other countries. Obama rode into power believing that he could "make nice" to some of the world's most oppressive regimes and wean them from their evil ways. And although Obama has succeeded in alienating long-standing allies such as Poland, the Czech Republic, the Ukraine, Britain, India, Japan, Columbia and Israel, his overtures to tyranny have been met with scorn and derision.

Sorry, Roger, but this "bold" foray into foreign affairs is Obama's sole responsibility, although perhaps you should acknowledge your own support for the president's failed attempt at courting Tehran, which necessitated turning a blind eye to murder, torture and horrific abuse of Kurds, Baha'is, Sunni Muslims, homosexuals, women, journalists and political dissidents.

Blame Obama's tolerance of human rights abuses on Congress? No dice! Again, this was quintessential Obama.

Get bold, Barack? Get real, Roger!