Do you agree with what Obama said in Florida: "You can't just be against something; you need to be for something."?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:21:39 -0400

Politics aside, Obama said something today that really stuck. "You can't just be against something you need to be for something." This is something that I feel takes many of us a long time to learn. You service members typically do not understand this. My mentorship sessions over the years has taught me this and I continue to lean towards it everyday. What are your thoughts?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 3 at 2016 12:25 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:25:12 -0400

I think I would rephrase it to: "If your against a proposal to fix an issue, you should also present an alternate solution that you prefer"

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 3 at 2016 12:34 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:34:27 -0400

"You service members typically do not understand this"...how can you say "typical SM" doesn't understand this? Obama reworded the phrase that "If you won't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".

Response by SFC James Asbill made Nov 3 at 2016 12:42 PM

SFC James Asbill — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:42:50 -0400

We are for a lot of things .. America.... Freedom.. Individual Rights ...and against what we see as threats and things we know are not good for the country and its citizens .. Unfortunately .. for him .. Most of us see what he wants to turn America into .. and his attempted stealing of personal freedoms and something we are very very much against ..

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 3 at 2016 12:46 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:46:24 -0400

I would use the metaphor espousing that "If you give an infinite number of ..." but fear that someone will call me racist. But, it's true. Even President Obama can get something correct once in a while (I almost typed "right" instead of "correct" and stopped myself fearing that using "right" and "President Obama" in the same sentence might be politically incorrect) Sadly, he isn't so much "correct" but rather attempting to insult his opposition. He has always refused to acknowledge that they stand for something. It serves his purpose better to claim that they only oppose him because they hate him, are blatantly racist.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Nov 3 at 2016 1:09 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:09:29 -0400

I would suggest that just the fact that you ARE against something means that you are for something else. Sometimes, people even prefer nothing to the status quo, so they can be "for something" and "for nothing" at the same time.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 3 at 2016 1:13 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:13:32 -0400

That destroys Hillary's total campaign strategy. The only thing she is for is four to eight years of global unrest, tepid economy, 94 million citizens that have given up looking for work, 1 in 6 children going hungry, more hate and deaths in the big cities....... and more hypocrisy than ever.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Nov 3 at 2016 1:46 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:46:24 -0400

I need the context to go with the line. I can be against a lot of things which can be identified as bad ideas, and even for the status quo. Just because something doesn't seem to be working as well as one would like, does not mean offering any idea should be the answer. It actually is possible to make something worse if your "solution" isn't the right one. Just because I can't offer an alternate one does not mean we should pursue a bad one.

Response by SFC Ernie Rau made Nov 3 at 2016 1:58 PM

SFC Ernie Rau — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:58:20 -0400

I feel badly that the attachment seems so true.

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Nov 3 at 2016 2:00 PM

LCpl Todd Houston — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:00:29 -0400

I am against the phrase "you service members typically do not understand this". I am against someone making a blanket statement without being able to back it up and then hiding behind their arrogance. I am FOR thinking before hitting the post button. I am FOR mentors showing a little damn respect for their audience, otherwise it does not matter what the mentor has to say, even if he is right, noone wants to listen anymore. That being said, I am FOR second chances and forgiveness when warranted, like now.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Nov 3 at 2016 2:30 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:30:17 -0400

"You can't just be against something you need to be for something."
I agree, but the issue is we dont get to directly say what is on the plate to choose from.,,,and if the politicians do not put something on the plate that is palatable, we are left the only choice being "against" what is offered.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 3:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 15:50:07 -0400

Who exactly are you referring to when you say "you service members". Aren't you a E5? I think his words are about as well thought out as yours in this case.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 3:50 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 15:50:20 -0400

I think you can be against something if it's worth the resources and information you have to prove your move. You can be for something, hence why you would agree and put through with it.

It's a rather interesting to say something like that. It's all about interpretation. Glass is half empty/half full, rather; IMHO.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 3 at 2016 6:59 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:59:34 -0400

President Obama is quite the wordsmith. He uses phrases to subconsciously plant seeds of doubt in the listeners. He always characterized himself as "willing to work with the Republicans" as soon as they presented something reasonable. The problem was that President Obama's definition of "reasonable" was complete surrender by the Republicans. He never would have gotten away with such blatant sophistry if the press wasn't in his back pocket.

Here's the something I'm FOR. I'll take care of my own individual problems. I will help those that need individual help it because it is the right thing to do, not because the government compels me to do so. The Federal government should take care of group problems, not individual problems that large groups of people have in common. There is a difference.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 7:56 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:56:46 -0400

didn't he run on a platform that was basically, "I'm not GW?"

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 3 at 2016 8:04 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 20:04:55 -0400

This moron is always shooting his mouth off...

Ok ... here is what i am standing for... The arrest and convection OF BHO and His Regime for Murder and Treason...

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 3 at 2016 8:57 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 20:57:01 -0400

He's an ASS! There, I said it.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 3 at 2016 11:54 PM

SPC Phil Norton — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 23:54:51 -0400

I am for this idiot never speaking in public again

Response by Mike Jay made Nov 4 at 2016 9:03 AM

Mike Jay — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 09:03:56 -0400

He is a POS and finally on his way out....Thank GOD!

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 4 at 2016 9:33 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 09:33:43 -0400

Who the f*(k is paying for these endorsement speeches, who the hell is picking up the tab for the secret service for the POTOS and the FLOTUS? Is as wrong as a football bat and a plain out conflict of interest for the public to pay for this boondagle, plain bullshit!

Response by SPC Donald Tresohlavy made Nov 8 at 2016 8:50 PM

SPC Donald Tresohlavy — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 20:50:10 -0500

I have to disagree. While it is a nice soundbite, it's not realistic. It'd awesome if everyone who was against an idea had an alternative. But it turns out that it's very possible to realize one idea is terrible and not have a better idea. Much like being lost in the woods, it's better to stay put than to move in the wrong direction.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 9 at 2016 1:24 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 01:24:15 -0500

During his first six years his motivation for almost everything seemed to be that he was against Bush and anything Bush had done.

Response by Bill Husztek made Nov 15 at 2016 11:35 AM

Bill Husztek — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:35:14 -0500

Politically correct?
For eight years we have experienced "politeness" insanity, built on top of a general trend toward a social descent into 15th and 16th century levels of ignorance leading to popular shaming of virtually everyone who isn't part of the "in" crowd. The recent election is an example of how dangerously powerful it has become. Need an example? Write or say the word; niggardly.
If you are a progressive party member, its okay, even forgiveable once the witch hunters finally read a dictionary.
But what if you aren't?
My wife often accuses me of being niggardly when I'm shopping for gasoline.
I rest my case.