Plus-ca-change.gov

As Obama has moved between his web sites (first barackobama.com, then change.gov, and now whitehouse.gov), some of his policy statements have been removed from the list, while others have continued throughout—like these:

• Support Israel's Right to Self Defense: During the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel's right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks, cosponsoring a Senate resolution against Iran and Syria's involvement in the war, and insisting that Israel should not be pressured into a ceasefire that did not deal with the threat of Hezbollah missiles. He and Joe Biden believe strongly in Israel's right to protect its citizens.
• Support Foreign Assistance to Israel: Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently supported foreign assistance to Israel. They defend and support the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and have advocated increased foreign aid budgets to ensure that these funding priorities are met. They have called for continuing U.S. cooperation with Israel in the development of missile defense systems.

Isn't it great to know that while Obama is preparing to take an axe to any domestic program that "doesn't work", military and economic assistance to Israel are both "funding priorities", and the foreign aid budget will be increased to make sure we can continue lavishing approximately $500 on every Israeli year after year*?

Setting aside that wonderful news, the fact that Obama has taken his policies wholesale from his campaign web site right through to the White House web site makes it pretty clear that those who were desperately hoping for a surprise from an Obama presidency are going to get one...just not the good kind.

ADDING: Not that it will bother them:

We must be careful not to give up our hope but to reduce our expectations so we won't be disappointed. The miracle has happened--the miracle of the most participatory inclusive campaign; the miracle of the election. Now we must keep our agenda alive, reasonable and doable.

And here I thought we should do just the opposite.  My mistake.

* (Israel is by far the largest recipient of US foreign aid—and the total is actually larger than it appears, since the huge annual subsidy for second runner-up Egypt is essentially an ongoing bribe begun in 1979 in exchange for Egypt's willingness to remain on the sidelines as Israel continued expropriating Palestinian land, attacked Lebanon, and so on.)

Comments

[SteveB]

Actually, I'd feel better if we were "lavishing approximately $500 on every Israeli year after year," because that would mean that actual human beings would be getting the money. Instead, virtually all of our aid to Israel goes to buy weapons, and ends up back here in the pockets of U.S. defense contractors.

By the way, do you have a list of Obama policy statements that have been removed as he made the transition to the official White House website?

And I think I'm going to have to stop reading this site if you're going to continue to link to dangerous radical sources like Parade Magazine.

[John Caruso]

...do you have a list of Obama policy statements that have been removed as he made the transition to the official White House website?

Nope, but you've got the links; go wild. I noticed enough changes to make it clear that they weren't just being copied verbatim.

And I think I'm going to have to stop reading this site if you're going to continue to link to dangerous radical sources like Parade Magazine.

Yes, I too found that quite amusing.

[KDelphi]

I actually read this (it comes in my local sunday paper), and quoted it, but forgot where I got it! People were saying I was lying, etc.

There it is! Thanks!

Have you ever seen such beautiful theater, a more gorgeous couple, or more preachers in one damn place! (O supporters say that the second preacher was "quoting an old negro spiritual---does anyone know if that is ture? If it is , it is a VERY old one!)lol

[John Caruso]

O supporters say that the second preacher was "quoting an old negro spiritual---does anyone know if that is ture?

Sure is.

[KDelphi]

It sure sounds better in song, doesnt it..