Obama trip abroad reveals innocence / LJWorld.com

Archive for Tuesday, July 22, 2008

By Cal Thomas

July 22, 2008

I remember the first time my wife and I visited Europe and the Middle East. The trip resembled Sen. Obama's current version of speed travel, but without the entourage, security and network coverage.

Armed with Arthur Frommer's "Europe on $5 a Day," we crammed as much as we could into 18-hour days, hitting the museums, art galleries, cathedrals and restaurants. When the tour ended, we had impressions and a slightly better view of the world.

There is a difference, though, between a view of the world and a worldview.

A view of the world means you might like London and I might prefer Paris, but each preference can be equally valid because it is a matter of individual taste. A correct worldview is a way of not just looking at other countries and people, but having an intellectual and moral center that allows one to distinguish between good and evil; right and wrong; sound economic, social and political policies and bad ones.

There is a reason America is what it is. The economic power and military might are effects, not causes of America's greatness. It is because we offer the lives of our young and much of our fortune to defend liberty for ourselves and promote it for others that we are blessed with liberty. Too many other countries - especially European countries - receive liberty as America's gift, but contribute little to it.

This week, Europe will cheer Barack Obama as if he were Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, the commander of Allied troops that liberated Europe from Hitler; or John F. Kennedy before the Brandenburg Gate near the beginning of the Berlin Wall; or Ronald Reagan in the same place near its collapse.

Obama is no Eisenhower, Kennedy, or Reagan. He might be more like the Pied Piper, leading Europeans to their doom. Does Europe believe that if it follows Obama he will lead them away from world conflict? Blind faith in Obama won't save Europe from war. Like the wise monkeys of the old Japanese maxim, Europe neither sees nor hears evil. It sees no evil in Iraq or Afghanistan; it sees no evil in the tide of immigration from countries that believe freedom and pluralism are offensive. Twice Europe had to be rescued by the United States and protected from the Soviets because it failed to hear the thundering hoofs of approaching evil.

Will Europeans respond if Obama asks them to supply their fair share of troops for NATO or expand their participation from mostly noncombat roles? Do Obama supporters think he can sweep Europeans off their feet, as he has done to so many Americans? Maybe, but a difficult period will follow the one-night stand, one that requires commitment and a long-lasting relationship based on an equal partnership. Europe has demonstrated little taste for such commitment in the past.

Polls show a majority of American voters trust John McCain on national security; they also trust his ability to lead in a crisis more than they trust Obama. They are right to do so. Obama's record is like floor wax: all shine and no depth. Obama has spent more time thinking about and running for president than he has spent in the Senate. Obama chairs the Subcommittee on European Affairs, but he has presided over just one hearing.

Earlier this month, Obama said that commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government would determine the pace of the withdrawal from Iraq. But just before going to Afghanistan for his hit-and-run visit, Obama reiterated his pledge to stick to an arbitrary 16-month withdrawal timetable.

Most politicians shift positions. John McCain certainly has. But war and national security are fundamental and a politician who bases positions on polls and clamoring interest groups - rather than the national interest - is a person without a core. He is like the gambler who rolls dice in a Monte Carlo casino. Lose there and all you've lost is money, lose in war and on national security and the consequences are far more dangerous.

Obama has said that as president he would increase the number of troops and aid in Afghanistan, but when given the opportunity to vote in the Senate to do just that, he voted against the bill. He says it was because it didn't include a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Obama has 300 foreign policy advisers, many of them veterans of the Clinton administration. Why so many? Perhaps because he is an innocent abroad and, while he may have a rosy view of the world, his worldview needs improvement.

- Cal Thomas is a columnist for Tribune Media Services.

Discussion

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22 July 2008
at 1:18 a.m.

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igby (Anonymous) says…

It's George Bush, senior's fault that Clinton got elected in 1992. It's Clinton's fault that his son, George Bush “W.” and Bushco, got elected in 2000.It's Howard Dean's fault the Dems have lost three presidential elections in a row. Yes, three.Gore,Kerry,Obama.Obama, should at lease have some voting record prior to 2004. No!Cal's right, the Dems have blown it again.
22 July 2008
at 5:50 a.m.

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1Patriot (Anonymous) says…

I still see Obama being asked a question that he had no idea how to answer so he walked away and what was it “sweetie” or “honey” he called a female reporter? Giving the impression that he was above her, and could not be bothered by her question?And now his visit to the Middle East? Green? I like green! Does Obama know the color of the uniform of the US military?
22 July 2008
at 7:44 a.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

On the very week the NYT refused to put McCains op-ed into print…..about the warfronts/surge etc. And who will still deny the fact the bulk of the mainstream media is corrupt, and is blatantly in the tank for the Obama camp? If you do, your detachment from reality is startling.
22 July 2008
at 7:56 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Oh, that is a nice editorial and how true it is!
22 July 2008
at 8:17 a.m.

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staff04 (Anonymous) says…

I thought some of you (I won't name any names, you know who you are) might find this interesting:http://reallyseriousnews.com/?p=108
22 July 2008
at 8:24 a.m.

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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

More simplistic drivel from Cal.But Marion likes it just fine.
22 July 2008
at 9:04 a.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

very well done collumn! indeed Barry H. Obama can't recognize evil: he only ditched his evil bigoted hate-filled antiwhite antiamerican pastor when he became a political liability. he did keep his little daughters under this teaching too! that alone should disqualify him to be president: lack of judgment; lack of moral strength. cal is right, obama=green; shallow; callow. worth repeating:Polls show a majority of American voters trust John McCain on national security; they also trust his ability to lead in a crisis more than they trust Obama.They are right to do so. Obama's record is like floor wax: all shine and no depth. Obama has spent more time thinking about and running for president thanhe has spent in the Senate. Obama chairs the Subcommittee on European Affairs, but he has presided over just one hearing.***and bonzo's response is so funny I almost fell outa my chair! if you look at 95% of his posts, you see vapid, shallow, posts devoid of factual support. bonzo really has become a parody.

22 July 2008
at 9:06 a.m.

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temperance (Anonymous) says…

The closer we come to Obama being our President the shriller the rhetoric and the greater the insanity of the conservatives. Yesterday, McCain referred to a fictional “Iraq/Pakistan border.” So, Obama is the one that's naÃive and green? If Obama had made that same hideously embarrassing error the clip would play non-stop in the 24 hour news cycle for weeks.http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/21/mccain-warns-of-hard-struggle-on-the-iraq-pakistan-border/As Obama prepared to leave for abroad, the mainstream press practically salivated over the prospect of him making some gaffe on his trip, yet some still think that the press is in the tank for Obama. That must be why they obsessed over Reverend Wright so much; the press was trying to help Obama by confronting his demons! That's it! (for more evidence that the media is in bed with McCain, see here: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/03/m… )McCain was wrong about going to war with Iraq, he was wrong about WMD, he was wrong about it being a cakewalk, and he's wrong about the region's basic geography. Forgive me if I'm not persuaded that McCain has a better “worldview” than Obama. At least Obama knows where Pakistan is located.
22 July 2008
at 9:09 a.m.

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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…

The messiah reminds me of kofi anon. The europeans loved kofi because he was so easy to dupe.
22 July 2008
at 9:22 a.m.

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jhwk2008 (Anonymous) says…

And John McSame's moral compass led him to the racist bigots Hagee, Falwell and Parsley, not to mention George W. Bush.
22 July 2008
at 9:25 a.m.

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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

Or, more likely, it could be that the JW headline writer knows that Mark Twain would consider Thomas to be little more than a pompous buffoon.
22 July 2008
at 9:25 a.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

Aww. What a cute article. Little sour grapes because Obama's been killing in the polls since he left?
22 July 2008
at 9:35 a.m.

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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…

I can't for the messiah bobble head doll.
22 July 2008
at 9:38 a.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

Sour grapes? Exactly. The extremist left that were starry-eyed over Obama have been jilted. Regardless, we all know a race-fueled election lies ahead. Ninety-four percent of blacks will vote for Obama. Swinger states will be heavily influenced by the metro area(s) voting patterns and even with this racist election pattern emerging, Obama is still aswirl with alot of big unknowns and alot of negative energy. There is an alternative for the extremist left. Brian Moore and ……http://vote-socialist.org/index.html#top
22 July 2008
at 9:41 a.m.

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guesswho (Anonymous) says…

Duplenty - don't you know we want as many people to hate us as possible? That way everyone can be terrorists, instead of having friends help us find the real ones.

22 July 2008
at 9:53 a.m.

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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…

Talk about being racist anxious. I didn't think racist posts were allowed on this site?
22 July 2008
at 9:56 a.m.

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temperance (Anonymous) says…

@ duplenty Oh yes. I forgot about “Czechoslovakia.” Call me crazy, but I like my president to have a current map of the world, not one that's 15 years old.@ genius I also thought it was cute, and so preciously predictable, too. @ Restore What's an “anti-merican terrorist?” Do we support the Mericans? Or should we support the terrorists trying to overthrow the Merican regime? I've never heard of this country. Maybe it's next to Czechoslovakia and the USSR? And I've never heard of Resko. Is he a Merican terrorist too?Yes, it was a “very well done collumn!” The row wasn't bad either.
22 July 2008
at 9:56 a.m.

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akt2 (Anonymous) says…

I don't want a president that wants to play ring around the rosey with the rest of the world. Playing nice and making new friends. Can you imagine this man as our Commander and Chief? What a joke.
22 July 2008
at 10:01 a.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

Now that Maliki has expressed agreement with Obama's plan for withdrawal, it will be interesting to see how McCain tries to justify his 100 year war in Iraq..almost as interesting as reading the hysteria from some of the righty-tighties on this board as Obama stands poised to claim the Oval Office.
22 July 2008
at 10:15 a.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

“Yesterday, McCain referred to a fictional “Iraq/Pakistan border”Okay, time to give this soundbite a rest. He misspoke, and it was obvious when or if you saw the clip. He was referring to Afghanistan, he knows who's on what border, please give it a rest. I agree that people would jump all over BO if he did the same thing, but that would be just as inane and juvenile as this is. Grow up, por favor, and let's discuss things that are important.
22 July 2008
at 10:19 a.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

duplenty (Anonymous) says: “President McCain, Pakistan has crossed the border into Iraq, sir. We believe they're acting on orders from Czechoslovakia; what are your orders?”“General, get my wife to find the google, it will have the answer. And bring me some Viagra”Like I said, inane and juvenile.
22 July 2008
at 10:21 a.m.

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antney (Anonymous) says…

What you call “ring around the rosie” good Presidents and Ambassadors call diplomacy.The current Bush policy of not talking to our enemies and threatening war to our adversaires is called bullying.In a civilized society, we try to teach our kids to play nice. Why can't our leaders do it?
22 July 2008
at 10:34 a.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

anxiousatheist says:”All religious practices are lead by small minded people… …you can't deal with people that you don't understand, you are unable to comprehend anything outside your own stream of thought, and have become a small, bitter person unaware of your own contradictions and fallibility. The shrillness of conservatives “arguments” are proof that there is real worry among them that their “way of life”, (whites in power) is coming to an end.”Do you ever read what you post and realize how 'small minded' and hypocritical you are? You have no problem calling people racists, and yet you blanket 95% of the world that believes in a Higher Power as morons? Worth re-reading, Anxious: “you can't deal with people that you don't understand, you are unable to comprehend anything outside your own stream of thought, and have become a small, bitter person unaware of your own contradictions” Was this an excerpt from your diary? It sure reads like one. And ALL conservatives are worried that their way of life, which according to you, is 'whites in power' is at an end? Hmmmmmmmm, nothing racially superior or derogatory to an entire sub-section of a country in that rant? Couple phrases come to mind…People in glass houses…..Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth….

22 July 2008
at 10:35 a.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“Can you imagine this man as our Commander and Chief? What a joke.” -akt2No. I can, however, imagine him as our “Commander in Chief”.The joke is on you, and yes, I'm laughing-just not WITH you…
22 July 2008
at 10:45 a.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

The “Europe is COOL!!” crowd needs to remember, they can't vote here in the United States……you know that, right? I have to wonder because for the most part, the same crowd is unable to properly identify a bias, unless dailykos tells them.Europes' feel good Obamafest is no shocker….Europe is victim to their own socialist order. Socialism “lite” if it makes you feel better. They'd love to switch gasoline prices with us…..they always have. Europe turns you on? Move there, noone is stopping you.
22 July 2008
at 10:53 a.m.

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jhwk2008 (Anonymous) says…

Any one see this article by Andy Borowitz? “McCain Makes Historic First Visit to Internet”“But with his Democratic rival Barack Obama making headlines with his tour of the Middle East and Europe, the McCain campaign felt that they needed to “come up with something equally bold for John to do,” according to one advisor.McCain aides said that the senator's journey to the Internet will span five days and will take him to such far-flung sites as Amazon.com, eBay and Facebook.”****”Having pronounced his visit to Mapquest a success, Sen. McCain continued his tour by visiting Weather.com and Yahoo! Answers, where he inquired as to the difference between Sunnis and Shiites.”
22 July 2008
at 11:06 a.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

You've just got to love it when someone with the user name “RestoreReason” describes other users posts as “ignorant” and a Presidential candidate as a “dolt”. I am certain that Obama is not only much more intelligent than RR, but he also expresses his opinions/positions without trying to denigrate anyone that dares differ from him.
22 July 2008
at 11:12 a.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

“On the very week the NYT refused to put McCains op-ed into print:..about the warfronts/surge etc.And who will still deny the fact the bulk of the mainstream media is corrupt, and is blatantly in the tank for the Obama camp? If you do, your detachment from reality is startling.”It is an editorial page, isn't it, Nance? That's a place where most papers take the opportunity to highlight the opinion they favor. Don't like it? Then buy another paper, although I suspect you don't read the Times and this has only been reported to you by Rush & the fine folks at Fox “News.” An editorial page does not purport to be “fair and balanced.” By the way, how often are intelligent, liberal and progressive opinions presented the 145,439,398,876,339,964 conservative radio talk shows, Fox, the Washington Times, etc. I know Rush told you this was a big deal (oh, the injustice of it all!!) but once again you failed to think for yourself and determine it is not.
22 July 2008
at 11:17 a.m.

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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…

anxiousatheist (Anonymous) says: I mean, really, how can Mccain be taken seriously if he doesn't understand how the internet works? It's a huge step in human development, connecting information in a way as to have any person able to have immediate access to it. Mccain is so senile it's embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now the racsit biggot is making fun of seasoned citizens.How much longer will this poster be allowed to hate on this web site?
22 July 2008
at 11:22 a.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

Barry, I know you are being sarcastic, but he is making fun of a citizen, not a class of citizens. This particular fellow purports himself the most qualified person in the country to hold the job of “Leader of the Free World.” He has apparently not mastered the tool that forms the basis of much of today's business world and which is mastered on a regular basis by 6 year old citizens. All joking aside, this is serious cause for concern.
22 July 2008
at 11:29 a.m.

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cato_the_elder (Anonymous) says…

I trust that all of the Michael Moore fans who post on this site, who are obviously devotees of documentary filmmaking, will be equally interested in flocking to see David Bossie's new documentary film, “Hype: The Obama Effect,” which dissects Senator Obama's career, especially in Chicago and the Illinois legislature, and tells the truth about his voting record, his lack of experience, and his real plans for what he wants to do to the citizens of this country.

22 July 2008
at 11:31 a.m.

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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…

Barry, I know you are being sarcastic, but he is making fun of a citizen, not a class of citizens. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks,I hope you are not going to be upset with my pointing out the genetic flaws of the citizen messiah.Since its fair game to point out that the seasoned genetics of McCain are supposedly going to affect his ability to lead.
22 July 2008
at 11:35 a.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

RR,Even your own Fox News says that al-Maliki supports Obama's plan over McCain's. http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/… for a troop residual, Obama has never said that “all troops would be out in 16 months”. Instead, he has referred to all “combat troops”, and has allowed room for adjustment according to conditions on the ground. This seems perfectly reasonable- much more so than an open-ended commitment of combat forces in a nation that is clearly asking us to plan a withdrawal sooner, rather than later.And if one incident in which he obviously misspoke makes Obama a “dolt” in your eyes, you must consider McCain a downright moron.
22 July 2008
at 11:38 a.m.

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jhwk2008 (Anonymous) says…

Seasoned? With what?? Lawry's? I really hate that stuff. Or salt, to prevent spoilage? I thought the PC term was elderly.
22 July 2008
at 11:43 a.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

Cato:Does he plan to invade a foreign country without just cause?Does he plan to run the economy in to a recession?Does he plan to spy on American citizens and then cover up his crime?Does he plan to engender more terrorists acts by torturing prisoners?Does he plan to run government agencies ineptly?Does he plan to allow war profiteering and graft?My guess is he'll be a tremendous improvement over the bastard currently occupying the office. Can he speak a full sentence in English?etc…
22 July 2008
at 11:45 a.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

“Thanks,I hope you are not going to be upset with my pointing out the genetic flaws of the citizen messiah.”Oh, please, do tell. What are the genetic flaws you perceive in Obama?
22 July 2008
at 12:03 p.m.

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beatrice (Anonymous) says…

Like many of the posters here, I wish Cal would spend more time writing on what he knows and believes — conservatives and conservativism — rather than what he doesn't know and in which he does not believe — liberals and liberalism. Who is he to tell us what is in the mind of a liberal? He should be telling us of what conservatives are thinking. Only then can he be taken seriously. I don't read a sports writer to find out what he thinks about the latest movie, why should I care what a conservative thinks of a liberal?
22 July 2008
at 12:05 p.m.

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cato_the_elder (Anonymous) says…

Scott, your opinions - just your opinions. History will be the judge.
22 July 2008
at 12:11 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

At least it took a few years of unbelievable incompetence demonstrated by the leader of the free world for BDS to really take hold. But ODS is raging hard and the man's not even president yet! Talk about irrational fear of a 'flawed' candidate… McCain's the lesser of two evils? Really? And these folks with their blind allegiance to the right are calling Obama supporters “sheeple”? Oh, the moaning and gnashing of teeth. Things are going to get fun around here!

22 July 2008
at 12:13 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

“Scott, your opinions - just your opinions. History will be the judge”And history will judge the current occupant as the worst president ever. Even Carter (the current 'worst president ever') had better approval ratings then the shrub.
22 July 2008
at 12:28 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

jhwk2008…”McCain Makes Historic First Visit to Internet”Even I have to admit that was pretty funny (although I know many extremely intelligent individuals who can't use the interweb).
22 July 2008
at 12:38 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

Meggers:”Even your own Fox News says that al-Maliki supports Obama's plan over McCain's”Apparently you missed the report that Maliki stated his statements were misunderstood, and that he doesn't support any candidate. I think it is great Maliki sees a time in the future for Americans to leave, everyone wants that. What we don't want is Iraq to descend into a civil war, have ethnic cleansing the likes of Darfur, and be a safe haven for terrorists. The Iraq military leaders have consistently stated they their troops need more training and help. If this were any other democratic country that faced the threats Iraq faced I would want to help them. It is fantastic the surge worked, violence continues to go down, and the Sunni's have been brought back into the government. It proves that Bush was right about the surge, even if you think he has been wrong about everything else. Maliki is now acting like the mouthpiece of a sovereign nation that wants to negotiate with the U.S. which is fantastic. It is exactly what we want. If they tell us to go we will go. Bush has stated exactly that since the overthrow of Saddam. They don't want us to leave, they want us to stay while the situation continues to improve, but if we stay they want to dictate more of the terms which is understandable. Of course it is understandable for the U.S. to negotiate what terms are in our own interest as well.
22 July 2008
at 12:40 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

Did everyone read the report that was on MSN yesterday about the huge disparity in coverage between Obama and McCain by the media?
22 July 2008
at 1:03 p.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

“Scott, your opinions - just your opinions. History will be the judge”Well, actually they were questions - rhetorical questions. I notice you chose not to answer them. Nevertheless, my opinion of our poor, poor, overmatched President has the support of the 70%+ of the citizens who have been around to see the bush era for themselves. Opinions turn to votes every four years. You hold out for history's judgment all you like, the people who endured this bum and his criminal cohorts are going to have their say shortly.
22 July 2008
at 1:14 p.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

Satirical,I'm not contending that al-Maliki is endorsing Obama's candidacy, however it's pretty clear that he prefers Obama's plans for Iraq to McCain's.'When asked in and interview with spiegel when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded “as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned.” He then continued: “US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.”Maliki was careful to back away from outright support for Obama. “Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement. Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business,” he said. But then, apparently referring to Republican candidate John McCain's more open-ended Iraq policy, Maliki said: “Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems.”'http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,566841,00.htmlI agree that it is a positive sign for Iraq to have al-Maliki speak so openly about his vision for how to continue improving the situation in Iraq, despite the fact that his ideas differ with the Bush administration strategy. He probably has some political motives for distancing himself from Bush and his administration, due to the perception of many Iraqis that he's been too willing to be guided by American policy, rather than standing up for what they feel is in the best long-term interests of Iraq. As for the disparity in media coverage between Obama and McCain, I wonder if the drawn out democratic primaries influenced those numbers. Certainly, the media was falling all over itself to fan the flames of that race. Overall, while there are certainly some media sources with a decided slant, most of them are in it for ratings. I'm not saying that's how things should be, only how they are. Whether you like him as a candidate or not, Obama certainly sparks more public interest than McCain. Colbert is running a little campaign of his own about that, in fact…Make McCain Interestinghttp://www.colbertnation.com/?p=1656
22 July 2008
at 1:23 p.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

duplenty says:”Like Obama misspeaking regarding being in office for “8-10” years?Yet you guys are still attempting to get milage out of that one”Sorry to burst your ignorance bubble, dupe, but tagging 'you guys' to my post is way off the mark. I've never referenced BO's 10 year remark, and how small minded are you to refer to 'you guys', as if you are somehow on the side of the angels?Again, McCain misspoke. He certainly knows who is on Pakistan's border, I haven't actually heard the Czech remark, and if you believe the leader of the free world needs to be proficient in 'Googling' you really need to spend more time on your multiplication tables, these conversations are for adults, Bozo excepted. And sorry, they are not 'facts', they are nits to be picked by the smallest of minds. If you truly feel that those that have picked such nits with BO were being unfair and ridiculous, I say again, grow up! And don't stoop to their levels. Or is it the 'he started it' defense? Recess for Dupe or no grammies and milk!
22 July 2008
at 1:36 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

Meggers:Your quote is exactly what Maliki stated was misunderstood. He wants troops out of there soon, now that the surge worked despite Obama's opposition, and so does the U.S. The only issue is whether we establish an arbitrary timeline despite the level of violence or political reconciliation; or whether we leave when the Iraqis say they are ready for us to go, the Iraqi military and police are sufficiently trained and equipped, and the violence continues to drop. I think there is a big difference between aspirational goals that can be adjusted depending on the situation (now that the surge has worked), rather than an arbitrary deadline no matter the situation. Maliki wants the former, but he also wants leverage against the U.S. to get it to concede to what he wants, like the removal of immunity for U.S. contractors, which we agreed to, so he is going to play both sides. Your statement justifying the reasons for the disparity in media coverage between Obama and McCain were the same justification given by the star struck liberal media. The media reports what they think people want to hear, and they think people want to hear more about Obama because that is what they want to hear more about. He only sparks more interest for those who support him. I don't think the media is viewing this so much of a story, although that is what they want you to believe, as they are trying to promote their liberal agenda. I think once you get over the euphoria that he is the first Black candidate running for President from a major party, you fall into the reality that we are deciding who is going to hold the most important job in our nation. I think who is going to be the next Commander-in-Chief is much more compelling that all the side stories. I want to hear more about the issues. Maybe the soft news can cover the unimportant stuff, but the main stream news has a public duty, and if they fail to do their duty then I think it is fair to label them as liberal and start watching alternative media sources (which I already do, but naÃive people may not). Also, the coverage of Obama is still much higher than McCain a month after the end of the Democratic primaries.

22 July 2008
at 1:49 p.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

RR,Oh, lighten up. '100-year war' was a figure of speech, based on MaCain's claim that he would keep American troops in Iraq for 100 years (he later amended that to 1,000, BTW). If I lied, so did John McCain, as I doubt he'll live longer than 25 or so more years. Less, if his puzzling misstatements about basic foreign policy matters are an indication that he's experiencing some early symptoms of Alzheimer's. For his sake, I hope that isn't the case- regardless of how much I disapprove of him serving as president.
22 July 2008
at 1:50 p.m.

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cato_the_elder (Anonymous) says…

It's interesting that after I had stated to Scott that history would be the judge of President Bush and his administration, both he and Chet, like clockwork, wasted no time in referring to purported current polls in support of their opinions of the president's ultimate legacy, which shows that my point about history was completely lost on them. It's been obvious for some time, of course, that each one is entirely clueless when it comes to anything approximating scholarly analysis.
22 July 2008
at 2:21 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

Lets take an informal vote…(1) Who thinks Obama was right about his prediction that the surge would make things work, and whether he has the “judgment” to be the leader of our nation?(2) Is Obama the candidate of “change” or given his numerous recent flip-flops due to political expediency is he just another politician that will do anything to get elected?(3) Who is perfectly comfortable that Obama's is ready to be Commander-in-Chief, Leader of the Free World, and President of the United States given the fact his biggest resume highlights are a community organizer, a few years in the State legislature, and two years in U.S. Senate, most of which was spent running for President?
22 July 2008
at 2:33 p.m.

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antney (Anonymous) says…

Obama's worldview is not innocent as Cal thinks. Cal is just too closed minded to see the world beyond the cold war mentality. You can leave your innocence back in the 50's along with segregation, women's suffrage, and a big brother government. We no longer fight a war on two fronts Cal. The global war on terrorism is global and requires a collabrative effort. We waste our resource fighting an never ending war in Iraq while Al Qaida prepares their next attack in the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We tout how the surge is working as justification to perpetuate a war that should never have been waged in the first place. If you want to compare our two candidates, Obama does not lack experience. John McCain just lacks vision. (No offense to his age or anything)
22 July 2008
at 2:47 p.m.

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cato_the_elder (Anonymous) says…

RR, I have discussed the Truman analogy in great depth multiple times on this forum and have observed each time that it's completely lost on the crazies due to their cult-like, obsessive, and entirely religious hatred of the president and everything that has to do with him or his administration. They simply have no idea how negatively President Truman was viewed by both Democrats and Republicans at the time he left office, and given their obvious disdain for anything having to do with historiography, the historical process, or scholarship of any kind they certainly don't care. The many analogies are remarkable, but the president's strength of character, especially when compared to that of his predecessor, is the one that stands out in particular.
22 July 2008
at 3 p.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

Satirical,Perhaps you should reframe your questions a bit:(1) Who thinks Obama was right about his prediction that the Iraq war would unnecessarily divert attention from our efforts in Afghanistan, and result in a long, costly commitment of US forces in Iraq?(2) Is McCain the *maverick candidate*, or given his numerous recent major policy flip-flops due to political expediency, is he just another politician that will do anything to get elected?(3) Who is perfectly comfortable electing someone who promises virtually the same policies of those of the past seven years, while somehow, inexplicably, expecting a different result? Who is comfortable having a president that left his wife for a younger woman after his wife was injured in an accident, a man who called his current wife a **nt in public, a man with a well documented history of temperamental outbursts, a man who repeatedly voted against declaring MLK day a national holiday, a man who scorned religious leaders up until the time he was running for president, etc. Oh, but being captured and held prisoner during a war is the qualification…sorry, while I sincerely appreciate Senator McCain's service to this nation, being a POW does NOT speak to one's judgment or ability to lead- two things that are crucial in a president. As for his Senate career, one can hardly count that as any indication of how McCain would lead, given that so many of his positions as a candidate differ so greatly (have flip-flopped, in fact) than those he has held as a senator. That's why he's having such a hard time convincing a large number of conservatives to climb aboard his so-called 'Straight Talk Express'.
22 July 2008
at 3:21 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

Meggers…”Perhaps you should reframe your questions a bit”By that you mean you want to change the topic because you can't defend Obama, and therefore create brand new questions?BTW: I responded to your comment re: Maliki's statements and the liberal media, if you care to offer a rebuttal.
22 July 2008
at 3:25 p.m.

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antney (Anonymous) says…

Restore ReasonIs that the RIGHT approach. Tear down all reasonalble arguments when you find one you can contradict like “women vote the right to vote more than three decades prior to the 1950s.”I'll recipocate. Did women really vote the right to vote?

22 July 2008
at 3:25 p.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“Does he plan to invade a foreign country without just cause?” scott 3460”Barack Hussein Obama has said he would invade Pakistan.”-RestoreHusseinReasonWhile a President can invade any country, did you “overlook” the “…without just cause” part of the question?”Does he plan to run the economy in to a recession?”-scott”Bush had a plan to end the Clinton-Gore recession, and that plan worked. We haven't seen a recession since then.” RHR”I can feel it coming in the air tonight. Oh Lord.” Phil Collins. Although our economy is barely growing and, thus we presently escape the exact definition of recession, just wait until inflation hits us full force in the coming months.”Does he plan to spy on American citizens and then cover up his crime?”-scott”Barack Hussein Obama voted for the FISA bill. Hillary Clinton voted against it.” RHRAh, the “It's OK because everybody else does it” defense. And did I mention his middle name is Hussein?”Does he plan to engender more terrorists acts by torturing prisoners?” -scott”If you're referring to waterboarding (which I do not consider torture), only three al Qaeda members, including KSM, was subjected to that technique. KSM gave interrogators information that prevented terrorist attacks.” RHRAlthough it's probably not an unusual experience, that opinion keeps you in the company of the very few RHR. Like for example, the Spanish. During the Inquisition. Exactly what is on your short list of “torture”? Did you receive a Masters in Torture from Northern Illinois too? Please also tell us what you know about the terrrorist plots Khalid Sheikh Mohammed divulged. I'd like to hear what you learned during “Show & Tell” with the CIA. I need to check my investment portfolio for duct tape futures. “Does he plan to run government agencies ineptly?”-scottWho does and who has?-RHRTry looking toward DC. FEMA for one example comes to mind.”Does he plan to allow war profiteering and graft?”-scottWho does and who has?-RHRWow, you nailed it again. There's a certain persuasive quality about repeating an inane defense I just never really appreciated before. You still didn't answer the above 2 questions.”My guess is he'll be a tremendous improvement over the bastard currently occupying the office.”-scott”Oh, name-calling. Impressive. I think that word more accurately can be applied to Obama.”-RHRAh, new tactic. Well, not really. Pot meet kettle. RHR is infamous for name-calling.”Can he speak a full sentence in English?”-scott”Rush Limbaugh just played 46 seconds of Obama stuttering.”-RHRCome on, Kevin. You can do better than pulling Rush's “Obama stutter loop” out for your response. Can't you? And for us folks playing at home, tell us who timed that 46 second stutter loop-you or Rush? Wow.
22 July 2008
at 3:57 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

It is not am uncommon tactic for liberals to change the topic off Obama being unqualified to be President, to attack McCain. This is because they are so uniformed about Obama they can't defend him, they only know that they hate Bush therefore they hate Republicans, therefore they hate McCain. This is the same tactic used by Kerry in 2004, don't vote for Kerry, vote against Bush. It failed then, and it will likely fail again. Try voting for something rather than against something. Once Obama's issues are dealt with, we should discuss McCain's perceived problems.
22 July 2008
at 4:15 p.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

OK, Satirical, what is it that scares you so much about the Obama Presidency. Can you provide a cogent case with specifics?
22 July 2008
at 4:26 p.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“Obama has not cited a just cause for violating Pakistan's sovereignty.”If and when it becomes necessary, and to the extent national security permits it, any President will cite their “just cause” for violating sovereignty. You know, reasons like WMD or regime change-you get the picture.”I would consider much of what the Japanese did to our troops during World War II. Unfortunately, most left-wing loons have no idea of what happened then.”I guess you're talking about torture here. If so, FYI, one of the practices the Japanes engaged in was waterboarding. Your boy McCain even said so in an interview with 60 Minutes. In the Republican Youtube debates McCain even went so far as to chastise Romney for not recognizing it as torture. He even added “It's in violation of the Geneva Convention.”“There would have been little need for FEMA in New Orleans if Nagin had gotten those ignorant folks on the buses.”There's that nasty little word again-“ignorant”. Oh well, ignorance aside, if our federal, state and local governments don't realize by now that significant numbers of people are as you say “ignorant” and stay despite all the warnings, then their failure to prepare for and address that scenario either proactively or retroactively is on them.” Limbaugh said 46 seconds. It seemed longer than that. It was quite painful listening to the experienced and naive community worker (ACORN!) try to speak in full sentences.”Boy listening to Rush for 46 seconds does sound painful. Almost like torture I'll bet. Full or sentence fragments aside, is it possible to be both an experienced and naive community worker?
22 July 2008
at 4:29 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

Pathetic.
22 July 2008
at 4:35 p.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“I think this is reason enough to fear a Barack Hussein Obma presidency: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ne… still get scared every time December 7th rolls around-you know, the anniversary of the day that will live in infamy?
22 July 2008
at 4:44 p.m.

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OnlyTheOne (Anonymous) says…

Nobama!
22 July 2008
at 4:49 p.m.

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cato_the_elder (Anonymous) says…

Scott0000, if you actually do want to know what is indeed fearful about an “Obama presidency,” then I will again suggest that you view “Hype: The Obama Effect,” which will premiere in theaters on September 1.

22 July 2008
at 4:50 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

“Obama proposes to take us back to the days when a Democrat administration ignored terrorist threats.”Really? How's that, specifically. Another con, just talking out of the crack in between their two cheeks … again … as always. That statement has absolutely no basis, none whatsoever, in fact. That's the “scholarly analysis” Cato likens to their pathetic ilk.
22 July 2008
at 4:56 p.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

Dopeplenty:”You and a few others on these threads repeat the same talking points, so I think it's valid. Sorry if you disagree.”Cite evidence of my repetition of others talking points. I have never, ever taken either of the candidates supposed gaffes and attempted to ridicule them because of it. I don't 'disagree', mental midget, I defy you to provide evidence. Jaywalker: 'Again, McCain misspoke.”Dopey: “You know this how?”Ummm, 'cuz I gots a brain and saw the clip. People misspeak, particulary in front of a camera when they're discussing complicated events. Only a moron would truly believe that John McCain thinks Iraq is on the border of Pakistan. Jay: 'And sorry, they are not 'facts', they are nits to be picked by the smallest of minds. “Dopey: “As for these items being factual, I've now provided you with video of said instances”Try, dopey, just try to read AND comprehend my statement. Thanks for the youtube clips, thanks for proving your inability to read and understand, and thanks oh so much for wasting my time.
22 July 2008
at 4:58 p.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“You're confusing terms here. “-RHRTalk to your boy McCain. That's his statement and I suspect he knows more about it then you do.”How is ignorant a “nasty” word?”In the context with which you use the word it is absolutely pejorative. “If that were the case, he would not be the top talk show host in the country.”It's good to know he's more popular than Jim Rome. Perhaps we should refer to him as the top sheep herder in the country then? “That should have been “inexperienced,” and, yes, it is possible to be both inexperienced and naive. Barack Hussein Obama is Exhibit A.”No kidding-it's possible to be both inexperienced and naive? Wait, that's still sinking in… OK-time's up. Sorry, no extra credit for submitting opinions or answering a question that wasn't asked.Have a good day in your ongoing battle to “Restore Reason”.
22 July 2008
at 5:03 p.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

Satirical,I apologize, I missed your earlier response. Al-Maliki made it clear that he is more closely aligned with what Obama is proposing, rather than what McCain has proposes. I recognize that the Bush administration and McCain's campaign are scrambling to spin it otherwise, but his words speak for themselves. As far as the timeline is concerned, Obama has clearly stated that while his goal is to have all combat troops out within sixteen months, he will listen to commanders on the ground and take changing conditions into consideration. The goal from the beginning of the war should have been to complete the mission and remove our troops as quickly as possible. It should come as no surprise that given Bush's failure to set this goal, al Maliki feels compelled to do so. As for Obama opposing the surge, the surge wouldn't have even been necessary if we'd done one of the following:1. Stayed out of Iraq to begin with2. Put enough troops on the ground when we went in initially, as General Shensecki recommendedSo, basically, McCain held the match that lit the fire and then after it burned out of control for several years due to the incompetence of Rumsfeld and other administration hacks, he has the audacity to gloat because the administration finally decided to do what it should have done to begin with once they made the decision to go in. Brilliant. As for the media. I, too, tend to steer clear of mainstream channels as my primary news source. The channel I watch the most for news is CSPAN (esp. Washington Journal in the mornings), and I also listen to NPR. While there are certainly channels that tend to veer left (MSNBC) or right (Fox), I don't think there is an overall liberal bias in the media. For instance, given all of the grief the NY times gets for that exact charge, they were the newspaper that was feeding the public what turned out to be erroneous information leaked from the Bush administration in the lead-up to the war. Not to mention all of times media sources “accidentally” spelled Obama as Osama in their news feeds, or when CNN compared the way he dresses with Ahmadinejad, or when (Fox, I think) aired what turned out to be a bogus story claiming he attended a radical madrassa. Not to mention, if Obama had made the Czechoslovakia gaffe, the Sunni/Shia gaffe, the Iraq/Pakistan border gaffe, etc., the media would have been all over him, screaming about experience.One other issue that led to a lot of media coverage for Obama is the Rev. Wright debacle. I think you'll agree that this was not particularly positive coverage for Obama. Not all media attention equals good attention.
22 July 2008
at 5:10 p.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

Let me get this straight. Surge has been a success. Obama has been against the whole thing, start to finish, A-Z. Then, Obama, in his speech, says Iraq wants our “combat” forces out ASAP, but wants continued training and counter-insurgency manpower and a 'long-term relationship' with the US. Obama and company (corrupt media) has ridiculed McCain about the taken out of context and blown out of proportion the “100 years in Iraq” remark.Naivete' or audacity? I don't know which way to go on this one. Going to go have some Kool-Aid and ponder which one.
22 July 2008
at 5:15 p.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

duplenty's contribution's to this thread:”President McCain, Pakistan has crossed the border into Iraq, sir. We believe they're acting on orders from Czechoslovakia; what are your orders?”“General, get my wife to find the google, it will have the answer. And bring me some Viagra.”“Brilliant. Do they assign someone to you when you leave home, or are you allowed to roam free?”“Um, what's a “racsit biggot”?And I hardly think that pointing out that the man who wants access to the button doesn't grasp the internet is making fun of all “seasoned citizens”Aaaah, examples of the meat and juice that keep an intelligent discussion alive. Well done, dupe.And to what began our tete a tete, try and read what I wrote, and then how you (chuckle) responded:”Yesterday, McCain referred to a fictional “Iraq/Pakistan border”Jay: “Okay, time to give this soundbite a rest. He misspoke, and it was obvious when or if you saw the clip. He was referring to Afghanistan, he knows who's on what border, please give it a rest. I agree that people would jump all over BO if he did the same thing, but that would be just as inane and juvenile as this is. Grow up, por favor, and let's discuss things that are important.”Your response: “Grow up, por favor, and let's discuss things that are important.”Like Obama misspeaking regarding being in office for “8-10” years?Yet you guys are still attempting to get milage out of that one”Well played, dupe.
22 July 2008
at 5:28 p.m.

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meggers (Anonymous) says…

Satirical: “By that you mean you want to change the topic because you can't defend Obama, and therefore create brand new questions?”I'm more than happy to speak to Obama's strengths, I was just pointing out the flaws in the premise of your questions. More to the point, 'experience' can be very misleading. As Obama has rightfully pointed out, the Bush administration loaded up with more experience than practically any in history. It was that 'experience' that led to disastrous decisions, based on an imperialist worldview and a plan that was hatched back in the late eighties.I encourage you to read some of Obama's writing- and not just out-of-context quotes I've seen people use before. You might get a better understanding of his pragmatic, yet appropriately nuanced approach to difficult global problems. For far too long, we've taken sort of a narrow, reactionary view of the world, responding to crisis situations only when events threaten our interests. It is both in our nation's interests and the world's interests to take a more proactive role in working together to combat the things that mutually plague us (terrorism, disease, poverty, climate change, etc.). Not to mention, we need to take a good hard look at the consequences of our own actions and what impact they might have down the line. Our support for Saddam during the Iran/Iraq war is a perfect example of that. Nobody has the magic bullet for how to resolve our global problems, but given that we are creating more terrorists each and every day than we can ever hope to kill or capture, we can't afford more of the same.
22 July 2008
at 5:41 p.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

Here is the pathetic state of affairs with the far-left. Straight from San Francisco, home to Nancy Pelosi and the shining beacon of far-left kookiness for America.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25735046/Sickening. Love that Gavin Newsom too. Swell guy.

22 July 2008
at 6:04 p.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

“Obama has already said we need to treat terrorists as mere criminals, as we during the 1990s. “Wouldn't that be better than ignoring them and allowing them to fester in Pakistan? By the way, how's the “WAR on Terror” thing going for us anyway? Is it successful? How do you measure the success? When does the war end? “Scott0000, if you actually do want to know what is indeed fearful about an “Obama presidency,” then I will again suggest that you view “Hype: The Obama Effect,” which will premiere in theaters on September 1.”Well, I don't possess the powers of time travel, so it is difficult to assess what this particular feature is going to teach me. You claim that it outlines an argument in favor of fearing an Obama Presidency. Can you summarize the argument?
22 July 2008
at 6:37 p.m.

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beobachter (Anonymous) says…

kevin, give it up. having a fiilpino mail order bride and alleging to have been a marine doesn't make one an expert. least of all someone with a website calling for impeaching a president who left office 7+ years ago. still hoping to see you at legion.
22 July 2008
at 7:45 p.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25753552/… gathering of nearly 2,000 left-leaning bloggers and political organizers.” “Left-leaning” ?? “…whose political influence has grown exponentially since they emerged as a significant factor in presidential politics during former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's White House campaign five years ago.”*Gasp*!! You don't say. Howard Dean??!!”…..reclaiming American democracy.” Say what!!??”Much of Pelosi's time at the convention was spent speaking out for an end to the war and for Obama's election.”The end could be in sight,” she said to cheers. “This will not happen without the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States.”Aahhh, the timing is impeccable!! “The economics of renewables are becoming very attractive,” Gore said.”If the 2000 far-left loons sitting there only knew what Gore *really* meant by that statement…….they're gonna find out soon enough. Hope they can afford Al Gore…..he's an upscale kinda guy.What a joke. God help us all.
22 July 2008
at 11:14 p.m.

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1029 (Anonymous) says…

Obama supporters are delusional! There's terrorism all over the place in the world around them and they act like they aren't terrified. This is urgent! We have to get oil—from anywhere, no matter what the cost. We have to take care of Iraq, and then take care of Iran. Those people don't know what freedom is and we need to show them. The time is now to ensure that our way of life is preserved for future generations. We must stand tall in the face of this world of terror and use our military might to increase our economic power. People who love America should vote Republican!
22 July 2008
at 11:32 p.m.

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TheOriginalCA (Anonymous) says…

anxious….Blacks are largely being bigoted the same way they detest whites for allegedly being. They are voting for Obama JUST because he is BLACK.. no other reason. That is what's known as hypocrisy. Blacks who think that they have something to gain by Obama being elected are kidding themselves. If Obama gets elected, black people will be put on the spot to put up or shut up. History says that they will do neither. Jesse and Al will continue to encourage them to fail and not try and not be accountable and will continue their hate filled rhetoric.
23 July 2008
at 12:16 a.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“I don't think McCain has any experience with Japanese prisoner guards. I have studied the Philippine-American War and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The water cure is clearly different from waterboarding.”Like I stated above, you still need to take it up with McDaddy. In an exchange with Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes Sen. McCain stated: “Scott, we prosecuted Japanese war criminals after World War II. And one of the charges brought against them, for which they were convicted, was that they water-boarded Americans.” “How else would one describe people who refused to leave New Orleans after being told to do so for several days? Ignorant seems much more appropriate than calling them rocket scientists.”How about characterizing them as frightened of losing what little they had to looters, or having stubborn senses of self reliance, or acquired mistrust of governmental figures in a historically corrupt town, etc.? Better yet, why not just leave the adjective out altogether or do you need to utilize it to express your sense of intellectual superiority? No matter the basis, it doesn't seem appropriate for you to supplant your opinions for their experience, hence my exception to your use of the pejorative term “ignorant”.”I'm obviously meeting resistance from the left-wing loons with their pea-shooters.”Good luck out there on the melodramatic front. You might, however, want to call a Medic first. You've got numerous festering wounds from all those pesky pea shooters.
23 July 2008
at 6:57 a.m.

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davidsmom (Anonymous) says…

A guy on the radio said his daughter's boyfriend returned from Iraq and said that the media are distorting reality; that there has been enormous progress in the past year in Iraq and that he wishes the American people could somehow know about it.
23 July 2008
at 7:04 a.m.

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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…

You can forget about that davidsmom. As a matter of fact, the corrupt liberal media is now attempting to pin successes on Obama……as hard as it is to believe…..true. There needs to be laws enacted that stop the media from fabricating and/or misreporting the facts. This is just out of control. Fox News is the only major outlet you can trust anymore. Brian, Katie and Charlie go trotting off to tag along with Obama this week. Will they give McCain the same consideration? You can absolutely bet they will not.http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/23/bush_foreign_policy_follows_obamas_lead/?opinion

23 July 2008
at 9:19 a.m.

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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…

“There needs to be laws enacted that stop the media from fabricating and/or misreporting the facts. This is just out of control. Fox News is the only major outlet you can trust anymore.”-nancy_boya) The FCC on the regulatory side and libel and slander laws on the civil side should provide you with all the protection from misinformation you need. You are a big boy aren't you Nancy?b) Don't conservatives typically want less governmental interference and regulation-not more laws? What about the impact of your proposed laws on freedom of speech and the Constitution? Your proposal sounds rather Orwellian to me. c) Fox News-an objective source, non-agenda driven and above reproach? That's hilarious.
23 July 2008
at 10:51 a.m.

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scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

It hardly seems fair to pile on the Nancer after the last two posts clearly pointed out several flaws in his delusional anger. But, lest it go unopposed, can you provide a specific example of the media claiming Obama responsible for the “success” of the surge. I don't know of any instance, but perhaps Nancy will back up his claim with specific examples.
23 July 2008
at 1:07 p.m.

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beatrice (Anonymous) says…

right-thinker: “Brian, Katie and Charlie go trotting off to tag along with Obama this week. Will they give McCain the same consideration? You can absolutely bet they will not.”True. Want to know why? People aren't that interested in McCain. It is just that simple. Spin it as much as you like, but the media follows (and often inflates/help create) the stories that people watch. If people don't watch, they won't continue to show it. This is why a speech by a President, any President be it a D or an R, will get less media frenzy than a story about Paris Hilton going to jail or Britney Spears shaving her head and showing us her lack of undergarments. The reason, of course, is that the news media is a business, and making money is generated by driving in viewers. People are very interested in what Obama is doing (note all the positive and negative responses anytime a story about Obama comes up compared to stories about McCain), the news media recognizes this, and they give their audience what they want. Face it, people simply aren't that interested in McCain. Do you think the television news channels care about being fair? No way. They pander to their audience because that is what brings in the money, and the audience is interested in all things Obama right now. Besides, I would think you would be happy that the media is following Obama around so closely, just waiting for the next gaffe that can possibly topple his apparently clear path to the White House. ITelevision news media especially loves a good gaffe, any chance they can pile on when somebody trips up. Good news is okay, but bad news sells more. Don't pretend it wouldn't be true with Obama.By the way, Obama for President!
23 July 2008
at 1:11 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

“Will they give McCain the same consideration? You can absolutely bet they will not.”That's clear just by the fact that they've given McCain a pass on all of his outrageous gaffes of late. I wonder if they'll say anything about the fact that he's now crediting Bush with the drop in oil prices. Do a google on it.
23 July 2008
at 3 p.m.

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Orwell (Anonymous) says…

Most popular new Kool-Aid flavor: Wingnut Punch.Keep parroting the lies and smears, gang. You'll have eight years of Obama administration to figure out why nobody's buying them anymore as a substitute for intelligent discussion and actual accomplishments.
23 July 2008
at 3:18 p.m.

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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…

Well said, Orwell.
23 July 2008
at 6:23 p.m.

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beatrice (Anonymous) says…

Orwell, when you say “a substitute for intelligent discussion and actual accomplishments,” is that the same thing as accusing people of drinking Kool-Aid rather than making an actual point? I don't drink Kool-Aid. I drink your milkshake.
24 July 2008
at 2:39 a.m.

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TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Duplenty.- Obviously a KU student, or recently so. She is young, female and intelligent. She also has been brain washed by all of the liberal profs at KU. She is still too young to have the experience that it takes to really understand human nature, and by extension, the motives of countries, and how they obfuscate their real intentions. But I admire her spunk. And I think that she needs to look into the mirror a little bit as she uses “projection” in a lot of her comments… Okay Dup. tell me how wrong I am.