By Kelly Moeller

Jul 17, 2008 4:23pm

Rahm: Bush and McCain Are Following Obama’s Foreign Policy Lead

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., today claimed that President Bush (not to mention Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.) are following the lead of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in foreign policy.

"Who is leading who on foreign policy?" asked Emanuel in a statement. "The Bush administration is right to follow Senator Obama’s lead by engaging in diplomatic efforts with Iran, cracking down on Al Qaeda, and supporting additional troops in Afghanistan. But in every case, it’s politics first, policy second – first the Bush administration and Senator McCain play political games, and then they decide to do the right thing and follow Senator Obama’s lead."

His case is fairly bereft of nuance, and can of course be argued, but here it is:

IRAN:

NOVEMBER 2007: OBAMA URGES TALKS, THEN BUSH AND McCAIN ATTACK…JULY 2008: BUSH FLIPS AND CHANGES POLICY

OBAMA URGES DIPLOMACY, November 2007. Associated Press: Obama Says US Must Try Talking to Iran.

BUSH ATTACKS. Bush Describes Diplomacy with Hostile Regimes as "Appeasement." "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history." [Bush Speech to the Knesset, 5/15/08]

McCAIN ATTACKS. Washington Times: McCain needles Obama on pledge to talk with Iran.

BUSH FLIPS AND FOLLOWS OBAMA, July 2008. Washington Post: American Envoy To Join Iran Talks; Move Is Departure From Prior Policy

AFGHANISTAN:

AUGUST 2007: OBAMA CALLS FOR MORE TROOPS…JULY 2008: BUSH AND McCAIN FLIP AND CHANGE POLICY

OBAMA CALLS FOR MORE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN, August 2007: "As President, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to re-enforce our counter-terrorism operations . . ." [Obama speech at Wilson Center, 8/1/07].

OBAMA CONTINUES CALLS FOR MORE TROOPS, June and July 2008: "If we’re going to catch bin Laden or most importantly break down al Qaeda, which have reconstituted itself as stronger now than anytime since 2001, we’ve got to have the capacity to put more troops in Afghanistan." [CNN, 6/7/08].

BUSH HAS TROOPS BOGGED DOWN IN IRAQ. Joint Chief Said He Could Not Send More Troops to Afghanistan. During a press conference Joint Chiefs Of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen said, "I don’t have troops I can reach for, brigades I can reach to send into Afghanistan until I have a reduced requirement in Iraq." [Mullen Press Conference, 7/2/08]

BUSH FLIPS, July 2008. Associated Press: Bush says US to send more troops to Afghanistan.

McCAIN FLIPS. ABC News: McCain Shifts Position on More US Troops to Afghanistan.

IRAQ

SEPTEMBER 2007: OBAMA CALLS FOR BRIGADES TO COME OUT OF IRAQ, BUSH AND McCAIN ATTACK…JULY 2008: BUSH FLIPS, BRIGADES COMING OUT

OBAMA CALLS FOR BRIGADES TO COME OUT OF IRAQ, September 2007: Obama proposes a plan to withdraw 1-2 brigades a month from Iraq. [Speech On Turning The Page In Iraq, 9/12/07].

McCAIN ATTACKS: "We must once again reject, as we did in early 2007, the calls for a reckless and irresponsible withdrawal of our forces just at the moment when they are succeeding," [John McCain, 4/7/08]

BUSH FLIPS, July 2008: U.S. to cut troop levels: AP: "The Pentagon’s top military officer [Adm. Mike Mullen] said Wednesday that he is likely to recommend further troop reductions in Iraq this fall."

Yesterday ABC News’ Martha Raddatz asked White House press secretary Dana Perino about the Iran aspect of this.

RADDATZ: Why is this different from what Senator Obama has suggested, sitting down and negotiating?

PERINO: Well, our condition remains the same that there will not be any negotiation unless they suspend their uranium enrichment.

RADDATZ: And you just flat out say this is not negotiating, even though there’s someone sitting there in the room with the Iranians?

PERINO: The underlying — absolutely, because he’s going there as a part of the international community showing their unity when it comes to the underlying fundamental principle, which is that there will not be any negotiations unless Iran suspends its nuclear — uranium enrichment.

RADDATZ: Can you understand why people might look at what’s happening now and go back and think about what the President said in the Mideast about those who negotiate with terrorists or talk to terrorists –

PERINO: As I just said –

RADDATZ: — as an appeaser?

PERINO: As I said, there is no negotiation here. We are going there. Under Secretary Burns will be there as a part of the international community showing our unison that we are going to provide two paths for the Iranians from which to choose — one, that they could accept the incentives package, and then if it’s verified that they have halted their uranium enrichment, then there will be negotiations. And that’s what I would seek to explain to the American people.

- jpt

User Comments

Who has the better judgement now, cynics?
Can this get any easier for POTUS Obama?
He’s got this Presidential thing LOCKED.
OBAMA 08

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm

I made a similar post in a blog earlier today. I thought the same when I received the news the White House would talk to the Iranians and the Iraqis wanted our troops out.
Obama should definitely attack on this issue.
It’s very hypocritical for Bush to mock Obama as an appeaser and turn around and follow his [Obama]foreign policy. Same for John McCain.

Posted by: Vanessa | July 17, 2008, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

Obama scrubbed his site of the surge.
Obama said the surge would not work. Obama said the surge would have the opposite effects of reducing violence.
How about Obama’s judgement now.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

Obama has been telling everyone what they know. Then he gets into the campaign and says what he has to say to win. That’s a smart man.
Bush tells everyone what they need to know. When the time comes he does the right thing to win. That’s an evil emperor.
Clue: It’s a different view from inside the car and the pit crew still makes the difference.
I’m no fan of Bush but I’ve yet to see Obama at the wheel and I’m horrified of who might be in the pits.

Posted by: len | July 17, 2008, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm

30 years in the Senate and McCain is following the Senator with just 3 years under his belt.
Sounds like tenure doesn’t equal good judgement and experience.
McCain will be BLOWN out in the General Election. Fer Sure!

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm

The iran issue is in front of the EU.
The iran negotiator is responding to demands in front of the EU.
McCain has always been for working with the europeans. They all made demands and now they are getting a response.
Obama is the lost one.
Obama flip flopped on meeting amaninajad.
First Obama was for meeting Aminajad then he was against meeting rogue leaders then he was for it.
Obama wanted to meet the crazy iran president without conditions and give him a huge platform for his rantings.
Obama is the lost one Obama doesn’t want Nato to contribute more troops to afghanistan.
Obama has never held a hearing about afghanistan.
Obama has never visited europe.
McCain has gone to nato security conference meetings for years.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm

Obama is following McCain’s lead.
Obama had to purge his website of being critical of the surge.
The fool Obama said the surge would make violence worse.
Violence is down 90 percent.
Now Obama has to purge his site.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm

Len,
How about not having any wheels on the “Staight Talk Express”?
Looks like they just blew another head gasket.
IS THE ELECTION OVER YET? – J. McCain?

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

OH PLEASE WHO EVER YOU PUT IN IT DOESNT MATTER SAME OL BS ON BOTH SIDES

Posted by: natale from mass. | July 17, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

This is a joke.
Obama is a joke.
This meeting is following is multilateral diplomacy with all the european powers.
McCain has always been for working with the europeans on iran.
Obama is the one who wants unilateral diplomacy and give Aminajad a huge state for his rantings.
Obama then flip flopped on meeting Aminajad.
Obama has ZERO foreign policy experience.
His experience is lying.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

Who has the better judgement now, cynics? Casper McCain – Losing his bearings AGAIN!
Can this get any easier for POTUS Obama?
He’s got this Presidential thing LOCKED.
OBAMA 08

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm

Reality doesn’t process well with cynics.
Whether you’re pessimistically cynical or not, I have two approaches for you.
1 – OBAMA WILL BE POTUS…..It’s going to take more than media driven magazine covers, lapel pins, thesis papers, Rev’s and White Priests to prevent it. IT’S INEVITABLE! McCain doesn’t have a chance.
2 – McCain as POTUS – Donkeys are incapable or winning thoroughbred horse races. This is just another example of many as why McCain just doesn’t match up. He’s totally out of his league when up against OBAMA.
Try reality, CYNICS.
Santa Claus isn’t coming to town for you this election.
OBAMA 08 – ITS INEVITABLE!

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm

We’ve been putting more troops in afghanistan for years.
Since last year we have added more troops in afghanistan.
It was Obama who jumped on the reports of the bush administration moving more troops to afghanistan.
The iran meeting is with the eu. Bush has always been for that. They gave the negotiator demands and are hearing back after the tough sanctions seem to be having some effect.
Obama didn’t want to wait to have the sanctions have an effect.
Obama is lost.
First Obama is for meeting with rogue leaders then he is against it.
Rahm Emanuel who wants Obama’s senate seat.
Obama didn’t want to wait for the sanctions to work.
Obama wanted unilateral diplomacy not working with the EU.
Obama wanted to give the crazy iran president a huge stage for his ranting without conditions.
My god the media is constantly covering up Obama’s mistakes.
The media is one sided like we are in russia.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm

McRove can’t be trusted.

Posted by: Snarxon | July 17, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

My friends,
The Silly Season Express needs a total overhaul…..How can I win?
I don’t have any support from true conservatives, women or National Labor organizations………
I can’t speak without a teleprompter and/or someone whispering in my ear….
I tried flip flops and the DU-Pod, but I couldn’t figure out how to hook em up together…..BTW, what is a z-pod anyway?
Now, I’m being outraised 2-1.
Now, Obama is taking over the only leg I have to stand on and that’s National Security. I’m flip flopping Bad on this one.
My friends, I’m hurtin. Hurtin bad….Even I know I don’t have a porkchop’s chance in a piranha tank of becoming POTUS.
Well, it’s not about winning, just as long as you get to play the game, right???
Is that a good spin on how dismal things are for me?
IS THE ELECTION OVER YET? I’m already cooked.
John McCan’t

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

Obama scrubbed his site of past comments critical of the surge.
Obama in 2007 predicted violence would go up because of the surge.
He scrubbed that comment away. Obama said the surge would have the opposite effect of tamping down violence.
So who is leading exactly.
Obama in 2004 argued against a timeline or withdrawing any troops when the war was more popular.
Obama said the surge would have the opposite effect and now has to scrub his site for those comments.
Obama has never even been to western europe accept for a one day stopover.
What a joke.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

To Nat Turner.
Obama called ICE immigration agents terrorists for raids on illegals.
You seem to love Obama’s marxism.

Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2008, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm

you mean obama was the FIRST to say the SURGE worked?
you mean bush is meeting with foreign enemies DIRECTLY?
lmao

Posted by: trettione | July 17, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm

Okay the surge is working. But there wouldn’t be a need for a surge if everyone followed Obama’s judgement and not invade Iraq.
Also, McCain wantes to stay in Iraq for a 100 years and wants to add 3 brigades a month to Afganistan. With whose money? tax payers? chinese?
Obama should definitely attack on this. Not only is McCain and Bush flip-flopping, their both flip-flopping to his views.

Posted by: Vanessa | July 17, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

“you mean bush is meeting with foreign enemies DIRECTLY”
That’s not the point. The point is Bush called Obama an appeaser for stating he or anyone in his administration would meet with the Iranians. John McCain followed suit and mocked Obama. Both Bush and McCain are hypocrites. Their both flip-flopping to Obama views.

Posted by: Vanessa | July 17, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

And this is their strength?? me thinks not so much…The choice couldn’t be any clearer, I can’t wait for the first debate.

Posted by: mims nj | July 17, 2008, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

• Senator McCain’s service and experience, both as a POW and as a Senator apparently hasn’t infused him with a dose of good judgment.
• Senator McCain’s experience hasn’t led him to realize that the war in Iraq and it’s continuance has empowered and emboldened Iran, and destabilized the region.
• Senator McCain’s experience hasn’t caused him to recognize that we’re losing ground in Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden is still out there, plotting.
• Senator McCain’s experience didn’t
lead him to support the 21st Century GI Bill — he opposed it. It didn’t even make him feel the need to get back to Washington to vote on this — one of the most important veterans’ bills this Congress. He twice skipped votes on the GI Bill, to fundraise.
• Senator McCain’s experience didn’t help him empathize with troops are overstretched and overdeployed, when he voted against the bipartisan Webb-Hagel “Dwell Time Amendment,” which would have given troops as much time at home as in the field.
Senator McCain is running on his experience, saying it makes him ready to lead right away. By doing so, he is asking people to look at what that experience taught him. By looking at Senator McCain’s positions and votes (or lack of them), it seems that experience has not given him the right judgment on important issues of our time.
This is why he will be CRUSHED in the GE
OBAMA 08 – ITS INEVITABLE!!!

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm

Just to hit one one of these (because there’s so many), one the last ‘examples’ regarding troop withdrawal; Using an Obama message from 2007 and marrying it up to a Bush decision in mid-2008 and calling it a flip is pretty damn stupid.
I’m tired of people telling us stuff, without putting anything into context or historical perspective.
Do you think, there could be annnnnny possibility, that in a year’s time the Surge has helped bring enough stability/draw-down in violence to present us with the opportunity to withdrawal some of our forces? I mean, I know this requires logical thought and all but the cause and effect theme seems to be present here, and the ’cause’ isn’t Obama’s speech from a year ago.
As for McCain’s speech, he is absolutely correct, you do not remove a military force from an active theater of operations, willy-nilly, on some pea-brain timetable that has no basis in reality (16 month hog-wash) or takes into consideration the security situation on the ground. You CAN begin to draw-down forces as the security situation improves the the indigenous forces are able to shoulder more and more of the security load backed up by a viable central government.
Had we followed Obama’s plan a year ago, Iraq would most likely be in the middle of a genocidal war, with us having little political will to re-engage.
I swear, the amount of intellectual dishonesty that roams the halls of our government and the web is just staggering.

Posted by: Jake | July 17, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm

Obama is better than McCain on foreign policy. I supported Ron Paul in the republican primary for both fiscal responsibility and foreign policy. If Obama changes his spending to reflect self reliance and personal responsibility, he might sway me to his side. As it stands now, neither Obama or McCain will get my vote, but in my opinion Obama is better for a host of reasons, least of which is that the republicans need to be punished this go around.

Posted by: Ben Straub | July 17, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm

Posted by: Nat Turner | July 17, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

“How about not having any wheels on the “Staight Talk Express”?”
They moved to a jet. Try to keep up, Nat. Wheels only matter if they have to land somewhere.
Obama’s chances of being POTUS are slipping everyday the electorate gets to know him and realizes he doesn’t represent their viewpoint. Meanwhile his base is cracking as they realize the same thing.
Obama is for Obama. Details don’t matter to egotists without a sense of humor.

Posted by: len | July 17, 2008, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm

I’d like to remind everyone that Mr Obama, with all his touting that he voted against the war in Iraq…excuse me…he was against the war in Iraq, HE WASN’T EVEN THERE FOR THE VOTE BECAUSE HE WASN’T A U S SENATOR AT THE TIME!! He WAS in the Illinois Congress, although he had NO position on most hotbed issues because he was afraid to let his opinion be know, because it might hurt his chances to get elected to the U S Senate some day.
It really is difficult to stand behind someone that likes to manipulate people this way. If he was a true statesmen he would have stood up for what he believes in. Instead he chose the cowards way out and voted present! What a joke, and some of you want him as our President!!
Granted the man has changed his view on some things, everyone of us is entitled to change an opinion on something, once you have more facts. If he were a true statesmen he would have conceded that the surge strategy is working and admitting he was wrong. That would have showen real integrety. Instead he hides the fact that he was wrong by saying well the surge is working but at what cost? Give me a break. When are people going to realize he will say whatever he needs to say to get elected.
To be fair so will John McCain. Or anyone running for that matter because it’s no longer about whats good for the Country, it’s about what’s good for the candidate!!
In the immortal “Ask not what your country can do for you…

Posted by: Historian | July 17, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm

“Had we followed Obama’s plan a year ago, Iraq would most likely be in the middle of a genocidal war”
or Iraq would be MORE settled than it is today and Afghanistan (remember the country we actually had a reason to invade) wouldn’t be in the middle of a resurgence of Taliban control.

Posted by: JR | July 17, 2008, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm

Perino says “we are going to provide two paths for the Iranians from which to choose –”
Giving them choices. isn’t that a negotiation?

Posted by: Mitch | July 17, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm

Obama was not in Seante during the vote but he was running. And when asked in 2002 if he would vote for the war he said no. He spoke against the war when it was popular. “Barack Obama on Iraq, Opposition from the Start”

Posted by: Vanessa | July 17, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm

THANK GOODNESS OBAMA CAME UP WITH THE BETTER INTENATIONAL DIPLOMACY POLICY FOR BUSH THE LESSER AND MCCAIN THE AGED TO STEAL….LET’S PUT OBAMA TO WORK FOR AMERICA….VOTE OBAMA!!

Posted by: BENIGHSE | July 17, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

Obama has been ahead of the curve all along. It takes more than years in the Senate to claim experience, it takes common sense when it comes to dealing with human nature.
As for dealing with terrorism it takes a swift thinker that is willing to use diplomacy in obtaining the correct information before going into another country half crocked. Bush went in to Iraq with flawed information and McSame is a puppy dog when it comes to leadership. We need a person with vision not a creature of habit.
Old school politics is not going to win the Middle East’s respect, but I believe they will learn to deal with Obama’s administration because they see him as liberal enough to LISTEN to what they have to say before dropping bombs on them!! Vote for CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN, vote for Barack Obama in November 2008.

Posted by: Lou | July 17, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm

Bush and McCain are both caving and crashing in a big way. Bush says he’s going to sprint to the finish line but it’s more likely a crash into the finish line on his face. Our war criminal Howdy Doody President and his puppeteers Cheney and Rove. Poor Bush, he never had a chance. They filled his pea brain with “You Da Decider” crap and then proceeded to tell him what to do. And Condi Rice who’s proud of invading Iraq knowing that 5,000 American soldiers have died, 25,000 and more wounded hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead and $900 billion spent and still going and she’ proud? Hot Dam, that woman’s dumb or has her head up where it shouldn’t be.

Posted by: Eduardo | July 17, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm

Yeah, (official) US fatalities are certainly down (not 90% though), you can see the turning point … clearly marked by Sadr’s cease fire.
Obama was wrong about the specifics. The surge worked great – to buy more time for Bush on Iraq.
This happens all the time. Things calm down for a bit, and conservatives rush to say how the way is over (“Mission Accomplished,” “Last throes”), and how it only took thousands of US lives and tens of thousands of US wounded, and a few trillion dollars.
Just wait. The war’s not over. People who said it would be a disaster from the beginning were right (greeted with flowers? People believed this?), and had to deal with all the myopic “Team America” types for years.
Oh, by the way … why is no one mentioning that Iraq is starting to ask US (nicely) to leave? John McCain should state clearly that he intends to stay, even if the government and the people want us out.
Bush bought time, that’s all.

Posted by: Jonathan | July 17, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm

Obama for change? We don’t need a Black Man in the White House begging for change! As for McCain, I think he is our best candidate as he will probably keel over from old age and botox with in the next year or so thereby saving the Union. I’m sorry Obama, but your views on foreign policy equate to the tiny pipsqueak asking the giant bully to, “Please stop it!” McCain has some experience, but his experience makes him ignorant to the potential that there is another path than waiving the almighty American fist about and demanding our way. Lets face it, neither one should have the privlage of American Presidency. Pce n Luv. 130013s

Posted by: 13oo13s | July 17, 2008, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm

So much wrong with all the comments here. Let’s just focus on Obama “He’s got this Presidential thing LOCKED”.
It’s a long time until November and nothing is for sure.
And let’s be clear, McCain will be ready day one in office and Obama won’t. It’s the nature of things. But Reagan wasn’t ready day 1 and neither was Clinton — it’s not the end of the world.
Either way, we’re probably in for better judgment than we have now.

Posted by: John | July 17, 2008, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

One thing additional, Obama requested US to take military action in pakistan on major al Qaeda leader and Bush did.

Posted by: Amanuel | July 17, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm

John McSame does not have a chance. He and his staff cannot make this country better when in their minds we are all imagineing a bad economy!

Posted by: sean77 | July 17, 2008, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm

This column is the most ludicris thing I have ever read. Obama can’t figure out what direction he is going let alone lead this great nation!

Posted by: Leon | July 17, 2008, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

This article is amazingly ill informed. Or, more likely, amazingly indiscriminate of facts and reality. Like it or not, niether the current administration or McCain has flipped on their policy regarding the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. This has been the strategy for a while now. Using the surge to increase security by utilizing a “secure and hold” strategy, hence allowing further troop withdrawls and increased afghan deployments. This article is either ignorant or flat out wrong with its analysis. It’s sad to see the success of our troops abroad attributed to those individuals who not only had nothing to do with successful strategy, but actually opposed it at a crucial time. Do yourself a favor and read more about the things you just read, apparently ABC news cannot be counted on for a well informed synopsis of curent events.

Posted by: common sense | July 17, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm

look at Isreal’s negotiation with terrorists; gave up gaza strip for absolutely nothing and now 2 dead bodies for 5 terrorists, who already vow to kill more Isrealis. what happen to human rigths who call bush ‘war criminal” where are the geneva convention whiners?? you cannot look weak with these terrorists. That’s what obama is going to be if he’s the president. Isreal is getting weaker and weaker and the US will follow foot with Obama.

Posted by: hannah | July 17, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

“look at Isreal’s negotiation with terrorists; gave up gaza strip for absolutely nothing and now 2 dead bodies for 5 terrorists, who already vow to kill more Isrealis.”
hannah, they gave up gaza strip because it’s not viable land. israel used this as a pr campaign as they were and are expanding their settlements in the west bank. gaza is now an open prison. international aid orgs say it is a human catastrophe.

Posted by: Eric | July 17, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

It really doesnt matter what the security conditions are on the ground, for those of you not paying attention – we shouldn’t even be in Iraq in the first place. Pull our troops out and if Iraq devolves into genocide that would seem to be their problem not ours. if their government and people are not strong enough to stand on their own then let them fail. And for all you people who will argue that Iran will take them over – so be it- I dont care who rule Iraq now or ever. Once the U.S> has weaned itself from oil nobody in the world will give a damn about iraq or iran. Butheir terrorists says some idiot – well if they strike or attempt to strike us again – bomd them from the air and make no appologies about it – Bush missed his chance to scare the rest of the world – Kabul should have been the site of the largest conventional bombing runs in modern history but no he had to put boots on the ground.

Posted by: unbeliever | July 17, 2008, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm

bush and mccain finally wake up and stop listening to cheney and try listening to obama instead
classic

Posted by: ashish | July 17, 2008, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm

Obama campaign is using good Marxist strategy. Polls just came out that show overwhelming support for McCain in fields of foreign policy and national defense. Now a couple of days later we have these stories of Obama supposedly showing Bush and McCain how to do it. TALK ABOUT DECEIT -

Posted by: Manitu | July 17, 2008, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm

Pssst, Emanuel – did you see the McCain Video on your candidate? Take a peek – you will realize that you just credited Bush and McCain with great powers of detection as I can’t tell what Obama really stands for! How can you copy someone who changes his mind every day? lol! You Chicago bunch sure stick together!

Posted by: Beckie | July 17, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm

I FINALLY GET IT NOW! What is he saying? He is saying “we need to change the way we do business in Washington!” He is just say that like all politicians say that, right? Or does he really want change because he is an American citizen who wants change like me?

Posted by: Kevin LS | July 17, 2008, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm

Seems pretty clear to me: there will be no negotiating. Governments meet in secret with their adversaries and with terrorist leaders all the time….it starts to become public when something of any substance might arise or for political maneuver. Only dummies would believe such talks only happen when the MSM saids so.
I wonder what is happening in the peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel…something must be brewing there for Ahmadinejad to have made the overture a week ago and now for the such a top official as the Under Sec. to participate….hummmm

Posted by: 58 states | July 17, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm

I really wish the conservative posters here would look at the facts, rather than simply rely on tired stereotypes and misinformation. They may want to live in Hannity’s America, but a growing number of Americans would rather live in the reality-based universe. You can disagree with Obama, vote for McCain and other Republicans, but at least make those decisions based on facts, not on the misinformation spouted by Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter and Savage.

Posted by: david | July 18, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

Mindless robots voting for a dillusional “world citizen”. I feel sorry for all of us if we wake up in January with Barrack Hussain Obama as our president. Kind of the same sinking feeling a great deal of Germans had when Hitler became thier leader, they knew something was very, very wrong, they just could not put thier fingers on it……..
Think about this, Nancy Pelosi and all of her Bush lied people died crowd told us if you put democrats in charge of the house and senate, things will change, they will fix all the things Bush messed up. Lets see what has happened:A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high–14,000 +
5) American’s were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations o’seas, living large!…
But American’s wanted ‘CHANGE’! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress & yep–we got ‘CHANGE’ all right!…..1) Consumer confidence has plummeted;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS & prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~11,300–$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YEP , IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE!…AND WE SURE GOT IT!!!….

Posted by: Scott | July 29, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am

I posted this exact blog yesterday on another ABC blog, but it is still my response to why I think Obama’s type of change is the wrong type of change.
Barack Obama has run his campaign on supporting the middle and lower class, yet many of his policies I believe will hurt those same people.
For example, Obama is in favor of raising the capital gains tax by a large percentage (possibly even doubling). This would severely damage small businesses within the United States. Small businesses often do no make a profit their first couple years. Once profits are made, they are used to pay off loans and make further investments that will spur growth. This usually leads to the hiring of more employees. If the capital gains tax is raised, many small businesses will fail, reducing jobs and future entrepreneurial endeavors. In a country where there are at least 23 million small business owners and 70% of middle to lower income workers are employed by small businesses, this could be disastrous.
In addition, Barack Obama says that he will free us from dependency on foreign oil in 10 years. If he does not allow for drilling or nuclear energy, his goal is not possible. While I am completely in support of developing alternative energies, every energy professional I have ever spoken with has said that the technologies for alternative energies (current and future) are not capable of replacing oil anytime soon. Therefore under Obama, energy prices would continue to increase, driving up food and gas prices. Another blow for middle to lower income America. On a further note, oil in not used solely for energy. Oil is used in asphalt (which makes up our roads), plastics, and pharmaceuticals. So, while we’re at it, lets raise the cost of infrastructure and health care.

Posted by: Cecilia | August 31, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

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