What’s Arabic for ‘Spin’?

Because nothing was misunderstood.
“U.S. 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”
What misunderstood about that?
Maliki probably regrets what he said because he doesn’t want it to seem as if he’s endorsing a candidate. But it to late. He said what he said and majority of America is in line with him.

Hmmm…The hand writing is, how do you say, being scribed on the wall like so many 1st graders…..Many world leaders you will find are ‘not openly endorsing Obama’s policies’ (wink nod) … why? 1. They don’t want to appear as skewing our election 2. heaven forbid the other guy (what’s his name) with the hair trigger and shaky hands may get his hands on the ‘button’, their maybe be hard feelings. And as we all know there will be blood.

again – for those that missed it and for the news agencies that try to create their own news, rather than tell the truth:
Iraq PM did not back Obama troop exit plan
Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:46am EDT
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki did not back the plan of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and his comments to a German magazine on the issue were misunderstood, the government’s spokesman said on Sunday.
[...]Maliki’s remarks were published a day after the White House said he and President George W. Bush had agreed that a security agreement currently being negotiated between them should include a “time horizon” for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Bush has long opposed setting a timetable for withdrawal, and the White House said the time horizon agreed by the two leaders was not as specific as a time frame pushed by Democrats and could be adjusted based on conditions on the ground.

I really wonder what the press will choose as the narrative coming out of this week.
(1) Negotiations which in the primary EVERY democrat including Sen. Obama backed and EVERY republican including Sen. McCain did not support WORKED in North Korea.
(2) Sen. Obama has been calling for not only withdrawing in Iraq but ramping up troops in Afghanistan and the military on the ground SAYS we need more troops in Afghanistan something McCain has denied until he reveresed himself to come closer to Sen. Obama’s position.
(3) IRAN: The Europeans have been begging us to join the negotions and the Bush adminstration is thinking of opening offices in Tehran! Something Obama has supported.
In the broad strokes it seems to me that the shifts in foreign policy have nearly all been on McCain’s side and Bush as well has been moving closer to Sen. Obama.
Now we have talk of “time horizons” for withdrawal instead of “time lines”.
Spin away, but facts are stubborn things and I hope they come out over time. Sen. Obama has been largely right.

lol
The Bush-McCain Adminsitration is TOAST. More lies to prop up their failed Iraq policy.
General Shinseki was right – we needed more troops. The much lauded “surge” is 5 years and 4000+ dead soldiers too late. George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld ignored the commanders at the start of the war, and now they want credit – what a crock!
The only “shock and awe” felt by the world is at how unrepentent the architects of the disaster have been.

2009
Snap out of it!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Obama doing his job. He’s confusing Iraqis people as the same as he already confused the American voters.

Obama, 1st it was I will get them out day one. Which is what you Dems want to hear regardless of the consequences. Now after he sees the troop surge is working, (which he was against)he changes his tune. How else will he change. You can call it flip flop or his LOGO Change, but that is what he does. He tells you what you want to hear and has no conviction. He will CHANGE his mind on this at least three more times.

The current administration if following OBAMA’S blue book. Just look at the IRAN negotiations, The reinforcement of troops in Afganistan, The time table (Time horizon as they want to call it) withdrawal in IRAK. My question to you is: WHO HAS THE BEST JUDGEMENT TO LEAD?????
BARACK OBAMA OF COURSE

Independent,
Continue fooling yourself with rasmussen poll that is never credible. There are so many polls out there that shows obama leading mcsame by as much as 8 digits. All the msm recently published various poll results showing obama leading by at the least 7 points. Obama is now turning states that has hitherto been red states into blue ones. So the sooner you stopped fooling yourself with rasmussen poll the better for you. Obama will win by a land slide come november. MARK MY WORD.
As for mcsame running on republican party, have you ever taken a moment to consider what obama is running against?
Would there be anything more difficult as an obstacle to a presidential candidate, than being black? For those of us that are whites, we may not fully appreciate that fact. But it is real. While mcsame is running about campaigning, obama is busy trying to dispel so many falacious rumors that are being spread against him. Believe you me, if mcsame were to face the odds obama is contending with, he would not be able go above 20% in opinion polls.
So many recent events are now consolidating the fact that obama has better judgement than mcsame. Even the president has now recognized that by favouring those arguments obama has been making towards our foreign relations. May God bless America.

angie ” to late he said it” lol
i agree!!
plus who believes anything that comes out of the white house?? i think the credibility of what they say is pretty well shot.

This is frightening. With less than 4 months until the election, Obama hopes to gain foreign policy/national security experience and to show some semblance of being a commander. Now, this screwup. Worse, we are told Obama has 300 foreign policy advisers, and no two of these advisers can agree on anything. Thus, the Obama flip flops and these screwups. Pray for America.

This is just more evidence against anyone thinking Obama is qualified for the job of President of the USA. I like the fact he wants Universal Health Care – but I would just like to see Medicare extended to age 50 and up with heavy fraud penalties enforced – but that is all Obama has that I would agree with. Obama is just wrong so many times it is embarassing.

Ha ha. I cant stop laughing whenever he tries to look and act presidential. He’s so comical.

So much for the 100 Year man…

I can remember watching the little O specifically stating that he was going to bring all the troops home when gets elected…now he wants to send 2 brigades to Afghanistan. What a flip flopper

oh yeah and you REALLY want your socks knocked off?
Remember that mysterious passport breakin by Obama’s Foreign Policy advisor?
Remember that McCaskill put up a Bill that ‘allowed’ McCain to run for office, despite not needing such a bill, because he was born on a military base, in a U.S. Territory, to 2 U.S. citizens?
Remember that Birth Certificate that Obama put up as proof?
Well surprise – take all these things together and you get an idea of just what the RNC has in store for our little friend.
Oh yeah – and PS:
9 month pregnant women cannot make 31 hour flights to Kenya and back in 72 hours – they are not allowed to fly now and certainly were not allowed to fly in 1961. Also – don’t talk about the DC8/707 Jet option – there were no flights to Kenya using the new jet to get his mother there a bit faster.
There is a HUGE scandal waiting for this fraud and his supporters still won’t blink.

Poor Obama, yet another embarrassing moment for him.

Obama’s policies are being followed through on? Oh Please. George W haters are being real naive here.
We’ve worked out something with North Korea (“see, we worked out something with NK so it’s not us who’s the problem
it’s Iran). We’re talking to Iran (“we tried diplomacy and have worn out eevery option we can and we have only one option left”). Israel is talking to Syria and every other one of their enemies and just caved in to Hezzbollah
and released on of their prisoners. Something fishy is going on. There are no mistakes coming out of George W’s White House- they’ve got the drill down
for putting out garbage that serves their purposes. This is all still a lead up to Israel attacking Iran before the end of this year. Both Obama and McCain have been clear that option is on the table but last I recall neither were advocating for it by the end of this year. Also, if the right wing hates McCain he can’t be that bad.
In fact he’s doing less schmoozing towards the far right then Obama is.
If George W hates McCain and vice versa
then McCain can’t be that bad. I think Bush has his own agenda he wants to finish in the next 6 months and that he could care less if McCain gets in- there’s no love between those two.

Maybe Maliki is remembering it is not noce to bite the hand that has keep you alive. If Bush had listen to Obama and the Democ’RATS” he would now be”DEAD”
and not giving interviews to Der Spiegel

“yes that’s the proper timeframe” So Obama was right all along. And McRove’s 100-year-plan was WRONG ALL ALONG.
Truth hurts, don’t it?

Why won’t Obama provide a VALID birth certificate?

Obama’s like the goober you work with in the office that over hears you talking about an idea you have for the company to a co-worker, takes your idea and then starts spouting off what he’s heard you say like it’s HIS idea to the superiors….they like it and HE get’s the credit!

Obama has a better grasp of foreign policy than McCain – now that’s funny.
I wouldn’t trust Obama to run a Cub Scouts troop, let alone be Commander-in-Chief.

The Media should really be careful with the pictures they’re putting out of Obama. He looks like a little kid at an adult’s discussion. Completely out of place.

O’boy, Obama is leading this. On the one hand I am a Democrate and think the Republicans and McCain are inferior alternatives.
At the same time I truly dislike Obama, thinks he lacks substance. Obama symbolises everything that is wrong with America, a brash Ivy-league politician who wins the price on style and apparance. In short: He’s Bush. I too would have voted Bush on the likeability factor, but I would be wrong.

ja wrote:
Lucky for Iraq, McCain supported the surge which has left the country in much better shape.
**********
Um, NO! The point of the “surge” was to give breathing room to allow the Iraqi Government to write a Constitution. That has not happened. It was also supposed to allow all sides to have equal respresentation in the Government. The Kurds have been left out due to politics and have left the talks last Tuesday and have yet to return.
So the “surge” is not working. The intent was never to decrease violence, but to foster the Government.
Secondly, we are giving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to the insurgents NOT to shoot at our soldiers. What happens when we STOP giving them OUR money? Can you say “Spike in violence”?

It doesn’t really matter whether he said it or not at this point. A sovereign nation CLEARLY wants US Forces out of Iraq. Even the false excuses for going to war have been addressed. Saddam is deceased. There are no weapons of mass destruction. Iraq is not a threat to its neighbors. So why are we there? So we can say we won at the expense of more lives? So we can leave on what the Bush Administration defines as favorable rules and conditions. No condition will restore the respect that the US has lost around the world. Our troops have no reason to be ashamed. That belongs to elected officials. It is their own reputations that they are concerned about; not the country’s
I just love all the brave souls who want more unnecessary war, but can’t seem to delve into their patriotic hearts and join the armed forces. The current administration took the privilege of defining the reasons to go to war and botched that. So what if the Iraqi parliament is in shambles. So is the US Congress. Too bad people are without basic needs in a country where oil revenues alone are blinding. America needs to fix its own problems in America.

Everyone keeps talking about the surge. The surge was politics and at best, what should have taken place when the decision was made to go to war. I’m glad it worked, now lets go home. On the other hand, the SURGE does not define the war. The collective miscues, wasted lives and capital, deceit, and loss of international standing is the bigger and complete picture. The surge lasted a few months. this war still continues.

Boy oh boy isnt it funny Obama was quick to thank Iraqs Prime Minister only to find out that is not what he said!!

Yeah your right Obama looked like a clown jumping on Nuri al-Maliki comment, which was a lie. Bozo is what he is i say!!

Well, Barack said he was going to visit and listen only. Now we see he listened so well he has given a 16 month plan by thought alone. He is good. Doesn’t know how he does it. Flip-Flop and Listen and Talk about his Plans. Only one President at a time LOL

Think about this the surge has worked and the enemy is going to Afghanistan, once we start kicking their but there where do you think they are going to run back to? Im sure the commanders know as its logic sence.

Maliqi responding to Bush’s presure to get out and deny the truth…
This only shows how far the republicans will go in order to manipulate the news media.
We need some honesty.
We need Obama.
Republicans would love to have Obama…but thanks God, he is a democrat.

What if McCain was correct on the surge? Does that erase his support of the WAR which birthed the idea of a surge in the first place? Please state just “1″ indisputable advantage that has been gained by the US having gone to war in Iraq. Just 1! Personally, I don’t think the SURGE has worked. It just forced the terrorists to relocate to Afghanistan. Addressing terrorism must be an international effort.

The surge worked. I saw an American TV reporter last night walk down a street in Baghdad that was bordered by ten foot concrete walls. It’s traffic of American humvees flowed nicely. The heavy pedestrian traffic of American soldiers were easily able to carry their bundles of arms needed to protect the reporter and the commander she was interviewing.
If the mission was accomplished five years ago, why shouldn’t we believe the Bush administration when it corrects Iraqi officials? Who ya gonna believe,
Bush or your lying eyes.

What good does it serve to LOOK Presidential and make poor decisions? You criticize Obama for lacking substance, but at the same time you want him to fulfill and address these criticisms which in themselves lack substance. I’m confused. Define looking Presidential because I’m lost.

Maliki’s comments were only meant to have a psychological impact. The horizons of our aspirational goals are, like the impact of off shore drilling, ephemeral. Quit yer whining.

The surge is working. We now have success at our fingertips.
Our nation is facing threats in many parts of the world. We need a leader who can guide us to SUCCESS, not someone (Obama) whose only foreign policy entails cutting and running.
Obama opposed the surge, he was WRONG. We have no other policy on which to judge him (keep in mind that Obama said, and even had posted on his website, that had he been able to vote for war in Iraq at the time he is unsure what he would have done; later, he said that he and Bush saw eye to eye on Iraq; only later, when it become policitically unpopular to support the Iraq war did Obama become so against it).
Obama just isn’t cut out to lead this country in these dangerous times.

McCain supporters now jump up an endorse a non-denial denial from an Iraqi “spokesperson” about the meaning of the tape recorded words coming out of the mouth of Maliki. “Baghdad Bob” wishes you were there for him too.

The surge is working. We have been able to accomplish the mission five years after it was already pronouced to have been accomoplished. The 4,000 dead thank you for your support.

The surge is working people, this is my second tour over here and things are getting better by the day. Let’s just hope we can continue to build going forward and not fall back where we were at one time. God Bless My fellow Soliders and Civilians that have died over here.

It is interesting that within two days after the recent news that polls give McCain lopsided support over Obama in the fields of foreign policy and national defense, that major news sources declare that it is “Obama” who is the “expert” telling Bush and McCain what to do in middle – east. THIS IS BEFORE OBAMA IS ON THE SCENE.

while I am a Obama supporter I am puzzled at the recent turn of events on Obama’s stance, I thought that we were trying to get our troops out of Iraq and bring them HOME! but the talk now seems to be to transfer them to Afganisthan I am confused can some one explain?

Eight years ago the press misled people into thinking Al Gore claimed he invented the Internet. Now McCain is trying to midlead us into thinking he invented the surge. I think his wholehearted support for everything Bush
did in Iraq is clear, including becoming an early cheerleader for the surge, and a current an apologist for why we can’t leave a country in which our mission was accomplished five years ago.

How much pressure did the Bush Administration place on this guy to get him to recant his statement?

Obama has never changed on his idea to get all American troops out of Iraq within 16 months. He hopes to bring home 1-2 brigades a month. He wants to send 2 brigades to Afghanistan, but out of about 25 brigades, almost all of our soldiers would be home within 16 months. He has said all along that our war on terrorism is in Afghanistan, not in Iraq. I also thank our soldiers that have gone in harms’ way to do what our President has asked of them. I also respect the fact that we have lost over 4000 of them in Iraq. We made our objective, the Iraqi government is in place, they want us to leave, and its time to go. Just be careful of the last one there, turning out the light.

Willow
Do you like having wool pulled over your eyes? BHO was emphatic that he’d get the troops out NOW. That was then.

Ja, I wouldn’t stop at describing the “Bush plan prior to the surge as wrongheaded.” His policies were naive in their understanding of Iraq and the region. As a result Al Qaeda is reconstituted and the power of Iran is enhanced. His reasons for war were false. That, regardless of the spin you put on it, is at best incompetence.
McCain endorsed every stpe he took along the way.

wsuperman Obama was not opposed necessarily to military action after 9/11 but he felt it should be directed at the appropriate source , Bin Laden,
which would have put the focus on Afghanistan. He did not feel there should have been a war waged in Iraq,
that war he felt was misdirected for Bush’s own agenda Obama has no issue with military intervention, he has indicated he would keep that option on the table with Iran, so if you are under the assumption that Obama would never use military force then you are wrong. He has been clear about going after Bin Laden and Al Quida which is why he supports using the military in Afghanistan and has even advocated for unilateral strikes against Pakistan in seeking out terrorists and/or Bin Laden.
So you’re right, the military is just being diverted to another area in the Middle East.

Only last week, Obama scrubbed his website of all matter pertaining to the surge and it’s failings. That’s what the man himself has done to once again prove he’s a complete fraud.

Iraq seems to be in much better control that it was. Those soldiers didn’t put their lives in danger and some of them didn’t give up their lives so that now we walk away from finishing up the job the US started. It’s very irresponsible to just walk away and leave the Iraqis to take care for themselves at the time the country looks like is turning the corner. Remember what happened in Afghanistan in the 80′s after the Russians left and the Americans left, it turned into a terrorist heaven that we are now fighting. Let’s finished up the job in Iraq and make sure that the Iraqi people are prepare to deal problems on their own. But we must not forget Afghanistan either, our soldiers need more help there. Obama sholdn’t be calling for troops to be removed from Iraq in a time framed. He is showing that he is not prepared to run the country or its military. We all know Obama is doing this so he can look as an experienced guy in foreign policies. Its all to the deceive the voters. Obama is too dangerously inexperienced to run the White House.

Ryan – you’re full of it. With McCain, taxes will go up for the middle class. With Obama, they’ll go down for the middle class and up for the wealthiest americans who can afford it. You’re full of —-, dude.

Ryan – since when does experience always equate with wisdom? That damn fool Bush has had 8 years of experience in the most demanding job in the world and he isn’t one whit wiser than when he went in. And, frankly, John McCain doesn’t strike me as a very wise man either – he comes off like a thin-skinned hothead to me. Besides, Obama was against this failed war in Iraq from the start, while McSame has been waving the flag and beating the drum since day one. Looks to me like Obama is the wise one, here – maybe that’s why Bush and McCain are scrambling to keep up with his policy positions. LOL

Ryan – again, you’re full of it. Obama’s budget is not “10 times” as big as McCain’s – you’re just making up nonsense. Also, will McCain’s budget include the $10 mil/ per DAY that Iraq costs us, or will he bury those costs in “supplemental spending” like Bush does and continue to run up our national debt by borrowing the money from China? Republican fiscal competence is a myth – I would much rather have a tax and spend Dem than a borrow and waste Republican any day of the week.

Gblane.
IRAN – even Obama recognizes that, but would not admit that to his followers.

Ryan – unfortunately the only people who think Obama is a fake are the same gullible wingnuts who still think Saddam had WMDs and that think Bush is doing a good job. Rest assured your complete dissassociation from reality will continue to result in your further irrelevance and marginalization from the political mainstream. And maybe that’s a good thing.

Ryan.
TD – the crazies think that the rich fat cats are going to pay for the middle class tax cuts. I am not a fat cat, but if I were I would just put my bucks on offshore investments or into tax free munis – JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME WHEN THE LAST FOOL TRIED TO PLAY THE CLASS CARD. And.. you’re right on about Obama’s taxes – way up – FOR ALL OF US!!!

Mr. al-Maliki a loser, a wimp -
one in a long series in many
different countries our govt
has backed over the decades and
lost.

Ryan – So does McCain. The difference is that Obama wants to create welfare programs that benefit Americans, not Iraqis. Do you know that American taxpayers currently subsidize free universal healthcare for all Iraqis, but we can’t get this same level of care here at home? And McCain supports that. Sorry, but I’m all for spending more money on healthcare – and best of all, Obama isn’t going to increase my taxes to pay for it. He’s going to do the sensible thing and tax the rich – people making over 250,000/year – unlike McSame who wants to make Bush’s disasterous tax breaks for the rich permanent and continue placing the bulk of the tax burden on the backs of the middle class.

Ryan – if Obama is proposing $200 million more in healthcare spending than McCain, then that’s one more reason to vote for Obama. Clearly McCain doesn’t care about the healthcare crisis that Americans are facing. Thanks for giving me another reason to vote for Obama.

Frightening. With less than 4 months until the election,Obama decides to try in ONE week to get some foreign policy/national security experience and to try to show some semblance of being a commander. Immediately, he has a major screwup, and at what cost to the safety of our troops and the progress that has been made. And to think, the party and super delegates discarded Hillary in favor of him.
It is said that he has 300 foreign policy advisers, and no two of them can agree on anything. Thus, the Obama screwups and flip flops.
Pray for America.

If Obama is elected President, G-d forbid, he is going to owe a LOT of people a LOT of favors. He’s dirty and he is no different from any other sleazebag politician in this country. He is a puppet. I don’t know how so many people can be so foolish to follow him.

Indeed, this is clearly an effort on President Bush’s part to minimize damage to his party’s candidate, Senator McCain. However, this and other good calls by Senator Obama in the area of foreign affairs will negate Senator McCain’s reputation in this area. Without a strong advantage among moderate voter’s perception of an advantage in foreign affairs, expect McCain to capture the conservative vote only. That will give him a chance of serving in the Senate minority to fillibuster President Obama’s agenda as much as he can.

Sorry people.. you can try to spin it all you want but the reality is that the arrogant, smug obama does not know what he is doing.. PERIOD. Now he is over there two days into it and he is already screwing things up. This trip is a circus act and is parallel to that riduculous presidential seal he made up for himself. He loves himself.. and loves to see photos of himself looking presidential, with his nose in the air. He is making a complete fool out of himself and this country. He thinks he is a rock star on tour with his little media groupies following like puppy dogs. Obama is a joke.
JOHN MCCAIN IS THE REAL DEAL.

the misunderstanding is as follows:the original quote from al-maliki was,” as soon as possible as far as we are concerned, us pres. candidate obama is right when he talks about 16 months, assuming that positive developments continue, this is about the same time period which corresponds to our wishes”. this quote was altered to the one quoted above in later editions of the story. the difference in meaning is quite clear. the original quote seems consistent with al-maliki’s statements of fri and sat with both bush and brown. the latter version does not have a contextual basis. hence the official correction.

Karl…WHAT?? First of all this isn’t the 1860′s. Second of all 3 years in the Senate isn’t anything. McCain has 25 years in Congress, 4 House, 21 Senate. I also haven’t heard much about Obama building coalitions across the aisle. Anybody can build a coalition in there own party. McCain on the other hand has a vast history of crossing party lines. In other words you didn’t come up with anything.

It is said that the truly educated individual is aware of the possible and probable consequences of his acts and non-acts and responds accordingly. Considering that, Obama is continually putting himelf in compromising situations as in predicting total failure of the SURGE. I’d give a million bucks to be present when Obama talks with General Petraeus in Iraq. Maybe Obama will offer the General Sec of Defense?

ja – that quote doesn’t prove anything except that you never fully understood Obama’s policy in the first place. You basically set up a strawman based on your own misunderstanding of Obama’s Iraq policy – which you misattributed to Obama’s supporters – and then cherrypicked some quotes to knock them down. Are you too dense to see this or are you just being disingenous? That tactic is tired and played out, kid, Get some new material.

you’re right ja, obama flip flopped. clearly from your post he was one of the war supporters early on and then turned later as it became less popular.
i didn’t realize this. this really hurts. i though obama was different. obviously he’s more of the same old.
going to sit out this election i think

To wsuperman
Obama is NOT proposing to remove the troops from Iraq and sending them all to Afghanistan.
If my recollection of the figures are correct, he wants to remove the 180,000 troops from Iraq and send 10,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. That would reduce America’s overall troop commitment by 170,000 while at the say time strengthening the fight against the Taliban.
I hope that clarifies the issue.

semms like Obama is reading into everyone elses plans and using them for his bennefit!

WOW!!!! Was it not this week commander’s were saying we need more troops in Afghanistan? Now Obama is saying we need more troops in Afghanistan. Truely amazing isnt it!

ja – so what? That quote is four years old. Things have changed and the majority of Americans who once supported the war don’t support it any more. Try to keep up…

Americans were stupid to elect Bush not once but twice.
Makes you wonder what that means if they elect Obama! LMFAO

ja – um, no. But I do think that, in a Democracy, our leaders should be responsive to the people’s wishes.
Or do you think that leaders should be inflexible zealots and never have the option to change their opinion?
That seems absurd to me.

ja – if that is the way you choose to falsely frame the question, then my answer is no.
Do you really think you’re going to catch anybody out with your simpleminded game of gotcha?
Grow up.

Hey ja – why are you so obsessed with a four year old quote from Obama when McCain has flipflopped on his torture, offshore drilling, tax cuts. roe v. wade, the confederate flag, etc, etc, etc – all much more recently. How come you don’t mention that McFlipFlop won’t even vote for his own legistlation anymore? Hypocrite.

MadMike,
As I have said repeatedly, if you are willing to acknowledge that Obama once supported the war but has now changed his mind, great – I am happy you are an honest person.
The only thing is, Obama himself refuses to acknowledge this. Maybe you can go convince him to stop being a liar.

ja – then provide the full context, please.

Bosco,
Well, that’s the thing now, isn’t it. Obama actually was WRONG about the surge, so he isn’t on the right side now either. He stated the surge would fail, that it would lead to more sectarian violence, and that it would lead to civil war – all increasing the blood spilled.
But the opposite happened. Nice try though, I commend you on your lame but honest effort to make a contribution

Jimbo – FOX News is not represented on the Obama trip for the same reason that the Dems would not agree to a debate on FOX News – FOX is not a legitimate news organization and the majority of moderate and non-partisan Americans do not take them seriously. Everyone knows they are just the propaganda arm of the Republican party.

Temagami – and in England, there’s a move underway to privatize the nation’s socialized insurance. People with money flock to France for surgery.
You can look it up! Socialized medicine DOES NOT WORK. Where it’s in effect, people either have private insurance or go somewhere else if they can afford to.

Orlando.
Sorry, “McSame,” gave you away. Lots of words, but are you prepared to argue tax cuts for corporations (our corps have the 2nd most highest tax rates in the world). Or how about, What are the ways we can increase our oil supplies? Obama seems not capable of rational thought on these subjects… are you up to the task?

Maliki is Obama’s Iraqi twin – he also flip-flops and wants to be all things to all people. Maliki wants to please the Sunnis, the Shiites, Al-Queda, the Taliban – you name it! He also speaks out of both sides of his mouth. I am amazed how some people here are praising Maliki now that he appears to agrees with their idol – before Maliki was accused of not stepping up to the plate, not taking control of Iraq. Lol! Hope Obama does not start throwing money to the throngs in the street! Oh, I forgot – it is the reverse – they tithe their hard earned money to him!

What remains is this: McCain had good judgment and Obama had poor judgment.
Done

‘FOX is not a legitimate news organization and the majority of moderate and non-partisan Americans do not take them seriously. Everyone knows they are just the propaganda arm of the Republican party”
Frankly Jeremy… the fourth estate is dead!
But statements beginning ,”Everyone knows…..” are no less facetious than the information offered by these semi-news sources.
HILLARY OR MCCAIN
but always:
COUNTRY OVER PARTY!!!!!

Geeza, I forgot tht I also posted on – I don’t hold Obama responsible for others,but I do question his judgement re association with so many bad or questionable mentors.

Jeremy, Fox news is the only channel where you can get fair and balanced news..not to mention they came insixth place nation wide for cable news…not like MSNBC which came in 46th…tells you something…people don’t like to watch a grown man like Matthews smile and say Obama gives him a tingle up his leg every time he sees him…or Olbermann who thinks he knows everything and makes fun of everyone who HE doesn’t like! At least at Fox you get both sides of a story…not just a biased one as on all other channels!

Aston
I live in the UK and I try to keep well abreast of domestic and international politics. That’s why – even though I am a foreigner and it is 2 am – I am engaging with this blog about the American presidential election.
I must know say that I have no knowledge of this move to “privatize the nation’s socialized insurance” to which you refer.

Geeza.
For an update on the Canadian health system, Punch in Claude Gastonguay “Canadian Health Care We So Envy Lies in Ruins, It’s Architect Admits.” (6/25/08). Claude Gastonguay is considered the founder of the current Canadian health care system – interesting stuff.

i dont understand this administratiom the iraq wants us out period, they are also smart people they now no that this war was not supposed to be there in the first place,after bush spokesman testified the iraq people were also watching, what he was saying, i think they is no need to keep on lying to ourselves we should have not ivaded iraq period, part of this problem is the media being told what to say sbout this administration, the media need to work up and mend their mistakes, iraq wants us out let them reconsile its a good thing this world need peace, and good diplomacy, sit down and talk with those you dont like also thats what we need in this world now stop wars and fighting

Manitu
Thanks for the reference.
The British National Health Service is a subject of intense political debate and everyone seems to agree that it is not working as good as everyone would like.
But in my view, the shortcomings of this service in Britain, in Canada and anywhere else is not good reason to reject the principle of free national health service. Often good ideas fail or flounder because of bad implementation and management.
We can look at other countries where the principle is a shining example of good practice. France for example. There are British citizen who travel to France to avail themselves of the country’s healthcare services. Recent changes mean that individuals from other EU countries can no longer get immediate and free access to this service but it remain an important element of the French social order.
In any case, I think an individual’s health is so foundamental to Life that it should not be based on the ability to pay. It is almost like having to pay for the air we breathe.

Orlando.
You people? I am a retired Catholic school teacher on a very low fixed income. I own some stock – not much. I get some income from it. One of the first things Obama will do as pres is let the current break on capital gains tax expire – this will cost me and it is dumb anyway because history has shown every time the capital gains tax is lowered, the fed gets more income in taxes. Obama probably knows this, but will not let you know that he knows. Business creates economic value – ALL business. Government does not and can not create economic value. Bite business and you hurt every American. When I think of the entitlement crowd I think of the exact opposite – the Amish, who have to be getting a good laugh from all this political gobbledygook. The Amish even lobbied congress (successfully) to be exempt from the Social Security system. THE LAST OF THE TRUE AMERICANS. What exactly does going green mean and how can we run our cars on it? Just where is all the Oil from Iraq, anyway? Illegal war? When was the last time we had a terrorist attack on our soil? That has been no accident and Iraq has forced the bad guys to put almost all of there efforts, in IRAQ – AND THEY HAVE LOST THERE. Thank you to the American, British and Israeli intel services who have foiled planned attacks against the west. Vote for Obama – you will get what you deserve, but a lot of us know what is in store for us and WE DO NOT DESERVE HIM!!

OBAMA.
NOT MUCH EXPERIENCE
NO MILITARY
BAD JUDGEMENT
BAD BAGGAGE
AND……. BAD IDEAS!!

Jeremy.
Obama will not debate on FOX because everyone knows that FOX is not a legitimate news source? What kind of gobbledygook is that? McCain will go into the lion’s den for an interview. Obama is CHICHEN – THAT’S IT!! Bill O’Reilly would be respectful, but would tear Obama apart – on the issues!!
Obama should be scared – he has no real depth and is out of his league

Send the troop in (Afghanistan)
Send the troop home (from Iraq)
Change the Afghanistan war from Iraq war
That is the change we can belive in.
Yes, we can.
Obama 08,

Like Vietnam, the Iraq
invasion will end in
failure.

Tamaoragami – I think it is more indicative of an ignorant public than a powerful press.

I feel that all this talk of flip flop on either side of the aisle is pure rubbish. McCain has changed his stances on issues many times, despite the fact that his supporters only want you to think Obama changes his mind as time passes.
REALITY CHECK: If a politician doesn’t change his opinions as new facts come to light and situations both here and abroad change they have no business being elected for anything. It is the mark of a worthy politician to be able to stick to his beliefs and alter his opinions and stances on issues. Have you always thought exactly the same way about everything your whole life? I HIGHLY doubt it.

Who is paying for this trip, is what I want to know? And why are the other senators never shown?
I say, Obama better be “wasting” his own money, cause this is definitely a “campaign trip” just as his speech before the UCC SYNOD CONF was!
IRS — get it right! UCC should be taxed for allowing that travesty!

Why should we be surprised that the IRAQ people want us out of their country? Bush and McBush have waged war on a country and killed over a million IRAQIES, Men Women and Children in the name of the American people for the big oil companies that have a strangle hold on us. The first time I heard John McBush tell the truth about this whole made up war in Iraq was when he was in a town hall meeting and told the American people that he did not want to have to send American troops back into IRAQ for oil. That was the first and the last time he told the truth about this Bush/ McNut war. When McSame was asked about that statement, he told reporters that he was talking about George H. Bush Senior and the first war in IRAQ to liberate IRAN. What a coward! It’s time to bring our troops home, they have done what their government has ask them to do. Their families are waiting for them at home Mr. McCain, the IRAQIE people no longer want us their. Obama has said he will end this since less war, that has took so many lives of our family members away, for what? So Bush and McBush and their crooked friends can continue getting rich while we sit here and lose our homes. Bush and McSame don’t have to worry about paying a mortgage, softball, swimming lessons and food. Weather you dislike Obama or love him, we can not afford 4 or 8 years of the same Bush policies hat are destroying the middle class and their families. People wise up, don’t vote this year own wedge issues, such as race and gender. We can’t afford it!

if mccain was black would he have been standing eye to eye with obama.diz guy is one of the greatest politician ive seen in our time.vote 4 a leader not 4 color

The American, people want OUT of Bush’s illegal, criminal, Iraqui, war. The elected President of Iraq, Nouri Al-Maliki,want’s the U.S. OUT of Iraq.The Iraqui people want the U.S.OUT of Iraq. Senator Obama, wants the U.S.OUT of Iraq.Bush,has murdered over 1 million Iraquies, and 4200+ American service people and wounded 31,000 military people,18,000 seriously. But NOW BUSH, and McBUSH, say we will leave Iraq, sometime in the next 100 years after General PETRAEUS,and THEY decide to do so.WHO and WHEN was PETRAEUS, elected President of Iraq????