The Note, 4/6/2009: Word Matters — World’s tests are opening to shape an Obama doctrine
EmailBy RICK KLEIN Whether or not the North Koreans put anything into orbit over the weekend, President Obama’s perfectly executed foreign trip was launched into a different layer of the atmosphere — one where the president’s words may not matter after all. And whatever Kim Jong Il’s intentions, the rocket launch has raised the stakes of the president’s highly anticipated trip. As predictable as this was, the campaign prophecies were right: Obama is being tested, and while the call didn’t come at 3 am, 4:30 isn’t that far away. (And it was actually a door-knock, from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, per ABC’s Jake Tapper.) (Who would have guessed at the time that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would get woken up?) On the flipside, the president has an opportunity here. World events are challenging his leadership, and rallying his opponents, but they’re also helping him make the case for a new approach. The Obama approach to foreign-policy is getting a real-world test. His first major presidential trip had domestic/economic substance from the start; now it has foreign-policy substance, too. With the president’s trip continuing through Turkey Monday and Tuesday (he’s speaking in a Muslim country, but not with THE speech in a Muslim country), this marks perhaps the best early chance for Obama to define his own doctrine. The world is watching. “President Obama learned the limits of diplomacy Sunday: He can’t control everything,” USA Today’s Richard Wolf writes. “And so on a trip designed to promote peace and prosperity, Obama was reminded twice in 12 hours not only of the complexities of foreign policy, but also of how his plans can be complicated by those seeking to test his young administration.” The Obama approach: “Hours after North Korea’s missile test, President Obama on Sunday called for new United Nations sanctions and laid out a new approach to American nuclear disarmament policy — one intended to strengthen the United States and its allies in halting proliferation,” Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger write in The New York Times. “It is a strategy based on the idea that if the United States shows it is willing to greatly shrink the size of its atomic arsenal, ban nuclear testing and cut off the worldwide production of bomb material, reluctant allies and partners around the world will be more likely to rewrite nuclear treaties and enforce sanctions against North Korea and Iran.” Monday’s main event: President Obama addresses the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, at 8:30 am ET. Later, it’s on to Istanbul, in plenty of time to see whether his Tar Heels pull it off all those time zones away. (But does he want to be rooting against a team from Michigan?) New vision: “Mr. Obama is embracing the multilateral test-ban treaty that drifted under his predecessor, George W. Bush,” Jonathan Weisman, Marc Champion, and Jay Solomon write in The Wall Street Journal. “But the Obama strategy is a bet that a more active focus on diplomacy can win over the rogue actors — or else win support from Europe, Russia and China for tougher sanctions.” Obama’s words: “Rules must be binding,” the president said in Prague, per ABC’s Jake Tapper. “Violations must be punished. Words must mean something.” UN Ambassador Susan Rice, on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”: “The challenge, George is to convey with unity, as the president said today, on behalf of the international community, that we will not stand for violations of international law, which this launch represented, that there will be consequences, and that indeed we will proceed together with resolve the goal of achieving a Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons.” Speaking of words, this twist also gives voice to the opposition — rendered mute on foreign policy of late: “We do not appreciate the scale of threat that is evolving on the planet, and North Korea is a totally irresponsible dictatorship run by a person who is clearly out of touch with reality,” former House speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., said on “Fox News Sunday,” per ABC’s Tahman Bradley. “One morning, just like 9/11, there’s going to be a disaster, and people are going to look around and say, ‘Gosh, why didn’t anyone think of that?’ Well, I’m telling you the time to think about it’s before the disaster, not afterwards.” Obama is thinking about it — but thinking differently: “The provocative timing — barely six hours before President Barack Obama delivered a speech on nuclear disarmament here — is jolting to life a decades-old debate between the political parties,” Politico’s Jonathan Martin and David S. Cloud write. “The White House says the launch only underscores the importance of Obama’s call Sunday for ‘a world without nuclear weapons.’ Hard-line critics say North Korea’s move makes the president’s no-nukes aspirations all the more unrealistic, even dangerous.” Former UN Ambassador John Bolton: “We’ll take you to the Security Council. Say, there’s a threat! That has had no practical impact on either Pyongyang or Tehran before and will not in the future.” Bolton, writing in The Wall Street Journal: “Yesterday’s launch is attributable to prior failures, but the global consequences now unfolding are Mr. Obama’s responsibility. In fact, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to announce today deep cuts in the U.S. missile defense program, an extraordinarily ill-advised step.” That context: “Defense Secretary Robert Gates will propose cuts or delays in weapons programs in an effort to rein in defense spending that has risen 72 percent since 2000. Gates’s announcement at 1:30 p.m. Washington time today may be the easy part. The hard part will come in selling to Congress the fiscal 2010 plan that would begin in October,” Bloomberg’s Tony Capaccio and Gopal Ratnam write. The Washington Times editorial: “We would like to see Mr. Obama succeed in his quest for a nuclear-weapons-free world. However, in the contest between his presumed moral authority and the reality of global power politics, we reluctantly are compelled to bet our money on the latter.” The limits of Obama’s sway: “There appeared to be little appetite for escalating the confrontation with the isolated regime that defied international warnings with its early morning test,” McClatchy’s Steven Thomma and Warren P. Strobel write. “Despite Obama’s call for action, it seemed likely the 15-member council would only criticize North Korea and ask it to return to stalled six-nation talks on eliminating its nuclear weapons. The Security Council decided Sunday to take no immediate action but agreed to continue discussions on a response.” But who’s in charge, again? “He didn’t get everything he wanted in his first presidential foray onto the world stage, but he passed his audition,” the Chicago Tribune’s Clarence Page writes. “The same reassuring steadiness that former Secretary of State Colin Powell praised during Obama’s presidential campaign showed itself in London last week when it was badly needed to smooth ruffled feathers, reassure world markets and get money flowing again.” “Beyond his actions, it is the sharp change in tone and the willingness to cast the United States as a nation that bears much of the responsibility for a raft of global woes that have been most striking in Obama’s excursion,” The Washington Post’s Michael D. Shear and Scott Wilson write. In Turkey — which audience is most important to reach? “With President Obama in Turkey for a two-day visit, an ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly support U.S. outreach to Muslim nations — but many also express continued suspicion of the world’s second-largest religion,” ABC Polling Director Gary Langer writes. And: “An overwhelming 81 percent of Americans in this poll call it important for Obama to try to improve U.S. relations with Muslim nations.” AFP’s Stephen Collinson: “Barack Obama today aimed to reach out to Turkey for help in successfully ending the war in Iraq and bringing stability to the Middle East during a visit to the predominantly Islamic country. . . . Mr Obama’s visit, his first to a Muslim-majority country, is being closely watched by an Islamic world that harboured deep distrust of his predecessor, George W Bush.” Back on the domestic front, with Congress on break: “President Barack Obama boasts that he’ll reduce spending on key domestic nondefense programs to their lowest levels since the 1960s, but he and Democrats in Congress are on a spending spree not seen since then,” McClatchy’s David Lightman writes. “Few analysts or members of Congress expect Obama to meet his cost-cutting goal, which he projects he won’t meet for 10 years.” About that army: “In its first big test, the group dubbed Organizing for America (OFA) had little obvious impact on the debate over President Obama’s budget, which passed Congress on Thursday with no Republican support and a splintering of votes among conservative Democrats. The capstone of the campaign was the delivery of 214,000 signatures to Capitol Hill, which swayed few, if any, members of Congress, according to legislative aides from both parties,” Dan Eggen writes in The Washington Post. Dan Balz takes the long(ish) view: “It is entirely possible that six or nine months from now, President Obama will look back on his first 75 days in office and consider them the easy part. Not because they have been flawless, which they have not been, but because he must now try to finish all that he has started,” Balz writes in the Sunday Washington Post. A comedic turning point, heralded by “SNL”? “With every decision, he is giving Americans (including late-night comics and his opponents) something tangible on which to base their image of him,” GOP strategist Alex Conant blogs. “I think that helps explains the uptick in Republican criticism of Obama in the last few weeks (because we now have an easier target to attack). And it has opened the floodgates for late-night comics to pummel him.” Is Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., a hero or a goat? Is it worth his time and energy to oppose stimulus dollars? “In political terms? No, it’s a sheer loser. But I’m doing what I think to be right,” Sanford tells The State’s John O’Connor. And is Sanford running for president? (Watch the mind churn between ellipses.) “No, I’m not running for president. … Anything in life can happen. … All I’m saying is I’m absolutely not running. I’m absolutely focused on the job at hand. … Anybody who can say unequivocally, ‘I know exactly what I’m doing in five years from now’ either just doesn’t have a clue on how life works or is being dishonest.” ABC’s John Hendren, on Sanford: “A lot of politicians talk about bringing people together. But South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford seems to have actually pulled it off. He’s united the Democrats who control Congress, the Republicans who control his state’s legislature and thousands of angry South Carolinians — against him.” The Kicker: “It is a striking demonstration of the might of our Juche-oriented science and technology that our scientists and technicians developed both the multistage carrier rocket and the satellite with their own wisdom and technology [and] 100 percent and accurately put the satellite into orbit at one go.” Kim Jong Il, quoted by the Korea Central News Agency. “It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child.” — Palin family statement. Don’t miss “Top Line,” ABCNews.com’s new daily political Webcast, hosted by Rick Klein and David Chalian, at noon ET. Monday’s guests: ABC’s Martha Raddatz, and National Review’s Rich Lowry. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
No U.S. president has ever snapped his fingers and achieved worldwide consensus on multiple issues. Obama is a victim of obscenely high media expectations, fueled by conservatives…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 6, 2009, 8:22 am 8:22 am
matt what world do you live in high media expectatins get real fueled by conservatives come on.iv seen the president and his wife on people magazine, vogue and oprahs magazine and on and on looks to me their posing for thses shots.
Posted by: natale from mass. | April 6, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am
It’s time for the right wing hate machine to stop. Stop it now!
Posted by: 33Greeper | April 6, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Looks like Obama is finding out just how hard Bush had it. He isn’t getting any help from the UN or other countries like he said was so EASY. The rookie, MSM and the obamabots will find a way to spin it however. All the speeches in the world will not solve the problems as he promised. And please keep in mind, Obama is to blame for the expectations. He set them and the dummies believed him.
Posted by: chad | April 6, 2009, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Funny how two weeks ago we were talking about being able to shoot the missle down if launched, then last week we were talking about dire consequences to N. Korea if they went through with it, and now what we’re probably going to get is a wrist slap from the U.N. Although Obama might want to apologize for our past arrogance thinking the world will line up behind him, he will learn soon enough for himself that the rest of the world is not willing to ante up at the table. Claiming a success for getting NATO Countries in contributing 3 to 5 thousand Non-Combat troops is just a face saving gesture. When reporters asked at a news conference whether any of these promised troops were replacements, no answer was given. Given the fact that most of these troops will only serve to boost security for the elections, we really didn’t get much help from our NATO friends. Guess what, we will have to basically go it on our own. Do the math: Non-Combat Troops = More Targets = More pressure on OUR Combat Troops.
Posted by: Willy | April 6, 2009, 8:54 am 8:54 am
“Rules must be binding,Violations must be punished. Words must mean something.”
What about violations of international law by Irak war and Gitmo hotel : when are they to be punished ? Is the violator
qualified to judge another potential violator ?
Posted by: frenchreader | April 6, 2009, 8:56 am 8:56 am
I agree, “rules must be binding” is what obama says, but wasn’t Iraq in violation of 17 UN resolutions when we went to war with them? how come it only applies now? Iraq was breaking the rules.
Posted by: chad | April 6, 2009, 9:01 am 9:01 am
I wish all of the devisive, neo-con nut-cases would simply get up and move to a country of their liking. Hey…Iraq and Iran are neo-conservative. Maybe you could go there! But I know. You can’t afford to go because you will miss posting your unitelligible rants and attacks on Obama while you await your next SSI check due your emotional and mental disabilities. Maybe we could get you guys some stimulus money to relocate with.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 9:08 am 9:08 am
When you “Track Down” the intense emotional fervor and you come to understand… it IS NOT Racism, it Really puts the partisan, spiteful Hatred into perspective!!!
Posted by: bobj72 | April 6, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
greeper, get real. We are supposed to criticize the prez or else this will turn into a dictatorship. Who else will keep him in line? The adoring slobbering media? So why don’t you just “stop it now”?
Posted by: handbasket | April 6, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
“It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child.” — Palin family statement.
I take President Obama view any day over Sara Palin.
Posted by: gl | April 6, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am
“Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something.” That’s all very true. So, why are the rules of our Constitution being ignored? Why is no one being punished for causing the financial disaster? Why is Obama breaking all his campaign promises? Why do we have the likes of Geithner for Secretary of the Treasury?
Posted by: Gotterdammerung | April 6, 2009, 9:21 am 9:21 am
Superman, our President Obama nailed the economy so hard he stopped a disasterous stock market from rocketing out of control. I don’t think Mr. President or Mrs. Clinton have any waking up to do. If anyone can straighten out world issues it will be this team.
Posted by: Suzannaquanashawn | April 6, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Sarah Palin you say? Who is she but another neo-con nut case that’ll NEVER be President of this country!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
It is unfortunate that during the 2008 campaign, Sarah Palin chose to exploit irrational fears and lies regarding Obamas relationship to the U.S. rather than to contribute to the well being of this nation.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am
Ever notice the lib’s have nothing but insults? can’t put together one string of facts defending their king… yet they still rip on Palin, Bush as if they are trying to deflect blame from the king who is destroying this country. You libs should try some facts and back them up. However, we understand there is a shortage of facts on your side.
Posted by: chad | April 6, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am
And what do Gingrich and Bolton expect us to do? Start a third war? Why don’t China take care of it for a change?
Posted by: Scotti | April 6, 2009, 9:34 am 9:34 am
Why is Obama breaking all his campaign promises? Why do we have the likes of Geithner for Secretary of the Treasury? Gotterdammerung
I don’t see it as him “breaking promises”. He can’t do everything that he wants to do in 2 1/2 months. That is a ridiculous standard. I don’t really like Geitner as Secretary of the Treasury, but KNOW that I would hate to have Phil Gramm as SofT telling us this recession is in our mind and we are “whiners”. I think this country dodged a bullet by not choosing Mccain/ Palin.
Posted by: Clt | April 6, 2009, 9:36 am 9:36 am
stuart2560: the neo-cons pay their taxes why would they leave…you see when you start contributing to society like a grown up you will understand. Thanks for being ignorant it really makes me laugh!
Posted by: mike | April 6, 2009, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Nuke them !! Nuke Them !! Where is the Texas Calvary ?? This is time for Bushie Baby to lead the KKK for the occasion .
Mission Accomplished – the World is divided.
Posted by: Swiftlearner | April 6, 2009, 9:37 am 9:37 am
He has a lot of crazies from these countries esp. North Korea. I’m so tired of the Republicans going after him instead of let’s all stand behind our president…he’s only in a few months and doing a very good job. No matter what he does they will criticize him….I’m tired of the politics. We have so many problems and he is trying to solve them all….What do you think McCain/Palin would have done? Sent Joe the Plumer??????
Posted by: Barb | April 6, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Mike-I guess you have to be all grown up to start a couple of wars, torture a few prisoner’s, and double the national debt….that’s good to know the neo-cons are all grown up….lol
Posted by: Mark | April 6, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Who gives a **** if North Korea wants to launch a missle. Does anybody truly believe for a minute these guys are going to launch a nuclear attack. The counter attack would eviscerate them. We will never be able to stop other countries from sharing their technology and we don’t have any right to demand they not test their weapons. Lets stop sticking our noses in everyone else’s business and start focusing on ourselves. Don’t worry, when they need us they will come and ask.
Posted by: Hype | April 6, 2009, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Obama’s trip blown off course? I don’t see that. I think the timing of the launch was perfect, in that it underscored what Obama was telling the Europeans – we are in this together.
I watched Obama’s town hall in France, his meetings with European leaders, the way Hillary was greeted, and I have to say, I was relieved, delighted, encouraged, that finally we have a competent leader in the White House.
Posted by: Amy | April 6, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
Who gives a **** if North Korea wants to launch a missle. Does anybody truly believe for a minute these guys are going to launch a nuclear attack. The counter attack would eviscerate them. We will never be able to stop other countries from sharing their technology and we don’t have any right to demand they not test their weapons. Lets stop sticking our noses in everyone else’s business and start focusing on ourselves. Don’t worry, when they need us they will come and ask.
Posted by: Hype | Apr 6, 2009 9:48:06 AM
This post shows how niave so many in this country are. First of all you are speking of how a rational person thinks, not so with Kim. Second, North korea is very poor and need money. What better way to get money than selling nuclar secrets and nuclar material to our enemies.
Posted by: billy bob | April 6, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
I am very happy with the job President Obama is doing and how he is representing us on the world stage. No, he can’t control the entire world, and unlike GWB, he actually knows it. What he is working on is influencing the world, not beating it down. I believe he is making by and large the right choices and our country and the world will be better for his leadership.
Posted by: iamwomaninfl | April 6, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am
chad: “Looks like Obama is finding out just how hard Bush had it. He isn’t getting any help from the UN or other countries like he said was so EASY. The rookie, MSM and the obamabots will find a way to spin it however. All the speeches in the world will not solve the problems as he promised. And please keep in mind, Obama is to blame for the expectations. He set them and the dummies believed him.” The difference with Bush though, is that he kept shooting the country in its foot.
Posted by: godef | April 6, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am
Somehow I can’t see this as the touted “3 AM call”. A flubbed missile test and words from a megalomaniacal 3rd-world leader a crisis? This is nothing more than what previous administrations have faced from Korea, Iran, Libya, and other wannabes without all the media buzz, and hardly a nuclear superpower delivering missiles to a country 60 miles off the coast that Kennedy faced in nearly 50 years ago. According to the neolibs, security threats from fanatical developing nations were all smoke and mirrors when Bush was in office. Why has the world suddenly become an imminent danger now that a new president is in office?
Posted by: Publius | April 6, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
To you Republicans: The majority of Americans could care less what you think or say. You have turned moderate Republicans and Independents against the party. Your childish yammering, and your ridiculous leaders are turning more and more red states blue. Of course you know this, but you can’t stop for some reason.
Posted by: Independent Prospective | April 6, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Obama calls for a security council meeting and they had one. What was the result? The Chinese and Russians told Obama where to get off like they always do and the entire process was tabled. Obama lives in some other world and just doesn’t get it.
Posted by: brian | April 6, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Gee, golly, gosh, gush. gush,gush…..
Oh wow, gosh, geez,golly, omg….
Blush, gosh, golly, gush, gush, gush…..
Posted by: opedanderson | April 6, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Obama’s words: “Rules must be binding,” the president said in Prague, per ABC’s Jake Tapper. “Violations must be punished. Words must mean something.”
Destruction of CIA tape related to torture means nothing. How can any sane and normal person trust the U.S. administration ?? It is fair that you got the Bomb and missile while the Korean can not even make it themselves ?
Word means absolutely nothing !!
Posted by: Swiftlearner | April 6, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
I am more than confident that Pres. Obama is the right person for the job in trying to ‘control’ N. Korea – I applaud Sec’y Clinton as well. Let us rally behind them and come together as a nation, please.
Posted by: Confident | April 6, 2009, 10:02 am 10:02 am
Obama thinks being liked means people respect him. Well, if he knew anything about the rest of the world, he would know that being respected and being liked are two completely different things. He is an arrogant fool who actually believes he can reason with tyrants. So did Neville Chamberlain.
Posted by: brian | April 6, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am
While seemingly redundant, it is important to state this directly.
Too many around the globe still hear and feel and to some extent, see the “either your with us or against us” or the ever popular “dead or alive” branding of what the brain surgeons of the Bush administration laughingly called “foreign policy”.
Finally, we have grown ups in the executive branch!
Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | April 6, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am
So what happened to the anti-missile system that was tested successfully one after another? NK announced the launch weeks ahead and we know exactly when they started fueling. If we still can’t shoot it down, are we going to be able to shoot an unannounced missile attack by a “rogue nation”?
Posted by: panabiker | April 6, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am
Was Obama and Hillary in the same bed when the call came?
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
Are we certain that the missile wasn’t actually shot down when it fell into the Pacific, panabiker?
Posted by: Publius | April 6, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
” wish all of the devisive, neo-con nut-cases would simply get up and move to a country of their liking. Hey…Iraq and Iran are neo-conservative. Maybe you could go there! But I know. You can’t afford to go because you will miss posting your unitelligible rants and attacks on Obama while you await your next SSI check due your emotional and mental disabilities. Maybe we could get you guys some stimulus money to relocate with.
——————————–
stuart2560,
First off, its SOOOO nice to know that your idea of freedom is to wish all those with opposing views to yours to leave the country.
And you wonder why people would ever call YOU a lefty-extremeist…LOL
By the way, in your deluded little world, if all us “evil” right-wingers left, who would be left to pay for all this spending….you????
While you go on your little rant, take a look around, it is not just those of us on the right who are less than enamored with Obama’s policies.
While the world loves Obama himself, that is it. They are NOT going to give him the keys to car and let him drive on his own. He made grweat speeches, but he is coming home very empty-handed in regards to the things he was looking for.
Europe made it very clear. They are not going to go along with Obama’s idea of overboard “stimulus” & Afghanistan is his war, not theirs.
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
How did Sarah Palin and her family get into this? Who cares about Levi and his relationship….go to the site dealing with that crap and Michele’s fashions………..
Posted by: kab4usa | April 6, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
chad | Apr 6, 2009 9:33:37 AM
How naive!!!
Posted by: bobj72 | April 6, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Lots of people in Britain believe Obama has been very naive to give praise to the likes of Gordon Brown.
This is a man who has consistantly told lies and has dragged the UK economy to its knees. To follow this man is just madness.
I’m not from the far-right either, but come from a background of supporting working people, but Brown hasn’t a clue.
Posted by: sandy | April 6, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
lefty nobhead | Apr 6, 2009 10:09:38 AM
Was Obama and Hillary in the same bed when the call came?
________________
Obviously, your UPBRINGING causes you to be familar with such an arrangement!!! Excuse yourself, your sad immaturity is embarassing.
Posted by: bobj72 | April 6, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
we flexed all that muscle, moved war ships, placed equipment to shoot down the missle and told them we would and all this man did was watch and learn that he has no say like he thinks.
Posted by: Jim Rod | April 6, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
Lefty nobhead he was awake. He is in the time zone to be awake.
Posted by: Jim Rod | April 6, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Just so that one poster knows….Sarah Palin is mentioned in the above blog. This IS the right page! Learn to read and face facts or go join the Republican losers!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
I heard that Hillary took the call and then rolled over and told Obama it was for him.
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am
To all my right wing, neo-conservative, mental-midgit friends (I use that term loosely). Why can’t your political party offer substantive solutions to the problems that they mostly created? Oh I’m sorry. I forgot. Limbaugh, Hannity, et al are on the news everyday dealing with the economy, unemployment, business failures, energy needs, international relations and terrorism ect ect. Gee….if only Obama was doing thaT!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
I am getting pretty worried about a country that would not even raise a brow when our president goes before the world and says that we are to blame for the world’s problems. if it weren’t for us half the people in the world would have already starved to death!!!!
Posted by: Trueamerican0628 | April 6, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
lefty….I believe you are a nobhead.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Let me get this straight. North Korea continually stated that all they were going to do was launch a space satellite. And it turns out that’s EXACTLY what they did. So what’s the big freaking deal? Didn’t we learn enough from Iraq where Bush & Cheney continually lied and said Iraq was developing nuclear weapons, when in fact they were not JUST as they kept telling everyone? When are we going to start holding our OWN leaders to account?
Posted by: Eric | April 6, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Obama NEVER said that the U.S. is to blame for the world’s problems.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
North Korea is only acting as a surrogate for China. Whenever they want to provoke the West and make us look the fool, all they have to do is get North Korea to poke us with a stick and then sit back and laugh at us. As China supports North Korea with all their money, supplies and energy, all they have to do is give them the technology and tell them when to act. Obama took the bait, hook, line and sinker. We have spent millions scrambling our military and ranting and raving in the UN. Now we look like a bunch of idiots in the eyes of the rest of the world. We dont dare push back too strongly, China will cash in our treasury bills and our economy will really be in the tank. Time for a change. Change we can believe in this time.
Posted by: JGunther7 | April 6, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
billybob said, “This post shows how niave so many in this country are. First of all you are speking of how a rational person thinks, not so with Kim.”
Ok billybob, then if he’s such a threat why don’t you join the CIA and lead the team to go assassinate him? And save everyone a bloody war? Or do you have so much stock in the US defense contractors that makes that route not profitable enough for you?
Posted by: Billy Boob | April 6, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
President Obama was up to the three o’clock call. He is opening dialog with all nations, and that will help when we face crises.
Posted by: JAB | April 6, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am
“..yet they still rip on Palin, Bush as if they are trying to deflect blame from the king who is destroying this country. You libs should try some facts and back them up. However, we understand there is a shortage of facts on your side.”
___________________
i know you think thems yer clan, Chad. that there palin and bush.
facts is facts, though, an no amount of good-ole-boy-just like you-tis of thee- americana plain talk is going to take that away. git yer head outta yer backside. yer on a tragic path – yer version of neoconservatism reality is dead, son. sensible republicans know that.
support yer president and country.
Posted by: festus | April 6, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Ya know, Laura Bushs’ legacy is perhaps her emphasis on literacy. Judging by all the text coming from you neo-con nut cases, like everything else in the Republican party, she failed too. Get real.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Jim Rod:”placed equipment to shoot down the missle and told them we would”
That is a lie – we NEVER ‘told them we would.’ The US’s position was quite clear.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 6, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am
JGunther7: “Whenever they want to provoke the West and make us look the fool, all they have to do is get North Korea to poke us with a stick and then sit back and laugh at us.”
Really? Under the Republican administration they just directly forced down one of our aircraft that was over international waters and held the crew hostage until Bush apologized and asked please please give them back. Republicans really count on their faithful being utterly unable to remember more than a year or two – perhaps you should look up the Hainan Island incident to see what an administration failing a Chinese test looks like.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 6, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am
JFK and the bay of pigs.
Posted by: James | April 6, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am
I agree with Festus. It’s time to support our President and our Nation. Down with Republican repulsiveness!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am
If D.C. short sighted civilians had allowed Gen. MacArthur to do his job, this would all be a non-issue.
Posted by: Reflect08 | April 6, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
I agree with Festus. It’s time to support our President and our Nation. Down with Republican repulsiveness!
Posted by: stuart2560 | Apr 6, 2009 11:11:22 AM
I agree, we are going to support Obama just like you supported our last president.
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 11:13 am 11:13 am
Actually leftnobhead(what a nick), I am an independent and voted for George Bush the first time. I supported him until I realized he was not worth supporting…sort of like responding to you….a waste of time.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
lefty nobhead:”I agree, we are going to support Obama just like you supported our last president.”
Excellent!
Fact: Senate Democrats did not filibuster President Bush’s namesake Bush Tax Cuts.
Fact: Senate Democrats did not block Bush’s key No Child Left Behind act, despite pressure from teacher union supporters.
Fact: President Bush achieved the highest approval ratings ever in modern polling and the full support of Congressional Democrats in a time of crisis.
Fact: Congressional Democrats gave President Bush full support and power to carry out foreign affairs during his first term (to disastrous effect in some cases).
I look forward to lefty nobhead supporting our President just like the documented realty proves Democrats supported President Bush in his first term.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 6, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Look, let’s all face the facts. It was not just the majority of American voters who deemed the Republican Party passe. It was the entire world! The whole world was glad to be done with George Bush and still you neo-conservative nut cases argue. You only moan and groan about Obama because it makes you feel better about your beloved, confused, out-dated political party. If we throw enough dirt at Obama we can even make him out worse than Bush! Trust me…nobody could have been worse for this nation than Bush and Cheney!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
jhw359…..well done!
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
stuart2560, jhw539, you two have a short memory. You do not just support a President for half his term and then fight him for a decision he made which you (and Congress) supported. Once you pull the trigger you cannot stop the bullet. If you supported him in his first term than you should have supported him in his second term.
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
lefty nobhead:”You do not just support a President for half his term and then fight him for a decision he made which you (and Congress) supported.”
If my dentist gives me two fillings that fall out the next week, I fire him. Giving the President a presumption of competence is reasonable, denying all evidence of incompetence from the deficit to bungled Iraq rebuilding is just foolish.
I look forward to your support of President Obama in his first term as you promised.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 6, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
stuart has no memory, just hate speech about anyone who opposes his views.
Give jlw his due, he researches his own points. He is one of the few libs out here who is not regurgitating lefty campaign talking points in every post.
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 11:31 am 11:31 am
President Obama appears to be on the right track.
By calling for U.N. sanctions against North Korea, rolling out a new approach to nuclear disarmament policy and consulting with a broad variety of thinkers, is reasonable.
The President makes a very poignant point when he notes that the threat of nuclear war has gone down while the threat of a nuclear attack has gone up. Another salient point is that the United States can’t try to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons without pursuing any concrete actions ourselves.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 6, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Excuse me lefty nobbrain…but I did not say WHY I stopped supporting Bush. But since you want to tell me what I did let me correct some misguided facts of your delusional fantasy. I DID NOT support the war in Iraq and neither did President Obama.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am
stuart2560-this still is in the wrong place and wrong article, however my bad in asking why it was there it was at the end and more of a teaser for something else than the article….“It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child.” — Palin family statement. ABC–WHY HERE??? DUMB……..
Posted by: kab4usa | April 6, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
And MikeC, you are right. I do have a habit of speaking my mind against stupidity.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
jhw539 The problem with you liberals is you are thinned skinned. When things got tough in Iraq you guys jumped ship as quick as you could. All of the sudden it was a republican war and Bush was a war monger. As i said, short memory.
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
kab4usa, that posting was an hour ago dear. We have moved well beyond that. It was just a teaser as you say.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
“He is one of the few libs out here who is not regurgitating lefty campaign talking points in every post.”
- Mike_C
_______________
Mike, Mike. The campaign is OVER.
President Obama is addressing real and important issues. You should try to follow what’s currently happening in the U.S. and it’s world standing, then we could have a real debate.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 6, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am
And MikeC, you are right. I do have a habit of speaking my mind against stupidity.
—————————————
stuart2560
Good, those must be some wild arguements you have with the mirror in the morning then!
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am
lefty nobhead….we jumped ship as soon as we discovered the reasons for the war (WMD’S) was a lie.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Obama lacks the experience. His resume would not of gotten him a management job at a Wal Mart. LOL His economic policies ARE failing. His foreign policy is naive, and narcasistic. I am not sure anyone can stop what will happen now. YOU CAN”T REASON WITH CRAZY PEOPLE (that includes domestic far left crazies too). LOL Rome WILL burn, and Hannibal is here.
Posted by: jon | April 6, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Did you research that MikeC?
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 6, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
lefty nobhead:”When things got tough in Iraq you guys jumped ship as quick as you could.”
OK, then I look forward to your support of President Obama throughout his first term and you are welcome to jump ship if things get tough in the second – that would also satisfy your promise. Thanks.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 6, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Again I ask: what do Gingrich and Bolton expect us to do? Start a third war front? Why don’t China take care of it for a change? Korea launches a missle and it’s always OUR duty to fix it??? Dont the countries in the area have in interest in not letting a nutcase dictator in their own neighborhood have nukes? China could take out North Korea very quickly, they should do it.
Posted by: Scotti | April 6, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am
jhw539 Believe it or not I will support him in as long as I think it is right for our country.
Posted by: lefty nobhead | April 6, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
My mother always told my father not to hit me on the head during spanking because I will become a Republican..Now I understand what mom meant..and I am grateful to dad for taking Mom’s concern seriously. God bless president Obama and God bless America!
Posted by: Stanley | April 6, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Compared to Turkey, the US gives twice as much foreign aid. (0.18% of GNI versus 0.09%)
Maybe Obama should have lectured on that.
Posted by: Trevor | April 6, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
HYPE:
Who gives a **** if North Korea wants to launch a missle. Does anybody truly believe for a minute these guys are going to launch a nuclear attack. The counter attack would eviscerate them. We will never be able to stop other countries from sharing their technology and we don’t have any right to demand they not test their weapons. Lets stop sticking our noses in everyone else’s business and start focusing on ourselves. Don’t worry, when they need us they will come and ask.
_______________________________________
Oh please, please tell me you live in on the West Coast. That way when NK does actually strike America you’ll get what your ignorant a** deserves…blown straight to hades. Look at a map genius.
Posted by: Midwest | April 6, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
“Who gives a **** if North Korea wants to launch a missle. Does anybody truly believe for a minute these guys are going to launch a nuclear attack. The counter attack would eviscerate them. We will never be able to stop other countries from sharing their technology and we don’t have any right to demand they not test their weapons. Lets stop sticking our noses in everyone else’s business and start focusing on ourselves. Don’t worry, when they need us they will come and ask.”
______________
Contrary to popular [base Republican] belief, armed with only grit ‘n ignorance will not ensure foreign policy success in the 21st century.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 6, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Why would the President bow deeply from the waist in front of the King of Saudi Arabia? Is this his Arab heritage showing through? Or is it perhaps more sinister? Do the Saudis have something on the President? Why won’t the President release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii? Why does he send lawyers into court to block attempts to get it released? What could be in there?
Posted by: Terry | April 6, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
“Why would the President bow deeply from the waist in front of the King of Saudi Arabia? Is this his Arab heritage showing through? Or is it perhaps more sinister? Do the Saudis have something on the President? Why won’t the President release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii? Why does he send lawyers into court to block attempts to get it released? What could be in there?”
___________________
Ha ha haha haha. please no more… Hahaha
whew…too funny.
you neoconartists are Killah!
#1 concern: either he was bowing out of social respect of the culture, ..or maybe he had a crick in his back.
#2 concern: maybe the President wasn’t born.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 6, 2009, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
Terry, BO will allow the North Koreans to hit Hawaii with a missle because then they would permanently destroy his “original” birth certificate. Still no explanation on why he has spent a million dollars on legal fees to not have to put forth a real certificate. As far as bending at the waist to bow to the Saudi king, it speaks for itself and it makes America look weak and submissive.
Posted by: dawggoneit | April 6, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
Don’t expect any great statements like some of the nazis/repukes. But here is a little memory refresher; When a president steps up to the mike in front of congress, and delivers a “State of the Union” address to the American people, and lies thru his teeth about WOMD, and plutonium deals being agreed on between Iraq and Africa contacts, and then goes in front of the UN and presents the same LIES, and based on these lies sends thousands of american boys to serve in Iraq, of which over 3,000 didn’t return home, while at the same time allowing Ossama Bin Laden to escape. What maniac in his right mind would support such a butcher of a president???
I know who, the VP, the guy who’s connection to Halliburton opens up a whole new can of worms, what outright criminality, with the no-bid contracts, and their little Blackwater contract killer friends. Do you need some more memory refreshers. Oh, don’t give me that two years the Dems had the congress, the repukes still had the filibuster hostage thing going. Oh yea, there was the economy???? Now a little on the CIA, they’re taking a bum wrap on this, how effective would you be if any moment you could be outed by the WH out of spite, because your spouse had submitted an undesirable report, imagine that, what kind of slime balls would do something like that to the first line of defense???
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 6, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
The “Obama Doctrine” appears to
resemble a paper tiger!
The response to North Korea’s
missile launch before and after was
blah, blah, blah as opposed to
shooting down the missile.
The response to Iran’s ongoing
nuclear program is also
blah, blah, blah!
I guess he plans to win the war in
Afganistan by sending DVD’s of his
U.S.A. bashing speeches to the
Taliban hoping to Bore them to
Death!
Blah, Blah, Blah= Jimmy Carter II.
2012 can’t come soon enough although
by then we could all be speaking Farsi!
Posted by: reaganfan | April 7, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
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Sarah
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Posted by: Sarah | April 8, 2009, 3:13 am 3:13 am
you are speking of how a rational person thinks, not so with Kim. Second, North korea is very poor and need money. What better way to get money than selling nuclar secrets and nuclar material to our
Posted by: منتديات | May 30, 2009, 4:14 am 4:14 am