Today’s Q’s for O’s White House
EmailABC News' Yunji DeNies reports: de Nies: Robert, on that point about security, you talked about the Americans, but what about the Iraqis? Five Americans were killed on the eve of the handoff. Are you confident in the Iraqi security force's ability to take on this task? GIBBS: Well, more importantly, General Odierno's confident in — in their ability as we move forward. I think, as General Odierno has said over the course of the past few days, it's not surprising that we've seen high-profile incidents in which extremists seek to kill innocent civilians in order, in many ways, for them to try to convince their followers that — that — that what's happening today is a result of their actions. And, obviously, it's not. We will continue to monitor the situation, as I said. And at this point, it looks like these are fairly isolated incidents, as we've seen the level of violence as a whole continue to decrease across Iraq.
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“And at this point, it looks like these are fairly isolated incidents, as we’ve seen the level of violence as a whole continue to decrease across Iraq.”
Just like the President thought it could if more troops were provided.
(for clarification, that would be President Bush, not his successor, Obama, who believed and campaigned on the exact opposite premise).
At least the current President’s press secretary can admit the “surge” in Iraq executed by our country’s bravest and finest was successful even if his boss cannot bring himself to do so…
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
President Bush’s neo-con inspired attack on Iraq killed tens of thousands of Iraqis including many civilians. It injured and maimed many, many thousands more. People lost their arms, their legs, their eyes.
The war also cost the United States billions of dollars and thousands of its own people’s lives, and again many thousands more injured and maimed.
The war was sold to the people of the United States on a slate of untruths – there were no weapons of mass destruction, there was no connection with 9/11, their were no nuclear weapons.
The people of Iraq celebrated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from their cities last night with fireworks and public gatherings. I wish them peace and send them best wishes in the face of great dangers, conflicts and instability.
Posted by: danita | June 30, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
“Tomorrow could you ask him why Obama’s own DoJ field a friend of court brief against Sotomayer’s opinion in the firefighter case?”
Politifact :In February 2009, the U.S. Justice Department did, in fact, enter a “friend of the court” brief asking the Supreme Court to vacate the appeals court ruling and “remand” the case back to the district court for further consideration of some issues.
But that doesn’t mean they asked the Supreme Court to reverse the appeals court decision and rule in favor of the firefighters.
In fact, the Justice Department brief backed up many of the arguments made by the district court judge that were later affirmed by Sotomayor’s appeals court. In one of the central issues of the case, the Justice Department attorneys argued an employer does not violate discrimination laws “when it decides not to certify the results of a promotional test in order to comply with the statute’s disparate-impact prohibition.”
“And how can Gibbs claim a 0-9 opinions against her opinion proves she’s not activist?”
Well it was 5-4 for starters.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
“At least the current President’s press secretary can admit the “surge” in Iraq executed by our country’s bravest and finest was successful even if his boss cannot bring himself to do so…”
“I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated,” Obama says in an interview with FOX News Channel’s Bill O’Reill
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Only the first day Mr. Gibbs…personally I am all for getting the H out, but putting lipstick on this pig still makes it a pig….All the monitoring this administration will do will not change the increased violence to come. It, the Middle East, is what it is and has been for hundreds of years and not even Obama can change it..
Posted by: Parallex View | June 30, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Ryan, the success of the surge was anticipated, not least by the man who ordered it. If Obama had chosen to be honest for that response, just for variety’s sake, he could have said “the surge has succeeded as virtually no Democrats anticipated.”
Posted by: bgates | June 30, 2009, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
The media ask questions about security in Iraq and the killing of our soldiers during war. It’s appreciated.
Why don’t they ever inquire about the killing at home too? There are more than 1000 Americans who die each month due to gun violence. What if that many soldiers were dying each month in Iraq? We wouldn’t stand for it and it’s a war zone.
Bob Herbert, New York Times columnist put it well:
“We’re confiscating shampoo from carry-on luggage at airports while at the same time handing out high-powered weaponry to criminals and psychotics at gun shows.”
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
“Ryan, the success of the surge was anticipated, not least by the man who ordered it. If Obama had chosen to be honest for that response, just for variety’s sake, he could have said “the surge has succeeded as virtually no Democrats anticipated.”"
I guess that’s why he had to sell Republicans Senators on it they were so convinced it would work. After all Bush had done a splendid job up to that point.
“President Bush yesterday began promoting his plan to send more troops to Iraq, bringing more than 30 Republican senators to the White House as part of a major campaign to rally the American people behind another effort to stabilize the country.
Senators who met with Bush said the president made it clear that he is planning to add as many as 20,000 U.S. troops to help quell violence in Baghdad. They also said the president is arguing that his new plan has a better chance for success than past plans because of a greater willingness of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to commit Iraqi forces against all perpetrators of violence, including Shiite militias.”
Sorry but right wing historical revisionism will be shot down in short order.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
So Bush’s name should not be mentioned when discussing the surge or Iraqi policy?
Would you like to change the subject to hypocritical philandering Republicans instead?
Or perhaps Coleman getting rejected by the MN Supremes?
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Parallex View – It took Bush a good six years to bring the country to its knees. Impressive you think Obama can undo all of that in just 5 months…..
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
Obama can’t do it in 100 years…GET REAL
Posted by: Parallex View | June 30, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
ryan c What???? LOL
Posted by: Parallex View | June 30, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
“I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated,” Obama says in an interview with FOX News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly”
The One is not exactly admitting he was wrong – He’s wiggling to imply no one else could have predicted the surge would not be successful, which is not true. Gen. Petraeus, John McCain, and George W. Bush would surely tell you they anticipated the surge would be successful.
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
“We’re confiscating shampoo from carry-on luggage at airports while at the same time handing out high-powered weaponry to criminals and psychotics at gun shows.”
I feel more safe around those who get their weapons at gun shows than those who get their weapons through other (illegal) means.
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
“President Bush yesterday began promoting his plan to send more troops to Iraq, bringing more than 30 Republican senators to the White House as part of a major campaign to rally the American people behind another effort to stabilize the country.”
Yeah, and The One has never pulled such a s stunt (Could you please prepare my Kobe beef medium rare? Are you going to be able to make it to my Superbowl Party? etc.)
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
I feel more safe around those who get their weapons at gun shows than those who get their weapons through other (illegal) means.”
Rocket scientists every one
A criminal investigation is under way in connection with the death of 8-year-old Christopher Bizilj, who accidentally shot himself with a machine gun during a firearms expo Sunday.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
“I feel more safe around those who get their weapons at gun shows than those who get their weapons through other (illegal) means.”
Tell that to the families of the victims at Columbine and Virginia Tech just for starters…
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
“Yeah, and The One has never pulled such a s stunt”
The claim was the success was anticipated.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
“Tell that to the families of the victims at Columbine and Virginia Tech just for starters…”
Why should a single man be denied his substitute manhood so another shall live?
Posted by: Ryan C | June 30, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
The blame rests with the PARENTS….
Posted by: Parallex View | June 30, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
So now that we have mentioned the most publicized incidents (Colombine, VT, etc.), anyone care to comment on where the bulk of of homicides occur?
I live in the Atlanta area and I can tell you that the majority of murders committed here are not executed by the gun show crowd…
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Check out the breaking news right now on ABC -
btw – Parallax – are your parents responsible for everything good and bad you have ever done?
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
JKS…Parental responsibility includes parental supervision ESPECIALLY when you take your kid to a gun show…not rocket science..Kids will be curious it’s the parents job to supervise their kids and teach their kids..
Posted by: Parallex View | June 30, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
“Tell that to the families of the victims at Columbine and Virginia Tech just for starters…”
I’ll take my chances getting a flat tire after dark in either of these locations (Colombine & VT) than I would in downtown Detroit, Baltimore, Providence (RI), Camden (NJ), etc.
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
Seems to me a lot of the street gun play results from the foolishness of some of the drug laws and the war on drugs. Same thing happening in Mexico and other countries – violent death and at the root – antiquated drug laws and a failed approach to drugs + of course the big profits from drugs being kept illegal and criminal.
But that is another debate.
Posted by: danita | June 30, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
Parallex View – Cho was 23. Try a new argument.
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
“Looks like somebody got riled up about being made fun of for being a gun nut and his inner racist came out.
But just like you’re a coward without your gun you could not even say it.”
Bad assumptions and name-calling (as usual – I don’t expect any less). I don’t own a gun (I’ve never even shot one). But I do support the Second Amendment. As far as your “inner-racist” comment is concerned, I am simply pointing out that the cause of homicides in the U.S. can not all be laid at the feet of those who attend gun shows.
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
tjp612 – Thanks for making my point. Over a 1000 people die each month due to gun violence (roughly 33 people a day) and no one is asking questions.
Go look at the headlines breaking now. btw – Georgia has one of the worst ratings for gun laws and gun protection in the country.
Posted by: JKS | June 30, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
“jp612 – Thanks for making my point. Over a 1000 people die each month due to gun violence (roughly 33 people a day) and no one is asking questions.
Go look at the headlines breaking now. btw – Georgia has one of the worst ratings for gun laws and gun protection in the country.”
I won’t deny the validity of your point. My point was that Mr. Herbert seemed to imply that “gun show attendees” are THE problem, when in reality the problem is much bigger than those who purchase arms from gun shows.
With regards to your comment “look at the headlines” if you are referring to shooting in Detroit, I haven’t seen any evidence that “gun shows” are to blame. Lastly, I don’t know anything about your comments regarding gun protection in GA – I don’t own a gun, but friends who have guns all treat them with appropriate degree of responsibility.
Posted by: tjp612 | June 30, 2009, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
Hopeful pretender
Eligibility questioned
Birth Certificate
Posted by: Terry | June 30, 2009, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Terry . …
It turns out President Obama isn’t even from earth, he’s from Zoron!
Posted by: danita | June 30, 2009, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
jks..Ok I’ll bite, who is Cho?? And…why should I care?
Posted by: Parallex View | July 1, 2009, 1:33 am 1:33 am