Is West Point an appropriate setting for Obama speech on Afghanistan?
President Obama speaks tonight about Afghanistan from West Point. For some reason, Dana Milbank of the Washington Post believes that liberals are going to be offended by the setting:
Still, Obama’s flirtation with military imagery should be of concern to his allies on the left, who are already unhappy with the hawkish direction his Afghanistan policy has taken. Already in his young presidency, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has addressed the troops at Osan Air Base in South Korea, Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. (For different purposes, he also spoke at the memorial for shooting victims at Fort Hood and welcomed home the remains of troops at Dover Air Force Base.) The vice president and the first lady, in turn, have made the rounds at half a dozen other facilities.
That assertion makes no sense to me whatsoever, and Milbank offers no reasoning or evidence to support it. I could see criticizing Obama for using the military as a political backdrop, although his predecessor certainly set the standard for such stagecraft. On the other hand, as a result of Obama’s decision most of the cadets in tonight’s audience at West Point will probably end up serving in Afghanistan, so in that sense it’s appropriate. In fact, I suspect Obama will make an explicit reference to that fact in his speech, as a way to communicate the gravity of the decision.
But Milbank’s suggestion that by speaking to a military audience, Obama is likely to offend his supporters … I don’t get it. I’d argue that it must be just another example of that anti-liberal media bias, but that would make too many heads explode.
NOTE: I’ll start a fresh thread tonight just before the speech, for those who wish to comment.
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163 comments Add your comment
Bud Wiser
December 1st, 2009
4:05 pm
Maybe he will bow to the cadets…. of all the people in the world he could bow to, including all those he already has, they would far and away be the most appropriate choice.
@@
December 1st, 2009
4:07 pm
You could see criticizing Obama for using the military as a political backdrop, jay?
I think you just did:
In fact, I suspect Obama will make an explicit reference to that fact in his speech, as a way to communicate the gravity of the decision.
Jeffery K Pruett
December 1st, 2009
4:11 pm
It doesn’t make sense to me either. Why the left blames the military for the stupid stunts of the nations civilian leaders is idiotic.
@@
December 1st, 2009
4:11 pm
Oh…and to be perfectly honest, jay. The left (Obama included) have said some horrible things about our military. Accused them of busting in to homes in Iraq…terrorizing the inhabitants therein. Then there was the indiscriminate bombing accusations.
Americans are right to be suspicious of the left’s motives.
Dave R.
December 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
Hope & Change never misses an opportunity to campaign for something by using any backdrop or group he can.
West Point and our military are just the latest to be used and tossed away like so much flotsam.
Everybody should be offended, left and right alike.
RW-(the original)
December 1st, 2009
4:14 pm
I’d prefer that when a President speaks to the American people about committing troops to a war zone he do it from the Oval Office so that it looks it’s us he’s talking to.
getalife
December 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
At least he is not on a aircraft carrier with a “Mission Accomplished” banner.
Once again, the USMC will clean up the mess.
I don’t want them to fail like the con leader.
Brad Steel
December 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
Obama is just giving a speech to his choir – the academic realm which is full of elitists liberals going to school via government programs.
The government supports liberalism with taxpayer-paid-for academic institutions like West Point, Annapolis, and the AF Academy in liberal heaven – Colorado Springs.
Hard Right Hook
December 1st, 2009
4:21 pm
Why not? The audience has mandatory attendance, and they can’t speak their opinions, pro or con. What better place for an egotistical lightweight to “test drive” his hypothetical ideas and to waffle another 3 years on the subject?
Hard Right Hook
December 1st, 2009
4:23 pm
getalife
December 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
At least he is not on a aircraft carrier with a “Mission Accomplished” banner.
The mission was accomplished.
We took Baghdad in less time than it took Janet Reno to incinerate 83 people in Waco.
Joan
December 1st, 2009
4:24 pm
I think Obama just likes to surround himself with real men. These men look good, they are good, and they have high ideals. Maybe he is thinking some of that will rub off on him if he stands around with them long enough.
#1 Foxy Lady
December 1st, 2009
4:25 pm
President Barack Hussane Obama, the 2009 Noble Prize Winner, will help solve world peace by biggin’-up the war in Afghanistan. He is very smart and knows how to open up the Can o’ Whup A on the world’s best heroin makers and cavemen.
No doubt President Barack Hussane Obama belongs beside Mother Theresa and Ghandi right there at West Point.
getalife
December 1st, 2009
4:27 pm
The Marines are the strongest socialized fighters in the world.
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
Wiper, and you are not worthy of shining their boots.
Just saying.
Merry Christmas America.
What a perfect note on which to end the Decade from Hell.
For those of you who keep voting for these toy soldiers, enjoy the ride.
F ‘em all and draft their kids…
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
4:30 pm
Oh gawd, another Koresh adorer…
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:35 pm
Hey, say what ever else you will, this one knows how to put on a drag show…
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
Oh, no! V-Girl is back and calling herself Foxy Lady! Will wonders never cease!
Of course it does look like we’ve fallen through the looking glass…the Nobel Peace Prize Winner may be talking escalation and will be sharing time and space here in Atlanta as we count votes to see if the white lady is going to take office of mayor…
MAC
December 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
Obama’s liberal base doesn’t have anywhere to go so it’s of no concern. He is using the setting at West Point as a photo op for the speech and news sound bites to make the independents (who are jumping off his ship) think he’s a serious commander in chief, which, of course, he is not.
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
RW,
I agree. The Oval Office would be nice place for Obama to make a speech. I think he drops by there occasionally.
But it seems that Obama cannot make a speech without a large audience. Has to spread the empathy to somebody…anybody…everybody.
I will take Bookman’s bait about “anti-liberal media bias”. I am expecting to see Luckovich draw a small Obama in a fake general’s uniform with big ears and large pistols protruding and speaking behind a huge podium with banners and teleprompters everywhere and all the cadets looking like thugs , I can’t remember when Lucko missed a chance to try and demean President Bush in every way possible. Our cartoonist is not real fond of the military either.
So there’s an opportunity to show that anti-liberal media bias. even if it scares our liberal blog leader…
You are such a joker, Bookman.
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
My boyfriend is a pleb at West Point and shockingly I’m an Obama supporter! First of it is tradition for the Commander and Chief to visit West Point and give a speech. Most of these young and brave men and women will be sent to Afghanistan after they have graduated from this institution (why it bothers any of you that we pay for these men and women who are willing to put their life on the line and suffer four years somewhere that resembles a prison baffles me). It seem absolutely appropriate to me for Obama to give a speech in this setting to the men and women who will most likely reprieve these 30,000 troops. And to Bud Wiser (classy name might I add), at least the world is more willing to communicate and aide us now rather than allow the all might hegemonic America to collapse into and economic depression. After the way we have treated the world under former President Bush its amazing that these countries are willing to communicate at all. I mean lets be honest eight years of a hegemonic isolationism policy got us really far didn’t it? Eleven trillion dollars in debt are we are still suffering the consequences.
El Jefe
December 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
Maybe the President will compliment the cadets for being a great photo-op – again.
It was back in November – He flew to Korea and was welcomed by the US troops there –
Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cellphones to snap pictures.
“You guys make a pretty good photo op,” the president said.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:44 pm
To answer the question. No, West Point is not the appropriate place. The Oval Office is. This is a major policy statement coming from the “highest office” in the land and is addressed to the world from that office.
David C
December 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
is this the hope and change? that leg has lost its tingle
RW-(the original)
December 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
jo nix,
Will this be the first time anyone has announced the escalation of a war of choice and then within just a few days hopped a plane to pick up the Peace Prize?
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
QUESTION and this is not for rhetorical purposes, I really would like to know, how many of the casualties of the Iraq and Afghanistan ventures have been West Pointers? Does anybody have a reference?
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
RW–that’s beside the point and totally immaterial!
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
I’ll mention again what I wrote earlier:
If you need the military in another country for more than a year – don’t get involved. There should never be any “long-term planning” when the military is concerned, unless it is something here at home.
Del
December 1st, 2009
4:51 pm
The venue doesn’t matter we already know what he’s going to say. Obama has surpassed James Earl Carter as the the most incompetent President to sit in the Oval Office. It takes all these months for him to try to figure out a political strategy where he hopes to placate his base by talking about exit strategies and timetables for withdrawal while attempting to appear as the commander and chief supporting the military by sending more troops to Afghanistan. I have to salute the military branch I served in for six years as once again they’re are the first to go and last to know. Merry Christmas to the 9000 Marines that will be deployed this month.
Normal
December 1st, 2009
4:51 pm
Before I start cooking our supper, I just want to say this whole thing smells like…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pprvp0Uujdg&feature=related
DoggoneGA
December 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
“There should never be any “long-term planning” when the military is concerned”
In that case, George Bush was the greatest CIC we’ve EVER had
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
NORMAL–
You’re just plain evil! Hate to say I told you so, but…
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
You guys slay me with your decorum. (And josef you know I respect the hell out of you.)
But this lamebrain of a George Bush II (the original of whom FAR surpassed JC in terms of deadly incompetence and who demonstrated a near total lack of integrity, Del) is gonna get a whole boatload of GI’s killed NEEDLESSLY in that shiitehole. Aka the Graveyard of Empires.
Then in three years he’s just gonna pack it all up and leave it to return to the Stone Age.
Great. Excellent plan.
All this toy soldier’s solemn pronouncements and that stern visage amid starched uniforms will mean NOTHING to me.
In fact his presence, like that POS of a predecessor of his, fouls that sacred setting.
Personally I think he should make this “announcement” from the crapper at the local bus station.
It would be more fitting.
@@
December 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
josef:
I just heard or read somewhere that the number of casualties from West Point is 70.
Do you accept my word or should I go find it?
RW-(the original)
December 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
Bosch,
Your theory only really works if you plan to conquer other lands. For liberation or preserving freedom it takes as long as it takes, but I’ll agree with you to the extent that anyone in their right mind should be able to see that a nation building exercise in Afghanistan will take at least a generation, not a Presidential term.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
I am expecting to see Luckovich draw a small Obama in a fake general’s uniform with big ears and large pistols protruding and speaking behind a huge podium with banners and teleprompters everywhere and all the cadets looking like thugs.
Well, seems to me West Point is the perfect place. It’s where this Benedict Arnold was a Trader, like this Obama. And I think the President of the U.S. of A. should wear a uniform all the time. If the generals have to wear one and the President orders the generals around, why don’t the President have to wear one too? I think Richard Nixon had the right idea. He made up a uniform for all the White House guards but everybody laughed at him. Only problem was, he never made up one for hisself.
Anyhow, I’m like all the good Conservatives on this blog. I’m all behind the war. Far behind it. Just as long as me and mine don’t need to fight it, I’ll support it with my last breath.
Have a good night everybody.
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
You conservatives can never truly be satisfied…I believe it was only a year ago when you were all gun-ho for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan when it was backed by the worst President America has ever seen, former President Bush. Conservative policy: oppose anything the liberals might have to say even if its valid. I find it absolutely embarrassing that I am intrinsically associated with your naivety in that we both call ourselves Americans.
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
I think Hooorrrahh is a youthful empathized hegecomic overtly Obama swooner first class. She could have made her post shorter by just saying “Bush did it!” That’s what hegecomic libs always say..
Big D
December 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
The liberals hate the military until someone comes to kick our AZZ, and like all other things liberal and Democrat they quickly change their tune,your pathetic.
Pogo
December 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
Obama is nothing more than a made-up media darling. Other than his ability to look and sound good, he has no leadership qualities whatsoever and quite frankly, I am beginning to question his Harvard/Populist media endowed intelligence creds. He certainly has no connection with the military considering that his liberal ideaology pretty much despises that institution. Every event he participates in that goes out to the public has to basically be a hollywood production with the best back-drop possible with the sole intention by his handlers to cover his inadequacies as a leader. Time to eat crow Liberals. This man is a loser
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Obozo, our little world girlie
December 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
He probably wants to get in there and arrest a few of our brave soldiers for false accusations made by terrorists, which for some reason, I can’t get a right or wrong answer on.
However, world girlie does like his photo ops.
RW-(the original)
December 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
Another CEO for Government Motors is resigning. I guess since Obama is a miserable failure at running his car company he may as well move on to mismanaging the battlefield, but I’d prefer he stick with trying to screw up our health care services. More of a shared sacrifice that way and perhaps we’ll learn our lesson about electing a smooth talker that’s never held a real job in his life.
Jake
December 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
Is there anyone out there, right or left, that thinks committing 34,000 more troops to this quagmire makes sense? Anyone? I sincerely wish we could wipe Al queda and Taliban from the face of the earth but I don’t think we can. They just slip back and forth to Pakistan and there is some evidence that we are so despised there our presence creates more terrorists than we kill. I feel terrible for my brothers and sisters in arms, consigned to just about the same fate as my fallen brothers in Nam by some former community organizer that has absolutely no understanding of what it’s like to fight for this country. This is insanity.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
@@
I take your word for it…it confirms my suspicions,,,elitist to the core, ain’t he?
AmVet–
Well, you know me, however I’m defintely in your cheering section and you said it best…I do, after all, have a boy being threatened with yet another deployment to one of these h*ll holes courtesy of Bush’s b*stard twin…
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
“I’m all behind the war. Far behind it. Just as long as me and mine don’t need to fight it, I’ll support it with my last breath.”
That is frickkin’ beautiful, RC!
It should be on the neo-con flag and part and parcel of their every prayer and mantra!
You are the man!
danjonglee
December 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
Why not give the speech at Ft. Bragg..?
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
Ah AmVet
Another but old empathized hegecomic overtly groaner first class who never saw anything he ever liked, ’specially Bush, and wants you to know that he also despises Obama with the rest of the world except for a chosen few.
Thank you, AmVet. Sooooo…what’s new?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Obozo, our little world girlie
December 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
Obozo is a ChickenHen!
@@
December 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
Just in case josef wanted to make me work, here’s the site where the “some 70 West Point graduates” was referenced. Scroll down to the link “Watch people in West Point town talk about the war”.
It were the Mayor what said it.
I hope those from the other side take note…it’s CNN. Regardless of what you say, I DO visit a multitude of sites. Probably more in one day than you guys do in a week.
TW
December 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
How come the libs have a better voting record when it comes to taking care of our vets? And how come the right cares not that we lost 4000+ on ‘w’s snipe hunt?
We support our troops best by providing them with intelligent leadership. Something the right just can’t seem to understand, given their satisfaction with ‘w’s eight year abortion.
Nobody likes a loser…check that – nobody likes a LOUD loser.
Sit back and learn, chickenhawks
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
I suppose that it might come as a shock to most of you coming from a soul-less godless liberal that I come from a military family. 1st off, it naive to say that the liberals do not support the military. Nevertheless, we did in fact disagree with the war which was based on false motives. Our first act of defense was targeted at the oil fields, not the citizens of Iraq. I hope you wise old conservatives continue your policy of opposition to all “liberal” ideas. Then I suppose nothing ever will get done and you can leave this wonderful country in dissary for us youthful Obama swooners to suffer the consequences.
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
5:23 pm
TW
Another brain washed lib.. So it’s “w”s snipe hunt? Yeah, right after al queda’s snipe hunt in NYC.
Was your memory destroyed at the Dem brainwashing session?
JCS
December 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
You conservatives are jokes, go burn in the hell that you’ve created in the figment of imagination you believe in called religion. . .whatever helps you sleep at night.
Meanwhile, leave the thinking (and speech making) to our President who actually has a brain, unlike the conservative caveman George W. Bush, who enjoyed wreaking havoc on our country for the last 8 years.
Normal
December 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Josef, yes you told me so…from now on you’re my seer…
Obozo
December 1st, 2009
5:30 pm
Greetings infidels-
Tonite, I am here, with heavy heart and deep sadness, to send you to risk your lives for your country. Many of you here will die, so that your enemy can live. These are the terms that I have majestically negotiated with the Taliban. They win, we lose. Bush did it.
Hence, there will no firing of your weapons, no tossing of grenades, no calling in any fire, no bombs dropped, you cannot mow down whole crowds of ragheads with your Squad Automatic Weapons like what happened to my dear friend Ackmed, may piece be upon him, no hosing hillsides with flames, no bayonets, no shrapnel, no swords, you may only menace the enemy with the little white flags you will be given as you file out of this forlorn, god forsaken place, ew.
You may however, scream and wave your arms wildly as you bleed out, as long as you do it in a non threatening manner.
Break any of these rules or any others that I see fitting, and you will be arrested. And we all know that liberal columnists at the spineless rag AJC will not come to your rescue.
So go get them, boys and girls.
Seig Heil!
Allah Akbar!
Yes we can!
Paul
December 1st, 2009
5:32 pm
Jay
I read Mr. Milbank’s piece a bit differently than you. I didn’t get he said liberals would be offended by the setting, but that the setting emphasizes he’s not the man many who supported him thought he was.
My interpretation was based, in part, on more weight given to the end of the column: “liberal activist Michael Moore wrote that by increasing troops in Afghanistan, “you will do the worst possible thing you could do — destroy the hopes and dreams so many millions have placed in you.”
“With just one speech tomorrow night,” Moore continued, “you will turn a multitude of young people who were the backbone of your campaign into disillusioned cynics. You will teach them what they’ve always heard is true — that all politicians are alike.”
So it’s not the setting of West Point – it’s the fact it’s another military setting. A safe setting. One in which he can count on no overt hostility from the audience as he announces actions in Afghanistan that will keep us there well past his first term.
The same can’t be said if he was speaking to an audience of his political supporters.
Jake
[[s there anyone out there, right or left, that thinks committing 34,000 more troops to this quagmire makes sense? Anyone?]]
Well, we won’t know the why of why he’s doing it until his speech.
AmVet 4:56
Do you think you could tell us how you really feel?
JCS
December 1st, 2009
5:32 pm
Jake has the right idea. Finally someone who has a realistic view.
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
5:36 pm
Hoorrrayy,
Surprise! It is not the Republicans leaving this country in “dissary”. When you stop swooning you might notice that Obama is the one tacking trillion after trillion on the national debt and not just with the war.
Bush went to war to protect us. Maybe, when you are a little older and wiser, you might realize that terrorists were not planning to stay in the Middle East after their juicy bite of NYC. But right now they are busy at base and don’t have time to reach us. Obama just got the whole picture. Maybe you should try a new thought.
Paul
December 1st, 2009
5:38 pm
TW
[[How come the libs have a better voting record when it comes to taking care of our vets?]]
Source?
Hoorah
[[And to Bud Wiser (classy name might I add), at least the world is more willing to communicate and aide us now rather than allow the all might hegemonic America to collapse into and economic depression. After the way we have treated the world under former President Bush its amazing that these countries are willing to communicate at all. I mean lets be honest eight years of a hegemonic isolationism policy got us really far didn’t it?]]
You may want to consider what concrete results have been achieved through Pres Obama’s different style. European rebuff. Nonsupport with Afghanistan. Continued Iranian intransigence – their response to Obama’s style was snide laughter.
In fact, the President is picking up some criticism from his loyalists, as it appears to some he’s a quick learner and is beginning to emulate his predecessor’s style, which is based on a realization that in the end, he is charged with protecting America’s national interests.
And if that means embracing the image of a lone cowboy, so be it.
@@
December 1st, 2009
5:38 pm
7 stories Barack Obama doesn’t want told
Obama’s best hope of nipping bad storylines is to replace them with good ones rooted in public perceptions of his effectiveness.
I don’t think he’s capable of overcoming himself, nor do I think the bell can be un-rung.
Bottom line…he’s ding-dong-done. I’m not convinced he’ll even seek re-election.
Taxpayer
December 1st, 2009
5:45 pm
Well, the Republicans seem to all think that Obama is doing the wrong thing so I’m good with it now. I had my reservations before but no more. He’s got three years but not a day more.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
5:46 pm
@@
Thanks for the link…interesting…I wonder why he doesn’t go to, say Andalusia, Alabama and try to put the backdrop of who will really be sent on this venture…
JCS @ 5:42
As a liberal and a believer, I take offense at this post.
PAUL–
As always you are a welcome voice of reason…
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
5:48 pm
Remember we were in a surplus after former President Clinton? We were 10 trillion dollars in debt after Bush…Your going to blame the repercussions of Bush’s presidency on Obama? Typical conservative blame the liberals Your really going to blame the fact that we haven’t slipped into a depression on Obama trying to salvage our economy. Haha I can hardly even take your argument seriously.
Paul- Nobel Peace Prize 2009. The Nobel Peace Prize nominees are nominated by various countries of the world. Obama was the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Sounds like the world might support him.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
5:49 pm
Hooray–
No, the Prize nominations do not come from countries…go check it out as to how the nominations are made…
JCS
December 1st, 2009
5:49 pm
josef nix, nice try but you aren’t a liberal. You’ve gone over to the dark side.
Normal
December 1st, 2009
5:52 pm
Since I’m back for a little bit, I want to answer Jay’s question. Is West Point an appropriate setting for the speech? Unequivocally no! Arlington Cemetery is much more appropriate. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW, MR. PRESIDENT. DO THE RIGHT THING. BRING THEM HOME. ANY DEATHS FROM THIS POINT ON ARE ON YOUR HEAD. YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. BRING THEM HOME NOW!
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
JCS–
You’re probably right, I’m far more the radical leftist. You’re basically a rude hate monger with an ax to grind against those of faith, which is your perogative but you strike me as a fire and brimstone revivalist with your rhetorical tub thumpin…you do a disservice to the agnostic and non believer and any attempt to create a dialogue.
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
Nomination for the Nobel Prizes
Josef Nix- direct from the Nobel Peace Prize website- “Each year the respective Nobel Committees send individual invitations to thousands of members of academies, university professors, scientists from numerous countries, previous Nobel Laureates, members of parliamentary assemblies and others, asking them to submit candidates for the Nobel Prizes for the coming year. These nominators are chosen in such a way that as many countries and universities as possible are represented over time.” Note the section that talks about the members of academies, university professors ans scientists from NUMEROUS COUNTRIES.
@@
December 1st, 2009
5:57 pm
I’ve got cousins in Andalusia, AL. Alright….a kissing cousin. We were six at the time.
Bud Wiser
December 1st, 2009
5:57 pm
i love how AmWet, the biggest never-was-never-will-be huffs and puffs his idiocy about other peoples’ service, nothing of which he knows about to begin with.
Love hearing the wind blow in that empty skull do you, AmWet?
Yeah, and we believe everything you claim about your service as well.
Moron.
Another Obowo suck-up, with no intellectual capacity whatsoever. Hide behind that keyboard fool, your kind has nothing else.
Your tank is empty.
Never Was.
Never Will Be.
Thanks for your no service to your country.
JCS
December 1st, 2009
5:57 pm
Calling me godless is not exactly offensive, it more is a clarification of my beliefs. Thanks for making that clear, I was so confused. . .
You don’t exactly try to create dialogue either. You simply try and prove how your view is the only correct view. Looks like Hooraaah has you beat.
You do a disservice to America. God Bless!
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama
December 1st, 2009
5:59 pm
The LIAR in chief spins another whopper tonight –
•Obama Quote: “I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war….You can take that to the bank!”
Paul
December 1st, 2009
5:59 pm
@@
Interesting piece. While one can argue over the various points, the main point is that which is being discussed is perceptions. And perceptions, as we know from the previous president (he was one of the more often-read recent presidents yet was painted as a functioning illiterate) don’t have to be factual, nor fair.
The prior pres seemed oblivious to the criticism. It seems the current pres seems more rankled. How that translates into attitudes and actions remains to be seen.
josef nix
“Reason” drove one of my sons nuts when he was a rebellious teenager. When he became an adult he said he was grateful for the example.
I just do it to bug people….
Hoorah
Actually, it’s people from countries who nominate. Countries do not put forth a nominee as a national consensus.
And Pres Obama, and the US, has markedly higher approval ratings than did he predecessor. But the point is, that hasn’t translated into much overt support for America’s interests.
So what we have is a president who’s apparently becoming more like his predecessor (’if you won’t join us, we’ll go it alone’) with the distinction being, people in other countries will still resent America and her power, but they’ll just not dislike us as much while we exercise it.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
December 1st, 2009
5:59 pm
PRINCETON, NJ — Americans are far less approving of President Obama’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan than they have been in recent months, with 35% currently approving, down from 49% in September and 56% in July.-Gallup
You reckon?
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
6:01 pm
Paul, you think I laid my cards on the table with that post?
I haven’t even warmed up yet. In spite of that childsih twaddle from Dusty.
This “surge”/”stay the course”/escalation is all BushCo-lite b&llsh1t.
I said last fall that BHO would lick the boots of his corporate masters who will profit handsomely from this Afghan fiasco.
And these gutless, flip-flopping, cut and running Republicans disgust the hell outta me.
BHO needs to grow a pair and give back that Nobel peace prize and Bao-Yu just needs to grow a pair…
RW-(the original)
December 1st, 2009
6:04 pm
So if somebody is from a country that means the country did the nomination/action?
Since that “logic” could be applied to anything it should completely change all recorded history. Nice idea….
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
Hoorah–
No? Go back and read your posts…the nominations do not come from countries, but individuals within those countries…
JCS–
Gevalt! Was that 5:57 for me?
NORMAL–
Arlington has my vote…
PAUL–
While I would not presuppose to put myself in your calibre for reason, it does seem to drive some people nuts, doesn’t it?
Paul
December 1st, 2009
6:07 pm
JCS
[[josef nix, nice try but you aren’t a liberal. You’ve gone over to the dark side.]]
Cool! So Liberal Dems have their checklist of who can be in their club just like Conservative Reps have theirs?
Hoorah 5:53
I believe the distinction being missed is, you stated “The Nobel Peace Prize nominees are nominated by various countries of the world” which some may interpret as “Country A nominates Pres Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize” when in fact it’s “Person B from Country A nominates Pres Obama.”
But as you’re new here, there’s something you really need to understand about this blog and others: never, ever, ever give the slightest inkling of having misread or misunderstood something. One must go to extraordinary lengths to demonstrate how one was not in fact mistaken. Never, never, never say “hey, that’s news to me. I didn’t know that. Thanks!”
Gotta follow the blogger’s protocol -
@@
December 1st, 2009
6:08 pm
Paul:
I don’t think the American people can identify with Obama’s loftiness!!?!! Neither do I think Obama can connect with them.
I just visited LBJ’s Library tape. “I will not seek, nor will I accept the nomination of my party for a second term.” I was just a little kid back then. It was eerie! He talked about a divided country, rancor within his own party, the opposing party. We’ve come full circle.
The 60s were the beginning of the end.
Yo'momma Obama
December 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
Actually, the reason the Ayatollah Hussein Obama is addressing the cadets is to warn them if they ever give any Muslim terrorist scum a bloody lip during a fire fight, he will prosecute them as war criminals to the full extent of the law…..
Dusty
December 1st, 2009
6:10 pm
Paul,
You said that it appears that Obama is a quick learner and is beginning to emulate his predecessor’s style.
Then you added,
that is based on a realization that in the end, he is charged with protecting America’s national interest.
Oh thank you, thank you. Someone remembered America’s national interest!!
Now don’t be timid, Paul. Say it loud and clear. “And if that means embracing the image of the lone cowboy, so be it.”
RIGHT!! Obama is now getting and seeing all the information that George W. Bush had before him, the Intelligence reports, the military appraisals, and information we will never see. I hope and believe that he is now seeing what Bush also saw. Fighting terrorists and their coconspirators is not as horrible as losing freedom.
Saying “freedom” seems vague until one loses it. I do not care to give terrorists any “edge” against freedom. I do believe Obama may have realized that the worst outcome would be to lose the Middle East to our worst enemies..
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
6:10 pm
AmVet–
You go! And, yes, ah do seem to recall that you took him on back then…didn’t make you real popular around here, but it sure caught my attention…
Taxpayer
December 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
Hide behind that keyboard fool, your kind has nothing else.
I wonder what the dimensions are for the biggest PC keyboard.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
PAUL
“Cool! So Liberal Dems have their checklist of who can be in their club just like Conservative Reps have theirs? ”
Well, do remember what Groucho said!
Tom
December 1st, 2009
6:15 pm
I wouldn’t have chisen West Point under the circumstances. Scholastically tough as it is, it offers an extremely narrow minded view of the world. There is nothing so narrow as the military mind. They function in their own tiny sphere – and have no concept of the “real world.” They have yet to learn that the days of militarily butt-kicking are long over. But then Repugs don’t function in the real world either. Millions of those “Bubba J’s” will tune in – and hate WHATEVER they hear.
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
6:18 pm
AmVET…
And, BTW, “Kiss my tuchus and plant a tree for Israel!”
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
Paul- I completely see and consider your point of view. I understand that many are disappointed that Obama has not fulfilled his promise to pull out of Iraq and Afgahnistan as soon as he could. Nevertheless, I feel that we have to consider that if we left Afgahnistan now that country would be in far more mayhem than when we entered. Having spoken with my boyfriend (Cadet at West Point and a conservative) my father who was a Lieutenant Cornell in the military and several family friends who are also associated with the military I feel that it is best to finish what we started. I think Obama has realized this and is hoping to get the job done as quickly as possible. Sending more troops will allow him to do so. As for how this is perceived by the rest of the world, I completely agree that countries will resent our actions. Nevertheless, I think Obama trying to mend ties with lost allies was and will prove to be effective. I am not saying we are now best friends with the rest of the world but rather that the rest of the world has a greater respect for our country. I think Obama is in a rock and a hard place; either we get out of Afghanistan, wreck this poor country and become “saints” in the eyes of the world or we let our allies and enemies alike that we respect them as other inhabitants of this world but it is now necessary to finish what we started. While this will have repercussions the latter is a better option. How would we be perceived by the rest of the world if we left Afghanistan in state of terror and political unrest? Far worse than if we are able to help this country.
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
josef, I have my faults but I’m no neo-con “for the war, oops against the war” flip-flopping Kohn Kerry sell out.
And that old deranged loon who named himself after that cheap yellow p|ss-swill can lick my old combat boots…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7-ngmO_p8
@@
December 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the British sailors captured by Iran. With the three British hikers, that makes a total of 8 hostages!!?!!
There’s no good time to be taken by Iran, but THIS is the worst possible time.
Paul
December 1st, 2009
6:20 pm
@@
The 60s were the beginning of the end? Some hoped it was the beginning of the beginning. You know, so we’d never have another military adventure that dragged on for years in a faraway country that itself posed no threat to America but killed thousands of her finest and cost billions for over a decade?
See, back then, some people wondered if we’d learned
and after they’d gotten over the anger 
they began to have hope 
in a better future. But reality set in and people became apprehensive 
that the wheel of time and human nature would forget the lessons of the past. They experienced consternation 
as they met others who were unaware of those lessons 
. But still and all, we should not lose hope 
because we know this is America and anything is possible!!! 
@@
December 1st, 2009
6:21 pm
Paul:
I am not EVEN reading your post with all those emoticons staring at me.
Tom
December 1st, 2009
6:22 pm
OMG! Dustmite & @@ are STILL here! I hadn’t noticed. The Primates. Years of these twins now. The Little People. The Tiny Ones. Hayseeds & woodchucks unite!! These runts are true…Freedom Fighters. Forever
playing that brave – Patriot Card. Ummm.
"refero quattuor"
December 1st, 2009
6:23 pm
No it isn’t because deep down inside like most liberals he “loathes” the military and what they represent.
Paul
December 1st, 2009
6:25 pm
Tom 6:15
Are you aware of the irony in declaring how narrow-minded others are?
@@
December 1st, 2009
6:25 pm
Tom:
Thanks for dropping by.
Paul
December 1st, 2009
6:26 pm
josef nix
Didja read @@’s 6:21? See, there’s more than one way to bug a person!
Oh, Hi There @@!!! happyfacehappyfacehappyface!
AmVet
December 1st, 2009
6:27 pm
Kohn Kerry?
Ironic that these valorous GOP Webelos would all turn out to be flip-flopping Kerrys…
And josef, don’t forget! Tu B’Shevat is January 30, 2010…
josef nix
December 1st, 2009
6:28 pm
AmVET, PAUL and The Others possessed of a memory longer than a f*rt…
The AmVet link says a lot…and I asked last p.m. Does anybody remember the comeuppance of the last time escalation was the tactic for getting out of the quagmire? LBJ is rolling over by the banks of the Perdenales …
Hooraaah
December 1st, 2009
6:30 pm
Tom if only you know the hell these men and women go through at West Point to allow you the ability to sit on this blog and express your opinions. I agree the military is stubborn. Regardless, do not demean what they do.
"refero quattuor"
December 1st, 2009
6:33 pm
Headline (CBS): “A senior administration official said this afternoon that President Barack Obama will tell the American people Tuesday night that U.S. troops will START LEAVING (emphasis added) Afghanistan in July 2011, before the end of his first term.
The official stressed, however, that the date marks the BEGINNING (emphasis added) of a process that does not have a defined endpoint. The full withdrawal of troops, the official said, will DEPEND (emphasis added) on conditions on the ground.”
TRANSLATION: This is open-ended. There is no “end game”.
PROBLEM: The American public are too weak to stand for it.
Tom
December 1st, 2009
6:34 pm
Well now, AMVET. How you’ve changed. Your hatred fits in well w the Republirunts. You’ve joined them in that psychic black hole in which they dwell. You’ve taken your place in “Operation Repo.” You’ve become – one of them. Racial?? Certainly not intellectual. You’ve caught their disease – exposed to it for too long. You were one of the few “bright” people here. Now you engage in idiocracy. Shame/pity.
This must also bring you closer to – Jessussah!