In Libya, Obama playing the cards he’s been dealt
President Obama’s decision to join our European and Arab allies in launching air assaults against Libyan forces has been criticized by some as an ad hoc, patched-together reaction rather than a carefully thought-out strategy. And to a degree, they’re right. Sometimes, an unexpected and quickly changing situation does not permit the careful application of strategy. Sometimes, you just have to play your cards as they are dealt, recalculating risk and reward as each card is flipped your way. I don’t know how this is going to play out, but so far Obama seems to be playing his hand rationally and cautiously.
Sure, intervening earlier against Gadhafi on the side of the Libyan rebels might have proved more effective in military terms, but it also would have put the United States in the position of trying to dictate outcomes in the Arab world. And not intervening at all, as some on the left still advocate, was a cruel option at best. Had the coalition not acted when it did last week, the world today would probably be sitting back and watching helplessly while a brutal Gadhafi massacred tens of thousands of his fellow Libyans.
Many of those now condemning Obama for acting would have been condemning him for not acting. That’s how these things go. As Obama himself noted in his Nobel Peace Prize speech, “I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.”
The fact that we are acting, somewhat reluctantly, at the urging of European and Arab allies also minimizes the geo-political risk. This is not an American initiative in which the United Nations and others are being strong-armed to support our policy; this is an international initiative which the United States has agreed to join as its most powerful member. There’s a world of difference between the two, not least because it has forced other countries to shed their infantilism and take responsibility, rather than leaving the tough decisions to Uncle Sam all the time and then grumbling about the outcome.
Obama’s critics also point out that we have no real idea how this will end, or even how we want it to end. Again, that’s accurate to a degree. However, Gadhafi himself has made it clear that he sees only two possible outcomes: victory or death. He has no third option — at this point, he can’t leave Libya to live elsewhere, and he knows it.
Publicly, coalition leaders are saying that Gadhafi is not a military target, but the smoking ruins of his personal compound in Tripoli offer more convincing evidence to the contrary. And at some point, if Western air power doesn’t take him out, his own commanders might. They now see their units being taken apart from the air, and there’s nothing they can do to defend themselves. The quickest way to make it stop is to make Gadhafi stop.
So we shall see.
– Jay Bookman
ADDENDUM: After all these years, the cynicism of Newt Gingrich continues to amaze and even disgust.
Until last week, the former speaker had been pressing Obama to intervene militarily in Libya and force Gadhafi’s ouster. “This is a moment to get rid of him,” he told Greta Van Susteren on Fox. “Do it. Get it over with.”
So what does he say now? As Politico reports:
“Newt Gingrich blasted the decision to attack Libya Sunday afternoon as “opportunistic amateurism without planning or professionalism.”
“It is impossible to make sense of the standard for intervention in Libya except opportunism and news media publicity,” Gingrich said in a statement to POLITICO, his first public comments since President Barack Obama gave the go-ahead order on Saturday.
Iran and North Korea pose “vastly bigger threats” to American national interests, he argued. There are other countries in Africa where strongmen brutalize civilians, including Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
“Mugabe has killed more people, the Sudanese dictatorship has killed more people, there are a lot of bad dictators doing bad things,” Gingrich said.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,639 comments Add your comment
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
2:45 pm
Top 10 places Hawaiian governor should look for Obama’s birth certificate
10. It might be under the unicorn feeder, not too far from the magic money printing press that Ben Bernanke uses.
9. The certificate may have been sacrificed to the volcano gods to ensure good luck. After two years of the Obama administration, it obviously didn’t work.
8. Check under Obama’s copy of the Koran signed by Ayatollah Khomeini. The one that reads: “To Barry. Good luck on the whole Manchurian thing. Kho-money.”
7. Perhaps it’s under a stack of promises to close Gitmo.
6. May be tucked in the pages of well-annotated Community Organizing for Dummies book.
5. Have you looked in George Soros’ command bunker? Check under those stacks of Chinese yuan and the deed to Obama’s soul.
4. May have accidentally passed it out as a syllabus during short stint as Harvard lecturer.
3. Pawned for crack in 90s.
2. Hillary Clinton may have it tucked in her jock strap.
1. Kenya
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 21st, 2011
2:46 pm
Kam
Me too!!!
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
2:46 pm
Labia and man are mutually exclusive, except in times of intimacy.
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
2:46 pm
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
2:44 pm
And just what issue did your 2:44 post address?
Paul
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
Leg Lamp
It’s a public school. Part of the Austin school district. Magnet school, pretty competitive, emphasis in science, math and liberal arts.
Note: “Liberal arts” does not mean “Art for Libs”
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
“I believe my unsought role as the guy who helps throw the trash out from time to time is vastly over-stated.”
AmVet is big in fantasyland.
“Manup cons and discuss the issues,”
LOL!!!!! Says the guy who spends 99.999999999% of his time trash talking Bush and 70% of the people on this blog.
CLASSIC!!!!!!!
Normal
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
I don’t know why you guys are worried ’bout the deficit. Your Lord and savior said it all…
Cheney to Treasury: “Deficits don’t matter”
Former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill was told “deficits don’t matter” when he warned of a looming fiscal crisis.
O’Neill, fired in a shakeup of Bush’s economic team in December 2002, raised objections to a new round of tax cuts and said the president balked at his more aggressive plan to combat corporate crime after a string of accounting scandals because of opposition from “the corporate crowd,” a key constituency.
O’Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. “You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,” he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: “We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due.” A month later, Cheney told the Treasury secretary he was fired.
The vice president’s office had no immediate comment, but John Snow, who replaced O’Neill, insisted that deficits “do matter” to the administration.
…but they didn’t now, did they?
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
2:45 pm
Maybe it got buried in a hole dug by one of those “shovel ready jobs”.
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
“It was and did you know there was not a single Islamist terrorist in the whole deck.”
Cause Saddam wasn’t an Orthodox Sunni or anything.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
Isnt amazing that he still gets so much blind support…
GW, I’m not surprised you consider it to be “blind,” but like any political coalition, there are a mix of well-informed folks and low-information types. If I were polled I’d say I supported Obama, but 26 months in, I have my share of beefs with his Administration and I’m sure that will continue to be the case until he’s left office.
I guess the American public likes a leader who takes action.
Leg Lamp, people (Americans, Asians, Australians, Africans…) like winners, period.
I don’t approve of this—I’d much rather Obama suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous Teatardery and leave it to France and Britain if they really want to secure that oil supply. I’d really dig it if Obama went on the TeeVee and said “We’ll fight to the last Frenchman! but seriously, folks…”
That said, anyone who’s read “The Audacity of Hope” isn’t real surprised by this, nor much of anything else this Administration has done. He’s a centrist Democrat, and he’s governing accordingly, for better or for worse.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
Argh. forgot to italicize Leg Lamp’s quote @ 2.47, my bad.
HDB
March 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
“I wonder which cards Bush was playing with? Must’ve been a different deck.”
At least we all know that they were bought and paid for by the bin Ladens…..no wonder Bush didn’t catch OBL when he was in office!!
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
“Manup cons and discuss the issues,”
Good idea. Where do you stand on socialism, AmVet? Same question to Kamchak. I’m opposed to it, by the way.
This is the part where AmVet or Kamchak will “discuss the issues” by referring to Skittles-crapping-unicorns, or else call someone a “leghumper.”
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
“.no wonder Bush didn’t catch OBL when he was in office!!”
So where is he now, HDB? Still waiting on Obama’s promise to find him.
George W
March 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
HDB…..biased grade eh?
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
“This is the part where AmVet or Kamchak will “discuss the issues” by referring to Skittles-crapping-unicorns, or else call someone a “leghumper.”
DING DING DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Normal
March 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
But the French have already surrendered…
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
That’s okay. Italics use was for bonus points. You still made an A.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
Harry, I’ve asked nicely.
I think an answer is in order.
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
I think we outta stay out of Labia.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
“Chester the Priest
March 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
Harry Callahan:
“I am glad you are so concerned with everyone’s religion. It is sooo important, and it really adds to the conversation.”
I was responding to the post from the high school kid who accused Reagan of pretending to be a Christian, which is pretty funny in light of the Barack Obama “everything I know about Christianity I learned from Jeremiah Wright the racist hatemonger” situation.
Nice try though.
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
Where do you stand on socialism, AmVet? Same question to Kamchak.
I have repeatedly given you my stance on socialism.
Multiple times
On multiple sites
On multiple threads.
Even multiple times on the same thread.
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:53 pm
Government funding for NPR is not an asset to them, it is a liability. Everyone is better off ending NPR funding.
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
2:53 pm
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
So in other words, you often cut and paste the same comments over and over.
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
2:54 pm
Attacking a crazy ruler of Labia can be very hazardous!
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
2:54 pm
Since I pre-empted AmVet and/or Kamchak from responding via my post @2:49, one of them name-jacked me @ 2:50 and posted something hateful about special-needs children, which is really humorous in light of the supposed “tolerance and inclusion” preached by the libs.
HDB
March 21st, 2011
2:55 pm
George W
March 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
Nope….kid took a risk to note the contradiction; gotta give him credit for the approach! Sometimes, you can’t follow the predictable paradigm!!
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
Hey, your boy Bush said he’d find him FIRST..but we all know he got paid off (note: the Carlyle Group…and how the bin Ladens left the US under PRESIDENTIAL EDICT!)………
When you screw up the trail, even the best bloodhounds come up empty!!
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Harry Callahan
I was wondering if that was you that wrote that weird comment about special ed kids.
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
More innerestin than Libya
(Reuters) – Japan’s nuclear crisis will influence where the United States builds its nuclear power plants, and the operation of a facility near New York City will be reviewed in the wake of the disaster, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Sunday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/20/us-nuclear-usa-idUSTRE72J2L820110320
The Known Unknowns
March 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Cause Saddam wasn’t an Orthodox Sunni or anything.
Cause there were no radical Islamist terrorists in the deck of 52 or anything.
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
And hells yes
(Reuters) – The Supreme Court let stand a ruling that the U.S. Federal Reserve must disclose details about its emergency lending programs to banks during the financial crisis in 2008.
A group representing major commercial banks had asked the high court to reverse a ruling by a federal appeals court that required disclosure of the lending records.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/us-usa-fed-bailout-court-idUSTRE72K3FJ20110321
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
Government funding for NPR is not an asset to them, it is a liability. Everyone is better off ending NPR funding.
jm, I think you actually know better, but if not—NPR’s funding isn’t really what’s at stake.
The GOP wants to eliminate funding for the CPB altogether. As I have patiently explained, you do that, and you screw a lot of red-state TV viewers and radio listeners who’ll likely have their sole source of non-stupid broadcast programming taken from them, since the far-flung, sparsely populated PBS and NPR affiliates are the ones that will suffer the most if you were to defund the CPB.
And I hasten to add, what people think of as “NPR” radio programming doesn’t come solely, or necessarily MOSTLY, from the actual NPR.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
“Hey, your boy Bush”
Ah yes, HDB. The guy who says that all white conservatives are racists.
“but we all know he got paid off’
Uh huh.
“When you screw up the trail, even the best bloodhounds come up empty!!”
Did Jesse Jackson teach you that phrase?
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
“Cause there were no radical Islamist terrorists in the deck of 52 or anything.”
Cause Saddam was not a terrorist. Neither is Kim Jong Il.
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
I don’t name-jack harry-poo, and I condemn the practice.
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
As a conspiricay theorist…I think there is some relationship between Bush and Labia.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
Barack Obama “everything I know about Christianity I learned from Jeremiah Wright the racist hatemonger” situation.
again with the personal attacks on another man’s morality (complete with a made-up quote! nice!), but you can’t give me a straight answer to my polite question regarding your own. Why is that, Harry?
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
sfd – I understand (most) of the math mechanics with respect to NPR. I think CPB should split radio and TV (I think there’s something to be said for gov’t funding of the TV specials, but if even the TV stuff went away, it would be net-net better).
NPR is very much about news. Politically, journalistically, ethically, and financially (in the long run) they would be better off without government funding.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
“again with the personal attacks on another man’s morality”
If the shoe fits…….
Well, that’s what the libs wrote/said for 8 years.
Jay
March 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
The person who namejacked Harry does not post regularly here.
And if that person repeats the mistake, he won’t be posting here at all.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
“stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
“Harry, I’ve asked nicely.”
“I think an answer is in order.”
Stands, two points;
1) I didn’t see your original post, becasue unlike the usual lib suspects on this blog, I have a job and a life and don’t stay on here 24/7
2) I think you are laboring under the mis-apprehension that I answer to you
Now, having made those two points, I will be happy to respond to your childish question;
Having children out-of-wedlock, as Barack’s mom and her sperm-donor partner did, is indeed trashy, and as I said, trashy people do trashy things. Many people have out-of-wedlock sex, but most have the good sense to use contraception. The remainder have kids out of wedlock, doom themselves and their kids to a life of poverty and government dependancy, and generally grow up to vote Democrat.
I’m guessing you are either an unmarried parent, or the child of unmarried parents, hence your poutrage, but that’s really your problem, not mine.
Glad I could clear that up for you.
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
Lamp, let’s put it this way.
I’ll wager you any amount of money you’d like, that wow, harry, @@ and george w CANNOT avoid referencing me in a post for even one week.
Hell, we both know I’d win if the bet were for one day. And more often than not, one hour.
Can’t be done. They are hopelessly obsessed and tormented by my every post and every worthless opinion. Why? Ask them and let me know, OK?
I’d triple the wager that I’ll first reference one of them in a post during that week.
It is roughly 3PM on Monday, March 21, 2011.
Shooting fish in a barrel.
Let me know, if you want in on any of the action…
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
Why caint you libruls just admit that NPR leans left? Heck, even the most staunch conservatives will admit that Fox leans right.
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
sfd 2:57 – and I hasten to add, I find it hard to believe your dearest concern are the few sparsely populated red state NPR listeners.
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it any more. What the hell is wrong with all you people- cons and libs alike? Does anyone other than me and Obama know how to correctly spell Lybia? Did none of you get Obama’s tweet? Its Lybia dadnabit. Not Labia and dang sure not Libya.
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
3:02 pm
And if that person repeats the mistake, he won’t be posting here at all.
Good!
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
“I’ll wager you any amount of money you’d like, that wow, harry, @@ and george w CANNOT avoid referencing me in a post for even one week.”
LOL!!!!! What are you gonna wager, Vet? Pretend blog money?
“They are hopelessly obsessed and tormented by my every post and every worthless opinion.”
Do you realize how crazy you sound, Vet? You continue to write about me etc and THEN turn around and write about how I am obsessed with you. CLASSIC
“I’d triple the wager that I’ll first reference one of them in a post during that week.”
More fake blog money.
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
from an email
Sixty-four senators sent a letter to President Obama March 18 asking him to lend his support to a broad deficit reduction effort.
The letter, signed by 32 Democrats and 32 Republicans, alludes to a coalition of senators that is drafting legislation based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, saying that the effort represents “an important foundation to achieve meaningful progress on our debt.”
In the letter, the senators ask Obama to take part in deficit reduction discussions that address tax reform as well as discretionary spending and entitlements.
“By approaching these negotiations comprehensively, with a strong signal of support from you, we believe that we can achieve consensus on these important fiscal issues,” the letter says. “This would send a powerful message to Americans that Washington can work together to tackle this critical issue.”
Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., who along with Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., drafted the letter, said on a conference call that he did not expect the letter to garner so much support and that he had accumulated most of the signatures in a time period of less than 24 hours. Both senators said they would like to move legislation this year.
Obama has been criticized for not taking a public stance on the fiscal commission’s report, issued last year, and for not taking the lead in an effort to reform the tax code and entitlements. The letter could provide an impetus for him to do so, as it indicates strong bipartisan support for a broad-based deficit reduction plan in the Senate. Several Finance committee members signed the letter but not committee Chair Max Baucus, D-Mont., or ranking minority member Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah.
The president and congressional leaders have said repeatedly over the last few months that they are interested in tackling comprehensive tax reform, but no specific proposal has been put forth. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp, R-Mich., March 17 announced a general target he would like to achieve with tax reform — namely a 25 percent top rate for corporations and individuals — but did not specify how he wanted to achieve it. (For prior coverage, see Doc 2011-5652 or 2011 TNT 53-1 2011 TNT 53-1: News Stories.)
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said at a February 16 Senate Finance Committee hearing that tax reform would depend on Congress and the executive branch working together and also “requires usually somebody in my job to lay out a set of proposals in this context.” (For prior coverage, see Doc 2011-3366 or 2011 TNT 33-3 2011 TNT 33-3: News Stories.)
The president’s fiscal commission in December released a deficit reduction plan that recommended eliminating most or all tax expenditures and proposed entitlement reforms and discretionary spending cuts, which would reduce deficits $3.9 trillion by 2020. The proposal aims for a top individual income tax rate of 23 percent and a corporate rate of 26 percent. That plan, however, failed to gain the votes necessary to be brought before Congress. (For the proposal, see Doc 2010-25486 or 2010 TNT 231-35 2010 TNT 231-35: White House News.)
Johanns acknowledged that the letter did not express support for the fiscal commission’s entire proposal. “Nobody is saying we have 60 votes to endorse a plan.” Instead, he said, “It was an attempt to find as many senators as we could who were saying, ‘Look, we’re ready to go to work.’”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said Senate Republicans will not vote to raise the federal debt ceiling without a “credible effort to begin to get a handle on spending and debt.” A vote to raise the debt ceiling is expected to be needed within the next couple of months.
CBO Estimates
The letter came the same day that the Congressional Budget Office released its estimates of the budgetary effects of Obama’s 2012 budget proposal.
The CBO estimated that the budget would add about $2.7 trillion in deficits from 2012 to 2021 compared with a current-law baseline. The budgetary impact was largely a result of the tax proposals in the budget, the CBO said. (For the CBO estimates, see Doc 2011-5834 2011 TNT 54-58: Congressional Budget Office Reports.)
The agency said it adjusted its budgetary baseline to perform the analysis. The fiscal 2011 deficit projection was reduced $81 billion from previous estimates to $1.4 trillion, while the cumulative deficit from 2012 to 2021 was revised downward $234 billion, to $6.7 trillion.
The Joint Committee on Taxation released its estimates of the revenue provisions in the president’s budget the previous day. According to the JCT, the budget proposal would add a net $2.75 trillion in deficits from 2011 to 2021. (For the JCT estimates, see Doc 2011-5733 or 2011 TNT 53-17 2011 TNT 53-17: Congressional Joint Committee Prints.)
Extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for middle-income earners would cost $2.32 trillion over 10 years, according to the JCT; indexing the alternative minimum tax to inflation according to 2011 criteria would cost $683 billion; and permanently extending tax cuts in the 2009 stimulus package along with other tax benefits for families and individuals would cost $222 billion.
The numbers differed from estimates provided by the Office of Management and Budget when Obama’s proposal was released February 14. Most notably, the OMB estimated that indexing the AMT to inflation would cost $1.55 trillion, about $867 billion more than the cost projected by the JCT.
Senate Budget Committee ranking minority member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said the CBO estimates showed that the administration’s budgetary projections included in its proposal relied on “rosy scenarios” of economic growth, and he accused the administration of “concealing $2.3 trillion in deficits.”
The Known Unknowns
March 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
Cause Saddam was not a terrorist. Neither is Kim Jong Il.
Yet Bush invaded Iraq anyway. No terrorists, no WMD, no Gog, no Magog…
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Many people have out-of-wedlock sex, but most have the good sense to use contraception
Any instance of sexual intercourse between a fertile man and a fertile woman has the potential to end in pregnancy.
Glad I could clear that up for you.
All you’ve cleared up for me is that you are, as expected, a flaming hypocrite of the highest order.
John Daly
March 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Jay @8:46 – so far the exalted leader hasn’t seen fit to tell us why he is participting in the assault and military leaders say that it could end in either a protracted fight or wiht Gadhafi still in power. So, he hasn’t lied, he just hasn’t explained why.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
“Yet Bush invaded Iraq anyway. No terrorists, no WMD”
So tell Obama to get us out. Oh wait, not gonna happen.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
At last! Filming begins on The Hobbit!
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
Where do you stand on socialism, AmVet? Same question to Kamchak.
“I have repeatedly given you my stance on socialism.
Multiple times
On multiple sites
On multiple threads.
Even multiple times on the same thread.”
Well I guess that’s a matter of opinion, Kammy-poo. Pretending socialism doesn’t exist, mocking anyone who asserts that it does exist, and thereby avoiding coming out either in favor or opposed, is hardly “giving your stance.”
But understand your reticence, given that you don’t have the nerve nor the intellectual capacity to clearly state your case.
Normal
March 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
This is Amurica, we kan spel Libia anyway we wont too specially sence we aint got much larning anymore,thanks to all dem cuts and all…so stick it in yore ear, ya hear?
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
Obama can’t even claim to be “present” in the oval office at the moment….
Trip to South America: good idea. WH PR management with respect to Libya and S.A. trip: “F”.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
“stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
“again with the personal attacks on another man’s morality (complete with a made-up quote! nice!), but you can’t give me a straight answer to my polite question regarding your own. Why is that, Harry?”
Guess you didn’t see my 3:01 there, big guy.
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
“Can’t be done. They are hopelessly obsessed and tormented by my every post and every worthless opinion. Why? Ask them and let me know, OK?”
Hmmm. I’ve periodically read this guy’s posts. He just aint smart enough or witty enough to “torment” anyone. He fancies himself as some sort of blog walt wittman but just because he thinks it so doesn’t make it so. His meaningless drivel is as out of place on a blog as a mistress is at a wedding.
But let the whimsical one blog on I say! Maybe he can be the 3rd of the triumvirate of the galactically stupid and join kamchak, keep up, and granny. But then it would no longer be a triumvirate. Hmmm. This poses a dilemna. I got tweedledee- kam, tweedledumb- keep up, and granny gobbledeegook. May have to let one of them go.
The Known Unknowns
March 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
So tell Obama to get us out. Oh wait, not gonna happen.
No terrorists, No WMD. Perhaps he’s trying to clear Bush’s name by continuing the search for Gog and Magog.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
I find it hard to believe your dearest concern are the few sparsely populated red state NPR listeners.
You can believe what you like, but
a) there are more than just a few of them, and
b) I come from that part of the world and I think it would suck mightily if the only “news” to be tuned in for those who can’t afford sat radio, or who aren’t necessarily savvy enough to podcast their driving accompaniment, were stuck with nothing but dumb-as-a-bag-of-doorknobs AM talk and literally NOTHING of local interest whatsoever.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:12 pm
“No terrorists, No WMD. Perhaps he’s trying to clear Bush’s name by continuing the search for Gog and Magog.”
Known Translator 2000: He can’t even put up a reasonable rebuttal.
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:12 pm
sfd 3:11 – NPR is not going away even if they lose 10% of their funding. Also, this thing called the internet now broadcasts NPR
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:12 pm
Guess you didn’t see my 3:01 there, big guy.
um, I’m pretty sure only Jay can see what other people type before they post it.
(Or some nutball once claimed.)
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
Well, George lied like hell, but still couldn’t get hardly anybody to join his “coalition”.
And in his first attempt at playing soldier, BHO has gotten sorties flown by France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Canada, Belgium and Britain in the very first days of the campaign.
Too funny. But that’s what happen when our allies respect our president…
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
How did you put it harry-poo?
Oh yeah — 2) I think you are laboring under the mis-apprehension that I answer to you
Come to think of it — that’s a line that I generally use (appropriated from a little known MP skit ).
How about an apology from that unfounded allegation that I name-jacked you?
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
“All you’ve cleared up for me is that you are, as expected, a flaming hypocrite of the highest order.”
No, if I had children of my own out-of-wedlock I’d be a hypocrite of the highest order, but;
1) I don’t, therefore
2) I’m not
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
sfd 3:11 – NPR is not going away even if they lose 10% of their funding.
again, it’s the broadcast affiliates who are, likely, going to go away if the CPB were done away with. Not that I think it will, mind you (Newt made similar noises in 1995, to no avail), although I wouldn’t bet the house on it.
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
Normal,
The community organizer spells it Lybia. If he says it’s so then it must be so! Either that or he’s the second coming of Dan Quayle.
oldguy
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
Shock….Shock
Obama good…….Republicans bad
Obama smart…….Conservatives dumb
Obama correct……Teaparty wrong
The gospel according to Saint Jay
Is anyone surprised??????
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
World Near Tipping Point?
* Much of the potency of policy responses has been used up in the successful efforts since 2008 to avoid global depression.
* The longer the persistence of supply disruptions, the greater the risk of core inflation increasing.
* Questions about the end of quantitative easing in the U.S. pose a challenge for policymakers.
http://www.pimco.com/Pages/worldneartippingpoint.aspx
Yes indeedy it is.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
At last! Filming begins on The Hobbit!
___________________________________
Congrats wow…glad you will finally be back at work, guarding that bridge.
Contest time: Insert your best troll comment to the 3:07 post.
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
Austrians speak Austrian- the community organizer speaks on lingustics, language, and history.
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:16 pm
sfd 3:14 – yes, it is POSSIBLE that very unprofitable affiliates in very small local markets go away. Equally likely is that NPR elects to subsidize those with fee increases from larger markets. Either way, it isn’t the end of the world. NPR lovers in those markets can listen to NPR even with dial up internet service.
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
3:16 pm
The discussion has defintely deteriorated from earlier. I will give you some examples:
sfd “You are mean”
jm “No, you are mean”
Harry C “You are stupid”
AmVet “No, you are stupid, stupid”
This whole Labia situation makes men act like boys!
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:16 pm
No, if I had children of my own out-of-wedlock I’d be a hypocrite of the highest order,
uh no, Harry, and don’t pretend you missed my point.
If you’ve ever engaged in pre- (or extra-, for that matter) marital sex, you’ve done what Obama’s parents did. They DID marry, remember? Barack wasn’t born out of wedlock.
I suspect what you really consider to have been “trashy” about that particular relationship of his parents, is something you don’t have the balls to post here. That’s ok.
HDB
March 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
WOW
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
“Hey, your boy Bush”
“Ah yes, HDB. The guy who says that all white conservatives are racists.”
As you said….if the shoe fits…..
As I said….that’s your style!!
“but we all know he got paid off’
“Uh huh.” Check the relationship between the Bushes and the bin Ladens; start with Arbusto…and go forward to the Carlyle Group……
“When you screw up the trail, even the best bloodhounds come up empty!!”
Did Jesse Jackson teach you that phrase?” Nope….that’s an original!!
jm
March 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
I’m with you on this one!!!
George W
March 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
AmVet……Really…..dude you tell WAY too many lies…..
What about Canada, UK, Great Britian, Australia, Romania….there were over 23 countries in “Bush’s coalition”
LIAR!
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
This whole Labia situation makes men act like boys!
T’was ever thus.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
How are those imaginary bills in the imaginary senate coming along? Pooped on any unicorns lately?
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
Kammypoo,
I often use quotes that you and AmVet have used, you know, the ones you think are so clever, as a means of mocking you.
Don’t hold your breath on that apology.
Can I interpret your post @ 3:14 to mean that you are dodging the socialism question (again)?
carlosgvv
March 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
There are many countries in the world who call themselves Democratic, yet no two have exactly the same type of government. There are also many different types of Socialism, although I would imagine most of you here have no real idea of what even basic Socialism is. What is clear is that more and more Americans are getting fed up with both the Democrats and Republicans. If this continues, look for a strong third and possibly forth party to arise. I guessing they will probably be Libitarian and Socialist.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
“I suspect what you really consider to have been “trashy” about that particular relationship of his parents, is something you don’t have the balls to post here. That’s ok.”
Hey look everybody, a liberal played the race card. Anybody surprised by that?
Disgusted
March 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
Lawd a Mercy! My subdivision has been invaded by Alabamians! And they’re right across the street from my house. I knew the end was near when the moving truck arrived. The first thing to be installed was a huge Crimson Tide flag on the front porch. Next came two cars plastered with Alabama Crimson Tide stickers. Can a mail box featuring a portrait of a large elephant be far behind? There goes my property value. Other people have all the luck—a motorcycle gang moves in, or perhaps a lawn service company. But I must become a neighbor to rabid Alabama fans.
Thulsa Doom
March 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
“But understand your reticence, given that you don’t have the nerve nor the intellectual capacity to clearly state your case.”- Harry Callahan to Kammy poo.
Ouch!!! Just another eloquent beatdown given by a conservative to a liberal. Does this ever get old? No. Not really.
George W
March 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
Carlos….so you are saying you woud support a Socialist candidate?
Bosch
March 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
Doom,
Glad to hear it!
mike
March 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
Intersting how no matter what the President does, there are those patriotic folks and christians who find fault and disrepect no matter what the situation. I suppose as long as Mr Obama looks like he does, then there will always be those in this country who have a basic problem with the way he looks. The problem is these folks don’t realize it but this country as well as the world is slowly turning in a population of people who look similar to the President. One real scary thought people.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
NPR lovers in those markets can listen to NPR even with dial up internet service.
not in their cars, they can’t, not in real time. But of course on a certain level, we’re arguing about a service that will become of diminishing importance over the next decade, as fewer people tune in to broadcast radio at all, so I get your bigger point.
(I was relying on podcasts to get through a longish commute a few years back, when I still had dial-up, so yeah, I know it can be done.)
Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
Can I interpret your post @ 3:14 to mean that you are dodging the socialism question (again)?
You seem to be laboring under the misapprehension that I actually give a fat rat’s ass on how/what you interpret.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
“I suspect what you really consider to have been “trashy” about that particular relationship of his parents, is something you don’t have the balls to post here. That’s ok.”
I suspect you really want to call me a racist, but don’t have the balls to post it here. That’s OK.
Angry White Man
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
As the Labia/Bush discussion continues to deteriorate….
I can now add.
“Liar”
“Racist”
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
I just saw a clip of people protesting the Obama adminstration’s war on Libya. They were carrying signs calling Obama “Hitler”, “Mussolini”, “Mubarek”, and fascist. Oops, my bad. It was a replay of the Wisconsin union workers who were protesting “for the children”. Never mind……..
WOW
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
“As you said….if the shoe fits…..
As I said….that’s your style!!”
Yaaaaaaaaaaawn. Do you ever talk about anything other than race?
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:22 pm
Hey look everybody, a liberal played the race card.
hey look everybody, a conservative gripes that someone mentioned race.
film at eleven, und so weiter…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 21st, 2011
3:23 pm
Great news…
Microsoft Word Now Includes Squiggly Blue Line To Alert Writer When Word Is Too Advanced For NeoCon Audience
The Leg Lamp™©® is a “major award”…..
March 21st, 2011
3:23 pm
mike
March 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
“The problem is these folks don’t realize it but this country as well as the world is slowly turning in a population of people who look similar to the President. One real scary thought people.”
So you’re saying mixed people are scary? Talk about a scary thought…….
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
3:23 pm
I suspect you really want to call me a racist, but don’t have the balls to post it here. That’s OK.
If I think you’re a racist, I’ll be more than happy to identify you as such. Just ask our buddy “Bud Weiser.”
I never claimed to know; that’s why that qualifier “I suspect” was in there.
Remember: reading is fun-duh-mental, Harry.
Harry Callahan
March 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
“Kamchak
March 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
“You seem to be laboring under the misapprehension that I actually give a fat rat’s ass on how/what you interpret.”
Looks like Harry was right…not only does Kamchak lack the balls to state his stance on socialism, the mere suggestion of it has him foaming at the mouth.
By the way, be careful with that foul language. The self-appointed blog police (aka AmVet) will be emailing Jay in hopes of having you banned.
oldguy
March 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
Hey Amvet
What have you been smoking??!??
our allies respect the O..man!!!
Too funny!!!
The US is a “me too” in this event. The only reason we are there is because we have the Missles to take out the air defense sites. This is all about Europe needing Lybian oil! (all about oil….where have I heard that before???)
BTW if Iraq was all about oil why is their production all going everywhere else but here???
jm
March 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
oh jeez. surely we’re not going to drift into racism. Given the US is now in 3 wars, and has a $1.8 Trillion deficit….