GOP candidates tout war-happy, shoot-first approach
I didn’t watch all of last night’s GOP debate, but I did see an extended section on foreign policy. It was a horror show in which the candidates competed to show their disdain for and disinterest in the rest of the world, as well as their avid eagerness to use military power to solve problems. They seemed to think that those two traits ought to define America’s approach to the rest of the world, and the audience loved them for it.
Ron Paul was the only one who demonstrated a lick of sense or restraint.
Rick Perry, for example, repeated a refrain from the previous debate by insisting that President Obama had just two options after a U.S. spy plane drone was brought down over Iran and captured: Go into Iran and take it back, or or send missiles to destroy it on the ground, as if the Iranians have it sitting out on some airfield with red arrows helpfully pointing toward it.
The foolishness of that approach is self-evident, but I expect no better from the half-informed cowboy governor. I did expect better from Mitt Romney, but instead what we got was as bad or worse. Moderator Bret Baier noted that Romney had earlier called Obama’s response to the drone capture “extraordinarily weak and timid,” and asked Romney whether this weakness had invited war.
For those who can’t watch the video, here’s how it went:
“Absolutely. Does timidity and weakness invite aggression on the part of other people? Absolutely. A strong America is the best ally peace has ever known. This is a president that …. a spy drone downed over Iran and he says ‘pretty please?’” Foreign policy based on `pretty please?’ You have to be kidding.”
Romney, it turns out, is also in the “destroy it or go get it” camp, as if it were possible for the U.S. military to put together a crash rescue mission into the heart of Iran and fly the drone out of there. It’s a scenario that would be ridiculous in a Hollywood movie.
In addition, let’s also note that President Obama did not ask Osama bin Laden, “May I kill you, pretty please?” Nor has he taken that approach with the scores of other members of al Qaida and Taliban leadership targeted in Pakistan or Yemen. Romney’s charge that Obama has been weak or timid in his use of force when necessary is ridiculous on its face.
In this particular instance, our spy drone was violating Iranian airspace. Don’t get me wrong — I’m glad we’re keeping a close eye on things there. But its presence in violation of international law doesn’t exactly put us in a strong position to be outraged. Sending troops to retrieve it or trying to destroy it would escalate the matter into a major confrontation, with war a likely outcome. The price of oil would likely double or triple, the economy would go into a tailspin and the Middle East would erupt. Yet every candidate up there — again with the sane exception of Ron Paul — seemed to think that would be just grand.
Let’s review how a similar but much more important situation played out:
In April of 2001, a U.S. spy plane with 24 American military personnel aboard was forced down on Chinese soil after a collision with a Chinese jet. The Chinese refused to release either the plane or the personnel. The 24 Americans were held and interrogated for 10 days. We got the plane back three months later, in parts, after it had been disassembled and studied by the Chinese.
The plane’s release came only after we paid “restitution” to the Chinese for feeding and housing our personnel and for its expenses in dismantling our plane. We also sent a letter to the Chinese foreign minister, expressing American sorrow at the death of a Chinese pilot in the incident and for the fact that “the entering of China’s airspace and the landing did not have verbal clearance.” President Bush even sent a condolence letter to the widow of the dead Chinese pilot.
By the standards expressed on that Iowa stage last night, President Bush’s handling of that affair went well beyond “pretty please” or “extraordinarily weak or timid.” It was downright craven, and heaven knows how the macho chest-beaters on the right would respond if the same thing occurred under Obama. Yet a decade later, the Hainan Island incident remains just that, an incident that is largely forgotten.
Yes, the Republican candidates were playing to an audience last night. They were pandering to its worst instincts. But it is a sad state of affairs when would-be leaders can’t or won’t engage voters in at least a somewhat adult conversation about such matters. I suspect audiences in other countries were even more appalled by the nonsense they heard last night.
– Jay Bookman
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358 comments Add your comment
Jay
December 16th, 2011
9:36 am
Taxpayer, I volunteered. Basically did it on my own, because I was curious.
Paul
December 16th, 2011
9:36 am
Jay
I’ve been unable to find a transcript to check, but your column indicates the ‘destroy it or send in a team to get it back” answers had to do with after the Iranians took it and secured it.
I’m not sure that was how the question was laid out – that it was the initial response, as soon as the drone went down, which I understand from several reports was in a remote region and we were not sure, at that time, Iran was even aware of what had transpired.
So there’s a big, big difference between before capture and after capture.
Butch Cassidy
December 16th, 2011
9:37 am
So wait, the GOP candidates want to use force whenever necessary, and in this case could realistically excalate into war. We learned tha last time around that wars can’t be fought and paid for with tax cuts, so we would inherently have to increase taxes in order to finance the excursion.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES!!!!!!
Hey, using disconnected logic is really fun!
Katz P. Ajamas
December 16th, 2011
9:38 am
When I was a kid we would play ‘army’. We had protocols for for our hardware. Most, if captured, would explode if tampered with (fire crackers, batteries, thin wire to replace the fuse). I’d be very surprised if the captured hardware is not protected as well. I would also be very surprised if was actually lost. More likely, it is sitting in some previously unknown Iranian facility and collecting information.
AmVet - Make America safe. Deport a neo-con.
December 16th, 2011
9:38 am
joe, your “advice” to go into Iran and “take back the drone” has already been already discounted as more Republican nonsense.
You (in general) and your empty bravado kill me. You know nothing AT ALL about any of the particulars of this situation, yet have boundless “advice” on how to deal with it.
Can you incompetent neo-cons EVER learn from your deadly mistakes?
Lemme guess, you’re petrified that if we don’t invade Iran, and damn soon, that we will learn the hard way about smoking gun mushroom clouds.
You just got finished ensuring that thousands of flag-covered caskets came home to Dover AFB and now you just merrily want to do it all over again?
No sir. You are the biggest losers.
And you never-served chickenhawks have proven beyond all doubt that you could not invade Grenada without screwing it up terribly…
For Not a Neal Boortz Redneck…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGPD0ZBiMs0
Granny Godzilla
December 16th, 2011
9:38 am
(ir)Rational
December 16th, 2011
9:31 am
So, Granny and Peadawg – You’re saying that Obama couldn’t just issue an executive order shutting it down? I’m not buying it
I’m not selling it
It remains the truth.
Bill Orvis White
December 16th, 2011
9:39 am
OK, enough nonsense. Let me start here: It is a fact that only ONE candidate WILL revive the rightful Bush Doctrine. That man is none other than the honorable Speaker Newt Gingrich. Only one man will stare down the jihadists and that man is none other than the honorable Speaker Newt Gingrich. I’m praying that President Gingrich WILL send in troops to recover that drone. It’s rightfully ours and we deserve to get it back. We need a real leader who WILL fight for America’s interests FIRST.
Didn’t watch the entire debate, Liberal Jay? Figures. These highly qualified candidates are doing their job by annoying you and your friends in the liberal media and inside the beltway. You cannot take the heat from smart folks speaking common sense.
C’mon, We are engaged in a permanent War on Terror. The conflicts never end for God’s sake.
Merry Christmas and Amen,
Bill
Peter
December 16th, 2011
9:40 am
Put a Republican in office and the first thing he wants to do is start a WAR…..fund it……..hell no that is conservative.
The GOP is NOT Conservative.
Imagine if the money used in the Iraq War was used in the US for the good of the American people ?
Jay
December 16th, 2011
9:40 am
The course was so bad that the university regents adopted a rule forbidding its return or anything like it in the future. That’s when it was moved to privately run Reinhardt College for a while, then abandoned altogether.
It also formed the basis of Newt’s ethics violations. Newt claimed it wasn’t political and could be funded by tax-free donations, but they unearthed all kinds of internal Newt memos, etc., proving that it was thoroughly political in its goals and content.
Jm
December 16th, 2011
9:40 am
Jay. Considering you and boortz work for the same company, I wonder why they can’t get you together and sing kumbayah.
Soothsayer
December 16th, 2011
9:41 am
<a href=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-16/no-wisconsin-recall-fatigue-as-signatures-surge-against-walker.htmlNo Wisconsin Recall Fatigue as Signatures Surge Against Walker
Wisconsin will be going into a New Year that resembles the current one — torn over the actions of Walker, 44, the first- term Republican who provoked organized labor by pushing collective-bargaining curbs through the Legislature. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the capital in February and March, and $43 million was spent on recall campaigns against state senators who supported Walker’s efforts.
“This is simply the shorts before the feature,” said Mordecai Lee, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “The presumption was that the steam was out of the recall movement. It turns out that wasn’t the case.”
The Arnolds are part of a volunteer army of 5,000 who defied Walker’s predictions by collecting since mid-November more than 507,000 signatures, 33,000 shy of the minimum to authorize an ouster vote next year.
“The people of Wisconsin have said enough is enough,” Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said yesterday in suburban Milwaukee after announcing the signature totals and the goal of bringing the total to 720,000 during the next month. “We are well on our way.”
Get ready Fright-Wingers, this is the prelude to the 2012 elections.
The Walker camp laughed off prospects that the required number of signatures could be collected in the allotted time. Looks like the last laugh is on him.
Erwin's cat
December 16th, 2011
9:42 am
the trojan drone….that one?
I don’t think we want it back
ty webb
December 16th, 2011
9:43 am
speaking of college courses, I’m thinking Aaron Murray’s improvement throwing the ball at UGA(33 td passes), could be attributed to Cythia tuckers journalism class. Seems he’s modeled his throwing mechanics after her seemingly effortless quick release of the race card.
Jay
December 16th, 2011
9:43 am
Paul, the accounts I’ve seen report that we lost contact with the drone and had no idea what happened to it until the Iranians made their announcement.
Peter
December 16th, 2011
9:43 am
Gee… here is a typical GOP idea…….I’m praying that President Gingrich WILL send in troops to recover that drone.
One praying for what ? Religion a way to control the masses, especially used by the Republican’s.
Two invade another country….of course WAR is the GOP Mantra ! PAY for WAR ? HA HA HA sure….. the GOP can’t control the budget, or balance a budget.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 16th, 2011
9:43 am
Morning all. Just saw this.
R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/christopher-hitchens-militant-pundit-1261700.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
9:44 am
For one thing, (ir)Rational, closing Guantanamo bay and transferring all the detainees to American soil would pose a security threat and that was a big reason why Obama couldn’t get others on board. I wouldn’t exactly call it a “failed promise”. I’d call it a “dumb promise”.
Fair enough?
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
9:45 am
Where’s getalife this morning? Afraid to show his face after claiming all day yesterday that the drone was fake? What a df….
Guy Incognito
December 16th, 2011
9:45 am
Mick
“ps megan kelly is hottttttttttt”
Google, Megyn Kelly Julie Bandaras. There’s a pic of them (prebabies) at a Corespondent’s Dinner a few years ago.
Wow!
Of course the left is lucky to have Candy Crowley, so FOX cant toot it’s horn too loudly
mm
December 16th, 2011
9:45 am
Pandering morons. Why do you think our country is bankrupt?
Bosch
December 16th, 2011
9:46 am
The day the troops come home from Iraq, the GOPers are howling for more war. The nation won’t like their pathetic rhetoric.
DecRec
December 16th, 2011
9:46 am
Obama rejected three plans for destroying or retrieving the drone because he was afraid of a war with a country which by his own words “is not a threat to us.” Yes, that may be the definition of “weak and timid.”
Jack
December 16th, 2011
9:46 am
AmVet at 9:03: I’m sure you’re proud of your tantrum. You should print it out and have your mommy paste it to the fridge. Bookman, tell us what you’d do about the drone; you’re the expert.
Mick
December 16th, 2011
9:47 am
Jay
Thanks for the info. I’d love to take a class of his and debate that intellectual hollow man myself, you know just challenge everything that spews forth. Man, do I miss collge and all my myriad strategies to disrupt bloviating perfessors. I have no doubt that mr. president obama would take him to the woodshed…
Jay
December 16th, 2011
9:49 am
Unfortunately, Jack, I don’t think we have any options there.
Peter
December 16th, 2011
9:50 am
Yup read the Blog..the GOP followers can’t wait to get into another WAR… Killing is the way of the GOP !
mm
December 16th, 2011
9:50 am
“Imagine if the money used in the Iraq War was used in the US for the good of the American people ?”
Precisely. The cons have no problem shotting up countries and democracy building, but to hell with spending a dime on our poor, our unemployed, or our infrastructure.
Bob
December 16th, 2011
9:50 am
For all of you Ron Paul supporters…..please realize that Obama would rip Ron a new one if by some miracle Ron won the ticket. We might as well put a big bullseye on American soil for the nuclear bomb that Iran is being allowed to create at will if Ron is President. You can’t be serious about Ron after watching the debate last night and Ron’s interview after with Sean Hannity. He’s an idiot. While none of the Republican candidates are exciting, Ron Paul is at the bottom.
Seth
December 16th, 2011
9:52 am
If the GOP runs anyone but Paul, they re-elect Obama and destroy themselves; if the GOP runs Paul they win. If Paul runs third party with a conservative, he re-elects Obama and keeps the GOP on life support. If Paul, however, runs with a liberal, he just might win and in the process put both parties on life support. We can only hope! Dennis Kucinich, your nation needs you.
Fidlin1
December 16th, 2011
9:53 am
The drone should have been destroyed when we had the chance covertly. Obama’s gone in ‘12, Go Newt!!
AmVet - Make America safe. Deport a neo-con.
December 16th, 2011
9:53 am
Fortunately the days of inept little men playing toy soldier/rogue cowboy in the White House are done.
And all of this “debate” is meaningless nonsense designed to tease the hopelessly delusional rabid dogs in the “base” into believing that they even have a chance in 2012.
Every week that goes by, it is obvious that this shameful and utterly incompetent GOP has given up in it’s efforts to reclaim the Executive Branch…
ByteMe
December 16th, 2011
9:53 am
Ok, so let’s add some facts here: what’s the cost of the drone and what super-secret technology is onboard one of those that might now be in Iranian hands? If it matters, we worry about it; if it doesn’t matter, then it’s just another stand-in argument for “he’s not one of us”.
BOBO
December 16th, 2011
9:54 am
WHY ARENT ARE DRONES EQUIPPPED WITH SELF DESTRUCTION METHOD, OR REMOTE
DESTRUCTION? IF ITS HIDDEN THEN PUSH A DARN BUTTON BLOW THE SUCKER UP WITH ALL THE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND MOCKING US? I MEAN WITH ALL OUR TECHNOLOGY
CANT WE INSTALL A SELF DESTRUCT? WOULD HAVE BEEN SMART I THINK…..
godless heathen
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
I’m still amused by the mental image of Sasha upstairs in the White House with her little HUD on and a Wii controller flying the drone around the ME snapping pictures of stuff she thought was cool.
ty webb
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
the lost drone is of no worry…the Iranians are still frantically searching the desert for the miniature pilot who flew the thing.
(ir)Rational
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
Peadawg – So, you’re wanting to change it from a failed promise to a dumb promise. Not really seeing the difference as he didn’t do as promised. However, I’ll give you the point. So, the facts changed as far as he was concerned and he wasn’t able to keep (for whatever reason) his promise. That’s the point I was trying to make for the responses as far as this debate was concerned. They can say whatever they want today (not the best of ideas, but that is how politics apparently works in America today) to get elected, and then when they learn all the facts that they had no way of knowing before hand, they can change their minds. That’s all I was saying. You don’t have all the facts, neither do I. I can’t say what I would have done in the situation, and I can’t say what I would do with the current situation. But I can say that given all the facts, I would have to make a decision and hope that it was the right one. If it wasn’t, I would have a lot of people to answer to. But at the same time, how do we way which decision is the right one? Who is to say that the decision to not go in and get it isn’t the correct one, if the drone, while infinitely more advanced than the ones they may have seen before, isn’t all that top secret to us or even close to our newest/best technology. Maybe we lose some respect publicly but put it out on the back channels to governments around the world that we made the decision not to try and retrieve it because war with Iran wasn’t worth it for some older, almost outdated technology.
Normal
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
BOBO,
As stated yesterday…no self destruct. Explosives are too heavy.
Ackshun
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
It’s not like we lost an F22 here. It’s an unmanned drone. The whole reason it is in use is particularly because it is expendable. It’s a model airplane with cameras and hellfire missiles (maybe) and Iran won’t have that much more tech than they could get with information available on the internet. p3 (pointless political posturing) at its best. Meanwhile the ingnorant masses are led to believe this is the second coming of the Rosenbergs.
AmVet - Make America safe. Deport a neo-con.
December 16th, 2011
9:56 am
Jack, my 86 year old “mommy” is a holocaust survivor. My grandfather, a small town attorney in Germany, died a bellhop in London.
And it is only because of the rest of us that quasi-fascists like you have never had the chance to do similar things in this country.
Paul
December 16th, 2011
9:57 am
Jay
This is one of the earliest reports I saw regarding the incident, reporting what we thought happened and what we thought the Iranians knew. Stated it went down in a remote area and we were not sure the Iranians were aware of the incident.
I do understand it’s a key distinction – did the Iranians detect it at the time, or not? – and views on what was or was not subsequently possible hinge on that.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204770404577082822643123332.html
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
December 16th, 2011
9:59 am
They dont call it “Fox News Network” for nothing Va Va Voom!!
Donovan
December 16th, 2011
9:59 am
Let’s get the bigger picture out of the way first. Liberals, much like all elitists, come from the same mold. They like to talk about things rather than do things. They over analize situations to the point of failing to accomplish anything positive. They have no backbone nor moral courage to take on tough decisions. They have always given America a bad name and given aide to the our enemies due to their timidity and treasonous ideology.
So let’s start with the blame Bush thing again. Even though I had a problem with the Bush decision, the after action report told a different story. We were in international air space when challenged by a SU-23. The hot-dogging fighter pilot got too close and consequently died in the episode. It was either land the damaged plane or die eating a missle from another warplane. Rescue was impossible and retaliation against a nuke country was suicide.
First of all, sending troops in to Iran is a foolish notion cooked up in a liberal argument. However, destroying the drone by various options was a doable mission. Besides, it would have been a strong message to those Islamic fanatics. Secondly, Iran is not yet a nuke country.
Taking down bin Laden was easy, once we knew where he lived. So don’t even go there and defend the community organizer of bravado. Had he not done the deed his reelection would be doomed.
There was no such pandering by the candidates as Bookman saw it. These GOP guys represent the heart and soul of American pride and not the spineless liberal left that enjoy attacking their own citizens with insults of “half-informed cowboy governor” rhetoric insults.
Is it any wonder the enemies of our country rely on weak-kneed liberals to do their fifth column work? Thanks again for your support of the Viet Nam War and the Iraqi War.
26belly
December 16th, 2011
9:59 am
“Drone goes down in Iran!” I first thought was how stupid can these guys be. Then I heard it was our best, “double-secret”, not capable of manufacturing, we don’t have the technology drone….and the CIA was behind the mission! LOL! You know what, yeah! Let the Iranians have it. The CIA still has that entire country spooked from their s&m days in the basement of the U.S. Embassy in downtown Tehran. There’s not telling how much intelligence is being gathered “from” the Iranians from this “downed” drone!
dre
December 16th, 2011
10:00 am
Anything that needed to be destroyed on that drone, WAS destroyed on that drone before it hit the ground. I feel fairly certain our Air Force might have spent a few minutes or so on this scenario playing out. The U.S. and Obama (and I am no fan) could care less whether we get it back. That’s why he said “pretty please, can we have it back?”
stands for decibels
December 16th, 2011
10:01 am
Fortunately the days of inept little men playing toy soldier/rogue cowboy in the White House are done.
The majority of Americans are a lot more sensible than they are, these days, it would appear:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/11/22/rel19c.pdf
Which comes closer to your own opinion — The U.S. should not attack another country unless that country has attacked the U.S. first, or the U.S. should be able to attack any country it thinks might attack the U.S.?
Should not attack unless attacked first – 74%
[...]
In a procedure known as “waterboarding,” interrogators produce the sensation of drowning by either dunking a restrained prisoner in water or pouring water over the prisoner’s face. Do you consider this procedure to be a form of torture, or not?
Torture – 68%
Jm
December 16th, 2011
10:02 am
Mary Elizabeth
Re Australia. That was a very good move by Obama.
The Colonel
December 16th, 2011
10:02 am
Jay Bookman, you need to do some research before you enter the foreign policy arena.
The Hainan Island incident involved American hostages. We were NOT violating anyone’s airspace…the Chinese just didn’t like the idea that we were eavesdropping. When hostages are involved, you do what you have to do to get their freedom. It is just that simple. Oh, the airplane that they disassembled was 30 year old technology….the only intelligence value was the electronic equipment inside which was disabled before they landed.
All these political candidates are making statements that are targeted at the emotions of voters. Whomever the next President is will quickly learn to rely on the recommendations of the Defense Dept. In the case of this Drone incident, I seriously doubt that anyone in the Dept. of Defense would have been willing to put a single American life at risk to recover a piece of technology. Had we known where it was (we didn’t) we could have destroyed it with a few cruise missles. But, you can bet your next paycheck that all the facts regarding this Drone incident have yet to be revealed.
The debate revealed some very serious, naive foreign policy experience and understanding. Your comments are in the same category.
Granny Godzilla
December 16th, 2011
10:02 am
Donovan
” They like to talk about things rather than do things. ”
and you can stop reading right there….
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
10:02 am
” he didn’t do as promised.”
He couldn’t get funding. He tried. Simple as that.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 16th, 2011
10:03 am
Donovan: “Is it any wonder the enemies of our country rely on weak-kneed liberals to do their fifth column work? Thanks again for your support of the Viet Nam War and the Iraqi War.”
Rough getting through the morning hours before Rush is on the air huh?
Me tough chest-pumping conservative!!! Liberals weak kneed sissy pinkos!!! Oooh!
By the way just what IS a “liberal” Donovan? (Hint: you can’t answer anyone who opposes a Republican policy.)
Hmmmmmmmmm
December 16th, 2011
10:04 am
Mary,
You seem like a very intelligent and informed person… This country is BANKRUPT because of his policy. Plain and simple, we don’t need a slick talking salesman as leader of this country… We need a LEADER… I’m not going to argue either, I think if you look at his short history as President, an intelligent person can filter out the good and bad to decide how good a leader this man has been for this country…. It’s just my opinion, but Trillions of dollars of debt is just one reason Obama has failed…. Not the only reason, but by far the most important…
Erwin's cat
December 16th, 2011
10:05 am
What ever information about the drone is released to the media should be considered suspect at best
JKL2
December 16th, 2011
10:05 am
GOP candidates tout war-happy, shoot-first approach
Libya says, “What?”
getalife
December 16th, 2011
10:07 am
The debate was a joke like the gop party.
Richard
December 16th, 2011
10:07 am
You’re never going to prevent Iran from getting Nukes short of wiping the whole country off the face of the planet. You might succeed in delaying them a few years by bombing them, but they will eventually have the tech. Then guess who their going to go after. I say if they want to try to take on Isreal, go right ahead. Just be forewarned Iranians, Isreal’s got nukes to and I doubt they’d be afraid to use them.
As for the spy drone? Shouldn’t have let it get shot down if you didn’t want it in enemy hands. I think Jay’s got the right of it this time. If there was an Iranian spy drone flying over the US, we damn well better shoot it down and not give it back.
Paul
December 16th, 2011
10:10 am
ackshun
“It’s not like we lost an F22 here. It’s an unmanned drone. The whole reason it is in use is particularly because it is expendable. It’s a model airplane with cameras and hellfire missiles (maybe) and Iran won’t have that much more tech than they could get with information available on the internet.”
Not really. You may want to read up on the RQ-170 before posting such conclusions. Iranian/Chinese/Russian difficulty would come in manufacturing alloys, even if/when they determine what they are. Same is true for the reconnaissance/comm systems. Another negative is subsystems it may share with our latest-generation fighter, the F-22.
Jay
December 16th, 2011
10:10 am
Colonel, please cite where I claim we were violating China’s airspace in the Hainan incident. I wrote that it was forced down on Chinese soil, which is accurate.
And no, you don’t do what you have to do to get back hostages. Once you make that policy, you raise the value of hostages and increase the chance that hostages will be taken.
ty webb
December 16th, 2011
10:10 am
“gop party” is redundant is redundant.
stands for decibels
December 16th, 2011
10:11 am
This country is BANKRUPT
Yeah, we’re so “bankrupt” that we have to pay crazy interest on T-bills just to attract investors…
oh, wait.
Granny Godzilla
December 16th, 2011
10:11 am
“hmmmmmmmmmmm America is bankrupt because of President Obama’s policies…”
oh yea..teleprompter, socialist, wmds, regulations kills jobs….
and the list gets longer and longer
Paul
December 16th, 2011
10:11 am
dre
“Anything that needed to be destroyed on that drone, WAS destroyed on that drone before it hit the ground”
Do you have a source for that, or is it speculation?
bill arp
December 16th, 2011
10:12 am
Iran wants to be our best friend, they really do.
Granny Godzilla
December 16th, 2011
10:12 am
Actually
Libya says
“Thanks”
godless heathen
December 16th, 2011
10:12 am
getalife,
Glad you here. Tell them all about how there was no drone lost and the White House said so.
If you here it folks, believe it because getalife doesn’t lie like cons.
mm
December 16th, 2011
10:13 am
The wingnuts think they know everything about economics and foreign policy.
That explains why they bankrupted our country and made us the most hated country in the world.
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
10:13 am
“The debate was a joke like the gop party.” – Also like you and your “that drone was fake” dribble from yesterday. Points and laughs.
““gop party” is redundant is redundant.” – LOL yeah like “ATM machine” and “PIN number”
godless heathen
December 16th, 2011
10:13 am
hear (damn homophones)
Midori
December 16th, 2011
10:13 am
http://www.theonion.com/articles/handmade-antiobama-sign-currently-frontrunner-for,20680/
Hmmmmmmmmm
December 16th, 2011
10:15 am
Granny,
Facts are Facts…. Just do the math… He is not the only one, but it is his watch….
Paul
December 16th, 2011
10:15 am
Well, in all this my hope is if Romney wins the White House that his response will be the inverse of President Obama’s.
Some people thought he would be a weak-willed Democrat who wouldn’t make ‘tough’ choices. He’s made plenty – from Afghanistan to OBL to Patriot Act to drone strikes.
So maybe, just maybe, a President Romney will lose the campaign-trail testosterone and, when faced with reality, will make prudent decisions.
showing humilty
December 16th, 2011
10:16 am
Hey two face Mitt: 22 of 27 world top terroist are dead under Obama, his record speaks for itself, no attacks on America soil, this shows what a bunch of idiots on the right, would you really want these people making national security decision?
Obama brought our troops home and these Anti Americans on the right can not stand it, go ask the son and daughters who were station in these hell hole are they happy to be home, fat slob rush limbaugh bashing the President for bringing our troop home, had Obama been Clinton or Bush he would have been label a hero for getting our troops home, what a bunch of sick bigots we have on the right””’
AmVet - Make America safe. Deport a neo-con.
December 16th, 2011
10:16 am
ty,
Help stamp out and eliminate redundancy! ~The Department of Redundancy Department
Granny Godzilla
December 16th, 2011
10:16 am
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
yep facts are fact…that’s why you have already altered yours.
I remain umimpressed
Welcome to the Occupation
December 16th, 2011
10:17 am
Mary Elizabeth: “I will say, again, that President Obama has authentic inner strength; his vision is evolved and he is leading America in the right direction. Elect Gov. Romney as president and you will elect a weak leader, regardless of what he says.”
What is authentically strong about caving yet again to Republicans on the modest tax raises on the high-earners in this latest farcical round of haggling in Washington?
By the way, why do you bend over backwards to defend a man who said “The free market is the greatest force for economic progress in human history“, as Obama did last week in Kansas, in light of all the evidence one could possibly hope for to the contrary?
Sounds like Republican-lite to me, hardly a profile in courage — or intelligence for that matter.
willie lynch
December 16th, 2011
10:17 am
Jay
December 16th, 2011
9:07 am
Sanity and clarity don’t work with those of unclear mind or should I say the not so sane. Good luck!
Normal
December 16th, 2011
10:19 am
Off topic…
Buck McKeon (R-CA) would rather not hire Federal workers in order to pay for the mandated DoD cuts. Great priorities, huh?
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/military-folo-sequestration-protection-buck-mckeon-cut-fed-work-force-121411w/
Paul
December 16th, 2011
10:21 am
showing humility
“no attacks on America soil”
Ft Hood?
ty webb
December 16th, 2011
10:22 am
Amvet,
yeah, that’s a much needed bureacracy that I’m sure we all could agree to agree would be much needed.
Normal
December 16th, 2011
10:23 am
As a ex-military man, we were told that there would be no negotiations on our behalf ever. As members of the military it was understood that we were expendable to the good of the country.
Hmmmmmmmmm
December 16th, 2011
10:23 am
altered,,,, Yikes, and this is why we need some form of testing before you are able to vote… I mean good grief…
What are you talking about?
December 16th, 2011
10:23 am
“It was a horror show”
Jay, you are quite possibly the dumbest smart person I know.
JF McNamara
December 16th, 2011
10:23 am
We don’t have the money or military resources to have a war of choice right now. It’s really that simple. A military response would take months because we have to assume they will take it as an act of war and prepare to conquer Iran before our strike.
They are spewing nonsense. Foreign Policy is the one area where I would give Obama an “A”. He’s killed terrorist, set Iraq and Afghanistan on paths to exit, started a cold war with Pakistan because they harbor terrorists, and strengthened our position against China without any real dissention. What’s not to love?
Jm
December 16th, 2011
10:23 am
Trotsky
I’ll give you credit for this though we seriously disagree on major issues
You’re not a mindless Obama worshipper like a lot of the folks here
AmVet - Just say no to the War Pigs.
December 16th, 2011
10:26 am
and this is why we need some form of testing before you are able to vote
From a long line of big Jim Crow fans, no doubt…
Jm
December 16th, 2011
10:26 am
Trotsky
Obama is a 1%er too, btw
Erwin's cat
December 16th, 2011
10:28 am
gotta go make some pasta…gnocchi, it’s what’s for dinner!
Welcome to the Occupation
December 16th, 2011
10:28 am
Jm: “You’re not a mindless Obama worshipper like a lot of the folks here”
Well, it’s thankless work, so … thanks.
gm
December 16th, 2011
10:28 am
Hello idiots on the right: We tried the John Wayne approach with the last President: 5,000 Americans dead in NY, 4500 American troop dead;
Americans hated around the world, someone throw a shoe at our President.
Lets look at Obama, troops are home America , country has been safe, terroist are being killed, respect around the world has come back, yet the idiots on the right would love for America to go back to being put in danger, let their sons and daughters go fight especially Dick Chaney racist, silver spoon daughter.
Proactive
December 16th, 2011
10:30 am
One MAJOR thing I don’t understand… The drones are remote controlled. Why don’t they have a self-destruct button? I mean, HELLO? If they are going to fly a fricken spy drone around a hostile country… Really?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 16th, 2011
10:30 am
Instead of testing voters, can we test candidates? I think a grueling weeklong test on a variety of subjects faced by a national leader would be good.
Of course, right now, there may be only 1 or 2 Republican candidates who even stand a chance of surviving a real test. 
show humility
December 16th, 2011
10:31 am
Paul
Was he not a American that attack Ft. Hood ?
Proactive
December 16th, 2011
10:31 am
You know… “In case s**t HAPPENS”????
Jm
December 16th, 2011
10:31 am
Obama to sign defense bill today taking away your civil rights
Stand up to your president democrats and liberals!
Obama the oppressor is just another 1%er
Pat
December 16th, 2011
10:31 am
Stupidity has always been a requirement for voting for the GOP unless you reap the benefits of massive multi-national profits. But in the past, Republican leaders were at least 10-20 higher in IQ than the Republican voter – they simply crafted “dumbed down” messaging to wave the red meat to their base. Example: George Bush Sr. didn’t believe a tenth of the crap he let Lee Atwater use to smear his opponents. It was just the “dirty work” that had to be done to get him the office he believed his due.
This is no longer true. The rise of the unholy Trinity of Perry, Bachmann and Cain – actually considered for the top office in the country – is testimony to the fact that if you tolerate stupidity long enough, you will embrace it. The rise of Gingrich now is partly due to the fact that in comparison, he actually “seems” smart, in that he can craft coherent sentences to attempt to align his many inconsistencies. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Hmmmmmmmmm
December 16th, 2011
10:31 am
LOL…. If that makes you feel better…. Why not bring Jim Crow into the discussion…. There will always be a “race” issue to blame…
godless heathen
December 16th, 2011
10:32 am
gm,
You make the left proud.
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
10:33 am
“and this is why we need some form of testing before you are able to vote
From a long line of big Jim Crow fans, no doubt…”
What’s wrong with testing a voter on whether or not they know the candidate’s position on certain issues? With all the rednecks and n-words in 2008 and people voting blindly either way pretty much every year…probably not a bad idea.
Peadawg
December 16th, 2011
10:34 am
“Obama to sign defense bill today taking away your civil rights” – Again, df who can’t read, US citizens are exempt.
Jm
December 16th, 2011
10:34 am
New AP poll
For first time a majority, 52% say obama does not deserve to be re-elected
getalife
December 16th, 2011
10:34 am
godless,
Just because you lost the debate yesterday does not give you the right to lie about me.
I never said that.