A little context to Romney’s proposed Navy expansion
As part of his plan to increase defense spending by $2 trillion over the next decade, Mitt Romney has repeatedly cited the factoid that the United States has fewer ships in its Navy today than it did in 1916, suggesting that our naval power has declined since then. He is also campaigning on a pledge to boost the number of ships from 285 to 313. saying “I will restore our Navy to the size needed to fulfill our missions by building 15 ships per year, including three submarines.”
Our current ship-building rate is 9 to 10 per year.
Two points regarding that issue:
1.) As it happens, two political scientists at Florida State University recently completed a historical study that compares naval strength among the major powers from 1865 to 2011. They conclude:
“In 1916, the U.S. controlled roughly 11% of the world’s naval power. This is an impressive number that ranks the US third in naval strength behind the UK (34%) and Germany (19%), and just ahead of France (10%). What about the US navy in 2011? In 2011, the US controlled roughly 50% of the world’s naval power putting it in a comfortable lead in naval power ahead of Russia (11%).”
In Romney’s view, the fact that 4 percent of the world’s population controls a mere 50 percent of the world’s naval firepower, almost five times the amount of the second-ranked power, leaves that 4 percent dangerously vulnerable.
2.) Why is Romney stressing naval expansion in his campaign remarks? Take a look at the map of swing states. Virginia is critical to his election hopes. Virginia is also home to Newport News Shipbuilding, which with 21,000 employees is a major contractor with the U.S. Navy. The additional submarines that Romney keeps mentioning are nuclear-powered Virginia-class subs, built in part at Newport News at a cost of $2.5 billion per copy.
In other words, Romney is dangling billions of taxpayers dollars and government-financed jobs in front of Virginia voters, hoping that it wins him the presidency.
– Jay Bookman
measure of state naval strength for all countries from 1865 to 2011detailing the
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
716 comments Add your comment
josef
October 24th, 2012
5:27 pm
IMAM
Well, truth be told, since the Hunley Restoration the number of SCV chapters honoring navy personnel has increased considerably…
Towncrier
October 24th, 2012
5:27 pm
[The point completely passes over the reader's head as he stares unthinkingly at his monitor, wondering which of his dozen or so self-cliched expressions he should type next or, since he appears to be really incapable of logical debate, what childishly Biden-esque thing he could do or say to try to "win" his "case"] “Phil Specter passed himself off as a journalist?”
[This poster, sizing up his "opponent", decides to answer to answer as the reader perhaps deserves] Yes…and also a space alien!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 24th, 2012
5:27 pm
Stevie, unlike you and many other cons, the President has indicated that a complete investigation is underway as well as efforts to punish those who did it. Now, perhaps you watch a lot of TV cop shows, but reality is you don’t put the “evidence” out there when you are still investigating and have not made an arrest. Just because it does not fit with your jump to conclusions without evidence does not mean that there is a “conspiracy” or that it will help the investigation to counter your perceptions based on FTDs.
Chip
October 24th, 2012
5:28 pm
Jay, I think your price tag for the subs is a little high; the Navy’s been making adjustments to get the cost below $2 billion each. And it’s worth mentioning that Romney’s call for three new subs a year is an increase of only one per year above the current plan. But those are minor points (as, in response to other posters, are the facts that we don’t need much oil to run our nuclear-powered fleet and that subs are, in fact, boats, not ships).
More important is that historical comparisons to numbers of ships and percentages of global naval power don’t mean anything. We need the candidates to explain their strategy for using naval power, then propose naval forces to carry out that strategy. Romney’s call for a 313-ship Navy doesn’t tell us anything, nor does Obama’s dismissive response about aircraft carriers and subs. A Navy focused strictly on protecting our home waters and the shipping lanes serving us is far different from a Navy that projects power in the eastern Med, the Indian Ocean, East Asia, etc.
I wish we’d gotten that kind of Navy discussion Monday night instead silly comparisons by both candidates to the military a century ago.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
DEBBIE,
Another deflection and and intelletually inept reply…why did he say one thing at 24 hours and his minions said another for weeks? National security issue would be if he told us details about our efforts to get the killers which is not what I’m asking..
You can do better! I believe in you more than any!!
Fred ™
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
FRED,
Name calling and shout downs are not valid debate points…if it is so stupid (BTW I’m not voting for either), then even you should be able to answer the question….I know you are a bright guy when your head is not clouded with emotion…take a stab!
+++++++++++++++++++++
Really? Pray tell, what name did I call you? Please provide an example of admit that was just one more lie in your tactics of diversion?
You need to adhere to the same guidelines you feel other should use.
ragnar danneskjold
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
Dear Granny, Paul, and Jay, if you have enough ships, you do not have to spread them so far apart. Thus, with a fully funded Navy, Marine helicopters could have been mere minutes away. But if you don’t really care about safeguarding America’s interests elsewhere, my argument is moot.
fair and balanced
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
Reagan deficit spent to create a 600 ship Navy so we could invade Grenada. Most of the ships were scrapped or mothballed like the USS Wisconsin. Jay is 100% right on why this Navy expansion matters to Willard. Just buying votes.
Jm
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
Subs are cool
Fred ™
October 24th, 2012
5:32 pm
So Steve when did you stop beating your wife?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
5:32 pm
If elected, he has the right to change his mind. As a shrewd bidnessman, he might give the contract to the Chinese, saving taxpayers billions
Holy Crooked Deals batman!!! I didn’t know whether to laugh at your comment or cry!!
Both would’ve been the correct response though, since I could just imagine, and ignorant, bloated on his own self importance Romney OUTSOURCING the building of classified nuclear subs to the Chineese!!
I can also see a bunch of the conned brigade, (some on this very blog), clapping and cheering saying what a GREAT idea it is and how much it’ll save America money!
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
5:32 pm
“need the candidates to explain their strategy for using naval power”
Well, we know what Romney intends to do: protect that “pathway to the sea”
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
5:34 pm
It has now come to light that the white house knew while the Benghazi Consulate was under attack that it was, one and attack by organiazed terrorists and two that the terrorists were most likely affiliated with Al Qaeda. One hour away, we had jet fighters with rockets, and laser guided munitions. While the attack raged for more than six hours our government (most likely with the knowledge of the president) observed, watched, talked to the victims, and did nothing. Our government did nothing! Nothing! Sunsequently, Obama knowing full well what had happened, went to a campagn event and began the lies his administration would repeat over and over for the next wo weeks. The only action taken by the administration was to have the poor boob who had made an obscure film, arrested, to draw attention away from the “political damaging” truth of what really happened in Benghazi. Four american died while our government watched and lied about what they saw. Either our president lied about doing nothing, or his adfministration is so incompetent that he didn’t even know what was going on for more than six hours. Take your pick.
jconservative
October 24th, 2012
5:34 pm
We cannot have Small Government and Big Defense at the same time.
If Romney is serious, then any pretense that he will ask Congress to reduce the size of government is just “hope”.
LUCIFER
October 24th, 2012
5:34 pm
Remember when Reagan repeated the populist notion that Panama was a part of the U.S. and was willing to fight to hold on to it. Here’s a refresher course:
“Basically the idea was that Panama was an American state, and that the canal in Panama was an American canal and that there was this massive challenge to American sovereignty represented by the idea that the canal might go back to Panamanian control. And it does – it seems cockamamie when we look back at it. And you know what? Panama’s fine.”
“A lot of people who were even to Reagan’s right – you would have thought they were to Reagan’s right – people like John Wayne, people like William F. Buckley told Reagan that he was nuts for doing this,” she said. With his “fellow travelers,” his ideological peers, “He’s [Reagan] sticking to his guns and making this a hugely combative partisan issue,” said Rachel Maddow in her new book “Drift.” Reagan continued to repeat that the Panama Canal was a U.S. possession and territory — in effect a U.S. canal simply located in Panama. He got a lot of political mileage out of it, repeating it often even knowing it was untrue. Seems Mittens is using tactics from Reagan’s play book.
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
5:35 pm
if so, it should be easy for Barry to simply tell us what happened and why on the surface this appears like a cluster…
Maybe initial reports indicated it was about the tape. Maybe not. Maybe it took a few days to sort through the various he said/he said stuff. Maybe Obama and Hillary are lying through their teeth while sending a drone.
Our objective should be tracking and killing terrorists, not keeping busybody partisans happy. Obama is doing one of those things well and I personally could care less about the other.
In short, if you want to know what’s going on over there why don’t you volunteer your @$$ and go find out, Mr. Armchair Spy and Intel Analyst. Supplying details for your whining isn’t a priority, if that upsets your notion you’re the center of the universe—bummer.
If you don’t want to vote for the president for that reason then just acknowledge it’s all about you and vote however you want.
independent thinker
October 24th, 2012
5:35 pm
Before WW II building the biggest and mightiest battleships was where most of the money was spent by the major powers. Luckily our Navy invested in aircraft carriers and someone who knew what was coming down the road put them all out to sea before Pearl Harbor. Loss of those destroyers at Pearl Harbor did very little to stop our Navy. As Obama said they did not have aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines with missiles in WW I.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 24th, 2012
5:36 pm
Doggone, you know we are at great risk. Canada’s pathway to the sea is through Mexico.
Towncrier
October 24th, 2012
5:36 pm
“Jay WOULD answer you but right now he’s with his psychic trying to get the answers for you.”
This statement just shows how out of touch you are with reality, DDR. Jay does NOT have a psychic. He has a crystal ball!!!
Tundra Dude
October 24th, 2012
5:39 pm
Neither of them have any great plans except to promise more jobs that they really have little control over…
Ditto!
‘If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.’ ~Emma Goldman.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
5:39 pm
“Doggone, you know we are at great risk. Canada’s pathway to the sea is through Mexico.”
And it takes a big navy to protect that Misssissippi River that runs nearly from Canada to the Gulf! I want to be there when one of those navy ships sails up to the headwaters of that river!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:42 pm
FRED
“Oh is this your new Republican stupidity waste of time campaign? Anytime someone points out the stupidity and irrelevance of your crap call them “angry?”
Anyhow I am also not a wife beater as you now are labeling..deflection again..
KEEPS,
I don’t watch network TV some cable….I’m particular to Discovery and Smithsonian although I watched all the episodes of breaking bad, downton abby and now am watching homeland.
How long will this investigation take? It’s a terrorist activity….its a video….Heck, if he were doing such a great job, he should have brought it up as selling point in the debate..
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
5:43 pm
Stevie R – Okay I’m trying to NOT be a smart alec and make cracks………….but……………………….
(1) The only person who KNOWS what Obama was thinking/doing/eating/whatever during that time is Obama and MAYBE his wife or Hillary.
(2) Why it took him so long to answer a bunch of dumb azz questions that did NOT pertain to the matter at hand because at that time he had deaths in Syria of a good ambassador and confidant, deaths of other Americans within the consulate AND deaths of the SYRIANS who were helping to guard the consulate as well as he had the worry of how to get the remaining survivors as well as the bodies of the dead out of harm’s way; well, Stevie I just don’t know.
(3) I will submit the answer that NO ONE knows except him and his staff.
(4) I will submit that at this time THEY aren’t talking.
(5) I will submit that since we don’t know and they aren’t talking that perhaps asking this question at this time, to the people on THIS BLOG is…………
a) Crazy
b) Ridiculous
c) A Waste of Freaking time.
d) All Of the Above.
Sorry.
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
5:45 pm
Are you liberals so dense that you don’t know Obama’s very own administration is purchasing helicopters from Russia having the effect of transferring more U.S. Jobs overseaks than Bain Capital ever did? This is common knowledge.
.Pentagon Defends Buying From Russia Trader Aiding Assad
By Tony Capaccio and David Lerman -
May 9, 2012 The Pentagon says it’s in a bind, with nowhere to turn for helicopters needed by Afghanistan’s air force except Russia, a top arms supplier to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.
The U.S. Army has a $375 million contract to buy 21 Russian-made MI-17 helicopters for the Afghans from Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-run arms trader, Pentagon Undersecretary for Policy James Miller said in a previously undisclosed March 30 letter to a lawmaker opposed to the deal.
Towncrier
October 24th, 2012
5:46 pm
“That’s not Libertarianism. That’s some kind of really effed-up totalitarian or monarchy bullspit right there.”
I am puzzled, JHM. You said previously that “…Libertarians…don’t apply a ‘purity test’ to determine who can and can’t call themselves libertarians.” How does that statement square with your criticism of Rags? I have no dog in this fight, I am just curious (because we had a conversation about Libertarianism about a month back).
Recon 0311 2533
October 24th, 2012
5:46 pm
Rapid reaction force deployment to Benghazi was within our capability, however, the order would have had to come down from the CnC. Given what we’ve been learning over the last several days that the attack in real time was being reported back to Washington, it’s hard to believe the president wasn’t informed. I’m guessing that he was informed and declined to give a go order for a reaction force in fear there could have been collateral damage that could have produced an issue just before the election. The administration is trying to cover up its failures to provide adequate security and that Obama withheld an order to deploy a reaction force.
Orange12
October 24th, 2012
5:46 pm
Libs! Bow down to Gunny Highway.
http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/political/clint-eastwood-returns-stars-in-new-super-pac-ad
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
5:47 pm
This is common knowledge.
I will be the starting pitcher in game 1 of the World Series.
This is common knowledge.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:47 pm
AQUAGIRL
Who is asking for classified intelligence? What’s classified about his adminstrations flip flops on this issue which suggest it was and is being handled poorly..
Jeez…ask a legimate question and I’m referred to as stupid, wife beating, con, armchair spy, whiner, Romney supporter and the like…simple question not related to national security (i believe Bush was the master in this vein)….
Drones are another area of contradictory action but another time another story…
I’m not voting for either…
Joe Hussein Mama
October 24th, 2012
5:47 pm
Righty — “it was, one and attack by organiazed terrorists and two that the terrorists were most likely affiliated with Al Qaeda. One hour away, we had jet fighters with rockets, and laser guided munitions. While the attack raged for more than six hours our government (most likely with the knowledge of the president) observed, watched, talked to the victims, and did nothing. Our government did nothing! Nothing!”
Let me get this straight.
You’re absolutely convinced that we knew, DURING the attack, that the assault was being conducted by identifiable, known terrorists, possibly al-Qaeda members. Is that right?
You’re also convinced that we should have attacked ASAP with air assets and air-to-ground weaponry. Is that right?
Assuming your answers to both questions are ‘yes,’ did it ever occur to you that an armed incursion into foreign territory was what Congressional Republicans *rebuked* President Obama for in 2011 — when we took part in the NATO operation in Libya? And now you *want* him to do *exactly* what the GOP got upset about?
And did it ever occur to you that the current government of Libya might get upset about us unilaterally invading and conducting an armed assault in a metropolitan area?
Furthermore, do you think that *bombs* are an appropriate weapon to use in a city, where businesses and residences may be in close proximity to the target zone?
I don’t think you’ve thought this through very far, Righty.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 24th, 2012
5:48 pm
How long will this investigation take? It’s a terrorist activity….its a video
Well Stevie, I don’t rightly know. How long did it take Bush to kill OBL? Oh wait……..
How long did it take to find the WMD in Iraq? Oh wait……
What other intelligence operations or operatives might be impacted because you are a silly little boy to follow Faux because you and Faux want to score political points at any expense.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
5:48 pm
Aquagirl & T.C.:
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
5:48 pm
Libs! Bow down to Gunny Highway.
Gasoline will be $6 a gallon by the day of the election.
Towncrier
October 24th, 2012
5:49 pm
“Name calling and shout downs are not valid debate points…”
True dat. But that doesn’t stop people here from resorting to them as a primary means of arguing…
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
5:50 pm
In as much as the liberals don’t think the president has any control over the economy or creating jobs they they shouldn’t mind giving Romney a chance. It can’t hurt.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 24th, 2012
5:50 pm
Gasoline? Who cares! What about the prices of bayonets and binders?
getalife
October 24th, 2012
5:50 pm
The tea party’s rape position will be blamed for mitt’s loss of the women vote.
mitt was smart enough to stop the Libya attacks but the cons just got to get our President.
Another reason cons will lose.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
5:52 pm
Jeez…ask a legimate[sic] question…
“legitimate”, puerile, whatevs.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:52 pm
DDR,
That’s all great the getting inside Obama’s or any of the other things you mentioned..he told us he was uniformed of real time information…now it appears he was…for whatever reason….all he’d have to say is that he was informed and the appropriate actions are being taken…it is possible he handled this in admirable fashion…..I can’t imagine he could do anything about it within the first week or so but why the dance in the public eye between him and his minions?
Georgia
October 24th, 2012
5:53 pm
Here comes the Chinese Navy! I’m so scared. They don’t have boats that go under water, do they?
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
5:53 pm
“Gasoline will be $6 a gallon by the day of the election”
Someone needs to tell that to the convenience stores around here! They got the wrong message and gas went DOWN 10 cents since the day before yesterday! Boy are they going to be pissed at the money the’ve been losing!
indigo
October 24th, 2012
5:53 pm
“hoping it wins him the presidency”
He is also courting the Military-Industrial-Complex, knowing that if elected and able to carry out this naval buildup, he and his party will be rewarded with a very generous amount of money.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
5:53 pm
I don’t think you’ve thought this through very far, Righty.
Boy, that’s a surprise!
Tundra Dude
October 24th, 2012
5:54 pm
Ragman wrote:
But if you don’t really care about safeguarding America’s interests elsewhere, my argument is moot.
“America’s interests”, my cheeks! How about Big Oil, Big Banks, Big Mining, Big Ag, and misc crony capitalists pay for their own security.
Imo, nothing’s changed since USMC Col Smedley Butler wrote: “War is a Racket” in the 1930’s.
getalife
October 24th, 2012
5:55 pm
I know how to get the price of gas down to 1 dollar a gallon.
Collapse the global economy again.
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
5:55 pm
Well Stevie, I don’t rightly know. How long did it take Bush to kill OBL? Oh wait
I believe the facts will support me on this, Bush was president when our soldiers captured Saddam Hussein, turned him over to the Iraquis who put him on trial and executed him. Unlike the lame brained Obama, Bush has never bragged or taken credit for it.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
5:55 pm
“Here comes the Chinese Navy! I’m so scared. They don’t have boats that go under water, do they?
Well, not on PURPOSE ….
Banderson
October 24th, 2012
5:56 pm
Who will be the Republican nominee for president in 2016?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:56 pm
KEEP,
What does Bush have to do with this? Don’t you realize that everytime BO is favorably compared to Bush he is suggesting he wants the bar set as low as possible?
Oh and the obligatory allegation and reference to FoxNews is another favorite deflection…its either Bushs fault, lies by whomever disagrees with you, or challenging the source (Washington Post is my fav)..all deflections…
Michael
October 24th, 2012
5:57 pm
Regarding the navy – there was a famous comment by an admiral toward the end of the cold war, “The navy has two kinds of vessels – submarines and targets.” Romney’s plan has no support in the military.
It reminds me of Reagan. By the way why didn’t we just use his Star Wars program to defend Benghazi. Surely, there are some space based lazers that could have done the trick.
When the cons here show the same concern for the Pat Tillman cover up, which lasted two years, they will have some credibility regarding Benghazi. And don’t use a terrorist email claiming credit as your proof that the administration absolutely knew the events at Benghazi.
Tundra Dude
October 24th, 2012
5:58 pm
“Gasoline will be $6 a gallon by the day of the election”
It’s all Obama’s fault, heard it on Faux Nuze.
Up here it was 3.60’s last week, filled up with OBAMAGAS today at ….drumroll…$3.33.9!!!
Towncrier
October 24th, 2012
5:58 pm
Okay…I’m out guys. Goodnight all!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
5:59 pm
JAY,
I suggest the Chinese Navy’s most functional craft is likely a Junk…
Joe Hussein Mama
October 24th, 2012
5:59 pm
Towncrier — “I am puzzled, JHM. You said previously that “…Libertarians…don’t apply a ‘purity test’ to determine who can and can’t call themselves libertarians.” How does that statement square with your criticism of Rags?”
I’m not applying a “purity test” to him, for one. I have no idea how he conducts his life and/or personal affairs.
For two, *advocating* the coercive use of state power against a *single individual* via the passage of legislation that affects *only* that individual (particularly when that individual is neither guilty or accused of any crime) is demonstrably antithetical to the expressed position of the Libertarian Party, and to libertarian thought and philosophy. I can’t see how anyone claiming to be a libertarian would be in favor of *any* law that affected only a single individual, regardless of what behavior or activity that law compelled or enjoined.
Is that clearer?
DannyX
October 24th, 2012
5:59 pm
“And it takes a big navy to protect that Misssissippi River that runs nearly from Canada to the Gulf! I want to be there when one of those navy ships sails up to the headwaters of that river!”
You are right, Doggone. We also need to protect the Great Lakes. Canada is a huge threat and they have an awesome Navy. WE MUST BUILD MORE SHIPS TO KEEP UP WITH THE CANADIANS!!!
Check out their awesome fleet…
http://www.counterweights.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/aabcnavy01.jpg
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 24th, 2012
6:00 pm
Mighty Righty: I believe the facts will support me on this
I believe you are in the same BS category of Ben Shockley, just making things up and claiming there is bound to be evidence.
You lose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_C7mhnE34
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
6:00 pm
Republicans larned in their faith-based science class that a bayonet is better than a hand grenade because the bayonet is sharp and it will cut you. Republicans have earned the right to carry sharp weapons so long as they keep them covered so they don’t poke their buddies with them while crouching in their foxholes. It would not be wise to give them hand grenades since they would likely pull the pin and use it to poke the enemy while discarding the dull round part that has no sharp edge.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:01 pm
Michael, that’s a great point on the Tillman case. That was deeply troubling.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
Stevie: I can’t imagine he could do anything about it within the first week or so but why the dance in the public eye between him and his minions?
Stevie, how many times, how many ways, can i say I don’t know?
Spanish: No lo sé
Dutch: Ik weet niet
German: ich weiß nicht,
Japanese: 私にはわからない
French: Je ne sais pas
Scooby Doo: Rii ront roow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI5XL7dYCmg
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
JAY
Off topic but is it a no-brainer to take FLORIDA -4 versus my Dogs? The odds makers are alarmingly accurate but I’m not seeing this angle..
Orange12
October 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
The latest Libya related email just might be the last nail needed to complete Obama’e reelection coffin. The spin the Obama Admin is pukeing out to smooth this over is almost laughable if this subject was not one of such a serious nature.
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
Jeez…ask a legimate question
A legitimate question implies the asker knows enough to pose a legitimate question.
You don’t know spit about our intelligence gathering capabilities or who should know what when. The fact you can get on the interwebz and howl I WANNA KNOW does not give you a magical ability to evaluate any answer you get.
If you’re not satisfied by the answer it doesn’t mean squat. Except that you fancy yourself an expert in what everyone should know, what information we should release, and how to run international affairs.
I realize it’s fashionable in the age of blogs for everyone to think they know Just How This $#!^ Should Work, Dammit, ‘Cause They Know It All And They Googled That $#!^ For A Whole Fifteen Minutes. Fer chrissakes we have people here declaring they know how many ships we need and how they should be deployed.
Please don’t stupid yourself down to that degree.
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
If, as Obama ignorantly stated during the debate, a recession would cause a reduction in gasoline prices, then the Obama economy would have reduced the price of gasoline to less than a dollar a gallon over the last four years.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 24th, 2012
6:04 pm
D. DoRight — “Scooby Doo: Rii ront roow”
Ruh ro, Rebbie!
getalife
October 24th, 2012
6:06 pm
They just use ben’s initials, bs.
They BOTH suck
October 24th, 2012
6:06 pm
Michael
Don’t forget the trumped up Jessica Lynch story. No where near the scale of the Tillman case, but surely a trumped up lie.
getalife
October 24th, 2012
6:08 pm
orange,
It was the movie according to eyewitnesses.
DannyX
October 24th, 2012
6:09 pm
Well the reason gas is at $6 a gallon is all because of Obama. He stopped all US drilling or something like that. Here’s proof…
The top 10 oil producers through the first half of this year. Figures are in thousands of barrels per day.
Saudi Arabia: 11,619
United States: 10,855
Russia: 10,343
China: 4,312
Canada: 3,865
Iran: 3,825
United Arab Emirates: 3,029
Mexico: 2,942
Iraq: 2,816
Kuwait: 2,802
We may become the worlds greatest producer of oil but hey wait….BENGHAZI!!!
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/10/24/u-s–may-hit-no–1-in-oil.html
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:11 pm
Two points Jay,
When will you blog about Obamas putright lie when he said that he never supported a use of force agreement with Iraq ? when in fact it was he who sent Biden to negotiate one. It was also Biden who said that he wasn’t worried about a use of force agreement with Iraq because he was so sure of one that he would bet his vice Presidency on it. so if Obama did not want one why was Biden assuring us that one was coming ?
Why don’t you tell us what a use of force agreement would have accomplished Jay ? Wasn’t it at least 20,000 troops in Iraq after the draw down ? The very thing Obama attacked Romney for wanting ?
Second, now that Obama has educated us on aircraft carriers and subs, wonder where they were when our ambassador and marines were killed in Lybia, as the State Department watched.
Oh and one more point, what exactly is Obama doing when he tells the voters in Michigan and Ohio that he supports keeping the car industry alive and Romney dosent ? Could that be monetary pandering to the tune of major money ?
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:12 pm
Stevie, I’d take Florida and lay the points in a heartbeat on that one. I know point differentials can be misleading, and I know that Lattimore missed the Gator game, but still… When you look at what Florida did to the Gamecocks, and what the Gamecocks did to Georgia ….
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:12 pm
AQG: Please don’t stupid yourself down to that degree.
A-Girl : You’re sounding like an angry black/white/hispanic/asian/indian/jewish liberal looney woman. Stifle yourself when talking to your male betters on this blog girl!!
We women have to know our place!
LIberal Pariah
October 24th, 2012
6:14 pm
How is Romney’s ships for the Navy rhetoric for Virginia voters different from the bailout of the unions in the stimulus to keep the union vote for Obama? No wonder the electorate has lost confidence in our politicians…they are politicians.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:14 pm
“When will you blog about Obamas putright lie when he said that he never supported a use of force agreement with Iraq ?
When did he say that, Mama?
F. Sinkwich
October 24th, 2012
6:14 pm
Well, maybe we could afford a few more ships if we abandoned eco-weenie, tree-hugger initiatives bio-fuel initiatives that rob taxpayers and reduces military readiness.
NYT:
“The still-experimental fuels are also expensive — about $27 a gallon for the fuel used in the demonstration, compared with about $3.50 a gallon for conventional military fuels.”
Outrageous!
Hey O’bozo. Let’s try windmills on submarines next!
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:15 pm
“How is Romney’s ships for the Navy rhetoric for Virginia voters different from the bailout of the unions in the stimulus to keep the union vote for Obama?
I don’t think it is.
Dave
October 24th, 2012
6:16 pm
Bookman….you are so not funny…find a real story, no more commie mommie liberal anti-military tirades, please!
DannyX
October 24th, 2012
6:16 pm
I’ve had it with the Georgia Bulldogs football team. Socialized football is just not working out in Georgia.
I’m voting YES on the Georgia Bulldog football privatization ballot initiative.
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
6:16 pm
We women have to know our place!
Maybe I need one of those god-given rape babies to domesticate me and restore me to my proper place.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:17 pm
We may become the worlds greatest producer of oil but hey wait….BENGHAZI!!!
What’s so funny about Romney talking about Obama NOT allowing companies to drill oil (and pollute the waters) for America is that there is no guarantee that those same companies would sell oil predominantly and ONLY to America!!
The conned eat that crap up though. It’s amazing!
Pizzaman
October 24th, 2012
6:17 pm
It’s really too bad that none of what anybody says here matters, either side, because GA is as Red as can be. So this has become vent 2. I’ve already voted and I don’t think there’s any doubt. Never another draft dodger in the WH. But just a thought for all you Repubs that think the Repub leadership is more pro military than the Dems. It’s not so. And that all Military personnel vote Republican. Not so either. My experience of 30+ years in the Military shows that the Military personnel are split along the same lines as the rest of the Country. So if Willard’s depending on the Military to elect him. he’ll be sorely disappointed.
bman
October 24th, 2012
6:17 pm
If we’re making suggestions on blog topcs, it’s chili-cook off time around GA.
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:17 pm
Danny those figures look a lot like the cuts Obama contends Romney will make in services.
The facts is he will cut the rate of increase in services. In other words instead of spending 20% more we will spend 10% more. They are playing with make believe money.
And Bangahzi matters Danny. Americans were killed, Americans that Obama put there and then refused to protect.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:19 pm
Maybe I need one of those god-given rape babies to domesticate me and restore me to my proper place.
Uh oh. Wanna be starting something huh? Like that woman said in “The Help”
We done gone and dun it now!
Tundra Dude
October 24th, 2012
6:21 pm
We may become the worlds greatest producer of oil but hey wait….BENGHAZI
Imo, this election won’t be won or lost based on events in BungaWazi, Timbuktu, or East Jesus, Siberia.
Almost wish they’d find a New and Exciting issue.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:21 pm
Well ladies and gents I’m out. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Joe Hussein Mama
October 24th, 2012
6:21 pm
Mama Says, this is for you.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/10/22/romney-takes-the-etch-a-sketch-to-iran-policy/?cp=6#comment-1121576
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
October 24th, 2012
6:22 pm
And Bangahzi matters Danny. Americans were killed, Americans that Obama put there and then refused to protect.
Mama, shouldn’t you be in the kitchen? Where’s my sandwich anyway? Oh and don’t forget the beer.
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:23 pm
Jay, watch the last debate he denied supporting a status of forces agreement ( I called it a use of force agreement earlier ) that would have left at least 20,000 troops in country after the draw down. Matter of fact it was when he was trying to say that Romney supported wanting more troops in country, which is exactly what the Obama administration was negotiating. Remember one of the issues that Obama had with the Iraqi demands was that they wanted jurisdictional authority over our troops in criminal matters, and Obama refused to agree to that ?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 24th, 2012
6:23 pm
Maybe I need one of those god-given rape babies to domesticate me and restore me to my proper place.
Well, there’s hope for mankind. At least one woman has come around to the Right way of thinking.
While you’re up and about, Aqua, peel me a grape.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:24 pm
That wasn’t my recollection of what happened, Mama.
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
6:24 pm
Amazing that someone above ground on this blog would think an E Mail from one of our Embassy’s stating they were under attack would not be brought to the attention of a sleeping president of the United States. Can anyone imagine their personal home or workplace being attacked by thugs armed with mortors, rpgs, and fully automatic weapons, call 911 and upon notifying the police who are watching the attack unfold on live feed does nothing while you are being slaughtered? Then after watching you and your family being murdered hold a news conference blaming some man you never heard of and they leave town to raise money so they can keep their jobs. They don’t bother to investigate what happened because they are afraid of going in to your neighborhood. Then finally, they blame you for living there. That ladies and gentlemen is exactly what happened. To this day, nearly a month and a half later we have done nothing.
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:26 pm
Your right Debbie, exactly where a women should be, of course after you take my shoes and impregnant me.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:26 pm
And Mama, I can’t find that in the transcript either.
http://dyn.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/10/22/transcript_of_the_second_obama__romney_debate_115896.html
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:27 pm
What was the argument Jay ?
Obama did say he never wanted the agreement even though Biden was negotiating one right ?
Peter
October 24th, 2012
6:29 pm
Well let’s see over turn Roe vs Wade……….. and spend additional 2 trillion on War ships……
That should balance the budget !
Jay
October 24th, 2012
6:30 pm
No, Mama. There’s no record in the transcript that I can find in which Obama makes the statement you claim.
Mama Says
October 24th, 2012
6:30 pm
Jay don’t go away I have to read your post
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
6:31 pm
While you’re up and about, Aqua, peel me a grape.
What kind of grapes pair well with beer?
I suck at this domestic stuff.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 24th, 2012
6:34 pm
Well, it’s times like this that just make me so proud to be from GA. You won’t find this kind of thing just anywhere:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/mans-ear-bitten-off-by-his-son-in-law-during-famil/nSkt4/
josef
October 24th, 2012
6:38 pm
Speaking of the GOP and the Middle East…
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/opinion/who-threw-israel-under-the-bus.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20121024&_r=0