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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain talks about NYC explosion

Posted: Thursday, March 06, 2008 1:07 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
FORT MYERS, FL -- In Florida today mainly for fundraising, McCain visited with Gov. Charlie Crist (R) this morning, and after a brief retail stop the two politicians spoke to reporters about the explosion today in Times Square.

"The attack or the attempted attack on the recruiting station in Times Square today, it was obviously an act that is unacceptable in America," McCain said. "I know that Mayor Bloomberg as well as other law enforcement agencies are actively working, but we can't allow this kind of thing to happen in America -- a place where trying to attract young men and women to serve in the military -- is an unacceptable situation.

"I've been assured that a full investigation is taking place and I hope they bring the individuals to justice as quickly as possible."

Although McCain didn't speak directly about the delegate controversy going on in the Democratic Party or Crist's role in a possible solution, he did allude to a possible GOP advantage, saying the results might be mixed due to increased attention on the Democrats.

"It does give me an opportunity to go around, shore up our base of support, unite our party and energize our party, and spend time –- as Charlie and I have this morning -- both with our financial backers as well as the people of the state of Florida," McCain said. "So, since something like this has never happened before, it's hard to predict how it's all going to play out… I'm sure that, knowing the importance of the state of Florida, as soon as that decision is made by the [Democratic] Party they will get to know the candidates very well."

But for good measure, McCain concluded his press conference with a slight dig at Obama, who has said that he would be willing to meet with foreign leaders without preconditions, including Raul Castro.

"I don't know if he is naïve or not," McCain said. "I know he's inexperienced, but that approach is something that I think would only serve to legitimize a person who has a many, many year record -- decades of record of cruelty and oppression of the people of Cuba."

*** UPDATE *** Obama spokesman Bill Burton responds: “John McCain and Hillary Clinton both have the experience of supporting a Bush Cuba policy that has failed America and the Cuban people for fifty years. Instead of empty rhetoric, Barack Obama actually has a strategy to help advance liberty for the Cuban people, starting with lifting all restrictions on family travel and cash remittances and pursuing direct diplomacy. Cuban Americans will be our best ambassadors for change, and will give the Cuban people more space from their regime.”

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patty,sd,ca - eat sh_t and die.  We will all be thrilled when you and lying Hillary are out of the picture!
it is hightime that Aspiring to become Commander in Chief, and terrorising American Public-(the World Public carry two  hoots for the Commndaer in Chiefs) SHOULD instead invite or express their desire ro invite Intellectuals of the World to join hands in developing means and  methods to help humanity. One should realise there ere enemies within U.S.,white/black brown/yellow/dark coloured misinformed fanatics just likre 'UniBomber'. and they will continue be here. So instead of talking about experience- like going to India to see a tiger in its habitat or going to Morocco to look inside a once Harem at the cost Taxpayers money will not make a sound impression  to a well educated American. And therefore  the Aspirants should think and talk about not entering a Countryto solve a purely Internal Matter. BUT should be very specificin telling those that they will be destroyed and avoid going and dancing with those people. American citizens would like to keep up their dignity.. So Act accordingly.. and the best admired will lead America from 2009...  
Thank Youy
Womans history month  Lets get Hillary over the top this month.Nothing says we cannt work ahead of the game.Hillary is the best for the job of president lets tell her   YOUR HIRED!!
to help go to hillaryclinton.com
Is Bush going to still claim that no terrorist attacks have happened on American soil since 9/11?  How about John McSame, I mean John McCain?  He's been telling us how great Bush is b/c of the tax cuts he didn't vote for, the war he liked, then didn't like and now does again, and b/c no terrorist attacks had happened in the U.S. -- except for the big one that killed nearly 3000.  Think he'll use that line again?
Hillary Clinton also stepped up to the plate to offer her comments....  yet, OBAMA ????

Still waiting... Hummm and he wants to be our LEADER?
trying to give every benifit of doubt I have watched all the NY newscasters and cable news spots.No where did I hear a hint of a person with mental issues a suspect. The mayor did say "the coward" will be caught and will be prosacuted to fullest extent.Just thought i would drop this here as I was called names earlier.Thanks. we do expect that from the Obommies.It is pathetic. I do research when i can, Do the  Obamanians??? These people dying in Israel are really sad too.
Both parties want someone they can control. That's why the Republicans don't want John McCain and why the Democrats don't want Hillary. The Democrats changed the rules of the primary to allow the power brokers in the Democratic party to have the last say on the nominee. Now it looks as if it might be backfiring on them.
Both parties want someone they can control. That's why the Republicans don't want John McCain and why the Democrats don't want Hillary. The Democrats changed the rules of the primary to allow the power brokers in the Democratic party to have the last say on the nominee. Now it looks as if it might be backfiring on them.
Nixon went to Chins to open a second front against the Soviet Union.  And he did not go without preparations (Preconditions) as and biography of Kissinger will tell you.  Of course BO has yet to define how his definition of preparation differs from preconditions.  And his foreign policy adviser Dr Rice? (back to the future here), was really good when she anwered that neither BO nor HRC are ready for the 3am call..way to go Dr Rice...any other commercials you want to make for John McCain.

Patty SD CA

Sissy Boy Obama  vs. Victim Mentality Sybil or is It Fighter Sybil.  If she is soo tough why is she asking Obama not to get negative (Pot calling the kettle black).  Let the great fighter fight!  Where is SS when you need him?
Liberals bombing recruiting stations, Liberals setting fires to homes and SUVs, Liberals going off their meds and shooting up college campuses, Liberals burring down churches in the south, Liberals showing the world what a bunch of racist and sexist they are. Liberals are giving this country a bad reputation.
A lovely spectacle - McWar & Gov. CHRIST discussing GOP general election technique while CHRIST tries to appear neutral in handling the re-do primary.

RIGHT!  And thanks McWar for wasting no time politicizing the Times Square incident as "me tough Republican, me make you safe!"
As a Canadian-born politically independent US citizen (former award winning  investigative print and broadcast journalist), I came across the following article pursuant to the impact and follow up investigation in the Canadian Parliament. (where I worked years ago, after law school as Special Assistant to the then Leader of the Opposition)...If what is reported herein (see below) is accurate, it might seem that "NAFTAGATE may have been effectively if falsely positioned by the Clinton campaign for the media as an OBAMA- only issue (i.e the best defense is a ruthless if deceptive offense). Perhaps it deserves investigative follow-up as there are specific names including the top aide to Prime Minister Harper, credible news agencies etc.:

http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18232/canada-pm-aide-also-mentioned-clinton-campaign-assurances-on-nafta/

Kindest personal regards.

Richard Pomerantz
The line between American and British leftists [and of all things,feminists] marching in the 2006 London ''Peace'' protest bearing banners that read ''We Are All HEZBOLLAH Now'',and this bombing  at an Armed Forces center in NYC is short and it is direct. The Kossacks [of DAILY KOS],kick their ideological ball from the 20-yd line by extolling the bombing as a ''rightwinged plot'',afraid to death to utter what forces may have actually underlined the bombing and the memories that are brought forth when older Americans recall the WEATHERMEN bombing campaigns of the late 1960s, the ghosts of which have come back to haunt the Kossacks dearly beloved Obama in the form of unrepentant radical and bombmaker William Ayers. Thus a ''rightwinged''connection is used as a tossaway phrase and will eventually be  dismissed[given what we already know of the open hostility of the left to the military].
                  The worry now is that truckling to Islamic demands that the West kneel before their obscene alters,has given a wide range of heart to domestic terrorists seeking agendas of their own.[In this country,the militarys stance on gays perhaps,or its very existance as a projection of the nation-states warlike capabilities. Or the environment[as the ELF arson fires in Seattle have shown],or in the backing of entities such as HEZBOLLAH,HAMAS,or FATAH,which enjoy large support among American academics and students from where this newer breed of post-60s terrorism springs]. Even the outlawed ''New''IRA in Northern Ireland is lifting pages from an al Qaeda playbook as is the separatist ETA in Spain,the KLA in Kosovo,and neo-Nazis in Germany.
           ''Engaging'' national leaders in ''talks''does not a damned bit of good when we are faced with such nonstate actors. Besides,Nixons talks with China accomplished little with regards to that countries human rights records and its now massive military buildup,and did little,if anything to change the face of the communist regime as the much later Tienamian Square crisis showed. Reagans talks with Gorbachev were fruitful within the isolated instance of the fall of the ''former''Soviet state,but did not anticipate the rise of strongmen determined to turn back the clock inside of the Kremlin. Democrat forays into diplomacy in Syria have gotton exactly nowhere,as have Republican talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.[if anything,Syrian meddling and Gazan/Israeli violence are on the increase].
              Then too,we see what occurs when the weary civilian,sick and tired of what they see as inaction on the portion of governments,make common cause with the forces of chaos and take matters into their own hands. Arson in Seattle. A bomb in Times Square,or a private Sredot Jew along the Gazan border who creates with his own hands and mind,a rocket packed with explosives capable of a 200 km range,now aimed at Gaza.
             McCain can see the inevitability of such chaotic forces and the only way to deal with these. Democrats,particularly Obama,look to international bodies in order to stave off such forces,forgetting that such bodies are themselves splintered into chaotic factions of their own promising not progress,but inertia. The idea that fault of the very existance of these forces can be laid at the feet of American political parties serving in their turn is ridiculous. Wahhabism was not an invention of Republicans. The rise of Iranian hardlined mullahs[who now reach for the ultimate weapon], was not the fault of Democrats. Fault will lay in the lack of response by the West and the larger international community in combating these forces. In the face of another serious attack,in any place where perhaps thousands of innocents die,nations will not reach for Gandhis or Kings.[who themselves were cut down by forces of chaos]. They will reach for a LeMay or a Patton.
Charles - would you rather have uniformed service members missing from the table, or your children because the terrorists in Iraq don't have targets in their backyard anymore and start coming over here again? Pick one. Four thousand military members dead over six years, frightening. Three thousand New York civilians dead in a few hours, more frightening.

(And yes, I know 9/11 had absolutely nothing to do with Iraq, don't try to distort that statement.)
Hey, I thought that Geroge Bush the Decider was supposed to PRTOTECT US against this kind of thing

Are we gonna invade Venezuela ?
Thye were behind this right ?
(they must be, they've got oil)

HELP ! HELP @
Save us George Bush !!
Kyle T., thanks for the Beamonesque jump to conclusions.  
Brian from Worchester, MA, you're an idiot. You're just an angry person who feels powerful behind the almight keyboard. It seems that you believe that policies without positive results are in fact good policies. Barack supporters responsible for what happened in NYC? And you know this because...the same way Ann Coulter knows that the 9/11 widows are happy their husbands died. You should be ashamed of yourself.

It's funny how people like you try to spin inflation, tripling a deficit, a mortgage crisis, energy crisis, lost wars, outdated infrastructure, a weak dollar, international resentment, and a divided country to be a good thing for America. When all else fails, I'm sure your kind will blame it on homosexuals or mexicans.
Hey, Kyle T., NY NY , post some real evidence that either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton have, as you put it, "trashed the military... or demonized the military"  Show us the evidence or keep your venomous opinions to yourself.
The problems of America are not the fault of the Replubicans but America's problem are because God is not in control.  God's wants a relationship that is real and personal and that can happen if a person will ask Jesus into His or her heart. Without God in control things in America are going to continue to   worsten.  
WHY UPDATE IN SUCH "LARGE PRINT" ???????????

What's going on here ????? (Sent Thursday, March 06, 2008 1:41 PM)

DUH!?!  Because Obama wrote it!
John McSame...I love that ad with bush draping his arms over big john the sham artist...mccain flip flopped on whether waterboarding is torture...he was agin before he voted for it and cannot be trusted
Well what happened in NY was a criminal act and John is upset about it. He should be upset. Now John tell us how upset you are at the criminal acts of the telecoms.


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