The updates are appreciated, due to the obvious precautions about where he is.

McCain spent the night in Iraq.  Obama is too scared.  Obama is spending the night in Kuwait.

If Obama were a real man, he'd have gone to the Yankees game instead.

I will be praying that Senator Obama,makes it home safely.  I will also be praying for Mrs. Michelle Obama and the girls that they stay safe while he is away.  I have never felt some close to or wanting to see this person become President of this great nation

Go Obama, Go! Accomplish what you will!

We have confidence in you. You represent the world's best hope for America's next Executive Administration. You have made us proud again!

Can't wait until Barack is the president. There is a big difference in image between Barack and John McCain. We see it here everyday now the whole world is seeing it. America will be respected again !!!!!!!!!!!!

SECURITY, SECURITY, SECURITY!!  AM I PARANOID?  OR IS AN ASSASSINATION, OR AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT, LOOMING?

Chuck;

You are the heir to Tim "The Greet" Russert -- great discussion on MTP with Tom this morning.  You are able to translate the trends and make a real conversation from the numbers.

However, isn't it safe to keep Senator Obama's travel plans out the general public view until he actually touches down?  Or is this public information - within the public domain?  

Also, the increased coverage of Obama does not equate to positive coverage of Obama - the intensity of his coverage compared to McCain does not allow voters/viewers to see the strengths and weaknesses of both candidates in full view.  Senator McCain is getting a free ride due to the blind eye being turned to his gaffes and "flip-flops."  Senator Obama on the other hand is being set-up for a fall by the full weight of his coverage - over exposure is not good for him -- and the fatigue of a mis-statement (or mis-step) is what this is really about.

In any case - thanks for the great coverage of this historic campaign by two honorable candidates - an AA and a 71-year old!  Wow - who says you can't in America!

He is looking mighty Presidential.  It was also exciting to see the level of enthusiasm on the faces of our brave men and women in uniform as they greeted Senator Obama.

Is the role of "First Read" just to observe and be a mirror to the political gamesmanship or "silly season" in politics as Sen. Obama referred to it, or can we ever expect this space to be utilized to challenge the campaigns on their circular logic?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

Specifically, I am at present wondering if you will stop the McCain media honeymoon while they cry media bias like The Clinton campaign did.....not sure Obama could survive the General if McCain is as successful as Clinton was in filibustering her way into a media backlash against Obama that ran the gamut on Rev. Wright and ensnarled Michelle Obama also.

Where is the stuff on Cindy McCain's drug use this time around, if it were Obama, the REPS would not accept that it was covered four years ago as an adequate response, now would they? Will they continue to benefit like Hillary Clinton did because they are better "whiners" about the media?

And regarding this foreign trip: Is it the media's role ("I'm asking because I sincerely don't know!!") to challenge the McCain camp on the accuracy or hypocrisy of the charges against Obama; "He has never held a hearing!"; when McCain never shows up for them or for the votes...."He's never been to Iraq"; when Bush had never been outside of Texas...."He's making policy before the factfinding trip"; when every member of Congress has heard all this testimony first hand from Petraeus and others and journalists can research the situation without stepping foot in Iraq.

Why do such intelligent people in the media stand by silently and just report these political half-truths, innuendo, and challenges without any qualification? I don't understand, can you please explain because I must surely have the role of the media mistaken here with that of an objective and correcting source of information.

Leaders lead!  Others go to a baseball game and along with associate, badmouth the leader. I would think John and his buddy Rudie could at some point become respectful.  Oops, they are Republicans so they apparently know no better.

The Bush administration and McCain, are in a desperate mode again to spin and spin every freaking word of Maliki's statements of a timeline withdrawal. It is clear that the Iraqis favor Sen. Obama's 16-month timetable!!! The Whitehouse frantically called poor Maliki to take back his words of timetable withdrawal to save the old Sen. McCain from looking like a moron!! This is the Bush Puppetry in the works.....

Well, maybe Barack Hussein Obama will learn something on these foreign policy campaign trips designed to make him look like a commander in chief.  A lot to learn for the preacher man.

Is it true that Chuck Todd's wife works on the McSame campaign???  Conflict of Interest mean anything these days????

Why is First Read even writing about common knowledge...Andrea Mitchell is just sickening...I am tired of her dogging Obama. Now she is implying that the media needs to go following Obama around while he is out of the country because of his junior senator experience the media needs to invade and distract from his trip...

Today (Sunday) she said that the focus is on Obama's visit to Iraq and other places is because he is a junior senator...that is just a BIG LIE...we are Americans and we are not stupid...She went to Iraq to backstabbed Obama...

Andrea looked so stupid with a interview studio setup in a war zone for her to talk to the general before Obama even got there...why didn't Andrea go to Iraq before Obama announced that he was going here if she believed that the general had something important to say...I am trying to stomach Andrea, but I am going to start changing the channel when she comes on the TV or video...

Andrea Mitchell needs to take a leave of absence until this election is over...send or to FOX NEWS...she is a Hillary fan that keeps dogging Obama...she makes NBC look weak and uninformed...

Andrea is in Iraq to bad month Obama, and spin whatever he says and does into a LIE or SMEAR...

Now that is off because of idiot McSame and his runny lips. I guess depends can't help old folk when they have the runs in their mouth. To expose a senate convoy, what an idiot!

It is refreshing to have an American who has a real world view.  While McCain claims to have experience in world affairs, his strategic decisions are lacking.  He claims to know how to win wars yet I do not seem to recall what war McCain has been involved in and won.

So far so good for Obama.  He has carried himself in a way that should make any American proud.  The way ahead for America is not to rely on McCain who seems stuck in the past (Intellectually and strategically), but to go with Obama who is intellectually and strategically prepared for the 21st cetury challanges.

shame on nbc, this love fest for obama is slightly obvious, oh but I forgot you all are in the tank for obama, now I know what hillary and snl meant, the idea that all three networks going with obama on this trip as if he were president, I look at all nbc'c correspondents pics to the right of this page and it is so obvious they are all liberals, what has happen to nbc, now I will get attacked by all the readers of this, that are only libs and democrats, no wonder msnbc ratings are the lowest. sad nbc has come to this, beleive it or not there are two candidates running, see now what bill clinton meant, obama is a fairytale, that is why the media love him.

This is Joe Voter in Rolla, Missouri, and Chuck Todd is right, I want us out of Iraq, never wanted us to go into Iraq in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqCtoREx88I

A little sour grapes on the McCain camp's part?  Why has no one said, McCain could have invited the press on their tour, but they are not smart enough to do so!  Where is the MSM on McCain letting it be known Obama was travelling?  I just don't see him with all these credentials in Foreign Policy.

The Bush administration and McCain, are in a desperate mode again to spin and spin every freaking word of Maliki's statements of a timeline withdrawal. It is clear that the Iraqis favor Sen. Obama's 16-month timetable!!! The Whitehouse frantically called poor Maliki to take back his words of timetable withdrawal to save the old Sen. McCain from looking like a moron!! This is the Bush Puppetry in the works.....

First, let me state that I am a recently retired White enlsited Soldier and supporter of Obama's.  Why is every still shot photo that is being posted online showing Obama with Black Soldiers?  What message is the media trying to send?

I'm agnostic, but I pray for Obama's safe arrival in Iraq. And I pray that his entire trip goes smoothly so he can hurry up and come home to his beautiful family.

Its been 107 days since Mccain was in Iraq

USA has only one President at a time. It is totaly inappropriate for him to be preusumptous and act like he is already the President (or President elect) of the USA. He should refrain from such behaviour. It reflects very poorly on his judgment and sends mixed messages to the world.

Please ask Andrea Mitchell to just report the news rather than add her opinion on every move Mr. Obama makes. She's showing her colors, age and is being very unprofessional.

Nice to see the Oloser campaign has moved on. For some reason Burb-ak thinks this is all a game to see how many of his little fans he can get to clap. The man is nothing but a trained seal performing for his audience. And isn't this Katie night? I guess we can watch the Perky One drool over this child from Chicago.

Obama wants to remove troops from Iraq and send to
Afghanistan. So, let one country die that is fighting
the same fight as the other, WHY? Why desert one and
go big time for another when the countries are fighting for the same thing....Is one countries people
more important than the other....WHY? With Bush it was
suppose to be oil.....Obama ?

Meanwhile McCain is at the ball game with Rudy probably annoying and disrupting the fans trying to catch the action.

everyone has made such a big deal about barack obama going to Iraq.. i personally feel like it will bring more voters for obama... i was talking to my friends at http://www.homeinspectionspecialist.com and they told me that everyones business has slowed down dramatically.. with high expenses we need someone to make changes happen...

THEY HAD "BEST OF THE BEST" WITH HILLARY CLINTON AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE FOR A WOMAN; NOW LET THESE KNOW IT ALL MEN FIGURE IT OUT AND SEE WHAT A "BIG" MISTAKE THEY HAVE MADE.... UNBELIEVEABLE.

DISPLAY MY LAST MESSAGE; THIS IS AMERICA

We should at all time salute the contributions of our war veterans, at least afford them the honour they deserve. For Mr. Macain to be trying to make it appears as if it is only military men have strategic vision,I think is very remote.  Up for mr. Obama. You are proving many people wrong.

Why are you releasing this information -- what happened to safety of Barack Obama and those traveling with him?

Booyah!!! Play Meredith's McCain interview all day & you can all go home early. This race just opened up. Check out Meridith on the Today show letting McCain hang himself with his own words. It was a very "Russertesk" interview. She asked solid pertinent questions without being overbearing. She challenged what he was saying once & let him nervously talk over her with talking points. But the second time, when she asked about McCain's weakness on the economy, He gave a decent answer. But then she mentioned his views come from Phil Gramm & the wheels came off the straight talk express.

And Andrea Mitchell, we know you have to be tough on Obama because you don't want to seem like you're fawning over him. But your piece was very unbalanced. Some guy off the street's point of view trumps what Malaki said regarding timetables??? And you never mentioned Malaki at all.

This election changing from a choice between change & experience to between a president who is smart vs stupid. McCain was a C student like Bush.

Lets start off the day with letting every one know.  Iraq's PM agree's with Obama when it comes to the time table....hummmmmm

Black blues musicians were not substantiated until mainstream (white America) accepted them.  Black jazz musicians were not substantiated until mainstream (white America) accepted them. Black rap musicians were not substantiated until mainstream(white America) accepted them (OMG if I hear another corny rap commercial sponsored by five geeky white guys in a beat up car!).  Commercials will air black music in the backdrop while using mainstream faces (white) to advertize products.  Black people have contributed greatly to America in areas of science, the arts, education, technology, and free labor during slavery (chattel slavery, which means they were treated like animals not humans) and yet they are still considered no more than prostitutes, drug dealers or addicts... poor, uneducated, and useless...and America has grown accustomed to stealing their ideas, downplaying their accomplishments, and attacking their character.  Now, in times of desperation, there is one rising among us who is doing somethihng great (no matter what side of the fence your own, you can't deny that in truth) and while there are some, many who are with him, there are still others who feel it is totally justifiable to steal his ideas, downplay his accomplishments, and attack his character.  While some are surprised and outraged, others have seen it before and know that just like apple pie and the flag, it has been the American way.  Hopefully, for America's sake, this will chnage one day.

Gas prices already starting to decrease. Amazing what a meeting with foreign governments can do. Bush should have tried it instead of cowboy, cowboy, cowboy.

Finally he says he will do anything for image. Remember thats all it is .People are backing from his words already. What a leader.Still patting woman next to him like there there little woman. He is so arrogant he is useing the place Hitler moved victorous site over Denmark,Austria and France. They will be pleased with him. Well at least he was told no to the gate you are only a maybe nomin. Oh I am sure he will meet many a shiek and Arab as he is Arabian himself right?Maybe Gaddaphi will meet with him .He has endorsed him goggle it

Now the truth will come out .....
Freedom of information has been manipulated for far to long....
Bring back to truth in journalism...
remove the Black(gold)out suppression of information.

Stop the Mongering, stop the lies....dump the false  representation...

Vote Obama'08

Just because Obama is doing well in the Middle East,let's NOT take the focus over Phil Gramm's stepping down at 7:00PM Friday evening. Talk about end of the week news dump, huh? Are they hoping we would forget by today? Sorry. I haven't.

i love obama i love kuwait ,, kuwait the one of sefty country in world god bless all kuwaities people they are so friendly and goodness

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