ABOUT FIRST READ

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



First thoughts: Obama and Chavez

Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 10:21 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama and Chavez: Republican critics have been seizing on President Obama’s friendly interaction with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez over the weekend at the Summit of the Americas. But is anyone who watched the two-year-long presidential campaign -- Democrats, Republicans, and journalists -- really surprised that Obama wouldn’t shun Chavez at the summit? As the president said at yesterday’s press conference, “We had this debate throughout the campaign, and the whole notion was, is that somehow if we showed courtesy or opened up dialogue with governments that had previously been hostile to us, that that somehow would be a sign of weakness. The American people didn't buy it. And there's a good reason the American people didn't buy it, because it doesn't make sense.” Later, however, Obama said he doesn’t worry about the politics. “I try to figure out what's right in terms of American interests, and on this one I think I'm right.” But does anyone buy that Obama really doesn’t care about politics? After all, this past foreign trip had a lot to do with domestic politics: guns, the drug war, Cuba (as it relates to Florida politics).

Video: Obama responds to his encounter with Hugo Chavez.

*** The Obama doctrine: Also at yesterday’s press conference, one of your First Read authors asked the president what the pillars of an “Obama Doctrine” are when it comes to American foreign policy, after now visiting eight countries and three continents and meeting with 90 world leaders. While Obama said it was up to pundits and journalists “to write the definitive statement” on a doctrine, he laid out two principles. “Number One, that the United States remains the most powerful, wealthiest nation on Earth, but we're only one nation, and that the problems that we confront, whether it's drug cartels, climate change, terrorism, you name it, can't be solved just by one country. And I think if you start with that approach, then you are inclined to listen and not just talk… Number Two, I feel very strongly that when we are at our best, the United States represents a set of universal values and ideals… But what I also believe is that other countries have different cultures, different perspectives, and are coming out of different histories, and that we do our best to promote our ideals and our values by our example.” Of course, whether or not an Obama Doctrine will be a success will depend heavily on the president staying popular at home and around the world. Why is Chavez fawning? Because Obama might be more popular in Venezuela than Chavez is right now. What this also means? The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president.

Video: Obama's trip sheds light on his foreign policy doctrine.

*** Back home: Obama is probably ending his foreign travel at the right moment before he risks looking like he's too focused on international affairs at a time when the economy remains issue No. 1. Today, beginning at 11:30 am ET, he holds his first cabinet meeting since becoming president. At the meeting, he will ask his cabinet secretaries to identify a combined $100 million to cut within the next 90 days. Also today, after making those interrogation memos public, he heads to Langley, VA to deliver remarks to CIA employees and meet with CIA leaders.

Video: At his first cabinet meeting, the president will refocus on the economy after his trip abroad.

*** Debate wrap: On Sunday, the three Democratic candidates for Virginia governor -- Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran -- participated in a debate moderated by NBC’s Andrea Mitchell. The biggest point of contention: political donations that Moran has received from defense contractors and money McAuliffe had raised from Manhattan and Hollywood. Said Deeds, per the Washington Post: “We will not be the party of the middle class if the nominee of this party is beholden to Donald Trump and Wall Street interests or tainted defense contractors who got millions of earmarks. We will have lost our way if we allow the Wall Street establishment or a corrupt political establishment to control our agenda for the next four years.”

*** Elsewhere down the ballot: Norm Coleman has yet to formally appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court, but that move is expected to come this week. Also, in the ongoing count in NY-20, Democrat Scott Murphy was leading Republican Jim Tedisco by 273 votes as of Friday afternoon. Given that lead, and given that most of the outstanding ballot challenges are Murphy votes, the Democrats are in a commanding position to hold on to this congressional seat. 

Countdown to Obama’s 100th day: 9 days 
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 43 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 50 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 197 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 561 days

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Comments

Why are we counting down the President’s first 100 days?  No warranty period expires.  No scheduled maintenance shall occur.  This is not the clock winding down to zero.  It isn’t time to take something out of the oven.  The period ending at the first 100 days isn’t even mentioned in the Constitution for that matter.  So what is so damned important about day number 100?

One thing is for sure, Chuck T will claim the WH is off message or some other miniscule downplay.  Chuck is moving more and more from Political Director to gossip columnist.  The G‘No’P will claim the earth is ending; as will all the Wing-Nuts and Neo-Cons amongst us.
I find it curious that so more attention is being paid to whether the torture memos should be released than whether the United States of America should be torturing people.

The situation with the journalist convicted of spying in Iran illustrates the perils of trying to be a beacon of freedom to the world in public, and denying persons in United States custody any type of due process to establish their guilt or innocence behind the scenes.

How can we criticize Iran’s kangaroo court, when we have not even bothered to set one up? How can we tell them the proper way to treat foreign prisoners when are hands are still wet with the blood of the tortured?

The United States is once again in the position of saying there are one set of rules for America, and a different set of rules for the rest of the world. Now why would the rest of the world go along with this? What moral authority do we now have to lecture other countries about their justice system in relationship to our citizens?

I heard Brit Hume on Fox News Sunday ask the question “How does the release of these memos benefit the U.S.?” The fact that in the United States of America, we actually have people wondering what benefit there is to following  United States law, International law, and the Constitution of the United states is truly mind boggling.

What was it again that separates us from the totalitarian regimes around the globe?

If America wants to get down in the mud and play hardball, fine. But first, it will be necessary to step down out of the pulpit of freedom and admit that terror defeated truth and the ideals of hate overpowered the ideals of “liberty and justice for all”.
Barack and Hugo are "fellow travelers".

Barack learned well from Alinsky. Don't let your true intentions be known.

What Hugo has done with a dictatorship, Barack is doing with pixie dust, daisies and "love".
More on our President’s decision not to prosecute CIA

So, there is growing criticism not to prosecute CIA agents.  Two suspects were waterboarded 266 times.  That may go beyond the rules of integration as spelled out in President Obama’s “Preemptive Pardon” to CIA employees.  (Preemptive Pardon are my words.)

It is likely that the House will begin impeachment proceedings against Judge Bybee, who wrote the justification for torture.  With continued pressure the DOJ will likely have to hire an independent prosecutor.  The conservatives won’t like it, but what are they going to do?  Support torture…I doubt it.  Will they go nuclear?  They already have; becoming the party of “NO”.  But it will end any possibility of bipartisanship and could, possibly jeopardize future legislation on healthcare, global warming and energy.

Last week I commented that Bush/Cheney/et.al. will not go to prison. We will not see them on TV in prison.  They will be pardoned. The point that I left out is if someone accepts a Presidential pardon, they are admitting to guilt.  So it was with Nixon.

High expectations vs Unreasonable expectations

The latest summit did reach expectations of relationship building.  It is unreasonable to expect that we are now the BFF of Central and South America.  But it is a  start.  By being proactive and making the first move with Cuba, the ball is in Cuba’s court.  Will they release political prisoners, or just want to talk.  My bet is they will make some tangible move to show good faith negotiations.  BTW, if negotiations go well,  paint Florida blue into the Obama column.

Neither the Fascist label nor the Socialist label fit. Why?  Our President is right down the middle, neither conservative nor liberal.

"The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president." - First Read
====================================================
Why not?

Listening is not nearly as hard as you make it sound - you should try it - very enlightening.
No, I'm not surprised about any of Obama anti-American antics. Do people realize the postive PR and propaganda that Obama has just handed to brutal dictators like Castro, Chavez, and Ortega? You just know those three are just loving life today. They have the stamp of approval of the President of the United States to take back home with them. Ortega went on for 40 minutes calling the US and Obama everything but a gentleman, and Obama just sat there and took it. Sorry, that speech by Ortega needed a strong response. Instead, Obama crawled back in his hole and let the dictators dictate the agenda of the summit, which was to cut the US to shreads. Obama is a coward, and he proved many time over at each of these last two summits.
As for Venezuela and Obama's friendly encounters with Chavez  and  intense the criticism from Newt the angry White male  who blithely advocates loathe and fear and  other hard core antagonist like... Oh,Oh, Stupid  Hannity, Royal fat A$$ Limbaugh and the rest of the right wing nut extremists' gang, the book has has risen in sales. Isn't It ironic No matter where our President there always a surge; usually for the better?
Whatever the President cuts from the budget  Republicans will want to cut away from the US because it just won't be enough to take direction from a talented, popular visionary as President.
"...Number Two, I feel very strongly that when we are at our best, the United States represents a set of universal values and ideals… But what I also believe is that other countries have different cultures, different perspectives, and are coming out of different histories, and that we do our best to promote our ideals and our values by our example...”

This is a nice sentiment; but if we aren't going to hold our leaders and citizens to accountability; we lose a little something in credibility.  I want the authors of torture tried for War Crimes.  and this isn't a revenge motive.  This is a moral imperative, we cannot spread democracy or "lead by example" when our example is pure exoneration when crimes occur.  Another example of hypocrisy.

I am still a staunch supporter of Obama; but on this AND FISA - we must not compromise.  The World IS watching our example.
I'm 110% behind the Obama Doctrine of engaging any country in talks.  Obama did not start the exchange between him and Chavez but he played the interaction well and the handshake was another instance of Obama showing good manners, something the immoral minority is incapable of.  Neuter Gingrich is just another ignorant blowhard blaming Obama for being smart and diplomatic, so unlike that crude jerky boy who ruined our country's image around the world.

Oh could you repugnant ones have more tea parties, like once a week?  We Liberals were just so entertained by the conservative freak show last Wednesday that we want more freak shows to kep us laughing.

Sore loser coleman should do the smart thing and concede, but he's a repugnant one and they never do teh smart thing.  Ha Ha Murphy is going to win NY-20!  Heckuva job steelie!

In Obama We Trust!
It seems that more and more these trips are notable for how the media and the right-wing react to them rather than the purpose of the trips themselves.

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA.

I agree, very similar to the trips by past presidents and those of the opposite party in the whine and sneeze crowd of squawkers. It's a rerun all over again.

Obama - Nothing new except his constant apologies.

He is being paid to be our president, let's not forget it. He's our employee!
You mean Obama actually has a cabinet to meet with?  I thought he was still trying to fill the seats.
When will the media realize that a smile can be every bit as effective as a fist?

After 8 years of trying to bully the world, only to find our selves in debt up to our eyeballs from foolishly attempting to finance two wars while CUTTING taxes and dependent on the very dictators we rail against for fuel and financing, you'd think that maybe, must maybe the Republican party and their lackeys in the media would have learned their lesson.

But of course you would be wrong - they would rather bury their heads in the sand and pretend like all the U.S. has to do is bark orders and the rest of the world will fall at our feet.

Dr. Phil sez it best: How's that working for ya?

A smile is a hell of alot cheaper than an 10 year land war with nothing to show for it but a toppled statue and lots of dead and wounded American soldiers.

I vote for the smile.
What the world is learning is that it can kick the US around as much as it wants. Obama has done nothing but project weakness of the US since he took office. It occurred at the European summit, and then again at the Latin American summit. Just what is the purpose of Obama apologizing to everyone, and then letting these two-bit countries dictators to rail against the US while Obama just sits there looking disinterested? No country is perfect in the world, but no other country like the US has done so much for the world. To have Obama give up all the good the US has done for the world is a real tragedy for the people of the United States and the world.
My, my, Beverly in Chicago - - that sure is a lot of hateful "labels" you spew!!
I'm 110% behind the Obama Doctrine of engaging any country in talks.  - Eric, Salina, CA

Stunner. What, is this down from 120 percent?
The ACLU and the Far Left Democrats screamed every day about the Bush warrantless wiretaps as illegal and an invasion of privacy.  And Obama promised to “leave behind” them.

Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU’s National Security Project:
“Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act intending to protect the rights of U.S. citizens and residents, and the president systematically broke that law over a period of more than five years. It’s very disturbing that the president’s actions will not be reviewed by the Supreme Court. It shouldn’t be left to executive branch officials alone to determine what limits apply to their own surveillance activities and whether those limits are being honored. Allowing the executive branch to police itself flies in the face of the constitutional system of checks and balances.”

January 8, 2008
“For one thing, under an Obama presidency, Americans will be able to leave behind the era of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and wiretaps without warrants," he said.

However, now he is not only keeping the Bush wiretaps, but he is expanding them and increasing their reach.

EFF Says (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
“Obama Warrantless Wiretap Defense Is Worse than Bush”
Based in San Francisco, EFF is a donor-supported membership organization working to protect fundamental rights regardless of technology.
Kevin Bankston of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a lawyer for the customers, said  The filing was disappointing in light of the Obama presidential campaign's "unceasing criticism of Bush-era secrecy and promise for more transparency."
Obama’s transparency is clear as mud!!!

But, the ACLU’s response to Obama keeping and increasing the Bush warrantless wiretaps is…

NOTHING – absolutely nothing!

And the left wing screamers respond by saying…

Nothing – absolutely nothing!

So, its “illegal” warrantless wiretaps when Bush does them.
And it’s “all hail Obama” warrantless wiretaps when Obama does and increases them.

ACLU = Anti-Christian Liberals Union w/ Obama as their King
of our Non-Christian Country

It used to be ... "In God we Trust"

Now, as some of you are proud to post...
"In Obama we Trust"

And you wonder why we think Obie has a God Complex?
Obama has so many messes to clean up after War Criminals Bush and Cheney that he can't afford to stay focused on one subject.  Besides it's so funny watching him multitask while the Obsolete Elephants are only capable of one whining point at a time.

Wasn't that hilarious what Billo the Clown said last week that fox and freaks respects dissent.  Yeah now that they're the poor oppressed minority they finally respect dissent but didn't the past 8 years.

I'm laughing at how the repugnant ones are whining about the backdoor nationalization of our banks.  Hey clueless ones we wouldn't have had to prop up the failing banks if you repugnant ones hadn't trashed the Depression Era regulations that kept the crminal bankers in line.  I hope that after we get some equity we have some say in getting firing all the top banking execs and get some real talent in the banks to make them profittable.

In Regulation We Trust!
"The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president." - First Read
====================================================
Why not?

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:28 AM)


++++++++++++

Because it will fail miserably.
Kasady K., Burlington VT (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:30 AM)

Your righteous indignation is pure, fresh hypocrisy.  You should be far more concerned that your government authorized TORTURE of prisoners in direct violation of our international treaties on human rights.  If you are as offended as you say you are your list of brutes SHOULD read:

Castro, Chavez, Ortega, 'W' Bush and Dick Cheney

But again, I've already pointed out your hypocrisy.

PS.  Americans don't get to claim the 'high' road of morality now that we know we used torture.  Are you proud of your Bush today, knowing he looked into the camera and said, "America DOES NOT TORTURE!"  Just another liar.  But most of us knew that.
LOL Eric from Salinas praising good manners!
I vote for the smile.
Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:34 AM)

----

You should go to Somalia and try your "smile" approach.

The smile thing only works if you look like Britney Spears.

So, Nashville-fan are you a hot blonde?
"The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president." - First Read

Excuse my philosophical bent, but I absolutely believe that the Obama Doctrine is transferrable to every future president, and hopefully will be, because it reflects the following:

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (i.e., listen if you wish to be listened to)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (i.e., your own self-respect is reflected in how you treat others, especially those who are different from you)
That's a great debate wrap conclusion that the repugnant ones are the party out of touch with the middle class because they are beholden to Wall Street and the military industrial complex.  That's why they're out of power in a big way just 4 short eyars after the bushwhacker bragged about all the political capital he was going to spend.

Can't wait for the new Ed Show today and the rest of the great MSNBC tv lineup so we can catch up on all the perfidy spread by the repugnant ones this past weekend.  It is so funny watching the dopes of nope impotently rage against Obama and the Democrats.  Plus this ought to be another great week for The Daily Show and Colbert Report as they have such a target rich environment now that the conservative queens have come out of the closet.

In MSNBC We Trust!
Oh could you repugnant ones have more tea parties, like once a week?  We Liberals were just so entertained by the conservative freak show last Wednesday that we want more freak shows to kep us laughing.
Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:32 AM)
==========
Actually, I hear there's supposed to be one in Philly on May 3 near Independence Hall.  Oh, wait...I'm sorry, that's a Gay Pride Festival (Equality Forum).  Forgive my confusion.

Speaking of which, there's word that a splinter group is forming within the Log Cabin Republicans (a Gay Republican group) that is calling itself GOProud.  This group has accused the Log Cabbins of being "too liberal".  Even the Gay Republicans are fighting amongst themselves.

http://washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24936

http://jawillie.blog.com
"The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president." - First Read
====================================================
Why not?

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:28 AM)


++++++++++++

Because it will fail miserably.
T.Wallace, KS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And you know this because . . . .

Perhaps you should make the White House aware of your psychic gift . . .

Any more predictions you want to share . . . or do I have to pay to get more?

lol
who was it last week trying to turn this into a cage match,who was it last week trying to figure out how the meeting would go,who was it last week that gave there opion as to what they though about the meeting.and then today they bring right wing views to FR,about the Republicans using this as a name calling event.Obama said he was going to talk to all leaders,did you at fr think he was kidding,did you buy into the spinners from the right?C.T...please go back to being a numbers geek,real news should be left to real reporters not  spinsters.
Newest GOP teabagger talking point:

Obama is weak.  Obama is making the US less safe.  Obama is a socialist.  Obama is a commi.  Obama is a facist.


Oh wait that was last weeks talking point, and the week before.


Jeez teabaggers you guys need to come up with some new talking points.  

Incase you all haven't figured it out yet, the "he's weak, we are less safe, he's a socialist/commi" crap isn't working.


Back to the drawing board for the teabaggers.



You should go to Somalia and try your "smile" approach.

The smile thing only works if you look like Britney Spears.

So, Nashville-fan are you a hot blonde?
The Last Living Democrat
==========================================
lol

Nope, afraid not - I'm a short black chick! :)

But hey, if you think Britney Spears can solve the world's problems, I'm down with that . . . I hear  Eric "Family Values" Cantor is a big fan . . . maybe he can Britney to help out!  
Chuck T, why don't you do a piece on W's first 100 days. Take us through those highlights of all that he accomplished in W's first 100 days as our president. Say what? You can't recall anything he did? Surely you must be able to dig something up.
The Obama Doctrine might not be transferrable to any other future president.
==================================
FR; It that kind of reaction that doesn't espouse the values our President stated and how this country came into being.  I agree with Nashville Fan LISTEN MORE AND Criticize LESS.
I also think... that when we ARE at our best, the United States represents a set of universal values and ideals… Isn't this what we became as a nation. That's why we cant isolate ourselves.
Clara Kansas City Mo:  Regarding torture by the CIA:

In my heart, I agree with you, but my brain does not think we will go there.  I hope you are right.

'...Number Two, I feel very strongly that when we are at our best, the United States represents a set of universal values and ideals…...'

Hmmmmmmmm
Is THIS our BEST ?
Our BEST JUDGE ???

Judge Bybee JUSTIFIED TORTURE
He gave the CIA legal framework to TORTURE
(Oh ! Sorry FR, to use 'enhanced techniques')

Does HE belong on the Fedral Judiciary ??


From last week's Washington Monthly:

'...AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE JUDICIARY....

The question shouldn't be whether to impeach Jay Bybee, but rather, how quickly the impeachment hearings can begin.

To read the four newly released memos on prisoner interrogation written by George W. Bush's Justice Department is to take a journey into depravity.... In one of the more nauseating passages, Jay Bybee, then an assistant attorney general and now a federal judge, wrote admiringly about a contraption for waterboarding that would lurch a prisoner upright if he stopped breathing while water was poured over his face. He praised the Central Intelligence Agency for having doctors ready to perform an emergency tracheotomy if necessary. [...]

As Mr. Bush's lawyers were concerned, it was not really torture unless it involved breaking bones, burning flesh or pulling teeth. That, Mr. Bybee kept noting, was what the Libyan secret police did to one prisoner. The standard for American behavior should be a lot higher than that of the Libyan secret police.

Unlike memo authors like John Yoo and Steven Bradbury, Jay Bybee currently enjoys a lifetime appointment on a federal appeals court. The nomination was an insult, and his confirmation was absurd. But as the NYT editorial notes today, "These memos make it clear that Mr. Bybee is unfit for a job that requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress should impeach him."

Of course it should. As Jeffrey Toobin noted the other day, Bybee was confirmed before his torture memos became public (though there were serious questions about his White House work at the time), and he "has never answered questions about them, has never had to defend his conduct, has never endured anywhere near the amount of public scrutiny (and abuse) as Yoo."

And while prosecuting top former Bush administration officials may be a contentious point, Senate consideration of Bybee's fate is quite straightforward. As digby noted, judicial impeachments are "not unprecedented." What's more, dday explains that while removing Bybee from his position would be difficult with at least "34 Republicans in the Senate willing to go on record as objectively pro-torture," Congress "should be compelled to do this anyway."...'


Let's not look at the past, let's look to the future


'...He praised the Central Intelligence Agency for having doctors ready to perform an emergency tracheotomy if necessary...'

A REAL humanitarian, huh ??
It's all about perception people!  If we here in the US perceive Obama's actions regarding Chavez, Castro, etc., as signs of weakness, that's how it will be perceived by the world.  BUT if we perceive it as a sign of strength, then we neutralize whatever negative effect it might have elsewhere.  Therefore, those on the right wing who knee-jerkingly color Obama's interaction with Chavez as a sign of weakness, are the ones doing a disservice to this country.  And, lets all keep this in perspective too!  IT was Chavez who approached Obama, not the other way around...I guess for the right wing nut jobs, Obama's proclivity to courtesy and politeness is too much for them take after 8 years of our former bumbler in chief who couldn't even pronounce the names of the world leaders he was supposed to engage.
"That's a great debate wrap conclusion that the repugnant ones are the party out of touch with the middle class because they are beholden to Wall Street and the military industrial complex."

Hey Eric this was the Democratic Primary Debate!

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:51 AM)

I can hope,...thanks,

PS.  I wasn't offended last week,...just found the closing argument weakened by the statement.

Love your posts,...
Chuck, WA (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:24 AM)

Chuck, I agree with your comments one thousand percent. The first 100 days used as a report card for the new President makes little sense and will mean either everything or nothing, depending on which side you're on.

President Obama, who inherited the most challenging issues of any president in modern history, should not be kept to the 100 day scenario. But he not only exceeded the expectations of many, but is well on his way to becoming one the most brilliant leaders of our time.
So do these people think Obama should have taken off his shoe and thrown it at Chavez? Come on! The man approached him with a handshake and handed him a book. Good manners would say that you shake his hand and say "Thank You." If Obama had been rude, the pundants would have beaten him up over that! There is no excuse for bad manners and the President handled himself quite appropriately.
you seem like an intelligent person.  Your local community college can supply you with basic economics textbooks and workbooks to get you started on educating yourself on macro-economics and statistics.  I wish you luck.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Friday, April 17, 2009 6:38 PM)

===========================================
I actually took classes at there very community college - including econ. Thanks anyway for the sugestion
Why will CIA tortures not be held to account ?


Herman Goering: "The victors will always be the judge and the vanquished the accused."

Only nations that lose wars will be judged
Only the vanquished commit war crimes

the Dresden Firebombings ?
Hiroshima ?
Amritsrar ?
Executive Order 9066 ??

Sorry, we WON thae war
What the world is learning is that it can kick the US around as much as it wants. Obama has done nothing but project weakness of the US since he took office. It occurred at the European summit, and then again at the Latin American summit. Just what is the purpose of Obama apologizing to everyone, and then letting these two-bit countries dictators to rail against the US while Obama just sits there looking disinterested? No country is perfect in the world, but no other country like the US has done so much for the world. To have Obama give up all the good the US has done for the world is a real tragedy for the people of the United States and the world.
Marcia Anders, GA
----------------------------------------------------
Marcia you must be completely be out of your mind trying to talk positively with other nations is a good thing and it is not portraying weakness!!!!!Bush tried to bully other nations into the us way of thinking and gee what happened um i think most of the world disliked the US and definitely Bushie for ignoring anything that made any sense!!!
Chuck - Please pay attention!  Haven't you noticed that Chavez is a new hound?  He takes every opportunity to inject himself before a camera, whenever there is one in close proximity.
I love seeing all these post blasting Bush and praising Obama.  Fact of the matter is Obama is making our country look weak.  Everyone posting on here is American. With this in mind have some balls and stand up with pride for your country.  If you really feel we are that bad there are many other countries in which you could live.  Bush did what he felt was best for our security.  Granted it may not have made everyone else in the world happy, but doing what is in the best interest of our county will not always be poplar with other nations.  Just remember we did not have another 9/11 while Bush was in office.  If we start trying to make friends with all these countries that have criticized us for so long then we as a country will look like we are becoming weak.  At this point in time I don't think that is an option.

P.S. I don't think you can compare our waterboarding of prisioners to the torture that other countries inflict on their own people.
I work in an office.  Some of the people in this office (a very few) are horribly disagreeable people.  In Politics and in Offices, sometimes you have to take the world view that we are all in this together.  Am I to take the disagreeable people's work, and say; "I cannot do this, I don't like you, nor do I agree with the way you think and treat other people in this office"?  No..you do the work, and you work together as a team.  But none of these same people are on my Christmas Card List, nor do I get invited anywhere with them after work.  This is how unreasonable and silly this thing with Chavez is to me.

The line I LOVED yesterday from Obama is at the Press Conference when he said something to the effect that Chavez' military is One-600th of our might, and the notion that we have to be afraid of him is ridiculous!!



What's the matter guys??? Did I hit a nerve or something?  Why won't you post this??

You know Chuck, Mark & Domenico and the rest of the MSM.  If ALL of you had done your JOBS and scrutinized and parsed everything that good old Georgie Boy did or said over the last 8 years… We might not be in the mess we are today!  Can anyone say Iraq??

But…but… President Obama wore black shoes when he should have work brown ones… what secret message is he sending to our enemies??? Black shoes show a sign of weakness… what was he thinking?? How dare he accept a gift from an adversary? He must really be a Muslim after all! Blah Blah Blah...

You guys are as much to blame as the idiot in chief and his merry little band of misfits we had to endure the last 8 years!

How about some real reporting for a change and the not BS/Gotcha stuff you’ve grown so comfortable with??  Now that would be Change we could ALL believe in!
===========================================
I actually took classes at there very community college - including econ. Thanks anyway for the sugestion

H. Martin, Louisville, KY (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:00 AM)

Sounds like you're qualified for an Obama cabinet position. Do you pay your taxes? Not that that matters much.
When you say the American people do not buy it, what you are saying is that the media and the republicans don't buy it (one and the same). We are so tired of
the media trying to make decisions for us, trying to
instill their bias into the American voters.
No matter what President Obama does the media and
gop will complain, insert negativity, and never
give him the credit deserved.
Todd, you have changed. You use to show some fairness
in your reporting but since your promotion you act like you have something to prove. Was this promotion
with the condition you support GOP? It certainly appears that way at times.
First read should have a countdown to when rebublicans realize Obama won the election,or maybe a
countdown to when republican party implodes for good.
Linda, W.Bloomfield, MI (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:36 AM)
My, my, Beverly in Chicago - - that sure is a lot of hateful "labels" you spew!!
===================================================
Linda,

I hope you're not afraid of the truth. I know that our president is not weak he gave the right prudent call in the gulf of Aden, is not a communist/fascist/ totalitarian/ jihadist Muslim. What is newt tooting? I call it hate.

Miss California believes in 'opposite marriage'



From Huff Post:

'...PEREZ: Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?

CARRIE: I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be between a man and a woman.

She clearly came down on the side of "opposite marriage," basically saying "no offense but your lifestyle isn't valid." I'm guessing Perez didn't give her his vote, but Carrie still managed to finish as first runner up in the pageant....'

This is a nice sentiment; but if we aren't going to hold our leaders and citizens to accountability; we lose a little something in credibility.  I want the authors of torture tried for War Crimes.  and this isn't a revenge motive.  This is a moral imperative, we cannot spread democracy or "lead by example" when our example is pure exoneration when crimes occur.  Another example of hypocrisy.

---------------------------------------------------
That would mean holding Pelosi accountable as well, since she knew full well what was going on.   Should she be tried for war crimes as well, since she was aware and did nothing to stop it?


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