First thoughts: Around the world...

Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Around the world in 8 days: Later this afternoon, President Obama departs on his latest big overseas trip -- a whirlwind eight-day, four-country journey that will take him to Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. His previous trips (to Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East) helped bolster his domestic image. But that wasn’t necessarily the case back in July (when he traveled to Russia and Italy) or last month (with his unsuccessful Olympics push in Copenhagen). The reason: Those trips came post-honeymoon and in the midst of the health-care debate and further concerns about the U.S. economy. While everyone focuses on Obama’s rough August, White House folks will privately tell you that the president’s poll numbers started coming down to earth in July right after that jaunt to Russia (in fact, our July NBC/WSJ poll showed his approval at 53%, down three points from June). This is maybe one reason why Obama’s Asia schedule is so jam-packed; you can really tell the White House wants him to get back ASAP.

*** Want to get away? Then again, maybe it’s not the worst thing that Obama is going to be thousands of miles and more than a dozen time zones away over the next week. First, the health-care debate in the Senate (over the public option and abortion) is going to be incredibly messy, as the sausage-making process always is. While the president effectively parachuted in over the weekend to help pass the House bill, note that involvement came at the end of the process -- not the middle, where the Senate currently is. Second, next week will be Palin-palooza, with her Oprah interview on Monday, her book going on sale Tuesday, and the book tour starting Wednesday. As we’ve pointed out before, Palin’s publicists picked a pretty good time for her book rollout. She’s going to have the political stage mostly to herself next week.

*** No rest for the weary: The president’s eight-day trip to Asia is going to be exhausting. Air Force One takes off at 9:50 am ET (but before then, Obama will deliver brief remarks on the economy at 9:15 am, in which he’ll announce hosting a jobs summit next month at the White House). He will then land at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, where he’ll meet with servicemembers and make remarks around 5:30 pm ET. Then it’s off to Japan, where he arrives around 2:00 am ET. He then spends the next six days in Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. Given how exhausting this trip will be -- for the president, his staff, and the members of the White House press corps -- it’s worth reminding everyone that Obama and many of his top aides have been working virtually non-stop over the past three years. When you add dealing with two wars, fixing an economy and trying to revamp the nation’s health-care system, you see how these guys could use a break. The Washington Post’s Joel Achenbach today touches on how the war in Afghanistan, in particular, has taken a toll on Obama. And as the exhaustion takes a toll on staff, how much of it is due to running into political problems which, in turn, saps whatever adrenaline they once had?

*** Calling Karzai’s bluff? On the subject of Afghanistan, NBC’s Mike Viqueira confirms that Obama is pushing for revisions to the plans presented that would clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government; he raised questions yesterday that could affect total number of troops that are sent to Afghanistan and the timeline for their presence in the war zone; his concerns center on the credibility of the Afghan government; and he wants to make clear that the U.S. commitment isn’t open-ended. To us, this seems like an attempt to call Karzai's bluff. The White House’s very public telegraph that we might not send troops -- or that we could leave A LOT sooner than Karzai thinks -- could be about squeezing him.

*** The Battleground book tour: Regarding Palin’s aforementioned book tour next week, it will take her to 13 cities -- 11 of which just happen to be in presidential battleground states (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida). What's more, nine of the 13 stops are in congressional districts won by McCain -- so she's reaching out to the GOP base. Palin starts her tour in Michigan, a battleground state the McCain campaign withdrew from the day of Biden-Palin vice presidential debate. The next day, Palin went -- you guessed it -- rogue and openly questioned the move. “I want to get back to Michigan and I want to try," she said back then. In a recent posting she made on her Facebook page announcing her book tour dates, Palin quipped: “Last year, I made a promise to the good people of Michigan that I would be back, and now I’m keeping that promise.” Also, per NBC’s Norah O’Donnell, Palin already has taped her appearance on Oprah. "There's nothing we didn't talk about," Oprah reported last night in a video linked to her Twitter. "Lots of her supporters didn't think she should come here." Oprah said they talked about Palin's daughter Bristol's pregnancy, Levi Johnston, Palin's infant son Trigg, and the state of Palin's marriage.

*** The GOP's purity tests? We understand why some conservatives are pillorying Charlie Crist and Olympia Snowe. After all, these two Republicans have not only worked with the Obama and the Democrats, they have a history of sometimes bucking their party. But many might not understand how Newt Gingrich (during NY-23), Sen. Bob Bennett (who's receiving a primary challenge from the right in Utah), and now Sen. Lindsey Graham have become targets. On Monday, the executive committee of the Charleston County Republican Party voted unanimously to rebuke Graham “for many of the positions he has taken that do not represent the wishes of the people of South Carolina, such as: passing a ‘cap and trade’ energy bill, bailing out banks and granting amnesty for illegal aliens.” Ironically, just two years ago, the GOP's presidential front-runners were hardly pure conservatives -- John McCain favored liberalized immigration and opposed Bush's tax cuts, Mitt Romney had once supported abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research, and Rudy Giuliani backed gay rights and even moved in with a gay couple (and their pet Shih Tzu) after the breakup of his second marriage. Of course, some Republicans would argue that their lack of purity is the reason why they lost in 2008.

*** Bush back in the spotlight: Speaking of 2008… Former President George W. Bush will deliver his highest-profile speech since leaving office when he outlines his vision for his Bush Institute, which will be housed in the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University. The event takes place in Dallas beginning at 3:00 pm ET.

*** Pushing back on Gallup: Yesterday, we mentioned a Gallup poll showing Republicans with a four-point advantage in the generic ballot. A Democratic pollster emails First Read that the party ID in the poll is a bit “whacky,” with Dems enjoying only a two-point party ID edge when you count leaners. Most national phone surveys, we’re reminded, have Democrats with a double-digit party ID lead. “In short, something doesn't seem quite right in the Gallup data,” the Dem pollster says. “I will grant that independents seem to be leaning toward the GOP on the generic ballot right now... But there is simply no way that Republicans and Democrats are essentially tied on party ID, and I think this calls their overall ballot numbers very much into question.”

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Comments

Obama on Afghanistan - He's just voting Present again.

J Mayo, New England (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:24 AM)

Both the Left…And the Right…Got it Wrong…

When it comes to Afghanistan. The left wingers want to bring our soldiers home; the Karzai government is corrupt; there is nothing there worth fighting for; it’s not in our national interest. The right wingers want to “stay the course”; kill Muslims; fight in every combat zone until the final battle of Armageddon.

President Obama will not go down either path. Yesterday he walked among the dead (Section 60) at Arlington Cemetery; the place where soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan are buried. He is acutely aware of the deadly consequences of the mistakes made by Bush 43. He is acutely aware that the decisions he makes will impact the life or death of thousands American soldiers. And he is acutely aware that his number one priority is to keep American safe from terrorists.

Yesterday he also rejected all four war options presented to him by the military. Washington pundits did not see that coming and were caught totally off guard. (Note yesterdays ‘First Thoughts: Obama’s Four Options’) When all you see is trees…and don’t realize you are in a forest…you miss the big picture, but the signs were clearly there.

During the campaign candidate Obama would often say (paraphrasing): “We need to be as thoughtful getting out of the war as we were careless getting into the war.” For months he has asked for a strategy…an EXIT strategy. The number of troops needed is dependent on the EXIT strategy, not just some magical number. Months ago I wrote that Afghanistan will not be Obama’s Viet Nam. He is seeking achievable goals that can be accomplished so we can exit with a dignified victory…a real victory.

Most of Obama’s generals haven’t written a paper since they were graduated from West Point. Now they are required to think, come up with a real exit strategy, and answer tough questions from our President and Vice President. In light of their dealings with Bush 43, this has to be a brand new experience.

Both the Left and the Right need to put away their ideological positions and give this President credit for doing what he was elected to do: Keep America safe and seek peaceful solutions to ugly wars.
Pat: Sunday your Patriots will be visiting my Colts. It should be a great game…and it is too close to call.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:24 AM)

Nice of Obama to give yet another speech about job creation, just before he flies off to Asia to see where the money is coming from to pay for the Obama deficit. That's just what we need, more talk from a man that hasn't created a job in his life.

John Hall, NY (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:24 AM)

Field General Barack Obama doesn't like any of the options his military leaders have given him on Afghanistan? So maybe General Obama has some ideas for Afghanistan that he wishes to share. Obie read a book on Patton, well about half it, so he should be up to speed on how to win wars. Maybe Obama can share his great ideas and war strategy with us?

PatrickJ (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:25 AM)

BRAVO President Obama for NOT listening to the war mongers and taking the TIME to get it RIGHT! How breathtakingly refreshing for a change!

I know… I know… Colin Powell telling the President to ‘take his time’ doesn’t mean sh!t as far as the right wingers ideology! After all what does General Powell know about war right?

Let the anti Powell rants & raves commence in 3…2…1… On the upside it will keep the loons preoccupied and maybe we won’t have to hear their worn out rhetoric we’ve grown accustomed to!

I’ll take our ‘dithering’ President over there previous ‘blithering’ IDIOT any day!!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:26 AM)

Obama's poll numbers are soon to be identical with the unemployment rate.

Don't Converge the Streams (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:26 AM)

Obama's political slogan for 2008: "Yes We Can"

Obama's political slogan for 2012: "At least we tried"

Poll Watcher (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:27 AM)

Debt Control – Who is better at it?

When President Reagan took office in 1981 the national debt was at 34% of GDP and when Bush-41 left office the debt was at 68% of GDP.

Actually Bush 43, as a percent of growth, grew the debt at a smaller rate than Reagan.

My point is that the conservatives are known for their fiscal responsibility and yet the only reduction to the national debt since 1981 was during President Clinton’s terms.

President Obama took office with 2 unfunded wars, a major recession and a rapidly growing debt and the Right criticizes him for debt and deficit growth.

Where is the conservative creditability ??

The conservative record on the deficit isn’t much better having turned a 2.5 % of GDP surplus into a 5.0% of GDP deficit in the 8 years between 2001 and 2009 (-7.5%), wiping out the Clinton gains.
Between 1993 & 2001 Clinton turned a 4.5% of GDP deficit into a 2.5% of GDP surplus. (+7%)

In a related story the Obama administration is looking at a plan to return part of the $700 billion in TARP funds to reduce the deficit. It could be as much as $200 billion.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:27 AM)

Sarah Palin having the "political stage all to herself" cannot be a good thing for her presidential ambitions. she is bound to goof somewhere. Maybe she discussed her coin conspiracy with Oprah?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:28 AM)

ABC News - Gen. Colin Powell (Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) revealed that he recently advised President Obama to take his time in devising his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Powell said. "This is the decision that will have consequences for the better part of his administration. So Mr. President, don't get pushed by the left to do nothing; don't get pushed by the right to do everything. You take your time and you figure it out. You're the commander-in-chief and this is what you were elected for."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/gen-powell-to-president-obama-on-afpak-strategy-take-your-time.html

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:29 AM)

"Later this afternoon, President Obama departs on his latest big overseas trip -- a whirlwind eight-day, four-country journey that will take him to Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea."

-----------------------------------------------

Right-wingnuts to accuse President Obama of taking another vacation in...3...2...1...

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:29 AM)

Great job Barack!

Can't wait until you take over the rest of the healthcare system.

"The CDC reported today that influenza deaths have reached 4,000. Vaccine Shortages Continue
U.S. health officials continued to express frustration over the shortage of H1N1 vaccine available to the public. Both Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and CDC Director Frieden tried to reassure the public this week that more than enough vaccine will eventually be available for all who want it."

Can I just finish my waffle? (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:30 AM)

I will love if the GOP start going after each other w/ the "You are not FASCISTS I mean conservative enough for the party" Hoops Freudian slip!

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:33 AM)

OK...I think it's about time to start checking into the stimulus "jobs created" numbers. The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, and Associated Press have all done studies that show that the "jobs saved or created" metric used by the White House to show that the stimulus was a success are vastly overstated.

For example:
The Boston Globe reports one state college claimed 160 full-time jobs from $77,000 in stimulus money. A spokesman for the school says the actual number of new jobs was in fact almost nothing.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Wilmette Public Schools District 39 showed 166 jobs created or saved. However, the superintendent admits that it should have been 0.

The Tribune also showed:
"More than $4.7 million in federal stimulus aid so far has been funneled to schools in North Chicago, and state and federal officials say that money has saved the jobs of 473 teachers.

Problem is, the district employs only 290 teachers. "

According to the Dallas Morning News:
"One tiny Navarro County town's housing authority reported creating 450 jobs with a $26,174 grant, a claim that was obviously wrong but not fixed in time for last week's reports. "

Also:
"Housing projects were responsible for creating or saving about 2,119 Texas jobs, according to the data. But that number includes a housing authority's report that it created 450 jobs with a $26,174 grant to repair roofs on five apartment buildings in Blooming Grove, a city of 833 people about 50 miles south of Dallas."

Maybe it's time for the national media (MSNBC) to start looking into this fraud.

Dookie (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:34 AM)

McCrystal told Obama "Time was of the essence" with the troops the General needed to implement the Obama Afghanistan policy. Now Obama has dithered away that time that was needed by McCrystal, endangering the US troops, endangering Americas standing with our allies, and endangering the safety of both that region and the United States. And when comes time to make a decision, like Obama said he would a few weeks ago, against Obama just punts.

Obama is not a leader, he's an ideas guy, one that comes up with ideas, most of which that cannot be implemented because they are too academic. America made a poor choice last year, and you can't say the people were not warned. Inexperienced, too much of an left wing ideologue, too power hungry. Those were the negatives about Obama, and now we see the results in his poor performance.

Lynn Wheatly (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:34 AM)

Mssrs. J Mayo, John Hall and PatrickJ:

You should all quit whatever line of business you are in and join forces to create a think tank.

In times like these, we need more thoughtful people - like the three of you - to add such insightful commentary regarding the state of our union.

Contrats on your efforts boys - and keep up the good work. We are very proud of you.

A Thankful Nation (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:35 AM)

Right-wingnuts to accuse President Obama of taking another vacation in...3...2...1...
Pete - Albany, NY

How do you live with all your disappointments? Strong medications?

Carly, NJ (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:36 AM)

"… Former President George W. Bush will deliver his highest-profile speech since leaving office when he outlines his vision for his Bush Institute..."

Bush visions? OMG, he's back on the sauce!

Does it ever dawn on Republicans that the southern goobers would be DOA in the North? RIP Doug Hoffman's career!

GOP Ideological Purity. Yeah, THAT'S the ticket!! (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:36 AM)

Why I am angry.

Goldman Sacks gets $13B at 100 cent on the dollar from a failed company, AIG. This deal was facilitated by Tim Giethner then head of the NY Fed. He is now treasury secretary. Goldman Sacks is now paying millions in bonuses because of money my government has borrowed and given away.

State government workers are receiving a cost of living raise paid for from stimulus funds. I have been told by my employer that current market conditions do not justify a cost of living increase but my government is borrowing billions to give raises to state workers.

I will be voting against any incumbent who voted for this insanity.

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:37 AM)

At the beginning of the week, the media reported with confidence that the President had decided to send 30,000+ troops into Afghanistan.

Before that, the media reported with confidence that the President would announce a new Afghanistan strategy before he left on his trip to Asia.

Yesterday, the media reported with confidence that the President had "rejected" all options on the table, and now requires more review.

Is it just me, or does it not appear that the media is just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks?

I mean, you've got a 50-50 chance of being right, so why not just make something up, right?

And that is what passes for "journalism" in our modern era.

One more thing . . .

Why is it considered so "strange" that President Obama, the Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces, has had EIGHT whole meetings with his advisors about the war in Afghanistan?

How else does one manage a major operation of this nature?

Did former President Bush not have meetings to discuss War strategy?

Why is this being portrayed in the media as some type of unsusal occurance?

Shouldn't the President be actively involved in the ongoing management of a military operation with so many foreign policy and financial ramifications?

Why does the media expect President Obama to be some type of "yes man" instead of the elected leader of the free world?

What is the "rush" in Afghanistan . . . what is wrong with the President taking the time to craft a strategy instead of just throwing our troops into a black hole?

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:38 AM)

'...next week will be Palin-palooza, with her Oprah interview on Monday, her book going on sale Tuesday, and the book tour starting Wednesday...'

An exercise in 'consciousness lowering'

'...Obama is pushing for revisions to the plans presented that would clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government;...'

Exactly
Had Obama rushed to add 40K troops, nothing would change
USe the troop decision as leverage with the Afghan and Pakistani governments

How is the Pakistani offensive against the Taliban going ?
I haven't heard anything about it
Is is still going ?
Is it effective ?

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:38 AM)

"MUST SEE TV" ALERT!!!

Check out this week's new episode of South Park when it re-airs...Eric Cartman as Glenn Beck!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:39 AM)

PatrickJ (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:25 AM)

I would dare say that Patton would never have dreamed of getting into any war unless it was well thought out, including how to win. Bush and his band of bandits threw out the expertise and advice from 5-Star Gen. Colin Powell because they weren't interested in anything except their own legacies. Just another thing that didn't work out so well for them.

President and Commander in Chief Obama will use every resource to undo the mess that is Afghanistan. It's a very tall order, but he will get it done!

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:39 AM)

John Hall of N.Y.- I suggest you read the Newsweek article called Partying like it's 1999 whereby in September 2009 as in 1999 their was just over 108 million private sector jobs (nongovermental job) basically for 10 whole years the Bush administration created a whopping ZERO private sector jobs. So continue w/ you kool aid drinking and vitriolic hatred of Obama. Typical Rethuglican talking points.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:41 AM)

Watch out FOX News- here is an idea Obama will bring back from his trip to Asia-

“Chinese Who Complain To Gov't Risk Kidnap

By ALEXA OLESEN, Associated Press Writer 11/11/09

BEIJING – Kidnapping villagers who have traveled to Beijing to lodge complaints with China's central government and keeping them in unofficial jails to silence them has evolved into a lucrative cottage industry that police refuse to crack down on, a human rights group said Thursday.

The report by New York-based Human Rights Watch on China's "black jails" is based mainly on interviews with 38 people who said they were nabbed by thugs while trying to bring grievances to the central government. They reported being held for days or months in makeshift detention centers, deprived of food and sleep, beaten and threatened. Police allegedly aided the captors or refused to intervene in several cases, it said.”

Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:43 AM)

Feisty Red Hairball Roselle, IL: BRAVO President Obama for NOT listening to the war mongers and taking the TIME to get it RIGHT! How breathtakingly refreshing for a change!

Obama continues his dithering. He's an embarrassment to the military and to the country. McCrystal is trying to implement Obama's own policy. So if Obama no longer likes any options that have been given to him, then he needs to change his policy.

"The war that must be fought", Obama's own words, are just like him, meaningless. Obama continues to dither and diddle his way around the war hoping people will forget about it. There are 60,000 troops in Afghanistan, along with their families, that won't forget what an incompetent boob Obama is.

Lonnie Taylor, Pittsburgh (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:43 AM)

Obama - The Poll Driven Prez (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:46 AM)

President and Commander in Chief Obama will use every resource to undo the mess that is Afghanistan. It's a very tall order, but he will get it done!
J. Ellis, Virginia

Obama is signaling surrender to the terrorists. There is much joy in Terrorist-ville today. They see a very confused and very weak US president. That is good news for the terrorists, and bad news for the rest of the world.

PatrickJ (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:46 AM)

I can't wait to hear Sarah Palin slaughter the English language on Oprah on Monday. Her number one strategy is to make big, big bank and if she just happens to be drafted to run for Prez in 2012, that is icing on her cake. The Repubs are very good at putting forth unintelligent, half-baked, egotistical, people to run for President. When will we ever learn?

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:47 AM)

3,879 of our troops will die because ogf Obama's dithering.

Harvard Study (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:48 AM)

ANOTHER TRIP FOR OBIE

And you crazy libs thought George W. Bush was on vacation too much.

Apparently BHO hasn't gotten used to the White House yet. Another trip to clear his mind and embarrass his country? Every time he goes abroad he's got something bad to say about America.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of Obama. Not too many picking up on that idea anymore.

Full Moon
Palomino
Another Bad Chihuahua ... and the rest.

The Chihuahua Gang (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:48 AM)

Ron Indiana, you are completely wrong about the ability of our Nat'l Security Council military commanders ability to write. Way off base! You do realize that they all have advanced degrees?

I never made Admiral when I was in the Navy, but I would not have made Captain without my Master Degree.

Chuck, WA (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:51 AM)

Where will Lou Dobb's work tomorrow?

Just curious.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:51 AM)

A lot of folks in Michigan will appreciate the breath of fresh air from Palin. They are sick of the corrupt Democrats that have ruined their great state.

Southeast Michigan (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:52 AM)

So FR, why no discussion of this: was the Fort Hood shooting spree a terrorist act or a criminal act? According to a Rasmussen poll released yesterday, 60% of respondents want the shootings ‘investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act’ while 27 % ‘want the incident investigated by civilian authorities as a criminal act.’ But is this just a matter of semantics, should anybody care whether we call Hasan a criminal versus a terrorist? Or might there be an underlying truth here that could be either revealed or obscured, depending on whether we choose terrorist vs criminal?

The FBI and the Army might have an interest in calling this guy a criminal. Both knew who Hasan was and it might be better for them if the guy comes off as a nut job that just snapped one day. That would make the incident a tragedy that no one could have reasonably been expected to prevent.

But characterizing Hasan as a terrorist would have political ramifications. Questions would be raised as to why U.S. agencies such as the FBI, the Army and others did not investigate Hasan’s behavior more thoroughly, particularly when they discovered his repeated communications with a radical Muslim cleric who advocated killing Americans. And of course Americans would also note that a terrorist attack on U.S. soil had occurred on Obama’s watch, which would be a damaging blow to a man widely perceived on the right as being soft on terrorism.

So the distinction between terrorist vs criminal is important, and not a matter of semantics. The mainstream media and the administration have generally refrained from calling this incident a terrorist attack. On the other hand, the public as well as some conservative media are calling it terrorism. Who’s right? The public is looking at something that walks like a duck and talks like a duck so they call it a duck. But others who are seeing the same things just can’t see their way clear to using the ‘t’ word.

Terrorism must be confronted and our resolve cannot be diminished by a misguided sense of political correctness that seeks not to offend. So as the investigation of this incident unfolds over the coming weeks, the version of the truth the government supports will be closely scrutinized. Particularly by those who already know what a duck looks like.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:53 AM)

Some whine that President Obama isn't doing anything:

..."it’s worth reminding everyone that Obama and many of his top aides have been working virtually non-stop over the past three years. When you add dealing with two wars, fixing an economy and trying to revamp the nation’s health-care system, you see how these guys could use a break. The Washington Post’s Joel Achenbach today touches on how the war in Afghanistan, in particular, has taken a toll on Obama. And as the exhaustion takes a toll on staff, how much of it is due to running into political problems which, in turn, saps whatever adrenaline they once had?"
-----------------------------------------------

This kind of reminds me of the quest for the master race some 70 years ago:

"Of course, some Republicans would argue that their lack of purity is the reason why they lost in 2008."
---------------------------------------------------

Sometimes diplomacy is more like a chess match than a shootin' match:

..."his concerns center on the credibility of the Afghan government; and he wants to make clear that the U.S. commitment isn’t open-ended. To us, this seems like an attempt to call Karzai's bluff."

Just a few thoughts brought to us by our friends at FR. I call them out as points of emphasis.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:54 AM)

PALIN-PALOOZA?

Okay First Read, if you want Palin 24/7, we'll certainly go along with that.

Right now it's the wrong time to be a governor. It was the right time for Sarah to leave her post to pick up the Republican base. Conservatives will make a big splash in 2010. Libs know it and need Obie to get his act together before the showdown.

Palomino
Lovely Rita
Tombstone Shadow ... and the rest.

The Chihuahua Gang (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:56 AM)

On that day when we all bow before the Lord God, .

Patriot, KY (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:28 AM)
_______________

I’ll give you this much Patriot…

You’re by far the ‘best bible’ banger we’ve had around here in a while…

Not that it matters to me… as I said earlier this week – I’m currently a recovering Catholic in part because of nuts like you!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:56 AM)

The media is reporting the trial ballons being leaked to them by the Obama administration. Polling is then done by the hired Obama pollsters to gauge how it will hurt Obama with his liberal base. With all the results, we see the Obama administration backtracking on those issues.
Obama - The Poll Driven Prez
=================================================
So you just make up something to make your point too?

lol

How do you know what you type is true?

Is it important to you to know if it is true?

We live in a fiction based society where the media gets UPSET when REALITY interrupts their "narratives".

Pathetic.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:57 AM)

Where will Lou Dobb's work tomorrow?

Just curious.
Clara Kansas City, MO

Pretty much whereever wants. He'll make gobs of money doing it too.

CNN Czar (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:57 AM)

Answer from yesterday:
President Obama needs to begin stepping up to the plate and taking charge as president, otherwise someone else will get a chance to do so in 2013.
David C. Parrish AL

How soon do we forget?!! I do recall President Obama taking ownership of the economy months ago and several people on this blog will attest to that. FYI, it has been recorded for the history books that Bush 41 (pappy Bush) negioatefd NAFTA and former President Clinton passed it. Those are the facts.

Evidently you haven’t been posting or reading this blog, if so, you would have know that. The dot com bubble brust in 2001 immediately following 911. I should know…after all, it is what I do as a professional. Speak on something you KNOW about as opposed to something you’ve heard.

The facts are staring you in the face and we as Americans are living the mismanagement and misjudgement of the enexperienced BUSH administration. Like it or not HE screwed us royally. You people need reminding because you pretend as though the banking crisis, unemployment, foreclosures and millions of job losses happened when Obama took office. WRONG!

What happened in and to our Nation will NOT be rectfrified in a manner of friggin months! You need to get over the fact that a BLACK MAN is in the f---ing WHITE HOUSE! And yes! I call it as IT IS!

FYI-- The amount of money Bush?Cheney spent on the “WAR ON TERROR” was ludicrist. All they (Bush/Cheney) did was create a parinoid, fearful America. It was done to advance their PERSONAL gain. Had they did such a W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L job protecting this country, we wouldn’t have an issue such as this. Was the Obama administration briefed? I do recall President Clinton briefing Bush on Bin Laden.

I also seem to recall Cheney making media spots pratically broadcasting the fact that WE would have another attack. Say it aint so DAVID.

BTW…the recession that Bush inherited from Clinton didn’t have a record deficit…did it? He had a surplus. There is NO way in hell that you can draw comparision to what this President inherited, no way in hell.

Have a great day everyone!!

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:58 AM)

Sofa King Wee Todd Did (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:58 AM)

eagle1776: ..."it’s worth reminding everyone that Obama and many of his top aides have been working virtually non-stop over the past three years. When you add dealing with two wars, fixing an economy and trying to revamp the nation’s health-care system, you see how these guys could use a break.

Do our under staffed troops in Afghanistan, the ones Obama is leaving in the lurch, get a break too?

If Obama isn't up the job, maybe we should find someone that is.

Wilson (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:59 AM)

Once again, PatrickJ, you dazzle me with your foreign policy ACUMEN! Your have it in spades my friend. Keep up the good work.....

A Greatful Nation Redux (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:59 AM)

The bush institute? LMAO...will it have all of shrubs coloring books? or his pack of lies about Iraq? Or how about the clip of him sitting like a dunce in classroom while America was attacked by terrorists? Or a snazzy picture of the mission accomplished banner? Or his look of confusion on the place while flying over the katrina devastation? Probably not

whitewash (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:02 AM)

3,879 of our troops will die because ogf Obama's dithering.
Harvard Study (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:48 AM)
______________

Oh so the Harvard Study isn’t credible when it comes to American citizens dying daily from lack of basic health care (see 1 American dying ever 12 minutes)…

But NOW that it’s all about troops *SNAP* instant credibility!!!

You guys are REALLY getting DESPERATE!!! lol lol lol

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:02 AM)

Many of our top generals will start to retire soon. Reason: Ineffective and clueless boss.

Pete from Boston (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:03 AM)

"As Obama came into office, [former Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice predicted he would follow the policies of Bush's second term, and that is pretty much what happened, apart from a different rhetorical style." - Noam Chomsky

Jonathan, Flint, MI (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:03 AM)

"According to a Rasmussen poll released yesterday, 60% of respondents want the shootings ‘investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act’ while 27 % ‘want the incident investigated by civilian authorities as a criminal act.’"

Bill, Fairfax, VA

It doesn't matter what they want, it will be a military investigation one way or another. Let's wait for the facts, rather than grinding our own ideological axes!

Auntie Fascist (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:03 AM)

Ron Indiana, very nice post and it echos my thoughts too. I am incredibly pleased and proud of our president for his thoughtful and heartful words at Ft. Hood and at Arlington Cemetary yesterday.

Last evening when the news broke that he had rejected the assortment of plans for Afghanistan and asked for a better one with an exit strategy I was even more pleased. This thoughtful and articulate man will make a decision when the generals do a little homework in figuring out, Not how to stay but how to LEAVE. This is the most important part of deciding on a plan.

I am so appalled at the lack of courtesy that some posters here and elsewhere show to our president. It is one thing to disagree with policy and legislation, but quite another, to so viciously malign this president. This has nothing to do with first amendment rights, too many use that as a cover to be exceptionally disrespectful, and what are you teaching your children and grandchildren.

The country is hurting and your president is trying and working so hard to make it better. Where does your awful hate come from? It is sickening to read what people write under the anonymity of the Internet.

Gingerbread Mamma, Jupiter, Fl (Sent Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:05 AM)

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