Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

exregis, Newport News, VA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:28:02 GMT

"explore domestic sources of energy, including allowing for offshore drilling"

There's plenty of available sites to explore and drill -- more than two times as much area as is currently drilled (32% used, 68% left). Oil companies have the leases; they are just not using them while they wait for oil to get even more expensive and more profitable.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Clara Kansas City, MO — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:28:52 GMT

McCain campaign continues to stay on message, even if the message is ridiculously flawed. By McCain's own logic (using the word loosely here); no one is qualified to discuss foreign policy unless or until they travel abroad. So how exactly did that qualify George W. Bush? If I recall, he didn't even have a passport when he ran for POTUS in 2000.

This is a party of double standard and double speak. I have not been to afghanistan; but I feel pretty certain it is as chaotic and unstable as the news footage and reports indicate.

By the way, POTUS receives updates from the field. You know, daily briefings. Some of them are titled things like, "Osama determined to attack in the US". or something like that. The job of POTUS actually requires that someone on the staff READ the intelligence put before them. Ah yes, a deep thinker; well that does not describe McCain, by any stretch.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

lloyd christoper, Tn — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:32:00 GMT

Journalists follow Obama around like he's the Ice Cream Man. I know Journalism isn't exactly the most challenging vocation to study in college, so you're really not getting the best and the brightest, but these guys and gals need to grow up. And with all this positive attention from the journalists to Obama, McCain is still mere points away from overtaking Obama. Saying that the journalists are out of touch with the American public is quite the understatement.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

PM — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:34:21 GMT

The stakes are very high for Obama! His lead may not hold up when the war of terror and Irag becomes major taking points.

The major issues affecting most Americans are economy, gas prices and Iraq. I am sure that the GOP realized this and will make progress in improving those areas leading up to the election.

Gas prices will fall by November! They are already failing. Oil prices hit a low of $130 on yesterday! inwhich will help gas prices go lower!!

http://www.MyObamaStore.com

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Ron Indiana — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:36:00 GMT

The new two weeks are going to tough for the McCain camp. The risks for Obama will be very minimal. He does not have to talk to the British Parliment for goodness sake. Yes, he will meet with prime ministers. Any serious conversation (and a chance for a boo-boo) will be behind closed doors. Following meetings will be press conferences. What we will see is cheering Brits, Irishmen, French, and Germans. Security will be really tight in the Middle East. Any conversations with Generals will be private. The Generals will want it that way. More news coverage with Barack and our troops. The only thing McCain can do is....watch. To steal some press coverage he could announce his VP pick, but McCain will wait until Barack picks his VP. Watch the poll number in about 3 weeks from now!! Nationally, instead of a 7 point spread, it could be 11 points.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

BJ, CA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:38:17 GMT

Obama looks like a winner, he is a winner...

Back pedalling to the GOP for a sense of unity makes Obama look weak...

The GOP doesn't exist in the hearts and minds of it's founders and it's follwers...
What's left is the remnant of flounders, blamers and disclaimers..

Thanks President Bush and Dick Cheney you've really wrote the book on how the screw the nation and your party all at he same time (morons)...

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

jp,michigan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:38:28 GMT

So, Obama taking his dog and pony show to the middle-est and Europe. So, what. Americans are beginning to notice Obama's elevated opinion of himself. Obama is a three-year senator without a single important legislative achievement to his name, a former Illinois state senator who voted 'present' nearly 130 times. As president of Harvard Law Review, as law professor and as legislator, has he ever produced a single notable piece of scholarship? Written a single memorable article? His most memorable work is a biography of his favorite subject: HIMSELF.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Andrea, New York City — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:41:01 GMT

The Republicans will always take the negative view on EVERYTHING that Obama does. That is their campaign message. So that is understood up-front.

However if you notice that Bush as well as McCain are moving toward his way of thinking: Engaging in dialog, thinking about Afghanistan.

Barack Obama is very smart. You cannot believe that he will be caught short as far as information and expertise. He would know (and knows) and understands more about politics, strategy and foreign policy than anyone. Reading in the Times today that he has 300 foreign policy advisors was not hard to believe. And he forms his own thinking based on their facts. HE IS ABLE TO THINK FOR HIMSELF AND GETS IT RIGHT!!!!!

So all the other stuff is spin and fear that this incredible candidate will be president.

OBAMA/08

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Joe Don, Topeka, KS — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:41:19 GMT

Apparently Mr. McCain spoke with his handler (Ms. Hazelbaker) and decided she was right after all - he had mistakenly passed on an opportunity to be more critical of his opponent.

Some maverick. Won't even stick to his occasional lapse into decency.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Walt, Ohio — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:42:32 GMT

Mitt Romney mus not have gotten the memo. He described Obama's overseas trip as a "campaign stop".
Romney is just as big a fraud as McSame. What a loser.
McSame's campaign is so out of control and out of touch. He needs to retire; fortunately after November, we won't have to listen to his meandering ramblings anymore.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Rick,Ky — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:46:45 GMT

Anyone who's been paying attention for the last several month's, Know that Barack Obama has been directing our foriegn Policy from the confines of his Election campaign.Coincedence that Barack is the 1st nominee of thier respective party that still is'nt being briefed on world affair's by this administration? Still, he's guiding our World affair's.

Label him how you want to, but not knowing what's going on the World is'nt one of them.

That dog won't hunt!

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:52:09 GMT

McCain: "If he was so concerned about Afghanistan and the threat there and the need to send troops, don’t you think he should have gone there?"

Okay, someone has to call the senator on this line of reasoning. Why? We all know when a senator travels to these areas, its little more than a junket. Its not like the senator is seeing anything more than sanitized scenery, and hearing mostly canned progress reports.

Sure, some opportunity for candid discourse is there. But is it any greater than the opportunity senators get inside the Capitol, when talking with military leaders at hearings?

And of course we do live in the e-mail age - meaning that no one in theater is really beyond reach, assuming the person on this end uses a computer.

So what is it McCain is suggesting Obama missed? An opportunity to shop in an artificially protected Baghdad marketplace? The reality here is these political junkets are more disruptive to the military forces there than anything else.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

gmhussein, Jupiter Fl — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:00:52 GMT

Eight years ago, when GBW was running for president, the GOP and its followers were not concerned that GBW had hardly ever been out of the country, they elected him, twice. Or at least once, legitmately, by then he had dragged us into a war, had made overseas trips which never improved his judgement.

Now they are complaining about Barack Obama's trip, he has been overseas several times prior to this. Traveling, whether as a private citizen or as a potential POTUS, helps give one a better understanding of the world as long as one is open to the differences in cultures.

In todays's world, many millions overseas are hoping Barack will be elected POTUS and want to see this extrordinary man for themselves. But they can only hope, that the voters of the US will make the right choice this time, not like they did in 2004. Many overseas are still trying to understand how that happened. God Speed Barack!

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Lulu Nemo — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:05:28 GMT

Obama... a self-promoting, pandering and disgusting pr1ck.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Nashville_fan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:15:35 GMT

Most abused word this election?

elitist

Only ELITIST journalists and political egg heads use that word in the first place.

It is a sad day in America when the only way we can make ourselves look better is to try and make someone else look worse.

Being American used to be about BEING the best, and working HARDER to be even better. Now people think that being American is about degrading those that don't agree with you, and belittling those who outperform you.

See, the Bush Administration DOES have a legacy.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

eagle — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:17:51 GMT

The Europeans I know just adore Barack Obama. They have no problem with his foreign policy credentials. They ask how much foreign policy experience people like Ronald Reagan, or George W. Bush had before becoming president. Those guys weren't even part of the federal government so how could they?

As was mentioned, any candidate and later POTUS is constantly briefed on what is happening in the world. How else would he know. Do you think John Adams knew everything that was going on in France, England or in the Medeterranean area without someone who was an expert to advise him? Way too much is being made of Obama's supposed lack of experience on foreign affairs.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Class Warrior, D.C. — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:19:29 GMT

Has Bush been to Afghanistan? I can't remember. If he hasn't, "how come he hasn't been there if he's so concerned about it?" (to paraphrase Mcbush. And why hasn't he been to EITHER of his wars RECENTLY,if he's so concerned about them? See, the logic kind of breaks down here...

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

James Jonah Jameson — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:19:30 GMT

Article by Karen DeYoung "'Newbies' on their first or second trip, an embassy official said, are the only ones who still want their pictures taken beneath the massive crossed swords on Saddam Hussein's former military parade ground in Baghdad, now a windswept expanse of cracked concrete inside the fortified Green Zone. While many of the visitors display deep knowledge of things Iraqi, embarrassing incidents have occurred. An unnamed House member, who met on a Sunday with the head of the endowment that manages all Sunni mosques in Iraq, asked him where he had gone to church that morning."

I have no idea why this was pitched in as Barack Obama is making his second trip but I assume this is another jab at the POTUS in waiting. Listen people. Senator Obama has been right all along and taking cracks at him in articles is Republican attacks and Ms. or Mrs. DeYoung needs to name the people that make these statements since they are not matters of national intelligence. Just throwing the statements in there is stupid and desparate.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Helena Clearwater, FL — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:19:43 GMT

McBush and his supporters are just jealous. From 80,000 here to 800,000 all over the world. That's the number of persons directly exposed to our next president. No wonder they are having a fit.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Donna-Charlottesville, VA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:20:14 GMT

As a white lady of 59 years, educated and the mother of 2 educated daughters, we are extremely proud of the fact that Sen. Obama is our nominee for President of the United States.

Sen. Obama is a brilliant man who has top advisors by his side 24/7. For all the time McCain has spent on the ground he still doesn't know what's going on.

Sen. Obama will lead our country to a new beginning, a country for all its citizens, a country respected around the world.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT A McSAME IN THE WHITEHOUSE?

Obama 08/12

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

MAMMA MIA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:22:28 GMT

Bad week my a$$. He's still getting a free ride from the MSM.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Linda. Boston, MA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:22:57 GMT

“In a recent Washington Post-ABC poll, 72 percent of those surveyed said McCain knew enough about world affairs to serve effectively as president, compared to 54 percent for Obama.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It's amazing how many low-information voters there are. McCain has made countless bad calls on foreign policy, and he has made numerous inaccurate statements over the last few months. Meanwhile, Obama always knows what he's talking about, and his assessment of the consequences of going into Iraq and ignoring Afghanistan have been dead on. Yet, despite all that, people somehow come to the conclusion that McCain is the guy to go to on foreign policy? Why? Because he's old and they assume that age is synonymous with wisdom? Very sad.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Kelly (from Pittsburgh) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:31:32 GMT

jp- All politicians think a lot of themselves. Particularly those who decide to run for president. You have to be a confident person to believe your the best person to run the country. Obama has distinguished himself in every position he has held in his life. He does have significant legislative accomplishments (particularly for a freshman senator). He also distinguished himself as a bipartisan legislator in Illinois. The present votes have long been dispelled as ordinary coting practice in Illinois. As he was only a part-time constituional law professor, his focus was on teaching not publishing. And he has written (not ghost written) two highly regarded books.

Why is commonly thought that a more experienced Senator should have more knowledge how to lead the country? History has shown that the few experienced Senators who have been elected to the position have terrible records. We need new ideas. Obama is intelligent but is also open to council from the best minds in the country. We need someone who can inspire the people and the world. Change is just an empty word for the Obama movement. And a lot of people claim that this is empty rhetoric. He is consistently clear what he means by change. The number one priority is throwing out the influence of corporate lobbyists. You see, many of the politicians in Washington know what the right things to do are to turn this country around. But big money influences the votes not to happen. Every interest group is pushing their own agenda and the people's agenda is getting lost.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Terry for Common Sense — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:31:39 GMT

Obama is viewed as weak on foreign policy because our current foreign policy revolves around war. Obama is not a war president and Bush/McCain are. Foreign Policy does not equal war and if we take the actual meaning of foreign policy, "Gaining favor from allies, successfully negotiating with the bad guys, and expanding US influence", then Obama is far and beyond better for foreign policy. The rest of the civilized world is hoping Obama wins and if we want the US to be the moral center of the world, we better hope Obama wins too.

On a side note, its funny how Bush is sending diplomats to talk with Iran when he and McCain have soundly bashed Obama for wanting to sit down with our enemies.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Ira, Freehold, Nj — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:31:41 GMT

"In a recent Washington Post-ABC poll, 72 percent of those surveyed said McCain knew enough about world affairs to serve effectively as president, compared to 54 percent for Obama.” But, “The two men were in a statistical tie when voters were asked who was more trusted to handle the situation between Israel and the Palestinians or the war in Iraq."

This trip could be make or break for Obama. Literally, he has the eyes of the Nation and the World on him. Everything he says will be parsed down to the last word. It is a very dangerous place for him to be in because a gaffe can and will be blown out of distortion. Can you imagine what the reaction would be if he confuses Shia and Sumni on two occassions? McCain got a free pass, just a "senior moment". Obama will be cricified. With Hagel and Reed as his wing men he should be all right.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

NuNu Lemo — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:33:03 GMT

McCain...adulterous, womanizing,warmongering liar.

Obama vs. McCain: Travel politics

Diane from Illinois — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:33:08 GMT

If Obama DIDN'T go overseas, McCain would STILL be counting down the days since his last trip overseas, so WHAT, exactly, does McCain want Obama to do? Oh yeah, drop out of the race..........sorry, that isn't going to happen! Hillary wanted that, too, and you can see where she is today!