McCain, Obama on Georgia

Joe Don, Topeka, KS — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:43:13 GMT

McCain's worried the Russian forces might burn Atlanta.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

MK,MO — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:43:23 GMT

which one of you cats at first read decided to start cutting off posts at about fifty or so? it is impossible to have a back and forth discussion like that, please let us run free, it's much more entertaining

McCain, Obama on Georgia

MK,MO — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:43:45 GMT

why is it you good republicans like corporate welfare and socialized financial markets but don't want to socialize anything that does not help the already wealthy? you guys want people to work alright, you just don't want the workers to get an honest day's pay for an honest days work, only the wealthy elite should have the luxury of healthcare and a dignified retirement, right?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

A Charles, LA, CA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:44:20 GMT

McCain's statement need a new word to describe them that means beyond annoying with sprinkles of hubris. He really is the arrogant one. If he gets in office, I'm taking a 4 yr vacation.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Spread the manure, ignorant and damn proud republicans — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:45:33 GMT

Georgia loves McCain - he's peachy and it's going red this year no matter how many troops the fascoliberalnazicommie terrorists send in.

209 to go and I can get me a John McCain chia head!!

McCain, Obama on Georgia

judy ovilla tx — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:47:55 GMT

Speaking of "acting like he's already the President and giving orders to people. Oh, that's right..it's McCain. If it were Obama, it would be the "celebrity acting Presidential".

McCain, Obama on Georgia

usweeklydotcom — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:48:51 GMT

obama said fluff until he can ask Hillary what he should !

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:49:03 GMT

McCain says, "[T]he news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory."

So the principle is if you invade another sovereign country, you should be told to get out?

Um, okay, anyone else wondering where this principle was when we invaded Iraq?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Nashville_fan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:50:10 GMT

Another indication that America's foreign policy can't just be all Middle East all the time.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Poo Tan, Cary, NC — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:50:35 GMT

Obama mistakenly thought the violence in Georgia was near Atlanta.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Clara Kansas City, MO — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:51:21 GMT

Casey (Sent Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:33 PM) thanks for the stats and for catching my back yesterday. I was busy working on my Oil Corporation Rant to Rob.
-------------------------
Kudos, FR - This was a perfect example of my expectation of journalism, First Read. Great Job!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Richard, Washington State

I've been reading your posts for the past couple of weeks and you've made it abundantly clear that you are a Repub and I can respect that. What disappoints me is that you don't actually put yourself out there. You may not like my opinion; but at least I am outlining my basis for how I feel. I don't think I am strictly bashing and attacking others. I am not proud of my reactions sometimes, and yesterday my husband even said by attacking Rob, I pretty much undermined my point (Sorry, Rob); but I much prefer my style of open, honest and direct input; rather than your style of just attacking Paul Miller, me or whichever blogger has gotten under your skin.
I don't know your age group; but I remember the teen creed when I was in high school that said, "Stand for something or you'll fall for anything." I am proud that I stand for something. What do you stand for? Not, what you are against. Can you articulate it? I'm not trying to be mean, I really want to know. What events in your life have shaped your values and why do you hold those positions?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Steven, Highlands Ranch, CO (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 9:59 AM) Thanks, although I wish I hadn’t gotten so snarky (sincerely sorry about that, Rob!). I would not be a good politician because I am a little too blunt for my own good. I do like a high level, back and forth – but I let myself get fished in and am guilty of some of the pettiness. That is yet another thing that impresses me about Obama. How does he manage to stay above the fray? I clearly don’t have that level of restraint. I’m working on it everyday, though.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

dl, Exeter, NH — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:52:17 GMT

too bad that John Mccain's on every issue has left us with no ground to stand on when asking for "standing down"

oy Is this guy a hypocrite or what.

and people wonder why he is a bad choice...

Because his stances have left us unable to have moral ground on asking people to stand down and avoid military confrontations that throw us further down the rabbit hole he and GW and don and dick and condi ...got us into.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Alan, NJ — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:52:26 GMT

You can read anything you want into these statements but which one sounds more forceful and decisive?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

mtg ca — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:52:58 GMT

That's the nice part of having 300 foreign advisers on the payroll. You can get bunch of them to pop these statements off pretty quick, and then several others can be there to explain to Obama what the statement means.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

no class — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:53:14 GMT

Good thing that McCoo-Coo pointed out who did what...

Instead of going off of "reports", he should have been more neutral like Obama in saying BOTH sides should show restraint and get to the table so a solution can be reached.

McCoo-Coo is a dork

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Diane from Illinois — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:53:31 GMT

Why don't we just bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Russia, too?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Pete - Albany, NY — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:54:26 GMT

I wonder how this changes McCain's plans to defend Czechoslovakia?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Beverly in Chicago — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:54:47 GMT

McCain gets a gold star for correctly regurgitating the news report. But, the question still remains will get those borders correct. Now, I’m confused how’d he do that?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Nashville_fan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:55:27 GMT

Will John McCain lie as much if he becomes President as he does on the campaign trail?

Will we be able to trust him to put the interests of the American people ahead of the interests of his corporate bosses?

If we can't trust JOHN MCCAIN'S WORD, what else is left?

We don't need ANOTHER LIAR in the White House.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Nj — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Then when they asked McCain without help he said
" Georgia? Thats where Jimmy carter is from Right?"
" They have great peaches and peanuts there"

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Prince, St. Paul — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:56:05 GMT

Is there oil there? If not, who cares?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:56:25 GMT

McCain might have to explain where exactly he expects this neutral peacekeeping force he wants to throw between Russia and a breakaway republic would come from?

We're having a hard time getting other countries to pony up forces for Afghanistan (mostly because we've lost so much international influence with our Iraq stupidity).

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Clara Kansas City, MO — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:56:57 GMT

"...President Bush did speak with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about the issue earlier in the day at a luncheon in China. Please note they spoke several hours before these latest developments."

Great, with his grasp of the issue, he probably escalated things. Hasn't Cheney told him to stop talking?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:57:22 GMT

As usual Bush probably spoke using expletives with a mouthful of food and chewed with his mouth open (as that time with Tony Blair).

McCain, Obama on Georgia

BJ, CA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:57:36 GMT

Sounds like a local issue that we should keep our noses out of...Putin is showing he's afraid of NATO.
more military dependency....we're doomed to failure if we blow this out of proportion..and we usually do...Let the Ruskies have their protracted war too..
Sad...

McCain, Obama on Georgia

marty holloman, columbia,s.c. — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:04:22 GMT

As the repubs dance around in glee. WAR! WAR! WAR!
As they represent the kings of war they surley think this is of some use to them, especially McCain.
We have several problems on the international front,
Russia, at the top of the list, well above Iran. Not above Afganastan. We must have a diplomat as CIC.
Bring our troops out of Iraq today, we need our military at high levels of readiness at all times,
we can no longer be tied down in Iraq. It is true that our world is not safe, this administration has
really made a mess, no longer respected, no longer feared.

Obama/Biden 08
marty

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Ella Minnow, Mpls, MN — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:05:03 GMT

Why did your new revision or update to this site, s-l-o-w navigation on the site?! Very frustrating.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Ron Indiana — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:05:07 GMT

Let's look at the hyprocrisy here. McOld said the Russian military crossed an internationally recognized border and Russia should immediately cease all military operations...Yet McOld supported the US military crossing an international recognized border (Iraq)and he thinks we should stay 100 years. Just a reminder, there were no WMD, Al Quada was in Afghanistan at the time, Bin Laden was...somewhere else. Bush had fake letters written to support our invasion. McOld supported the preemptive invasion, yet he condemns the Russian invasion.
Obama did not support the US invasion of Iraq, and he does not support the Russians invading Georgia. It seems one candidate is consistent, the other is...demented.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Steven, Highlands Ranch, CO — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:06:25 GMT

How in the hell can Bush tell them (Russia) to use restraint when he (Bush) did the exact same thing in Iraq????

McCain, Obama on Georgia

karen sue overland park ks — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:08:38 GMT

Did Time magazine have Putin as man of the year? How about Bush saying how much he liked Putin? I hope the country will say a prayer for wisdom in this situation today. Gee it is funny that it is on 08/08/08.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Dusty Olson, Iowa — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:11:33 GMT

Sorry, late to post on previous thread, so I digress:
I dislike the current vogue of forcing politicians to declare their faith. I feel it demeans Christianity and violates the constitution, which states there shall be no religious test for public office. I wish there were a politician brave enough to say "its none of your business" when journalists ask them about their "faith."
Amy B Portland, ME
I agree Amy. And yes, there was one politician that said just that about their faith to the electorate prior to him becoming President, Thomas Jefferson, Democratic-Republican (currently the Democratic Party). He further refused to publish the Jeffersonian Bible (a small book of collected teachings and lessons from Jesus of Nazareth), later published by a historical society, because he whole-heartedly believed one's faith was their own business and didn't feel comfortable influencing others to believe one way or the other.
p.s. Contrary to popular belief, President Jefferson was not a Christian, he was a Deist like many of the "Founding Fathers." Christianity and Islamic and Judaic teachings are fideist.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

I crack me up — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:19:20 GMT

Why was the first thing out of McCain's mouth is that we needed a peacekeeping force? Don't we have enough of our people stretched out all over the globe as it is? I mean everytime there's a UN peacekeeping force the majority of the soldiers come from the US.

I like the Obama camp's response better. Sounds like a parent scolding their children "get your behinds to the table and let's talk this out and see what UNARMED resolutions you can come up with and behave yourselves while you're at it!"

McCain's was more like "don't make me bomb you!"

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Mark, Salem,CT — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:22:52 GMT

McCain want to "surge" Georgia. Watch out Atlanta :-)

McCain, Obama on Georgia

BJ, CA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:27:22 GMT

Doesn't Georgia have nukes?

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Carrie in TX — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:28:31 GMT

Typical that McCain is already calling for EU/NATO forces to be deployed. This is the man's comfort zone. He only understands military might. That's fine if you're a war hero, not fine if you're POTUS.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Christine. Albany, NY — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:28:56 GMT

You can read anything you want into these statements but which one sounds more forceful and decisive?
Alan, NJ (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 11:52 AM)
***************************************************
Obama sounds direct and diplomatic. McCain sounds like Bush.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Middleman, Charlotte, NC — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:31:09 GMT

I certainly will not vote for Sen. McCain (perhaps not Sen. Obama), but Sen. McCain's response was direct, measured, and was more detailed than Sen. Obama's. I am frankly impressed that he was able to spit all of that out, and Sen. Obama should learn to respond with greater detail if he hopes to convert wary voters. I believe they were both probably saying the same thing, but Sen. Obama does not have the luxury of hoping people get what he's trying to say. That said, the problem with McCain's response, when examined in pari materia with his and his party's policies over the last several years, is that the United States must have credibility in the world in order to take such a strong position of leadership. There are many folks on this planet who do not see this incursion as being much different from our involvement in Iraq.

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Laura, Boston, MA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:34:52 GMT

I am not a republican nor democrat so I feel I can assess the statements fairly.

First off, Obama is on a plane to Hawaii and this statement is like his teleprompter talks (nice) it is prepared for the campaign.

John McCain is out on the campaign trail in Iowa and took the time to make this statement. It was clear concise and to the point. The country certainly doesn't need Russia (armed with lots of nukes) to go into a tiny country like Georgia (reminds you of the cold war days).

I think Obama picked the wrong time to vacation. He should have waited until the Republican convention. Senator McCain will have the whole week to himself while any situations that come up in the world will be "handled" by Obama's campaign. His campaign staff is not running for POTUS!

Bring back Hillary!!!

McCain, Obama on Georgia

Middle Class, Michigan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:09:39 GMT

When you invade another country for no just cause, you loose credibility to yell at others who do the same. How does McCain's stand on invading Iraq sqaure of with his views now. Leadership must be accompained with moral authority, otherwise you are just yelling at the cloud.
Middle Class, Michigan

McCain, Obama on Georgia

BL, Cincinnati OH — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:12:27 GMT

John McCain will end up starting a war with Russia. He's said he wants to kick them out of the G-8. His statement clearly is taking sides against Russia. He's insulted Putin and Medevdev. He'll keep pushing for Bush's missle defense system that has Russia talking about putting nuclear bombers and missles in Cuba and Venezuela if we continue.

John McCain will be worse than Bush on foreign affairs. Don't forget, McCain promised there would be more wars. Even Pat Buchanon said he believed McCain would start a war with Iran, which would end up drawing in Russia/China.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y395Tftgz0E

McCain, Obama on Georgia

dl, Exeter, NH — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:14:09 GMT

Maybe Mccain ought to look at who his staff is why he has rendered himself inept in the future with dealing with this since Randy Scheunneman was a lobbyist for the gov't of Georgia (as well as the lobbying group The committee for the Liberation of Iraq" which got us in the war in the first place) and if John's lead foreign policy man.

not to mention how difficult it is to ask other countries to "stand down" while your singing jokes like "bomb bomb bomb Iran"

This is a disgusting predicament.