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No one seems to be talking too much about Senator Obama's much publicized trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Europe. Will this trip hurt or hinder Obama's campaign? Here is one of today's articles: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11904.html -- Jane HBO Forums Host
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Posts:
24,138
Registered:
12/1/04
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(46 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 28, 2008 12:46 AM
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We have one very beloved columnist here in KC that has written for the Star for decades. This is his take on it...
COMMENTARY
Why wait to rally against the rogues who put us in this mess?
By C.W. GUSEWELLE, 7/26/08
The Kansas City Star
That recent unlikely blessing of coolness in mid-July ? 50s and low 60s in the mornings, 70s in the afternoons ? is remembered now like a fiction, a fever dream.
For a merciful little run of days, a week at most, we had the gift of Minnesota weather.
The hum of air conditioning was stilled. The electric meter added up the kilowatts less quickly. At night, a breeze as refreshing as chilled wine came whispering through the open bedroom windows.
We?re back, now, to the real world.
This isn?t Minnesota. We live in the midlands of the continent, in a city on the prairie?s edge, at a time of global warming. The August sun is the hammer. We?re on the anvil, beaten out of shape.
In an earlier year, we might have escaped to someplace. To a cabin in the front range of the Rockies. To the far north woods, maybe into Canada. Or even to Alaska.
But that was in another and quite different time, before the $60 gas fill-up; before the inflated no-service airfares; before the foundering economy, evaporating savings and the feeble dollar.
In the present circumstances, there?s little to do but grin and (if you have pool and privacy) bare it.
What I?d like to know, and what I believe a lot of people in this country would like to know, is how long we have to wait to see some of those rascals who put us in this mess ? oil speculators, hedge fund wheeler-dealers, predatory lenders and mortgage bundlers ? standing before a judge, then being trotted off to do a little character-building time.
That?s not even to mention their enablers in government who, through indifference, neglect, stupidity or outright collusion, contributed to the debacle.
Some contend the milk?s spilled and there?s nothing to be gained by placing blame. Odd, isn?t it, how you only hear that said about white-collar crime. Never about the commoner kind.
And I disagree. I think blame, besides giving satisfaction, has a certain clarifying effect, and can point the way to action. What form might that action take?
We can exercise more caution, more discretion, about those to whom we trust our investments.
We can run, as we would from a pack of hyenas, from those who encourage us to live and spend beyond our means ? whether it?s on dwellings, cars or extravagances bought with plastic.
We can take a fresh, critical look at the supposed virtues of indiscriminate deregulation.
We can send to Washington men and women fiercely committed to taming the oil market, pursuing energy independence, making prudent use of taxpayers? money, and shaping a rational and coherent foreign policy consistent with our resources, our interests and our obligations in the world.
And if they break their promises, we can shame them first, then vote them out.
I reject absolutely the notion that we, the public, are powerless before manipulators and rogues. Will correcting course be quick or easy? Not likely. But why wait for the November election to push for change?
Some of the needed remedies are within our power as individuals and families. And along with discomfort, the sweltering grip of summer can also foster a healthy impatience.
Maybe now?s the time to make a start.
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Posts:
22,436
Registered:
9/5/01
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(45 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 5:51 PM
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> Weak.
>
> --
> "Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
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Posts:
893
Registered:
3/21/08
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(44 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 5:10 PM
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> > Yes, the neocons are scared. Worried about
> > impeachment and jail, most likely.
>
> But do you think that they'll face either?
I think it's a very strong possibility. Ultimately it's up to the people to use the same tactics with their representatives as Bush and Cheney have used with them and us. If they don't take action, threaten them with their jobs.
Impeachment boils down to Bush's intent.
Bring Bush before Congress and the People and let him prove to us point by point that the Downing Street Memo is not damning evidence and does not prove intent to invade Iraq.
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Posts:
580
Registered:
1/17/08
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(43 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 2:50 PM
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> Yes, the neocons are scared. Worried about
> impeachment and jail, most likely.
But do you think that they'll face either?
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Posts:
5,128
Registered:
9/15/07
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(42 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 11:51 AM
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Weak.
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"Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
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Posts:
22,436
Registered:
9/5/01
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(41 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 11:45 AM
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> I noticed that you skipped over this part Rapid.
> Nothing to say? Speechless?
>
> "I wonder why he didn't make a large speech in the
> Muslim countries he visited? Large throngs of Muslim
> garbed people rallying didn't suit his purposes?
> Such a crock, all of it. "
Surprising he didn't do that for his people. Even though he says he is not a muslim, they are still a part of him.
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Posts:
893
Registered:
3/21/08
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(40 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 6:35 AM
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Yes, the neocons are scared. Worried about impeachment and jail, most likely.
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Posts:
24,138
Registered:
12/1/04
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(39 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 27, 2008 3:46 AM
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Obama Berlin Speech: US Foreign Service Workers Instructed Not To Attend
Katharine Zaleski | July 24, 2008 11:23 AM
Huff Post
**UPDATE 7/25** ThinkProgress now reports that the bar on Foreign Service workers attending Obama's speech in Berlin --through what a diplomat's union called an "unnecessarily narrow interpretation" of the Foreign Affairs Manual-- may be even more partisan than initially reported. Despite railing against Obama for giving a speech outside the country, John McCain himself gave a speech in Ottowa as recently as June of this year, as reported by The Huffington Post's Rachel Weiner yesterday. Now, ThinkProgress reveals that McCain's speech in Canada prompted no such restrictions for the country's Foreign Service workers. In fact:
The event was reportedly organized in part by U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, whom President Bush appointed in 2005. But more than that, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa confirmed to ThinkProgress that Wilkins also attended the event.
Not only did McCain make clear references to and critiques of Obama's policy positions in the speech, but he also referred to his own presidential campaign six times.
***
Although it appears most of Berlin is heading to Obama's speech today, US Foreign Service personnel will be banned from the event. And they are not happy. The American Foreign Service Association, a union of Foreign Service workers are opposing the rule. Read more from The Washington Post. And watch the speech live here.
The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama's public rally today, which the State Department this week labeled a "partisan political activity" prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.
Government employees serving in the United States are permitted to attend such events under the Hatch Act, which bars other partisan activity, such as contributing money or working in behalf of a candidate...
...The American Foreign Service Association, the union of the diplomatic corps, objected to the ruling, calling it an "unnecessarily narrow interpretation" of the Foreign Affairs Manual. "The fact that you are working for the U.S. government overseas should not preclude political activity that you could engage in in the United States," one retired senior Foreign Service officer said.
HuffPost blogger Jacob Heilbrunn looks into the political connections around the rule:
Indeed, the administration has a long and tawdry record of trying to browbeat government agencies into submission, whether it's the CIA or the Centers for Disease Control. The State Department is perhaps highest on the list of conservatives and neocons who see it as the center of disloyalty and treachery. But this latest action represents a new low. If it's going to these lengths, the Bush administration must be really worried about Sen. John McCain's prospects.
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Posts:
5,128
Registered:
9/15/07
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(38 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 9:46 PM
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It will probably be considered a media event, because McCain has no other choice but to say so...his plan backfired in his face. But Maliki gave him some very good debate ammunition when his supposed foreign policy "naivity" is brought up.
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"Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
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Posts:
563
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1/17/08
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(37 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 7:25 PM
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> > No "crazy" animal messes today. Just the
> normal: dog
> > drinks his water too fast, throws a bit of it
> back
> > up...alomst everyday. You'd think he'd figure
> out
> > not to do that.
> >
> > --
> > "Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson
> Winchester III
>
> Mine does the exact same thing! I can't figure out
> why he does that either!
>
> --
> Standin' in front just shakin' your ass.
> Take you back stage you can drink from my glass.
Dogs are nuts, or maybe they are a reflection of their owners. My shihtzu (a rescue) begs for a dog cookie which she guards but doesn't eat. It's an excuse for her to be brave with the cats and bark her head off.
To get back on subject, do you think Obama's trip will be considered a long-term success or just a media event?
--
Jane
HBO Forums Host
--
Edited by Host_Jane at 07/25/2008 4:30 PM PDT
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Posts:
21,762
Registered:
10/13/03
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(36 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 11:19 AM
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> No "crazy" animal messes today. Just the normal: dog
> drinks his water too fast, throws a bit of it back
> up...alomst everyday. You'd think he'd figure out
> not to do that.
>
> --
> "Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
Mine does the exact same thing! I can't figure out why he does that either!
--
Standin' in front just shakin' your ass.
Take you back stage you can drink from my glass.
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Posts:
5,128
Registered:
9/15/07
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(35 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 11:14 AM
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No "crazy" animal messes today. Just the normal: dog drinks his water too fast, throws a bit of it back up...alomst everyday. You'd think he'd figure out not to do that.
--
"Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
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Posts:
21,762
Registered:
10/13/03
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(34 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 11:08 AM
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> He doesn't howl. I bought the only hound dog that
> doesn't howl...dammit
>
> How are you today?
>
> --
> "Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
He makes me think of the Disney movie, "The Fox and the Hound". Do you remember that?
I am good, glad its Friday. How about you? Any crazy animal messes today?
--
Standin' in front just shakin' your ass.
Take you back stage you can drink from my glass.
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Posts:
5,128
Registered:
9/15/07
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(33 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 11:06 AM
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He doesn't howl. I bought the only hound dog that doesn't howl...dammit
How are you today?
--
"Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
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Posts:
21,762
Registered:
10/13/03
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(32 of 46)
Re: Obama in Europe and Iraq
Jul 25, 2008 11:05 AM
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> Climbing on me...Good morning TombRaider.
>
> --
> "Thank you...No." Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
AWWW, I bet that is a sweet puppy! Does he howl a lot?
--
Standin' in front just shakin' your ass.
Take you back stage you can drink from my glass.
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