solving a human Rubik’s Cube during a firefight while the media screams every time you make a wrong move — or what is perceived as a wrong move — and there is a clock ticking and at some unknown point the Cube self-destructs.

Excellent analogy, Yon.

Maybe, but I'm not holding my breath.

It might suck the life out of him.

I fear Obama will find a way to act as though he coached the Lions on this. Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

It will all be clear when The One orders the US Armed Forces to attack Pakistan.

It will all make sense then.

*gulp*

Looks like Obama will have to actually do something other than spout platitudes of Hope and Change.

Clearly, a invasion of Pakistan is not going to be the solution.

It will be very interesting and telling how the new Administration is willing to focus and address the challenges of the 'good war' in Afghanistan.

Will the new found 'respect' of the world's nations on the change in President translate into an adjustment of their policies towards Afghanistan and the interests of the US - or will they expect a more likely US adjustment to their interests?

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

That never does seem to work. Among other problems, it transports the Afghans 1700 years into the future.

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

Not sure how you bomb a country forward from the 6th century.

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

It's Pakistan, not Afghanistan, that Obama wants to invade.

What language do they speak in Afghanistan again, Obama? Good luck.

I was going to say I wouldn't want to bet my life on it, but we'll really be betting the troops' lives on it. I hope Obama is up to the challenge.

re: #9 Athos

Clearly, a invasion of Pakistan is not going to be the solution.

Yes it is... you just don't understand Hope and Change!

re: #13 bosforus

What language do they speak in Afghanistan again, Obama? Good luck.

Taliban and Jihad?

re: #12 FurryOldGuyJeans

It's Pakistan, not Afghanistan, that Obama wants to invade.

Goody! Let's invade the one semi-stable county there that actually has nukes. What a plan, Barack. Wish I had your intellect.
/

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

We could even pull out entirely and let the country return to the 7th century....

re: #7 FurryOldGuyJeans

I don't think he's going to be able to vote "Present" on this one.

Obamas Afghanistanpolicy is his first huge mistake. Ask those nice guys at Spetznas if you can ever win a war in that god forsaken region.

Maybe Obama's testing war will be with Pakistan. VP Biden will be jumping up and down with joy. And Chris Matthews will get all tingly.

Huh! I wasnt aware we were losing in asscrackistan. I'd like to hear that from someone on the ground, thank you very much.
If anyone can fuck up afgahnistan, its the Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers.

re: #19 Iron Fist

I don't think he's going to be able to vote "Present" on this one.

Making decisions are no longer above His Pay Grade.

re: #23 FurryOldGuyJeans

Yeah. God help us.

2 years of campaigning is going to toughen him up? Hardly.

His first international crisis will show whether he's got the mettle to not only handle a crisis, but the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Will he cut and run at the first sign of trouble, or stick to his guns?

I fear he might cut and run, precisely because that's what the whole coterie of Democrats have demanded in Iraq, some in Afghanistan, and the utter fecklessness of such a policy would be a disaster for US national security.

Then again, he might surprise us all (on the upside).

I'm not going to hold my breath.

In the meantime, people are fetching five figures for inauguration tickets.

re: #23 FurryOldGuyJeans

Making decisions are no longer above His Pay Grade.

I'm glad I slowed down to read this because I thought it said something else.

re: #4 amrilusaguy

We have put a lot of bombs there. It's the human mind that needs to be places in the 21 st century. Putting it into the 18th recreates the original problem.

Human mind + Internet = strange things happening.

re: #25 lawhawk

2 years of campaigning is going to toughen him up? Hardly.

His first international crisis will show whether he's got the mettle to not only handle a crisis, but the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Will he cut and run at the first sign of trouble, or stick to his guns?

I fear he might cut and run, precisely because that's what the whole coterie of Democrats have demanded in Iraq, some in Afghanistan, and the utter fecklessness of such a policy would be a disaster for US national security.

Then again, he might surprise us all (on the upside).

I'm not going to hold my breath.

In the meantime, people are fetching five figures for inauguration tickets.

Maybe he'll surprise us.

Did I just write that?

Naybe.

re: #21 hazzyday

And Chris Matthews will get all tingly.

This imagery should be forbidden.

re: #25 lawhawk

In the meantime, people are fetching five figures for inauguration tickets.

It's a better bet than the DOW right now.

re: #26 Honorary Yooper

I'm glad I slowed down to read this because I thought it said something else.

Maybe it did and you just saw what the MSM wanted you to see. ;)

Barack: "Open the bomb-bay doors please HAL.

HAL: "I'm afraid I can't do that Barack."

re: #25 lawhawk

Damn. You'd have to pay me five figures to sit through it. History be damned. I'd be freaked out by being so close to so many Democrats, anyway.

re: #19 Iron Fist

I don't think he's going to be able to vote "Present" on this one.

Actually thats how we got him. He heard someone say "Who wants to be President?", He thought they said "Present" and signed up.

/

President-elect Obama says he is serious about Afghanistan. (Just don’t fumble Iraq, please.) As he must be learning in intelligence briefings, it’s going to be tough stuff. It will be like solving a human Rubik’s Cube during a firefight while the media screams every time you make a wrong move — or what is perceived as a wrong move — and there is a clock ticking and at some unknown point the Cube self-destructs.

Well President Obama won't have to worry about that at least.

re: #33 jamgarr

ROFL.

Hal: "I've always had the greatest enthusiasm for Hope and Change."

Obummer

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

That's what the Soviets tried.

Or was that sarcasm?

The infrastructure in Afghanistan is one of the main problems in achieving many of the goals we need to achieve in order to stabilize the country. Iraq had some infrastructure and it was somewhat easy to rebuild what was destroyed. I wonder if the people in Afghanistan are going to be thrilled with Obama planning their infrastructure the same ways he wants US to work on our infrastructure? By force.

We will know how smart Obama is if he keeps General Petraeus on and if not, Afghanistan is toast. It was suggested by Ralph Peters in the NY Post that Obama keep Gates on as well, and pick up Richard Holbrooke. [Link: www.nypost.com...]

One thing is for sure, if he does not allow the military people to handle Afghanistan, and instead allows the politicians to run the wars and homeland security issues; we will surely be on the receiving end of another homeland disaster. May God have mercy on us!

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

Because they are in the 7th century and it would be an advancement?

Whats so hard to figure out for Barry? He'll pull out at once.

re: #37 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Well President Obama won't have to worry about that at least.

We've already had Unca Joe Plugs affirm that Obama will be perceived to be doing the wrong thing, so worry I will still be doing.

re: #41 freeus

To quote that paragon of thought and philosophy, C3PO,

"We're doomed."

A lot of folks here think Obama may adopt some type of 'cut and run' policy regarding Afganistan. But I hold something of a contary opinion. I think he will overreact to any crisis in the region in a effort to prove he is tough. For the sake of the nation, I hope neither option happens, but we will see

Ironic that Afghanistan is one of his first foreign policy challenges when he's chaired the senate FR sub-committee for going on four years now, but hasn't convened it once. Not.Once.

re: #41 freeus

re: #41 freeus

One thing is for sure, if he does not allow the military people to handle Afghanistan, and instead allows the politicians to run the wars and homeland security issues; we will surely be on the receiving end of another homeland disaster. May God have mercy on us!
Good post.

re: #46 chicagodudewhotrades

A lot of folks here think Obama may adopt some type of 'cut and run' policy regarding Afganistan. But I hold something of a contary opinion. I think he will overreact to any crisis in the region in a effort to prove he is tough. For the sake of the nation, I hope neither option happens, but we will see

Obama will be tough until he gets his nose bloodied. Then he'll cut and run.

re: #25 lawhawk

2 years of campaigning is going to toughen him up? Hardly.

His first international crisis will show whether he's got the mettle to not only handle a crisis, but the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Will he cut and run at the first sign of trouble, or stick to his guns?

I fear he might cut and run, precisely because that's what the whole coterie of Democrats have demanded in Iraq, some in Afghanistan, and the utter fecklessness of such a policy would be a disaster for US national security.

Then again, he might surprise us all (on the upside).

I'm not going to hold my breath.

In the meantime, people are fetching five figures for inauguration tickets.

I can believe it! The Franklin Mint is already selling Barak Obama coins, and as a bonus you get one with Barak and JFK on it.
Your text to link...

re: #46 chicagodudewhotrades

A lot of folks here think Obama may adopt some type of 'cut and run' policy regarding Afganistan. But I hold something of a contary opinion. I think he will overreact to any crisis in the region in a effort to prove he is tough. For the sake of the nation, I hope neither option happens, but we will see

I see him trying to do both so as to appeal to whoever he is talking to at the moment. Obama is IMNHO going to make "Do it by the polls" Clinton look downright decisive.

re: #41 freeus

When I saw your nick, I thought it said "Freetus". That would be kinda edgy :-)

re: #47 Intrepid

Ironic that Afghanistan is one of his first foreign policy challenges when he's chaired the senate FR sub-committee for going on four years now, but hasn't convened it once. Not. Once.

Bit of a puzzle, isn't it?

re: #4 amrilusaguy

I don't understand what the problem is
can we not just bomb Afghanistan back into the 18th century

would that not solve the problem?

Er,....the 18th century? That would actually be a huge step forward.

re: #51 FurryOldGuyJeans

I see him trying to do both so as to appeal to whoever he is talking to at the moment. Obama is IMNHO going to make "Do it by the polls" Clinton look downright decisive.

You know, I'd have picked a better choice of words when it comes down to BJ Clinton.

What ever Obama decides to do in Afghanistan, I say that we afford him the same level of decency, patience, and examination of his intellect that the Left afforded George W. Bush.

re: #55 Honorary Yooper

You know, I'd have picked a better choice of words when it comes down to BJ Clinton.

Maybe my choice is exactly what I intended, eh? ;)

re: #47 Intrepid

Ironic that Afghanistan is one of his first foreign policy challenges when he's chaired the senate FR sub-committee for going on four years now, but hasn't convened it once. Not.Once.

So, the committee's done NOTHING for four years?

re: #56 Big Steve

What ever Obama decides to do in Afghanistan, I say that we afford him the same level of decency, patience, and examination of his intellect that the Left afforded George W. Bush.

So when does the heckling start?

re: #56 Big Steve

What ever Obama decides to do in Afghanistan, I say that we afford him the same level of decency, patience, and examination of his intellect that the Left afforded George W. Bush.

It's not baseball season and you still hit it out of the park.

re: #56 Big Steve

What ever Obama decides to do in Afghanistan, I say that we afford him the same level of decency, patience, and examination of his intellect that the Left afforded George W. Bush.

I intend to.

re: #59 Honorary Yooper

So when does the heckling start?

3......2......1......

re: #56 Big Steve

Yeah. Let's cut through the bullshit, and impeach the SOB now!

:-)

re: #56 Big Steve

What ever Obama decides to do in Afghanistan, I say that we afford him the same level of decency, patience, and examination of his intellect that the Left afforded George W. Bush.

Except, when I say I support the troops, I mean it.

re: #56 Big Steve

No, that would be cruel.

re: #58 MandyManners

So, the committee's done NOTHING for four years?

You expected some decisiveness from the Messiah? PULEEEEZE!

re: #63 Iron Fist

Yeah. Let's cut through the bullshit, and impeach the SOB now!

:-)

We need a "Beach Impeach" event. Where's Zombie to organize?

re: #64 Silhouette

Except, when I say I support the troops, I mean it.

Me too.

I for one do not want to see Obama make a disaster out of Afghanistan. We have skin in this game.

I won't be heckling any military operations.

It was only days after September 11, 2001 that the Left Wing Anti War crowd was screeching their peace mantras regarding any invasion of Afghanistan.
This phase should be interesting. Can the Progressives get their minds around their messiah being a warrior?
Actually, I have a hard time seeing O-_________ as anything but a metro-sexual wuss.

re: #58 MandyManners

He decided to do nothing. He's got that passive-agressive thing going on for him. That'll be a great way to run the Country, won't it?

Defense minister authorizes limited shipment of fuel to Gaza

[Link: www.ynetnews.com...]

Because they have behaved so well?

re: #35 Iron Fist

Damn. You'd have to pay me five figures to sit through it. History be damned. I'd be freaked out by being so close to so many Democrats, anyway.

You better get tougher lizard skin than that! /

re: #68 mama winger

Me too.

I for one do not want to see Obama make a disaster out of Afghanistan. We have skin in this game.

I won't be heckling any military operations.

Ditto. However, I will heckle his domestic policy to heck and back.

re: #53 Spiny Norman

Bit of a puzzle, isn't it?

It's like a blue-print for his candidacy. Throw around enough nuanced rhetoric and people will think you know and do more than you actually know and do.

He's done nothing, nothing as a IL state senator or a US senator that would recommend him as a serious player in world affairs. Giving a hyped up "We are the World" speech in Berlin doesn't cut the mustard.

It's Gilderoy Lockart of Harry Potter fame - writing books about himself but having no real personal experience in what he's ascribed to himself.

Something about President Elect Obama makes me suspect that his internal dialog is dismissing the intel briefings he has been getting. He is bringing change, and the briefings are generated by the same old people saying the same old thing.

re: #14 Iron Fist

I was going to say I wouldn't want to bet my life on it, but we'll really be betting the troops' lives on it. I hope Obama is up to the challenge.

I doubt that he is, or ever will be up to it.

re: #47 Intrepid

Ironic that Afghanistan is one of his first foreign policy
challenges when he's chaired the senate FR sub-committee for going on
four years now, but hasn't convened it once. Not.Once.

Well, he was quite busy on his banking committee.
/

re: #68 mama winger

Me too.

I for one do not want to see Obama make a disaster out of Afghanistan. We have skin in this game.

I won't be heckling any military operations.

Or gleefully counting dead Americans as my idea of "mounting evidence" that Obama was wrong.

re: #13 bosforus

What language do they speak in Afghanistan again, Obama? Good luck.

Merci boo coop

re: #71 Nevergiveup

Defense minister authorizes limited shipment of fuel to Gaza

[Link: www.ynetnews.com...]

Because they have behaved so well?

Why, oh why do they even try to send fuel, electricity, water, etcetera to Gaza? Make Egypt do it once instead.

Luckily for us the press tells that Obama has a genius IQ, so this should be easy. Biden is likewise brilliant. Bush is a dumbster, whom I imagine the world be missing around February 20th. Give O a month to bang those gas prices back up with executive orders banning domestic exploration.

re: #51 FurryOldGuyJeans

I see him trying to do both
so as to appeal to whoever he is talking to at the moment. Obama is
IMNHO going to make "Do it by the polls" Clinton look downright
decisive.

The Poles are going to be screwed under Obama, too.

I think we will quickly find out what kind of man we have elected.

re: #80 Honorary Yooper

Why, oh why do they even try to send fuel, electricity, water, etcetera to Gaza? Make Egypt do it once instead.

But the Egyptians hope they all drop dead?

Do you really think the Left as a whole will care all that much what Obama does or doesn't do? I'm not entirely sure. With them, it's hard to tell whether they object to a policy in and of itself or solely because an Evil Republican is in charge.

In any case, it's going to be hilarious to watch the media do the exact reverse of what they did for the Bush administration. No matter what happens in Afghanistan, they'll give it a wonderful spin.

re: #66 FurryOldGuyJeans

You expected some decisiveness from the Messiah? PULEEEEZE!

The duplicity is amazing. He's turned it all over to Pres. Bush yet all he can do is piss, bitch, moan and whine?

re: #70 Iron Fist

He decided to do nothing. He's got that passive-agressive thing going on for him. That'll be a great way to run the Country, won't it?

He won't be able to do nothing from the Oval Office.

re: #47 Intrepid

Ironic that Afghanistan is one of his first foreign policy challenges when he's chaired the senate FR sub-committee for going on four years now, but hasn't convened it once. Not.Once.

He was busy actively campaigning for president for 2.5 of those years and was putting out feelers for the year before that. He's been extremely busy. He needs to get some rest. If he doesnt have his health....

/apologies to princess bride

re: #80 Honorary Yooper

Why, oh why do they even try to send fuel, electricity, water, etcetera to Gaza? Make Egypt do it once instead.

What I want to know is why they bother to cut it off if they are only going to turn around and send it several hours later. Either do it or don't do it and stop jerking around with it.

re: #85 wolfie

the one thing ill give the canadian press is that they have been alot more respectful of our military in Afghanistan than the US press ever was with Iraq

re: #87 MandyManners

He won't be able to do nothing from the Oval Office.

I think the much storied "Peter Principle" is about to come into play...

re: #86 MandyManners

The duplicity is amazing. He's turned it all over to Pres. Bush yet all he can do is piss, bitch, moan and whine?

The only thing Obama has been good at in His political career is run for higher office. Now that He can't go any higher He is going to find out He can't just talk or complain.

re: #28 MandyManners

Maybe he'll surprise us.
Did I just write that?

It's the secret wish of most of us, I'm sure.
But not bloody likely.

re: #78 Silhouette

Or gleefully counting dead Americans as my idea of "mounting evidence" that Obama was wrong.

This does bring up a valid point. If he does make an incredibly bad military decision how can we point that out in such a way that he actually CHANGEs direction. It was dificult enough to get Bush to move in the right way with the troop surge, and he basically agrees with our point of view.

Try fighting a war here.

re: #90 pegcity

the one thing ill give the canadian press is that they have been alot more respectful of our military in Afghanistan than the US press ever was with Iraq

That's because the Canucks are with us there.

re: #83 Ojoe

I think we will quickly find out what kind of man we have elected.

You don't already know?

re: #72 lawhawk

Couldn't be any worse than a bar full of Outlaws, could it? Well, a more Meterosexual crowd than Outlaws, but less heavily armed. Still, Democrats make my skin crawl. It's kind of like having moral leprosy. Ya hope it ain't contagious, but you don't want to get any on you just the same :-)

re: #88 Eowyn2

He was busy actively campaigning for president for 2.5 of those years and was putting out feelers for the year before that. He's been extremely busy. He needs to get some rest. If he doesnt have his health....

/apologies to princess bride

Holding the office of president for the full term will be the longest he has ever held one job in his life.

And the man is almost 50.

re: #58 MandyManners

So, the committee's done NOTHING for four years?

I looked it up - it's the Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on Europe, which includes all activities of NATO. And a correction: he's been the chairman for the past two years, not four.

Click here for a RNC thing on it

Here's an excerpt:

Sen. DeMint (R-SC), Ranking Member Of The Subcommittee On European Affairs, Wrote A Letter To Obama, Asking Him To Hold A Hearing On The NATO Mission In Afghanistan. Sen. DeMint: "However, despite these successes, I am concerned our Subcommittee has not held any hearings on these issues over the last two years. With oversight of NATO relations and its role in Afghanistan, I believe it is time for us to focus closely on these issues. As Ranking Member of your Subcommittee on European Affairs, I would welcome a chance to hold a hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan upon your return." (Sen. Jim DeMint, Letter To Sen. Barack Obama, 7/15/08)

re: #81 kansas

Luckily for us the press tells that Obama has a genius IQ, so this should be easy. Biden is likewise brilliant. Bush is a dumbster, whom I imagine the world be missing around February 20th. Give O a month to bang those gas prices back up with executive orders banning domestic exploration.

I have no doubt that CBBHO is a smart man. He's just that he's read all the wrong books in pursuit of the wrong philosophy.

re: #91 imploder

I think the much storied "Peter Principle" is about to come into play...

Once more, we harken back to the days of President Clinton.
/

re: #87 MandyManners

He won't be able to do nothing from the Oval Office.

He sure will make a go at it, though. Why do something when you can just talk Change and Hope. Talk sure served Him well so far.

re: #74 Intrepid

It's like a blue-print for his candidacy. Throw around enough nuanced rhetoric and people will think you know and do more than you actually know and do.

He's done nothing, nothing as a IL state senator or a US senator that would recommend him as a serious player in world affairs. Giving a hyped up "We are the World" speech in Berlin doesn't cut the mustard.

It's Gilderoy Lockart of Harry Potter fame - writing books about himself but having no real personal experience in what he's ascribed to himself.

Baron von Munchhausen?

re: #87 MandyManners

He won't be able to do nothing from the Oval Office.

Unfortunately he will be able.

Such as Europe vis a vis Germany in the 20s and 30s.

All mistakes can be repeated.

re: #68 mama winger

Me too.

I for one do not want to see Obama make a disaster out of Afghanistan. We have skin in this game.

I won't be heckling any military operations.

Unfortunately Mama W., what we want or support isn't going to have any effect on the Obama administration's policies or decisions. And while we probably won't have any military disasters, as our on-the-ground commanders are better than that, we may well have an abrupt pull-out with no thought as to what comes after we leave.

re: #90 pegcity

the one thing ill give the canadian press is that they have been alot more respectful of our military in Afghanistan than the US press ever was with Iraq

Thank God for that. I am glad to hear it. Very glad.

re: #82 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

The Poles are going to be screwed under Obama, too.

Maybe sooner than the citizens of Afghanistan.

...while the media screams every time you make a wrong move

Uuuuuuhhhhh... just what media is Yon referring to here?

If he, Obama, is as smart as he thinks he is he will listen to the professional soldiers who's job it is to fight a successful campaign. If he does not screw it up by interfering politically he can claim success that the MSM would deny Bush regardless of what the outcome would be.

Obama makes his first visit to the Oval Office.

Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 would not remove their suit jackets while in the Oval Office out of respect for the Office of the Presidency.

Clinton dropped trou.

I wonder how P.E. Obama will treat the Office.

re: #97 galloping granny

I have been piling on the hope.

re: #99 Silhouette

Holding the office of president for the full term will be the longest he has ever held one job in his life.

And the man is almost 50.

And we are going to have to pay him a small fortune every single stinking year for the rest of his life!

re: #102 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Once more, we harken back to the days of President Clinton.
/

You seem to be the only one obsessed with that part of anatomy. ;)

re: #91 imploder

I think the much storied "Peter Principle" is about to come into play...

I truly hope not.

re: #111 jcm

Obama makes his first visit to the Oval Office.

Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 would not remove their suit jackets while in the Oval Office out of respect for the Office of the Presidency.

Clinton dropped trou.

I wonder how P.E. Obama will treat the Office.

The Throne Room?

Stocks are negative at mid-day after trading higher for most of the morning as investors still show concern about the slowing economy and its effect on
sales at U.S. companies. Stocks jumped out of the gate after China announced a $586 billion stimulus package.

Investors speculate the package could benefit multinational companies with
business in China such as Wal-Mart (WMT) and Caterpillar (CAT).

-Track notes

re: #101 MandyManners

I have no doubt that CBBHO is a smart man. He's just that he's read all the wrong books in pursuit of the wrong philosophy.

Well, we'll see how smart he is but I actually have my doubts. The 150 IQ thing seems little much to me.

re: #87 MandyManners

No, but will he do the right thing? There's nothing he's done so far that leads me to believe that he even knows what the right thing might be. I'm sure he'll do something. You wouldn't want to look indecisive.

He'll just make it up as he goes along. Not very reassuring.

re: #92 FurryOldGuyJeans

The only thing Obama has been good at in His political career is run for higher office. Now that He can't go any higher He is going to find out He can't just talk or complain.

Was he really that good or did he just have close to a billion dollars in OPM and the entire MFM as his PR department?

re: #91 imploder

I think the much storied "Peter Principle" is about to come into play...

The Peter Principle is the principle that "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence."

re: #93 Spare O'Lake

It's the secret wish of most of us, I'm sure.
But not bloody likely.

Heaven help us.

re: #106 Son of the Black Dog

Unfortunately Mama W., what we want or support isn't going to have any effect on the Obama administration's policies or decisions. And while we probably won't have any military disasters, as our on-the-ground commanders are better than that, we may well have an abrupt pull-out with no thought as to what comes after we leave.

John F'in Kerry promised the Senate that if we pulled out of S.E. Asia, every one would get along and only a few thousand would die.

I'm sure well have the same assurance this time around.

Make me feel better already. //

re: #105 Ojoe

Unfortunately he will be able.

Such as Europe vis a vis Germany in the 20s and 30s.

All mistakes can be repeated.

Their money may have been worth less than the paper it was printed on, but it sure was colorful!

re: #87 MandyManners

He won't be able to do nothing from the Oval Office.

sure he will. Every president wants to be 'the one' who solves the ME crisis (a crisis which has been at the forefront of geo-politics for FIVE DECADES. None have solved it because it cannot be solved by US Diplomacy. It cannot be solved by Israeli largess and diplomacy. Statesmen all think that they just have to try harder, give more..... when will they realize that the phakistinians will not budge until israel is gone. then they will try to get the US and the UN to make sure they dont starve because once they take over a going business concern in Israel, they will destroy it.

re: #121 MandyManners

Was he really that good or did he just have close to a billion dollars in OPM and the entire MFM as his PR department?

OPM = Other People's Money.

re: #119 kansas

Anyway IQ measures abstract intelligence, not practicality or wisdom.

I'd love to see Bush give a farewell speech where he basically says "Well, it's all in Obama's hands now. We've briefed him as thoroughly as possible and believe he's 100% equipped to lead this nation and the free world in the direction that he chooses." If I'm not mistaken, the Obamatons are ready for change and I doubt they'll let Obama blame Bush for very long.

re: #111 jcm

Obama makes his first visit to the Oval Office.

Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 would not remove their suit jackets while in the Oval Office out of respect for the Office of the Presidency.

Clinton dropped trou.

I wonder how P.E. Obama will treat the Office.

Seen the pic of him in his Senate Office with his feet on the desk?

re: #83 Ojoe

I think we will quickly find out what kind of man we have elected.

Let's hope the lesson is not too painful for us or others. We're still paying the price for learning hard lessons about Carter thirty years ago.

re: #91 imploder

I think the much storied "Peter Principle" is about to come into play...

__________________________________
In the future it will become the "Obama Principle".

The liberal KC Star today from McClatchy, had a headline about crisis in the Congo. That's next you know, troops to Africa..........the continent that is.

re: #100 Intrepid

That alone should have disqualified him as a candidate.
But it was swept under the rug.

re: #100 Intrepid

I looked it up - it's the Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on Europe, which includes all activities of NATO. And a correction: he's been the chairman for the past two years, not four.

Click here for a RNC thing on it

Here's an excerpt:

Sen. DeMint (R-SC), Ranking Member Of The Subcommittee On European Affairs, Wrote A Letter To Obama, Asking Him To Hold A Hearing On The NATO Mission In Afghanistan. Sen. DeMint: "However, despite these successes, I am concerned our Subcommittee has not held any hearings on these issues over the last two years. With oversight of NATO relations and its role in Afghanistan, I believe it is time for us to focus closely on these issues. As Ranking Member of your Subcommittee on European Affairs, I would welcome a chance to hold a hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan upon your return." (Sen. Jim DeMint, Letter To Sen. Barack Obama, 7/15/08)

Thanks for the corrections!

That said, WHY WASN'T THIS A MAJOR PIECE IN THE CAMPAIGN?

re: #113 galloping granny

And we are going to have to pay him a small fortune every single stinking year for the rest of his life!

Oh my, I didn't even think of when he gets out of office.

And we thought Clinton wouldn't go away!

re: #92 FurryOldGuyJeans

The only thing Obama has been good at in His political career is run for higher office. Now that He can't go any higher He is going to find out He can't just talk or complain.

You mean a vote "Present" won't cut it anymore?

re: #128 Ojoe

Anyway IQ measures abstract intelligence, not practicality or wisdom.

I'd like to know who measures it. We didn't see Obama's grades or medical records did we?

SORRY, SARAH PALIN

[Link: jimtreacher.com...]

re: #103 FurryOldGuyJeans

He sure will make a go at it, though. Why do something when you can just talk Change and Hope. Talk sure served Him well so far.

It won't work where the rubber is meant to meet the road.

re: #121 MandyManners

Was he really that good or did he just have close to a billion dollars in OPM and the entire MFM as his PR department?

Up until 2004 He was pretty much doing it on His own, so yeah He is good at running a campaign for higher office.

Will the media actually scream if Obama makes a wrong move? And what would the media consider a "wrong move" by Obama?

re: #95 mama winger

Try fighting a war here.

Right you are! Most of the people in Washington have no clue about the terrain in Afghanistan.

re: #140 MandyManners

It won't work where the rubber is meant to meet the road.

In O world, the rubber will meet the banana in school to prevent AIDS.

re: #122 Dustyvet

The Peter Principle is the principle that "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence."

Exactly.

re: #115 taxfreekiller

I agree with you on that. IIRC, wasn't that idiot Les Aspen in DoD during the Blackhawk Down tragedy in Somalia? Goes to your point about the generals being hamstrung by incompetent politicians (in Administration positions) to the terrible detriment of the troops.

re: #105 Ojoe

Unfortunately he will be able.

Such as Europe vis a vis Germany in the 20s and 30s.

All mistakes can be repeated.

Oh, something was done.

I have a sister who is an under-secretary of something or other in DC. Do you all remember the childish things that the Clinton Admin did the days before leaving the White House offices.....taking furniture, removing the "B", "U", "S", "H" keys from keyboards, leaving moldly pizza in file cabinets? Well my sister has gotten an e-mail from the Chief of Staff for Bush stating the condition offices will be left in. They are intending to turn over a pristine work environment. Bet you won't see the MSM report on this.

re: #128 Ojoe

Anyway IQ measures abstract intelligence, not practicality or wisdom.

Or courage, or honor, or love of liberty, or the willingness to do the right thing even in the face of adversity.

re: #140 MandyManners

It won't work where the rubber is meant to meet the road.

I expect the MSM to do a lot of road construction so it will appear to work.

re: #135 MandyManners

McCain would have rather lost than to speak ill of a colleague. As a matter of fact, that's what happened. McCain crippled his own campaign, and lost.

re: #25 lawhawk

2 years of campaigning is going to toughen him up? Hardly.

He was running against a worn out hen and an old guy who didn't seem capable of finding his way from the bathroom to the bedroom with a flashlight and a map. That's the sum total of his street creds?

War/fighting/military is not the the agenda. It is philosphically 180 degrees in opposition to everything he has ever believed.

re: #115 taxfreekiller

Its the Generals who have the hard choice, Obama and his loons will order stupid ass shit that will screw things up, if the Generals do not resign their commissions and leave the armed forces, they will follow the orders and fail only to find that Obama and his commie loons pushed them to fail so they can blame the Generals and claim the Generals acted with out orders.

Obama lies, lies about every thing, and he will lie out of any thing as long as the msm covers for him.

The leaders of the armed forces now have the hard choice. Stand up to Obama or have him get many of our men hurt and killed for no good reason. Obama can not find his ass with both hands squatting over a large mirror, no way does he know how to deal with any of these problems and his faults of thinking he is all knowing forecloses the idea he can hire good people, for all he will do is hire people who lust to shine his shoes for promotions.

Long road to nowhere.

Dang. Just, dang.

re: #148 Big Steve

I have a sister who is an under-secretary of something or other in DC. Do you all remember the childish things that the Clinton Admin did the days before leaving the White House offices.....taking furniture, removing the "B", "U", "S", "H" keys from keyboards, leaving moldly pizza in file cabinets? Well my sister has gotten an e-mail from the Chief of Staff for Bush stating the condition offices will be left in. They are intending to turn over a pristine work environment. Bet you won't see the MSM report on this.

Bush has been far more gracious to the media and the partisan hacks in Congress than anyone ever has a right to be. This is more of the same from him.

I suspect that history will judge Bush far kinder than they have done to date.

re: #148 Big Steve

I have a sister who is an under-secretary of something or other in DC. Do you all remember the childish things that the Clinton Admin did the days before leaving the White House offices.....taking furniture, removing the "B", "U", "S", "H" keys from keyboards, leaving moldly pizza in file cabinets? Well my sister has gotten an e-mail from the Chief of Staff for Bush stating the condition offices will be left in. They are intending to turn over a pristine work environment. Bet you won't see the MSM report on this.

I am not at all surprised by this. Thank you, President Bush.

re: #138 kansas

I'd like to know who measures it. We didn't see Obama's grades or medical records did we?

Or his birth certificate.
/just kidding, Charles!

re: #74 Intrepid
Gilderoy Lockart !

Excellent choice of characters. All fluff - no substance. But still had all kinds of folks swooning over him. Yup.

re: #147 MandyManners

5 seconds shows a lot.

re: #92 FurryOldGuyJeans

The only thing Obama has been good at in His political career is run for higher office. Now that He can't go any higher He is going to find out He can't just talk or complain.

there is always "president of the world"

re: #118 Summersong

Stocks are negative at mid-day after trading higher for most of the morning as investors still show concern about the slowing economy and its effect on
sales at U.S. companies. Stocks jumped out of the gate after China announced a $586 billion stimulus package.

Investors speculate the package could benefit multinational companies with
business in China such as Wal-Mart (WMT) and Caterpillar (CAT).

-Track notes

In every story, they neglect to mention the elephant donkey in the room.

Look at a graph of the last 10 days. What happened 5 days ago?

re: #119 kansas

Well, we'll see how smart he is but I actually have my doubts. The 150 IQ thing seems little much to me.

Why people go around spouting this is beyond me. Wouldn't a narcissist believe that people just know how smart he is?

re: #160 Eowyn2

there is always "president of the world"

HE would have to run against Blair?

re: #120 Iron Fist

No, but will he do the right thing? There's nothing he's done so far that leads me to believe that he even knows what the right thing might be. I'm sure he'll do something. You wouldn't want to look indecisive.

He'll just make it up as he goes along. Not very reassuring.

What would be the wrong thing to do? Open up on Pakistan?

re: #151 buzzsawmonkey

A "wrong move" by Obama? Hmmmmmm.

Unapologetic assertion of US interests abroad? Realizing that we need to drill domestically while we are waiting for the first deliveries of Unicorn Fuel? Failing to hobble every industry and every household with nonsensical "green" regulations? Not lecturing us sternly for presuming to spend our money as we see fit?

Just a few suggestions.

Classic

re: #142 Pyrocles

Will the media actually scream if Obama makes a wrong move? And what would the media consider a "wrong move" by Obama?

Not until the shit gets so deep they have no other choice. And then they will blame the Republicans.

re: #160 Eowyn2

there is always "president of the world"

Or Galactic Emperor.

re: #161 Silhouette

In every story, they neglect to mention the elephant donkey in the room.

Look at a graph of the last 10 days. What happened 5 days ago?

I agree. Hell, I am taking gains off the table, as well.

re: #146 subsailor68

I agree with you on that. IIRC, wasn't that idiot Les Aspen in DoD during the Blackhawk Down tragedy in Somalia? Goes to your point about the generals being hamstrung by incompetent politicians (in Administration positions) to the terrible detriment of the troops.

That crap started in Korea, and was in full effect in 'Nam.

Politicians what the military to deliver a pretty war. They forget, "war is all hell."

re: #148 Big Steve

I have a sister who is an under-secretary of something or other in DC. Do you all remember the childish things that the Clinton Admin did the days before leaving the White House offices.....taking furniture, removing the "B", "U", "S", "H" keys from keyboards, leaving moldly pizza in file cabinets? Well my sister has gotten an e-mail from the Chief of Staff for Bush stating the condition offices will be left in. They are intending to turn over a pristine work environment. Bet you won't see the MSM report on this.

If at all, it will be reported as President Bush had to send out a memo telling everyone to behave.

re: #157 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Or his birth certificate.
/just kidding, Charles!

Oh, don't even go there..................

Back to work, Bye.

Not holding my breath on "The One" pulling this off with a decent result....

I will leave it at that.

re: #126 Eowyn2

sure he will. Every president wants to be 'the one' who solves the ME crisis (a crisis which has been at the forefront of geo-politics for FIVE DECADES. None have solved it because it cannot be solved by US Diplomacy. It cannot be solved by Israeli largess and diplomacy. Statesmen all think that they just have to try harder, give more..... when will they realize that the phakistinians will not budge until israel is gone. then they will try to get the US and the UN to make sure they dont starve because once they take over a going business concern in Israel, they will destroy it.

Israel needs to get its own ass-kicking leaders in place. It looks like no hope will come from us.

Deep down inside, I think the Ø's Afghanistan plan is to sell the idea of surrender and retreat to the American people, and try to make us think it's a victory. For that, he may seek the advice of his new buddy, Mikhail Gorbachev. Of course, it didn't exactly work for Gorby.

re: #115 taxfreekiller

Its the Generals who have the hard choice, Obama and his loons will order stupid ass shit that will screw things up, if the Generals do not resign their commissions and leave the armed forces, they will follow the orders and fail only to find that Obama and his commie loons pushed them to fail so they can blame the Generals and claim the Generals acted with out orders.

Obama lies, lies about every thing, and he will lie out of any thing as long as the msm covers for him.

The leaders of the armed forces now have the hard choice. Stand up to Obama or have him get many of our men hurt and killed for no good reason. Obama can not find his ass with both hands squatting over a large mirror, no way does he know how to deal with any of these problems and his faults of thinking he is all knowing forecloses the idea he can hire good people, for all he will do is hire people who lust to shine his shoes for promotions.

Long road to nowhere.

Wish that some of LBJ's senior officers had told him to find someone else to carry out his stupid orders. Then taken their objections public.

re: #160 Eowyn2

there is always "president of the world"

Or the An......

oops

almost let myself slip there for a moment :)

re: #167 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Or Galactic Emperor.

Zaphod Bebblebrox doesn't like competition.........

re: #175 Pullus Iulius

Deep down inside, I think the Ø's Afghanistan plan is to sell the idea of surrender and retreat to the American people, and try to make us think it's a victory. For that, he may seek the advice of his new buddy, Mikhail Gorbachev. Of course, it didn't exactly work for Gorby.

Gorby supposedly has already said Obama needs to extend perestroika.

re: #174 MandyManners

Israel needs to get its own ass-kicking leaders in place. It looks like no hope will come from us.

Well there's always that brilliant strategist Ehud Barak who suggested the possibility of firing back at rocket launches from Gaza. Damn, who woulda thought of that.////////////////////////

re: #141 FurryOldGuyJeans

Up until 2004 He was pretty much doing it on His own, so yeah He is good at running a campaign for higher office.

I don't think he was doing it on his own back then. He had the Chicago Machine behind him.

Show yourself, Biden. We are all anxious to hear more of the coming, "manufactured crisis".

re: #144 kansas

In O world, the rubber will meet the banana in school to prevent AIDS.

Well, I'll be.

re: #160 Eowyn2

there is always "president of the world"

Perhaps Lustrous Potentate

re: #178 jcm

Zaphod Bebblebrox doesn't like competition.........

Unless it comes from his second head.

re: #182 Summersong

Show yourself, Biden. We are all anxious to hear more of the coming, "manufactured crisis".

Gotta wait till January 20th. Be patient.

re: #155 lawhawk

I suspect that history will judge Bush far kinder than they have done to date.

Most people do not have a clue about the positive things Bush has done. Some in Africa know.

re: #183 MandyManners

Well, I'll be.

And, I'll be late if I don't skate.

bbl

re: #177 mama winger

Mammmmmmmma

Hi you (me)!

Gorbachev ...... Putin ...... Chavez ....... Castro ....... Hamas ....... Obama .........

I wonder what Michelle will wear to the Dictator's Ball ?

The little popup banner ads that ask me if I'm as smart as Obama (click here!) say his IQ is something like 134.

Color me unimpressed.

re: #187 Racer X

Most people do not have a clue about the positive things Bush has done. Some in Africa know.

I kinda believe that the MSM isn't really on America's side anymore, in the sense that they will look out for themselves instead of the nation. Does anybody think a lot of dirt (medical records, Harvard grades, etc.) that the MSM may have witheld about Obama during the campaign will now come out? Presidential scandals are always good for media sales.

re: #191 Silhouette

The little popup banner ads that ask me if I'm as smart as Obama (click here!) say his IQ is something like 134.

Color me unimpressed.

I thought it was closer to 150 while Biden is 134, Bush 124, and Palin 116. Complete bullshit.

re: #182 Summersong

Show yourself, Biden. We are all anxious to hear more of the coming, "manufactured crisis".

That is supposed to happen some time in July or August, just about the time most people have a very clear idea of what constitutes Obama's America.

re: #26 Honorary Yooper

Good Lord. I need a coffee. I could have sworn that said "above his gay parade".

[THUNK]

re: #189 WriterMom

Mammmmmmmma

Hi you (me)!

Hey there WM ! !

If things go south fast can I come live with you in Canada?

It's probably warmer there than where I am now anyway.

re: #187 Racer X

Most people do not have a clue about the positive things Bush has done. Some in Africa know.

He's a national hero in Liberia & I have the t-shirt to prove it.

re: #176 Son of the Black Dog

Wish that some of LBJ's senior officers had told him to find someone else to carry out his stupid orders. Then taken their objections public.

Back then Generals did not speak out of turn against the administrations. They have kind of lost their integrity over the years.

re: #186 kansas

Gotta wait till January 20th. Be patient.

/Will there be more greek columns and rock music?

re: #135 MandyManners

Thanks for the corrections!

That said, WHY WASN'T THIS A MAJOR PIECE IN THE CAMPAIGN?

Perhaps because John McCain, the honorable one, understood how difficult it is to conduct senate committee meetings and hearings when one is campaigning?

Other than that, I dunno.

re: #197 mama winger

Well sure...you know I never thought Canada would be more conservative than the US, ya gotta love Stephen Harper.

re: #191 Silhouette

The little popup banner ads that ask me if I'm as smart as Obama (click here!) say his IQ is something like 134.

Color me unimpressed.

134? Sheesh, I've lost tons of brain cells to seizures and I'm still higher than that. Can I be Queen ?

re: #196 WriterMom

Good Lord. I need a coffee. I could have sworn that said "above his gay parade".

[THUNK]

Better than being under a gay parade.
NTTAWWT.

re: #169 jcm

That crap started in Korea, and was in full effect in 'Nam.

Politicians what the military to deliver a pretty war. They forget, "war is all hell."

Isn't that the sad truth. Not to anger our Southern colleagues, but Gen. Sherman's War is Hell quote was simply a recognition of the fact that the harder a war is fought, and the faster a war is won - the result is preferable to a prolonged, unending conflict that multiplies the misery of both the soldiers and the civilians.

Obama has pledged to turn our foreign policy way to the left. He will.
Obama has pledged to slash the defense budget and weapons systems. He will.
Obama has pledged to draw erasable lines in the sand. He has already.

We will have to deal with the ramifications of this philosophy right away, but the fact is that we may not know how this will effect us for many years. And much of is may be uncorrectable. A weapons systems never developed or deployed can't be used at a moments notice.

He has promised to cut the defence budget by 25% while increasing the size of the military and establishing the Obamajungen internal security force. The only ways to do this would be to reestablish the draft (minimum wage pay) and/or to bring home ALL overseas troops abandoning our commitments to friends and allies.

Iraq will be abandoned within a year and when the screaming left gets on the Afghanistan question that country too will be abandoned forthwith. This will coincide with the establishment of a radical Islamic state in Pakistan followed by armed conflict between India and Pakistan. The role of the US will be to hope the Krishna, Shiva and Kali can crush Allah's boys. A nuclear exchange is not out of the question.

While this is gong on Russia will make its move to bring Georgia and the Ukraine back into their sphere of influence. This will happen by the simple refusal of Europe and the U.S. to push the question of NATO membership.

After all this things will get worse but this is change we can believe in!

re: #99 Silhouette

Holding the office of president for the full term will be the longest he has ever held one job in his life.

And the man is almost 50.

You're assuming he is going to hold the presidency for a full four years?

He has been a senator for almost four years. He has not been a working senator for that long. He was only a working senator for 18 mos and then he hit the campaign trail.

I dont think he'll do much in the first term because he'll be too busy gearing up for the 2nd term. If he gets a 2nd term, thats when we will finally see the major change he has in mind.

re: #139 Nevergiveup

SORRY, SARAH PALIN

[Link: jimtreacher.com...]

Oh Lordy, that's hilarious! Especially Chrissy Matthews'.

re: #191 Silhouette

The little popup banner ads that ask me if I'm as smart as Obama (click here!) say his IQ is something like 134.

Color me unimpressed.

I've seen that also, but it says his IQ is 125.

re: #190 mama winger

Dang. She should have saved that adorable election-night number.
It would have been perfect for such a gathering.

re: #204 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

AMEN. Much better. LOL.

Now that Obama has won, Obama's most obsessive supporters have nothing to talk about....

re: #8 buzzsawmonkey

Afghan league, Afghan league, Afghan league onward
All in the Valley of Death rode the six hundred.

Progressives to the left of them,
reporters to the right of them,
terrorists in front of them.
Volley'd and thunder'd.

OT -

I am having a happy day -
I found a new fresh market in town and they have aisles and aisles of produce and meat CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

I got two roasts, two chickens, and bread and milk and juice and 5 big bags of produce for $37.06 today ! YAY ME

re: #205 subsailor68

Isn't that the sad truth. Not to anger our Southern colleagues, but Gen. Sherman's War is Hell quote was simply a recognition of the fact that the harder a war is fought, and the faster a war is won - the result is preferable to a prolonged, unending conflict that multiplies the misery of both the soldiers and the civilians.

General Sherman knew the truth of history.
Fight as hard as you can, as fast as you can, get it over. Saves more lives, more property than anything else.

re: #217 jcm

General Sherman knew the truth of history.
Fight as hard as you can, as fast as you can, get it over. Saves more lives, more property than anything else.

Amen.

re: #133 kansas

In Darfur, probably. The military hates peacekeeping missions.

re: #206 Nevergiveup

Obama has pledged to turn our foreign policy way to the left. He will.
Obama has pledged to slash the defense budget and weapons systems. He will.
Obama has pledged to draw erasable lines in the sand. He has already.

We will have to deal with the ramifications of this philosophy right away, but the fact is that we may not know how this will effect us for many years. And much of is may be uncorrectable. A weapons systems never developed or deployed can't be used at a moments notice.

But see, we are going to be nicer to our enemies and try to understand them so there will be world peace and we won't need any weapons. /

re: #216 mama winger

I wish we had a Fresh Market. They rock!

re: #216 mama winger

OT -

I am having a happy day -
I found a new fresh market in town and they have aisles and aisles of produce and meat CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

I got two roasts, two chickens, and bread and milk and juice and 5 big bags of produce for $37.06 today ! YAY ME

Where?

re: #211 wolfie

Dang. She should have saved that adorable election-night number.
It would have been perfect for such a gathering.

Ah yes - the black widow spider dress

re: #177 mama winger

Or the An......

oops

almost let myself slip there for a moment :)

hahahahha

re: #194 kansas

I thought it was closer to 150 while Biden is 134, Bush 124, and Palin 116. Complete bullshit.

One guy (from his writing, an Obama believer) searched and searched for something to measure Obama's IQ.

But was shocked that he couldn't find grades, SAT scores, LSAT, etc. (Really? Obama records sealed? Never.)

So he took this great leap in logic. He found that the average Havard LSATs were 171, and assumed Obama's LSATs were 171, and from there decided Obama was Mensa material.

The illogic and jumps in logic are discussed here. The guy makes a good argument that Obama is likely to have an IQ of 116.

From Dubya's SAT, his IQ is 125.

re: #210 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

I've seen that also, but it says his IQ is 125.

Yea well Jimmy Carter supposedly had an IQ of 175.....fat lot of good that did us all.

re: #222 galloping granny

Where?

Kenosha Wisconsin. I am dancin with my groceries !

re: #193 chicagodudewhotrades

I don't think anything will be revealed -- the MSM (I suspect) will remain in Love Mode...mesmerized by The Great One. I have yet to hear a single honest, critique. The closest has been a report which asked the question (hesitantly, of course) -- "Will Obama be able to achieve his goals?" And, the bottom line, was -- "Yes HE CAN!" followed by more cheerleading and encouragement from the press. (I expect this will continue...it'll be one loooong, loooong, 4 year love fest.)

re: #216 mama winger

Whoa. Not bad.
But how were the arugula prices?

The same Left that aggressively touts the IQs of their candidates denounces IQ tests in general. My lefty college professors were unanimously against IQ tests of all types. According to many a professor, IQ tests do not test a person's intelligence; they test how good a person is at taking IQ tests.

re: #194 kansas

I thought it was closer to 150 while Biden is 134, Bush 124, and Palin 116. Complete bullshit.

re: #133 kansas

No. They talk a good game, but they wont send in the troops, and the human rights catastrophe developing there isn't going to do it either.

The US wont send in the troops to deal with failed states where there are legitimate national security interests, like in Somalia, so what makes you think they'll do it in Congo?

I happen to think that the failed states are a perfect place for terror groups like AQ and other emerging threats to develop and that you do need to deal with them, but not as peacekeepers. You need peace makers - folks who will get rough and ready with those who threaten the peace. You need to stabilize those situations so AQ can't take advantage of the lawlessness.

re: #227 Big Steve

Yea well Jimmy Carter supposedly had an IQ of 175.....fat lot of good that did us all.

Yeah, but he wore such nice sweaters?
/

re: #135 MandyManners

Silly, not an issue in the great One's campaign. Simply irrelevant. Knowing about Change and Home is much more important than what the f@#$ NATO should do about Afghanistan, Khazikstan, etc.

re: #95 mama winger

Try fighting a war here.

Got a neutron bomb?

/hey, it's just a tactical suggestion..........

re: #228 mama winger

Kenosha Wisconsin. I am dancin with my groceries !

I would be dancing with the groceries too! A loaf of bread, a head of lettuce and some cheap hamburg will cost you $20 bucks or so at our local store.

I'm worried my sons unit will be sent into this "quicksand", in which our enemies are protected in Pakistan, we have the government of Afghanistan stabbing us in the back every chance they get and the EU launching investigations into "crimes against humanity" against our soldiers.

All I can do is pray Obama has a good team to advise him, because now its my boy thats heading out there. I recommend 40-50 100-KT nuclear strikes into that border area.....

re: #179 FurryOldGuyJeans

Gorby supposedly has already said Obama needs to extend perestroika.

Ya know, the more I think of what Gorbachev said, the more I like the analogy. After all, once he got the perestroika ball rolling, it turned around and flattened him.

He brought about his own obsolescence, and Boris Yeltzin brought some true democracy into action.

re: #232 lawhawk

No. They talk a good game, but they wont send in the troops, and the
human rights catastrophe developing there isn't going to do it either.

The US wont send in the troops to deal with failed states where
there are legitimate national security interests, like in Somalia, so
what makes you think they'll do it in Congo?

I happen to think that the failed states are a perfect place for
terror groups like AQ and other emerging threats to develop and that
you do need to deal with them, but not as peacekeepers. You need peace
makers - folks who will get rough and ready with those who threaten the
peace. You need to stabilize those situations so AQ can't take
advantage of the lawlessness.

Send in the mercs.

re: #230 wolfie

Whoa. Not bad.
But how were the arugula prices?

I have never seen so many produce items in my life. Half of them I had no clue what they were . I had to ask the stockboys what some of them were and how to use them. But since they did not speak English I am still in the dark.

re: #235 buzzsawmonkey

Just as IQ as a stand-alone quality is overrated, so is "education." And I say that as someone who has guzzled a lot of education hours in my day.

A little common sense goes a long way further than a lot of education sometimes.

I agree. Most of the VERY successful people I know never went to college.

re: #176 Son of the Black Dog

Wish that some of LBJ's senior officers had told him to find someone else to carry out his stupid orders. Then taken their objections public.

Actually, the Joint Chiefs debated whether to resign en masse to protest the handling of Vietnam but eventually backed off. I'm sure some of them regretted that to their dying day.

re: #217 jcm

General Sherman knew the truth of history.
Fight as hard as you can, as fast as you can, get it over. Saves more lives, more property than anything else.

Favorite General Sherman quote. After the war, he was birefly the provisional governer of Texas. When he went back home he was quoted to have said, "If I owned both Texas and Hell, I would live in Hell and rent out Texas."

I believe Obama when he says he is gonna solve the puzzle that is Afghanistan. He is going to go in and negotiate with the Taliban and then declare victory and withdraw. Problem solved!

re: #238 Maximu§

I'm worried my sons unit will be sent into this "quicksand", in which our enemies are protected in Pakistan, we have the government of Afghanistan stabbing us in the back every chance they get and the EU launching investigations into "crimes against humanity" against our soldiers.

All I can do is pray Obama has a good team to advise him, because now its my boy thats heading out there. I recommend 40-50 100-KT nuclear strikes into that border area.....

I'm worried too.

re: #210 Ozark Mountain Daredevil

I've seen that also, but it says his IQ is 125.

I;m guessing that the last IQ test Obama had was in junior high.

re: #235 buzzsawmonkey

Just as IQ as a stand-alone quality is overrated, so is "education." And I say that as someone who has guzzled a lot of education hours in my day.

A little common sense goes a long way further than a lot of education sometimes.

I agree. A man or woman with an IQ of 116 could do a lot of good in this world.

I was merely addressing the latest LLL fantasy that Obama is the smartest man in the world. No, I wrong them. They are just spouting that it is obivous, that everyone agrees, even Republicans, that Obama is smarter than Dubya.

re: #229 J.S.

I don't think anything will be revealed -- the MSM (I suspect) will
remain in Love Mode...mesmerized by The Great One. I have yet to hear a
single honest, critique. The closest has been a report which asked the
question (hesitantly, of course) -- "Will Obama be able to achieve his
goals?" And, the bottom line, was -- "Yes HE CAN!" followed by more
cheerleading and encouragement from the press. (I expect this will
continue...it'll be one loooong, loooong, 4 year love fest.)

You seem to be forgetting the hard-hitting article in US Weekly where they asked "How did Obama get to be so dreamy?"

re: #235 buzzsawmonkey

Just as IQ as a stand-alone quality is overrated, so is "education." And I say that as someone who has guzzled a lot of education hours in my day.

A little common sense goes a long way further than a lot of education sometimes.

Yup. I know more than a few PhD's that don't have the sense to pour their own pee out of their own boots and couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag with a map and a flashlight.

Alone, both IQ and "education" mean nothing at all.

re: #235 buzzsawmonkey

Just as IQ as a stand-alone quality is overrated, so is "education." And I say that as someone who has guzzled a lot of education hours in my day.

A little common sense goes a long way further than a lot of education sometimes.

Yep. I had a friend who believed (as I do) that university is simply the beginning of a life-long quest for true education. When he was invited to someone's house for dinner, he'd always look to see if there were books in the house. If all he saw on the shelves were copies of the texts used in school, he figured they'd stopped learning when they got the diploma.

May be unfair; maybe not.

There have also been reports that Obama is going to be signing Presidental Orders (which don't need congressional approval) right away. The two things Obama intends to enact (sans Congress) is to immediately allow stem cell research and to stop the drilling/exploration of oil and gas inside the U.S. in environmentally sensitive areas. Also, there have been reports that Obama will immediately be closing Gitmo...bringing the prisioners to U.S. soil to face a U.S. criminal court....(heh, might as well set them free).

Anybody else notice that withdrawing from Irag 1-2 brigades per month is no longer on the change.gov website?

re: #216 mama winger

OT -

I am having a happy day -
I found a new fresh market in town and they have aisles and aisles of produce and meat CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

I got two roasts, two chickens, and bread and milk and juice and 5 big bags of produce for $37.06 today ! YAY ME

In the spirit of "Spreading the Wealth", I'll take 1 chicken, 1 roast, half a loaf of bread, half a gallon of milk, and 2 1/2 bags of produce. But NO kumquats. I can't stand kumquats!

re: #248 ploome hineni

how can I find my LSAT score?

I lost them

When you find them, subtact 100 points for losing them.

For 2 years President-elect Obama got away with talking about "hope" and "change" and ripped everything that President Bush did.

He has reminded me to the pain-in-the-neck person everybody has int heir office who rips the boss for every decision, but has no idea what to do themselves.

Now Obama's going to have to actually make decisions that matter in a world filled with nasty people in other countries.

re: #164 MandyManners

That would be the most obviously wrong thing to do. If we were going to go to war with Pakistan it would practically require a nuclear first strike to destroy their weapons before they could be deployed. I'm not sure how doable that is, but I'll take it as doable.

Obama isn't going to do it as one of his first acts in office. Just invading Waziristan, etc. won't stop the problem. The guerrillas that are causing trouble in Afghanistan will simply melt into the background and disappear.

And in the meantime, Pakistan will be doing something with her nuclear arsenal.

Whatever it is, I can just about guarantee that we won't like it. It's going to be touch and go with Pakistan the way things are now. The fall of Musharref was not a good thing from our standpoint. He was far from ideal, but things are worse now. Pakistan is completely unstable, and they have nukes. That's a whole lot of bad juju.

If Obama is smart, he'll pretty much keep doing what we have been doing, and letting the commanders in the field call the shots. That may mean more troops for Afghanistan, it may not. It does mean letting the SpecOps people run wild, taking scalps and sowing terror among our enemies. Al Qaeda is in a far worse position today than it was in when Bush was sworn in in 2001. A lot of what's been done will never make it into the history books, but I'd say the fact that we haven't been hit again indicates that we've had some success.