Political Punch

What do I think? I think there's nothing Hillary Clinton can say that the press won't criticize.

I think Americans all need to honest, and admit that when we started bombing Iraq we were all convinced we were doing the right thing: bringing down a dictator who killed, raped, and pillaged. ( This is true. This information we know) Yes, there were exaggerations, and yes I'm angry with the Bush administration for painting a different picture. However I'm not mad that we went in, I'm mad that we've stayed for so long. That's the catch 22 of war. No one wants to be there for more than a year, but it's irresponsible to get in and get out. I hate war, but I don't want compromise our natl. security either. You cannot be on top and be neutral in the world affairs. Let's just be honest with ourselves. There is no right answer. If we hadn't gone in and we were attacked, or 10 years from then he did have WMD we would have been screwed. It could have gone either way. It's important now to focus on getting out of Iraq responsibly. It is imperative that the Iraqi govt take control now. Senator Clinton wants them to know that if she is President the Iraqi govt WILL NOT be able to take a summer holiday while our men and women fight for their freedom.

If either Clinton or Obama is elected president, Al Qaeda will be dancing in the streets!

I've got news for you - Barack is a politician.

I was against the war.

But I think Hillary, especially being a Senator from New York, felt more responsibility for trying to protect Americans from potential weapons of mass destruction and very crafty, untrust-worthy, power-mongering leaders with a vengence like Saddam. She didn't and doesn't want innocent people to be killed, anymore than most caring people do. She would have gone about the whole process of finding out if Saddam had weapons of mass destruction much more diplimatically and carefully than the careless Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld neo-con idealogues.

Hillary is not blaming all the Iraqi people - she is addressing those who have been part of the conflicts and violence.

She is certainly not demonizing the Iraqis. I see absolutely no evidence of that in your quotes, Jake.

She is in effect, trying to lay down some boundaries, and say: We have done our part to try to help you have freedom now - now it's up to you - to work it out, and get your country together, for the benefit of all Iraqis.

I am sure she blames the Iraq government not the people

It seems to me that the urgency of Iraq politicians stepping up to the plate has been fostered by the left in our country. That’s a good thing. Every pressure needs to be brought to stabilize Iraq
Today’s news include a puff piece on how we have funded the rebuild of the Baghdad zoo and the Bear Stearns funding by the fed, and emergency interest rate reductions.
I hope that The Vice President is collecting some payment while he is visiting Iraq.

Hilliary doesn't give a damn for the Iraqi's. Clintons sanctions killed more civillians than in the enire war, and made Saddam STRONGER, not weaker over his people. And now we "save" them by using depleted uranium contaminating the whole country with toxic waste and making it uninhabitable for centuries. (Not to mention contaminating our own soldiers, see "Beyond Treason" for details) Hilliary knows that Iraq is good business for all of the military contractors that fund her campaign. She's lying when she says the troops will come home. She is going to reduce some here and there but leave the bulk of them there to "protect out national interests" and our property." (i.e. the Iraqi OIL) We will be in Iraq forever with either McCain or Hillliary. It's just that Hilliary isn't dumb enough to tell the truth of how long, unlike "madman McCain!"

And as far as Jake being on Obama's payroll, when I first started reading his blog I was convinced he was anti-Clinton, but now as a regular reader I realize that he simply tries to be provocative, which sometimes results in Clinton being put on the spot, and sometimes Obama. That's what a good blogger is supposed to do.

I think she's right, and although I have not read the full speech to establish context, I expect that what she meant by "the Iraqis" are Iraqi political leaders, or at least those Iraqis in a position to exercise control over the future of their country.

The world will be much safer because Hilary Clinton or John McCain voted for the War in Iraq do you remember? We're fighting in Afghanistan, Irag, North Korea (Mini Dictator problems), China Exports a huge trade deficit and China's Military growing problems, Middle East problems, a very weak dollar, US Military at a breaking point, and the world hate us.

The world will be much safer because Hilary Clinton or John McCain voted for the War in Iraq do you remember? We're fighting in Afghanistan, Irag, North Korea (Mini Dictator problems), China Exports a huge trade deficit and China's Military growing problems, Middle East problems, a very weak dollar, US Military at a braking point, and the world hate us.

For those who think that Senator Clinton failed the "presidency test" because she voted for Iraq resolution, did you vote for Kerry in 2004?

Senator Rockefeller did read the NIE, voted for the war and has endorsed Senator Obama.

Ok. Let's blame Hillary for global warming. How about deforestation. Oh yes,I blame her for my car accident last week too!

Let's start getting real. The real news is Obama and his dirty little secrets which appear to surface every other day. As an Independent in PA, I was leaning towards Obama, but after having read about him, I have changed my mind based on all this dirt:

My vote goes to Hillary! Thank you, Rev. Wright for making my decision easier.

JFK made mistakes given...every president does...even Lincoln and FDR (again inexperienced) but yet these are considered our greatest Presidents ...why?

They inspired the people. Fairy tales work...so take your glasses off from the past 15 years of defending the Clintons as the bar...and realize what made Bill as strong as he was ...was his inspiration...what made him fall was his focus on.....(drum roll) "The Clintons" being President and feeding his id.

Go ahead and vote for MickieC... just realize what you are getting when the rich get richer and the middle class and poor go down the tubes...

...but I say at least we would have a good person in the White House.

it is just too bad that Sen Clinton's campaign trashed the best candidate. He I admit has less experience than Sen McCain ...Sen. Clinton does not have enough experience to say that.

and if that is what Sen Clinton is running on...that it is experience over judgement McCain wins...and she can't use the judgement with foreign policy argument in the general because her judgements are either the same as McCain (on the ones that have failed us) or have been the same as Obama's since (so that is why this speech that she is giving and the words above are so important...you see words do matter).

I personally don't care to hear any more of Hillarys "expertise" on the Iraq war. She failed the "presidency test" with her vote for war. Too bad she was too busy to read the NIE...her opinions now don't have much bearing.

I think what she is referring to is the fact that the new leadership in Iraq is divided along Sunni and Shite (sp) lines and political in-fighting has hurt the Iraqi people.

I get what Hillary is saying. What is really tipping the balance in Iraq, besides the incredible sacrifice of our great troops, are the local Iraqi sheiks and militias who have turned against Al Qaida and other insurgent elements. The real key to ridding Iraq of the destabilizers is getting the locals to rise up against them. Petraeus seems to have done a superb job in mobilizing the Iraqis on the streets and Hillary is trying to pump up that effort.