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.

Mmm ...

Iranian Prez supporting Obama?

Good work you Obamanians! You have a new friend now.

I think she states point blank that the Iraqi people have been victimized. First by Saddam, then by a lack of leadership via the Bush administration and thirdly by the unwillingness of the Iraqi government to figue out a compromise for all factions. All at the cost of American and Iraqi lives.

I do think its a misstatement to say they have been "given" a gift. What would have been more appropriate was to state that "George Bush lied to his countrymen and women in order to invade your coutry and Bush is bringing you democracy your going to like it damn it." I think that would have been more in line as to what really happened.

Senator Obama knows nothing abut Iraq, or Afghanistan, or PAkistan. he doesn't show up for the meetings.

He just uses these countries as talking points in speeches that someone else has written that he reads from a teleprompter.

YOu know reads from a teleprompter well should be really low on the list of qualifications for President.

Anyways, I have no doubt that if Mr. Obama is nominated the Senator McCain will be President and the world will be a safer place because of it.

As a left leaning Liberal, I would vote for McCain. Mr. Obama's nomination is wreckless and dangerous at this time.

If I were having neurosurgery, I'd want a qualified Republican surgeon before a left Liberal unqualified resident operating on my spine. I see this election the same way.

Mr Obama is simply unqualified for the job and it doesnt really seem like he wants to be qualified for the job, his Presidency would be dangerous for the whole world and I truely believe that, eventhough ideologically I am much closer to being aligned with Mr. Obama's political beliefs.

It's not a popularity contest. Its a very Very very difficult job he is unqualified for.

It's funny to me how the American public says Iraq needes to stand on its own when they have no idea what Iraq looks like on the ground. Their infrustructure is destroyed, their way of life has gone upside down, they don't have running water or electricity, and on top of that there is thousands of years of religious tention. It is easy for Americans to say they need to stand on their own, but you don't realize that all the tools a government needs are either destroyed or were never there.

I think JPT is on Obama's payroll. Seriously, how in this quote does she in any way imply blame? She is right - eventually the Iraqi people and their government need to learn to stand on their own. We cannot be there forever, we should have never been ther at all, but certainly at some point, they need to take responsibility for their own future. We can lead the way, but we cannot hold their hand for the next 50-100 years as the Republicans want. Journalism is supposed to cover the news, with facts. Instead, it has become simply an outlet for opinionated politically motivated banter. JPT - if you are going to try to slander someone, you should at least get a relevant quote to back up your claim. Nothing in this quote indicates blame - it simply outlines the direction we need to help the Iraqis move in the future. It's great if we can help them out but we also do have our own people, our own troops and our own country to tend to. Perhaps without this multi-billion dollar senseless war, we wouldnt be in a recession. Which country is going to come bail us out from the oppression of the Bush regime?

The world, I can assure you wants someone who is qualified for the job of President of the United States.

I do find it interesting that people compare Obama to JFK, who had 12 more years of experience in the senate and was a war hero, and grew up in the parliaments of Europe and had a politcal family with connections.

Let's however go with the comparison. JFK brought us the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crises bringing the world to the brink of nuclear anhiilation, more entrenchment in Vietnam, civil war with Texas oil interests, and was assasinated after 2 years by any number for 4 different powerful groups because he was so bad at his job.

Sorry, he spent far too much time at parties and getting his picture taken and fooling around and couldn't even get the Civil Rights Act passed, eventhough he wanted to.

You know why, because he didnt' have the experience or the conections or the ability to do the job.

Enough of the fairy tale. Enough of Camelot redux. Examine the very dangerous and ineffectual Presidency of JFK without the rose coloured glasses and I assure you the world want someone competent and experienced in the position of President of the United States.

It's not a popularity contest.

HILLARY CLINTON has fought against suffering her entire life. You know that she is referring to the leadership of Iraq. The Iraqi people voted for that leadership so it is a common way to talk about an issue. Don't you remember the purple thumbs? Don't you remember George Bush's glee about the people having spoken with their purple thumbs. The problem is that the Bush team provided the Iraqi people with their slate of Democratic candidates. How is that Democracy? The truth is, the Iraqis could easily elect an anti-American firebrand who hates America, not unluck the head of Iran.

I beleive Hillary is speaking of the Iraque government who by the way has drug their heels through this entire war
She has said many times that they need to be responsible for their own country
They have let america take care of the whole thing for them and at times have had to be forced to do their part
She isnt speaking of the citizens she is speaking of the government and their army

s.b.

Well from this I think Sen Clinton may need to use more of the words Obama is using.

and the words I heard in just this blurb seem to be closer to Obama's words for the past few years than her own...

We need to come home but the fact that she addresses it this way shows the difference between them...

McCain - realizes what we did (although won't admit this way) and wants to stay and drive our economy into the ground...but save us from the potential of terrorists that will come out of this if we leave them hanging and they see us that way.

Sen. Obama says we need to give them the chance to stand on their own and a little tough love that they need to do it on their own... but we made a mistake going in for ourselves and for those people.

Sen Clinton says I didn't make a mistake we need to get out because that is what the polls now show...and what did barack and the rest of the dem candidates say? oh ... we need to go ...we gave you a gift now do something with it.

President Bush says...
we should've gone in we gave them a gift.

VP Cheney says shut up all of you... where's my check from Halliburton?

Once again...we can't be playing politics... this isn't about Sen. Clinton being president...it is about the best president for the job.

Obama most fill like a pin cushion with all of the attacks from the left and the right. All of this is called the Democrat’s way of electing someone? Obama has been Tarred and Feathers in the press with all of the vetting.

The American people went through 8 years of the Clintons and it was a roller coaster.

NO this fine journalist is injecting his own bias into the speech of a woman who has dedicated 7 years to the armed services Committee, the men and women of the US military forces and resolving the situation in Iraq.

You know if he had ever injected an unbiased editorial comment into one of MR Obama's speeches, it might seem like journalism.

As I have said, how can one editorialize sound bites from other people's words?? Obama gives non speeches that are more like cut and pasted sermons.

One of the most substantive addresses of the campaign deserves better coverage than Mr. Tapper's absurd assertion that Hillary Clinton is blaming anyone, let alone the people of Iraq.

And she's right! It's time for the Iraqi people to take charge of their own affairs and bring security to their people.

But I suppose Mr Tapper is more impressed by recycled sound bites, "I have a dream" "the time is now" "bamboozled", etc etc.

Clinton says:

"they have been given the greatest gift that a human being can give another human being – the gift of freedom"

To me this only proves how wrong she is on a LOT of things again.

Clinton should know, certainly as a politician who claims to fight for women rights, to what extent the situation of women in Iraq has deteriorated since the USA waged the illegal war she voted for. Today they are bereft of the most of the rights they enjoyed while (the terrible) Saddam Hussein was in power. They are in a most deplorable situation, having lost so many men in their families, while being denied the opportunities to earn a living for themselves or their families.
CNN only recently aired an impressive documentary series on the situation of women in Iraq today. Clinton apparently missed it, as she has missed all the reliable studies there were out there on Irag when she voted for an illegal war.

What does she mean with "the gift of freedom"? Is mass murder freedom? Is the total chaos, destruction and anarchy in a country something a American politician could and should call "freedom"? Is the everyday threat of being shot or blown up by roadside bombs what a candidate for the American Presidency should call "freedom"?

Since we Americans destroyed the Iraqi infrastructure, power supplies, army and police forces etc., should we act as if the Iraqis were to blame for the difficulty they have in restoring some order and normality in their society?

Does this woman think she is fit to be our next President? I for one am confident she is not, in no way even, and this is just one of her many (and continually shifting) stands to prove it.

s.b....then why wasn't she smart enough to read the National Intelligence Estimate before she voted to send our sons and daughters into this war?

as far as foreign policy experience ...which at least Obama doesn't say he dis stuff that he didn't...

Which candidate does it seem a predominance of the world is rooting for?

An excuse to attack JAke Tapper??

NO its a critique of a supposed journalist injecting an absurd editorial suposition into a speech by HIllary Clinton.

I mean one can't even make editorial supporsitions about any Obama speeches because all they do is quote other people. Sound bites for the mentaslly challenged who watch too much tv and too much American Idol. They aren't even his words.

So Clinton actually delivers a speech of substance on an issue critical to the entire planet and this so called journalist needs to inject an aburd conclusion based on his own bias.

NO I expect journalist to report the news. The newsher eis that HIllary Clinton knows a whole lot more about internatioal affairs tha Mr. Obama and actually does her job on the senate armed services committee.

Mr obama can't give a speech on Afghanistan because he's never been there, never met its leaders, never conveened the committee that deals with NATO and probably couldn't find the UN with a map.

It is becoming more and more blurred on what freedom of speech is and the media's right to write freely. Fanaticism is ruining everything.

A fine journalist expressing his viewpoint and objectively dissecting a piece that we all have heard and watched Senator Clinton made; and now the blame is on the journalist as if he was the one who wrote Ms. Clinton's foreign relation speech.

Shame on you people! stop taking bites out of freedom for the sake of blindly supporting a candidate who does not give damn about you in the first place.

Incidentally, we keep hearing folks trying to tear down any experience Clinton might have, until it matches the ZERO experience that Obama has.

Well, in his very own words on N. Ireland, you know, that place that Obama has never been too except maybe at Epcot - - -

"In August 1999 the British Secretary for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, told Ireland’s Talk Magazine:

Hillary is one of the essential reasons we’ve had 18 months of relative peace. Without her we would have no economic boom."

and there's this follow up:

Senator George Mitchell, the chief negotiator at the North Ireland peace talks has said of Hillary,

“She was very much involved in encouraging the emergence of women in the political process in Northern Ireland, which was a significant factor in ultimately getting an agreement.”

In 1997 at the University of Ulster, County Antrim, Hillary delivered the first memorial lecture in memory of the recently deceased Belfast community worker, Mrs. Joyce McCartan, who had lost 18 relatives during the Troubles."

So you can keep claiming she has no experience all you like.

Whatever little she has, Obama has even less.

The man has been to 4 countries in 40+ years. Never represented his State or His Nation. Ever. Not Once.

Never negotiated anything but the measurements on his suits.

Never placed a TOE in our country's strongest Allies. Never been to a NATO country is his life.

Never been to Europe. Never Been to S. America. Never Been to C. America. Never Been to Japan, or China, or Hong Kong, or Russia, or Australia. Hell, there is no proof he has even been to Canada.

So can we dispense with the idea he is some kind of World Diplomat.

Again, the only World Travel this guy has done was at Epcot, in Orlando.

It is sad to see how Hillary and other people want to wash their hands of the war they brought to Iraqi people. Sadam is gone, there is WMD, No Alqaeda and now we want to leave the country in a chaos. Mccain is right, we have to finish the mess we created. we cannot run like cowards. the whole world knew this war was wrong but with arrogance, we got engaged and now we have problems and caused more problems to poor civilians in Iraq.

wow sorry my comment totally sounds like I am accusing you jake...I am not...I think the report you gave is not biased...she left out a huge piece of this and a plan to remove troops ...and I am one of those who is almost on the fence ..."you break it, you bought it" you don't wear the dress to the prom and return it the next day when the world is watching and you have to buy in the future on credit...

having said that we can't afford the dress... so the plan... Whatever it is needs to try and do as little damage as possible...

It's like releasing the prisoners into the desert and saying ...you need to farm ...here is a rake, and some seed...
They keep asking for more help because they aren't farmers...and we think it is basic to be able to farm...
Finally we say ...we can't anymore... but "you're welcome...now look, we gave you this gift of freedom you need to survive..."

and we walk away one of two things is going to happen...they succeed out of necessity...or they fail out of complexity.

...and if they fail who are they going after?

and if they succeed ... and we don't acknowledge that we may have gotten them out of a prison but WE left them in the desert where they may now starve and kill each other...or better yet be taken over by a worse dictator... How do you think they are going to look at us? Like they should help us?

We need to leave and they need to stand on their own...but don't give that condescending tone that sounds like my mother...and my mother pisses most people off when she lives in a very nice house in Florida and has never had to fight the battles that most have to fight.

Hillary Clinton has been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for 7 years. She shows up. She does the work. She knows an awful lot about IRAQ.

As opposed to Obama who has barely set foot in the senate except for photo ops, and has NEVER, yes NEVER comnveened the committee he chairs on Afghanistan. He's too busy running for a job he's completely and dangerously unqualified to do.

Hillary knows an awful lot about what's happening in Iraq.

It's the Economy, Stupid.

The markets are going DOWN!

You know just shake your heads around for a moment.

Think about this.

Hillary is somehow insidious because she might try to gain Edwards delegates in Iowa, but its super terrific for Obama to do it, eventhough she never phoned them.

HIllary is somehow doing "anything to win" when she want all states to have their votes count. Gee i thought that was called democracy. But its aok for Obama to do numerous and questionable activites at caucuses that would not be considered a democratic process by any international election standard.

Obama can PAY, yes PAY super delegates and that's ok, but they can't decide with their years of judgement and service to the PArty according to a 30 year old rule who they want to be their nominee.

OH I love this one, when Republicans vote for Hillary, again some insidious plot, when they vote for Obama its a show of strength????? NO, they wont vote for him in NOV.

For Crying Out loud enough!!!!!!

I can tell you the Media bias in this campaign will go down in history, be quantified and studies for decades.

It is absolutely outragious, and it will lose the white house for the dems in the end, if this unvetted American idol with no ideas of his own or words of his own, gets the nomination.

ENOUGH!!!

Who appointed Hillary and Bill Clinton as Moral Authority on any issues? Hillary Clinton know nothing about the Iragi people and the Iragi people know nothing about the Clintons.

I'm sick and tried of the Clinton's thoughts on anything. If Hillary Clinton is elected President she will not save the world by a long shoot.

McCain's trip to Irag will not help him to get elected.

Come on, Jake!

What about Clinton's 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS in earmarks she refuses to release?

What about the 2006 tax returns she refuses to release?

What about Clinton rewriting campaign rules constantly during the campaign?

What about her biggest sponsors blackmailing the DNC?

What about are major SHIFTS in her standpoints on the war in Iraq, and the total lack of judgment and consistency implied?

Journalism, journalism, journalism please!

Very typical of Hillary, blame others, blame others, blame others, do not take responsibility for your actions, blame others for "right wing conspiracy" for your vote to invade Irak, blame others for not equiping well the military to face insurgents and continue to blame others.

Why has this post become an excuse to attack Jake Tapper? Who, by the way, is a refreshingly independent-minded journalist at a major news outlet. I guess that drives some people nuts.

Anyway, to the question at hand: I think Clinton is being sloppy with her language, which only partly excuses her, since her sloppiness leaves her open to the interpretation Tapper suggests. I'm more struck by the fact that the statement quoted seems to be a ringing endorsement of the US invasion. In effect: The US has done a tremendous service and if it fails to end well, it's not the fault of the US. Implied: THe blame heaped on Bush (and herself by antiwar stalwarts) is misguided. So in addition to offending Iraqis, there's a question of offending the Democratic base. Or is she merely following the post-surge party line, which is to blame the Iraqi legislature (silently shifting the target away from Bush)?

History tends to repeat itself. Some thirty years ago, I've heard the similiar speech at the end of the Viet Nam war. Insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting the different results.

WOW the blame Hillary Clinton game never stops.

What the heck are you talking about Jake?

She says no such thing.

She says that the US military cannot stay there indefinately and that the Iraqi people aka gov. security forces, police and religious leaders need to bring stability to the country.

Here's my version; The US got rid of the despot, all they have to do is not slaughter each other over belonging to a different religious sect.

Does that make it clearer for you Jake?

can't wait to see her speech today

I dont read in the comments of blaming the Iraqi people. I feel she telling them to stand up and start protecting themselves. America has given them Billions of dollars of training and equipment, while the leaders still will not govern themselves after 5 years. Enough is enough.

There is a difference between bias and stating a truth. This is political rhetoric...
"way to leave a country and make sure they are on our side when we do."

at the least acknowledge they are in this situation because of the tyrant in there country and the idiots who were leading ours.

Tell a lie often enough and strongly enough and people will believe it.
We've ruined the Iraqi's and we had no right to do that.
Facts: No Iraq-Terrorist link, No weapons of Mass Destruction.
Just look at what we did! That's a National shame. Thanks Bush and Cheney.

I don't see how she can lay the blame on the Iraqi people when she played a part in all of this by voting for the war.