Political Punch

I guess it's a generational thing, but I don't get the whole Leftist Extremist or Liberal label. Is Left or Liberal supposed to be a bad thing? I get called that a lot, and it makes no sense to me, as I used to be a moderate but went Democrat when the whole country shifted to the far Right.

I'm against illegal wars that never should have been fought and were started by bogus information.

I'm against the inept way this war has been carried out.

I'm against torturing people and holding them in some sort of Chateau D'if without trial.

I'm against giving tax breaks to extremely wealthy people who don't need them.

I'm against deregulating banking to the point that they can fleece people with outrageous products the consumer doesn't understand, and then bailing them out but not the consumer.

I'm against throwing away our Bill of Rights at the first sign of actual harm to my all-holy backside.

I consider these things to be pretty patriotic, standard American values.

Pro Bill of Rights, check.

Pro Effective, measured use of our military, check.

Pro peace, democracy, and ethical, humanitarian behavior, check.

What the heck is so "Extreme" about any of that?

Please, explain to me how this is bad for America? We've all seen how far down the drain the Far Right can bring us, so it's time to shift back to the center a bit.

That leftward movement isn't extreme, it's balance, dude.

The fact that you folks are still rumbling away on this thread, now that it's a day old, and your posts have trailed off into a disjointed string of nastiness that has nothing to do with the original topic amuses me greatly. It also confirms something I've suspected for a while : that a lot of the anti-Obama folks that post aren't looking for a conversation on the topics at hand, but are merely seeking a corner of the yard to mark and give voice to how terrified they are of him.

I understand the ones who don't support him, but some of you folks are so paranoid and shrill it makes you look nuts. Check yourself for a second. Read what you've been saying. Strip away the anger, take the facts you are using, and confirm them somewhere other than a conservative pundit site (Fox "news" anyone?). Now go back and strip out the facts you can't prove at all.

What's left is a cogent, fair argument against Obama. Stick to that from now on, and you might actually win some people over, instead of giving them the impression that your posting this from the bomb shelter of your survivalist compound in the wilderness. You only reaffirm our support of him that way, and cause more division than I think you intended (or did you?).

Just sayin'

Enough with the Politics! The president, the U.S. olympic athletes, and the american people need to completely boycott the Beijing Olympics. They are forcing people to move out of their homes to build for the Olympics. For our U.S. athletes to say "I'm not going to not go because it could ruin so many dreams" or "I will play with a conscience" is absolutely absurd. That is selfish for them to want to avoid a boycott for the sake of their dream. We are supporting a communist country by not boycotting.

"Incredably hostile media" is the truth.

This stand that Hillary is taking is an extension of her rather well developed and long standing (back to her speech before the United Nations as First Lady)view of China and Human Rights.

It is an unambiguous statement fo what is right and wrong and gives Bush the opportunity to do what is right. Experience helped guide the decision.

Obama's middle of the road attitude..."I'm of 2 minds" may also be teh result of his experience on Foreign Policy and human rights....Wright....college trip to Pakistan...someone hasn't fed me the answer yet...

As usual, hillary had no opinion on the boycott until she tested the political waters and Pelosi spoke first.
hillary and bill have never once made a decision without first gauging its public reaction. There aren't enough pollsters in America to run a clinton administration. Also, she now wants to boycott the olympics; China has no greater ally in the world than bill clinton. Where were her human rights concerns when bill paved the way for china to steal US jobs and secrets.

If Obama was in the U.S. Senate and spoke against the Iraq War vote and voted against it, then I would consider that a suitable comparison to how Hillary stood on that vote.
OBAMA WASN’T A SENATOR WHEN WE WENT TO WAR! Unless one is in a particular legislative body under the same conditions and factors, you cannot compare two decisions straight up. The question is who will make the right decisions from here on. Obama has told so many lies that he is not credible. Hillary ’08.

HILLARY CLINTON DID ASK PRESIDENT BUSH TO BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS. SHE ASKED HIM TO SKIP THE OPENING CEREMONIES.

FRANKLY, I DON’T THINK THIS WILL DO ANY GOOD.

CHINA HAS NEVER ADHERRED TO THE RULES OF THE UNITED NATIONS. WHETHER WE BOYCOTT, OR NOT, CHINA WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT.

HILLARY '08!

Clinton when asked about boycotting the olympics on march 25, 2008 at a press conference said she had no opinion on it.

This is so like Hillary. Pelosi has been calling for this for a long time and here comes Hillary to pretend like it was her idea.

When is the media going to call her out for this.

Pelosi and numerous House members are calling for the president to boycott, US am news (East Coast) featured stories on the torch run being disrupted in London and then later in Paris, the Dalai Lama is pleading w/is people to cease their violent activities. So why is Clinton's proposal for a boycott considered a ploy, rather than reacting to "news of the day"?!

The story is still false in its particulars. It is not just a matter of "sloppy" story telling; it is an outright untruth. In her blind ambition to build herself up and dupe people into voting for her, she shows a reckless disregard for the truth, and tries to make the media feel guilty when they discover her duplicity and expose her untruths. Who would be dumb enough to support someone who doesn't bother to give an accurate account of what is going on around her, and yet wants to put the button to start a thermonuclear war in her purse? Her playing loose with the truth, then trying to escape detection and accountability on technicalities is what made her such a dismal failure on her first go-round with health care reform. Clearly, she has learned nothing. SHAME ON YOU HILLIARY CLINTON!

At a March 25th press conference (where she said Jeremiah Wright would not have been her pastor), Clinton demurred when asked if the U.S. should boycott the Olympics. “Let’s wait on that; I don’t have an opinion on that,” Clinton said with a look of uncertainty when asked if the U.S. should avoid the Olympics.

(as NBC's John Boxley and Mark Murray report)

Let's repeat that quote:

"I don't have an opinion on that."

Jake-
I think the president has a responsibility to take this opportunity to see for himself what is happening there and assess the "straight talk factor" from the Chinese government.Although I think Nancy Polosi should join him. He should encourage our athletes to follow their own conscience on the issue. Then report back to his boss. Us. The ideals he based as a reason for invasion of Iraq are the same brought to light here between China and Tibet. He should acknowledge that not responding to this would undermine most of the ethical arguments he has used for justification of our current two front war, and the basic promoted ideals of his administration. Considering his recent meeting with Putin and the lack of success in convincing them to allow a missile site in Euope, making an outright statement against China could ignite a warm flame of contentment between the two countries,Both have similar issues with province unrest. Considering Russia's situation with Germany over oil, I can understand why Russia would not want us having more stability in our defense of resources in the middle east.Now you have China's relationship with Africa and the underdeveloped resources there, well that is a pickle. It is the same reason we avoided getting involved before and if we do now we don't have the appropriate financial situation or man power to back any "suggestions" to the Chinese. I think he should be aware of his role as political and social observer there and report back to us on what he feels about the plight of the people,what he sees as shortcuts to global acceptance at the expense of its people and the world environment. Especially with their development ties to Africa. This will affect the entire world. Call upon China to work with others to update their methods to sustainable ones-we are financing much change through our consumerism. He doesn't want our people choosing to leave China out of our market regardless of government standing. He should tell us of great hope and desired partnership with China in the future to help bring education and standards of living to it's people and it's investments in Africa for the better of all countries. To put forth the idea of a more contented, productive workforce as a benefit to China's future, much as it has been to India. Finally I think he should not be happy to meet them, he should be serious, and cordial. If we don't go to this party we wont be invited back for a while, and that could be devastating there,here, in Russia and in Africa. You know who would follow and... the point is why would he do anything but. He has created enough unresolved issues for his follow up and needs to have as little contact as possible with Russia or China before he is out of office. I do not want him dealing with this situation. It has been going on for a long long time, he cant do anything but mildly speak against it, I would prefer someone fresh take this one on if they can first root out our own corruption and questions of democracy, then I think our government could take a stronger stand, yet everyone knows, you do not want to get into a troops war with China, so the others options to deal with conflict there would end up globally cataclysmic. We are seeing a part of the world that holds more history dear than we our children in some cases. Do not poke the sleeping dragon. just come tell us what it looks like so our children have more funny quotes to read from this president.

becky,

I LIVE in ILLINOIS!!!

I KNOW Rezko's broken down tenements!

I've seen families staying in stores til closing time to avoid their freezing apartments!

This is just one of the rotten things that occurred under B O's watch.

One of his "earmarks" ($1,000,000) wound up at Michelle's hospital.... and suddenly she was awarded a fat raise!

That's just another.

There is a Laundry List of Obama's Lies floating around; someone tried to erase it but others "copied" before it could be obliterated.

Yes!

Eyes SHOULD be opened!

Obama is nobody's friend but his own.

He is not out to help anyone but himself.

You do yourself an injustice by following him.

Hillary has a problem with "truth". She just can't tell it!

surelock,

Ernst is dead. ;-)

-----------------

While I can't disagree that Clinton's campaign was poorly run, I still find her to be the candidate of choice BECAUSE despite the caliber of snipes and slander directed her way by BOmaniacs.... SHE's the one who has achieved the most when it comes to welfare and healthcare for our country.

She may not be as smooth talking as B O
but she is the only one who can provide true SOLUTIONS for the rockyh terrain of the next four years!

SO....

GIVE 'EM HELL, HILLARY!!!!!

A question for Becky

I'd like to hear more about those bills Obama passed that helped all those poor people. Could you elaborate.

And while you're at it, please tell us how he passed the bills without the help of the rest of congress.

Curious minds want to know1

No one is calling for the athletes to boycott, only that the President not attend the opening ceremony. While this might seem like an appropriate response to the blatant crackdown currently going on in China, our President has no choice but to attend. Even though no one in polite circles will say it, this will be seen around the world as America's humiliation. We will be effectively be kowtowing to China. They own our debt and they can effectively use it as ransom. If they feel insulted, they can decide they don't want dollars anymore and convert their investments to Euros. That would devastate our, and much of the worlds economies. Because of our already fragile economic situation they won't even have to do anything that extreme to make us feel the pain. So we will have to endure the humiliation. In 8 years, we have gone from the world's only superpower, to this.

Probably tested well in some poll or focus group.

I wonder how much she paid Penn for the Polling Data that backs up this call.

The ONLY responsible thing to do is boycott the whole affair. History DEMANDS it.
Though I doubt that Clinton would be willing to go that far. It might cost her some votes and as we all know, that is the only thing that matters to her.
She should be ashamed to be using the dead in Tibet to further her own sick cause.

The lies you say Obama has told are in fact lies that Hillary has started and we find out later that indeed they are just that....A LIE from Hillary...you guys need to read and follow the news a little closer then you have been.

I would rather take my chances with Obama...who you say has no experience...but has (it is a proven fact) done and passed more bills (important bills, bills for the poor and middle class people) then Hillary in the 35 years she says she has served. Then to vote Hillary into office. I will take my chances. Hillary people are just voting for her because she has them fooled with her "experience". She does have experience.. experience in how to lie...and how to deceive the people of the US. Oh wait... sounds like she has that one down.

Jockman,
You sound like your worried that Hillary might beat you in a bowling match.
========================================
Obama bowled 37!
Obama will be lucky to get 37% in Pennsylvania.
========================================

It's really funny to watch the democrats sniping at each other over which candidate is more worthless, Obama or Hillary. meanwhile, we'll get us four more yeas of Bush policy via his grumpy new BFF, John W McBush, whose legacy will be to introduce early bird specials in the white house cafeteria along with a maverick program to finally keep those damn kids off your lawn. And oh yeah, another guaranteed 100 years of vigilance for the military-industrial complx. Way to go. War is peace.

Vicki,
You are joined by thousands of teachers across the nation that recognize that Hillary Clinton is their only hope to get relief from the insanity of "No Child Left Behind"
========================================
Hillary stands up for teachers!
Hillary stands up for all voters!
========================================

Hell yes, keep the politicians away from sports, let's keep it noble and pure and steroid free, because a boycott would mess up many a fine and well deserved endorsement of those fine products like track shoes that the chinese happily provide for us. If you want to be a good American, get your ass down to the nearest Walmart Supercenter and pitch in by buying some crap. God bless the USA!

Fact is, we are so much indebted to China that it ties our hands politically where China is concerned. It would be unwise and childish to boycott the Olympic ceremony to embarrass China; besides, it would make it difficult to talk to or solicit help in the future from China. I think Bush has no choice here but to appease. You simply do not bite the hand that feeds you!

Richard,
The state legislatures of Michigan and Florida disenfranchised and abandoned their own constituents.
I guess we should also bail out everyone with an adjustable rate loan too since that can't be their fault either. Someone made them take the house and the payments.
Michael
"The sheer force of the event will do more than any boycott to move China along the path to a better human rights record"?
Don't take that to Vegas.
China wants to show that in spite of its human rights record it has the world's moral approval.
A better and much more effective boycott would be a consumer boycott on Chinese made products. But that's too much trouble . . . and the inconvenience!
I'm fine with an opening ceremony boycott. A lot of people are going to think we should have stayed home when China wins a gang of medals.

At this point, Hillary could dye her hair day glow yellow and run around naked on the white house lawn. That would not change the fact that she can't manage a campaign and can't seem to figure out how to tell the truth.

Jake Trapper,
What are trying to say? Hillary is an experienced politician?

I have news for you, Obama is an experienced politician.

Of course Hillary is moving on. She has to try to stay two steps ahead of an incredibly hostile media, while Obama continues on a honeymoon.
========================================
Hillary stands up for all voters!
Meanwhile, Obama is politically immature!
========================================

For the U.S. to boycott the olympics because of perceived Chinese torture is hypocritical to say the least. How can we stand in judgement while our own leaders keep prisoners in jail without benefit of due process? It isn't up to the candidates to decide. George W. Bush is still president, and he needs to get some backbone.

Note to Hillary and all the other politicians....It should be illegal for you to even speak about sports!GO AWAY!We don't care about your political posturing to make yourself look relevant in an area you have no business interfering with, while pandering to the minority of malcontents who drive the daily media doom and gloom. .Leave the athletes and sports alone.To most ,the olympics are an opportunity for the best to compete and the rest to admire and enjoy.Let us enjoy the Olympics, which we are only treated to every 4 years,and you can go back to telling the populace how bad off we all are and how much we need you to rescue us!

There have been so many slips and "boneheaded mistakes" by Obama. So many lies and things that could have been followed up on and drummed into us daily . If you look at the blog listing on this site it's all about Hillary, all the time, and all negative. If she does something positive, it's always spun as inauthentic, a pr move, a supporter with a hidden motive. Obama is always genuine and his motives are always pure. He has gotten a giant free pass, anyone can see that. This blog could easily still be talking about Rev. Wright under hush orders now in the $1.6 million "retirement" home that Obama and his church built. Or it could be talking about Rezko and the phony loan that got Obama his house. Or so, so, many other things. Free pass for Obama makes us all losers. He is an inexperienced, unknown who is being given nothing but pillows by the media.
Vote No on Fawning Media. Vote No on Obama!

We the United States should learn from our past mistakes and keep quite, offer no opinion, do not boygott anything and just go about our business of running our country and finding solutions to our issues.

RW

No wonder Penn stayed so long. Is this really the best her new "team" can come up with?

Stick to gas prices, job creation and domestic issues. That's what people in the remaining states care about.

Also don't abandon Florida and Michigan voters. Someone needs to stick up for them.

Grandstanding.

Her husband campaigned heavily in opposition to Bush Senior's China policy. Yet, under his presidency, the 'made in China' age began in ernst.

Since she makes much to do about her vast influence on Bill's tenure, she must have agreed with the Chinese free trade shift of policy. Some might call this hypocrisy.

You can look it up.

Hillary you better concetrate on
your fundraising which is
continuing to be anemic.

Whether one boycott or not, this
will not change China's stand!

By the way why not call on boycotting
g borrowing money from them!

Some people’s fascination with and support of Hilary Clinton, despite all her lies and “mis-spoke” incidents is quite mystifying, bordering on blind acceptance. This is not about gender or some media conspiracy as some people try to make it out to be, but rather, it is about trust and credibility, and the scarcity of truth in Hilary’s statements.

Hillary's only talking about the China Olympic boycott as a political pr move?
This blog is just a steady diet of daily Hillary bashing, a non-stop barrage of free negative advertising for Obama. Vote No on Media Fawning. Vote No on Obama!

I think this whole olympics thing calls for a really futile gesture on our part. Let's show those damn chinese that they can't lock people up and torture them without even charging them for a crime. Let's show China that it's time to get serious about human rights and get out of guantanamo. oops, wait, that us. never mind

maybe we should be boycotting "made in china" products, instead of asking our politicians to skip a ceremony...

I call for hillary to go to the olympics and stay there.

Hillary is such a fake. She can cares less about the people of Tibet, it's her ass she's trying save.

I hate when this woman exploits sensative issues for her benefit.

This is a transparent way for her to change the subject of her pathetic and desperate campaign.

Don't worry, Obama will follow Hillary AGAIN and ask Bush to boycott the opening ceremony!

Boycott?..I think the US should show up and whip the Chinese on their own playing field. If the US had boycotted the games in 1936 in Germany, the world would have never known Jesse Owens and Hitler would have celebrated. What an impact participation would make instead of staying home.

dl - you can take it the way you want. I just wanted people to know that this was not just a made up story.

Thanks for seeing it.

GS

It's not just out and out lying... it's about telling or repeating stories that are not true. Whether you lie about them or you just don't have the experience or knowledge to make sure they are true before getting in front of the nation and saying them.

They (the Clintons, she included) have a record of both... ...often with regard to getting what they want...whether it is good for America or not.

I don't care ...Olympic boycotts only get in the way of real "boycotts" and negotiations.

Just another reason why this woman should not be president ...in the middle of all the issues including the Tibet issue...what does Sen Clinton "call for" to take the eye off her own issues...

"For GW (who I am sure the Chinese don't want there anyway...they would rather have the next personin that office come)...
to not go to a ceremonial sporting event...

a boycott that has never worked for any country boycotting any Olympics.

I guess someone with experience thinks differently...why ...I have no idea.

ABC - You need to do proper investigation first.

The Clinton campaign is being accused of lying about the hospital story that Hillary Clinton has told to audiences on the campaign trail. Now Fox News is parsing the history of the event that ABC fully published on its Web site (VIDEO below). In that video, Bryan Holman is shown telling Hillary the story that she tells on the trail. The NY Times has published a report in which O’Bleness Hospital said they did not turn her away. But, that isn’t what Bryan Holman said in the first place. I have confirmed with Deputy Holman that he did not say O’Bleness denied Ms. Bachtel. It was another hospital that denied her. He is also clear that she wasn’t denied over a co payment as some have speculated. I will keep you updated here at NoQuarter as this story develops.

The thing you have to see is that this isn’t “THE HOSPITAL” in question. Bryan Holman said that after being denied, she went to another hospital.

Here’s the video of Bryan Holman telling the story unedited. (Note: in the middle he states she was denied treatment then went to another hospital, the O’Bleness hospital.)

Watch the actual video here -

What should he do? Boycott. Let the athletes go but the President should boycott the ceremony.

How much footage do you have to see of people being beaten and dragged away to get this?

Michael, let me tell you something .Cancer reasearch will go on with out her 300.mil.(where is she getting the money?????)The public funds this more then you will ever know She again is saying what she thinks the public wants to hear>>>>>>
If she had her way we would work make 500.00 a week leave 250.00 for her little projects she is saying she wants to do.I for one don't want to give up half my pay check to some one who is capable of working but sits home on their aqq and waits for some one to hand them something.
If I made 109. mil I would not care but I don't and I do care.......

Is this the same Clintons / Libs that gave China rocket technology. They are trying to use this as apolitical tool, this way if President bush goes they can condemn him and if he does not go they will come up with something else!!

If the Libs were so worried about human rights they would be supporting our troops in the Terror war on us instead of hoping our troops lose!!

Hey if they are really upset abut this why are they not asking for a full boycott like we did to Moscow for the same reason!!

You can watch Obama's campaign video in school at

http://tinyurl.com/39y5a3

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/yestheycan

"NEW YORK -- Barack Obama's presidential campaign violated city Department of Education regulations when it made a video at a Bronx high school classroom starring students, an official said."

who cares about a pollster. Obama is breaking the law again. churches, schools, this guy will campaign anywhere.

We shouldn't punish the athletes in order to make a political statement. One of the athletes' fondest memories of the Olympics will be to honor the United States in the opening ceremonies. Our leaders should not play politics with the young men and women representing us in China.

Hillary better stick to her campaigning and get her financial responsibilties paid before she interjects herself into the Olympics.

Hillary is doing the right thing, and why do I not see anywhere on this or many other sites about Hillary Clinton's call for more breast cancer research funding, or her stance on gay right's? I still sense a mdedia bias that is trying to drive up ratings. This is a sad day for our countries supposed democracy. The VOTERS WILL HAVE THEIR SAY.

Hillary 08

What do I think? The President should encourage attendance, positive response, and should attend.
The sheer force of the event will do more than any boycott to move China along the path to a better human rights record.