Political Punch

all of this points to a larger point: We've become a country that continually chooses the sizzle over the steak. McCain may not get your vote, but he gets my admiration for at least offering some substance and new ideas when he speaks. Obama, meanwhile, is like the rock star who's realized that he can just scream unintelligible words into the microphone between songs, and the entire stadium will still scream. When your fans already love you, there's no reason to risk it by offering anything that might be controversial. Remember the Dixie Chicks?

As candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain are ironically a lot like the way the media treats them: Obama is the glitzy magazine cover that screams for people to buy the issue, and McCain is the fact-filled article buried inside that makes you glad you did.

Well, this certainly takes the light off of the New York Times not printing that op-ed. The "surge" is responsible for the Anbar Awakening? Are you kidding me? I was in Al Anbar Province during the 2006 Awakening. The only thing that awoke, was your tax-payer dollars in the pockets of Iraqi militants-turned dinar folding well payed Iraqi militants. Once we close the disbursing trail, bullets will fly over Baghdad like never before. It was the almighty dollar/dinar that brought the peace. But, McFraud was briefed about a "secret" surge in Dec. 2006?!?! Not even Pres. Bush believes this latest lie!!!

I was responsible for the success of the surge,I was
responsible for the success of the surge,I was
responsible for the success of the surge, I was.....
McCain your starting to sound like an old
scratched album. If you want the success, then
you also have to take responsibility for the screw-
ups. The list is long, lets start with over 4,000
soldiers killed. If you were Soooo wise, why didn't
you guide Bush's hand through this whole fiasco?

Obama has conducted himself with maturity and grace on this trip - just as I expected.

...and respectfully Tapper, you missed the part about the King changing his schedule and making a special effort to travel and meet Obama before he left the Middle East.

Hmmmmm, seems like King Abdullah II laid out what he expects Obama to do. Hmmmm, wonder what Obama's reply was! Hmmmm, wonder what Israel will expect Obama to do. Hmmmmm, wonder what Obama's reply will be. Bet it will be an answer from out of both sides of his mouth! Neither party should trust him

As imperfect as Obama may be, in comparison to our alternative.... Mc-Gaffe-a-day, this is certainly a day for celebration. If we focus on McGaffe, as the media really should then it becomes painfully obvious that he literally lacks the understanding of basic issues. Mixing up the geography, the different tribal groups, the actual events that took place in the Middle East is unacceptable from a potential President. This goes way beyond "Old age" jokes, as this is no laughing matter. McGaffe is NOT knowledgeable enough to be the President of the USA.... and THAT is a fact.

I am proud to be an American Today !!.
This die hard Republican Mom of 3 and her family will be voting for Barack Obama this fall.

McCain makes a false assertion of the Sunni awakening. It was the Sunni who decided they didn’t want al-Qaida in their land way before the surge began. This guy is senile.

Clarity wrote: "This trip shows Obama's ability to be relaxed around royalty and world leaders. He is so comfortable in his skin around any and everyone. This is a true indication he is able to engage in complex negotiations on the world stage. I knew he had it in him. I am so proud of him..."

No, A guy who would throw his hat in the ring after a very short time in the US Senate, with his lack of experience, shady Chicago politics, very questionable associates and bad judgement on so many levels shows that if he is comfortable in his skin it's Obama is a text book example of Narcissism. I mean, look up the definition folks..this guy reeks of narcissism. And you think GW Bush thought he was entitled to be President..well here's another one who has the Audacity of Hype.

The coverage of King Obama is so over the top and biased that I really want to throw up. I was against the war too. Remember folks, he was NOT in the US Senate at the time of the vote. This twist in the wind candidate probably would have voted yes because all he cares about it his political carreer.
He won't admit that the surge actually worked even though he is using the results of the surge to justify pulling out troops. What a load this guy is.
I am a lifelong democrat but I am so disgusted with the press slobbering over this guy that I may just push the button for McCain. And please don't write about all the horrible things that will happen if McCain gets into office. I am more worried about the all teeth, all hype clown getting in office even more.

A vote for McCain will do more to further peace in the world. McCain understands prior and current understanding of the issues, while his opponent is trying to catch up. Older and wiser - McCain. The more we hear from his opponents supporters their empty promises without substance and without real solution, the better McCain looks day by day!

see the crowd behind obama,and he's not yet the president,that is how an american president should be greeted in the 21 century.change is the word

McCain is Not a Coherent or Military Experienced Man...He does it to Himself, yet Again !!!

During a CBS interview on Tuesday, John McCain made a stone cold error on a subject about which he claims expert knowledge: the "surge" strategy in Iraq.

In an interview with anchor Katie Couric, the Arizona Republican said, inaccurately, that the surge strategy was responsible for the much-touted "Anbar Awakening," in which Sunni sheiks turned against Al Qaeda, helping in turn to reduce violence in the country.

From the transcript:

Katie Couric: Senator McCain, Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as-- such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel MacFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history.

In fact, as Spencer Ackerman and Ilan Goldenberg have reported, the record firmly establishes the opposite:

Instead of being caused by the surge, the key signs of the Anbar Awakening occurred not only before that strategy was implemented, but before it was ever conceived.

Yet McCain's error was not seen by any CBS Evening News viewers. As MSNBC's Keith Olbermann noted (video below), "CBS curiously, to say the least, left it on the edit room floor.

It aired Katie Couric's question, but in response, it aired part of McCain's answer to the other question instead." (Ironically, this edit came on the same day that McCain's campaign released a video mocking the media's "love affair" with Obama.)

The fact remains, however, that the military official cited by McCain, then-Colonel Sean MacFarland, described the Anbar Awakening in September 2006 -- four months before the "surge" was even announced -- noting that tribal leaders were "stepping forward and cooperating with the Iraqi security forces against Al Qaeda."

Moreover, a military review written by MacFarland notes that his unit actually left Anbar before most of the surge troops arrived; his success in the region came between June 2006 and February 2007.

Especially notable is that McCain himself was not always confused as to the start date of the Awakening, and whether or not it was caused by the surge. Fresh off one of his much-touted trips to Iraq, McCain delivered remarks to the conservative American Enterprise Institute on January 5, 2007.

Alongside fellow Senator Joe Lieberman, McCain specifically advocated for the newly proposed surge, and cited the already-in-progress turning of Sunni sheiks as a reason to send more troops. From the transcript of the event:

"Too often the light at the tunnel has turned out to be a train, but I really believe --

I really believe that there's a strong possibility that you may see a very substantial change in Anbar province due to this new changes in our relationships with the sheiks in the region. ...

But it's important, as I said in my opening remarks, that this troop surge be significant and sustained. Otherwise, don't do it."

Why even have an election ? The Media has already crowned him KING of the USA.
The Media made him, watch them distroy him after 1/21/09.

This trip shows Obama's ability to be relaxed around royalty and world leaders. He is so comfortable in his skin around any and everyone. This is a true indication he is able to engage in complex negotiations on the world stage. I knew he had it in him. I am so proud of him.

Yes he can!

oh yeah...

The quote about Israel was compliments of :James McDouglas | Jul 23, 2008 12:35:17 AM

"One good thing about an Obama administration is that Israel will get the implied message that they'd better chill the heck out for about 4 years"

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

If this is true, then you have
YET ANOTHER GOOD REASON WHY YOU SHOULD N O T VOTE FOR OBAMA!

HILLARY OR MCCAIN
BUT NEVER SOMEONE WHO THREATENS OUR ONLY LOYAL ALLY IN THE MID EAST....

THE GOP was hoping for another Dukakis; they got Will Smith instead. Mr. MaGoo versus Will Smith. No contest!

andy:

Are YOU having a senior moment?

You can't even spell McCain's name corretly.... yet it's alwasy spelled the same.

Now I could see your having a problem with Obama's name.,, because he keeps changing it.....

BO (?), BHO (?), Barry (?).....

But McCain's is plain... It provides the substance to counter B O's glitz.

HILLARY OR MCCAIN
but always:

COUNTRY BEFORE BROKEN DOWN DONKEY PARTY!

"IT was John McCain who voted to go to war with Iraq IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

WOW, Paul!

He did that all by himself?

I know McCain is a powerful man... but never realized his unbounded strength which caterpaulted our government into the War in Iraq based on his single vote!

It sure is lucky that Obama didn't have the opportunity to vote in Congress that day... although he was supportive of the war when the cnance came along.

Have you seen McCain's recent video pm the various stances B O has taken on the war?...

His various documented opinions on the war are as infamously changeable as Chicago's weather.

You can say that our congress was mislead by our President and the information it was given by him.

You can say that our congress was deeply affected by 9/11 and therefore more accepting of the President's input that it should have been.

You can even say it was a mistake, if you feel that it was, and the war should never have been started.

BUT YOU CANNOT BLAME ANY ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR THE UNDERSTANDABLE DECISION OF MANY!

YOU WEREN'T THERE!
AND YOU KNOW WHERE HINDSIGHT COMES FROM!!!