Political Punch

Senator McCain's words are very powerful and legitimate. But how hollow they sounds when applied to the plight of Palastinians. These words are word only. All nations are increasingly depependent on military power. May be it is the way world work

Once again, Senator McCain is trying to "cowboy" this problem by throwing American lives and livlihoods at it like Bush did in Iraq....

And BUSH Fiddled in China While Georgia Burned.

The Important Point is on Who's Watch is this tragedy happening!

Why did Obama never look straight into your eyes during the delivery of his statement?

To Wit, McCain clearly shows his leadership skills on this.

This is where all the experience as a Community Organizer pays off.

Sure does seem like Obama talks an awful lot about "a new world order". Every time in history when some orator speaks in such terms it never turns out good. I think he wants to be "THE" leader of not just America but the world.

Oh how many opinions we have.! what do you want.? The government to take care of you.!? You do not know what freedom really means, and , as for who should be president, I much prefer someone who will strike fear into the hearts of anyone who would think to fool w/ the U.S. at any time. Ever had someone shoot at you, want to kill you and all your family and countrymen.? You will be the same bunch crying for big brother to protect you when the tanks roll on our own soil. Think it cant happen.? Try to negotiate when it does. It wont do you any good.! Go big john go.!

Honestly as sad a situation as any war is, this happens to yet again be none of our business but we are insisting that russia do this and they do that. Who are we to tell them what to do, and especially when Russia feels they were invaded, "Flex our muscles to get a resolution" is one of the worst comments on here by the way

So why did the Georgians throw
grenades into the basements
of homes in South Ossetia where families were seeking safety from
the raging conflict?

Why did Georgian soldiers run
over South Ossetians with their
tanks when they were merely
fleeing north away from the war
zone?

Bush and McCain told them that's
how it's done in the highly
civilized world of progress and
values in which Bush and McCain
live.

Well it is a good thing Obama had advisors, before he asked them what he should do he was thinking the Russians invaded the State of Georgia...It is starting to look like the hard stance of Bush, McCain and the other leaders of the G7 was the right thing to do. Obama wants to reason with and use diplomacy to handle everything. He is not qualified to be President and having him in that office will put our safety and our lives and risk. He does not seem to understand you can not negotiate your way out of everything, sometimes you have to flex your muscle to diffuse the situation. How does he expect to negotiate with terrorist? They do not want to negotiate the only thing they want is us to be wiped of the map and our values of religious and personal freedoms for all MEN and WOMEN be gone...Sometimes the saying Older and Wiser is true. McCain 08!!

""we are all Georgians" "I speak for all americans"

John McCain

This is the consequence of the Bush's obsessive focus on terrorism. We have no power or leverage with anything else in the world.

Obama read a statement prepared by his 300 advisers. Pretty disturbing that he needs that much help when the phone rings at 3AM.

In the end it doesn't matter what either Obama or McCain say - the US is powerless in this matter. We can do nothing but ask Russia to comply. Russia is the superpower now, not the US - we don't have a diplomatic foot to stand on.

Russia is not concerned about
the former Soviet republics
becoming democracies or
something else. It has
basically left them alone.

But at Bush's urging NATO is
trying to pull them into a
military alliance. That's
the real issue.

This has nothing to do with
the imaginary, highly civilized
world which McCain seems to
inhabit or BO's "regression
to the conflicts of the past."

Don't rule out the Russians arming
the Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the
tribal militias in Afghanistan and
Pakistan fighting NATO forces.

If NATO egged on by Bush and
McCain does not stop its
eastward expansion and the
missile defense system gets
installed in eastern Europe
expect Russian military bases
in Syria, Vietnam, Cuba,
Venezuela and other countries
once allied with the Soviet
Union. Further expect Russian
support to Iran and other
countries working against us.

You know no one is perfect. For from it. The biggest problem is we try to help as many countries has we can. That's all find and good, but we need to start helping our country. We have children and grown-ups doing without food and a good place to stay. There's people who send work to another country cause they can get labor cheaper. These are the people who is killing the United States. Because they are so money hunger. We need to start getting this country back on track and working our problems out and let the other countries work there's out. Once we get back on track help the other counties, but not at the point that it takes away from our people. We need a president that will get us out of this hole that we're in. We need a congress that will giving there self a raise every few days. Get oil prices down, help people find jobs, so they can pay there bills and home loans. We also need health care for everyone. The health care needs to be affordable. We need a president that won't start a stupid war. We need some one who will be man enough to step up and work out what's in the best interest for the people. Not for self gain. As for Russia and Georgia let them work there problems out. They don't need Bush sticking is nose in there business and starting another war. I don't really know which man Obama or McCain would be the best one for president.

The bottom line.

What prompted Russia to punish
Georgia?

Bush-McCain expansionist policies
thrusting into eastern Europe and
using mickey mouse former republics
of the USSR to taunt Putin.

How many more super powers are left? We have outsourced everything and Russia, is just coming into money from it's oil revenues. The U.S. is not the world police and will never be anymore. We (the U.S.) has damaged our clout on the international stage and now smaller countries are looking to China and Russia for leadership. Russia and China will always be soft on Iran, because the U.S. will keep it's focus in the middle east while they (Russia & China) will rule in their backyards. So, I say...let Europe deal with Georgia and we will assist in a diplomatic role, if needed. I am sure Germany, France and Briton does not want a Russia going crazy. I see NO reason to use American dollars to bail out Georgia, who started the offensive.

Obama thinks every problem in the world can be solved by giving a speech, telling other countries what he wants them to do. What a fool.

Can someone mention that fact that McCain has wanted to put Georgia on a path to NATO membership and that Randy Scheunemann was in charge of doing just that. However, when the conflict was in its initial phase, the Obama campaign blasted the McCain campaign for having Mr. Sheunemann as an employee?

Why is this awfule because Obama now wants to put Georgia on a path to NATO membership as well.

Geez, Obama, make up your mind! Do you want NATO membership for Georgia or not?

Democratic convention chief wants reparations for blacks

wow - a lot of the comments here are just ridiculous. People here sure are misinformed about Obama. A lot of posts seem to be confusing crackpot opinions and outright lies with reality. So sad.

McCain is an old fool who doesn't know that the cold war is over. What a sad old man. He's the wrong answer for the 21st century.

"The talking points of Bush and McCain were identical today. Both talking trash to Russia, instead of trying to calm the situation, they continue to perpetuate a conflict.

Cowboy diplomacy at it's finest.

McCain=Bush"

Thank Gawd for Obama. He reminds me of Reagan. He took the right approach and Russia ceased fired. We need this steady hand who can think clearly. Not McSame who is obviously trigger happy and hoping to use nukes as soon as he gets his grubby little hands on them.

If McSame is President you better count on a Nuclear war. He's just going to continue what the Bush administration has started. Get ready for the draft.

Obama without his script
Judging by his reaction to the Georgia-Russia crisis, Obama's make-believe presidency isn't ready for prime time.

Maybe Obama's statement would have more impact if he made a speech in Moscow and provided a rock band to get the crowd of 200,000 to attend.

A link to the original speeches would be helpful. Did either of them mention how stupid Georgia was in invading South Ossetia?

United Nations - NATO!??! What a joke .. you'd better have the ballz to stand up on your own because these 2 groups are a laughing stock!

We should consider seriously voting for Cain. He will definitely press the bottom and send some nukes to Russia...and Russia will answer back.
We need another war.

We need an unbalanced man taken by hatred of having lost a war himself, to be in charge of getting back at the world to show them whose leader.

We need another Bush term to make sure we get on track with as many wars as we can. We need to make sure we get more soldiers and civilians destroyed.

CAIN is not a true Christian and is not pro-life. He is pro-death.

Davis They were a super power when they tried to anix Berlin. But America got around it then and can now,And lets face it if it was worth fighting for and not a baltic country thats struggling than we would be doing more than talking.As to Obama and his views he was the fool spouting how small countries like Venezuela,Cuba, and Iran are to small to really harm America,he must have missed the Cuban missle crisis,Iranian hostage crisis and how about that small country Japan history shows that Japan was the small country that attacked the U.S. and got America involved in WW2.Obama is a fool

I don't see much difference in their statements. They're both saying we need to speak out strongly against this aggression, and persuade Russia it is in their best interests to negotiate with Georgia, and Europe should do it's part. Neither one of them are going to go any further at this point.

Quoting the bible for the benefit of all those peace-loving, turn-the-other-cheek, meat-eating, gun-toting American so-called Christians: "Or how can you tell your brother,'Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother's eye" - Like 6:42. You are telling Russia that they should not invade a sovereign country? Next you'll be telling them that you won't be able to chase its leader into hiding, demolish infrastructure, destroy its civilian population, set up torture centers, establish semi-permanent military bases? How funny - maybe all of the above are tools permissible for the use of Democratic America only? I wonder what Hish Royal Highness, Emperor Dubya would say if they had Mikhail Saakashvili hung just to set an example for "all the evil dictators of the world"?

Sounds to me like McCain has just changed his position on the war against Iraq. Unless of course, he is trying to say 'do as I say, not as I do'.

count on it folks , when Obama he president , we will be well-like around the world , yes , we will be so popular that all nations will come and pull our ears and noses and rub our head , yes , we will be liked and popular , like a vegetarian Lion who gets smacked around by the hyenas , but we will popular though, can't wait to have Obama in there , so we Americans can at last live in peace.....ACCORDING TO OTHER NATIONS' TERMS !

Question of the day , How do one be ALWAYS RIGHT ? Never make a decision , dance around as much as you can , appeal to both sides so you can be on both sides , Never speak about your position on anything , being in 100 different directions at the same time , that way , no matter how things turn out , no one can blame you for it ..NEVER MAKE ANY DECISION AT ALL, THAT WAY , ONE CAN NEVER BE WRONG ....Play it safe , flowery rhetorics that sound good to the ears but actually impossible to pin down ...Obama , the master has shown us that , yes , one in fact can always be right ! Vote Mc Cain!

This is Obama being Obama and Mc Cain being Mc Cain..For Obama , it is always trying to be popular , always flowery rhetorics without being specific about anything , always big words without substance ..., always have room so that he can wiggle later on out of a situation , always wait to the last minute to see which way the wind blow before making a decision one way or another . ...
For Mc cain, the Straight Talk Express guy , it is always to the point , always a maverick who rather be right than being popular , you can call him old school , but in him , we see the old American value of our fathers , always straight , honest , no dancing around , may sound a little rough but we can always know what he thinks and can always trust his words , he may not be right all the time but we know he will not abandone friends and rightousness , qualities that were proven in Vietnam as well as in his career in congress ... Vote Mc Cain!

" Let me be clear...." my eyes ...Obama is trying to Stay away from making a decision , the way that he is all the time , never specific on anything, always leave room for backing out or changing stances , always trying to have it all and play it safe for his political survival , Obama is actually the most cunning of the politicians out there . That was why he join the racist church in Chicago , that was why he hardly go out of his way to work on something meaningful when in congress, that was why he favored pulling out of Iraq and let millions innocent people be left to terrorists ....Russia is clearly the aggressor here and there is no room for trying to twist the truth . The aggressor needs to be told in strong language so he stops his violence , otherwise , he will muscle it on , just like Hitler ...Obama has shown again what a novice he is , a boy has no business in a man's world.

This is about Georgia trying to get into NATO, and about baiting Russia. How would you feel if Mexico announced they were going to join Al Queda?

Obama is an empty suit who's never led any organization in his life, community organizing not included. A few years ago he was an Illinois State Legislator FCS and he's gonna stand up to Putin? Yeah, pull my other leg and it plays Jingle Bells.

This should illustrate to the American people that it's still a dangerous world out there. We need a leader who has the strength of character, who's been to the edge of the abyss himself and proven worthy, not someone who's major claim to fame is voting present more than anyone else and was an Illinois State Legislator a few years ago! Obama isn't ready.

Who cares if he has duel citizenship???? Who cares, really? Plenty of Americans do too. I certainly think it's great that Obama has real world experience with other people and cultures such as Indonesia. Better than white bread McBush.

The only things republicans can put on Obama is: 1. "he's a celebrity"--so what?? Don't vote for him because people like him? 2. "He's an empty suit"--What the heck does that mean? And old, angry McCain isn't? 3. "He's a secret Muslim"--where's your proof? How can anyone think that, when the REVEREND story is still discussed? 4. "He's not a citizen"--again, silly because he IS. That's ALL You neocons have on him. McBush is going down....

He never dropped his Indonesian citizenship and used an Indonesian passport at age 20 to go to Pakistan, and there's no evidence he ever did drop his Indonesian citizenship.

Anna: McCain graduated at the BOTTOM of his naval class. He and Bush are both ignorant men. Obama on the other hand, graduated with honors and speaks far more elequantly and decisively. McCain is an angry, short-tempered, right-wing crazy trigger-happy old man.

He was a kid when he was in Indonesia. Not an adult.

Very good analogy, JEB!

HI no, ...see you can't have an Indonesian passport unless you are a citizen of Indonesia, and Indonesia does not allow dual citizenships, and having been a citizen of another country as an adult disqualifies Barry to be POTUS. He may still BE a citizen of Indonesia.

cajape,
I'm not sure why having a passport disqualifies you? You have to be born in America...and Hawaii is America. And you have to be a citizen.

@no more neocons

Ossetia isn't a seperate country, but a part of Georgia. What Georgia was doing in Ossetia and the seperatists, is the same thing we should do in LA. Take back our own lands from Mexico.

I'm afraid that McCain won't have a chance to start a Nuke war...Bush will beat him to it. After all, Bush has the belief in Armageddon and has the power to end it all for everyone. The Muslim religion is not the only religion that has religious crazies. I think Bush will cause a Nuke war before he leaves office.

Missile defense is coming to Poland and Czech. count on it!

jock Barry used an Indonesian passport at age 20 to go to Pakistan, he's ineligible to be POTUS as per Article II of the United States Constitution, he's MOOT, let's talk about the differences in policy between Hillary and McCain. I don't doubt Hillary is a true American, nor McCain, though their approaches may differ. NO AMERICAN in their right mind trusts Barry the liar.

I do not support Russia or Georgia. Why do we have to take a side?

Has anybody been able to figure out why Jake thought these two paragraphs were saying anything different?

Actions not words would be great but thanks to the GOP we have no money and no military. Our only option right now is to go nuclear. I'm sure Rush Limbaugh thinks this would be a good idea.

NATO counterbalanced the militay
might of the Warsaw Pact nations.
The Soviet Union is no more. NATO
should be disbanded. It has no
reason to exist. That's the
Russian argument.

Far from dismantling itself, NATO
has been expanding by bringing in
former republics of the USSR as
its new members.

The proposed missile defense
system to be stationed in Poland
and the Czech Republic is
ostensibly to shoot down Iranian
missiles aimed at Europe. The
Russians say Iranian missile
threat to Europe is non-existent
either now or long into the
future if ever.

They have also proposed setting
up the missile defense system in
Azerbaijan or within Russia
itself. But the intrepid and
invincible duo of Bush and McCain
have not taken into account
Russian security concerns and
have been moving full steam
ahead with their expansionist
policies.

These are the real sources of
increasing tension with Russia.

cajapie

Yes, we have all heard the lies from the right-wing noise machine. You don't have to keep reminding us. We're talking about important things now.

McCain has no bone to pick with Russia nor scores to settle. Putin is a former USSR glorydays guy and has a far bigger agenda than Georgia's minor provocations. Also McCain and was never a citizen of Panama, whereas Barry may still BE a citizen of Indonesia (we know he was as an adult at age 20).

McCain: "Russia I demand you stop."
Putin: "Up yours."
McCain: "I mean it."
Putin: "I-R-A-Q Iraq"
McCain: "Well I guess it depends on
the situation on the ground."
Bush: "I looked into his eyes. He's
got a good soul. Jesus!"

Imagine if Alaska succeeded from our nation with the nudging of Russia. Then Russia started to send military equipment there. They sent them missiles, bombs, aircraft and military specialists. Not only that but now they went to Canada and persuaded them to build a missile shield. How would Americans react? How would our government respond? Well this is pretty much what we did in Georgia and Poland. I think the Russians have shown much more restraint then we would of. Russia can be our best allies or worst enemy. Under Bush they are becoming the latter.

There will always be war. It is what man does. Actions, not words, are the antidote to dispair.

Barak will rule cause Edwards showed him using Pelosi and Dean to peddle junk to the Dems , Baaah baaah bayyyden sheep. good judgement Dems whoo got cegars?

He never was a professor, a guest lecturer yes.

I wonder why you chose to insist that McCain as "war-mongery" and "aggressive" and chose to say that Obama is "diplomatic" and "statesman like". They both said the same thing in different ways:

Professor Obama is indecisive. He is too abstract and remote, like an academic theory guy. If he's president, he'll let U.S. get mugged by all our enemies.

Obama sure knows how to stay calm. Unlike crazy white haired dude who almost creamed his pants today.

Jane,
They already are laughing at us. Putin gave us the bird today. Thank George Bush for this awful situation we're in.

Obama is weak, confused, and unpatriotic. If McCain is president, the world may fear us, but if Obama is president the world will laugh at us.

Neocon....

Google "Obama's 68 lies" and then read the BESTSELLING books "Obama Nation" and "The Man behind the Mask". And then you will see that we are better off with ANY ONE but the empty suit known as Obama. Take off your shades so that you can see. Stop trying to be right just to be right. Put your country first.

I don't want to vote for McCain but I have to vote for the lesser of the two evils.

The talking points of Bush and McCain were identical today. Both talking trash to Russia, instead of trying to calm the situation, they continue to perpetuate a conflict.

Cowboy diplomacy at it's finest.

McCain=Bush

Right on!! Iraq Vet! You said it so well. It's true; If we are dumb enough to elect McBush again, we deserve the horrible economy, world opinion and everything else that comes with it!

It should remind Americans we are living in a complicated and dangerous world
______________________________________

Agree , the last thing it need is some JOURNEYMAN UNEDUCATED politician like McCain... who all this time in Congress ' Still can't claim anything meaningingful he has ever done.

Any new president is INEXPERIENCE; the term experience all relative , give me the one with the SMARTS and VISION.

John McCain is not educated to take the OVAL office, he thinks this is some ARMY OUTPOST.

Obama08

Did everyone miss Obama warned against this a year ago? Seriously people what is wrong with you.

America is the dumbest nation on earth. We deserve every bit of George Bush. Bush reflects our society to a T. McCain is the same.

Hillary is at least an American; now we're having to decipher if Obama still is a citizen of Indonesia (he was at age 20 using an Indonesian passport to go to Pakistan). McCain is unquestionably an American.

Russia is a great country. Russian people deserve respect and greatness. Obama's wording was the best. It is overkill. This is Russia's Grenada.

I like the Georgian leader but the fact is that the Georgians escalated this by attacking. What did they think the Russians would do. To kill terrorists they will tollerate dozens of own civilian deaths. They don't kid around.

Anna: Talk about radical associations; look at McBush. His radical right-wing affiliations are just as crazy. Or maybe the McValues McCheater who had a mistess (Cindy) should be pointed out. His warmongering needs to stop. Obama was the first to talk about a "timetable". Now Bush wants a "time-horizen", while McCain wants to keep us in Iraq indefinately. McCain is actually alot more warmongering now than Bush or Obama.

For all the (baseless) virtues spelled out about Obama, it's too bad he hates America and has nefarious anti-American friends everywhere now isn't it? Sure wish we could trust him but that just is not the case.

We do need a steady hand at the helm. Someone with all of their senses. McCain is too old and has a temper problem that could be lethal for the U.S. We need someone steady and Obama is that person. I'm afraid with McCain we'll launch a nuclear war. I don't want to see Seattle wiped out.

Russia's attacks are overtly disproportionate in response. They are the regional force to be reckoned with; there's no need to go in the way-overkill mode.

Angie,

I will take the likes of McCain over Obama's lack of experience, BLARING inability to speak properly and radical associations ANY DAY.

And guess what I've never voted republican in my life!

COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!

Dr. Condoleeza Rice is an EXPERT on the Russians, fluent in the language and culture. Compare this talented gifted African American to the Golden Idiot (Barry), especially in a crisis!!

I used to support Republican candidates but now I am seeing--with Bush and McCain that these people care nothing about our future or our childrens' futures. Of what benefit is it for us to provoke Russia further by following McCain's prescription? What do we gain? The friendship of that very remote and obscure (and unimportant) country--that is, Georgia--that McCain refers to, I suppose. I know both these countries well and I assure you that Russia and Russians are far more like Americans (and far more civilized and worthy of our diplomatic and economic ties) than Georgia--the home of Stalin. Today's Republicans (like many of the bloggers here) need to stop hiding their ignorance and bigotry behind a party line and start becoming more informed and secure about themselves so that some respect can be brought back to the party. Think of your own children for God's sake!

Bush and McCain are totally siding with Georgia, calling Russia the "attacker". Last time I checked, Georgian troops bombed the @$$3 out of S Ossetia Friday night, killing dozens of Russians and Ossetians. It wasn't until this happened that Russia sent in their own troops.

Someone close to McCain, I forgot who, said that another terrorist attack in the US would help McCain win the election. Bad choice of words, he got pushed off the bus. But it was a good point, as this crisis shows. It should remind Americans we are living in a complicated and dangerous world and we need an experienced, strong hand at the helm.