Political Punch

Just the facts please! Wow! They have obviously stopped teaching logic in our schools. There are only about five intelligent responses in this entire thread. What happened to the time when adults could argue the issues without resorting to name calling - debate the issues - not each others' politics.

I am not an Obama supporter in fact embracing the fact that he is just another calculating politician. However his thoughts on the subject are fine from my perspective except for the fact that his inability to realize that there are just plain bad regimes out there that will never like the US. He thought Kerry would be able to better negotiate with those bums and now he thinks he will be able to. I disagree that his supporters understand that there is little difference between Bush and at that time Kerry based on what they practically can really accomplish. Everybody thought that Reagan was able to strong arm the Russia into behaving, but look now how wrong that really was. The Russian government is exactly the same bunch of thugs, just a lot richer and even more determined to kick America off of their top spot. It is one big war with many, many little battles. Russia lost a few of those battles, but they are still in the hunt. Peace is impossible and until both parties in this country accept that we will continue to see a divided America which long-term will bring us down.

This only demonstrates that Barack Obama has the intelligence to make decisions based on facts and has the courage to change course if necessary. He is no Yosemite Sam like John McThang.

Much has changed in the 4 years since this interview. Iraq now has a government of some sort in place and they have some measure of law enforcement and armed forces in place. It has been proven that Bush, Cheney, et al, manufactured evidence and for all practical purposes lied us into this war. We won't even address the amount of money made by private corporations due to their no-bid contracts. So, the climate in the US political game is VERY different for Obama in 2008 than it was for Kerry in 2004.

However, I think it shows the absolute lack of class, honor and integrity that this was aired on Nightline during the Democratic Convention, the night before Obama accepts the party's nomination, and on the night of the nomination McCain's camp is launching their newest barrage of attack ads supposedly "nothing like this has been done before".

Obama has consistently said we should be as responsible getting out of Iraq as we were irresponsible getting in. No significant change from 2004 to 2008.

What in Sen. Obama's record should lead anyone to believe his "narrative" that he is a "post-partisan unifier"? What in Sen. Obama's record should lead anyone to believe that he will govern as anything other than a hard-left, partisan liberal?

The Obamperor has no clothes!

Interesting interview.

I think it's important to note that Al Qaeda and America's enemies were plotting 9/11 attacks while Bill Clinton - a Democrat - was in office. Other American interests were also attacked while Clinton was President. And Bill Clinton was excellent at foreign relations and multi-lateralism. He did not have the "disdain for world opinion", as Obama puts it, that Bush supposedly has.

And yet America was attacked anyway.

There are nations in this world that will always hate America, no matter who is President. And there will always be European nations who don't want to get their hands dirty when confronted with a crisis, no matter who is President. The "unilateralism" that many Democrats dislike is sometimes necessary, because other nations simply won't step up.

You don't protect American interests by giving anti-American nations a hug and by making sure the Europeans like you. You protect American interests by actually protecting them - and yeah, that sometimes means fighting evil by yourself. Because the only nation that will ever really look out for America is America.

I'm Canadian. I wish I had a country that worried more about its citizens than it did about what the rest of the world thinks. A lot of the rest of the world has its collective head up its rear-end.

Tre, Not the race card!

It's about policy differences. Are you glad Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Justice? I am! Would you vote for Shelby Steele (A black author,if he ran) I WOULD!

So let's stop with the racism and believe what Martin Luther King believed, It's the content of a man's character that counts not his skin color!

And Obama was found lacking.

"Fast-forward to the 2007-2008 Democratic primary seasons, when Obama said he'd withdraw American forces with sixteen months regardless of whether Iraq was stable."

because in 2004 there was NO iraq government - and in 2007 there was - and now it's THEIR responsibility. And he NEVER said that he'd leave regardless of the facts on the ground, he said JUST the opposite - though the 16 month time table was offered to put a fire under malaki's butt...

you don't get that?

O' pleease Tre!

"You do realize that he sounded like an utter buffoon when talking about Georgia..."

Translation: I'm a Neo-Con wack job itching for a fresh war!

Obama sounded like a seasoned statesman when talking about Georgia - urging retraint from both sides and then increasing the pressure on Russia as the events unfolded. McCain - without knowing the full story, went right to belligerent - declaring - without the means to back it up, that we're all Georgians today - an outright lie... - the buffon is the one staring back at you in the mirror.

as to the Koppel interview - Obama proved himself precient and wise - of course we couldn't just leave in 2004, and he was right - he always said that we have to leave carefully with repsect to the facts on the ground. he offered up the timetable as an incentive to push the iraqis towards self government - in 2004 there was NO iraqi government. Anyone who claims that handing iraq to the maliki government is a defeat, is just offering lip service to the notion of Democracy...

obama's a career politician and a hypocrite, which makes him a typical politician.....his speaking ability is the only difference between a common politician, and a Presidential candidate..

Sen. Barack Obama used the exact same tired analogy of "someone drove the bus into the ditch" to explain the mistakes going into Iraq in the debate in Philadelphia with Sen. Hillary Clinton. Man, these politicians sure have their "speak" and "talking points" down cold dont they! And I was stupid & naive enough to think that he just thought that up in Philly! Typical empty-suit politician, spewing the party line. Only this time, with Roman columns and Steve Wonder to back him up. McCain 2008/Hillary 2012!!!

The Obama supporters here aren't getting the point. In 2004, Obama was opposed to withdrawing until Iraq was stabilized. That was a good position for him to take. Fast-forward to the 2007-2008 Democratic primary seasons, when Obama said he'd withdraw American forces with sixteen months regardless of whether Iraq was stable.

What's his position now? It's anyone's guess. This interview is bad for Obama because it shows that he adopted a new position in the Democratic primaries just to win the nomination.

Uh oh, he's just another politician. Let the games begin.

"We can't cut and run".

But we sure as hell SHOULD BRING OUR TROOPS HOME BY NOW!

Americans SHOULD NOT have been in Iraq in the first place.

If the wild bush-MCaint put Americans are in a hole, STOP DIGGING!

I don't think this interview reveals anything we didn't already know.

Obama opposed the war, but was sort of toeing the Powell maxim, "if you break it, you own it" line.

The Iraqi government is asking for a timeline. Obama is going to give it to them.

In my view, this interview demonstrates the thoughtfulness that will make Obama a great President.

Obama is very clear in his thinking,articulate and practical.He accepts reality and would rather look to the future than what has happened in the past.It is clearly evident from the interview he has the intellectual ability to look at the larger picture of any issue and look for lasting solutions and not short cut fix.He is very careful in weighing long term consequences of any issue and advocates an approach that is best suited even when the situation is like in Iraq is a quagmire.It takes guts to voice a bold strategy in Iraq when the country was divided between extreme opposite strategies.Now after nealy four years the parties concerned including the Bush administration and the Iraqi government agree to do what he proposed then while more lives have been lost and billions spent and more goodwill squandered.McCain stands alone waging his own war,but can you blame him,that is all he knows:he shouted for war aginst Iraq 3 months after 9/11,a colossal and costly mistake that has diverted the center of war against terrorism which should have been won several years ago.He is still belligerant shouting for more war against more countries.The mark of civilization is moving away from combat to meanigful dialogue.In the stone age disputes were decided by might.We have evolved from those days.Not McCain,he stands alone for he does not subscibe to evolution nor to practical reality.

Reading some of the anti-Obama comments on here reminds me that some of the most ignorant, bigoted human beings on the face of this planet live in America. They can lose their job, their house, their sons and daughters in Iraq, their health care because of Bush and McCain AND STILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA BECAUSE HE IS BLACK!

Obama's answer to every question is bla bla bla; he blabbers until you've forgotten what the actual question is. McCain will tear him to shreds in the debates.c

Danny: Wright, Ayers and Rezco....
Have you heard that "you are judged by the company you keep"? Guess that only applies the certain folks. Obama
allowed his children to attend this church. Did he make them wear earplugs?

I guess the republicans will have an ad now saying how Obama is really the Messiah for being so correct in predicting all this four years ahead? Boy, these people know how to make fun of the American people. You have to understand this: when they ran such ads, it's not about Obama-it's the people they're calling ignorant for believing in the guy. Well, I guess they're right because some will not see the wisdom in this conversation with Ted Koppel here. No wonder the president ask you all to go shopping after 9/11. They think we're a bunch of immature beings who cannot make good decisions and sacrifices. So they tell you to go shopping and they will take care of you.

I love it! The more he trips himself with that double edged tongue of his the more McCain goes up in the polls! lolol I will dance in the streets when Obama is defeated in November by John McCain. Obama is such a liar and hypocrite! I will be voting for John MCCain and campaigning very hard for him. I don't care what Hillary has said or what she chose to do with her delegates at the convention. The answer is still no. She has not done anything to sweeten the deal regarding Obama and his bossy big mouth wife and big mouth bully vice-president! They are done in November! I hope that they can't even get elected to dog catcher when we get done with them. Good riddance!

Obama Said:
"My assumption would be that if we could actually stabilize Iraq in such a way that you do not have warfare between the Sunnis the Shii’as and the Kurds, some semblance of law and order in that country, then I think that there is no doubt that the Kerry administration is going to be interested in bringing back the reservists and the National Guardsmen who are currently there, but --"

so i thought we have done that, that's why he is calling for a timetable and bush and malike are FOLLOWING him on that. What is so new here?

Hillary, anybody but
Obama, no matter what

Obama adapted another of Senator Kerry's lines...I voted against Fla. & Mich. votes counting, before I voted for them to count...

Obama has decided to allow Fla. & Mich. to vote after he has locked up the nomination & they have no one else to vote for....What a Guy!
What was that about Germany? Naw sounds more like Russia.

Senator McCain, Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry, Senator McGovern (retired) Senator Biden, Senator Edwards, SO THE CHANGE is a Senator will be president instead of a Harvard educated Governor! Like Washington insiders haven't pulled the ELECTION PUPPET'S strings again!

Senators Kennedy, Kerry, McGovern, Biden, are northeastern Ivy Leaguers (where did Edwards go to law school)who have in common their failed attempts at becoming president, also, they joined forces to support a junior senator, whose only claim to fame is his paternal ancestory, what do they have against Senator Clinton? Seems to me she at least earned HER stripes. Guess SHE is just not cut out to be a good ole BOY.

I have been a registered, voting Democrat since the early 60's but I am begining to question the value of our two party system that determines what candidates & issues the people can vote for---hey! sounds like Obama does fit in Washington!

Billy Bob, Florida where we can once again vote....for the MAN

So what's knew? Saint O talks out of both sides of his mouth every day. It must get tiring for him to do so. No drilling, well maybe drilling. No FISA, well FISA ok. Iran tiny threat, Iran grave threat. NAFTA no good, NAFTA ok. He is never wrong on an issue because he is on both sides of every issue.

slick,
There is no, flip-flop, or contradiction. This proves the opposite - that Obama has been consistent in his position and analysis from before the war, to 2004, to today. In 2002-3, he opposed the war b/c he said it might cost a lot in lives and dollars and last a long time, in 2004 he asserted that these consequences will in fact happen, and now he has been proved right.

A Hitler reference? Really?

Why do some people here think John McCain was a prisoner of Germany?

What's this supposed to prove? That Obama's a liar - like all poiticians? We already knew that! "who do we trust over the long term to direct our foreign policy in a way that meets international interests," Did he really say that!?! International interests - ahead of NATIONAL interests? Wow.

Goebbels - it was close enough.

Well, he did say that the Kerry and Bush policies would be indistinguishable from one another if Kerry won. Doesn't that mean anything when you are criticizing the policy of remaining in Iraq until stability is achieved?

You know I think being a prisoner makes John McCain a powerful leader -- look what it did for Germany.

"I don't think I've ever heard McCain speak about foreign policy in any pragmatic, realistic complexity in a global manner."

And what's more, not only has Obama the correct judgement. He has the ability to explain it to everybody who has the ability to rub more than two braincells together.

Kerry had the judgement too, but he was too civil in making his case in 2004.
Gore had the same judgement too in 2000, but people were jealous of his intelligence and were nitpicking every syllable he uttered to death.

Here's another example of the level of insight in national security and an understanding of how the world works.

On 9/11, then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was set to deliver a speech that focused “largely on missile defense.” Joe Cirincione — president of the Ploughshares Fund — recalls this quote from Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) on *Sept. 10, 2001*, warning against the Bush administration’s approach:

"We will have diverted all that money to address the least likely threat while the real threats come into this country in the hold of a ship, or *the belly of a plane*, or are smuggled into a city in the middle of the night in a vial in a backpack."

What more do you need to know?

The judgment we need indeed.

Obama/Biden '08!

J: "Obama gets the majority of "delegates" from Michigan even though his name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. Hmmm.. Is this even legal???"

This socalled Hillary-backer obviously hasn't listened to what Hillary told him/her. Hillary had released her delegates. That means, Hillary's delegates were not obliged to vote for her but were free to cast their vote for whomever they wanted.

You should listen to Hillary more carefully next time.

Damiano: Obama hit it out of the ballpark back then and he is saying the EXACT same thing in 2008:

(FYI, Obama is talking about those other nations who are acting out of their own self-interest, like France, Germany, China and Russia. Just as the US is acting in its own self-interest)

"the United States is not interested in our national interest, that they do not want to sit down at our table and how to figure out how this is good for us as well as the United States, they’re willing to make their own decisions,'" Obama said. "It is that pattern on the part of the Bush administration that I think has made it so difficult for us to craft the kind of strategies that we need in hot areas like the Middle East."

Obama is SPOT on. I'm looking forward to that interview.

Sally: "This will make great fodder for many ads against Obama."

You've obviously haven't read it.

This early interview just goes to prove, that even back then Obama had the cool headed judgment to lead and be commander and chief!!

What do have to say now McBush supporters???

Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't see a major difference in policy outlook from 4 years ago. Then Obama was stressing international resolve, rather than unilateralism. He said no cut and run a year after the war which is not inconsistent with a a systematic withdrawal plan. This shelved interview is apparently being recycled for the recycled assertion that Obama flip flops.

It's official. The Dems have blown 2008. They have nominated the wrong candidate(s). Obama and Biden are pathetic. Both stutterers. Don't you just love how the democratic process is subverted to allow the DNC to suspend the rules and nominate by "acclamation"?? What a joke. No legitimate nominees here. Obama gets the majority of "delegates" from Michigan even though his name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. Hmmm.. Is this even legal???

Hillary is the superior candidate, qualified and electable. Hillary is the true "one".

It's Hillary or McCain 08 and Hillary 2012.

Country first, party second.

That is our dear HOPEY.

Wait 2 months (or 4 years) and he will change his mind.

CHANGE you can believe in!

"this will not resonate with the BO voters...that
was then ...when the war was in its infancy...this is now."

proof that Democracy is wasted on Americans.

HOPEY / DASH '08

"I think that they recognize that we cannot afford to simply cut and run in Iraq, and that we are in a difficult situation right now. And I think that what they are hoping for is somebody who is going to bring a thoughtfulness and a base of experience to decision-making in the White House.."

cannot afford to cut and run, sounds familiar. somebody who is gong to bring..a base of experience.

Why wasn't this released a year ago? Seems the MSM not ready for a female president.

Ooohh, HA HA HA HA!!!
As Mark Penn said, 'release the tapes!!'

On Iraq, on equal pay for women:
"John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right." Senator Joe Biden

McCain was a war hero, and made some good faith efforts at being a bipartisan Senator. Ok.

That's not enough to be President.

McCain has plenty of bad close associations, including Keating, and especially George Bush, as well as the people running McCain's current campaign.

McCain represents a political party that often encourages the kind of disgusting attacks made in recent comments here.

Wright and Ayers and Rezko are not running for President, and Barack Obama NEVER endorsed their stupid ideas or actions.

America needs to move beyond this stupidity, just like it needs to move beyond the stupidity of a Republican Presidential candidate--McCain--who is too much of a panderer to even admit that condoms prevent AIDS.

Okay Biden now to blow your minds and I think we are in for a few unexpected 3AM surprises.

Bill Clinton says Obama "hit it out of the park" with his VP choice. Translation-Obama blew it -you know it, I know it.McCain in 2008 Hillary in 2012.

Guffus ...you make me laugh out loud.

Friends don't let friends vote or drive with John McCain.

Who ever wins this election '08, I hope someone publishes a book of some of these posts here and elsewhere to show future generations how Americans tried so hard to plead thier case for the candidate they wanted most to lead this country.

And someday Chelsea Clinton's kids will be reading this in a PBS interview.

Sadly, as has been seen, the "post racial' candidate is the one who has played the race card many times in this campaign for his benefit.

"They will try to make you afraid of me"

"because I don't look that the
presidents on our money"

He describes americans as "clinging to guns and religion, having antiphy toward those who are not like them"

"I don't want to rasie my daughter in a country like this"

His whole them is about the "evils" of america. His wife says "America is a down right mean county". She is finally proud now that her husband is running for president.

They can try to put on a good show at the DNC, but lets not kid ourselves, Obama's true ideals are known.

THE GOOD JUDGEMENT IS YOURS PEOPLE, WHO HAVE DECERNED WHO THIS GUY REALLY IS.....WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP OTHERS SEE THE TRUTH AS WELL. FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS VOTE OBAMA!

Poof !!!!

this will not resonate with the BO voters...that
was then ...when the war was in its infancy...this is now.

We do move forward according to the roll out of events. If we have half a brain.

Move along folks. Nothing to see here.

I wish Obama was president four years ago! His assessment of the situation in Iraq was spot on then, as it is now.

CHANGE AND JUDGEMENT

The radical racist Jerimiah Wright,Obama's spiriual advisor who "I can never disown".

Convicted fellon and Obama fund raiser, Rezko, "not the man I knew".

Radical 60's bomber Bill Ayres, who Obama calls "mainstream", " a good citizen"

IS THIS THE CHANGE HE WILL BRING? IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF THE 'JUDGEMENT' HE PROMISES?

TELL ME AGAIN, WHY SHOULD HE BE PRESIDENT?

Rejecting people based on their name comes from the most evil impulse in humanity, and is totally un-American.

The dem convention so far is very disjointed. I'm an independent and cannot figure out what the theme is. Was hoping for a little more so far. Must say I am a little skeptical of this set up tomorrow.

No way, no how, Nobama!

Why wasn't this brought to light before the dye was cast? You are almost as bad as the two lawyers who knew an innocent man was rotting in jail for over twenty years because they knew their client was the guilty one. What other items are hidden away?

After the fact everybody is an expert. USA involvement in the middle east is needed until we greatly diminish our insane oil dependency. End of story.
Keep AMERICA AMERICAN, since when is Obama like baseball - or apple pie - or Chevrolet? And by the way ... one of McCains's houses didn't have a bed, or a TV/radio, or a kitchen, or a table, not even a filthy chair ... were he lived for 5 1/2 years P.O.W. paving the way for the very freedom people take for granted.

McCain is such a pandering fool he couldn't even answer a reporter who asked him whether condoms prevent AIDS.

Someone like that shouldn't even be allowed to graduate high school, let alone be President of the US.

Blame America! vote Obama 08'

it is, after all a down right mean country...where people cling to guns and relgion.....

Three days into the DNC convention, and still we know nothing more of Obama. Except he is going to have Greek colisium background for his stadium speech.

What we do know is that he says what works to his benefit at time, as we see here. He is unknown and fickle, has radical and questionable close ties, and is untested and perhaps untrustworthy.

Sounds like Orezko is now on the same page as Bush and Kerry were.

And let's cut to '08:

Obama is doing the very things he condemned Kerry for.

He's trying to legislate defeat.

Obama bin Biden -- no thanks.

"Oh, I think that they understand that," Obama said. "I think that they recognize that we cannot afford to simply cut and run in Iraq, and that we are in a difficult situation right now. And I think that what they are hoping for is somebody who is going to bring a thoughtfulness and a base of experience to decision-making in the White House, which John Kerry possesses, and I think that George Bush does not."

Obama just made the case against electing him. Case closed.

Obama has whined for months that McCain lacks the judgment to be president because he voted for the Iraq war.

So what does Obama do -- he chooses a Vice President who voted the exact same way as McCain.

So much for Obama's supposedly "superior" judgment.

LOOOVE the way the O supporters are fawning over O's every word, even if he was wrong. You do realize that he sounded like an utter buffoon when talking about Georgia, and the ONLY reason he selected Biden was to fill in O's complete lack of foreign policy experience?

LOL!

26 years in senate is no substitute for good judgment.

Obama 08= judgment over experience.

A good leader is loved by everybody.

Obama 08

And... now Gulf War I is all America's fault!

Do you Blame America First'ers ever stop?

Iraq:
Let's look back and no forget.
When daddy BUSH went into Iraq,
The truth is that Saddam sent is Ambassador to talk to daddy Bush who happen to be playing Golf, and ask him what he felt about Iraq trying to unify it country by taking back Kuwait, the question was would the U.S. interfere.

Daddy Bush said "NO".

This was on CBS news.

This was no more than the prelude to invade to get that OIL.

I don't think I've ever heard McCain speak about foreign policy in any pragmatic, realistic complexity in a global manner.

He and his thinking are relics of a bygone era.

McCain is rather the empty suits. all he knows is to talk tough and no substance. This reminds me of high school kids that like to talk tough but cant fight.

do the rite thing...vote obama/biden 08
this is our time....

And seeing how Bush and Maliki just signed a withdrawal plan, I guess that makes them cut and runners too! Amazing! The Iraqi government is "cutting" for us and offering us running shoes!

I agreed with him then, I agree with him now. He was wrong about one thing only, caused by his tendency to always wanting to see the best in people: The Bush administration only moved in the direction of its critics to win an election. When that was done, they went right ahead with their disastrous foreign policy.

They are doing the same now. Will the American people be fooled again?

Obama did not and does not support "cut and run" which was made up by Republicans anyway.

What he said then is consistent with what he says now. We need a stabilization and a withdrawal based on conditions on the ground, but the goal is to get out.

Also, what he says about the mess we are in with regard to our foreign policy is absolutely true, and I think the leaders of the world have made it perfectly perfectly clear they think Obama would make a much better President than McCain.

Of course Republicans think we can tell the rest of the world to go he-- and just fight war after war to get our way, so they won't care about that.

Obama:
For
"We the People"

McCain:
For
"Lobbiest and Oil Tycoons"

McCain's Judgement on the Keaton 5, he said he did not understand or know about the SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDAL,
So either he got in something that he did not know about or he use very poor judgement to cost 1,000 to loose homes and Americans millions of tax dollars to bail out the Saving and loans.