McCain Voices "Guarded Optimism" on Iraq...

McCain Voices "Guarded Optimism" on Iraq but says hurdles are high

Republican presidential contender John McCain said yesterday he was "guardedly optimistic" about the ability of Iraqis to make political, economic, and social progress, thanks to what he described as the "fundamental of a secure environment" brought about by the US troop increase he championed.

[...]

McCain, who met with Iraqi political leaders in Baghdad over Thanksgiving, cited indicators of both success (the return of refugees, a 5K run in Ramadi) and failure (the persistence of suicide bombers, physical threats to Iraqi judges) in building the nation's civil society amid the mission that he boasted was once called the "McCain surge" by critics.

Yet the hurdles to assembling a strong government, McCain suggested, were high, from sectarian squabbling he had personally witnessed among the country's leaders and the "byzantine" lawmaking structure.

"They've got something like 41 ministers in their government," McCain said. "Who designed that? They ought to take that guy out and shoot him."

The Arizona senator said the best-case political scenario for Iraq would be a "loose confederation . . . with a very bumbling, not terribly effective central government with a lot of the autonomy being exercised but Iraq not breaking up into three different countries." To get there, he said, would require a continued US military presence in an advisory role as responsibility is transferred to Iraqi authorities.

[...]

"Some say open, formal talks; others say don't talk to them at all," he said. "I think this business of how you communicate is the most overrated aspect of diplomacy, because you can always communicate."

On that subject and others, McCain frequently turned to history, particularly Vietnam, where he was held as a prisoner of war. For example, in this case, he suggested that it was not laborious peace negotiations in Paris - where delegations bickered over the shape of the table - but military realities that ended American involvement in Southeast Asia.

Im having trouble liking any of these candidates - and now im beginning to wonder if ANY of them are serious in any way. "The buisness of how you communicate is the most overrated aspect of diplomacy"?? are you JOKING? is he stupid? what is deplomacy without communication? History is something to LEARN from not - Not REPEAT.
he has to grow up. hes got to get over his POW status and stop looking for sympathy on that issue. Every time you see him on TV or in the news "...well i was prisoner of war in 'Nam. So i know what I'm saying!"

Yours Truly ~~
()_BOB_)~~*

Foes Protest 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

This is a longer post - reguarding multiple stories all interconnected - leading to one very immature Duncan Hunter - and a near case of the freedom of speech being (once again)
restricted. (averted only by accident)

Foes Take on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Clinton Adviser was on air at GOP Debate

Hunter Waters the Plant (Letter) (Note that some of the stories are multiple pages)

Twelve thousand miniature flags are fluttering on the National Mall through today (Dec 2) to represent the men and women discharged from the military since Bill Clinton in 1993 signed off on the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise -- a policy that requires gays and lesbians conceal their sexual orientation or leave the military.

The flags, placed by volunteers, cover six football fields of space in view of the Capitol building and the Washington monument. [[Foes Take On 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell']]

Why is this important? Well - this comes not a moment after the fourteenth aniversary of Clintons "Dont Ask, Dont Tell" Policy and after comments on the CNN/YouTube debate
where....

[...]GOP hopefuls widely agreed to leave the policy in place. The debate [...] hit another dramatic high point when retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr asked a video question from his perspective as a now openly gay man who had completed 43 years of military service.

"I want to know why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians," Kerr asked in the video shot at his home in Santa Rosa, Calif.

In response, Republican candidates Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Duncan Hunter all agreed they supported the current policy. [[Clinton Adviser was on air at GOP Debate]]

Later, after the debate, Hunter had penned a short response to Clinton, with whom Kerr had been an outspoken supporter of Hillary Clinton (and consequentially, should not have made his appearance in the debate to ask (in our presidents words) a "Loaded Question")

November 29, 2007

Dear Senator Clinton,

Regarding the "plant", retired Brig. Gen. Keith H. Kerr, that you sent to ask me the question at the CNN-YouTube debate last night in Florida …

Send more!!!

Merry Christmas,
Duncan Hunter [[Hunter Waters The Plant]]

I think that even IF Kerr was a political supporter of Clinton that he shouldnt have cause controversy at the Debate - People have a right to ask questions and hes lucky it was a video question - cause otherwise...well, let us not forget the incident of "Don't Tase Me Bro!"
People should be able to ask politicians questions and Hunter is acting like a small child
just egging on Clinton with his letter.

Its immature and hes not acting like the professional he should be.

Yours Truly ~~
()_BOB_)~~*

Huckabee Courts Evangelical Vote in Iowa

Huckabee Courts Evangelical Vote in Iowa

Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist minister, announced the names Tuesday in Iowa of more than 60 pastors endorsing his presidential bid, including Tim LaHaye, best-selling author of the Christian apocalyptic "Left Behind" series; LaHaye's wife, Beverly LaHaye, founder of Concerned Women for America; and Chuck Hurley, an influential Iowa conservative.

The announcement was the payoff of months of work by Huckabee staffer Matt Reisetter, 32, whose job it is to get Christian evangelicals in Iowa excited about Huckabee's bid for the GOP nomination.

"There's been a lot of evangelicals who really like the governor since the first time they were exposed to him," Reisetter said, " but there's a lot of pragmatists among the evangelical ranks — they want to support a winner."

Reisetter said now that Huckabee is surging in the polls — locked in a statistical dead heat with longtime Iowa front-runner former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — evangelicals feel more comfortable backing him.

"They see he's a winner and he aligns with them on issues that matter the most," Reisetter said.

Huckabee addressed a group of 300 pastors in Iowa Monday attending a religious conference and received more than three standing ovations.

[...]

Huckabee's consistent anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage stance is a plus for many Christian evangelicals in Iowa. An estimated 40 percent of likely GOP caucus voters in Iowa consider themselves born-again Christians or Christian evangelical.

"He's pro-life, he's pro-God, pro-family and I think that's striking a chord with evangelical Christians here," said Kevin Lee, pastor of a 3,000-member congregation in Sioux City, Iowa.

Where to begin on this train-wreck of a person...
To make it clear: Religion and Politics DO NOT mix.
it creates a doorway to monarchy with "god-given right to rule"
(and BELIEVE ME. its well on its way to getting there with king bush
talking about how "God said to me, Georgie, you go down there and
free them Iraqians") it creates a doorway with someone thinking
that anyone who doesnt follow the governments religion is wrong
at all times. Huckabee shot himself in the foot when he said:
"God is not spelled G-O-P, and if the G-O-P ever
leaves G-O-D then the G-O-P will lose m-e,"
which translates into: We follow god - not the people.
If the people ever gain control - im out of here.

Yours Truly ~~
()_BOB_)~~*