Obama speaks out on Bush 'appeasement' charge; Updated for McCain reponse

[Wretched Excess]

first of all this is politically stupid.  he is going to wind up looking like he is not just defending
negotiations with the likes of hamas, but defending hamas itself.  that's t just the nature of
argumentation;  the ground shifts ever so gradually, and the next thing you know, you are
defending a completely different position than the one you started off defending.

he should just let this one go.  the republicans are going to eat his lunch on this issue.

but also, I think we are seeing a fairly serious character flaw in Baroque Obama;  he just can't
stand being wrong, and he can't ever seem to admit it.  this whole thing started off as an
incorrect answer at a debate, and he has turned it into a policy instead of just admitting that
he misspoke the next morning.

not being able to admit that you are wrong isn't an unusual defect in a guy that has always held
positions of very minor authority over extremely subordinate crowds.  law professor, community
organizer, big man on college campus . . .  having that sort of background really could turn you
into a psychological mess, and then compound that with the messiah craze, and I really do think
that what you get out of this process in the long term is a fairly bizarre person with defective
judgment.

Obama to speak out on Bush 'appeasement' charge

The blowup over President Bush's remarks to Israel's parliament equating talks with rogue regimes to appeasement will be front and center another day.

Barack Obama, who saw himself as the target of Bush's criticism, is expected to directly rebut the president later today at a campaign event in South Dakota.

His top foreign policy adviser, Susan Rice, said this morning on MSNBC that Obama will deliver a "very vigorous response to what was an outrageous, unprecedented, and divisive attack from President Bush yesterday which was patently dishonest."

She argued that Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, have talked to renegade countries. And she said Obama has made "absolutely clear" he will not deal with terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

While the White House officially denied the remarks were aimed at Obama, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain used the opportunity to argue again that Obama's willingness to negotiate shows he is naive and inexperienced in the ways of foreign policy.

But in an opinion piece published today in The Washington Post, former Clinton State Department official James Rubin accused McCain of hypocrisy and attempting to smear Obama.

McCain has attempted to link Obama to Hamas, which the State Department calls a terrorist group, citing a Hamas political adviser's comments praising Obama's foreign policy.

But Rubin said when he interviewed McCain two years ago for a British TV network, McCain suggested the United States should be willing to talk to Hamas officials in Gaza.

"They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so ... But it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that," McCain said, according to Rubin.

The McCain campaign today issued this response: “There should be no confusion, John McCain has always believed that serious engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally -– renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two state solution. John McCain’s position is clear and has always been clear, the President of the United States should not unconditionally meet with leaders of Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah. Barack Obama has made his position equally clear, and has pledged to meet unconditionally with Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leaders of other rogue regimes, which shows incredibly dangerous and weak judgment,” Tucker Bounds, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement.

Link

[DixieBelle]

I hope Dana Perino makes another snarky comment about Oooobama's over-inflated sense of self. I LOVED her remark.

[Wretched Excess]

I hope Dana Perino makes another snarky comment about Oooobama's over-inflated sense of self. I LOVED her remark.

you know, during the meltdown on PMSNBC this morning, they never mentioned the body slam that the dana put on Baroque.

that was the most shrill, hopelessly vicious, biased, and embarrassing 20 minutes of television that I have ever seen, and that
really is saying something.  mika was alternately faking shock and outrage, and even tossed in a melodramatic "HA!" when
someone suggested that W could have been referring to jimmy carter.  "WHO ELSE could bush have been referring to?", she
kept asking.  that, of course, is an irrelevant and useless question.  you could answer that one all day, and you still wouldn't be
any closer to the actual point.  and their washington correspondent, I forget his name, said (no, he shouted) that (I am
paraphrasing slightly;  I was getting ready for work during this meltdown)  "historians agree that this was the dumbest thing
ever said by a president".  I have no idea how he got every living historian together for a vote since yesterday, but that is the
essence of what the man was screaming.  and then they interviewed (no, they allowed an extended attack speech by) braintumor biden, who was frothing at the mouth. 

all in all, I hope the whitehouse keeps pressing this issue.  this clearly unhinges the democrats.

[DixieBelle]

They have struck a nerve. Any time the opposition reacts the way they did, you know they are full of sh*t and are looking for a way to smear the other side.

[Splashdown]

Lol.

Barack is like that guy in the Carly Simon song

"You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you."

[Wretched Excess]

They have struck a nerve. Any time the opposition reacts the way they did, you know they are full of sh*t and are looking for a way to smear the other side.

I hope they let Baroque Obama go on a 45 minute long, convoluted, and typically empty ObamistRant about this that he then attempts to turn into an hysterical attack on the administration, and then have dana issue an eight word response;

"dude, relax.  he was talking about jimmy carter"

[john c calhoun]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

[Wretched Excess]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

[DixieBelle]

We need that graphic with Ooobama that says, saying his presidency will be Carter's second term.

[Wretched Excess]

We need that graphic with Ooobama that says, saying his presidency will be Carter's second term.

I live to serve

[john c calhoun]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

[Wretched Excess]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

[Hawkgirl]

OMG....he's going on and on..reading from a script so he doesn't screw up. .....what a fragile ego... We must continue to expose this weakness...

[Hawkgirl]

Of course he also stated something along the lines that "Bush and McCain" think that certain democrats are appeasers...

First of all DUHHHHHHHHHHHH...second, McCain wasn't even at the event..try again

[TheSarge]

And the hell of it is that the remarks weren't directly made at or to Barakstar!

Feeling a little guilty there Barry?

I think so.

[Wretched Excess]

OMG....he's going on and on..reading from a script so he doesn't screw up. .....what a fragile ego... We must continue to expose this weakness...

you are watching, I assume?  heh.  please, tell us all about it.

[john c calhoun]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

if GWB is aliability at this point, his role as a LEADER would be to do what is best for Mccain & america...

right now, that is to either become a ghost, or become a conservative....

you still disagree w/ my theory?

[Wretched Excess]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

if GWB is aliability at this point, his role as a LEADER would be to do what is best for Mccain & america...

right now, that is to either become a ghost, or become a conservative....

you still disagree w/ my theory?

I'm not sure he's a liability.  I am sure that, for whatever reason, he chooses not to vigorously defend his eminently defensible position on the war.  and, I also know that congress' approval numbers are even lower than W's.  in that environment, I say he should speak out as much as he wants to.

I do agree with your point that, politically speaking, stepping on mccain's message should be avoided.  but (a) it isn't the
general election yet, and (b) at the moment, at least, that isn't happening.  mccains hamas comment and bush's appeasement
comment are actually reinforcing each other.

[Hawkgirl]

OMG....he's going on and on..reading from a script so he doesn't screw up. .....what a fragile ego... We must continue to expose this weakness...

you are watching, I assume?  heh.  please, tell us all about it.

A bunch of chest-thumping...literally...his closing line was ..." I just had to get this off my chest".  He basically parrotted the Biden remarks.  Now he's doing a Q & A with his sheeple.

[john c calhoun]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

if GWB is aliability at this point, his role as a LEADER would be to do what is best for Mccain & america...

right now, that is to either become a ghost, or become a conservative....

you still disagree w/ my theory?

I'm not sure he's a liability.  I am sure that, for whatever reason, he chooses not to vigorously defend his eminently defensible position on the war.  and, I also know that congress' approval numbers are even lower than W's.  in that environment, I say he should speak out as much as he wants to.

I do agree with your point that, politically speaking, stepping on mccain's message should be avoided.  but (a) it isn't the
general election yet, and (b) at the moment, at least, that isn't happening.  mccains hamas comment and bush's appeasement
comment are actually reinforcing each other.

good point...

but as the election grows near, independents/swing voters need to FORGET about Iraq ....(no offense to our boys over there)

and GWB is a one trick pony ... "iraq" ....

his help is not needed &  the more mccain distances himself from GWB, the better chance he has winning the general election....

between obama & hillarys battle & GWB's punches, when will Mccain get airtime ??

mccain was VERY STRONG when he got all that airtime back in 2000'......remember ?

[Wretched Excess]

OMG....he's going on and on..reading from a script so he doesn't screw up. .....what a fragile ego... We must continue to expose this weakness...

you are watching, I assume?  heh.  please, tell us all about it.

A bunch of chest-thumping...literally...his closing line was ..." I just had to get this off my chest".  He basically parrotted the Biden remarks.  Now he's doing a Q & A with his sheeple.

I am sure his chest was burdened.

[Wretched Excess]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

if GWB is aliability at this point, his role as a LEADER would be to do what is best for Mccain & america...

right now, that is to either become a ghost, or become a conservative....

you still disagree w/ my theory?

I'm not sure he's a liability.  I am sure that, for whatever reason, he chooses not to vigorously defend his eminently defensible position on the war.  and, I also know that congress' approval numbers are even lower than W's.  in that environment, I say he should speak out as much as he wants to.

I do agree with your point that, politically speaking, stepping on mccain's message should be avoided.  but (a) it isn't the
general election yet, and (b) at the moment, at least, that isn't happening.  mccains hamas comment and bush's appeasement
comment are actually reinforcing each other.

good point...

but as the election grows near, independents/swing voters need to FORGET about Iraq ....(no offense to our boys over there)

and GWB is a one trick pony ... "iraq" ....

his help is not needed &  the more mccain distances himself from GWB, the better chance he has winning the general election....

between obama & hillarys battle & GWB's punches, when will Mccain get airtime ??

mccain was VERY STRONG when he got all that airtime back in 2000'......remember ?

there is NO WAY that iraq will be forgotten in the general election campaign, so we may as well fight back.  and W was elected as a "domestic issues" president who's presidency got hijacked by 9/11. 

[Chris_]

GWB needs to just stay out of this election at this point... (ie: easy for the media/left to paint Mccain as a 3rd term for Bush )

the only thing he can do now, is hurt john mccain (obviously GWB's goal)

 

I get your point, that a guy with a 33% approval rating probably ought to keep a low profile.  but the dems and obama can't say "mccain" with saying "bush" right behind it, so, hell, if they are going to drag him into it anyway, he may as well bloody some noses while he's there.

sometimes its best not to fight....this is one of those times... a true leader would know that....

the media/lefts goal is to keep GWB in the headlines...

what this does is keep Mccain OUT of the headlines ...

GWB needs to become a ghost...

oh, I don't know.  bush and mccain scored a hell of a one-two combo with the hamas thing, followed up with the
"appeasment" thing (that I still think was aimed at jimmy carter).

and lets just say that while I understand your point, I disagree with your theory on leadership.

if GWB is aliability at this point, his role as a LEADER would be to do what is best for Mccain & america...

right now, that is to either become a ghost, or become a conservative....

you still disagree w/ my theory?

I'm not sure he's a liability.  I am sure that, for whatever reason, he chooses not to vigorously defend his eminently defensible position on the war.  and, I also know that congress' approval numbers are even lower than W's.  in that environment, I say he should speak out as much as he wants to.

I do agree with your point that, politically speaking, stepping on mccain's message should be avoided.  but (a) it isn't the
general election yet, and (b) at the moment, at least, that isn't happening.  mccains hamas comment and bush's appeasement
comment are actually reinforcing each other.

good point...

but as the election grows near, independents/swing voters need to FORGET about Iraq ....(no offense to our boys over there)

and GWB is a one trick pony ... "iraq" ....

his help is not needed &  the more mccain distances himself from GWB, the better chance he has winning the general election....

between obama & hillarys battle & GWB's punches, when will Mccain get airtime ??

mccain was VERY STRONG when he got all that airtime back in 2000'......remember ?

there is NO WAY that iraq will be forgotten in the general election campaign, so we may as well fight back.  and W was elected as a "domestic issues" president who's presidency got hijacked by 9/11. 

The dims would rather focus on Iraq than what the dim led congress has done to our economy since they took the majority.  Hey Bella Pelosi...how 'bout that first 100 days?  How'd that work out for ya?
 

[DixieBelle]

Shields up! Deflect! Deflect!!!!

[Wretched Excess]

OMG....he's going on and on..reading from a script so he doesn't screw up. .....what a fragile ego... We must continue to expose this weakness...

you are watching, I assume?  heh.  please, tell us all about it.

A bunch of chest-thumping...literally...his closing line was ..." I just had to get this off my chest".  He basically parrotted the Biden remarks.  Now he's doing a Q & A with his sheeple.

he should probably go easy on the chest thumping, considering the fact that he almost got his a$$ kicked by a girl.