Tag: Republican

Did Petraeus Overplay His Hand?

Philip Carter thinks so… 

 

The Article: Petraeus Overplays His Hand (Via Intel Dump @ WaPo)

Except that in making this pitch, Petraeus and Crocker overplayed their hand. They overstated the threat posed by al-Qaeda in Iraq in an effort to justify the mission — a mindset that has generated a deeply flawed strategy. They also overplayed the surge’s success — downplaying or discounting factors that likely did more to create today’s improved security conditions. While their "Anaconda" strategy looks cool on a PowerPoint slide, it confuses the issues of control and influence, putting too much stock in America’s ability to engineer success in Iraq. And, perhaps most tellingly, the two men made the case for perseverance without placing Iraq in the context of vital U.S. national interests, offering only apocalyptic predictions of what would happen if we don’t stay the course.

Andrew Sullivan weighs in:

But that was their carefully prescribed task. I don’t fault them. They’re not responsible for overall strategy. At one point last year, I was worried that Petraeus was being used politically. I was wrong. He’s been a magnificent general, in a near-impossible situation. Ditto Crocker. Along with Patrick Fitzgerald, they strike me as among the most impressive public servants of our time.

 

Now that is a bit overstated, I think, Because I personally believe that General Patraeus is, in the Bush Administration’s eyes, a pawn. A Pawn in a Neo-Conservative chess game.

 

While I admire Patraeus for doing his job, I think he knows what he is doing. He’s keeping his head down, and doing his job, and when the President is out of office. He will write a book, that will basically indict his bosses. I could be wrong, but I think General Patraeus is holding his cards to his vest and will tell all, when it’s all over with.

 

Should be interesting indeed.

 

Others: Washington Post and SWJ Blog

Neo-Con Michael Goldfarb proves he's an Idiot….

Hey Goldiefarb!

Has it really been that long?

Goldfarb drops this turd….:

They Need More White people (via The Weekly Standard)

Quote:

The Tartan, Carnegie Mellon’s student newspaper, reports on a campaign event featuring Michelle Obama:

While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama’s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan’s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, “Get me more white people, we need more white people.” To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, “We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.”

“I didn’t know they would say, ‘We need a white person here,’ ” said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. “I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn’t know it would be so outright.”

The Obama campaign discriminates against people of color, and their own supporters no less, in what is presumably a misguided pander to white voters. Very strange, but perhaps Obama’s candidacy really has transcended race in America (surely this is a first). Alternatively, the campaign may just plan to stage-manage it out of public view. Go balloons!

Has this feckless idiot forgotten, this?:

stagecraft

Typical moron Neo-Con, Can’t remember past yesterday.

Others: TBogg and The New Editor and more via Memeornadum

Sen. Jay Rockefeller Endorses Obama, Insults McCain and then says He's Sorry…

Oy….

Go Read.

Why can’t people just endorse the guy, and keep their opinions to themselves?

Rolling Eyes

Once again, Huffington Post recycles old McCain News….

Contrary to what the Liberals want you to believe, The story of McCain going to blows with another senator is old news, that has been reported a few times already.

Quote:

Perhaps the most remarkable story of McCain’s temper involved Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi. Two former reporters covering McCain, one who witnessed the following events and one who confirmed the facts provided by the first, relayed it to me as follows: In 2006, the Arizona Republican congressional delegation had a strategy meeting. McCain repeatedly addressed two new members, congressmen Trent Franks and Rick Renzi, as ‘boy.’ Finally, Renzi, a former college linebacker, rose from his chair and said to McCain, "You call me that one more time and I’ll kick your old ass." McCain lunged at Renzi, punches were thrown, and the two had to be physically separated. After they went to their separate offices, McCain called Renzi and demanded an apology. Renzi refused. Apparently this posture made McCain admire him, as they became fast friends.

Seriously, do these people do any kind of research at all??? This story is older than dirt.

Research gents, It could only help!

Other idiots who Blogged about this: The Politico, New York Times, Crooks and Liars, MotherJones.com, Booman Tribune, The Campaign Spot, The Raw Story, DownWithTyranny!, Brilliant at Breakfast, Cliff Schecter …, Open Left and Wonkette

A good Book:

 

Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points Memo…

I know what you’re thinking, "Why are you doing this?" Why? Because I’m fair. I believe that both sides of the conversation ought be heard. Not just one side. and besides. Fox News is now doing embeds on their video. It’s about time guys!

Anyhow, here’s Talking Points Memo from 4/4, they need to update, yeesh!

 

White House does John Conlee?

Seems so…

Via Think Progress:

During today’s White House press briefing, deputy spokesman Tony Fratto admitted that the White House has, at least up until recently, been looking at Iraq through “rose-colored glasses.” Responding to a question about the rising violence in Iraq, Fratto said, “I think we have thrown out all of the rose-colored glasses in how we look at Iraq and try to look at it through clear lenses as to what is going on in the country.” Fratto later added: “Like I said, we threw out the rose-colored glasses. I think we have a clear-eyed view of what’s happening in Baghdad.”

Think Progress has the video.

Cue John Conlee:

 

But then again, hasn’t George W. Bush’s Presidency been served by looking through those glasses? 

Others: Salon and The Carpetbagger Report

I'm no McCain fan, But I don't even believe this one….

A classic example of recycle the rumor….

Via Raw Story:

Three reporters from Arizona, on the condition of anonymity, also let me in on another incident involving McCain’s intemperateness. In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain’s hair and said, "You’re getting a little thin up there." McCain’s face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain’s excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days.

The problem is, not a bit of it is true…. McRanger over at Macsmind weighs in:

The only problem is that the story is false. This tale first floated up around the 2000 election primary cycle but was quickly knocked down by Cindy herself in an interview in 1999. Further this article – while counting the ups and downs of McCain’s political career and marrage to Cindy makes no mention of the event.

You would think if true this story would have been old news by now. It’s doubtful Cliff Schecter got this from anything except the top of his head.

You know, I don’t agree with McRanger much, we’re not on the same page Politically, as I’m more right of center and he is, of course, a Republican. But I have to agree with with ol’ Mac here man, this story is quite hard to believe.

I tend to believe personally,  and I base this upon looking at photographs of Cindy McCain, I tend to believe that if John McCain would have gotten knocked flat of his back, had he said that to her.

I think sometimes, in the haste of trying to find dirt of the opponent, the Liberals and some Conservatives, jump the gun on a story, to smear someone.

Fact checking Gentlemen! Look into it! Rolling Eyes

Listing of stupid Bloggers who bought this stupid story: Jesus’ General, Firedoglake, Taylor Marsh, Emptywheel, MyDD, Pandagon, Air America Radio blogs, American Street, Blue Girl, Red State, Wonkette, AMERICAblog, Cliff Schecter …, The Impolitic, Crooks and Liars, The Republic of T., Pam’s House Blend, Shakesville and The Agonist

Cross-Posted @ The Christian Nationalist

 

Living proof that our Government is staffed blatant idiots….

I saw this and I thought, "Has common sense went totally out the window?"

The Article: For the Record: Seriously, What is the FBI Doing? (via Investigative Project on Terrorism)

Quote:

In February, we exposed the latest FBI (and CIA) outrage, advertising for recruits in a pro-terrorist, anti-American magazine, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) – (see: Looking Under a Rock: FBI and CIA Hit New Low in Recruitment Drive). Both of our top national security agencies had placed online advertisements on the webpage of a magazine that included a hagiography to a terrorist the FBI had worked almost a decade to investigate and prosecute, Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative Sami Al-Arian.

Just over a month later, it is clear that the FBI has learned nothing. The agency is advertising for recruits in the Arab American News, another publication with a long history of support for terrorism, terrorists and terrorist organizations. The current edition has an editorial titled, "Let our people go!," under an ad banner recruiting for the FBI (which also appears on the home page of the website), about accused Iraqi spy Muthanna al-Hanooti, which states:

Arab American political activist Muthanna al-Hanooti was arrested and jailed this week by federal officials upon arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport returning from a trip to the Middle East. The following day he was charged with two counts of conspiracy and three counts of lying to the FBI about working for agents with the Iraqi Intelligence Service under Saddam Hussein. (emphasis added)

Screen shot of said website:

62_large

 

I mean, really gentleman, can we be anymore stupid than this? Advertising on a pro-terrorist website??!?! Somebody dropped a huge ball here, somewhere along the line.

That’s our wonderful government, being ran incompetent ogres, who base their terror warnings on "Gut Feelings".  

…..and we PAY these people??!?!

Others: The Jawa Report and Little Green Footballs