i'd say he did fine, in that i can hardly imagine that any leading dem in congress is going to say "john mccain and mitt romney have proven by their words that they don't understand what is happening in iraq, they don't understand effective counter-terrorism measures, and they don't understand that hope is not a plan. Apparently, all they do understand is to do whatever george bush wants them to do."

i suspect that john edwards can say this though.

I think it's fine. I very much like the fact that he's actually explicitly pointing out how ludicrous McCain's walk in the park that is Baghdad was. Sorry for the tortured grammar.

They ALL need to do this, repeatedly, and right now, so that it starts sinking in to the think-headed and lazy national media.

Notice how so much of the discussion is on this Iraq vote or the DoJ scandals. Good misdirection on the part of the administration.

What I want to know is why no one is saying anything about the Executive order signed May 9th granting the Presidency (AKA GWB) the authority to take over control of ALL governmental and business activities in the US in the event of a vaguely described:

"Catastrophic Emergency" [which] means any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.

This is a frightening power grab in which, based on a presidentially declare emergency, all national functions can be taken over and controlled by the president with NO possibility of congressional oversight.

Here is the link to the White House website text of this Presidential degree labeled NSPD 51.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509- 12.html

Attack what they consider their strength, which is a total illusion.
Why should Rove be the only one doing that?

Look how well that worked after Katrina.
How do we know he won't let (or make, through proxies) another attack happen, just to grab these powers.
Bush desparately needs another dog to wag.

The link provided no longer works...

I like it. I like any counterattack that is this specific and direct, as in the reference to McCain, and the last line, which is a refutation of Bush's comments in yesterday's press conference. I would like to see that part of it sharpened up however - take Bush's exact words and tell how they are lies. One of the Dem candidates should be doing that every day. They can read TPM for hints!!!

Hey Greg - you got a link for this or has this been picked up in the press?

I see reporting on the McCain and Multiple Choice Mitt comments but nothing about Obama's.

Don't Tread on Me

I guess a week ago I'd have thought it was a pretty good statement. Now it really doesn't matter, because Obama's party has once again shown itself to be worst kind of politically inept chickenshits. With votes like the one on the Supplemental, "bold" statements like this only highlight the moral rot and strategic idiocy of Obama's colleagues.

I think we've just passed that point where any sitting senator can become president. Or should.

take out the space between the dash and the "12"

that space is what breaks the link

scary shee-ite

Decent job by Obama. The American public realizes how unsafe this war has made America - Democrats just need to keep pounding away at the point.  I agree with Kevin Drum when he says:

We should avoid focusing too heavily on the death toll as a reason for withdrawal from Iraq. Rather, our primary focus should be on why this is a bad war and why our national security would be improved by getting out. Not only is it the truth, but it's also a more persuasive argument.

All the Democratic candidates need to start explaining why we should get out from a national security perspective; why leaving will strengthen us, why staying makes us strategically weaker.  Americans already implicitly know that the war is damaging the nation's security, but Democrats keep focusing the death toll when they should be arguing that Iraq is a bad idea from a national security perspective.  The national security arguments are out there, but they lack of the kind of focus one needs to crack the Washington CW.

Again, Obama does a decent job here by attacking McCain's credibility, attaching Romney and McCain's names to Bush, and addressing the strategic advantage of ending the war.  I'd like to hear Hillary make an equally strong argument, as she has the intellectual chops to make a strong national security argument if she could just commit herself all the way to getting us out of Iraq.

NOt a bad job, Barack. It's all talk, still, but as talk goes I'd give it upwards of half a testicle on the ballmeter, which is more than the Democratic congress as a whole gets these days.

Attack! Attack! Attack!
This is how the right wing took control, and it's the only way they can be defeated. Obama is the only one so far to come close to standing up to this scum. Smart politics.

Stepanian

Senators Hillary and Obama chose to wait until the results were locked-in before casting their chickenshit "no" votes on the Iraq funding bill. Why are they both being given a "pass' on this fact, and why should anyone listen to anything they say re: Iraq?

you can't be mad at them for "how" they did the right thing.

if you want to criticize them, do it for not using any of their political capital to get others to vote for the right thing as well.

I find that I agree with the majority of posters here today on a few simple facts:

1. Bush is a troop murderer. He has never and will never care for one second about any American boy who is killed for his popularity/profit war.


2. All politicians, especially those running for president, will hedge their bets and do "whatever it takes" to be elected. While I agree with the votes that Hillary and Obama cast, it was late and not convincing. I would have preferred them to resign from the Senate in protest.


3. I still think the only really effective "plan" for our new congress is to yell from every podium "Mr. Bush you are an inept leader who has killed more Americans that any Terrorist organization. You have destroyed America's reputation in the world and corrupted all that we stand for. Step down and take your pitbull with you if you have ever been a Patriot."

   This is the only message left with any meaning.

Precisely. Plus they are dangerous with their ill considered tactics. Nearly 20 Iraqis are now dead as a direct result of McCain's little public romp. Targeted and killed just to show McCain that no one is safe especially if they do business with him. So while he's pacing around with that stupid smirk on his face taunting insurgents about how safe the market is, many of the market's merchants are now dead and their families wishing McCain had never come because he didn't have enough sense not to shine on light on them, which was like painting a bulls-eye target on their backs, just to make himself look good. Way to go idiot.

McCain? Come on. Even Tim Russert makes fun of him now.

Here is the entire text of the directive from the WH website:

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 9, 2007
National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51
HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20
Subject: National Continuity Policy
Purpose
(1) This directive establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity of Federal Government structures
and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and
implementation of Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes "National Essential Functions," prescribes
continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local,
territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and
integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable
a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.
Definitions
(2) In this directive:
(a) "Category" refers to the categories of executive departments and agencies listed in Annex A to this directive;
(b) "Catastrophic Emergency" means any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of
mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment,
economy, or government functions;
(c) "Continuity of Government," or "COG," means a coordinated effort within the Federal Government's executive
branch to ensure that National Essential Functions continue to be performed during a Catastrophic Emergency;
(d) "Continuity of Operations," or "COOP," means an effort within individual executive departments and agencies
to ensure that Primary Mission-Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies,
including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies;
(e) "Enduring Constitutional Government," or "ECG," means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative,
and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect
to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among
the branches, to preserve the constitutional framework under which the Nation is governed and the capability of
all three branches of government to execute constitutional responsibilities and provide for orderly succession,
appropriate transition of leadership, and interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a
catastrophic emergency;
(f) "Executive Departments and Agencies" means the executive departments enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 101,
independent establishments as defined by 5 U.S.C. 104(1), Government corporations as defined by 5 U.S.C. 103
(1), and the United States Postal Service;
(g) "Government Functions" means the collective functions of the heads of executive departments and agencies
White House News
as defined by statute, regulation, presidential direction, or other legal authority, and the functions of the legislative
and judicial branches;
(h) "National Essential Functions," or "NEFs," means that subset of Government Functions that are necessary to
lead and sustain the Nation during a catastrophic emergency and that, therefore, must be supported through
COOP and COG capabilities; and
(i) "Primary Mission Essential Functions," or "PMEFs," means those Government Functions that must be
performed in order to support or implement the performance of NEFs before, during, and in the aftermath of an
emergency.
Policy
(3) It is the policy of the United States to maintain a comprehensive and effective continuity capability composed
of Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government programs in order to ensure the preservation of our
form of government under the Constitution and the continuing performance of National Essential Functions under
all conditions.
Implementation Actions
(4) Continuity requirements shall be incorporated into daily operations of all executive departments and agencies.
As a result of the asymmetric threat environment, adequate warning of potential emergencies that could pose a
significant risk to the homeland might not be available, and therefore all continuity planning shall be based on the
assumption that no such warning will be received. Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of
leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted Government
Functions. Risk management principles shall be applied to ensure that appropriate operational readiness
decisions are based on the probability of an attack or other incident and its consequences.
(5) The following NEFs are the foundation for all continuity programs and capabilities and represent the
overarching responsibilities of the Federal Government to lead and sustain the Nation during a crisis, and
therefore sustaining the following NEFs shall be the primary focus of the Federal Government leadership during
and in the aftermath of an emergency that adversely affects the performance of Government Functions:
(a) Ensuring the continued functioning of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning
of the three separate branches of government;
(b) Providing leadership visible to the Nation and the world and maintaining the trust and confidence of the
American people;
(c) Defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and preventing or
interdicting attacks against the United States or its people, property, or interests;
(d) Maintaining and fostering effective relationships with foreign nations;
(e) Protecting against threats to the homeland and bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks against the
United States or its people, property, or interests;
(f) Providing rapid and effective response to and recovery from the domestic consequences of an attack or other
incident;
(g) Protecting and stabilizing the Nation's economy and ensuring public confidence in its financial systems; and
(h) Providing for critical Federal Government services that address the national health, safety, and welfare needs
of the United States.
(6) The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government. In
order to advise and assist the President in that function, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism (APHS/CT) is hereby designated as the National Continuity Coordinator. The National
Continuity Coordinator, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA),
without exercising directive authority, shall coordinate the development and implementation of continuity policy for
executive departments and agencies. The Continuity Policy Coordination Committee (CPCC), chaired by a Senior
Director from the Homeland Security Council staff, designated by the National Continuity Coordinator, shall be the
main day-to-day forum for such policy coordination.
(7) For continuity purposes, each executive department and agency is assigned to a category in accordance with
the nature and characteristics of its national security roles and responsibilities in support of the Federal
Government's ability to sustain the NEFs. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall serve as the President's lead
agent for coordinating overall continuity operations and activities of executive departments and agencies, and in
such role shall perform the responsibilities set forth for the Secretary in sections 10 and 16 of this directive.
(8) The National Continuity Coordinator, in consultation with the heads of appropriate executive departments and
agencies, will lead the development of a National Continuity Implementation Plan (Plan), which shall include
prioritized goals and objectives, a concept of operations, performance metrics by which to measure continuity
readiness, procedures for continuity and incident management activities, and clear direction to executive
department and agency continuity coordinators, as well as guidance to promote interoperability of Federal
Government continuity programs and procedures with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private
sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate. The Plan shall be submitted to the President
for approval not later than 90 days after the date of this directive.
(9) Recognizing that each branch of the Federal Government is responsible for its own continuity programs, an
official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall ensure that the executive branch's COOP and COG
policies in support of ECG efforts are appropriately coordinated with those of the legislative and judicial branches
in order to ensure interoperability and allocate national assets efficiently to maintain a functioning Federal
Government.
(10) Federal Government COOP, COG, and ECG plans and operations shall be appropriately integrated with the
emergency plans and capabilities of State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and
operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, in order to promote interoperability and to prevent redundancies
and conflicting lines of authority. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate the integration of Federal
continuity plans and operations with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and
operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, in order to provide for the delivery of essential services during
an emergency.
(11) Continuity requirements for the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and executive departments and
agencies shall include the following:
(a) The continuation of the performance of PMEFs during any emergency must be for a period up to 30 days or
until normal operations can be resumed, and the capability to be fully operational at alternate sites as soon as
possible after the occurrence of an emergency, but not later than 12 hours after COOP activation;
(b) Succession orders and pre-planned devolution of authorities that ensure the emergency delegation of
authority must be planned and documented in advance in accordance with applicable law;
(c) Vital resources, facilities, and records must be safeguarded, and official access to them must be provided;
(d) Provision must be made for the acquisition of the resources necessary for continuity operations on an
emergency basis;
(e) Provision must be made for the availability and redundancy of critical communications capabilities at alternate
sites in order to support connectivity between and among key government leadership, internal elements, other
executive departments and agencies, critical partners, and the public;
(f) Provision must be made for reconstitution capabilities that allow for recovery from a catastrophic emergency
and resumption of normal operations; and
(g) Provision must be made for the identification, training, and preparedness of personnel capable of relocating to
alternate facilities to support the continuation of the performance of PMEFs.
(12) In order to provide a coordinated response to escalating threat levels or actual emergencies, the Continuity of
Government Readiness Conditions (COGCON) system establishes executive branch continuity program
readiness levels, focusing on possible threats to the National Capital Region. The President will determine and
issue the COGCON Level. Executive departments and agencies shall comply with the requirements and assigned
responsibilities under the COGCON program. During COOP activation, executive departments and agencies shall
report their readiness status to the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary's designee.
(13) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall:
(a) Conduct an annual assessment of executive department and agency continuity funding requests and
performance data that are submitted by executive departments and agencies as part of the annual budget request
process, in order to monitor progress in the implementation of the Plan and the execution of continuity budgets;
(b) In coordination with the National Continuity Coordinator, issue annual continuity planning guidance for the
development of continuity budget requests; and
(c) Ensure that heads of executive departments and agencies prioritize budget resources for continuity
capabilities, consistent with this directive.
(14) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall:
(a) Define and issue minimum requirements for continuity communications for executive departments and
agencies, in consultation with the APHS/CT, the APNSA, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
and the Chief of Staff to the President;
(b) Establish requirements for, and monitor the development, implementation, and maintenance of, a
comprehensive communications architecture to integrate continuity components, in consultation with the
APHS/CT, the APNSA, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief of Staff to the
President; and
(c) Review quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications capabilities, as prepared pursuant to
section 16(d) of this directive or otherwise, and report the results and recommended remedial actions to the
National Continuity Coordinator.
(15) An official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall:
(a) Advise the President, the Chief of Staff to the President, the APHS/CT, and the APNSA on COGCON
operational execution options; and
(b) Consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security in order to ensure synchronization and integration of
continuity activities among the four categories of executive departments and agencies.
(16) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall:
(a) Coordinate the implementation, execution, and assessment of continuity operations and activities;
(b) Develop and promulgate Federal Continuity Directives in order to establish continuity planning requirements
for executive departments and agencies;
(c) Conduct biennial assessments of individual department and agency continuity capabilities as prescribed by the
Plan and report the results to the President through the APHS/CT;
(d) Conduct quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications capabilities in consultation with an
official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President;
(e) Develop, lead, and conduct a Federal continuity training and exercise program, which shall be incorporated
into the National Exercise Program developed pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 of
December 17, 2003 ("National Preparedness"), in consultation with an official designated by the Chief of Staff to
the President;
(f) Develop and promulgate continuity planning guidance to State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and
private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators;
(g) Make available continuity planning and exercise funding, in the form of grants as provided by law, to State,
local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators; and
(h) As Executive Agent of the National Communications System, develop, implement, and maintain a
comprehensive continuity communications architecture.
(17) The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Secretary of
Homeland Security, shall produce a biennial assessment of the foreign and domestic threats to the Nation's
continuity of government.
(18) The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall provide secure,
integrated, Continuity of Government communications to the President, the Vice President, and, at a minimum,
Category I executive departments and agencies.
(19) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall execute their respective department or agency COOP
plans in response to a localized emergency and shall:
(a) Appoint a senior accountable official, at the Assistant Secretary level, as the Continuity Coordinator for the
department or agency;
(b) Identify and submit to the National Continuity Coordinator the list of PMEFs for the department or agency and
develop continuity plans in support of the NEFs and the continuation of essential functions under all conditions;
(c) Plan, program, and budget for continuity capabilities consistent with this directive;
(d) Plan, conduct, and support annual tests and training, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security,
in order to evaluate program readiness and ensure adequacy and viability of continuity plans and communications
systems; and
(e) Support other continuity requirements, as assigned by category, in accordance with the nature and
characteristics of its national security roles and responsibilities
General Provisions
(20) This directive shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with, and facilitates effective
implementation of, provisions of the Constitution concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise of its
powers, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. 19), with consultation of the Vice President and,
as appropriate, others involved. Heads of executive departments and agencies shall ensure that appropriate
support is available to the Vice President and others involved as necessary to be prepared at all times to
implement those provisions.
(21) This directive:
(a) Shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and the authorities of agencies, or heads of agencies,
vested by law, and subject to the availability of appropriations;
(b) Shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect (i) the functions of the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, and legislative proposals, or (ii) the authority of the
Secretary of Defense over the Department of Defense, including the chain of command for military forces from the
President, to the Secretary of Defense, to the commander of military forces, or military command and control
procedures; and
(c) Is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
in equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
(22) Revocation. Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 ("Enduring Constitutional Government
and Continuity of Government Operations"), including all Annexes thereto, is hereby revoked.
(23) Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto, are hereby incorporated into and made a
part of this directive.
(24) Security. This directive and the information contained herein shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure,
provided that, except for Annex A, the Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded
appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

Obama opens his response by repeating a Republican talking point (Support the Troops!) - followed by a "But...".

As always, if the Dem buys the Republican frame, he'll wear it like an albatross.

Obama should be refuting the validity of the "Support the Troops" meme. Instead, he reinforces it, then tries to fight the thing he just reinforced.

Bill Murray and the puddle. Welcome to Groundhog Day.

Exactly. The notion that Republicans are strong on national defense/war is a bad joke. In fact, in the long term they get just about everything wrong becasue they're fundamentally misguided and short sighted.

Republicans tend to be more jingoistic and militaristic, but hubris doesn't make good policy and it often produces unintended consequences. Many good generals have been Republicans of conventional wars, but not so many good civilian commanders of macro-scale policy and certainly not against insurgencies.

Look at Reagan and the largely Republican backed aggressive FP he promoted. He merely presided over the fall of the USSR which had taken many decades, and was inevitable.

Did Reagan promote democracy or stop the flow of drugs from Latin America? No. Helping various death squads run by dictators and supporting assassination by CONDOR, only hurt our long-term interests. Did he stabilize Latin America or are guys like Chavez and the popularity of his strong anti-US sentiment and nationalization of resources in part a direct result of Reagan's bombastic policies. Today Latin America is more hostile to US Foreign Policy directly because we've been so heavy handed and imperialistic. We continue to beat up on Cuba, and now Che Guevara is a trans-national martyr figure.

It was Reagan who armed and trained the Jihadists from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and of course the Taliban in Afghanistan. Did any of that really accomplish anything? The USSR would still have fallen and left Afghanistan as it couldn't even control Eastern European member nations like the Ukraine. Had we given humanitarian aid rather than guns, there wouldn't be the Taliban, War Lords, or Al Qada armed to the teeth and capable of putting down any Afghanistan democratic/liberal reform by force once the USSR left.

It's the same thing in the private sector with guys like Lee Iaccoca who was responsible for the cheap Mustang revival and SUV/truck mindset, and now laments the lack of leadership that has led to huge deficit spending, and private sector buerocracies like for-profit insurance industry killing US companies like GM. Wait, wasn't the "free market" a magical solution to everything? So why is Japans socialized-democratic healthcare system so much better and why is Toyota now the #1 auto maker with high build quality and cutting edge efficiency technology, while US makers can't sell trucks and SUV anymore, put Mitsubishi engines in Fords, and have crappy engineering that require high maintenance and the warranty costs are also hurting US makers.

Lee Iaccoca and other Republican tuff guys, if you want to know why America is in trouble, simply look in the mirror. It's guys like that who took far too much credit for American prosperity, never really understood why we were prosperous, and reduced our culture with their hubris and ideology destined to fail.

He shoots, he scores!!!

Obama's ability to ridicule Publicans is the thing I like best about him. I also loved the number he did on Cheney a few weeks ago.

The first paragraph is a little wimpy, especially it's vague reference to "a plan." The rest is okay.

This is my rewrite of that first paragraph. Personally, I would have been a lot harsher but I wanted to change Obama's language as little as possible:

This country is united in our support for our troops - including supporting relieving them of the burden of policing someone else?'s civil war. Governor Romney and Senator McCain clearly believe the course we are on in Iraq is working. They are wrong.

I'm glad to see that Obama's out there punching back at McCain, but his criticism is NOT very strong at all.

Obama's criticism can be boiled down to three talking points:

1. "policing someone else's civil war."

2. McCain's stroll through the market.

3. the cost of the war and need to focus on al-Qaida.

All of these are well-established Democratic points that have been made hundreds of times before. People get bored hearing them even if they agree.

For Obama's push-back to be really effective, he needs to do something different from other Democrats. Obama also needs to find a way to make his points compelling to people outside the Beltway. Probably, the best way to do that is to connect McCain to the incompetence of Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. There's no end to homespun anecdotes that can be told about Bush administration stupidity.

It's not like Obama's comments were poorly done. But they were mediocre and he needs to do better.