Obama is being so silly. What's his plan? Cut and run. He's a Hollywood actor and talker, nothing more. He's like George Clooney running for President.

Without a doubt, this is a sign of sure victory in November for the Dems is Obama is the nominee. I can't believe that McCain wants to make Iraq the central issue because that means he has to embrace Bush and this quagmire.

With Clinton as the nominee, we'll be hearing a lot of her Senate floor speech in support fo the war authorization bill in which she spewed the neo-con talking points (the old/new line from the GOP will be "she was for it before she was against it")

"Obama is being so silly."

The only people who wouldn't like Obama's swift response have to be McCain supporters - which makes your commentary both silly and clumsily hamfisted.

Allow me to ask a Russert hypothetical.

What happens if w ends combat missions in Iraq to take Iraq out of this election?

Actually Steve, that is a great attack line:

"John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but so far all he’s done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq."

McCain,

Please run on staying in Iraq.

Thank you so very much,
Hoost

It's a refreshing response that is not defensive and is quite clear and concise. McCain better find another strategy, because Iraq will (as he predicted) cost him the election.

Obama +2, Hillary -1:

Sen. Dorgan

http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/27/major-congressional-endorsement-going-to-obama/

Rep. Lewis's Switch:

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/02/27/Lewis_0228_web.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

Just heard something about Obama's HQ in Houston being broken into and vandalized. Anyone heard of that?

Here is where the Republican Iraq War Mongers get caught in a net of their own making.

McCain is talking about keeping US Troops in Iraq for up to a hundred years, while at the same time, the Bush Administration is urging Turkey to withdraw all their Troops from Northern Iraq within a very short period of time.

How about that folks. The Republican War Mongers want to stay in Iraq for ever, but demand that Turkey stop pursuing the Kurdish terrorists that have attacked Turkey over and over. The Bush Admn. has label that Kurdish group as Terrorists, but is demanding that Turkey not go after them, while at the same time claiming that we must stay in Iraq because there are terrorists there.

Yeah. It looks like some dumb (racist) kids:

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=95261625-80c9-48c9-9184-c053e5507396

Boy, the more I see and hear this man, the more impressed I am with both him and his campaign team. Disclaimer: some people may think I'm way over the top here, but I'll say it anyway. He seems to be able to synthesize the calm, cool, rational aspects of JFK with the fire and passion of RFK. He's not afraid to fight, and he does it in such a way as to completely neutralize the oppositions attacks. His motto seems to be "bring 'em on"! I'm 48 years old and I don't think I've seen a Democrat like this, at least since I was able to vote. I don't even remember Bill Clinton as being this good. I am really looking forward to the Obama/McCain debates - he's going to get under McCain's skin, especially if he was as cool and composed as he was last night.

You know what? I take it back. That response is even hotter than Clooney.

There, I said it. And I stand by my statement.

This Primary season is Over...

Congressman Lewis formally endorses Obama:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that John Lewis is really, truly endorsing Barack Obama, and the piece quotes Lewis:

"Something's happening in America, something some of us did not see coming," Lewis said. "Barack Obama has tapped into something that is extraordinary.

[snip]
In an interview in his congressional office, Lewis said the decision to switch his support was a difficult one, a choice between a longtime friend and a little-known black man.

"I did it because I felt I had to support Mrs. Clinton because of our friendship," Lewis said. "But also I thought she was ready to lead. Lewis had placed a called to Clinton's office Wednesday morning but hadn't heard back from her. He also had a Please-Return-The-Call message of his own from Obama. By midday, he still hadn't returned it.

"It's been a long, hard and difficult struggle to come to where I am now," Lewis said.

I couldn't be more heterosexual, but COME ON!

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/57468785.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE07D4E5AB9BCD458EA40A659CEC4C8CB6

Now THAT's a winning ticket!

Maybe this will convince John Edwards that he's tough enough? Come on, John, endorse already! Not that it will make much of a difference now but it would be nice nonetheless.

Greg,

That's terrific that he answered exactly as you hoped he would. By this little blog entry one could surmise that he may have indeed answered because of tpm's influence. Is that true? I don't know for certain, but I highly highly doubt it.

I doubt this because tpm seems to be nothing more than an internet outlet for the Clinton campaign and mainstream media narrative. The narrative that simplifies the election into nonsensical sound bytes, men vs women vs blacks vs blue collar, etc, when the reality of an election and the state of American politics is highly complex and mostly tied to dinero, amero, mula, yes the DOLLAR, and the plan to dismantle the United States and plunge into into a European style union with Canada and Mexico.

Through the campaign, you've taken the mainstream narrative seriously, no matter how ridiculous it's become. From the inevitability, to the plagairism and "dressed photo," this kind of rubbish is nothing more than a distraction to mask what the election is really about: money, the media, the corporations, the drug companies, the insurance companies, trade agreements, the war, the environment, and plans to GO GREEN, and the North American Union.

Now, that it's really impossible to spin the Democratic primary to Hilary, you'll discount Obama by letting us know that he answered "as you hoped he would." You hold a position of authority over his campaign? One would think so by your writing.

Obama represents an end to the drive by, propaganda media. He represents an end to people (whiney little squirrels imo) like Greg Sargeant having a national stage to spout this crap and pass it off as real reporting.

In an Obama world, thoughtful, truthful reporting will return, the United States will begin the wake up to the reality of the centralization of power that's gone on, and western civilzation will arc further towards true freedom and prosperity.

Obama's lucky he can count on the public's ignorance regarding al-Qaeda in Iraq (or anywhere else, for that matter). That way he can keep promoting Republican talking points.

Genghis,
Your right that there was a group of al jihad (Zwahiri's group) fighters in western kurdistan before the iraq invasion.

Here is the most salient part of this fact:
the Bush administration had ample opportunity to destroy this group of committed and geographically concentrated jihadis before they launched the iraq war, but they choose not to because they felt it would weaken their argument that iraq had to be attacked in the first place. After Americans rolled into Iraq the jihadis were able to disperse and get away. An Operation Anaconda repeat if you will. (there is reporting on this fact I even think it was in the NYT)

No Republican can use this to attack the democratic nominee for President. It would backfire.

Carol -- Bill Clinton was nowhere near that good. I remember wanting to get excited about him in general but never escaping the feeling that he was, well, shallow. And he dealt with attacks in a much more shallow fashion, often not taking a hit but not turning the bullet back at them, either.

Actually, the only politician I can think of who came close in the years since JFK and RFK (who *were* that good!!) is Mario Cuomo, although he had a bit more of a temper to deal with. I actually thought of him a lot when Obama first announced. It *did* seem early in his (Obama's) career, not quite the right time. And then I'd remember Cuomo waiting for the 'just right' time....

Re: discussion of Lanny Davis on another thread. I think the more central truth may be that Obama is a hard person to criticize not because of anything to do with race but because he's, well, simply a hard person to criticize. It's like shooting at a mirror - a lot of the blows are going to come right back at you, so you get a little edgy about what you want to throw out!

Re: John Edwards. I'm beginning to think that he might provide far greater assistance by remaining neutral and thereby being available to be one of the "Barry Goldwater committee" if one is needed: the group of party leaders who may at some point have to have that awkward 'conversation' with HRC, telling her that it's time to step down. He could prove vital in that role b/c I think he can truly talk meaningfully about life after losses and there is good will there. ------- Richardson, if he decided to endorse, could help a lot in the 3/4 contest (w/ Texas) but Edwards wouldn't add much at this point ..... whereas he might be just the person needed on 3/5 or shortly thereafter, along with Biden and 1 or 2 others, to approach Hillary if her wins are nowhere big enough but she's digging in for a long, drawn out fight. Just a thought that's been occurring lately...

Agreed. It would be a good idea to deliver that line with a cool chuckle and the faintest hint of "I'm kicking cigarettes" in the vocal chords.

George Bush George Bush George Bush George Bush...

that's all Obama needs to say

i saw the whole feed live. the video doesn't do this bit justice. he started off in his trademark dry, bemused humor "you-guys-won't-believe-this!"

"Mccain is giving me 'new news' about Al Qaeda in Iraq." OMGWTFBBQ!!!!111 Thanks McCain you are so great to tell me this!!! What a pal.

But then Obama slammed back with "I read the papers, John McCain! I know where Al Qaeda is!" So great.

Almost tops this bit from Maryland, my favorite McCain throw down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSuyPM772-M

Noteworthy is that Obama was referring to those who attacked us in New York and how they are unpursued in Afganistan and Pakistan because of the distraction that is Iraq.

Al Zarqawi's group in Iraq may have been worthy of pursuit, but the real crime has been the dropping the ball on Bin Laden.

If you feel that more people should read about this exchange, consider uprating the nbcnews article.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23374260/

Welcome to Hell
McCain Obamanated at OSU
Director's Cut

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2pXElHV6FA

That video is so awesome. I'm over you, Clooney, you puppy-eyed bitch.

You know, Genghis, watching the video--well, it sounds like Obama says, "I've got news for you, there was no Al-Qaeda-in-Iraq..." I mean, the way he says it and the way he gestures, it sounds like "Al-Qaeda-in-Iraq," rather than "Al Qaeda, in Iraq." And, as Tim says, there indeed was no such thing "Al-Qaeda-In-Iraq" before the war--there was the terrorist organization, but them pledging allegiance to bin Laden is significant in terms of what the war has done. I mean, what I'm saying is if you watch it sounds like he is talking about the other organization, rather than Al Qaeda proper. It's actually rather nifty because what he's saying is true, (unlike McCain) but he's not using up all his sound bite explaining the intricacies of the thing, when in fact the point is more important--that they increased terrorist activity.

And Dick Cheney lies??????? Why didn't anyone TELL me?

@Genghis
This debate reminds me of some debates i had in a few middle east politics classes i had the last few semesters, good times we annoyed the professor a bit though since we argued about stuff for most the class time.

(off topic but funny side note, during one class a student who is quite informed but more on the conservative side did his paper on Iran nukes but 2 days before the paper was due the Intel report saying that they weren't making nukes came out, didn't hurt his grade but was quite funny. that guy owes me a dollar...)

Anyways back on topic.
Yes some of the people in Iraq atm called AQ in Iraq were in Iraq before the war. However many more AQ have come to Iraq who weren't there before and there are many reports saying that Iraq is used for training people then they go spread knowledge in other areas like Afghanistan.

Another key point would be if it wasn't for the war in Iraq AQ wouldn't have worked with AZ. There have been a few reports showing how AQ and AZ had many disagreements on tactics and goals and joined up by name because of the war in Iraq.

AZ wasn't focused on the US until the war in Iraq started. However i would say it is very possible that he would of gone to fight in Afghanistan if we didn't go to Iraq, but that isn't very important since if we didn't go to Iraq we could of done Afghanistan right.

Another thing to note is that AZ's organization wouldn't have been nearly as strong if it wasn't for the Iraq war then the renaming after that.

Also gotta look at what Obama said in context, he was doing a rally and did a quick response to what McCain has said, look how much we been discussing this if he were to put in all the info about the issue it wouldn't have gone nearly as well as it did.