Comments on: McCain’t Get The Facts Straight http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:43:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143297 DLS Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:03:04 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143297 The problem with Pakistan is the same as with Saudi Arabia, another nation run by a regime that deals with the USA (though far from honestly, as is true with the Musharraf regime, too). In both cases the alternative is widely seen to be much worse (a much greater rise to power of terrorists and sponsors of terrorism, and a risk of complete collapse). The problem with Pakistan is the same as with Saudi Arabia, another nation run by a regime that deals with the USA (though far from honestly, as is true with the Musharraf regime, too). In both cases the alternative is widely seen to be much worse (a much greater rise to power of terrorists and sponsors of terrorism, and a risk of complete collapse).

]]> By: Andy http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143296 Andy Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:05:31 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143296 Well Mr. Koobler, McCain's statement is not so far from the truth though he obviously glosses over much. The situation had gotten so bad that a majority welcomed Musharraf's coup and he was actually quite popular during his first couple of years in office. Since 9/11 however, he has been largely a disaster. Circumstance plays a role here since the US essentially forced him to completely reverse over two decades of Afghanistan policy. The assertion that Pakistan would be on a more stable democratic path is just that - an unsupported assertion. Sharif's government wasn't exactly a model democracy and suggesting that Pakistan would somehow have gotten more stable is to ignore the situation in Pakistan during the 1990's as well as all of Pakistan's history which has been consistent in its instability.<br><br>And you know, serving government officials, particularly those running for President, typically don't criticize allied heads of state too much since such statements will come back to haunt them should they become President. We haven't heard must excoriating of Musharraf from Hillary or Obama either. Well Mr. Koobler, McCain's statement is not so far from the truth though he obviously glosses over much. The situation had gotten so bad that a majority welcomed Musharraf's coup and he was actually quite popular during his first couple of years in office. Since 9/11 however, he has been largely a disaster. Circumstance plays a role here since the US essentially forced him to completely reverse over two decades of Afghanistan policy. The assertion that Pakistan would be on a more stable democratic path is just that – an unsupported assertion. Sharif's government wasn't exactly a model democracy and suggesting that Pakistan would somehow have gotten more stable is to ignore the situation in Pakistan during the 1990's as well as all of Pakistan's history which has been consistent in its instability.

And you know, serving government officials, particularly those running for President, typically don't criticize allied heads of state too much since such statements will come back to haunt them should they become President. We haven't heard must excoriating of Musharraf from Hillary or Obama either.

]]> By: Slamfu http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143295 Slamfu Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:29:11 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143295 "seems to me that one of those has to be false, has extremist appeal grown or shrunk under Musharraf?"<br><br>Extremists lose in a voting situation, and Musharraf doesn't allow voting situations, at least not legit ones, hence extremism against him and his gov't grows. If he was less authoritarian according to the author, democracy would have a better hand in weeding out extremists. “seems to me that one of those has to be false, has extremist appeal grown or shrunk under Musharraf?”

Extremists lose in a voting situation, and Musharraf doesn't allow voting situations, at least not legit ones, hence extremism against him and his gov't grows. If he was less authoritarian according to the author, democracy would have a better hand in weeding out extremists.

]]> By: Jim_Satterfield http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143294 Jim_Satterfield Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:16:48 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143294 khill, there is no contradiction. The corruption of Musharraf and those like him increase the appeal of extremism but when there is an honest choice in an election extremist religious parties don't do well. What happens outside the voting booth is different than what happens when people can vote and have their vote count. khill, there is no contradiction. The corruption of Musharraf and those like him increase the appeal of extremism but when there is an honest choice in an election extremist religious parties don't do well. What happens outside the voting booth is different than what happens when people can vote and have their vote count.

]]> By: khill http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143293 khill Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:55:47 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143293 Please reconcile these two statements for me: "Extremist parties have never received more than 12% of the vote; nor is the trend going in their favor." and "By failing to grant civilian parties a viable place in the political process, extremism and a general climate of frustration have grown."<br><br>seems to me that one of those has to be false, has extremist appeal grown or shrunk under Musharraf? Please reconcile these two statements for me: “Extremist parties have never received more than 12% of the vote; nor is the trend going in their favor.” and “By failing to grant civilian parties a viable place in the political process, extremism and a general climate of frustration have grown.”

seems to me that one of those has to be false, has extremist appeal grown or shrunk under Musharraf?

]]> By: Slamfu http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143292 Slamfu Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:19:47 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143292 How dare we discuss McCain's policies, don't you guys know there is a good sex scandal going on? How dare we discuss McCain's policies, don't you guys know there is a good sex scandal going on?

]]> By: Maxim http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143291 Maxim Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:04:02 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143291 Mr. Koogler,<br>Thanks, I needed to hear that, for I often wondered out loud why hasn't our media taken this administration to task for their policies concerning Musharraf. They've thrown so many billions at him and this is what we get for our efforts? Especially after the recent assassination of Bhutto and all the nonsense that followed. I mean this is too ridiculous for a believable movie script. You'd be saying 'nobody's that stupid to give this guy a blank check!<br> When, during those upcoming debates previously mentioned, Obama faults McCain for continuing Bush's failed policies I hope he brings this up. I think i'll send them the link right now, thanks. Mr. Koogler,
Thanks, I needed to hear that, for I often wondered out loud why hasn't our media taken this administration to task for their policies concerning Musharraf. They've thrown so many billions at him and this is what we get for our efforts? Especially after the recent assassination of Bhutto and all the nonsense that followed. I mean this is too ridiculous for a believable movie script. You'd be saying 'nobody's that stupid to give this guy a blank check!
When, during those upcoming debates previously mentioned, Obama faults McCain for continuing Bush's failed policies I hope he brings this up. I think i'll send them the link right now, thanks.

]]> By: PaulSilver http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143290 PaulSilver Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:29:17 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143290 I hope for a long series of debates in our general election to educate all of us on some of the subtleties of these foreign affairs. I hope for a long series of debates in our general election to educate all of us on some of the subtleties of these foreign affairs.

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/comment-page-1/#comment-143289 DLS Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:26:32 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/17935/mccaint-get-the-facts-straight/#comment-143289 "if it weren’t for the likes of Musharraf, Pakistan would be on a much more stable and democratic path"<br><br>???<br><br>Even a lot of Democrats who used to say that in the 1980s about allied nations aren't as likely to claim this any longer. “if it weren’t for the likes of Musharraf, Pakistan would be on a much more stable and democratic path”

???

Even a lot of Democrats who used to say that in the 1980s about allied nations aren't as likely to claim this any longer.

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