RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Change
Supporting the President in a Time of War
I am not one who believes that criticizing presidential war policy gives you a big fat F on the litmus test for patriotism. But the high-profile bloggers and media pundits on the far right certainly adhere to that belief. Or at least they did adhere to it, throughout the eight years of the Bush presidency. … [Read more...] about Supporting the President in a Time of War
The Fallacy of ‘Waiting Us Out’
I made brief mention of this in my earlier response to the Obama Afghanistan speech but I wanted to expand upon an important point in the current debate over counterinsurgency policy. The common critique among Republicans is that by broadcasting a withdrawal date we have simply given the Taliban a chance to "wait us out" and then re-emerge after July 2011 comes to pass. Forget … [Read more...] about The Fallacy of ‘Waiting Us Out’
Blue Dog Tanner To Retire
Democrat Blue Dog John Tanner of Tennesse has unexpectedly announced he will retire in 2010. This is the second retirement (the other being Dennis Moore of Kansas) of a Blue Dog Democrat in a marginal district and thus will likely present the GOP with a pickup opportunity. UPDATE: State Senator Roy Herron is going to run. I agree the race leans to the Democrats but … [Read more...] about Blue Dog Tanner To Retire
Near Tie In Atlanta, Recount Likely
The runoff for mayor of Atlanta appears headed for a recount. With 98% of the votes counted, Kasim Reed, an African American state senator holds a 758 vote lead over white businesswoman Mary Norwood. This race had attracted attention because it was thought Norwood would become the first white mayor in many years. At this point the results are so close that a recount is … [Read more...] about Near Tie In Atlanta, Recount Likely
Full Video of President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Address
Here is a video of President Barack Obama's complete address on his Afghanistan war policy: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy UPDATE: Here's the full text of Obama's speech. UPDATE II: What Obama told reporters earlier in the day at lunch. … [Read more...] about Full Video of President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Address
The Obama Doctrine, Like It Or Not
On the banks of the Hudson River at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point the country and world heard spelled out the Obama Doctrine by the nation's commander-in-chief. Kill al Qaeda who murdered more than 3,000 innocent civilians on Sept. 11, 2001, render the Taliban impotent by increasing our troop levels, improve the Afghan security forces and support Pakistan's … [Read more...] about The Obama Doctrine, Like It Or Not
The Clock Is Running Mr. President
With all of the very effective pre-speech leaks there wasn't a whole lot of surprise in the speech tonight but as I listened to it I did have a few thoughts. Overall I do support the combined goal of stabilizing the government in Afghanistan and then getting our troops out of there as quickly as possible. Based on what he said that seems to also be the goal of the President but … [Read more...] about The Clock Is Running Mr. President
Flawed tactics
The President's tactics were flawed. It was a good idea, positioning himself as commander on the stage at West Point, as if he were announcing an order of battle in Afghanistan to the 4,600 cadets, which they would have understood and appreciated. But the President had to make it a policy speech, too, and it was not at all a good idea to ask the cadets, at the end of a typical … [Read more...] about Flawed tactics
Threading the needle
Let me first echo David Adesnik's remarks on President Obama's Afghanistan speech. The moral basis for action was clear from the beginning, and Obama proclaimed American supremacy with more robustness than he has ever done before. The obvious point of debate is the 18 month withdrawal order. Adesnik rightly questions just how fast this withdrawal will take place. My sense … [Read more...] about Threading the needle
Code Pink responds to Obama
As if you need me to say what I think about this. Almost the equal of MoveOn's "General Betray-us". Original image here. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about Code Pink responds to Obama
New Guidance from Washington on “Underwater” Homes
While everyone is understandably focused on Afghanistan, health insurance reform, Dubai, and Tiger Woods driving ability, the Treasury Department quietly released rules that may have an impact on house sales near you. Specifically, the new rules will apply to "short sales", where the home is not worth what is owed on it, so the bank will end up "short" money at the end. … [Read more...] about New Guidance from Washington on “Underwater” Homes
Live-blogging the speech (plus wrap-up)
Live-blogging below. Bottom line here: The President was crystal clear about why we are sending more troops to Afghanistan. We were attacked on 9/11. If the Taliban take back Afghanistan, Al Qaeda will come back with them. America's security is directly at stake. Right now, we only have enough troops for a stalemate, not for success. How will our military strategy … [Read more...] about Live-blogging the speech (plus wrap-up)
Five officers murdered in one month
In one month’s time five officers have been murdered in Washington, my home state. Would you join me in a moment of silence. . . Not a prayer, nor a recollection, but an actual moment of silence. Five officers have been murdered and there is nothing we can do to change this horrible reality. We can weep, we can rage, we can blame, and we can accuse, but nothing will make … [Read more...] about Five officers murdered in one month
Pakistan Cannot Allow American Surge Along its Border: The Nation, Pakistan
As the world awaits the President's new Afghanistan strategy, the government of Pakistan appears to be throwing down the gauntlet in the event of an Obama "surge." This editorial from Pakistan's The Nation warns that a buildup of U.S. troops along the Pakistan border would be bad for the United States, bad for Afghanistan, and nearly catastrophic for Pakistan. The … [Read more...] about Pakistan Cannot Allow American Surge Along its Border: The Nation, Pakistan
Right or Wrong, This is to Be Admired About What Obama Announces Tonight
In the epilogue to his book, Presidential Courage, Michael Beschloss recalls that five years before being elected President, John Kennedy lamented that US politics had become "so expensive, so mechanized and so dominated by professional politicians and public relations men...[And further, because of] the tremendous power of mass communications, any unpopular or unorthodox … [Read more...] about Right or Wrong, This is to Be Admired About What Obama Announces Tonight
Cheney Blasts Obama On Afghanistan Before Speech and Accuses Obama of Giving “Aid and Comfort” to Terrorist Enemy
Isn't it time to really say it? Former Vice President Dick Cheney has morphed into a former Vice President who is violating nearly every protocol of the vast majority of former Presidents and former Vice Presidents in American history by not just actively -- and repeatedly and loudly -- opposing someone of the opposite party who displaced his administration, but is now … [Read more...] about Cheney Blasts Obama On Afghanistan Before Speech and Accuses Obama of Giving “Aid and Comfort” to Terrorist Enemy
Shoe Thrown At Bush Shoe Thrower
A small diversion while we await the speech, from Agence France Presse: Television reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi was in Paris to promote his campaign for the "victims of the US occupation in Iraq" when a fellow Iraqi critic turned the tables on him, shouting: "Here's another shoe for you." The thickset man with an Iraqi accent made a brief speech in Arabic during the question … [Read more...] about Shoe Thrown At Bush Shoe Thrower
Why bother listening to Obama’s speech?
The front page of the Washington Post has already announced that 34,000 new troops will deploy to Afghanistan. The front page of the NY Times says "about 30,000". So tonight's speech isn't about the decision Obama has made. It's about how he will justify it to his own party and to the American people. Here are five things to listen for: 1. "A war of necessity" Obama … [Read more...] about Why bother listening to Obama’s speech?
Time to Praise George W. Bush?
James Fallows says it's time to praise George W. Bush, particularly when contrasted with someone else in his administration. … [Read more...] about Time to Praise George W. Bush?