Obama on Verge of Hitting National Security Homerun
By Larry Johnson on November 22, 2008 at 8:23 PM in Current Affairs
Count me amazed. President-elect Obama appears to be on the verge of naming General Jim Jones (USMC, retired) as his National Security Advisor. If that is true, then the Obama presidency may actually live up to the hype and achieve some great things on the foreign policy and national security front. General Jones first and foremost is an adult. He is not a partisan. And he is fearless.
The Bush National Security Council has been an amateur hour nightmare. It has been staffed by intellectual lightweights and inept managers. His first NSC advisor, Condi Rice, was a complete disaster. She was the proverbial weak sister. She did nothing to rein in Don Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney. She failed in her main duty of coordinating the national security bureaucracy. It was Condi Rice who ignored the warnings of Richard Clarke about the need to step up efforts to deal with Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. It was Condi Rice who ignored the warnings in July 2001 from the CIA’s Cofer Black about increasing signs of a looming, monster terror attack.
But Rice is not the only failure. Her successor, Stephen Hadley has been no better. And as you work your way down the staff you will find similar incompetence. Fran Townsend, who was put in charge of coordinating Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security, was another example of fecklessness. For example, the CIA, the FBI, and DOD each had a different list of the top Al Qaeda targets. Townsend should have forced the competing bureaucracies to come to agreement on who the top targets were. Here we are seven years after the 9-11 attacks and still no consensus on something so basic.
There also has been the NSC failure to put someone in charge of the hunt for Bin Laden. When it is the job of everyone it becomes the responsibility of no one. The Bush NSC team has been a study in dysfunctional incompetence.
General Jones will not tolerate such juvenile behavior. He is a consummate professional. The last time we had this kind of leadership at the NSC another retired general, Brent Scowcroft, was in charge. He had a dandy deputy, Robert Gates. Those two gentlemen insured that all relevant agencies in the U.S. government could present their positions but did not allow anyone to filibuster. They forced decisions.
Unlike Colin Powell, General Jones is not a butt snorkeler. Jones is not afraid to speak truth to power. And that will be the best thing Barack Obama could ever ask for in a National Security advisor.
With Jones at the NSC and Hillary at State, Barack Obama will probably have the luxury of being able to focus on the substance of policy rather than sorting out turf battles. Although many pundits delight in portraying Senator Clinton as a shrill, power hungry harpie, she, like Jones, is a solid professional who puts the interests of the nation first.
It also appears that Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, will remain in place for at least six months to a year. I am no fan of Gates, who played politics with intelligence when he was the Director of Intelligence at the CIA. However, he has done a terrific job in his current position and will help the Obama team navigate the transition without derailing our military progress in Iraq. I am willing to be this is not the Barack Obama that progressives backed and that I opposed. Could be an interesting first term.
(Release: November 13)
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Larry- I hope that you are right, for the sake of our Country, but it will not make the Obama presidency any more legitimate.
Obama will not pass through the Electoral College. Leo Donofrio case has been expedited by the Supreme Court to and scheduled for conference to be heard on Dec. 5, which is 10 days before the Electoral College meets. Leo Donofrio’s case is challenge not just Obama, but McCain as well with respect to both of them not being natural born citizens and should never have been on the ballot. The constitution says POTUS must be a natural born citizen, meaning born on US soil to two US parents. Obama was born with dual citizenship, his father held British Citizenship because Kenya was a UK Colony at the time of his birth — still no one knows for certain where Obama was born, but POTUS can not have dual citizenship. McCain was born in Panama but to two US parents. Leo’s case has legs, the fact SCOTUS expedited scheduling a conference on this, means they are taking this seriously. This means should both of them be disqualified, the election would have to go to a democrat, because a democrat was elected, which would leave Biden and Clinton. Biden would be disqualified because he ran on Obama’s ticket, so the next in line would be Hillary. Imagine that — PUMAS — there’s a slight ray of hope here! Watch this case, and pray for Leo Donofrio — his site has been hacked and shut down recently — I heard he is setting up another –so I won’t be leaving a URL — but if you google his name — you will get a bunch of sites that have copied his old site plus all the radio interviews that he’s done recently that are archived in the web.
I have been following this but I am not getting my hopes up. I have doubts that judges will have enough guts to do their job and derail this train wreck.
I’m not getting my hopes up either, wodiej. I wish Donofrio well but right now the reality on the ground is that Obama is President-elect. Will the SCOTUS run with this?
Don’t know but I’m not betting on it, regardless of the merits of the case.
Time will tell!
right; we can’t have the constitution getting in the way of the “process.” the rule of law in america is truly dead.
Remember the flap about Cheney being a resident of Wyoming after having lived in TX for years…the rule that the P and VP couldn’t be from the same state was ignored by a judge…
There is no chance that anything will of this; NONE.
There is no chance that anything will come of this; NONE.
No there isn’t. And it should never have come to this. It should have been handled during the Primary.
It’s in the hands of the grown-ups now. Not us kiddies with our axes to grind. Any decision made will have looked at the big picture and the BIG picture right now is the ECONOMY. Add to that an Iraq War, terrorism, and foreign affairs.
It wouldn’t matter if he had been born on Uranus. He’s the President-s’elect now. He’s already in transition and making shrewd, and very sound choices that have set alot of people at ease.
Now of course my 0bama Machiavellian meter is regestering off the charts. Once the case is thrown out, after he’s sworn in and he’s comfortably one year in, then heads will role and the real 0bama we all fear will emerge.
But maybe we’re wrong. After all we were wrong about him not getting elected.
oh, i’m afraid that it does matter. the constitution matters. if it doesn’t matter, then what does?
I don’t think people are dealing with the reality that the powers-that-be behind 0bama and that includes the Democrats that pushed him know the truth. They’re ignoring it or pretending. When it comes to light, people like Pelosi will act innocent. I think Repubs had the proof but since they didn’t want the WH this year they’ve let it slide.
I think the Constitution matters, but obviously the people in control don’t. They’re willing to turn a blind eye.
I think the Supremes will too.
RMH – The McCain issue is a red herring, btw. Being born on a US Military base is the same as being born in the US. That should not be in dispute, and can weaken the argument against Obama if the two are conflated, IMHO.
And I hope Larry is right, too, abt the National Security post. It implies, though, that Obama will actually LISTEN to what people are telling him. That is the sticking point.
Hello there! And there is another problem I’ve identified as I wrote downthread:
lol @ re-quoting yourself
(chuckle) um ok
I hate to see this issue relegated to the “conspiracy nut” category and not resolved given the implications for future presidencies, but we have reached a point of no return, IMO.
I just keep thinking there are turning points in history and they are only clear in hindsight. If Larry is right and this is a good man Obama has appointed as National Security Advisor and he, along with Hillary, can turn things around, it will be a wonderful thing for America.
It might be better not to know the answers to questions about his citizenship, but the truth has a way of becoming known and, in this case, there is no good time.
elise,
Thankfully there are people like you here with common sense.
No one was more anti-0bama than I was. I did my part to spread the word about his lies and cover-ups. I voted McCain/Palin. I didn’t care about the threats of riots even though I live in a community where that would have been a factor. I didn’t care. For me, 0bama was inexperienced, unqualified, a liar, a cheat, a misogynist and a dirty politician who pulled every dirty trick in the book to get elected.
Well, he succeeded.
Now it’s a fait a compli. It’s over. I’ve accepted that.
Why?
Because the country would be thrown into sheer and utter chaos in a different way than if McCain had won. But McCain lost. And large numbers of people, not just AAs voted for 0bama, plus 10 million Republicans stayed home.
We are a small minority who have harbored suspicions without hard proof. Unfortunately, by not releasing a birth certificate, 0bama has cultivated deep suspicion among our minority. There have been many theories and most have chosen to believe that he wasn’t born here. I’m not so sure as I’ve always felt that another possible reason he didn’t reveal a BC was because it bore a different name and since he was dedicated to holding fast to the image of Barack 0bama, he didn’t want people to see that.
What if, backed into a corner, he does show his BC and this is the case?
Then what do we have? Nothing. And then the sympathy will all be on his side. That’s the last thing I want.
I let this go not because I’ve suddenly become enamored with 0bama, but because the country is in economic meltdown along with the reality that enough people voted for him that the disappointment would cut so deep as to make a lot of folks lose their bearings and not just AAs. Frankly, I think AAs would take it better than a lot of whites because we are used to disappointment and most believe that the society is racist and stacked against us.
It’s too late.
The msm, the Dem Party and even the Repubs in the know have not done their patriotic duty for political reasons. It should never have come to this.
0bama appears to be making good decisions. And that’s making it even worse. The process has moved forward and to derail it may just derail our Democracy because of the vulnerable position we are in here and abroad.
And whoever became president, it would be impossible to govern. Not to mention the chaos alone might give us more time under Bush/Cheney while things get sorted out. I don’t want that. But more important, given Bush’s approval ratings, the people don’t want it.
It reminds me of when Gore threw in the towel in 2000. It pissed me off. I wanted Gore to fight on. I still feel that way. Back then, the country was in a better state in spite of all the Clinton-haters who could not get over the bj. There was no war. We had a zero deficit and 9/11 had not happened. Gore could have prevailed. He won. But he conceded and one of his reasons was that he didn’t believe it would be good for the country.
Well, given our present state, this damn sure won’t be good for the country. It will add to our already heady woes, cause social unrest and leave us really vulnerable to attack.
I say, let the man govern and see what happens. In 4 years, toss him like we did Carter. Frankly, no president, not even Hillary was going to have an easy time of it after the mess Bush left. If the Repubs were willing to concede the WH, what’s up with the disgruntled bunch who seem to be dead set at derailing this man’s presidency after the voters made it clear they wanted him over McCain? Even as the dismal picture of the economy looms so large. Tell me, did McCain have such a great handle on the economy that we are being deprived of a better solution?
NO!
That’s why McCain lost.
Even though I wish Hillary would turn the SoS job down, I can’t deny, I feel safer with her on board. And let’s face it, he’s chosen people that Hillary would have chosen, for the most part.
The prospect of over-turning this presidency is starting to look like a personal hard-on and grudge given the big picture.
I don’t like this man any better than I did on Nov 3rd. But even I have accepted that it’s not about my feelings given that so many more people feel otherwise.
I said for months, I lived through Bush, I can live through 0bama. In fact, I’m hell-bent on doing so.
But in the meantime, I want to focus on making sure nothing like this ever happens again. Which is why I don’t tune into cable or network news, buy newspapers, visit the HuffPo, watch the Sunday shows. I keep up according to breaking news and alternative news sources. I go to the Library to read papers at least once-a-week. And I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for people of like mind who really want to make sure this never happens again.
I just see it as a HUGE gamble on our well-being. And since I am not absolutely sure that he wasn’t born here since I have no proof, I’ve let it go.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m still angry. But I refuse to let my anger turn me into a fool.
Larry, I hope you are right about Obama and the choices he’s made thus far. But, I hate that Obama aids and their MSM cronies keep referring to HRC as the drama queen. Conversely, they refer to Obama as No drama Obama. PLeeeaaaase! They need to stop whining and get on with governing, instead of carrying on as if they were still campaigning against HRC. In my view, Obama needs to replace such “aids” with people who can move forward.
***********
With regard to Rocky Mountain High’s post above —
Okay this is all wild speculation, but if this scenario bears out (that BO is not eligible), why would the presidency go directly to HRC? Wouldn’t it go to the Speaker of the House, Pelosi (ugh!!).
Also, why wouldn’t it go to Biden, since he is the elected VP? I think this is the likely scenario and would be the the least disruptive. If this is the case, then I hope Biden would select HRC as VP.
Hey, I can dream can’t I …?
You mean select Hillary as VP and then step back? Just saying, he admitted that she was more qualified.
To my knowledge, second in line is automatically the VP, if that doesn’t work out it’s the speaker aka Nancy Pelosi.
I don’t know if Biden would be free to select a VP or if the DNC would select?
If he is declared ineligible before the Electoral College meets, wouldn’t the Electors still be free to vote their conscience and not be bound for any one candidate or order of succession?
If Obama is already certified, I suppose the SC justice could refuse to administer the oath of office…
Either way, it certainly leads to the worst Constitutional crisis this country has ever faced.
Where and when did the qualification of two US parents w/out dual nationality get added in ?
Natural born is the condition stipulated in the Constitution and generally interpreted as native to US soil (Military base technically considered American territory). Nothing about citizenship or birthright more broadly.
And I am guardedly optimistic the Supreme Court will jelously guard their powers because it DOES matter that fundamental precepts Constitution be upheld regardless of voter will, Electoral status, timeline of Court proceedings or any other logistical roadblock.
Article II of the Constitution is the only place Natural Born Citizen is addressed (eligibility for president), and the framers added a grandfather clause. It states a “Natural Born Citizen, or a Citizen at the time of the adoption of this Consitution.”
The Framers make a distinction between Natural Born Citizen and citizen, and clearly added the clause since they were born on U.S. soil but were British subjects at birth (thus, NOT Natural Born Citizens). The interpretation of Article II (by Donofrio and others) is that the Framers clearly intended that a Natural Born Citizen must be born on U.S. soil and have no encumbrances on their citizenship. In other words, both parents must at least be citizens.
The 14th Amendment provides situations where a person can become a Citizen, by statute – such as when an illegal alien gives birth to a child in the U.S. But this child would NOT be a Natural Born Citizen as provided in Article II.
In regard to McCain, I have long thought that military bases are considered U.S. soil and that there was no issue in regard to McCain’s Natural Born status. I thought this UNTIL I researched Donofrio’s case. He cites the Foreign Affairs Manual that specifically provides that a military base overseas is NOT U.S. soil. Also, the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1790 provided “Natural Born” status upon a child born abroad of two U.S. citizen parents – but this was repealed in 1795 and the words “Natural Born” were removed.
Donofrio makes a pretty compelling case that neither McCain nor Obama are Natural Born Citizens, since McCain was born in Panama and Obama was born with U.S. AND British citizenship (later became Kenyan). The issue is definitely “ripe” for interpretation by SCOTUS, which is what really gives me some hope.
And remember the legislation ostensibly crafted by Obama and Hefty Clare to protect McCain. http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200804/041008c.html
No, it was insurance for Obama and, to me, consciousness of guilt. Look it up. YOu can find McCaskill’s hastily scrawled write-up posted online. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/29/obama_backs_law_to_ensure_mcca.html
OMG I am gonna PRAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
(glimmers of hope spring eternal)
W00T!!!
yes I am easily swayed when it’s something I would LIKE TO see come to pass…………… aren’t we all just a bit!! hehe!
YAYYYYYYyy! Please GOD let it be SO!!!
RMH–I hope you are right. It is what we have all been hoping for all along, living in the parallel universe of NQ.
Larry, what you have described looks comforting on the surface, but I am afraid it is the modus operandi of Obama. The art of co-optation.
Legitimate? You have a problem with democracy?
Larry,
I’m just glad Obama finally saw the terror briefings.
Welcome to the real world!!
LOL…is’nt that the truth?
Larry
I trust your judgement and am hopeful. Within the given boundaries of Obama’s character, this is good news. Thanks for your scrutiny.
Voter registration fraud.
Caucus fraud.
Birth certificate fraud.
Operation Board Games.
Marxist connections.
Stands to reason he’d be great at anything having to do with top secret affairs.
What ever — with a con man in the top office — he’ll just use diversion tactics so his best buddies can empty the furniture out of the US Treasury (since GWB and friends have looted the cash).
I agree. However, it will be fun to see all the pissed off banshee bots when they find out what a despicable two-faced, multi-personality liar their Anointed One really is. They will be crestfallen.
Nah, now that they “won” they are busy once again doing bong hits, ’schrooms and masturbating to Internet porn.
With their plastic chin-strapped beanies on and cheetoh dust around their mouths. ROFL
Ferd I got a kick out of this little exchange of yours from the woman president thread:
Thanks, Galt, I just shudder when I think there are allegedly intelligent adults out there who think that buffoon has an oratorical gift. He is to oratory as KFC is to chicken and MTV is to music. Oops…that explains it all. Mass-produced crap being passed off as inspired product.
Speaking in cliche Hollywood promoteresque: Get with the program, man! Mediocrity sells like hotcakes! Look at the success of American Idol. Welcome to the world of the staged American Idol presidency, brought to you by Analease Hemorrhoid Suppositories ™.
Ha! Ha! Ain’t that the truth, Northwest rain.
Northwest, the cash was not looted by Bush and friends. Democrats have been the ones pushing for federal regulations that forced financial institutions to make risky loans either though the threat of penalties from the Federal Reserve or through subsidies from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from regulations.
The regulations that mandated little or no down payments to risky borrowers posed little problem as long as housing prices rose, but when house prices started to fall, it meant that many people just walked away from mortgages that were worth more than their houses.
Bush may be blamed for many things but he and his friends did not loot the cash and he did not cause the financial problems. His sin was appointing a liberal Democrat, Henry Paulson, to be Secretary of the Treasury, in an attempted olive branch to the Democrats. Paulson filled important slots at Treasury with other liberal Democrats.
Bush does bear significant blame for letting Democrats control the debate. He bears significant blame for letting Paulson push and run the bailout. But that takes nothing away from the current economic problems being something that has Obama’s and the Democrats’ names all over it.
Bush can take blame for many unwise decisions during his Presidency but to be fair, the financial problem we now have is not one of them.
(Credit John R. Lott Jr. for some of these facts.)
Just to be real about this, Lee Ruth, Bush never vetoed a spending bill until the Dems took over the Senate and House in 2006. Millions of dollars disappeared in Iraq and KBR overcharged more millions and then moved to Dubai. The Dems are certainly not without sin and deserve a large share of the blame for the housing crisis, but we need to stop defending the indefensible and get past the party affiliation. If we don’t, nothing will ever change.
The republicans have had control of congress since the mid 90’s and the Presidency for 8 and even have a slightly stacked judiciary. What the hell have they bin doing the last 15 years? Those “evil” democrats must be pretty powerful to be able to run the country into the turf with a minority.
On the national level:
The end goal of Reagan’s trickle down economics was that the the tax cuts were going to spur growth and pay for themselves. The did spur some growth but the resulting revenue did not pay for the cuts.
We saw consecutive budget deficits through both of his terms, Bush Sr’s term and into Clinton’s first term.
The national debt went from ~$980 billion when Reagan took office to $5.5 trillion at the end of Bush Sr’s.
Clinton left office with the first two consecutive budget surpluses in 40 years.
Bush Jr took office with a rational debt of $5.6 trillion. He implemented trickle down part II and we have seen massive consecutive deficits again. I think they are predicted a $1.3 trillion dollar deficits this year. The national debt is around $10.7 trillion.
With old pre-bailout numbers they expect Bush policies to have added ~$7.2 trillion to the national debt by 2011. 42% of that is due to the tax cuts. They are not funding the cost of the government.
The middle class always pays as much in taxes as they can levy on us. The view never changes. What we got from the federal level from Bush’s tax cuts we had to pay in increased property taxes and fees at the state and local level to make up for the loss in high end revenue. We get taxed on most of what few dollars of expendable income we have with sales tax etc…
Meanwhile he upper few percent of income earners who are getting 50% of the tax cuts are getting fat while we paid as much as $4/a gallon for gas while American oil company profits soared >%500. That’s what took the economy over the edge.
I agree, I hope you’re right, Larry. I’m just not sure who is the real Obama and when will we find out.
Hey Folks,
You know I judge people on the merits.Obama has reached out to our side despite all that we saw in the campaign.
I’m surprised that many of you are concerned that Hillary will be hurt…So What!
Hillary is strong enough to lead and tkae whatever is dished up both foreign and domestic.
Thsi is how the deal was done between Obama and Hillary.
By this past Thursday, when Obama reassured Clinton that she would have direct access to him and could select her own staff as secretary of state, the wooing was complete.
“She feels like she’s been treated very well in the way she’s been asked,” said a close associate of Clinton.
Obama needs Leaders to help run the country.So far he has shown that ideology and cronyism are both far from his mind.
It was never about ideology but about his enormous ego that is in need of constant massaging. He’ll go to the highest bidder.
Seattle Moss: THANK PODESTA and all the Clinton pros running the show at this point. Granted it was good he reached out to them!
Moss, nice try. I luv ya’ but he did no such thing as “reach out” to Hillary. From what it seems it’s a desperate move because the sound of “WTF?” was being heard all over the world. Do you really believe this was a move that was from the warm and fuzzies of Fraudbama’s heart? I will embrace you being happy about HRC, although time will tell if she can get anything done. But “reaching out?” A small amount of vomit just dribbled onto my keyboard. Ughhhh….
Hold the graphic image OIAF
I agree with you…Really is a WTF moment.
The easy part for our Gamer in Chief was winning the Chicago way.
Now Obama has to Lead and he probably realizes that his own family let alone the rest of us are in imminent danger now that he won.
Hey Larry, just wanted to say I really enjoyed the piece. I think you are right that some of the progressives that backed Obama feel this is not quite who they were expecting when they voted. But I would contend that is because they weren’t paying close enough attention. As a progressive who, by the time of the DNC convention, backed Obama it was his mainly his pragmatism which I respected and appreciated the most and which I am glad to see him delivering. We’ve seen the consequences of too many yes people surrounding a sloppy hand.
Mike..
I will never respect Obama but I do so appreciate that in your mind and words you did at least have your own reason to vote as you did. I respect that and the way you just presented it.
Boy, is that an understatement. No offense, but I find it hard to believe you appreciated Obama was really a pragmatist in drag back in the days of his run-up to president. I think we are going to be hearing a lot of that same noise now from Obama’s supporters.
Nevertheless, I agree with you and Larry that the Obama transition team are making some very shrewd choices. I particularly pleased Hillary Clinton is being considered and even urged to accept (by the team) SOS responsibilities.
The question is, how much does Obama have to do with the people being selected? I suspect the team is doing the selecting and Obama’s merely signing-off. How will these choices pan out, given they all have strong ideas on the right thing to do? Again I don’t think Obama is one for details. But as with the transition team, as long as they don’t rock the boat, aren’t an embarrassment and through their efforts help Obama look good, their job is their own.
Now that HRC has his team, Obama and his aids need to stop campaigning against HRC. He needs to tell them to shape up or ship out. If their whining and harsh criticisms continue it is only for one reason — to sabotage HRC and get her out of their “team” as soon as possible. If Obama wants a successful presidency then he needs to shut these cry babies up! Seems to me they are the Drama Queens!
Larry this is good news. My concern is even with the best people around him there will be times when his advisers will be faced with 2 or more seemingly equally wise choices to make and there may not be the luxury of time for reflection or second guessing. In this dangerous world I would have much rather had a seasoned leader like Hillary or Mac at the helm when that happens. We’d have a better shot at a wise decision than with someone still using trainingwheels at the helm. I don’t feel comfortable hoping our president makes the right call. The money changers, MSM and DNC should have never interfered in the election: the people made the right call in Hillary. If their decision blows up in their faces they can only blame themselves and the puppet they selected for the rest of us.
There’s no doubt that progressive heads are exploding left and right. And I can’t help but feel that the “classified” update that all president-elects presumably get wouldn’t bring Obama, the King of Hopey-Dopey, to his knees. Wish I could have been a fly on “that” wall.
I feel considerably less stressed knowing “The One” is surrounding himself with competent, experienced people. Because the alternative would be disastrous.
Guess we won’t be having those face-to-face tea parties with terrorists.
Thank God!
Good piece, Larry. So, not only does The Pope of Hope draw from the Clintonista rostrum but selects a military, no-nonsense guy for NSA? And if Gates stays? Oh, the din from the far, far left–a wailing and gnashing of teeth. I can hear it even now.
That briefing must have rattled the rafters!
Which only goes to prove That One is the consumate liar. Had he indicated during the primaries what he would do, HRC would more than likely be the president since the bots would not have supprted That One. I now trust this provocateur even less than before, if that is possible. If he would lie to his own supporters, who else is he lying to?
Oh, I agree Fred. I’ve always thought Obama was an absolute fraud, pretending that he had some “secret” remedy to world peace. It’s nonsense. And I think he’d throw anyone and everyone under the bus for the sake of expediency. But at the very least, he’s surrounding himself with competent people, many of whom have not been total suckups.
Now, if he starts doing mass firings, we have something to worry about anew.
But right now? I feel considerably less stressed. And I do take a sadistic pleasure in reading the koolaid crowd’s angst and misery.
Call me cruel, but they so-o-o deserve it!
Peggy:
The bots deserve all the crap they can possibly eat.
That One will do whatever is necessary to continue to be the center of attention, including surrounding himself with competent people so that he may glow in the praise.
When the attention stops or subsides, though, that is when to look for trouble. Sarah Palin started taking attention away from That One ans she got roasted for it. I see the same happening with his cabinet officers and/or advisors. If they get too much attention, off to Antarctica with them.
Again, I agree Fred. The Obamatrons all deserve being sent a one-way pass to Antarctica themselves. You talk about a betrayal? This was a big one. We’ve been dealt a rotten hand with Barack Obama’s face on every card. But what do we do?
Stay awake. Keep our eyes wide open. And though I hate to sound grim, make sure your gun license is up to date. Big dogs wouldn’t hurt either. I’ve got two, very big furry critters, who love me dearly and aren’t partial to strangers.
And then, pray that there are still people in Washington who haven’t sold their souls.
Agreed. And I am taking all the necessary precautions, just in case he turns out to be as bad a president as I expect him to be.
make sure your gun license is up to date
we don’t need no stinkin
badges!papers!COLB!Its not sadistic pleasure. We have every right to enjoy watching justice handed out. People make decisions and do things contrary to the common good and life has a way of payback on these conscience decisions. Look at Bush, he looks worse than Gollum. This same fate awaits both the Obama’s. They will be consumed by their lust for power and how they achieved it. I sold my Galt’s Voodoo Doll Emporium when I figured this out.
Galt’s Pizza Parlor, nautical division
Currently operating on the Carpathia, close to the Titanic, piloted by Captain Trainingwheels
Whoa! I have a voodoo doll, Galt. Straight from New Orleans. It’s suppose to be for good luck [that's what the shop owner claimed].
But maybe I could turn it with a few pins and needles, placed ever so carefully in the tender spots!
I do agree, however. I think the Obamas got themselves in way over their heads. And though the voodoo doll is for fun, I do believe in a cosmic justice: you get what you put out.
And the “getting” can be very surprising.
Care for a cocktail or nice imported beer as we watch cosmic justice handed out?
I recall the Wicca believe payback is thrice, so all the more better! 
The payback is indeed thrice. Peggy should wrap the voodoo doll in pink and put it in her freezer.
Good idea. That will give him major chilblains for sure! Will be kinda hard to hold a coke spoon if that’s the case and he’s into that sort of thing.
The cold will do him good and the pink takes away his power. And if he really needs to, there’s always frost to snort.
I read once that jail cells painted in pink have calmer inmates. And probably also have the side benefit of some prisoners taking up ballet.
Ooh–I don’t need THAT visual.
Could you imagine That One in a tutu? A stick in tights. Hahahahaha
Thanks Larry for this background information. Helps me sleep better at night.
The Telegraph-UK is reporting along this that BO has been taking advice from Brent Scowcroft “for months”* and that this is why Gen. Jones will be named NSA.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3502411/Barack-Obama-accused-of-selling-out-on-Iraq-by-picking-hawks-to-run-his-foreign-policy.html
Re. Gates I read somewhere his “advice to GWB” vis a vis Iran hasn’t been that wise.
LJ: what’s your read of this?
* I thought Bent Scowcroft had endorsed McCain…How come he was advising BO for “months”?
I was wrong I guess. A Google search points to the fact that Bent Scowcroft refused to endorsed McCain…
Now we know why: he was secretly advising BO….
I have to say I am disappointed on him….I mean I am glad he is helping BO now but not that he was batting for BO’s team through the GE –or even before– I didn’t know this…
I guess it really was Iraq and the inside “war” and schism b/t the “neocons” and the “conservative pragmatists” within the Republican Party the reason why Lugar, Hagel, Scowcroft didn’t endorsed McCain and Powell endorsed BO… (I am shaking my head here).
If BO were really concerned about the national security of the U.S., he never would have conspired to steal the nomination and election in the first place. Apparently, he is no less concerned for the security of American now than he was 25 years ago when he should have registered for selective service.
Yep — no one as unqualified and LAZY as 0-zero would have run for president if he were really concerned about America.
He & Mrs 0 — ran as people who HATED America. They have cheated, and stolen their way through life.
When it comes to the point where 0-zero will need to make a decision — we can count on him to make the WRONG decision. Because he has no knowledge in his head based on EXPERIENCE. Because he has never done the little jobs — with little decisions — because he is lazy.
He can’t prove other wise — because he refused to release any records.
Bozo GWB also was lazy — but at least he had a little CEO experience. GWB has continued to make the wrong decisions. But of course GWB chose some religious right nuts for important positions.
GWB and 0-zero are twins.
GWB is a miserable failure — and 0-zero will be a miserable failure.
Arrogance and ignorance, bad enough alone but truly dangerous in tandem, are their defining characteristics. That One is just an AA Dubya.
Obama will have a much easier time working with the different agencies because all the regular employees are Democrats. They will work for Obama as much as they worked against GWB.
My many dealings with government employees did not indicate any such bias. They are inert bureaucrats, irrespective of who occupies the WH.
My experience has been just the opposite.
Of course, not all employees are biased but many are, especially at State and CIA…
Though certainly departments can be as political as those Rove and Bush tried to implement, any bias would compromise, and ultimately destroy, the function of any given entity.
Right?
Therefore harming the ability of the US to compete.
And the country will suffer for it again.
thank you Larry for the information. I have my doubts as to this being a decision made by Obama though. I’m sure one of his 300 advisors made the recommendation or perhaps one or more of his many Clinton people.
I have a feeling the heads exploding are just beginning. Stay tuned…film at 11
NQers tried in vain to tell the bots That One was a liar and that they should reconsider their support. I hope their tiny little heads are exploding–it serves them right.
My conscience is clear because I tried to warn the propeller beanie heads too. I will enjoy watching them wallow in the swill of their own making.
That sounds so childish, Galt. Can you even process the information that Larry presented in this post? Or is everything about wishing for disaster so you can have the pleasure of watching people suffer?
watching people suffer ubc? now just exactly what happened on election night and shortly thereafter with the “progressives” and their response to hillary supporters? what about the aa’s attack on the clintons? talk about hate all you will but don’t forget to include that. and no it is not so yesterday? it is still with us?
and no i don’t wish disaster, but it doesn’t bother me to see the really mean obama supporters suffer from having the illusions bashed. not at all!
I think we have a right to enjoy watching justice handed out by the universe, especially considering many of us have been victims of threats, harassment and stalking. The Obama supporters wanted Obama at all costs. Now they have to pay the price. This suffering is of their own doing. Pay no mind to lectures from people who now put a revisionist view of their own behavior during the campaign and now act holier than thou.
“Progressives” who turned a blind eye since primaries began will be the first to turn on their chosen messiah come March. Cognitive dissonance will rip their realities apart week after week until they are railing at the moon.
Meanwhile, today I read a comment from a conservative someone who hated Obama all year. The guy said he might be “warming up” to O. because of all the “hardline warmongers” he’s putting in the cabinet.
LMAO! How ironic and the poor Oborgbots! Some of which threatened, harassed and stalked some of us Hillary/Mac supporters to get Chockablock Opampers into office. What will they do when they realize Chockoblock is not acting “progressive” to their liking? Chockoblock’s got thousands of Secret Service agents and Chockoblock won’t take any shit from the weasels like we had to take from them. Oh the irony is sweet. I still sell popcorn.
Wow. So a lying cheater is OK if his lying and cheating is on the correct side of the political spectrum. How quaint of that conservative.
Personally, I can take those of a different political persuasion so long as they’re honest about it.
I have a difficult time reconciling Obama’s electoral tactics, his relationship to Chicago, with this new found NSC pragmatism.
Same old shit.
Though certainly I wish them well, if only for being the serious professionals they no doubt appear to be…
Connie, and Gates?
If Rumsfeld and Cheney are a leaky, speeding, out of control boat, how do you steer it?
Carefully.
I’m glad that it appears to people more knowledgable than me that 0bama is making good choices.
Why is it that I feel that if Hillary had been elected she would have made some of these very choices?
I certainly want the country to move on from the dire Bush years into a new and better day.
But 0bama showed sides of his personality that I will never forget, forgive or respect. He does not deserve adoration.
Not even if he governs spectacularly. (That’s not a tough feat considering the act he’s following.) In my eyes he’s a liar and a cheat.
If he seems to be on track to do good, well to me, that’s what he’s been hired to do. POTUS is a job! He wanted it. So he better do it well because that’s what he is supposed to do! What he was elected to do!
If he wants applause and Standing O’s, then he should have been an actor.
My words to 0bama: do the job! Let posterity take care of itself.
I think these are Hillary’s choices, for the most part.
This probably would have been her Cabinet.
I know that’s right!
Because indeed she would have. Who is running the show now after all? The Clinton people!!
In the economy “dream team” almost all of them were HRC’s supporters!!
Why is it that I feel that if Hillary had been elected she would have made some of these very choices?
Well, mimi… how about judging by some of the poor choices she made in staffing her campaign? Such as having to replace her campaign manager midstream… and having two warring camps inside her own campaign trying to backstab each other?
Obama ran a sharp and efficient campaign team, so it makes sense to me that he’d know how to handle the right people for a given job and manage them accordingly.
^ I mean “hire the right people for a given job.”
Yeah mimi. Hillary should have hired people like those who came up with the brilliant
bussing in thugs from other statesbetter organized caucus strategy. And thegive the same nauseating and borrowed hopey changeysermon on the mount type inspirational speech strategy.Oh then there’s the
play the race cardclearly illustrate the candidates’ differences strategy. And last but not least, theleave no paper trailgrass roots fundraising strategy.Wow, no wonder he won. Brilliant, simply brilliant.
Fortunately for us, now it’s the “yeah what Hillary said” strategy.
If he’s buys into the bs, you know, that this election was won, as opposed to, oh, fixed, he’s sunk.
Like Cheney.
They still have to govern, and they’re unqualified.
ubm, that’s funny! sharp as a knife is more like it. and IF THEY WERE SO GREAT AND WONDERFUL, HOW COME MOST OF THEM AREN’T WORTH HIS TIME NOW ELECTED? HUH? WAITING?
Well Obama the epic charlatan warned everyone he was a blank screen – and that they would be disappointed. It’s clear that no one knows him – or those from his past that do aren’t talking.
So the fruit-loops on the Left will perhaps discover the truths of their Messiah, for the first time, along with the rest of us. They’ll simply rationalize for slick BO whatever the course he takes – just like the morons on the Right would do.
But nothing Obama does henceforth changes his past actions – and the fact that the One is a slick bamboozling fraud.
A lot around Obama stinks, he has dealt with highly unreputable men like Rezko, and Auchi, a man attempting to do business off the war, in Iraq.
And in Europe.
And in Russia.
Even the Pentagon wrote him up, canceling a contract due to suspected money laundering and arms trading, his hands everywhere from London, to the Kremlin.
So, why dont people like Scowcroft, and Jones, understand the greater implications?
Unimportant, doesn’t matter, business as usual, what?
Americans, at war, DIED in Iraq.
Quaint concepts in this modern age?
I’m happy he seems to be placing good people in important foreign matter positions, and to be sure, it’s a sigh of relief, but we have a long way to go to see how matters are pursued-both internationally and domestically.
I am not that amazed LJ… I am very glad but not amazed. After all it is Podesta and the people that got trained during the Clinton Adm. that are running the show (ie. transition, appointments, etc) at this point.
Like a commenter Jake Tapper’s note (about Ellen Moran from EMILY’s list being named Communications Director!)
said:
Andy, I posted this upthread and it why delegator-in-chief could lead to disaster:
Yes, so correct you are.
Well Larry as torn as I am about Hillary as SOS since I don’t trust Obama not to either use her as the fall guy or just dump her in a short amount of time it would make me feel more secure with her there.
And as far as the rest of the team if you feel it is good, then that gives me some hope because I trust you. Thank you !
They entire cabinet is being set up for one purpose — to get our new president off his shiny new training wheels and into traffic. Once the four lane highway hits and Obama thinks he’s is cruisin right along — it’s look out for your back, everyone.
Hillary is actually less likely to be thrown under the bus than the lesser knowns. My opinion.
I think you are right that some of the progressives that backed Obama feel this is not quite who they were expecting when they voted
I too have been shocked and pleased at BO’s choices and Larry I am so happy to see a positive post here for a change !! I have missed being here but I can not stay connected to an environment that is wallowing in
hate, rage and stuck in grief that will not heal. It is psychologically unhealthy emotionally self defeating to continue acting out of anger. Let it GO people. Hillary will do a brilliant job and she has moved FORWARD and I hope all of you who ever admired Hillary will look to her as an example and get the fuck over it already.
Fall down seven …stand up EIGHT
Good to know, Indy, stick around!
If we can make that fall down 3 stand up 4 we might have a deal
Indy said..
Hillary will do a brilliant job and she has moved FORWARD and I hope all of you who ever admired Hillary will look to her as an example and get the fuck over it already.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
This is a Hillary blog..We should be ecstatic that America will be safe with Hillary guiding foreign policy…
The question is, will Obama’s people get over it? Since the GE, they’ve been so angry because they’ve “won.” Now, they seem to still be campaigning against HRC, calling her the drama queen, etc. I think they need to get over their rage and hatred over HRC.
Everyone is dealing with things in their own way. There’s no right or wrong way to respond to what’s been happening. It is a better environment for all of us when we don’t judge each other or tell each other what to do or how to feel.
I have suspected for a while that Obama is a closet NeoCon or a puppet for the same people who were behind Bush…I’ve had this up on my site for a while now:
http://hillaryorbust.com/obama-neocon/
And…I don’t think it’s too soon to say “I told you so”…love seeing Kos and OpenLeft freaking out over this stuff:
http://hillaryorbust.com/2008/11/i-told-you-so/
Thanks for that. I was wondering when the “I Told You So” tattoo would be appropriate…It’s time!
Hillary or Bust,
Quite the visionary you are!!!
The two camps either thought that Obama was going to be a Marxist out of the gate or another Bush.
I think that the world economic collapse plus daily briefings of the next attack have utterly scared Obama.
I’m glad that Obama has left his lice headed hippies behind.
Obama is growing up fast!
Frankly, I’d rather have NeoCons running things than Marxist hippies.
My take on NeoCons is that they have their agendas but are smart enough to (for the most part) leave capitalism alone and let people live their lives.
Marxist hippies, however, want to turn America into China.
So I’ll take a NeoCon any day over a communist, even though I’d prefer a real democracy.
Supply side free market massive deregulation?
We have this current economic disaster due to the neocon economic theory, Strauss, et al, the wars, empire?
They’re the same as the “Marxist hippies,” really, they are, they have many of the same financiers in common.
The market meltdown is due to the housing bubble, which I don’t think was a NeoCon plan or intention.
And no, I don’t trust them, I just feel they probably prefer the “status quo” and a quelled populace than a hungry, angry populace looking to rebel and create chaos.
Why?
Why did we get a housing bubble?
Why did we get a housing bubble?
Hellloooooo…it was the Democrats and ACORN pushing loans to people with bad credit and no verifiable income…don’t blame that one on the NeoCons…
That is correct. But I would add that regulatory oversight during the last 8 years has been essentially nonexistent.
This is not why we are in financial trouble, today. The free market works just fine. It was the financial market regulations that went after so-called predatory lenders who were charging “too high” an interest rate to poor, risky borrowers. Forcing banks to charge even lower interest rates to these risky borrowers caused the meltdown when the rates went up and the borrowers could not make the payments on their loan.
If this is your rational, your free to stick with it, if you’re wrong, nothing can change a failed market, unable to recover, until the truth is discerned.
We are only as good as our prevailing intellect.
And needless to say, I disagree.
Oh noes! KOS under the bus? Say it aint so!
Hillary of Bust — I’ve been saying this for some time now. Obama = GWB, the sequel. Different puppet, same puppet masters. BTW, Karl Rove always speaks in such glowing terms of Obama. I wonder why?
oh i said as much with my “new boss same as the old boss comments.”
And everlasting hospitality for any and all haters of women –
“Lawrence Summers to Head National Economic Council
Wall Street Journal – 53 minutes ago
By JONATHAN WEISMAN President-elect Barack Obama will name former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers the director of his National Economic Council, placing the Harvard University economist he passed over for Treasury secretary inside the White House …”
… I guess Barry thinks he threw “The New Agenda” a bone when he passed this bum over for Treasury. Women, take note … he’s not done yet.
Actually, I’ve lost interest, same old same old, but, then, who expected anything different?
Well, I truly hope Clinton is able to make some headway with Russia, the best one can hope for, in the end.
Otherwise, business as usual.
And I hope they show Obama’s crew where the 911 button is, Bush used his, frequently…
As did Cheney.
Yeah, only now the Alert colors will be:
Rouge
Tangerine
Chartreuse
Emerald
Azure
Summers made the deal that he will become Federal Reserve Chairman in 2010 when Bernake’s tenure expires.
summers will NEVER BE FED CHAIRMAN. who wants his sorry self? he screwed up in his last job. he is so not needed or wanted.
I am sure Obama’s Commission on Gender will fix all of that “stuff”.
An objective look at the foreign policy/security element in the Clinton Admin shows up many negatives.
The wolf pounced on Sept 11 -but it had been watching, planning (even in America’s frontyard).
But it happened on Bush’s watch. And he still hasn’t nabbed bin Laden. You’ll get little support here for that sort of post.
Clintonistas & even GWB operatives are facing a different world .
Russia was on the ropes till rescued by Putin’s economic savvy. USA is in a position that has similarities but like China -all the mass political /social changes are to come.
I dont expect there will be many partying like its 1999.
In a month or so we’ll b partying like it’s 2009
Or maybe 1929.
as long as we’re not saying nein
They were, actually, it was Bush who put the brakes on.
I’m more interested in the financial set up, really, the lead in to the financial devastation under Bush.
Last Sunday, Eliot Spitzer wrote a wonderful essay in the WAPO explicating how we arrived in our current economic dilemma, a lot of the set up occurring under Clinton, the same business people, though, common to both administrations.
Another poster mentioned economic terrorism — how would one know?
Someone must.
Our broken economy certainly undermines our defense department, our ability to protect our national security, yet so many in our govt charged with protecting it made money off of the wars.
Exploding bot heads are fun to watch!
But the mess they leave behind is nasty.
Not a problem.
You’re quite the entrenpreneur, Galt. LMAO.
personally, I like the cat herding supplies the best. I have two dogs I like to try it out on.
ACK! ACK ACK!
In light of the coverup we’re observing today: Jim Garrison, thank you for being the only person in America with the balls to bring about a trial in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfp3t1EnxZE&feature=related
“It was twenty years ago today, sgt pepper taught the band to play…”
I have no idea why, but I always think of that song on this anniversary.
Not disrespectfully…
Well, isn’t that just swell. Let’s all forget how he got to where he is and drink the kool-aid ’cause The Pretender is making some good choices, and after all, isn’t that the most important thing? Let’s forget that he’s a product of corrupt Chicago politics and lied and cheated and back stabbed his way up the ladder. If he can live up to the hype, nothing else matters, right? Let’s all give thanks for the good choices, we can all sleep better now, knowing that The Pretender’s appointing people who’ll do a good job running the country for him.
Actually, I haven’t been sleeping so well lately. As a woman, one who personally experienced sexism at its worst in the workplace, I feel like this country has taken a gigantic step backwards in its treatment of women because of The Pretender, and that doesn’t feel so swell.
I’m totally with you. I will not forgive… I will not forget… I will not reward him for what he has done!!
Agree completely. Even IF an Obama Presidency does not destroy this country; by acquiescing to the reign despite the manner of ascendancy, we are legitimizing this conduct. What happens if the next best pretender to the throne turns out not to be so beneficent?
To many people seem to be warming up to Obama just because he picked Hillary for SOS. Give me a break. Thats like being content that your rapist is finally taking you out on a date.
Excellent retort to those who would forgive that lying, sexist, four-flusher.
I will never jump on the warm fuzzies bandwagon.
I am running a twofer special! Two demons of your choice exorcised for the price of one! Only 1999 Quatloos! Act now and get coupon good for a cruise down the River Styx!
Not sure about River Styx but I`ve been up shit creek on more than one occasion.
Me, too. It’s OK to be up shit creek without a paddle. It’s when you’ve lost your canoe that the trouble begins.
I just dreamt about a guy, wearing a crumpled business suit, walking around with a paddle, no water, no canoe, though.
Wasn’t quite sure what it meant…
I bet it means someone didn’t come prepared and he’s getting an oval office in his immediate future.
It was an older white guy, though, grumpy, remember the end of the TV show, Taxi?
“Goodnight, Mr Walters?”
Him.
Either that, or Larry Summers…
And you’ll get a view of That One’s winter retreat, to boot!
LMAO
Yeah, I am seeing little too much of the Stockholm syndrome here. He may be the POTUS-elect, but I remain the opposition.
SF Indie says…”Actually, I haven’t been sleeping so well lately. As a woman, one who personally experienced sexism at its worst in the workplace, I feel like this country has taken a gigantic step backwards in its treatment of women because of The Pretender, and that doesn’t feel so swell.”
I always thought that this was the year of the woman. As a guy I have worked my heart out for both Hillary and Sarah and have watched with utter dismay the MSM plus other women tear up these candidates.
Women jealous of other women…That is what I have learned this year
I’m just glad that Hillary who I always voted for because of her strength and core beliefs on foreign policy is now running the department.
Seattle Moss, let’s not lay the blame on “women jealous of other women”. That’s simply a symptom of a greater disease. Yes, there are, and always have been, women who don’t support other women. There are women who feel threatened by other women, who fear losing their place – in the home, in the workplace, in the world – to another woman. I don’t condone it, but as long as women are relegated to inferior status, especially in the workplace, which includes our government, and aren’t given an equal chance (and we all saw the sexism and misogyny and double standards of this primary and election season) that’s not going to change.
Unless and until we get to the causal factor – society’s acceptance of sexism and misogyny – and hold accountable everyone who participates in that behavior, it will never change. And I don’t see anyone demanding accountability right now of the MSM, the DNC, or the President-(s)elect.
And I don’t believe Hillary is running anything. As far as I’m concerned, she gave up her voice in the Senate to become the voice of someone else. Her choice, her reasons, but I don’t have to approve of it or be happy about it.
I agree with your general sentiment.
One of the things the feminist movement has been really bad about addressing is the proliferation of pornography culture. It used to be stripping was an unseen profession and now it’s glorified. Half the time you turn on a TV show and they start off with a main character hanging out in a strip joint somewhere.
I am not saying we should never show scenes in strip clubs – sometimes it fits the story – but we’ve gone overboard with the sleaze. Our culture has degraded dramatically since the 1990s with the advent of Howard Stern, Maxim magazine, Tom Leykis, the Pussycat Dolls, Girls Gone Wild, the Bunny Ranch, etc etc.
Women will never get respect as long as this one-sided sexualization continues.
Susan Faludi – Backlash – she wrote that way before all this stuff happened.
I’m gonna be the one to say this cause y’all seem scared to.
Who is this obamatron and what has he done with Larry??
I mean, et tu Larry? Did they get to you somehow?
I think you are reading way too much into Larry moving on after the election. He won’t stop being critical. You happened to catch a thread where he feels he is giving credit where credit is due. We can’t fault the dude for that and there is no conspiracy here at all.
Come on guys, some of these comments are so way off topic. I think Larry brought up a very serious topic here and let’s give him some respect and provide some comments that is relevant to his post. We could talk about the BC on some other open forum topic.
Do you think Mr. Johnson that one may surrond themselves with very smart people and then not “LISTEN”? Once told…??
I have seen many an example of BO’s earwax.
Two questions.
1)Does General Jim Jones get to picl his LT’s?
2) Does the level of contracting in the security apparatus of the US government preclude any reform?
I have the impression that those agendas are a mixed bag after the last 8 years.
Hard to clean house.
Larry,
Thanks for putting up another great photo of Hillary.
Living History..
I have faith that Hillary will save America
I agree with Seattle that we must move on but we must not forget what has happened. A racist AA person is President because of white guilt and other AAs stabbing the Clintons in the back. That’s what happened!
Its time to organize some kind of resistance. Maybe supporting Lieberman, a democrat who actually stood up and was not afraid of being called a racist. I hope now that anti affirmative action measures start popping up. Its really necessary anymore.
We need to try somehow to get more moderate republicans in control. Anyone of them could have beaten Obama! If only he had chosen Kay Hutchison or Ridge or Olympia Snowe or even Susan Collins.
Anyway, after this election, I will never ever view AAs in the same light again, and I’m sure I am not the only one! Sorry for the rant but my anger won’t be subsiding for a long time!
Hello Warehouse.
The other night I made a mistake about Olympia Snowe.I got her mixed up with Susan Collins who is a real sweetheart from Maine.
Olympia doe have what it takes as moderate to seize control.
The republican party needs to become the party for women. Equal Opportunity and fairness in the workplace and elsewhere. Republicans could go far in bringing programs to help women after they give birth and make abortion rare but maybe modify their right wing stance.
I admire your ability to put aside your personal feelings for the sake of the country Seattle, but to help Obama is also to validate his theft of primary and the presidency.
I don’t want people to suffer and yet I don’t want Obama to succeeed. I am so conflicted. He should not be allowed to get away with what he did. Democrats might do this again maybe with Jesse Jackson Jr or Deval Patrick .
Maybe Lieberman should formally become a republican. His time as a democrat is limited and I don’t want to see him destroyed like Hillary.
Warehouse..I’m not validating Obama.
I fear for my country..At this point all I want to see is competent people to get a handle on the economy before everyone is out of a job..I have never seen anything as scary as what I see now. I have many people that depend on me for their families. I have to think about them!
As for foreign policy. I’m a realist who believes that our enemies are gathering against us. New alliances against America are forming and the US will be tested for it’s power..
I have voiced my concern on this blog for months about the retreat and defeat that Obama and the left represented.
Now I sleep better knowing that the foreign policy that I believe and voted for in Hillary will continue to be the reality.
When Rice was made director of the NSC I heard two voices decrying her as a bad choice. Those two dissenters were Larry Johnson and Scott Ritter. Both were right. I’ll go with Mr. Johnson’s POV on this one too.
Re some of the other comments:
I don’t want Obama to fail either. That does none of us any good. He’s not my choice but as Mr. Rumsfeld said – you go with the POTUS you have not the POTUS you wish you had.
As for the Supremes:
They won’t swim against the tide either. The whole BC/citizenship thing is a wash. Unfortunately, because Bush was never called to account for his violations of the Constitution I don’t think any POTUS, no matter the party, will be held accountable unless the bottom drops out completely.
I neither criticize nor defend Rice, but to understand, one must always take into account Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld.
If they both attacked the country so stridently, if only in terms of dismantling the Constitution and starting and selling a blatantly illegal war (IMO), I can only imagine what the White House must have been like, with Bush, for all practical purposes, ceding complete control, dictorial powers, to the VP.
The Hillary thing.
From his point of view, brilliant.
She’s either outside, with 18 million votes, ready to ride to the rescue if he stumbles, or she’s on the team and invested in its success.
Machiavelli lives on. Smart move.
From her point of view, who the hell knows what she thinks any more.
But she has certainly confirmed what we pretty much knew already. You can’t believe a word she says.
Should fit right it with the Obama-Nation.
You seem to think you are right inside Hillary’s head–quite arrogant actually. Do you really think you have a better view of her choices–and the complex political realities of DC–than she does? From my p.o.v., she is concerned about the security of this country, and is being given an opportunity to do something about it. It has nothing to do with Obama–she is serving her country, just as she has done for almost 40 years. How about you?
We all have our take, I suppose, but we live and die on the basis of our ability to properly analyze the information we see.
No matter how good it may look for the short term, if you’re wrong, you don’t survive.
I can live with him succeeding. As long as he continues to do it in a way that will undoubtedly piss off all of his most ardent supporters.
I’m glad to hear about Jones. Deferring to Larry’s judgment.
i researched jones. he was appointed as a special middle east envoy under bush. he was head guy for the marines.his politics? i can’t get a read. that might be a good thing.
Anybody who thinks the Supreme Court is going to take the Presidency away from the first AA President Elect, legitimately or not, is not thinking in a politically correct manner. Honestly, this would cause AAs to riot all across this country.
Its time to move forward but we can still make progress. My first suggestion is for republicans to test Obama’s truthfulness on the issue of transcending race. Propose altering affirmative action so that it would be applied economically instead of on the basis of race.
What would he do?
I am only slightly reassured by this turn of events. While it’s nice to have good people in these positions, the whole problem as I see it with the new administration and the company he keeps is a domestic one rather than international one anyway. With the likes of Ayers now head of AERA and the whole idea of the 60s activism, so much of which was related to community organizing, they have no real trouble with the people abroad. It’s the people at home whom they are trying to correct and bring down. If this guy has some kind of problem with ego and the First Amendment, can’t stand being criticized, and has a number of prominent associates who are here but don’t like America, we’re going to feel it. Foreign policy is second bananna. Secretary of State and National Security Advisors are pretty irrelevant. Afrer all, we need a national civlian security force with as much money backing it as our military abroad, so do you see my point?
This is good Larry. All the other stupid stuff about him is a minor annoyance compared to the thought that his stupidity might get us blown up or taken over by middle eastern extremist whackjobs. Hopefully, he will actually let the guy do his job.
Once he gets that basketball court, his cabinet can send him to play while they actually run the country.
Uppity said:
What does this mean? Muslim terrorists could seize control of the United States, thanks to Obama?
Please explain this conspiracy theory.
I wouldn’t label UW comment “a conspiracy theory,” why do you?
Larry, I agree. Obama seems to make some good choices on the national security front.
Interesting facts and assessment as usual from Larry. You knew all along that the elder Bush’s NSA wasn’t going to endorse McCain. Remember the OP ED piece before the war started, he was simply doing it for GHWB that crowd totally disagreed with the war.
As for Hillary, I am guessing that she belives she can accomplish more on the inside that outside. She must have received some type of assurance, hopefully in writing from the president-elect, which when he tires of her, she can post on the Web.
I was looking forward though, to the Big Dawg telling us in January, exactly what went on inside the campaign from his perspective. Despite Obama’s victory, he will have a long way to go to catch up with Bill Clinton. I guess Kate Snow will have to wait for that interview.
I’m glad you have confidence in Jones. I also read that he and Clinton like and respect each other. Of course, the security of the country is foremost. Having said that I have to respond to one line you wrote:
If that is true, then the Obama presidency may actually live up to the hype and achieve some great things on the foreign policy and national security front.
There is no way for Obama to “live up to the hype,” because they have dubbed him the MESSIAH, savior of the world. Proportion, people. Of course, they will continue to frame him as the BEST PRESIDENT EVAH! no matter what he does or doesn’t do. The media is too invested in his success–it is their success.
Actually, I think it’s kind of a hopey hopey hopey thing, this team.
We’ve kind of seen it before.
Obama is corrupt, I would like to look at Scocroft’s, and Jone’s business dealings.
And I also question those government officials who don’t question Obama’s corruption, and associations.
You can’t do business with guys like Auchi, and Chicago, and run the country, your first loyalty cannot be to your campaign donors, Obama, like Cheney, and the rest, are pay to play guys.
And a guy like Auchi works against America, really, given his criminal record.
Hardly the harbinger of a new American epoch.
No one forgot.
While I agree about the appointment of James Jones, you have allowed your hate of the Bush Administration to get in the way of facts.
It was Condi Rice who appointed James Jones as special Middle East envoy. So how do you qualify Rice’s bad judgment and the appointment of Jones? Which is it?
As far as the balance of your comments, you cannot actually believe that assuming Clarke did make substantive warnings about Al Qaeda (which were unheeded by Clinton himself otherwise there would never have been a problem for Bush) that anyone had a clue that there was sufficient information to close down airports and search for terrorists on any given day?
And as far as today, it is a fact that we have not been attacked on these shores and that is not an accident.
Also, as far as the Middle East anyone who believes that the remote possibility of a peace in that region could exist with people like Saddam Hussein and Yassar Arafat still alive does not know the history of these people.
Can you explain your reasoning?
Kind of a leap of logic to blame Clinton for 9.11.
You can’t blame anyone for the 9/11 event. However it was the Clinton Administration that placed the wall between the FBI and the CIA and it was the Clinton Administration that did not recognize the al-Qaeda problem as a war. It recognized it as a police action.
If you choose to believe your reasoning, OK.
I disagree.
Yeah, right. For all the god damn bluster about a “war on terror” (more rightly called a war on the Constitution) coming from Chimpy McFlightsuit (bring ‘em on; wanted dead or alive), we sure haven’t gotten bin Laden, yet. I’ll take competence over arrogance any day. A competent person such as WJC can make a mistake and correct it. An arrogant one like Smirky doesn’t even know he made a mistake.
How exactly did WJC correct his mistakes and when? As I recall bin laden was still alive on 9/11.
Even worse, he’s still alive on 9/11…2008
He may or may not be alive but more importantly no Americans have died in the U.S. since 9/11/01 and even more importantly that would not have happened if Clinton had the guts to pull the trigger on his watch.
telling me that no Americans have died in the US since 9/11 is of little comfort. 3000+ died on 9/11. Then, after letting bin laden go, boy george pulled the troops out of Saudi Arabia… LOL just like his boy bin laden wanted him too. No troops in saudi, no attacks on America, republicans coddling the reptile that they claimed to want dead or alive. I guess it was a good deal for the conservative movement… but not so much for the families of the dead.
Can’t blame it on anyone eh? this is telling of the wretched depths that evangelic conservatism has sunk to when after all we’ve just been through, you bastards can let OBL and GWB off the hook in the same paragraph that you blame Bill Clinton. Pepperoni is that only thing left worth putting on your movements tombstone.
In the years leading up to 2001 we needed a real commander-in-chief – - not a rockstar.
We had one. But you republicans felt it was more important to the nation to accuse his wife of murdering one of her best friends, and to impeach her husband for getting a blow job. But then I guess that was just the high point of your wretched depths.
What does that have to having bin Laden in your sights and not having the guts to pull the trigger?
ah, the fuzzy video from the global hawk that showed a guy taller then the guys around him. LOL that’s what you right fringers have your panties in a wad over? Hmm, now lets compare that to boy george having bin laden surrounded at Tora Bora a mere month or so after 9/11, but letting him go. Nope, your wretched depths reign supreme.
My sentiments exactly, Wwildchild. Boy George bragged about wanting bin Laden “dead or alive” and then proceeded into Iraq, a place bin Laden never frequented, leaving Osama high and dry. The bushbots, like That One’s minions refuse to own their leader, preferring instead blame-shifting. Ain’t that right, BJ? Why be accountable when all you have to do is blame someone else? Such an honorable way of doing things.
Boy George should not have had bin Laden around when he became President. Get it?
The fact is that 3,000 people died on 9/11 because the Clinton Administration screwed up our intelligence ability, treated terrorism against the U.S. as a common crime, ignored the recommendations coming out of the Gore Commission to dramatically increase airport security, and did not have the guts to have someone pull a trigger to kill bin Laden – and more than once. And Bill knows it.
http://www.mtv.com/videos/paul-simon/58756/boy-in-the-bubble.jhtml
Just because it feels so 90’s, today, and for whatever reason, this song seems to belong here…
Thanks, Larry, I rely on your sound analyses of Obama appointments – do not watch MSM news anymore.
great news Larry, I have my fingers crossed :0)
His mother is a natural born citizen of the United States of America. That makes him an natural born citizen duhhh! It is also the law my fellow amatuer constitutional law professors. But you guys already knew that. So why are you knowly spreading lies about our next President. It sounds so very unpatriotic. Stop the madness people please. Redeem ourselve before its to late. And your insanity engulf you all. Gooood Bless Americaaaaaa laaaand that I looovve.
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