Moving the Goalposts
Posted by Michael Link on March 26, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Just how do you define success in Iraq? It's one of the points that McCain's no-policy policy address today was expected to address, and it's now different than the definition he gave a couple months ago. It seems what's meant by "success" keeps changing, perhaps to allow us to stay there for another 100 years?
January 4, 2008 (AP): "He listed several elements of what he considers success, including the reduction of American causalities, the removal of U.S. troops from the front lines and having Iraqis take over more responsibility for their government. The hardest measure of success to achieve will be establishing the rule of law, he said."
Today: "Success in Iraq... is the establishment of peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic states that pose no threat to neighbors and contribute to the defeat of terrorists."
A clear difference. But the next question is, "where did this new definition of success come from?" Thanks to Google, it's a question with an easy answer: the Bush/Cheney White House.
March 20, 2006 (Whitehouse.gov): "We seek to help the Iraqis build a stable, peaceful, prosperous country that poses no threat to its neighbor, is a close partner in the Global War on Terror, and a constructive member of the international community."
Comments - 7 »
Comments - 7 «
It is Time to Shut Down Hillary Clinton
With Democratic race getting nastier by the day and Republican nominee wandering the world looking Presidential, it is time that Democrats brought an end to the nomination race.
Hillary Clinton is stretching her experience claims each day. She and her camp are trying to dig up dirt on the front runner so much so that it could damage the Democrats in fall. Hillary's trip to Bosnia under hail of fire has been discussed much in the media. Last night on Larry King Live, the renown journalist Maureen Dowd who accompanied Hillary put paid to Hillary's peace claims in Ireland. She said that apart from having tea with old ladies, Hillary had no contribution towards the Irish peace on that trip.
There is no mathematical possibility of Hillary Clinton winning the nomination. She is likely to win Pennsylvania, but she is 21 points behind Obama in North Carolina according to latest opinion polls.
It is time that a large number of Democratic Senators, Congressmen/women and party officials step forward and endorse Barack Obama in order to shut down Hillary Clinton before she does more damage to the party. Perhaps this is what Harry Reid was talking about yesterday.
Posted by Ajaz on March 26, 2008 at 01:50 PM
It is Time to Shut Down Hillary Clinton
With Democratic race getting nastier by the day and Republican nominee wandering the world looking Presidential, it is time that Democrats brought an end to the nomination race.
Hillary Clinton is stretching her experience claims each day. She and her camp are trying to dig up dirt on the front runner so much so that it could damage the Democrats in fall. Hillary's trip to Bosnia under hail of fire has been discussed much in the media. Last night on Larry King Live, the renown journalist Maureen Dowd who accompanied Hillary put paid to Hillary's peace claims in Ireland. She said that apart from having tea with old ladies, Hillary had no contribution towards the Irish peace on that trip.
There is no mathematical possibility of Hillary Clinton winning the nomination. She is likely to win Pennsylvania, but she is 21 points behind Obama in North Carolina according to latest opinion polls.
It is time that a large number of Democratic Senators, Congressmen/women and party officials step forward and endorse Barack Obama in order to shut down Hillary Clinton before she does more damage to the party. Perhaps this is what Harry Reid was talking about yesterday.
Posted by Ajaz on March 26, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Success my Foot! My Son is with the 10th Mountain Division in Baghdad at this very moment. He's informed me along with several of his friends that's it's getting worse, at a much faster pace than they thought possible. Why it went South so quick? I don't know, but it has.
Posted by kendallok on March 26, 2008 at 04:24 PM
What happens if Al-Sadr's cease-fire agreement breaks?
Think the surge would still work?
Posted by JKAR on March 26, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Garbage in, garbage out!
We are responsible, as educated voters in a participatory democracy, to be educated on the many issues affecting our lives. We must intelligently research the candidates’ positions on these issues for ourselves. Each election cycle, getting at the truth becomes more difficult, what with more and more extremist spinners throwing garbage our way. We’ve allowed extremist spinners to do our thinking and set our agenda for far too long. If we’re ever going to take our government back, we must stop being lazy, easily fooled, think for ourselves, do our own research, and demand we set our own agenda with the facts, reason, and knowledge. We must also get back to believing in the liberal idealism of the founders!
To accomplish this quickly, we must haul the garbage to the dumpster. “This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins.” (Benjamin Franklin). After a major trip to the dumpster, we’ll be ready to turn the page to a healthier 21st century leadership with Barack Obama.
Recently, Peggy Noonan, Republican and former-Reagan speechwriter, said: “The Republican Party has a soul problem!” Ironically, it was Noonan who also said, back in 2000: “we can’t afford another famous liar in the White House.” Back in time to the Clinton administration’s sex scandals, wrongdoers must be held accountable again. We’re sick and tired of our ideals not being exemplified, from the president on down. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” All those who break our laws or refuse to play by the rules must be made to take full responsibility.
Dumpster politics trash talk keeps this nation caught up in its past. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Hate spinners don’t want intelligent voters thinking for themselves, so they keep pushing the labels, the name calling, the fear, and the hate. Race, gender, real issues, and fairness don’t matter; power does. Fear-mongers, on all sides, are never concerned with the real issues of real people. They will never vote for what is good for America, or for real change. These are the real unpatriotic among us, as they care less that we must first live by our Constitution.
While the Republican Party may need to search for its soul, taking as long as necessary, the Democratic Party must search for its spine and gain some courage immediately. Freedom-loving Americans of all stripes should insist we return to the original principles underpinning our nation’s creation: independence, free speech, and government of the People. These were, and still are radically-liberal ideas. No matter how we may dice or slice it, dissent is and always will be patriotic and a necessity for our growth.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident” that before this nation goes off to war again, we should insist on two of those necessities: only Congress can make war, and all those pushing for war must first be willing to sign up and sacrifice themselves. The immediate tests of our democracy are these: will we choose to think for ourselves, take our government back, set and demand returns on our own agenda, and throw out the garbage of the past? If we expect to pass the test of our lifetime, we must not choose more of the same with John McCain or Hiliary Clinton, thereby continuing the Bush-Clinton dynastic rule.
“That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.” (Thomas Jefferson). Real change comes as the People participate. We’ve had enough of the Wall Street fat cats, the special-interest lobbyists, the hate-mongering extremists, the self-promoting media spinners, and the liars in the White House! “Old habits lock us down…we cannot wait; the time is now.” Never underestimate hope. We have our best candidate. We must turn the page to real change and A More Perfect Union in the 21st century and the leadership of Barack Obama.
Posted by fcrooster on March 27, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Poor old John McCain just looks more and more like a confused Bob Dole; needs people behind him to correct his mistakes when he talks. Move the goal posts? Good luck finding the goal posts John. Hillary is the best candidate because she is a fighter. She will go toe to toe with McCain & McConnell; no-problem. Sorry, but Barack reminds me of the guy that when you ask how to fix a watch, he tells you how to build one instead -- too long winded.
Posted by 4TJefferson on March 27, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Poor old John McCain just looks more and more like a confused Bob Dole; needs people behind him to correct his mistakes when he talks. Move the goal posts? Good luck finding the goal posts John. Hillary is the best candidate because she is a fighter. She will go toe to toe with McCain & McConnell; no-problem. Sorry, but Barack reminds me of the guy that when you ask how to fix a watch, he tells you how to build one instead -- too long winded.
Posted by 4TJefferson on March 27, 2008 at 09:40 PM
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