The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:00:27 -0000

Neocon, you still don't get it when it comes to Bush criticism. This isn't about destroying anybody, or spewing far left talking points, etc. It's very simply and very honestly about accountability. There is no mystery or conspiracy involved.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:26:08 -0000

Is that a Superior Obama Supporter Yawn Runasim?

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

runasim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:14:53 -0000

Yawn.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:57:20 -0000

My goal is to not make Obama people dislike Obama.

My goal is to help those who are not sure, who are angry with Bush who might ordinarily vote for a Republican understand that there is much more at stake here then just a presidential election.

The coat tails of a national election rout could render the GOP inconsequential and put America on course for a one party system or at least a party that has a veto proof majority.

I want to keep reminding those people that Gasoline is soon going to be 5 dollars a gallon and it has zero to do with Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact we are pumping more oil worldwide now then we did before the war.

The democrats have refused to allow drilling and continually block Nuclear power as well as the building of new refineries. I want this country to understand that the reason we are having a melt down financially is because the Democrats want us to melt down so they can Drive a stake into the hearts of the GOP and assume ultimate power.

That is my goal. That is why Im even here. And to be honest if the Democrats of which I am one in name only were on the verge of being swept under the rug I would be trumpeting their cause. Just as I was trumpeting Hillaries cause and defending Bill Clinton a few weeks ago.

Believe it or not.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

runasim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:32:00 -0000

BTW,
Every scuffle makes me like Obama more.
The more I see, the more I like.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:59:53 -0000

But I am exrtremly disappointed to see the serial rages among Obama supporters (former or current.).

This should not surprise anyone really.

When you look at the make up of Obama's supporters you are getting people of all political persuasions. Far left, left, Moderate, right of center and even some righies. Libertarians as well as socialists and Communists have staked some small claim to him.

But that is his problem going forward. Its as Huffington was trying to point out yesterday, he is not going to win by veering to the center. Maybe, maybe not but the point is that for the most part all of these groups are suspicious of the other and they all have their agendas which they have painted on Obama.

If he can manage to hold this coalition together it will be mindboggling. But it is what it is and its not going to be a pretty sight because EVERYONE who lays claim to Obama is interpreting his candidacy in a different way and seen in a different light. It will not be long before the infighting that took out Hillary and trashed Bill Clinton as scum will spill over into the coalition of the willing.

It is what it is. I find nothing surprising here.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

runasim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:21:15 -0000

I can take the attacks by Obama opponents for what they are- paritxan warfare.
I don't expexct to see inherent logic there.

But I am exrtremly disappointed to see the serial rages among Obama supporters (former or current.).
They treat every separate issue and every single statement as if that were the ONLY thing at stake in this election. McCain and Obama are so strkingly different, in their philosophies, their policies and in how they operate. It seems to me absolutely infantile to lose sight of the whole spectrum every time a toe gets stubbed. or feelings get ruffled. I thought the bitter Clinton fans were childish, but there are a host of others with exactly the same mind set.
I wonder what kind of sheltered lives they've had that leads to this failure to accept that one can't always have every single thing exactly how one wants it.
In my world, a hungry man doesn't refuse an entire meal because he doesm't like the vegetable on the plate.

I fantasize about putting some of them in charge. Let's see how they do when they actually have to be responsible for the consequences.
Temper tantrums are easy. Responsible judgement takes a broad and long-term perspective and the considering of consequences.

Is this really how we elect presidents and deicde the future of our country?
What a horrible, devastating thought.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:05:41 -0000

He overestimates the intelligence of the press and the public.

Yep every person who does not support Barak Obama is a nitwit and a moron.

Interesting that the last website I visited I noticed they were saying the same thing.

But your right Runasim you do not label people left or right.......you label them idiots, morons and The ultra intelligent Obama supporters.

You might want to read my timeline of events further up Runasim and try to understand why this hit the fan the way it did. Instead of automatically assigning everyone who has anything negative to say as at 3rd grade level,

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

runasim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:34:04 -0000

I do believe I finally understand why Obama needed a second news conference.
He overestimates the intelligence of the press and the public.

He underestimates the tendency to insert personal interprettions into everything heard and read. To admit an error, then, becomes a threat to one's ego.
For those who don't like Obama in the first place, of course, its just a tempting opportunity to use their claws.

I note how the first news conference is cited over and over, no matter how badly misinterpreted, while ignoring the second.

To me, it seemed just plain logical that any plan would need to be refined and adjusted as to specific tactics, which specific troops to remove and when, etc. Only an idiot would continue on a pre-determined course without paying attention to all the details (like our occupation of Iraq). I took this statement to mean, simply, that Obama will be paying attention to details and to the effects on the troops' safety as the withdrawal gets underway.
Who knew that this would be interpreted in such wild and divergent ways?

I guess Obama will have to learn to speak at 3rd grade level, very slowly, making sure he defines every word as he speaks.Even then, there would probably be arguments about the meaning of "the'. . ,

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:24:58 -0000

AS for any..........ANY republican that would cross over and vote for Barak Obama is a vote for the party that wants to end the GOP in America.

Anyone who would vote for Obama is essentially voting to end their party and support a party that despises Republicans. Read their platform. Read their agenda. Read Obama's own issues agenda.

I am trying to prevent a one party America right now. This is really not about Obama. I believe he is the next president but if tons of Republicans cross over and vote for Obama then its going to COAT TAIL to the local elections and this nation is in a humongous danger of becoming run by an unknown who has a veto proof majority in congress.

A vote for Obama by any Crossover or by any Independent is most definetly a vote for change and its a vote for the demise of the GOP party. A vote for Obama by moderate Republicans or conservative Democrats is not a vote for change it is a vote for very serious long term ramifications in America.

That is what I will continue to hammer home for the next months.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:06:56 -0000

You deny my allegation and then you begin a berating of Bush spewing far left talking points in your trail of hate for all things Bush.

I rest my case.

Secondly the win at all costs mentality is not a problem with me but because its been openly stated that this time around that is the case then why the whining when Obama gets questioned or takes some lumps in this WIN AT ALL COSTS election???

It is my contention that the democratic party having embarked upon a destroy Bush and the GOP that they now see the need to put a knife in the heart of the GOP and the

GREAT and WONDERFULLY MODERATE.....lets all get along.......I want to represent them all OBAMA renounced his principals at the behest of the democratic party for one thing..........

POWER........imagine that......

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:45:31 -0000

Neocon, I believe your contention that the dems embarked on a campaign to destroy George Bush betrays your implied non-republican sentiments. At the very least, your ideology (whatever it is) is helping you to imagine that scenario is somehow true. The fact is, George Bush destroyed himself through incompetence and duplicity. The record is there to see, no conspiracy is required. All the dems have done is point out the obvious reality. Should they be chastised for doing so? I hardly think so. Let's try dropping the partisan reflexes for a moment and lay accountability where it belongs.

Obama's stance on FISA is one that I am defintiely not happy about, and I've said as much here at TMV. That will be an issue I weigh along with everything else over the next few months. With regard to public funding? The simple truth is that the dems can't afford to give up any advantages they might have this time around. They have learned from being on the receiving end of all the tactics people like Karl Rove have been using over the years, and have decided that being the nice guy and losing again isn't going to be acceptable. Call it a case of what goes around comes around, or call it a case of survival, but call it for what it is: a response to a ruthless and sometimes unprincipled competitor.

Lastly, your comment: "The spin is that lets not question Barak Obama." I'm not sure what your point was, since I don't see Obama as being exempted from scrutiny. The more we learn about both major candidates, the better we'll all be informed prior to the election. I suppose that's stating the obvous, but when talking politics one has to be careful not to assume too much. I think both of these candidates are going to get worked over pretty well, at least I hope so.

Polimom - point taken.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Polimom — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:30:28 -0000

Sigh...

Those who do not like Barack Obama have no interest in nuance. Those who saw some kind of progressive Savior also had no interest in nuance. It is what it is... but it does drive me crazy sometimes that people fixate on a piece or part of this or that, and declare it the Divine Word. Nothing else, however relevant or revealing at the time, applies. Ignore it and focus on the pieces parts that support the narrative.

Meanwhile, of course, John McCain has been subject to a fair amount of the same treatment. ("100 years in Iraq" comes immediately to mind as a twisted-up, fixated-upon soundbite) Yet he's been all over the map on what some consider his principles -- (progressive taxation, torture...).

There are examples of both candidates changing positions. There are also examples of both candidates being twisted and spun by the political winds. But every time a position is expanded does not equate to a flip-flop, and all efforts to make it so can't change that.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:13:16 -0000

Ill respond to that as well Jspencer.

Barak Obama flip flopped on public funding because he knew he could take in way more money then he ever dreamed. Seems a flip flop to me. But your right the facts changed. So did his principals.

Barak Obama flip flopped on FISA. First he was opposed to amnesty to telecoms as in speech after speech he worked up his far left base into a tizzy over accusing the Bush administration of trampling on the constitution:

Read:There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders............this from his published reason why he SUPPORTS the FISA legislation.

Then he indicated he would vote for it with amnesty with telecoms. Then when the firestorm broke out he had the vote delayed or more precisely the democratic party big wigs delayed it for him so they could figure out what to do. He did an apparent flip flop on not only his position but his principals. But your right the facts did change.

This is the anger that is being generated by Barak Obama’s flip flopping on issues. It is not only changing his mind but it is assulting his moral high ground road that HE chose to take and that his faithful followed. The anger is not that he changed his mind. The anger is that he changed his principals as the political winds blow.

The fact that this is happening are facts. The press is seizing upon them. The press is building a case as has been the rest of those opposed to Barak Obama that enough is not known about this man and that now we have evidence that even his principals are subject to change when the facts change. That is unacceptable in any politician and It is NOT the fault of stupid voters.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:53:22 -0000

Jspencer

The spin is that lets not question Barak Obama. Just like we didnt question George W. Bush.

This is not going to lose him a single vote on the left. However the battle is not for the left or the right. Never has and never will be. The battle is for the middle.

However I reject your thesis. Not because I am a republican cause I am not but because I believe that the democratic party embarked upon a campaign to destroy Bush and they have accomplished that.

Then they embarked upon a campaign to destroy Hillary and Bill Clinton to achieve their goals of putting their progressive champion in the White House even though now there is some question if he is even progressive.

And those of us questioning these tactics are considered wingnuts.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:51:00 -0000

By the way, I'm looking at this in the context of the big picture. If you are truly interested in focusing on concerns over shifting nuance, waffling, or questionable resolve when it comes to positions, then you need to be taking a much closer look at Sen. McCain's own history.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:36:56 -0000

Neocon, look at the history of GWB's (and fellow chickenhawks) orchestration and "handlng" of THEIR Iraq war (yes, they will forever own it, despite those half-witted votes some dems gave in entrusting to this miserable excuse for a commander in chief). Then tell me that in all honesty and careful judgement you would reward the GOP for supporting these policies by voting for an old fart with a temper and memory problems? Sorry dude, it just doesn't add up. As for America not being "full of stupid voters"? This remains to be seen. There is much redeeming waiting to be done in the wake of 2000 and 2004.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:25:04 -0000

I'm really not sure their is a lot of cherry picking here......there was genuine confusion.

Try this on for size:

In another report issued by Barak Obama we find this.

In a separate six-page Iraq plan, he says in a section headed “All Combat Troops Redeployed by 2009”: “The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq’s leaders to resolve their civil war is to begin immediately to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year — now.”

Anyone who says this man is not sending mixed signals is wrong. Secondly the initial reaction by the news and the blogsphere was over his FIRST news conference in which he said:

"When I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies,"

This was proceeded by an earlier Obama spokesman who said:

Earlier, a top Obama adviser had said that the senator is not “wedded” to a specific timeline.

This is a rough timeline of the events and it indicated to the blog sphere as well as the news outlets that the senator was making a big change in his Iraq policy.

THUS:

At the second meeting with reporters, Obama said: "We’re going to try this again. Apparently I wasn’t clear enough this morning on my position with respect to the war in Iraq. …

And there you have the timeline of WHY the press and the blog sphere went nuts. It was not because America is full of stupid voters.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:03:05 -0000

As usual the wingnuts are busy cherry-picking in an effort to create another of those fictional narratives they are so fond of. Afterall, they've learned they can't depend on truth and fairness to be their ally in an election anymore. Just ask the John McCain of 2000 - before the McBush morphing took place. How many people do you think now wish they had voted for Al Gore instead of GWB?

For my own part I don't know of ANY politician who would qualify as the second coming. Does anyone here know of any? If so please share. I reckon I'll do what I always do and vote for the candidate who is the least imperfect, which in this case shouldn't be so terribly hard to see... that is assuming one has both eyes open and isn't a dyed in the wool redstater playing masquarade.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Neocon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:24:46 -0000

No runasim thats not what he said in his first news briefing and that is FLIPPING what set off the firestorm.

HE THEN PROFFERED A SECOND news briefing in which he clarified. By then the damage was done.

Get YOUR facts straight.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

runasim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:01:15 -0000

Then:
WE HAVE TO BE AS CAREFUL COMING OUT AS WE WERE CARELESS GOING IN.
EST,. COMBAT TROOP WITHDRAWAL 16 MOS.

Now:
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL (paraphrased in different ways).
EST.TROOP WITHDRAWAL 16 MOS.
------------------------------
Where is this drastic change.?

The MSM have created their own parallel universe and are harping at Obama as if he, too, were obligated to live in it.

This is eerily similar to the runup to the Iraq war, when the MSM pushed for war day in and day out. As it was obvious then to anyone half awake, the corporate owners and CEO's of MSM were in bed with the GOP Why would things be different now? The GOP is still the GOP and the corporations running MSM are still the corpoate owners.

As was rhe case then, so it is now. There is next to zero in-depth coverage about Iraq and the region All we hear is the official surge story. The media create and sell their own story line, and the public falls for it.

Among that public are the Kos children, and I don't know what they're falling for, other than their own fantasies.They have a temper tantrum every day,,and that's all they seem to know or care about. You have to go outside the Democratic party to find an equally self-absorbed group of people., so self-absorbed that nothing from the outside seeps through their filters.

I heard one sane voice today pointing out that pre-surge the argument was that we couldn't leave because the violence was too high. Now that the surge has reduced the violence, we are told we can't leave, because the violence might retunr (anytime during the next forever years).
The only sensible thing ot do is to leave CAREFULLY, but when Obama proposes to do that, he is attacked from all sides.

That leaves only one other option: call in either Santa Claus or Merlin, the Magician.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

Marlowecan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:43:34 -0000

Hahahahaha....look, Obama has changed his policies repeatedly on Iraq.

I quote from AP below in 2004 where he supports increasing troops in Iraq to stabilize the situation.

Read Obama's words. A troop increase. Sounds eeriely like Petraeus' "Surge". Obama the Senatorial Candidate, intelligently, saw the logic behind it.

But when Obama realized how the nutroots despised the "Surge"...and to this day deny it any success...he shifted ground to oppose the "Surge".

So Obama changes his policy. I don't know why you folks cannot concede that. He is a politician...not the Second Coming.

I can't wait until the FISA vote. The Nutroots will be beside themselves with rage.

From the September 18, 2004 AP:

Democratic Senate candidate Barack Obama said Saturday he would be willing to send more soldiers to Iraq if it is part of a strategy that the president and military leaders believe will stabilize the country and eventually allow America to withdraw.

"If that strategy made sense and would lead ultimately to the pullout of U.S. troops but in the short term required additional troop strength to protect those who are already on the ground, then that's something I would support," he said.

America cannot afford to withdraw immediately, said Obama, an early opponent of invading Iraq.

That would create more chaos in Iraq and make it "an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity," he said at a meeting of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. It would also damage America's international prestige and amount to "a slap in the face" to the troops fighting there, he said.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

JSpencer — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:41:22 -0000

We all know there are people who won't be able to resist trying to create some melodrama over this (partisan or otherwise), but most of us realize that drawing down in a responsible fashion is entirely appropriate.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

janinedm — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:33:28 -0000

I don't think you understand how dangerous the situation is right now. Our enlisted forced are waaaayyy overstretched. Recruitments have steadily dropped every year. We need more troops just to have a standing army. I'm anti-war but the need for an adequate standing army is clear.

Re: Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq

vwcat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:57:30 -0000

I had been writing on blogs for over a year that Obma was not hard core ideologically. anyone who pays attention knows that he always leaves himself some room to finese because he believes in being able to work with those opposite of his stands and has never believed in rigid hard core purity.
But, I have also seen the MSM building up to this for over a month. they have a weekly Does Obama have a problem with (insert group of the week here). They tip it off with a spade of articles about the coming week's group. Last weekend it was a bunch of articles about how the netroots were upset with his shift to the center.
But, the last day or so, they kept talking about Obama would shift on Iraq. that was the tip off that the msm was preparing to accuse Obama of moving on Iraq, even if he kept saying the same things he has all along.
The media is admittedly McCain's base. They are in love with McCain and see him faltering. McCain wants to paint Obama as a crass, untrustworthy pol.
The media laid out their willingness to help McCain with their saying Obama would flip on Iraq. And they played their parts all day today just for McCain's sake.
We know the media is always willing to play dupes for the right and to attack the democrat for them.
The attacks on Clark earlier this week was a dry run for what they were going to do later in the week to Obama.
They left signs all over the place that this was what they were going to do.
And this is just the beginning.