Sarah Palin Wins On National Security, Mitt Romney Hurts On Social Issues

I simply canNOT understand what she has EVER done to make ANYone ANYwhere of ANY affiliation think she is best at foreign policy and Nat’l security. If anything indicates that, yes, a large portion of Republicans are nuts, it’s this result.

Michael, thanks for getting our daily Palin fix out of the way now so we don’t have to wait the rest of the day for it (KT was right; Sarah delivers the hits, literally). But please explain how she leads on foreign policy. Please. And how Mittens is weak on social stuff: Mormon prejudice among the Red Base? Robamacare? Aw, the hell with that, just please justify Sarah’s lead on foreign policy? I know that according to Miss Teen South Carolina some can’t find the US on a world map, thanks to Socialist public education, no doubt. Total f’ing disbelief not aimed at you, just whoever the hell answered that poll question.
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Of course if you’re trying to poke us with a stick to drive up thread counts per KT, I’ll play along …but you’ll need to engage us too with more thoughts to drive count up even higher (so you’ll get a bonus in next week’s paycheck). Keep yesterday’s brief oasis going. But I’d like to know what’s driving the poll numbers, please, Michael, thanks.

Well, she CAN supposedly see Russia from her house and Mittens can’t see it from his…
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There’s that, at least…

Um…Michael didn’t make the poll. It *is* interesting. That particular result is just crazy.

I love that they poll on two people not running-Newt and Sarah-and ignore poor Timmy Pawlenty.

You are not kidding – this was probably the most shocking thing I read all day. I wouldn’t trust her to order off of the menu at a Mexican restaurant…

chupkar@1,
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I suspect that you may be one of the people who subscribe to Barack Obama’s foreign policy of speak softly, but carry a big apology.
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Sarah Palin’s advantage is that she does not believe that the US has anything for which it needs to apologize. A President Sarah Palin would not visit foreign leaders wearing a “kick me” sign.

You’re right. And it is crazy, but many here often request the stories behind poll numbers. This is a quintessential “what explains the results” scenario.

Think this might play into T-Paw’s hands? Or he’s toast already? But I wouldn’t guess that this early: Obama wasn’t on the radar early after ’04 but I don’t know how strategic / longterm T-Paw is or if he’s just winging it / trying to chase the pack also. Of course for ’08 if Hillary had better campaign advice and Edwards kept his fly zipped, who knows how that election might’ve changed?

As the situation goes sideways in the Middle East and oil prices start to go through the roof, the domestic and foreign affairs issues are beginning to converge. Obama’s habit of showing up a day late and a dollar short, when the excrement hits the rotary device somewhere in the world, does not bode well for his chances in 2012.
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Sarah Palin’s certitude about America’s place in the world stands in sharp contrast to Barack Obama’s ambivalence.

decon-He’s been flailing about “Turning up the heat” as the local fish wrap called it.
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He’s always just thismuch behind whatever the current topic is. For instance he just set this up—
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http://www.timpawlenty.com/stand-with-governor-scott-walker
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trying to glom on to Walker.
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Don’t get me wrong I want him to keep running. These are dark days and I can use the laughs.

It’s actually not difficult to understand. There’s a strong correlation between people who like and trust Sarah Palin and people who think that the Muslim hordes are hiding under their bed. It’s not that she’s good on security, it’s that her fans have a rather poor understanding of what security actually entails.

Romney’s trouble with social conservatives is pretty well documented. It is mostly attributable to his changes on the issues: He was pro-choice once, and spoke in favor of gay rights. And there is a skepticism of Mormonism among some sectors of the evangelical right.
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As for Palin on national security, I am less sure. Could be that she is such a prominent critic of Obama. Could be that the others in the poll–Romney, Gingrich, Huckabee–also don’t have much foreign policy experience. Could be that she is still associated with McCain, who has significant foreign policy weight in the party. Could be something else.

MS: See my #5.

If you take away the snarky language, you can actually use the insight to yoru advantage. People who see “National Security” as their most important issue while the economy is in the tank are a special sort.

I guess there is a certain segment of the Republican Party that honestly believes that Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house and that somehow imbues her with national security bona fides. I’m utterly puzzled by this poll data. Sarah Palin doesn’t have 1/10th of the political and real-life experience that Barack Obama had before running, and these same right-wing kooks attacked him ceaselessly for his “lack” of experience.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org

Palin doesn’t have a chance in the general election; I’d like to see her run.

That’s so true. She didn’t even finish out her term as gov. Maybe she’ll get in the oval office, and leave soon after.

Paul Dirks@5,
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Ask CBS reporter Lara Logan about Muslim hordes, Paul. She got to see them first hand.

Snow White leads The Seven Dwarfs

The GOP will soon be known as the Party of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs with Sarah “Snow White” Palin leading such GOP Dwarfs as Huckabee, Gingrich, Pawlenty, Daniels, Barbour, Romney and Ron Paul. When Snow White leads, The Seven Dwarfs follow.

Matt@6,
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Since it was Tina Fey who said that she could see Russia from her house, it is no reflection on Sarah Palin’s foreign policy credentials. It is likely that a governor of State would have better foreign policy credentials than a community organizer from Chicago whose political mentor was a domestic terrorist bomber.

What a crew –
intellectual pygmies (Palin, Pawlenty et al ) and a moral leper (Gingrich). No wonder Thune backed out because he thought it would be tough to beat Obama. A lot can happen until Nov. 2012, but right now it seems to be a case of which sacrificial lamb the GOP will nominate, and then the MSM can try to turn them into the next best thing since Churchill.

outsider2011@7,
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The “smart money” said that about Ronald Reagan too. It also said the the “genius” Jimmy Carter would mop the floor with Reagan in a debate. The rest, as they say, is history.

Paul, back up that comment about Obama’s political mentor being a domestic terrorist bomber please. That seems like an attempt and railroading the discussion here. If you have proof of that i’d like to see it. Otherwise, why slander? Do you not have any valid arguments to make? National polls back up what i said about Palin losing the general election. And she herself admits not finishing her term as gov. What proof do you have to back up what you said?

That’s a valid point. But didn’t both Carter and Reagan finish the terms they were elected for prior to running for the white house?

So seeing Russia from your house makes you an expert on foreign policy. What a world we live in.
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On a very different note: Sarah Palin is an idiot when it comes to foreign policy. While this goes without saying, I actually have a real reason to back this up. My Dad is a consultant in the oil and gas industry based out of Calgary. While he never mentioned her by name, he was telling me about how the new Governor of Alaska was doing a lot to get this pipeline project moving. This was probably a year before the rest of the world heard about her. When the Republican convention came up, everyone was asking what foreign policy credentials she had and the ONLY thing people could come up with was Russia and Alaska’s proximity. Now, I have an issue with the fact that such a stupid statement was burnished as her credentials, and I’m equally frustrated that in all reality, Republicans would obviously value a very dumb claim about a psuedo-enemy than a very legitimate claim about an ally, but the fact that not once did the bullet “worked with Canadian officials on a cross-border pipeline project” come up. Legitimate foreign policy credentials completely squandered because she does not understand that foreign policy is two-fold: working with people and working against them.

There’s never been a similar case in the US?

mirroronthewall@8,

But, alas, Snow White is not dead. She is alive and has found her prince and the vain Queen is the one who drops dead. Read the story, champ.

filmnoia@9,
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The story of Snow White has a happy ending. She finds her Prince and lives happily ever after. Even poisoned apples couldn’t keep our girl down.

So being a bad*** is more important than using logic and reason. Got it, Paulie.

You’re right,she’d be wearing a f**k me sign.

“…Barack Obama’s foreign policy of speak softly, but carry a big apology…”
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Go peddle your Republican propaganda somewhere else, you lying hack.
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2011/02/obamas_apology_tour.html

When did changing opinions get seen as a weakness? Being rigid ain’t gonna help you learn anything.

At first blush that’s just really disturbing. Still, no more than 15% chose nat’l security and forein policy as most important issue. Of those, 22% chose Palin. So 3.3% of Republican primary voters are off their rocker? Looks like a low number to me.

“I’m utterly puzzled by this poll data. Sarah Palin doesn’t have 1/10th of the political and real-life experience that Barack Obama had before running, and these same right-wing kooks attacked him ceaselessly for his “lack” of experience.”
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That’s easy. They’re Republican primary voters. Beyond that, don’t try to figure it out. It’s not for the lucid.

outsider2011@7.2,
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True. But they did not have left wing political assassins dogging their every step while in office. The times were different. Politics were hard, but opponents did not go after your family and try to bankrupt you with fallacious allegations.
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Sarah sidestepped these tactics by giving up her office to her less controversial Lt Gov and saved the taxpayers of her State thousands in legal expenses. It was a wise move since she and her Lt Gov were on the same page politically anyway. It also freed her from the mad dogs snapping at her heels and allowed her to become the voice of opposition to Barack Obama’s big government agenda.
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Smart girl.

nflfoghorn@1.4,
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Being a bad*** is certainly better than Obama’s tendency to just be an ***.

the real question is whether this will be a proactive or a reactive election.

(For the record, a huge majority of people vote reactively in presidential elections, including more than 85% of the people who read this comment.)

To be quite honest, I don’t feel comfortable with any of these candidates besides maybe, on a long shot, Huckabee. In 2008, John McCain was the best candidate for the Republicans to win the White House, however with the poignant “failures” of George Bush (remember his approval rating?) and the recession (which was still approaching its peak, and the effects we’re still feeling), a majority of the country became enamoured with a young Illinois senator who promised health and economic reform. But Obama was only able to sweep the White House the way he did as a reaction to the “ineptitudes” of the Republicans. This was repeated in both houses.

Now 2010 hits and there is yet ANOTHER reactive midterm election occurs, this time the GOP riding the wave of a economy in the toilet and “dangers” of health care and lo and behold, the GOP retakes the House and comes close in the Senate.

So what will happen in 2012?
I’m going to guess two things, based on the history.

1) The GOP nominee will not be a Palin or a Romney, it will be some obscure yet staunchly conservative politician who will have a coherent “plan/message” for fixing the economy along with the usual ra-ra america stuff. And quite honestly, he (or she?) will probably be the best chance the GOP has of grabbing the White House.

2) The next presidential election MUST and WILL BE a reactive election. It’s been that way for over 225 years. So will Obama have done a clean enough job to merit a reelection in the eyes of the majority of Americans? I won’t guess that one though.

Since it was Tina Fey who said that she could see Russia from her house, it is no reflection on Sarah Palin’s foreign policy credentials.

Actually, I believe it was Steve Doocy who came up with that one soon after she was chosen as a the running mate. Which made Fey’s impression the more hilarious.

outsider@5.2,
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Well there was the Muslim father in Texas just convicted for murdering his daughter for being too Western. And there was the Muslim husband in Buffalo who beheaded his wife. There was also an Arizona Muslim who shot his two daughters to death for offending his faith. Not to mention Fort Hood, underwear bombs, car bombs in Time Square and 9/11. Need more?

So, paulie, you don’t believe that the US has ever done ANYTHING that deserves an apology?
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Here’s a news flash for you… EVERYONE has had something like that… EVERYONE.
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The trick is knowing WHEN and HOW to do it. Do it right and it burnishes your credibility.
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Deny it forever and a day and sooner or later people stop taking you seriously.

See 1.8 above, paulie.
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Certitude is one thing… closed-minded stubbornness and arrogance is quite another.

outsider2011@6.3,
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Barack Hussein Obama launched his political career from the living room of Bill Ayers, domestic bomber, and his wife Bernadine Dohrn, a leader of the Weather Underground.
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Barack Obama has a long history of associations with anti-American radicals. That certainly makes his ideology suspect.

wagedronenumber9,
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Still no reflection on Sarah’s foreign policy credentials unless your views on foreign policy are shaped by watching SNL.

westender3@1.5,
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About what you would expect from a liberal sexist pig. Is it wise to out yourself so publicly, westender?

“Sarah sidestepped these tactics by giving up her office to her less controversial Lt Gov and saved the taxpayers of her State thousands in legal expenses…”
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= she quit.
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You can’t make turkey salad out of…well, in her case maybe she can.

This is no snark, Paulie:
What makes you think they’re not?

Are Muslims the only people of faith who murder and rape people? You know that answer to that one, Paulie, so your point is moot.

afguy @1.8,
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And exactly who would it be that America owed an apology? The French? Iraqis? Kuwaitis? Bosnians? Kosovars? Or is it some of the other millions that this country has liberated with our blood, sweat and tears.
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Tell us, afguy. To whom should we apologize?

paulejb, why don’t you enlighten us as to Palin’s foreign policy credentials (other than the fact you think she’s a bada** who wouldn’t apologize).

Still wondering just what the h*ll her “foreign policy” credentials are, paulie…
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As president of the Caribou Barbie Fan Club, I’d expect you to have those at your elbow…

Of course it doesn’t mean anything, but I think of the candidtates being discussed now, it looks like Romney has the best chance of breaking through, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the actual nominee comes out of the blue.

I reaize that you’ll have to put down the “Snowbilly Snooki” calendar but do try…

That would be “candidates”. I guess I was feeling inventive in my previous spelling.

We as a nation are noted for our “innovation”, sacredh… and that obviously includes spelling.

I have to stop thinking of “spell-check” as cheating.

Dunno, paulie. The appropriateness varies.
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Maybe those people whose families were killed by mistake in a drone missile strike.
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The families of the 100k or so killed since we “liberated” Iraq over those non-existent WMDs.
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You know, places where we screwed up.

shepherdwong@1.6,
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Barack Hussin Obama took the opportunity to travel to France and speak of American “arrogance.” It is particularly ironic that he chose France for this revelation as the French are the most arrogant people in the world with the least to justify that arrogance.
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Obama is also under the impression that the Greeks have the same claim to “exceptionalism” as Americans do.
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All in all, Barack Hussein Obama has done little to demonstrate his belief in the unique position that the US holds in the world.

Being right most of the time doesn’t give you a “get out of jail free” card for the others when you aren’t.
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But that’s apparently what you are looking for.

afguy@1.11,

Should we also apologize for the Frenchmen killed on D-day or in the liberation of Paris? How about the Filipinos killed in the liberation of the Philippines. Do they get an apology too?

Snow White. Young single woman. Seven older men. She’s unconscious. Poison apple? I’m thinking date rape drug. Either that or she’s a slut. Prince Charming? Please. He forced himself on her while she was out cold.

nflfoghorn@5.4,

Muslims are the only people of faith currently slaughtering those who disagree with them.

nflfoghorn@7.4,

Barack Hussein Obama quit the Senate for what he believed were good reasons. Why is Palin any different?

The original statement was discussing Russia’s proximity to Alaska (or vice versa – I can’t remember) as a way to burnish her credentials. It was then assisted with the claim that when Putin enters the US, he flies in through Alaska (which I actually find surprising as I would’ve expected a direct route from Moscow to Washington to end up flying a lot closer to Baffin Island than Alaska), as if the Alaskan governor has any say on the usage of Alaska’s airspace or runs any of the operations that monitor said airspace.
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It was a ridiculous claim. Those facts have no impact on her credibility as a foreign policy expert. The ludicrousness of it was what was being mocked by SNL when it then took the line to the next level and said “I can see Russia from my house”. It’s stupid. It’s absurdly stupid. And using it as a claim of foreign policy credentials actually weakens her stance as it implies she is worse than ignorant in that field – she’s stupid. It’s not that she doesn’t know, it’s that she thinks she knows what it takes, is posturing to make it look like she knows what it takes, and making a mockery of what it actually takes. Foreign policy is dangerous. The best moves will help today and make your country beloved in 50 years. The worst moves will get people killed today and make your country hated for 50 years. She decided the best way to approach foreign policy is to act tough – a legitimate position though not my preference – and chose a line that didn’t make her look tough but instead made her look like a loon. Like she was weak and stupid and didn’t understand how the world worked. You think Liberals were laughing? Have you even considered whether Putin was rolling on the floor laughing? Or whether Hu Jintao thought he was looking at the easiest person to trick in the US Government in a generation? She’s an embarrassment
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As I point out in 10, she had a legitimate claim to foreign policy experience. She didn’t use it. She could have avoided all of this bull if she had instead

“Muslims are the only people of faith currently slaughtering those who disagree with them.”
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Oh my. Saying that our men and women in uniform are secret atheists who are lying about their faith will earn you no brownie points in the brown shirt club.

LAHORE: Afghanistan-based US predators carried out a record number of 12 deadly missile strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan in January 2010, of which 10 went wrong and failed to hit their targets, killing 123 innocent Pakistanis. The remaining two successful drone strikes killed three al-Qaeda leaders, wanted by the Americans.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17343

“Barack Obama has a long history of associations with anti-American radicals.”
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You have a long history of telling treasonous lies about the President. Guess what that makes you.

“Why is Palin any different?”
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She’s a narcissistic liar who doesn’t know what she reads?

gingerpye@13.3,
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Unlike Barack Obama, Sarah Palin has the ability to distinguish friend from foe. I am certain that Sarah would not have sat through a 50 minute anti-American rant from a pipsqueak communist without voicing any objection as Obama did.
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She also would have not allowed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to get away with his duplicity for more than two years.
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She would not travel the world bowing to dictators and potentates. She is a proud American who, like Reagan, sees this country as “a shining city upon a hill.”

forgottenlord@13.6,
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I do not know what Putin Or Hu Jintao may think of Sarah, but I am certain that those boys have had quite a few chuckles at Obama’s expense.
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Putin must have laughed himself silly at Obama giving up missile defense in Eastern Europe and getting absolutely nothing in return.
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The Chinese must have also got a few laughs over instructing Barack Obama on the principles of capitalism.

afguy@13.7,

See my 13.7 and 13.8, afguy. It should ease your mind.

shepherdwong @5.6,
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The number of allegedly innocent civilians killed by drone strikes seems to multiply the further you get away from the scene.
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You would think that innocent civilians would have caught on by now to the fact that it is hazardous to live next door to the local al-Qaeda cell.

“Barack Hussin Obama took the opportunity to travel to France and speak of American “arrogance.””
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You could yack all day long about your arrogance but it still wouldn’t be the apology you owe everyone here for your constant dishonesty and traitorousness.

shepherdwong@6.6,
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Barack Hussein Obama has never denied these associations, Wong. Is he a liar too?
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How about Bill Ayers saying that he doesn’t regret the terrorist bombings and he wished that he had done more. Was he lying too?

shepherwong@7.6,
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According to you, everyone is a liar. Has it ever occurred to you that it is you that is wrong, Wong?

Still no reflection on Sarah’s foreign policy credentials unless your views on foreign policy are shaped by watching SNL.

Actually paulejb, my reflections on Palin’s foreign policy credentials came from the Katie Curic interviews.

“Unlike Barack Obama, Sarah Palin has the ability to distinguish friend from foe.”
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Hahahahahahahaha! Sarah Palin can’t distinguish a country from a continent. She’d probably have to have someone point out our NAFTA partners on a map to keep from bombing them.
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She would not travel the world bowing to dictators and potentates. She is a proud American who, like Reagan, sees this country as “a shining city upon a hill.”

I tend to see simple notions and simple ideas of policy as quite dangerous in a complex world.

Do YOU think they deserve one?
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Is it your position that we apologize to EVERYONE or NO ONE?
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It’s NOT an all-or-nothing proposition, paulie.
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Sad that you think those are the only options possible.

shepherdwong@13.10,
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Like you, Carl was a dupe for the McCain staffers trying to place blame for the defeat on Sarah.
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You probably also believe that Trig is not Sarah’s son. You are obviously suffering from an advanced case of PDS {Palin Derangement Syndrome}.

We’re supposed to be reassured because of what YOU say she would and wouldn’t do?
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Hardly reassuring on its face, paulie.
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I’m certain she wouldn’t get lost on the way to the meeting, paulie, as I’m sure she wouldn’t wet herself either.
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Not sure how those reflect on her “foreign policy” credentials, though.

“According to you, everyone is a liar.”
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You just can’t stop lying, can you. Only about 20% of the public self-identify as Republican (though some people lie about it because they’re too ashamed to admit it) and not even all of them are liars. Idiots perhaps but not all liars.

wagedronenumber9@15 & 16,
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1. Then you must have been horrified when Joe Biden averred to Katie that FDR went on TV to reassure the nation about the market crash. Which is odd, since Roosevelt was not president in 1929, nor was their TV. Katie was speechless.

2. It is only people who are ambivalent who see the world as too complex. They tend to miss the big picture while they are searching for nuances.

Me, too.
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Foreign policy by slogan bothers me.

Paluie,
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Foreign policy for a given country or situation can’t be condensed down to a slogan or sound byte.
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Overall principles can be, but practical application of such can’t.
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If you believe that it can, you’re an even bigger idiot than I originally thought.

Unless the solution to every situation is “bomb ‘em all”… then you may have a poiint.

How about this for a slogan: “Simple Solutions for Simple Minds”.
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Catchy, eh?

afguy@13.12,
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Sarah Palin has all the right instincts. She would not address a crisis by ignoring it until it was too late for an effective response. Barack Obama’s biggest failing as a president is his ambivalence. He spends too much time seeking the nuances in the situation while it grows out of control. Obama always comes to the table a day late and a dollar short.

afguy@15.2, 15.3. & 15.4,
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1. Neither can foreign policy be reduced to a philosophy of “Can’t we all just get along,” originally introduced by that great philosopher, Rodney King. Yet that appears to be the linchpin of Obama’s foreign policy. A sort of pathetic plaint to the world’s bad actors.
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2. It is unlikely that we would “bomb them all.” But there is a certain elegance to that solution, the possibility of which, tends to keep our enemies on their toes.
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3. Or “Complex Solutions for Convoluted minds.” Most would find “Simple” to be best.

shepherdwong@1.15,
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Your constant repetition of unsubstantiated claims grows more tedious every day. Do you get paid by the word?

Nice job blaming the victims, Paulie.
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Still slinging that sh!t that we can do no wrong, eh?

afguy@1.16,
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Since the world has not yet achieved perfection, I propose that we hold off on any apologies.

2. It is only people who are ambivalent who see the world as too complex. They tend to miss the big picture while they are searching for nuances.

But she’s from Alaska and it’s next to Russia and Putin flies over it.

afguy@5.8,
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It’s just friendly advice, afguy. It doesn’t take a genius to know that it is time to get out of Dodge when the jihadi extremists are partying next door.

No, paulie, MOST would find simple to be simply “simple”.
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And we’re not gonna bomb them all either. One reason why foreign policy is a little more complicated that you would like it to be.
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And just exactly who has reduced our foreign policy to that slogan? You, Paulie? Because YOU are the only one putting it like that.
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Nice series of rather fragile “straw men”.

She would not address a crisis by ignoring it until it was too late for an effective response.
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So, no action you can see = ignoring the problem? Rather presumptious of paulie, isn’t it? I take it you can see the WH situation room from your house?
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Bulls in china shops are noted for their decisive action too. Don’t think I’d want one as President, though.

Paulie, since the world has not yet achieved perfection, I propose that we stop making the assumption that WE ARE.

Explain to me something: why is it that Republicans with legitimate, concrete experience in foreign policy have made relatively little criticisms of Obama’s foreign policy actions. I mean, sure, we heard everyone and his dog complain about Obama’s handling of Iran until the sanctions actually got into place. Since then, no one is talking about sanctions. How about Egypt? Sure, Sarah Palin complained and a lot of conservative commentators who couldn’t point to Libya or Tunisia on a blank world map and might actually struggle with Egypt have criticized Obama’s handling, but every serious foreign policy analyst seems to not have much in the way of complaints.
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Y’know, for someone you criticize for being an apologist, Obama’s been shockingly effective in his work.
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Consider: Obama gave up a missile defense system against an enemy (Russia) who no longer is that were officially for weapons (Long Range missiles) that the stated enemy (Iran) never had in favor of a missile system that was more suited for the official enemy and in return, he got Russia to sign off on the Iranian sanctions – y’know, the ones who actually would be classified as an enemy of the US – I would say that was a pretty fare shake. The key to Foreign policy isn’t giving up nothing to get something in return, it’s giving up the least amount possible to get something in return. Obama gave up something that had a minor strategic importance (continuing the cold war) for a major strategic benefit, a questionable, unreliable and technology that regularly fails its own benchmarks, for a unified front against a nation that borders both Iraq and Afghanistan (y’know, where the soldiers are) not to mention Pakistan which is considered the most important country from a strategic perspective, has significant influence in the Israeli situation including very close ties and incredible influence in Syria and Lebanon (which have significant impacts on Iraq and Israel), has a nuclear program, an anti-American position and a relatively weak government. And Obama effectively encircled Iran, pursuing one of the top priorities of American foreign policy and convincing two nations that had significantly less interest in helping him do so but oh-so-critical to it being effective.
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And then there’s Egypt which kept going and going and growing each day. Obama might be accused of giving up on a repugnant dictator in favor of pro-democracy demonstrators, but hey, he figured out who the winning side would be and picked them and he might just get rewarded for it.
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So who’s laughing now?

shepherdwong@7.8,
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Hate to break it to you, Wong, but Gallup has the self identification at 42% conservative to 20% liberal.
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http://www.gallup.com/poll/141032/2010/-conservatives-outnumber-moderates-liberals.aspx
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Then, of course, there were the 2010 midterms where those “20% self identified Republicans” managed to overwhelm the Democrats in one of the largest wipeouts in history. Feisty little bunch, aren’t they, Wong?

Would you mind taking advantage of the “Reply to this comment” button. It’s just annoying trying to trace a debate when parts of it are in a new sub-thread.

Making the assumption that they, in fact, know, aren’t you?
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A lot of the strikes are based on intel that someone will be in a location at a certain date and time.
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You assuming the neighbors know who’s meeting next door, ALL OF THE TIME?
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You’re virtually standing on your head to provide a “blanket” rationalization for our actions, aren’t you?

afguy@13.14,
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Nor should you want a president that can’t make a decision until it is too late. Barack Obama never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. That is reflected by his reluctance to act or even speak on the protests in Iran, the Gulf oil spill, and now Libya.
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When he does act immediately, he gets it wrong, like his comment about the Cambridge police.
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So we have the worst of both worlds, Obama is either dithering or going off half cocked.

afguy@15.6,
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And “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”
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Stumbling around looking for deeper meanings can just get you in more trouble. It is Obama’s lack of experience in the real world which makes him naive and dangerous.

wagedronenumber9@17,
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Sarah is aware that you can see Russia from Alaska. Does Barack Obama know if it can be seen from any other of the 57 States? What’s your guess, number9?

afguy@1.19,
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We are not perfect. We are just the best of a bad lot.

afguy@5.10,
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You’re not serious are you? You’re not really saying that we should announce our drone strikes in advance so that everyone knows when we are about to kick in the door?.
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We cant’s very well do that but that doesn’t mean that folks should stick around when the jihadis open for business next door.

That is reflected by his reluctance to act or even speak on the protests in Iran, the Gulf oil spill, and now Libya.
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And do WHAT, paulie? In ANY of those examples you listed? Do exactly WHAT? Just SOMETHING?? Just SAY something??
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EXACTLY what the h*ll do you think Nanookie of the North could have done in each of those situations that would have proven constructive to the resolution?
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Christ-on-a-cracker, paulie! I realize your troll contract says you have to say something negative, but do you thiink what you come up with could make a little more sense?

I’d guess that Obama knows there are 50 states.

Much as you and Palin would like it to be, paulie, our foreign policy is not always a nail needing a hammer for a solution.
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And your obligatory swipe at Obama is duly noted.
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Take another nickel out of petty cash.

Jeez, paulie. Where’d you come up with that one?
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Your over-use of “straw men” is going to burn down the house.
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Be more careful, both with your “straw men” AND the targeting of your drone strikes. Good intel (not over-reliance on rumors) goes a long way.

Actually waged, are there really 50 states? Four call themselves commonwealths. Never mind what DC is.

And neither should we rely on neighbors with axes to grind that there is an al Qaeda cell in business in the house down the street as the source of our targeting information.

Hi decon, I concede to your semantics.

Well, I really don’t know why those 4 choose the other name. It’s also reminiscent of the Mary Tyler Moore episode where Ted Baxter reads on-air, “In order for the bill to be passed, it has to be ratified by two-thirds of the 48 states… (he looks off camera and a crewman holds up two fingers) …oh, two more, huh? Correction, that’s four-thirds.”

Then, as an imperfect country, we should apologize for our mistakes when it’s appropriate.

@15.7.. This from a guy who asked the question on another thread, do colleges produce more billonaires or leftist, which you had previously stated meant that they were the last bastion of communism in the world, since china had adopted capitalism. Obvious world class foreign policy expert.

There are fifty States and Guam and Puerto Rico and The Marshall Islands and The Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia and……

More importantly, there’s a difference between saying something stupid on a one-off basis versus saying something stupid on a nearly daily basis.

Here’s the deal, Paul. Even when being bad***, you should be a SMART bad***, educated in the ways of foreign policy and some idea of WTF goes on in the world. She. Is. A. Certifiable. Know. Nothing.

afguy@1.21,
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And who decides when it is appropriate? I don’t recall it being an issue debated in the presidential campaign of 08. It appears that Obama just took on the task of deciding for himself.
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It might not have been so offensive if, while he spoke of America’s “arrogance,” he also mentioned the thousands of graves of American servicemen who died to liberate the very country in which he spoke.

chupkar@1.22,
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Here’s a deal for you. You stop lying about Sarah Palin and I’ll stop telling the truth about Barack Hussein Obama. Deal?

afguy@5.12 & 5.13,
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The subject was “innocent civilians” killed in drone strikes. Wong seems to believe that everyone in the neighborhood is “innocent.”
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My contention is that real innocent civilians would 1. know who is next door, 2. be smart enough to make themselves scarce before the roof caved in. Do you disagree?

afguy@15.8,
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Foreign policy may not be a nail requiring a hammer, but it is also not a community in search of an organizer.
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Nations have interests. The interests of other nations may conflict with those of the United States. It behooves the President of the United States to look out for the interests of the United States. That fact of life seems to have eluded Barack Obama, Citizen of the World.

rwbbinla,
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Welcome to the conversation. Your point seems a little off topic but what the heck.
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I seriously doubt that anyone can argue with the fact that the last bastion of Marxism is academia in the US. In former communist countries, Marxism is known for the snare and delusion that it was.
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The leftist dilettantes who haunt the halls of college campuses in this country are so morally obtuse that they can ignore the tens of millions slaughtered in the name of Marxism.

wagedronenumber9@17.3,
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I guess that Obama knows there are 50 states.”
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Really?
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Paul Dirks@18,
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How about this?

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“I don’t have the facts but those white cops acted stupidly.”

Paul Dirks@18,
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Here are some more, Paul.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama-isms.htm

One only has to remember that today a poll came out that said that 30% of GOP think that Health Care had been repealed.
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They do not like teachers either.
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And the Democrats can’t win against this?
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Again I ask you why are you arguing with these fools?

deconstuctiva@17.4,
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Nice try, but there are, in fact, 50 States. All Obama had to do was to count the stars on old glory.
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The fact that the State of Rhode Island is officially known as Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, does not make it any less a state.
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Interesting but irrelevant fact. Rhode Islanders just voted down an attempt to change that official name.

allthings…@19,
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The 30% are just anticipating the inevitable.
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They probably have kids trapped in bad schools.
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Democrats have a tendency to shoot their own wounded.

LouSarah likes this.

A book could be written outlining Palin’s inadequacies. However, there is no need for the 1.5 characterizatioin.

*WHOOSH*

Barack Hussein Obama has never denied these associations, Wong. Is he a liar too?

Nor has Glenn Beck ever denied raping and murdering a young girl in the early 90′s, but you don’t see people constantly trying to bring up something that happened nearly 20 years ago.

Why is the media so obsessed with everything Sarah Palin says. She is a less than bright individual who doesn’t realize her limitations. She was critical of the President’s response to the protest in Egypt. This from a woman who thought Africa was a country and not a continent. According to this line of thought, Egypt is a city with the country of Africa. She believes in the Bush philosophy of “shoot first and then aim” and “speak and then think.” She criticizes the President in his response to the crisis in Libya. He is acting appropriately in consulting with our allies before taking action. What’s the rush? This was not a US inspired revolution — it is from within.
How in the world were the questions asked that would result in Palin being more qualified with respect to the security of the US. Anyone who has studied graduate school statistics knows you can frame questions to get the response you want. It appears this was the case.

More importantly, there’s a difference between saying something stupid on a one-off basis versus saying something stupid on a nearly daily basis.

And there is also a difference between making a bald face lie about having reading newspapers and magazines that have formed one’s world view.

Aren’t kids cute when they play gotcha jokes.

My contention is that real innocent civilians would 1. know who is next door, 2. be smart enough to make themselves scarce before the roof caved in. Do you disagree?
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Yes, paulie. I most emphatically do disagree!
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As in this country, a lot of “innocents” just want to be left alone to live their lives without fear that someone pissed off at them (or even unknown to them) will turn them into a potential target.
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Do you actually listen to yourself sometimes? How do they make themselves scarce when they don’t know the strike is coming?
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Your efforts to “blame the victims” in order to obsolve this country from any need or requirement to apologize are disgusting.
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Wanna know why our stature is falling – it’s because of attitudes like yours.
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Others think of us as a “shining city” when we consistently ACT like one. Making campaign speeches about how great we are isn’t the same as “walking the walk” on a regular basis.
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Telling others that it’s their own fault they were blown up because WE weren’t too concerned about collateral damage isn’t gonna win many hearts and minds.

I’m going to come out and say it, paulie.
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I find your positions to be bordering on the morally bankrupt, albeit superficially patriotic on some level.
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I DO hope you’re getting paid for posting this tripe, because the thought that you actually BELIEVE what you write doesn’t speak well of you as a human being.

Obama acted in Egypt because America has a good relationship with Mubarak and therefore was able to play a role in the entire thing. In Iran and Libya, the biggest role the US can play is the role of “apparent meddler”, a nation, known for toppling Islamic countries to install friendly dictators, that appears to be working to topple an Islamic country to install a friendly dictator. If Obama puts too much support for the people of any of these countries, he runs the risk of making the US look that way.
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Keep in mind that Obama’s influence on the International stage is far greater in influencing the behavior between nations than it is in influencing the behavior within a nation. Therefore, Obama can, by simply stating his support for one side or another, significantly change the behavior between two feuding nations. He has next to no influence on the people within a country – in that, he has about as much positive impact as Canada’s Stephen Harper – and you’ll note that the vast, vast, vast majority of world leaders are being about as quiet as Obama. (Egypt was a rare exception, but that’s only because the US had a significant relationship with Mubarak and could influence him. Countries like Bahrain he could probably similarly influence. In other words, Obama can only assist in the toppling of allied regimes)

Only a little more than a year to go and look what the Repub got as far as their “star” candidates. This reminded me of 2004 when anyone can kick GWB ass, yet Dem put Kerry out to be defeated.

Cm’on Republican, do take my advise seriously:
– Turn off Fox News
– Drink a coolaid

Ah, the dang keyboard.

Only a little more than a year to go and look what the Repub got as far as their “star” candidates. This reminded me of 2004 when anyone can kick GWB ass, yet Dem put Kerry out to be defeated.
Cm’on Republican, do take my advise seriously:
- Turn off Fox News
- Drink kool-aid
- Spend sometime to really “think” what do you want

After all, you may end up vote for Obama. That would save you a trip to the primary vote.

Nations have interests. The interests of other nations may conflict with those of the United States. It behooves the President of the United States to look out for the interests of the United States.
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And, on their own soil, are you saying that the interests of the US should trump the interests of the host country?
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How very “imperial” of you, paulie.
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Face it. There’s NOT much anyone could have done in those countries to make the US look any better, either Obama or your beloved “half-term” beauty queen. The time that we had to burnish our rep was in the decades BEFORE this started.
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But you did make the most of your “nothingburger” post to take the swipe at Obama required in the “Troller’s Handbook”.

The problem chupkar is that you get your Palin news from the corrupt Obama loving MSM. Palin was green as the VP pick but she still had more experience than Obama at the top of a ticket. Palin’s suppose weakness as VP was Foreign policy even though Russia is her next door neighbor and she was CIC of the only full time active duty national guard because of the missile defense system in Alaska. What was Obama’s foreign policy experience at the time? Let me see, he lived in Chicago thug-land and had 300 foreign advisers on the campaign trail. How is that working out for him? Anyway, Palin has been traveling around the country given speeches on national security. As governor of AK, Palin surrounded herself with good advisers. Who surrounds Obama? One of Palin’s strengths is processing data given to her by advisers and making the right decision as she did as CEO of Alaska. She would do the same as President Palin. Obama has surrounded himself with failure and so goes our country. But Obama biggest problem is he doesn’t have a clue what he is doing or he wants us to fail. You pick one?

Are you talking about somehing like this. Here’s Sarah Palin having some fun with the Gaffe Machine in Chief and this ain’t even the tip of the iceberg.

“My fellow Americans in all 57 states, the time has changed for come. With our country founded more than 20 centuries ago, we have much to celebrate – from the FBI’s 100 days to the reforms that bring greater inefficiencies to our health care system. We know that countries like Europe are willing to stand with us in our fight to halt the rise of privacy, and Israel is a strong friend of Israel’s. And let’s face it, everybody knows that it makes no sense that you send a kid to the emergency room for a treatable illness like asthma and they end up taking up a hospital bed. It costs, when, if you, they just gave, you gave them treatment early, and they got some treatment, and ah, a breathalyzer, or an inhalator. I mean, not a breathalyzer, ah, I don’t know what the term is in Austrian for that…

Of course, the paragraph above is based on a series of misstatements and verbal gaffes made by Barack Obama (I didn’t have enough time to do one for Joe Biden). YouTube links are provided just in case you doubt the accuracy of these all too human slips-of-the-tongue. If you can’t remember hearing about them, that’s because for the most part the media didn’t consider them newsworthy. I have no complaint about that. Everybody makes the occasional verbal gaffe – even news anchors…..”