What a horrible time for our economy

[Ðiego]

I've always known your ability to discuss issues to be hampered by your ignorance of those same issues, and your seeming inability to talk to someone without your questionable upbringing shining through, but I didn't know that ignorance extended to your grasp of the English language.

Refine: to make more fine, subtle, or precise. To make fine distinctions in thought or language: improve, perfect, polish, temper, elevate, hone.

Reverse: opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character

A post on HiffPo covers it best, and so I'll quote it for you.

Obama Denies Change In Iraq Policy

Democrat Barack Obama struggled Thursday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove U.S. combat troops from the war.

A dustup over war policy - one of the main issues separating the Illinois senator from his Republican opponent, John McCain - overshadowed Obama's town-hall meeting here with veterans to talk about patriotism and his plans to care for them. Republicans pounced on the chance to characterize Obama as altering one of the core policies that drove his candidacy "for the sake of political expedience." He denied equally forcefully that he was shifting positions.

Arriving in Fargo, Obama hastily called a news conference to discuss news of a sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, but the questioning turned to Iraq policy and his impending trip there.

"I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there," he said. "I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."

He left the impression that his talks with military commanders there could refine his promise to remove U.S. combat troops within 16 months of taking office.

Less than four hours later, after the town hall meeting, Obama appeared before reporters for another statement and round of questions to "try this again."

"Apparently I was not clear enough this morning," he said. He blamed any confusion on the McCain campaign, which he said had "primed the pump with the press" to suggest "we were changing our policy when we haven't."

"I have said throughout this campaign that this war was ill-conceived, that it was a strategic blunder and that it needs to come to an end," he said. "I have also said I would be deliberate and careful about how we get out. That position has not changed. I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position."

He promised to summon the Joint Chiefs of Staff on his first day in office "and I will give them a new mission and that is to end this war, responsibly and deliberately, but decisively."

He said that when he talked earlier about refining his policy after talking with commanders in Iraq, he was referring not to his 16-month timeline, but to how many troops may need to remain in Iraq to train the local army and police and what troop presence might be needed "`to be sure al-Qaida doesn't re-establish a foothold there."

"I will bring our troops out at a pace of one two brigades a month" which would mean the United States would be totally out of Iraq in 16 months. "That is what I intend to do as president of the United States."

But later in the session, he said it is possible the 16-month timeline could slip if the pace of withdrawal needs to be slowed some months to ensure troop safety. "I have always said ... I would always reserve the right to do what's best," Obama said.

During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for the phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could take 16 months. He has said that if al-Qaida builds bases in Iraq, he would keep troops either in the country or the region to carry out "targeted strikes."

Republicans, who have claimed Obama needs an update on the situation in Iraq, e-mailed a midday broadside.

"There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience," said Alex Conant, a spokesman for the national Republican Party. "Obama's Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician."

McCain, has been a vocal supporter of the Iraq war and war policy has been a central disagreement between the two candidates.

But Obama insisted his position has not changed at all. He pointed out he has always said, "We need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in." This means, he said, that his 16-month timeline "was always premised on" not endangering either U.S. troops or Iraq's stability, which he had previously been told by commanders was possible.

"I'm going to continue to gather information to see whether those conditions still hold," he said. "My goal is to end this conflict as soon as possible."

"I continue to believe that it is a strategic error for us to maintain a long-term occupation in Iraq at a time when conditions in Afghanistan are worsening, al-Qaida is continuing to establish bases in areas of northwest Pakistan, resources there are severely strained and we are spending $10 to $12 billion a month in Iraq that we desperately need here at home, not to mention the strains on our military," Obama said.

Obama plans a visit this summer to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Illinois senator also has said he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer as part of an official congressional trip that would be separate from the campaign-funded Mideast and European tour. It would be his second trip to Iraq.

Obama's Web site contains this direct promise about Iraq: "Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al-Qaida attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al-Qaida."

McCain was an early supporter of increasing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq as President Bush did last year. He wants to pursue the current counterinsurgency tactics to give Iraqis time to work out a political reconciliation. He has said he's willing to see some U.S. troops stay there as much as 100 years but not if they are being wounded or killed in combat. Rather he supports keeping a military presence in that part of the world because of its volatility.

McCain has always supported our invasion and the continued occupation of Iraq and sees no problem with our troops remaining in Iraq at the tune of $10,000,000,000 a month. This for a fiscal conservative?

Obama, and a large majority of the American people, believe we should have remained focused on Afghanistan and that Iraq was a mistake then and is a mistake now. His stated position, which has not changed, is that we need to get our troops out of Iraq and return our attention to eliminating the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

If you don't believe the Iraq invasion, or that our spending 10 bullion dollars a month there now, are mistakes then I question your judgment as much as I question McCains. Why are we spending 10 billion dollars a month on a country which is sitting on untold billions of barrels of oil? Why are they not paying it themselves? Why are we spending so much there, while cupping the budget for schools here?

What the hell is wrong with the Conservatives and can they even be called 'conservative' any more? Or is it that they are only conservative when it comes to spending on Americans and are liberal when spending on their businesses and those of their associates?

[JackSpratts]

"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.

Let me be as clear as I can be: I intend to end this war.

My first day in office I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in and I will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war -- responsibly, deliberately but decisively.

This is the same position I that had four months ago. It's the same position that I had eight months ago. It's the same position that I had 12 months ago."

- Obama

[albed]

"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.

Let me be as clear as I can be: I intend to end this war.

Ooooh, so it's an "intention" instead of a "pledge". That's so much more.....


worthless.

My first day in office I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in and I will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war -- responsibly, deliberately but decisively.

Well this sounds like a replacement pledge. Let's see how long before it becomes another "intention".

This is the same position I that had four months ago. It's the same position that I had eight months ago. It's the same position that I had 12 months ago."

Yeah, yeah but the poor suckers can only hear what you say, not what "position" you secretly hold.




Enjoy your new status of Obama bitchhood.

Now bend over.

[Ðiego]

You're so uninformed that I'm often surprised you even know the names of the candidates.

Nice to see PA is going blue Also nice to see that Jesse Helms finially got his first class ticket to hell.


Ð

[jcmd62]

Originally Posted by Ðiego

Ever notice how albed and jcmd always sound so angry and bitter? Like they're clinging to their guns and religion?

Come November your worst nightmare: a Buckwheat in the White House OH NO SPANKIE! HAHAHA!


Ð

Ever notice how whenever someone makes a valid point the best you can do is continue to whine like a baby instead of making a valid and appropriate response.

Your Buckwheat reference was the most racist remark I've heard in years. David Duke is that you????????

While like most Americans I am not HAPPY with fuel prices I am hardly angry and bitter. I am simply sick to my stomach of whiny fuckin Americans and Euro trash alike that blame their own shortcomings and flat out laziness on anyone and everyone but themselves.

As for my guns, and yes I have a nice collection, something you can't have LEGALLY in the land of cameras and Queen mum. Seems your constant whining would be better placed towards her and her inbred offspring instead of constantly whining in this useless shithole.

As for that ridiculous TAX your unAmerican non European ass pays on gas, well now thats what funds that lousy, piss poor substandard FREE health Care you idiots are always raving about. Case in point, when my brothers daughter needed surgery recently, your Free health care system flew him, his wife and daughter to Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore because your wonderful FREE health care system couldn't handle the surgery.

Just a bit ironic that some of those fuel taxes your paying for that glorious FREE health care are being spent right here in the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE. Top notch Hotel including dining for 3 weeks and over $400,000 in medical expenses all paid by you Europeans. Gotta love the Irony.

FREE health care doesn't exist. You either pay for it yourself like we do in America or you pay ridiculously high taxes to your government for substandard care.

[theknife]

Originally Posted by Ðiego

If you don't believe the Iraq invasion, or that our spending 10 bullion dollars a month there now, are mistakes then I question your judgment as much as I question McCains. Why are we spending 10 billion dollars a month on a country which is sitting on untold billions of barrels of oil?

well, the answer to that question should be clear as a fucking bell at this point: so we can control thier oil. all the rest of that "freedom is on the march" and "spreading democracy" bullshit were fairy tales and window dressing to sell this train wreck to feebleminded neocon Bushbots.

edit: and btw, Obama is distinctly juking right, imo, no doubt to broaden his appeal for the GE. his recent comments on Iraq as well his disinclination to hold the line on the FISA bill and telecom immunity are not encouraging. it's a shame coz he really doesn't have to water down his brand to carry this election - apparently, he thinks otherwise.

[Ðiego]

Aye, no-bid contracts given to only Western oil companies and, surprise surprise, a no-bid contract given to Halliburton for firefighting in Iraq.

More of the same 'you lick my ass I'll lick yours' we've come to expect.


Ð

[Mazer]

Originally Posted by theknife

it's a shame coz he really doesn't have to water down his brand to carry this election - apparently, he thinks otherwise.

This isn't his first rodeo, he knows he needs to move to the middle in order to get elected.

[albed]

Ah come on now Mazer, tell him nobody's going to change their vote based on Obama's weaseling out on his pledges and promises.

[theknife]

Originally Posted by Mazer

This isn't his first rodeo, he knows he needs to move to the middle in order to get elected.

no, i don't think he does - not this election cycle. the GOP brand is so badly trashed at this point (or, as Virginia GOP Congressman Tom Davis puts it: "if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf"), and Democratic voter ID is so high, that he could stick to his guns and still get elected. of course, he'll play it safe and shift center-right, but i don't think he necessarily has to, at least not this time around.

[Ðiego]

In a major shift in policy today, Barack Obama, who has vowed all election season to have a salad instead ordered a large bowl of lettuce along with tomato slices, cucumbers, carrot shavings, a hard boiled egg, with cut up pieces of ham, salami and cheese.

The Republican party understandably jumped on this shocking change in strategy!

[Mazer]

Originally Posted by theknife

no, i don't think he does - not this election cycle. the GOP brand is so badly trashed at this point (or, as Virginia GOP Congressman Tom Davis puts it: "if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf"), and Democratic voter ID is so high, that he could stick to his guns and still get elected. of course, he'll play it safe and shift center-right, but i don't think he necessarily has to, at least not this time around.

Then he can stop campaigning, can't he? He's already clinched the Democratic nomination, now all he has to do is sit back and wait until January 20th. Of course, he won't, apparently he knows something you don't.

[theknife]

Originally Posted by Mazer

Then he can stop campaigning, can't he? He's already clinched the Democratic nomination, now all he has to do is sit back and wait until January 20th. Of course, he won't, apparently he knows something you don't.

not quite, you've got it backwards: apparently, i know something he doesn't.

[albed]

Win a lot of elections in your day knife?

If Obama's flip-flops start negatively affecting poll results he'll certainly flop-flip back to your preferred tunes; but since he has all your lips firmly locked to his ass now your opinions mean nothing and he's gone looking for new listeners.