24 Comments Add your own

• 1. charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 7:00 am

  pat:

  why do you promote this loooooooooooooooooooooser?? he wrote a book and became a senator. what has he done in the senate?? he also took the trip to make himself look presidential. even you can smile and shake someone’s hand. he does not have any experience. he will not win.

• 2. Pat Cunningham  |  July 25th, 2008 at 7:10 am

  Well then, why is he ahead in the polls? And why does this Fox News poll — Fox News, mind you — show that most Americans expect him to win?: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24075777-5012572,00.html

• 3. Jeff  |  July 25th, 2008 at 7:54 am

  would not be the first time the gullible amaerican public elected a loser!! remember the 2 terms of bush

• 4. echo4charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 8:19 am

  The people pictured are all Europeans. Most of these people aren’t even registered with the US Selective Service, and don’t vote for the US president. What do these pictures prove. A couple of thousand Europeans like Senator Barack Obama. What does this prove? What does their turnout matter? European civilians like him, that’s all. It speaks nothing of his foreign policy (in)experience.

  Let’s see some pics of his US campaign trail, and of Senator McCain’s. And, of Senator Obama not placing his hand over his heart, or even facing Old Glory during the Pledge of Allegiance.

  The media is just pounding Senator McCain, and trying to force Senator Obama on the American People. But, we’ll see, in November, who the American people truly believe in.

  Senator McCain is a proven patriot. Senator Obama, sir, is not. His background, and denial (and recreation of) background, plus questionable affiliations, speak for themselves. His flip-flopping beyond any example of Senator McCain’s (that you have provided as of yet).

  When Jesse Jackson is in disdain of an African-American politician, and a Presidential candidate, no less, that speaks volumes.

  What is his real agenda, here?

• 5. Fred Krauss  |  July 25th, 2008 at 8:38 am

  Thank you for sharing these remarkable photos of Barak Obama in Berlin. He is the first true statesman to run for the office of president in a generation. I have great hope for the future as I see the world responding so positively to his candidacy.

• 6. Menlo Bob  |  July 25th, 2008 at 10:58 am

  As I read his speech Obama lauded the fact that the US and others refused to abandon Berlin to the Soviets, and he also endorsed free trade among nations. Obama’s record is at odds with both objectives. He wants to abandon Iraq, and he’s opposed NAFTA, CAFTA and the recently rejected deal with Columbia. Hypocricy is not an endearing trait so we’ll just pay attention to the photos.

• 7. redrover  |  July 25th, 2008 at 11:56 am

  Why are these people cheering?

  Haven’t they been listening to what Obama has been saying repeatedly over the last several years?

  —————————————————————————————

  U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama suggested Friday that the United States one day might have to launch surgical missile strikes into Iran and Pakistan to keep extremists from getting control of nuclear bombs.

  […]

  Obama said the United States must first address Iran’s attempt to gain nuclear capabilities by going before the United Nations Security Council and lobbying the international community to apply more pressure on Iran to cease nuclear activities. That pressure should come in the form of economic sanctions, he said.

  But if those measures fall short, the United States should not rule out military strikes to destroy nuclear production sites in Iran, Obama said.

  SOURCE:
  Obama would consider missile strikes on Iran
  Complete coverage of Barack Obama
  By David Mendell
  Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2004
  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0409250111sep25,0,5979825.story

  —————————————————————————————

  Sen. Barack Obama said Friday the use of military force should not be taken off the table when dealing with Iran, which he called “a threat to all of us.”

  SOURCE:
  Obama: Iran threatens all of us
  Won’t rule out force in speech in Chicago to pro-Israel group
  BY DAVE NEWBART Staff Reporter
  Chicago Sun-Times, March 3, 2007
  http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/281249,CST-NWS-OBAMA03.article

  —————————————————————————————

  Barack Obama struck a distinctly hawkish tone toward Iran on Wednesday, saying in a southern Israeli town besieged until recently by rocket fire that he would “take no options off the table” to prevent the Islamic republic from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

  SOURCE:
  Obama takes hawkish stance on Iran
  Calls Israel a ‘miracle’
  Steven Edwards\
  Canwest News Service, Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
  http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=675187

  —————————————————————————————

  Obama!
  McCain!
  They’re both the friggin’ same!

• 8. echo4charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  Our junior Senator realizes his international record does not inspire confidence. He has no military experience and very, very little foreign policy experience. Certainly none to compare with to Senator McCain, a bonafide war hero who has been engaged in every major foreign policy debate of the last quarter century.

  To win in November, Senator Obama has to close that perception gap. He has to convince more Americans that he is ready for whatever comes next, be it more terrorism from al Qaeda, an orderly transition of power in Iraq, or a full blown war with Iran.

  So, he is meeting with foreign leaders as well as U.S. military commanders on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Israel and hoping at the very least that the pictures Americans see on TV and in the newspapers from his “whirlwind tour” will cause them to begin to see him as a world leader and ease their many doubts.

  The Senator’s core problem is not simply that he lacks the requisite experience. It’s the widespread perception that he lacks the necessary judgment when it comes to the most troubling issues of the Middle East.

  In May of this year, just two short months ago, Senator Obama told a town hall meeting crowd that he thought of Iran as a “small and relatively harmless country”, and felt that they were hardly a major threat to the United States, Israel or our allies in the Middle East. “I mean think about it.,” he told a group of supporters. “Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don’t pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us….You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military.”

  His aides and advisors were, understandably and undeniably, horrified. Even Senator Clinton conceded Iran was a major threat — particularly given the regime’s lust for nuclear weapons.

  So, the next day, our Junior Senator flip-flopped, yet again (although, to real “Applesauce”, our Junior Senator has been “steady and true”. He told a new audience a new story, that he actually does believe Iran is a threat. But I believe that Senator Obama’s original, unscripted remarks were telling. I believe that Senator Obama does not actually believe the regime led by the Ayatollah Khameini and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are deeply and inherently dangerous. He sees Iran as a nuisance, not a forthcoming nuclear-armed power. That is why he is so adamant about wanting to sit down and “negotiate personally” with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions.

  C’mon. He’s an “Ivy Leaguer”. He should be smarter than that, and understand with whom he is dealing. This, also, is nothing short of illuminous inexperience, and, on his part, ignorance.

  His official website actually boasts about this position. “Senator Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions,” it reads. But to what end?

  I truly doubt that Senator Obama actually studied the speeches of Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Or has, even more dangerously, simply discounted them. Has he studied their eschatology, or end times theology? He should know it, as it is part of Islam (in which it it has been stated that he was raised-although he denies that he was). Has he taken the time, or put in the effort, or at least have been briefed about how this eschatology is driving Iranian foreign policy? No one who truly understands what the current Iranian leadership believes could honestly conclude that they can be successfully negotiated with, much less deterred. Ahmadinejad, after all, believes it is his God-given mission to annihilate the U.S., Israel and Judeo-Christian civilization as we know it. Why? To create the conditions that will bring the Islamic Messiah known as the Mahdi or the “12th Imam” to earth.

  Ahmadinejad is not just another power-hungry dictator. He is a Shia Islamic fascist. He believes his life destiny is to kill millions of Jews and Christians and usher in an Islamic caliphate. He believes is a forerunner of the Islamic Messiah, and boasts it plainly. His agenda is anything but hidden. Quite obvious, in statement from his own mouth, actually. Does anyone recall the adress he gave the UN Security Council, in which, during the speach, which floored and horrified the council, he described his forrunership of the Mahdi, and believed that he was physically glowing (no analogy here, he truly believed he was physically glowing due to the divinity of the Mahdi, as he preached conversion).

  If he dies, he believes he will spend eternity in paradise with 72 virgins. But he doesn’t really believe he’s going to die. He believes he has been chosen for a divine appointment, and that nothing can stop him. Nothing. That is what makes him so dangerous.

  Unfortunately, too many Washington politicians — Sen. Obama included — do not understand this, or take him seriously.

  I just don’t want this to be another “hindsight” lesson that millions learn the hard way.

• 9. Pat Cunningham  |  July 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

  Wow, Charlie! You’ve got more nonsense in that rant than I can deal with in one sitting. My favorite part is when you mention Islam and then say, referrring to Obama, “in which it it has been stated that he was raised — although he denies that he was.” Stated by whom, Charlie? Somebody in your therapy group? There isn’t one shred of evidence that Obama was raised a Muslim, but you want to believe that he was. Most people who walk upright have given up on that Obama-Muslim connection, but apparently you’re not one of them. Oh, I also notice that you refer to Obama as an “Ivy Leaguer,” with quotation marks around the term, as if it’s a dubious claim on his part. You’re a fun guy, Charlie. I mean it.

• 10. echo4charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

  Thanks. I like to think I’m fun.

• 11. Mike Carroll  |  July 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

  and well informed I might add.

• 12. equalityrkfd=  |  July 25th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

  Or well mis-informed!

• 13. Pat Cunningham  |  July 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

  Attention! Gather around, one and all, for I have a story to tell about patent falsehoods peddled by our friend echo4charlie in Comment No. 8 (above).

  The fifth paragraph of his rant reads as follows, quote:

  In May of this year, just two short months ago, Senator Obama told a town hall meeting crowd that he thought of Iran as a “small and relatively harmless country”, and felt that they were hardly a major threat to the United States, Israel or our allies in the Middle East. “I mean think about it.,” he told a group of supporters. “Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don’t pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us….You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military.” End of quote.

  For starters, nowhere can I find that Obama used the words “small and relatively harmless country” to describe Iran. Charlie lifted those words, without attribution, from one of several right-wing blogs that used them without quotation marks. But, in fact, those words did reflect Obama’s sentiments — at least as far as Charlie went in relating Obama’s sentiments.

  But alas, there was much more to what Obama said, and none of it dismissed Iran as harmless or posing no threat to Israel in particular and the region in general. Quite the contrary was the case.

  The context of Obama’s remarks related to the question of whether the United States should pursue diplomacy with its adversaries. His point was that diplomacy was pursued during the Cold War in dealing with the Soviet Union, a nuclear superpower that posed a far greater threat to the world then than Iran does now.

  Interestingly, John McCain twisted Obama’s words from that day in May in much the same way Charlie twists them here. However, McCain’s effort was deemed bogus by PolitiFact, a joint venture of Congressional Quarterly and the St. Petersburg Times, as we see here:

  http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/496/

  I hope you were kidding, Mike, when you referred to Charlie as well-informed.

• 14. Orlando Clay  |  July 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

  Wow…I just love these long-winded and mind-numbing attempts by right-wing gasbags to try to minimize the importance and the effectiveness of Obama’s European tour. Face the simple facts, folks: While Obama was looking and acting presidential as he delivered a rousing speech to an appreciative audience of over 200,000 people, YOUR candidate was standing in the cheese aisle of a Pennsylvania supermarket greeting senior citizens. Face it, guys, you got punked! You, your party, and Fox News have definitely got your work cut out for you this time around. You successfully bamboozled the American public in 2000 and 2004, but 2008 is going to be uphill all the way.

• 15. Echo4Charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

  Where was Obama tonight? Not in Germany visiting wounded veterans. Instead he cancelled, and played basketball!

  And, Pat, those were Obama’s words. You won’t find that on the websites you surf……..

  But, that was from a non-partisan source.

  Keep looking, sir.

• 16. Echo4Charlie  |  July 25th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

  And, what’s the importance of the European tour in relation to how we vote in November? As far as I know, the European people, who are not registered with the US selective service, are not voting. We are.

  He’s over his head, mugging for camera time. Even tonight, as he chose to play basketball, instead of visit our wounded troops (where the media camera isn’t permitted).

• 17. Pat Cunningham  |  July 26th, 2008 at 7:59 am

  Charlie: Two things:
  1) You obviously know very little about how that wounded-troops episode came down. You also obviously lack the brainpower to recognize that a presidential candidate would not deliberately schedule a visit to a military hospital and then cancel it without good reason, knowing that pseudo-patriotic nitwits like you would make a big fuss over it. Why would any candidate in his right mind do something like that? Haven’t you read or heard that the Pentagon discouraged the visit at the last moment? Have you no grasp at all of politics?

  And, 2) What is this completely irrelevant thing you keep raising about the people in the crowd at Obama’s speech not having registered with the U.S. Selective Service? What the hell does that have to do with anything? You’re like a child. How old are you really, Charlie? In your teens? Or perhaps your 90s?

• 18. Echo4Charlie  |  July 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am

  Pseudo-Patriotic couldn’t be more correct. That’s why, as a Pseudo-Patriot, I served, in combat, in Iraq and Somalia. Then, I woent to Bosnia. I had too short a term left in service to deploy to Bosnia, and new it, but, I kept it to myself, and went, to be with my fellow Marines. 2 out of three times, I went into combat with less functional equipment than we should have had, thanks to Clintons budget cuts (he spent more on his mistresses’ dry cleaning than the military, in 8 years).

  I carried a wounded fellow jarhead over 1/2 a mile on my shoulders, and could taste his blood in my mouth, as it got all over me.

  That’s the level of my Pseudo-Patriotism.

  How about you? What did you do in your youth? Spit on soldies, and hang out with your hippie movement buddies?

  You never did answer my question. Hasn’t your partisan info source answered my question for you, yet? You’ve slung insults, like a unstable child, but, never answered my question.

  Because, you know they have no relevance to how we vote here, so it doesn’t matter. They are just good photo ops in front of large crowds. That’s all. Just face service, and photo ops, for cool “rock-star-like” photos.

  But, the largest portion of those crowds won’t be voting in November. They aren’t US citizens. The seior citizens in the supermarket cheese aisles, that McCain was visiting, will.

  And, Pat, those were Obama’s words. You won’t find that on the websites you surf……..

  But, that was from a non-partisan source. Prove to me they weren’t. Your just regurgitating crap that your partisan web sites dribble. But you just don’t seem to answer the questions.

  Keep looking, sir.

• 19. Pat Cunningham  |  July 26th, 2008 at 11:29 am

  Charlie: Your military service is laudable, but it doesn’t give you the right to impugn the patriotism of others without being challenged. It doesn’t give you the right to misrepresent what Obama said regarding Iran without being challenged. It doesn’t give you the right to imply that I spit on any soldiers, which isn’t true. Now, what question was it that you wanted me to answer?

• 20. Echo4Charlie  |  July 26th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

  I actually answered it it my last comment. I won’t even start on his “rollover” stance on Israel, and dividing Jerusalem. He’s even floored his own media supporters with that one.

  I’ll just make my point, and then vanish……(taaa daaa)…from the blog.

  The pictures of the excited screaming Europeans is nothing but propmotional photography. They’re showing pictures of a hughe “youth swoon” over this guy. But the fact is, these weren’t even US citizens, and, although all humans and quality of life for all is important, their opinion of our Junior Senator has no bearing on US elections. And, some of the comments that he made about our country, over there, don’t sit too well with guys like me, but, that’s the freedom (and in his case, the price) that I worked hard to make sure that he had come this day.

  The bottom line is, they (European citizens) aren’t registered to vote here. Us citizens are. So, these shots are just mugging for facetime and marketing. Period.

  This doen’t represent America’s embrace of this guy.

  You’re wrong about this guy, and the election will prove that in November.

• 21. Mike Carroll  |  July 26th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

  Stay around EchoCharlie. Your presence adds to this blog.
  And don’t take Patrick too seriously. I have traded barbs with him for 10+ years now with no ill effect.

• 22. Pat Cunningham  |  July 26th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

  Mike’s right, Charlie. Don’t go away. You faced tougher adversaries than me during your stint in the military.

• 23. Pat Cunningham  |  July 26th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

  By the way, Mike, what do you think has happened to our old friend Kaus? He hasn’t been here in two weeks. I hope it’s just a vacation. If I lose Kaus and Charlie in the same month, I might as well pack it in myself. After all, the lost income will be more than covered by the bets I’m making on the November elections. Besides, I’ll probably get a nice gig in the Obama administration — minister of culture or something like that. Maybe I can entice Kaus and Charlie to return by promising them deputy ministerships — but just for menial tasks, mind you.

• 24. Mike Carroll  |  July 26th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

  I’ve noticed the absence of Kaus as well. Hope your assumption is correct.
  I think you are aiming too low. I see an ambassador position in your future. Some visitors to this site are backing Mars as a destination for you but not me of course.

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