Thinking Right

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. Perhaps it is time for the administration to announce a McCain-like response to the Russian rape of Georgia. The quick agreement with Poland is an excellent template. A public acknowledgement that “Russia, under its present leadership, cannot be trusted to behave as a civilized state” is a necessary first step. A public commitment to facilitate NATO membership for any of Russia’s neighbors who so desire is a useful second step. A public willingness to sell arms to any of Russia’s neighbors is a valuable third step. A commitment to freedom should ring in every pronouncement, along with a note of the contrasting view of the subjugating Russians. They are capable of shame, as Reagan proved.

By Dennis

August 18, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten writes, “Some problems are first and foremost our responsibility, regardless of whether a single ally joins in. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq is an example. Some, Sudan for instance, require regional intervention. Others require a global response — in this case to make it clear to the Russians that it cannot seize and actually or effectively annex the territory of a sovereign nation.”

The world knows, as do intelligent Americans, that Iraq was illegally invaded. And if Iraq had been geographically located next to the U.S., Iraq would already be annexed by the U.S. military.

And I doubt that you would be talking about a global response to that.

Frankly, right wing journalism is an embarassment to the profession, as it isn’t journalism at all but pure propaganda.

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Middleman

August 18, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Obama took too much time with his answers last night.

And then he ruffled the feathers of the Church when he did not commit to conception beginning life.

And perhaps he didn’t share the warm stories apparently sought by those who are saying McCain had a great night.

But if there is one thing for sure that Obama did not do last night it was pander.

Lost in the accolades John McCain has received today from the Christian right is the undeniable fact that any remnants of John McCain ‘The Maverick’ died on that stage last night. John McCain pandered. Once respected for his willingness to do what he, and only he, felt was right, John McCain finally sold what was left of his once respected soul.

John McCain ‘The Maverick’ is dead. Conservatives are now left with McBush.

And for this American, that is a real shame.

By Wrong

August 18, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I don’t believe the U.S. is the sole superpower. Russia’s energy eminence and China’s ownership of our debt, its dynamic economy and Olympian PR boost puts them right there with us. We are in need of a U.S. Renaissance.

By Tim

August 18, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

While I don’t agree with the recent actions of the Russians, I find it quite funny that th war chasers in this country are ticked off because another country has war mongers too. The decision to invade Iraq was a matter of choice. We invaded and said that anyone who opposed us did so because of their own selfish interest in Iraq. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Russia decided on war for whatever reason, and we can’t stand the fact that they disregared the views of the rest of the world. Sounds kind of like the same stand that we took in Iraq. Funny Huh?????

By getalife "whiners"

August 18, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Russia got the oil and nobody can force them to give it up. They showed w how it is done.

Anyhoo, somebody finally told Obama to stop spewing like Kerry and start fighting like Clinton.

By TW

August 18, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

‘w’ had Iraq.

McSame wants Russia.

Isn’t it time for an American President?

By DUBYA

August 18, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Once again, per the Faith Forum (Ohh Godd!!) McShame repeatedly refers to his entire 3.8 HOURS of combat as qualifying him with vast experience and knowledge. A lifetime of “Jerk, punk, McNasty from his peers, bottom of class at Annapolis and Pensacola, 4 planes culpably crashed, the would-be “Hero Card” played his entire adult life…well…there you have your typical Republicon “leader.” Duh.

By Michael

August 18, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

This invasion by Russia is more like Kuwait than Iraq. Small country with a disputed border (Kuwait/S. Ossetia) gets invaded by its larger neighbor (Iraq/Georgia). Large country (US/Russia) allied with small country goes in and assists small country to get rid of its invader.

This is not like Kuwait and Iraq because of the many UN resolutions condemning the invasion of Kuwait, the disarming of Iraq, and ultimately coalitions (of whatever size) that eventually went it.

Meanwhile President Shrub frolics with volleyballers in Beijing and comes back to US to vacation in Crawford. How many months left of this BS?

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

By Peter

August 18, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

The USA can go INVADE any country it wants I guess….

Example Iraq for OIL……..BUT no one else can do the same I guess…….

Republicans speak with Forked tongue, and Act accordingly !

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

By Redneck Convert

August 18, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Well, I see two good old boys got into it in the parking lot at a Waffle House down on Northridge and one shot the other. But the word is, both were liscenced to carry, so I guess it’s OK. But we need the Death Penalty for that 12 year old girl that shot the 16 year old boy in a house. Maybe we can put her on the lap of the daddy that owns the gun and save some money with a 2 for 1 deal. Anyway, people like that make the Right to Carry and don’t take no crap from nobody look bad.

I think we need to start a war against Russia. We got four months of My President’s term left and if his people can just start spreading the word that Russia is giving nukes to Terrists and doing other bad things we can whip up a kick-as* additude in this country and be in Russia by Christmas. It worked for Iraq and it ought to work for Russia too. Anyhow, if it ain’t done now, it’s just a matter of time till old man McCain looses his temper in the White House and starts air mailing some nukes that way. If he don’t get mixed up again and maybe send them to China or Japan.

I was fit to be tied with traffic this a.m. All those school buses and parents out on the road trying to educate their kids on my dime. Well, I didn’t do You Know What and have a kid and I shouldn’t have to pay for the schooling. Let them all walk around as dumb as a bag of hammers. Besides, the further they go in school the more librul they become. Unless they get a lite version, like jbmlaw and Sister Dusty and people that went to UGA.

I guess I’m mad on account of getting a tax bill for the trailer. Almost 50 bucks and a big part of it is for schools.

Have a good day everybody.

By jack

August 18, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

is this the same Liberation American style of million of lives of serian iraqi afgan guatemalan El Salvadoran Indonesian ETC, ETC, ETC?????? you imperialist SOCK PUPPET??

By jack

August 18, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

is this the same Liberation American style of million of lives of Sebrian iraqi afgan Guatemalan El Salvadoran Indonesian ETC, ETC, ETC?????? you imperialist SOCK PUPPET??

By jack

August 18, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

is this the same Liberation American style of million of lives of Sebrian iraqi afghan Guatemalan El Salvadoran Indonesian ETC, ETC, ETC?????? you imperialist SOCK PUPPET??

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

By GOPs got to go

August 18, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Wait a minute Jim, were you and Bookman watching the same debate? Are you really suggesting that America should now take on Russia in a “put up dukes” confrontation?

And just where are you suggesting we obtain more troops, a draft perhaps?

Funny how when Obama had speaking engagements in Europe you thought he was out of line. McCain sends his advisors to talk with Georgian leaders when he is not ACTUALLY the president and that is just fine and dandy. He is a decider just like the now lame Bush. One little problem there Jim, he is not our president yet. But boy have we seen something to be wary of, even more of a cowboy wanna be than the Shrub. Yipe-I-O-Caya and send in the cavalry. I hope you have sons and I hope they have to fight in the wars you love to start.

And as to showing Russia they can not just decide to invade a sovereign foreign country with out international approval, HM, didn’t Bush do that in Iraq? But that is OK because we are the self proclaimed “good Guys. And now we are occupying Iraq, American style.
But instead of wrecking oil pipelines we are making sure they are up and running, after all, was that not the whole reason to being there?

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Folks,

Since the invasion of Iraq was sanctioned by the UN, I guess the efforts to equate the two by the silly lefties is moot.

With Poland signing on for the missle shield and the Ukraine offering the former soviet missle radar sites to the west, I think we can see that Russia will face hard times.

Unlike the invasion of Kuwait, the vaulted UN has stood silent and shown that they could care less. Nato, our supposed ally in Europe has not raised one finger against this invasion.

On an international front, when an aggressor sinks the navy of the occupied country, this is not some form of mis-understanding. It is a “in your face” act of war.

I know that NBC and the other leftes will say that Russia was justified, but then again, that is what they want for us here, a Marxist style government.

I think a Carrier Battle group in the Black sea is a valid response to outright aggression.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

I guess Jim Whooten forgot to tell us about the……….. “Faulty Intelligence” The Russians were working with !

Funny how only America can Invade another country because of “Faulty Intelligence”…..

Meaning Lust for OIL !

By Just Nasty and Mean

August 18, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

G’mornin Jim, et al,

Make no mistake—-Russia (Putin) is sending a clear message to the US and the world—we are BACK, in your face, we have petrodollars, and you can’t do a damn thing about it. The next president is going to face the new Russian challenge, and the aftermath of their invasion of Georgia, for his entire term. If there were ever a time for the US to show resolve, it is when one of their allies has just been attacked with impunity.

Obama flunked miserably.

What we got from Obama and his advisors was a neutral—appeaser’s position—blaming the victim equally to the aggressor. It clearly shows just how naïve Obama is by his pathetic lukewarm, neutral, non-committal statement. If Obama and his lightweights think Putin gives a rat’s a$$ about his “words”, he is mistaken. How pathetic!

If you are a leader of the free world, you don’t get a “mulligan” to test the waters. It is more dangerous to show your enemy inconsistency, sluggish and weak-minded thinking than a hard-fixed position. With Obama’s appeasement approach, Russia will have missiles in Cuba, Venezuela, and Panama within months.

ACTION is what is required, here and McCain immediately offered a LIST of actions to take, including tough penalties like kicking Russia out of the G-8. Per usual, being the consummate politician, Obama later modified his position—but remains clueless on the sidelines and left in the dust.

You don’t have to be a Republican OR Democrat to recognize Obama would have botched the early US position on this crisis from the get-go. Does anybody REALLY believe Obama can face-off with an experienced politico, ex-KGB and self-appointed czar—-Vladimir Putin? He’d eat Obama like a turkey leg on Thanksgiving!

This is just more proof positive: Obama is an “empty suit” that just doesn’t have nearly the experience necessary to lead world affairs.

Everyone should be afraid—very afraid—- that someone this inexperienced even has a chance to be president of the USA.

By TW

August 18, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Speakin’ of flunked - how does finishing last in you class and then getting shot down ‘cuz you can’t fly worth a crap qualify you to do sh!t?

I mean, ‘cmon - at least don’t brag about it, for crissake.

But then, what else should we expect from the GOP, home of the loser president…

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Just Nasty and Mean,

I think you are being too kind to BHO. He does not see that much wrong with what the Russians are doing and that makes him that much more dangerous.

By dirty harry

August 18, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

DUTCHMAN…You are Plain wrong about the U.N. sanctioning the war in Iraq!

Here is the exact recount of what transpired .. You’ll note the U.S. withdrew the resolution.

I hate to copy and paste, but in this case it’s the only way!

In February 2003, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations General Assembly, continuing U.S. efforts to gain U.N. authorization for an invasion. Powell presented evidence alleging that Iraq was actively producing chemical and biological weapons and had ties to al-Qaeda, claims that have since been widely discredited. As a follow-up to Powell’s presentation, the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Australia, Denmark, Japan, and Spain proposed a UN Resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, but NATO members like Canada, France, and Germany, together with Russia, strongly urged continued diplomacy. Facing a losing vote as well as a likely veto from France and Russia, the U.S., UK, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Japan, and Australia eventually withdrew their resolution.[45][46]

U.S. President George Bush meets with his top advisors on March 19, 2003 just before the invasion begins.With the failure of its resolution, the U.S. and their supporters abandoned the Security Council procedures and decided to pursue the invasion without U.N. authorization, a decision of questionable legality under international law.[47] This decision was widely unpopular worldwide, and opposition to the invasion coalesced on February 15 in a worldwide anti-war protest that attracted big between six and ten million people in more than 800 cities, the largest such protest in human history according to

By Operation Yellow Elephant

August 18, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, when you next address your good friends and cute little followers in the Buckhead Young Republicans, — (you’re their FAVORITE!) — will you finally encourage them to enlist in the armed services now that Russia is a threat that you believe we must address? Years of sideline cheerleading (ala the bouncy Bush boy) and flagging enlistment, along with the depletion of good men and women due to DEATH, maiming, and severe psychological trauma, have left our “superpower” status and the strength of our numbers in question. Clearly the Russians are not concerned about our ability to police their aggressions. From whence will our future strength and manpower come? Shall we invite more immigrants to enlist on the promise of citizenship? But who will lead by example? Who will stand up to show what TRUE, good, Godly Bush-loving Americans can do when they do what they’re told?

Young Republicans and College Republicans: We need your bodies. Enlist NOW! We’ll keep your grades, beamers, and significant others warm for ya!! Amen.

By KnowItAll

August 18, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

To Dubya @ 10:20

You have me spitting in laughter! Kerry ended up with 4 band-aid purple hearts in 3 months and comes back to “slam” his fellow soldiers, then showing up running as president “Ready for duty”.

And oh yea, don’t forget Kerry had a lower GPA than W at Yale, and Al Gore flunked out of divinity school.

McCain, on the other hand, went to a national academy, flew jets, and spent 5 years in a Vietnamese prison camp and suffers to this day from his injuries.

And you want to claim republicans playing the “hero card?

Traitor Jane Fonda would be proud of you!

Go ahead! Take another huge gulp of your liberal Kool-aid and thank your God for men like McCain that you have the liberty to state your ignorant tripe without going to the gulag.

By findog

August 18, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

Jim,

Two facts.

Iraq was a war of choice not necessity as you continue to promulgate.

President Putin, looking back into President Bush soul, saw an appeaser.

When President Bush decided to invade Iraq we became the bully and now we are only talking in degrees of separation between the US in southern SW Asia and the old USSR in northern SW Asia.

As the lone superpower we had the first Roosevelt’s bully pulpit, now we look like an old athlete who stayed in the game a season too long…

By ghost rider

August 18, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Mr. Dutchman,

Are you serious?

“A Carrier Battle group in the Black sea is a valid response to outright aggression.”

Remember this is Russia, not Iraq or Grenada…

Russia has a real air force, real soldiers, a real Navy, and the resources it takes to fight a war!

Jeez…Nothing like starting WWIII

By GOPs got to go

August 18, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Two words grossly over used on this blog: Urinal and Kool-Aid

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

By funnyBone

August 18, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

By GOPs got to go

August 18, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

I would like to pose a legitimate question. Why is it that the only news program on television to post the names and pictures of the brave young Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan The News Hour on PBS? Where is Mr.“I have big Balls” Hannerty when it comes to posting names and pictures of actual heros? Or CNN for that matter? Boy would Lou Doobs have some “spaining” to do when he sees that half of the dead soldiers have Hispanic last names.

I have a lot of respect for PBS in giving those men and women the recognition they deserve, even if it is brief.

By Hillbilly Deluxe

August 18, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

In my view we should get what’s left of Georgia into NATO as soon as possible, if there is any Georgia left to admit. We should also get the Ukraine and other former Soviet satellites into NATO as quickly as possible. Russia should also be kicked out of the G8. Of course this would require the co-operation of the other G8 members. Since Russia has a veto on the UN Security Council trying to get UN action is a waste of time.

By TW

August 18, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

Why do more active military prefer Obama?

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Dear Redneck @ 10:50, you speak a funny truth: “Besides, the further they go in school the more librul they become.” It does seem that those most removed from the real world tend to embrace leftism. I was pretty wishy-washy myself immediately out of school, but I learned quickly thereafter. My Vandy classmates may dispute your “lite” appellation, but if one measures in terms of useful world information, that would be true of Harvard graduates too (excluding medical majors, of course.) Of course, your thesis does not truly hold, since practically all of the truly innovative thinkers today are conservative.

Dear TW @ 11:13, you pose an excellent query. We have in one corner an aviator who was less than stellar in his academics, but who suffered honorably for benefit of his country’s policies, with many of which he may not have agreed. In the other corner we have a community organizer who has never tried to do anything useful prior to running for president. Do we take the man of action, who has often failed, or do we take the passive fellow who seemingly just likes to watch?

Dear Dirty Harry @ 11:17, you need to go back to 1991, to the terms of cessation of hostilities. That is the “legal” authority for the Iraqi war, not that legality should matter to any other than a pinhead. A justifiable war does not need the “legal” blessing of the UN, unless you are one of those who thinks the UN serves a useful purpose – get back to me on that, I am always an enthusiastic learner. Our Congress is an appropriate body to determine “justifiable.”

Dear Cowardly Yellow @ 11:34, you are an insult to intelligence. My son, the Lt. JG would call you an idiot for you inability to find something in America worth defending. He defends freedom, including your protecting capacity to rail mindlessly to people who do not care what you think.

Dear findog @ 11:42, you do not distinguish a free country from a dictatorship? To me that is the distinction – pardon the religious imagery – between lightness and dark.

Dear funnybone @ 11:47, you are correct that the US policy toward the Soviet Union was containment from 1945-1981. The calculus changed markedly in 1981, when the US decided to quit playing for a tie. Freedom has a strong and universal appeal, and when one makes that the foundation of one’s policies, it is easy to recruit an indefatigable and undefeatable international army.

All prospective McCain voters were cheered by his Saturday night performance, especially when contrasted with his opponent’s dithering. Is there any real doubt now why McCain wanted dozens of town hall meetings, and Obama now wants none? One great revealing note, on Chauncey’s elitist view of Clarence Thomas: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121901817146948231.html?mod=djemEditorialPage Chauncey has no patience for those who leave the democrats’s leftist plantation. He is a totally-empty suit.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Dear TW @ 12:07, you delude youself. I have met a lot of military and have yet to meet a Chauncey supporter in the bunch.

Kobe Bryant, superpatriot– we credit his courage in the face of politically correct world: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121901828943748251.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

By TW

August 18, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

jbmlaw - unknown beat proven failure.

By dirty harry

August 18, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 12:18 PM |

BFKaJ .. You call me a PINHEAD?

Well doofus if you would have bothered to read what I was responding to you would have noticed it had nothing to do with 1991!

The poster said..oh, well read it yourself DOOFUS By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 11:06 AM

By Jake

August 18, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Let them have Georgia and just take Iran while they’re not looking.

By CBL

August 18, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

I heard an interesting comparison last night on TV with the president of Estonia, a former Soviet satellite, comparing 2008 Russia to 1933 Germany. Germany had lost WWI and a good chunk of its territory, just as Russia did after the Cold War. Increasing nationalist sentiment and a certain longing for the past during the Weimar Republic years empowered Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party and turned Germany into a fascist state to (re)build an empire. The current situation with Russia, Georgia and now Poland and Ukraine is strikingly similar. The scary part is that Congress and the White House in 2009 will resemble the appeasing government of Neville Chamberlain rather than the one under Winston Churchill.

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

ghost rider,

If the Russians can play games we can also. The mere presence is not by itself an aggressive act.

Russian T-72’s and BMP’s on Georgian soil is not a friendly act either.

We can stand idly by like BHO wants or we can take a response poster that says we are here if needed.

BTW, a carrier battle group is what responded to the Tsumomy

By MrLiberty

August 18, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Let’s be clear on a few things before we begin any discussion.

The war criminal who occupies the white house is a pathological liar. His VP is one too. The Main Stream Media do not know how to investigate a story anymore. They rely exclusively on the carefully scripted lies put out by the white house and the pentagon for their total coverage of the news.

Please read http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=13285

And the other recent columns by Mr. Raimondo before deciding who really is at fault in this situation and who really is talking about freedom and independance.

We’re talking about WW3 here - a war this president would love to get started as soon as possible.

By Ga Values

August 18, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Go for Fred Thompson and the GOP Love Boat Aug 17, 2008 Fred Thompson is McCain’s VP pick! In the most shocking political comeback of this election season, John McCain announced today that octogenarian Fred Thompson will be his vice presidential running mate in the 2008 election.

McCain expressed confidence that Thompson’s advanced age and decrepitude would make himself look younger and more vigorous by comparison.

“I can still walk and chew my own food,” McCain said. “Fred can’t even take a [bleep] unless someone else massages his bowels.”

“Fred and I agree on so many issues, it just made sense,” McCain said, adding, “We both know our job is taking care of business—and I mean that literally. When someone puts a big chunk of change in your pocket, they expect some service and Fred and I will both deliver. I turned on a dime on that off-shore drilling nonsense once big oil told their people to get out the checkbooks. Fred knows the ropes—hell, he was even a lobbyist for a while, so he wrote the checks.”

When asked if he was concerned about the Religious Right’s reaction to tapping Thompson, McCain said, “Fred is an actor. If he has to speak in tongues, handle snakes, and roll on the floor to get those toothless hillbillies votes, he’ll do it, and they’ll believe him. Hell, they believed a silver spoon, spoiled frat boy like Bush was one of their own—they’ll believe anything.”

McCain himself has done considerable work mending fences with the Religious Right after calling them “agents of intolerance” during the 2000 campaign. He has pledged privately to leading fundamentalist ministers to bring about Armageddon by the end of his first term in office.

McCain may also have an affinity for Thompson since both shed devoted first wives for stunning blondes, much younger than themselves. In McCain’s case, his wife Cindy is young enough to be his daughter. Thompson’s wife is young enough to be his great grand-daughter.

McCain even joked about this, saying,”Fred might have gotten the younger trophy wife, but she’s a lobbyist for Christ sake, so she’s mooching off of him. My wife is worth hundred’s of millions, so she pays the bills, and when I get tired of her, I can still bang a young lobbyist when my equipment is working.”

Thompson seemed unaware of what was going on during the press conference, but his wife said that if he knew, he would be very proud to be part of the McCain ticket.

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

ghost rider,

If the Russians can play games we can also. The mere presence is not by itself an aggressive act.

Russian T-72’s and BMP’s on Georgian soil is not a friendly act either.

We can stand idly by like BHO wants or we can take a response poster that says we are here if needed.

BTW, a carrier battle group is what responded to the Thailand tragedy and to Burma. It carries emergency supplies in case of natural disasters. A carrier can produce hundreds of thousand gallons of drinking water per day and provide electrical power to small areas(port facilities) - if needed.

After what the Russians have done to the infrastructure of Georgia, it might be needed.

By Common Sense

August 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

To Bklmnop,

Are you for real with you comments about a community organizer who has done nothing or you just like to post to get responses to you LIES ON THE BLOG?

First America picks and choose when they deem it necessary to intervene in other countries.

Africa has many ethnic cleanings and horrible war that have misplace millions but I don’t see Mr. McClain calling for actions but to have the other African nations intervene.

Europe is big enough let Europe handle thier own problems!

Oh I guess Georgia has a bigger oil pipeline to get oil out to the Europeans.

Africa must not have big enough oil pipeline to give to the Europeans or America.

What difference does it make to make a statement about we are all Georgians are we not all Africans also? I guess not!

What can do kick them out of the G-8. They still have major resources so that will not work.

I bet all you conservatives have said talk is cheap from Mr. Obama now Mr. McClain is talking like he can do something and you are supporting this cheap talk! Funny how we think the guy who was capture has experience at doing something when he has not done much in his 26 years in the SENATE.

He wanted to send troops to Kosovo but not to Darfur! Interesting

By ghost rider

August 18, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

By Dutchman

August 18, 2008 12:29 PM

What’s a Tsumomy?

By Ga Values

August 18, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Too bad Jim doesn’t like CONSERVATIVES, Bob Barr in the Washington Post.. love those Redskins..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702456.html?hpid=topnews

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Dear Dirty Harry @ 12:26, actually I thought was distinguishing you from a “pinhead” but I suppose I may have been wrong – you may perceive value in the UN.

Dear Common @ 12:34, yes, I am for real about Obama’s personal and experiential limitations. I know they speak for themselves, but I find it amusing to bring it up hourly.

By Operation Yellow Elephant

August 18, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

The son of BFKaJ, and all the others who serve and protect America in spite of the most corrupt, inept, traitorous and deceiptful leadership in the history of our nation, deserve our utmost gratitude and respect!

But what of the cheerleaders who won’t stand and serve beside them? YOUNG REPUBLICANS: ENLIST NOW! Offer not your voice without your body and life. Do not leave the task of defending freedom to the underprivileged, and overextended. Rip that $2 “support the troops” magnet off your Lexus and put your body where your mouth is. Stand! Serve! Lead! Bush needs you. McCain needs you. Lt. JG needs you. God bless America.

By ghost rider

August 18, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

BFKaJ ..

Did you read the post PINHEAD? I’m waiting for your response

By findog

August 18, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

funnyBone, There was no declaration of war, hasn’t been since WWII, it was that useless police action halfway stuff the US does now.

Congress signing off on the president’s request might make it legal in the US, but we are now talking in the realm of world opinion…

Dutchman, Sanctioned? Or the interpretation of UN resolutions by the US, like Russia’s interpretation of a cease-fire is they can advance as long as the other side does not fire upon them…

We did not defeat the USSR they imploded. The only way we can return to dominance is going to a draft with a drastic cut in military pay for junior enlisted personnel, offset by veteran’s benefits after they have served. The all-volunteer military is too costly to man at the strength to be a super-power, even in the best of economic circumstances.

By findog

August 18, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

BFKaJ, The world no longer looks at us in any distinguishable way, since the poor job of management that Sec Rumsfeld provided post victory in Iraq. Wish we still had that going for us, but it is not something that develops overnight. And with China and the petro-kingdoms able to buy influence it will take a lot more goodwill to get back to where the distinction is worth anything, in world opinion…

By MrLiberty

August 18, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

And then there is this bit of truth.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/buchanan/buchanan93.html

By ron

August 18, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Good afternoon,Russia has money now and Russia is going back to being Russia.Georgia will not be unique.There are other upstart countries in Russia’s sights.I don’t know which country is next but there will be a next.

The U.N.?They will not come to any agreement regarding Russia.Too many of them have ties there.

Obama’s hardest decision was voting against the Iraq war.When he was a member of a state government.I think his hardest decision is which egg to boil and which egg to fry.Never liked him from the start.

So what happens should Russia carry through it’s threat and nuke Poland?Do we have a meeting and condemn them in the strongest terms?[I’ve always been facinated with that condemning in the strongest terms bit.It’s sort of like,”You’re a dog,sir,and a cur ,sir,and I hate you”.}Do we have that meeting where Condi Rice expresses her displeasure,or do we just bomb the hell out of them and get it over?Some will survive to carry on the human race.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Dear Georgia Values @ 12:43, you ask why Jim does not like conservatives then refer to a Washington Post article to prove your point? Maybe I misread, but are you saying that because Jim and the Washington Post agree that Bob Barr is a bit loopy, that Jim is therefore as leftist as the Washington Post? There is a gap in that logic.

Dear Pinhead @ 12:53, I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are talking about. Clearly you are imagining conversations with me – many people do, I suppose – but it is nevertheless inappropriate for you to chastise me for not sharing your fantasy.

Dear findog @ 1:08, if I am doing right, why do I care how the world views me? That peer pressure stuff never worked on me in high school, and has even less meaning now that I am grown.

By findog

August 18, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

BFKaJ, It was you sir who intoned the distinction, twas I that assumed that feeling was on a world level of measurement…

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

“The BTC—Baku to Ceyhan—pipeline considerably changes the status of the region’s countries and cements a new pro-West alliance. Having taken the pipeline to the Mediterranean, Washington has practically set up a new bloc with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Israel,”—Komerzant, Moscow, 14 July 2006

By Peter

August 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

What I wonder is……….. Maybe a Republican can answer this……..

Russia invaded Georgia and that is Bad………

So how is America invading Iraq Good ?

Same thing happened only we are correct and Russia ia NOT ?

By T

August 18, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Peter

I’m not a Republican, but I’ll give it a whorl.

Ok, We invade Iraq to get even for 9/11. No wait he’s in Afgan. Oh, they have WMD’s. No, no, just a bunch of old junk. Oh, wait, wait. Now we have freed millions from tyranny…YEAH… Even though, other countries face the same lawlessness.. Oh, and the surge worked.. But, no parade yet.

Sorry, I have nothing.

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

I don’t think anyone on this site even wildly contemplates a shooting war with Russia. Even if it did not escalate into a nuclear (sorry, nuke-u-lar) war, the best we could hope for is a stalemate. And that only after millions of lives and trillions and trillions of dollars are lost on both sides.

So all this talk about my candidate or your candidate “doing something” is pure stupidity.

What makes you think that oil from the Caspian Sea region is more “ours” than it is “theirs?” And, don’t kid yourselves oil is what it’s all about.

By Ha Ha

August 18, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

finddog got owned by BFKaj. Zap.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

Dear Peter @ 2:07 and Soothsayer @ 2:21, we appreciate that you do not grasp any distinction between (1) a freedom-loving country deposing a murderous dictatorship that gives aid and comfort to enemies of freedom, and (2) a dictatorship invading a freedom-loving country. Perhaps that cognizance is above your pay grade.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

I apologize Soothsayer. I misattributed T’s 2:20 argument to you. You deserve better from me.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Dear HIDT @ 2:28, it was not my intention to “own” findog. I enjoy findog’s posts, and merely sought to push him into a more substantial argument. As you suggest, however, I also perceive withdrawal @ 1:51.

By Reality

August 18, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Off topic. When are Democrats going to respond to Republicans who refer to them as “tax and spend liberals” by pointing out that they are borrow and spend conservatives. Take your pick.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Hey By BFKaJ…..I guess you don’t know either………

Who is the freedom loving country………..?

You mean the Oil loving politicians in bed with the companies, and the mutual desire to control the OIL ?

As per usual you offer little but baloney and name calling……..

No wonder after 8 disastrous years for America, you would still want a government that bilks America.

By BS Aplenty

August 18, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

There are those Democrat partisans who routinely attempt to savage the military service of John McCain. They point out that McCain was shot down in Vietnam and therfor, they imply, his service was non-heroic, non-patriotic, his military service not commending him to the presidency. After all, he was shot down. Maybe, they think, only the untouched in battle need apply for the presidency. Obama would certainly qualify.

Or, maybe not.

The history of John McCain’s military service dates from his grandfather and father’s military service to the country. McCain’s grandfather and father both rose to the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy. McCain’s nature and outlook was profoundly influenced by those whose love of and service to country was unwavering. He learned to love his country from the patriots who defended her.

One need only contrast this schooling of John McCain with that of Barrack Obama to understand why, in this presidential race, there’s really only one choice. On one hand you have the candidate schooled by admirals - those who would give their life for their country. On the other hand, you have a candidate schooled for twenty years in the hate-filled Black Liberation Theology taught by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. You see, it’s not really a choice at all.

McCain ‘08 - patriot.

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

BFlmnok:

Yeah, right! As has been often noted on this site, there are countless dictatorships around the world. I find it serendipitous at best that the ONE dictatorship we choose to depose JUST HAPPENS to be the one sitting on top of some of the world’s largest oil reserves.

I want everyone on this site to realize something:(whether you acknowledge it or not) we ARE going to run out of oil. What you are witnessing now are the beginnings of a global struggle for what remains. The longer we hold on to the past (oil dependency) the more likely it is we will be involved in a major war.

Rather than “pie in the sky” drilling initiatives that forestall the inevitable by a few years, we should be investing in sustainable energy sources here in this country that ensure our future without having to fight (and yes, die) for oil.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Dear TW @ 12:25, what do you know about Harry Truman or Ulysses Grant? By most measures they had a history of failure until they took the big stage - HST as President, USG as commander of union armies. Neither was a genius, but each had conviction and character. Would you suggest Obama has convictions or character? I would say that about McCain, even if I am not much of a fan of McCain.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Hey By BS Aplenty………… having said all that about McLost………

Is that why we have a WAR and a huge deficit……because George Bush Sr. went to WAR………and then ran up the largest deficit in US History……… before his Son out pointed him on both ocassions ?

Yes I can see Republican’s have a Point !

If you want a BANKRUPT America, and WW III Please vote Republican !

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

BFKaj:

The above post was before your apology. I stand behind it nonetheless.

Also, I wish EVERYONE ON ALL BLOGS could simply refrain from INSULTS. It reflects poorly on you.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

Dear Soothsayer @ 3:05, if your argument had a basis, would it not have made even more sense to invade the country with even more oil – an absolute monarchy - whose citizens attacked the US on 9/11? I think Iraq was selected for purely humanitarian reasons. Otherwise I do not particularly disagree with the argument that it was a war of choice. I do dispute those who suggest it was an unmeritorious choice.

By T

August 18, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

(1) a freedom-loving country deposing a murderous dictatorship that gives aid and comfort to enemies of freedom,

Interesting.. So, we went to Iraq to rid them of a murderous dictatorship.. Hmmm. Really? Ok. Why not do this in the other countries that have murderous dictatorship?
When have we done this before Iraq, without a personal strike against us?

Oh, and What ever happened to the idea of bringing those terrorists responsible for 9/11 to justice? That’s right we are too busy liberating Iraq.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

By Soothsayer………. Please one must understand the “Right Wing”s Family Value system”…….

Sunday is the day to be “Nice”……… all other days of the week, are for screwing the weak, the poor, and anyone in the way of the desires of the Greedy.

That is the mantra of the…… “Republican Family Values” .

By BFKaJ, just happens to vocalize it more than the next……….. and if you don’t agree he will call you a name…….heck I just asked a simple question……. thus the intelligent thing to do from his point of view was to name call !

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

“But the most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over”.

“It must repeat those points over and over again until the public believes it. The principles behind propaganda are the same principles of mind control, hypnotic suggestion, and mental programming: distraction and repetition. With propaganda, distraction draws attention away from information that is true and directs attention to information that is false. Repetition of the false information imbeds it in your subconscious mind so that your acceptance of its truth becomes a conditioned response. You accept this information as true without thinking whenever it is presented to you again.”

—Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? Take a few minutes sometime and write down one by one everything you hold to be truth.

Do you believe it because a talk-show host has told you over and over that it is the truth?

Take that list and research each tenet and try to PROVE that it is true. You may surprise yourself with the results.

By Prius

August 18, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

The Russians are ensuring their ownership/dominance over the oil and natural gas resources that lie within Georgia. Just like Bush did in Iraq under the pretext of eliminating WMD. I’d bet Bush knew it was going to happen prior to the 1st bullet flying. Putin said, “Bush my friend, as I promised you five years ago I would not condemn your invasion of Iraq as you made clear to me your family and friends need those oil profits. Now it is my turn. I fully expect you to do the same as we annex the oil and gas in what used to be Russia as we too have rich families that need to grow richer.”

By Common Sense

August 18, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

That’s right we need a patriotic president who does not know anything about the economy. Let’s keep sending 70 billion dollars that we do not have to Iraq whil the economy is going down the tube.

BKLAABC who is going to pay for this war. When were in Vietnam the country was in a recession for 10 years how are we going to continue this drain on American dollars?

Also BK you did not answer do America pick and choose when their is massive genecide going on in a country when to intervene.

Because I see Dafuran’s being slaughter and we all know it’s genocide. What is America/McClain going to do?

McClain talks strong to Russia what is he going to do?

I tell you nothing but Talk!

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Dear T @ 3:18, your questions are worthy. Iraq is ideal as it is/was in the heart of the Islamists strongest holdings. There is no greater injury we could inflict on the Islamists than to evict them in their strongest terrirory. That show of strength had a ripple effect, throughout Iraq first among the various regional tribal leaders, and maybe now in Syria of all places. Even if the intention was not nation-building - Pres Bush said that was not something he wanted to do before he was elected - the value of building a democracy in the heart of what was formerly crazy-person territory should not be lightly regarded. Such a strong example of a peaceful country, where there was formerly terror-only, will do more to extinguish Islamists than all of the wars we could fight in all of the nations of the earth.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Hey By T……….

Yes I agree with you 100% since we are not fighting ANY WAR in Africa, where there is Nothing to gain as a nation………..

Those are very Poor People as well……… let them all die at the hands of the Oppressors……

Now in the Mid East…….. those folks deserve better…….. hey they have OIL !

By Peter

August 18, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

So By BFKaJ…….you are saying Iraq is a Democracy….based on what ?

Government based on Religious beliefs…..is a democracy ?

SO why didn’t Bush go after Bin Laden then…….. isn’t he the greatest threat to the US and the Middle East ?

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

BFKaj:

I think you’re going out on a limb trying to defend our invasion of Iraq.

Could it have been Saddam’s nationalization of its oil that had a part in our invasion?

How about exclusive contracts with Russia and France for that oil?

WMDs, tyrant-killing, and democracy-building are, if you will, the evolving “propaganda du jour” proffered by the administration to whitewash the real reason for our invasion.

By Dusty

August 18, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

BFKaj,

I see that you are fighting the Russians quite well today. About 90% of today’s posts seem to be pulling for Russia. They certainly are not “pulling ” for Georgia or the USA. It is a pitiful sight to see Americans rejecting everything American.

I know. Free speech. Good for the country! Blah blah blah. It IS NOT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. Constant irresponsible criticism is not good for a country, family or friends.

These “liberators’ do not like President Bush. What leader has been stronger in our times? I can only ba reminded that there are idiots when someone claims Bush has not fought our enemies or protected our country. (Then they start whining about McCain because he too is a real leader.)

These liberal babblers are the weak minded of our country and they want to follow one just like them, Obama the most inexperienced man to ever present himself for the Presidency. Those with the brains of a bumbling bambino declare their personal bumbler can walk on water, even without a teleprompter. But no one will put him to a test. Certinly not the super bumbler himself. It’s a teleprompter or NOTHING!!

So continue the good work, BFKaj. I shall be out of town for the rest of the week. Stay strong and have fun!!

By Peter

August 18, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Well By Soothsayer……..having made the comments about the Iraq War………..

Is it true a woman can get Raped in Iraq……… and then go to jail for having sex with the man ?

Sounds like a wonderful Democracy we have created !

By T

August 18, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

BFKaJ

Possibly. Time will tell.

By Soothsayer

August 18, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

By Dusty:

“My country right or wrong.” Well, gosh let’s just all jump on board and BLINDLY accept everything as just wonderful. God Forbid we should have any dissent!

Unfortunately, millions of good, honest citizens of this country are concerned that there serious problems with the way the country is being run.

Our government is running up $Trillions of debt in the way of budget deficits, our country is running up $Trillions of debt through imports. In the process we are draining the very lifeblood of this country.

We are fighting a needless war to secure a dwindling resource rather than launching a massive project to develop and implement sustainable “closed loop” energy sources for our country. All the while we dawdle with fairy-tale drilling initiatives that will literally accomplish NOTHING.

Did I leave anything out? Oh! Our Constitution is under assault and our citizens are spied on. And we are not secure in our own homes.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Yes Dusty……”It is a pitiful sight to see Americans rejecting everything American.”………

Letting Bin Laden go was NOT American…….yet Bush has done so……….

Gosh why would McLost even bring up the fact he would get Bin Laden during his “First term” ?

It is pitiful when BUSH “disses American’s” and creates policy for his WAR buddy’s, and OIL buddy’s !

SO why didn’t Bush go after Bin Laden then…….. isn’t he the greatest threat to the US and the Middle East ?

What are we going to do about the Largest deficit in USA history ?

No clue Dusty I am sure but hey let the Terrorist’s go, and keep bilking America……..

Bush is really NOT behaving as a real American……..but hey these are ……..”Real Republican Family Values” !

By Oh! Oh! Oh!

August 18, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

Peter, I believe this answers some of your questions. By the way, those are bluebonnets in the background.

By findog

August 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

If accepting you are arguing under the wrong premise is deemed ownership by the other debater then owned I am. Better to withdrawal than take an unprincipled stand you do not believe in for the sake of arguing…

By Gman

August 18, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

We cant do diddle squat piddle poo to Russia for invading their satellites. Even without Iraq or Afghanistan, only a lunatic would want a war with Russia.

Russia is going to do what it pleases. The world wont stand up to them. We’d be fools too. However, McFeign gets to posture jingoistically as a campaign tactic. Makes you wonder if Bush didn’t make a deal with Putin, selling Georgia out, just so McShame can talk big and maybe glean some votes so that Haliburton can keep pilfering our treasury.

McClown is a loose cannon, and if he were president, we’d be most certainly in danger of a war with Russia and god knows who else.

You big shots and your wild talk about what you’d do to Russia. NObody does nuthin to Russia. They do to us. THey want Poland, they take poland. They want Georgia, they take Georgia, and we just riff campaign slogans like the little poosies we truly are.

If I were prez, Russia would have been nuked a long time ago, but then, so would we have, in a retaliatory strike. Is that what you horrid trolls want? Complete annihilation?

Grow up. Russia isn’t the enemy, Russia just is. Like China.

We cant do squat about either country and their own jingoism. We can only sound tough, like McLame.

bwa

morons.

By Get Real

August 18, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Whats the difference between, “Liberation, Russian style” and “Liberation, American style”???? How is what we’re doing in Iraq any different from what Russia has done in Europe. Someone please explain this to me.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Yes if Dusty was in Germany in the 40’s ………….she would be cussing out her neighbors who were not backing Hitler.

She has the same mindless follower’s mentality !

Where is Bin Laden Dusty?

He is under the Bush Terrorist Protection Policy……..!

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

Breaking news from Taranto’s column today:

Wheelpolitik

“A flat tyre on a Russian diplomatic car triggered the slide to war in Georgia after it forced the cancellation of key peace talks the day before fighting erupted,” London’s Sunday Telegraph reports.

Wow, looks as though Barack Obama was right about the importance of inflating your tires.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Dear finddog @ 4:37, I perceived withdrawal, not surrender. We’ll engage again tomorrow.

By Ga Values

August 18, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Looks like McCain had more of the questions than Obama, from NYT.

After Mr. Obama left and Mr. McCain sat down for his interview, Mr. Warren started by asking Mr. McCain, “Now, my first question: Was the cone of silence comfortable that you were in just now?” Mr. McCain deadpanned, “I was trying to hear through the wall.”

But Mr. McCain was not in a “cone of silence.” His aides told The New York Times that he was in his motorcade, en route to the church, during the first half of Mr. Obama’s interview.

Some of Mr. Obama’s allies had found Mr. McCain’s performance surprisingly good and had suggested that he had received word of the questions and possibly Mr. Obama’s answers in advance

By Gman

August 18, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Good one, JBLowmeinlaws.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

well…….By Get Real……..we have asked that question earlier today………….”

Dusty said……….how shame full to even ask the question………”it is a pitiful sight to see Americans rejecting everything American.”………

……..spinning the truth with “Faulty Intelligence”………..

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Dear Peter @ 3:40, what color is your thumb right now? How about after an election?

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

Dear GaValues @ 5:21, I thought McCain was a dumb doddering white haired guy. Then he is a genius, conceives - excuse me, memorizes from his coaches - the most brilliant answers imaginable for a wide range of issues in less than an hour. Truly he is the most brilliant man in this race, if he has the capacity to produce such a polished response without a teleprompter.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

Dear Ga Values @ 5:21 again, we would all agree that Obama was a deer in the headlights, and that McCain was focused. Wonder why Obama still refuses the town halls, where he could show up a dumb guy like McCain? I think I know.

By Ms. Tucker If Ur Nasty

August 18, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this

Oh! Oh! Oh! @ 4:35, that link is classic. What’s so funny is there are a million bone headed allusions that can be attributed to that guy, but Obama is supposed to be the “Empty Suit”.

By Jim

August 18, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

Mission Accomplished 4,000 + W - The President

Four more years 8,000+ John - W jr. The President

By Ms. Tucker If Ur Nasty

August 18, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this

So Dusty you’re going out of town, to graze at the Crawford ranch no doubt.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

Dear Ms. Tucker @ 5:57, President Bush is like Yogi Berra - even if the language is fractured, there is always an intelligent core argument. McCain is much the same. Obama, on the other hand is Chauncey Gardener - he sounds profound, but is actually amazingly shallow, with no core convictions, no real content.

By Devastator

August 18, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

As you may have heard, 10 supporters will be joining me backstage before I accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

I’m pleased to announce that those supporters have been selected, and I wanted to tell you a little about them.

The people who make up our movement are of all different ages, races, and backgrounds — and these folks are no different.

Lenny is a former naval officer from Emerald Isle, NC. Barb is a teacher married to a farmer in Fallon, MT. James is a law student in Massillon, OH. And Anne is a retired budget analyst from Indianapolis.

John from Boulder, CO, believes developing alternative energy is the answer to an array of policy problems. And Kayla from West Fargo, ND, didn’t feel like she could ever be part of the political process — until now.

They each bring their own unique perspectives and experience, and they are united by their hunger for change.

You can read more about these amazing people below. I’m looking forward to meeting them at the Open Convention, and I hope you will join us in sharing this important moment.

If you cannot make it to Denver, you can get together with your friends and family and watch my acceptance speech at a Convention Watch Party. It’s going to be a big night, and you can join millions of supporters across the country to make it a success.

Sign up to host or attend a Convention Watch Party in your community on Thursday, August 28th:

http://my.barackobama.com/convparty

Thank you for your belief in our ability to bring real change to this country. You continue to grow and strengthen our movement in ways no one thought possible.

Barack

Meet the 10 supporters who will join me backstage at the Open Convention in Denver:

Barb Sackman of Fallon, Montana Barb is a teacher living in Fallon, Montana, a town of 150. She lives on her family’s wheat and cattle farm, and rising fuel prices are making it hard to get by. She hopes Barack’s plan for alternative bio-fuels will help the struggling economy in rural Montana. Barb volunteers for her church, sits on a hospital board, and organizes community events in Fallon. Barb says Barack “genuinely cares about the problems of people like me. We appreciate his continued trips to Montana to let us know that we are not forgotten.” She will attend the convention with her husband.

Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle, North Carolina Lenny is a retired naval officer who believes the Iraq War was a serious strategic mistake. He says that in 2000 he looked forward to seeing John McCain, a fellow shipmate, in the Oval Office, having known and served with him in Vietnam — but no more. “Senator McCain has become a strong supporter of the Bush policies — policies which have led to disaster both at home and abroad.” He was won over by Barack’s communication skills, leadership abilities, and intelligence. Lenny is an auto parts manager at AutoZone in Emerald Isle, a heavily Republican town where he says there are many “closet Barack supporters.” Lenny remembers staying up late when he was young to watch John F. Kennedy accept the nomination at the last truly open convention in 1960. He will come to the convention this year with his wife.

Anne Rector of Indianapolis, Indiana Anne is a retired budget analyst for the federal government. She says the first time she saw Barack at the 2004 convention, she thought, “This is Everyman. He is Kansan and he is Kenyan; he is African and he is Anglo-American; he is common sense and he is eloquence; he is dynamic and he is down to earth.” Anne is an active volunteer for the campaign, as well as for a local animal protection group. She hosts a weekly local radio program named Art and Review, in which she reads to the blind. Anne strongly believes in the protection of our civil liberties. She will attend with a friend and fellow campaign supporter.

James T. Fondriest of Massillon, Ohio James, a 22-year-old law student and graduate of Ohio State University, never thought he would vote for anyone other than a Republican. An active Bush-Cheney supporter in 2004, he became disillusioned with his state party and Republicans’ handling of Iraq, health care, and education. “Barack Obama has inspired me to believe in politics again and, most importantly, the power of the ordinary citizen,” he writes. “Although I still identify as a Republican and still stand for some conservative values, I finally feel like America has found a leader it can look up to and trust.” Leading up to the Ohio primary, James made over 500 “Buckeyes for Obama” T-shirts and donated the profits to the campaign. He plans to bring his father with him to the convention.

John Volkmar of Boulder, Colorado John served in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He says his two tours in Iraq with the 10th Special Forces Group opened his eyes to “the link between our country’s lack of an effective energy policy and our flawed foreign policy.” John believes changing this relationship is an essential step towards ensuring that our government works for the interest of the American people instead of special interest groups. He is now pursuing an MBA and hopes to work in the alternative energy industry. He is coming to Denver with his wife.

Marsha Shearer of Orlando, Florida Marsha is a retired elementary school principal. She has phone banked and canvassed for Obama in Florida, and has been a supporter since even before Barack made the decision to run. Marsha believes that both the Iraq War and America’s dependence on oil are negatively affecting the health of our economy. She supports Barack because he is not a typical politician. “He represents something above and beyond,” she says. “I haven’t felt so energized since McCarthy, trying to end the Vietnam War.” She will bring her college-age granddaughter to the convention.

Trinace Johnson of Richmond, Virginia Trinace is a single mother and disabled veteran who served overseas for the Iraq War. She currently works for the U.S. Army as a public affairs specialist. She has voted since the age of 18, but this is the first time she has actively been involved with a political campaign. Trinace is inspired by Senator Obama’s message of change and his plans to address all of the issues that she cares deeply about: veterans’ support, education, stopping the war, tax breaks for the middle class, gas prices and health care. Trinace became motivated to get involved when her neighborhood ran out of ballots in the primaries, and is determined to ensure access to voting in this election. “I wish I could be there in Denver,” she wrote to Backstage with Barack. “I would love to be a part of this historical event. [It’s] so long overdue.” Trinace will attend the convention with her sister.

Eric Melder of Carlisle, Pennsylvania Eric is a 59-year-old married father of three sons and a grandparent to seven grandchildren. A retired YMCA director, he has worked at Diakon Wilderness Center for the past 13 years counseling young men with drug, alcohol, and family problems. “The boys call me ‘E-rock’ and I do all I can to make a difference in their lives,” writes Eric. A self-proclaimed “values voter” and evangelical Christian, Eric switched his allegiance from Mike Huckabee to Barack, convinced by Barack’s ability to lead and build coalitions. Eric is bringing Anthony, a former student at the Wilderness Center, who overcame immense hardships, including an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, to ultimately become Program Director of the Center. “Barack needs to meet him,” Eric says.

Holly Miowak Stebing of Anchorage, Alaska Holly, a 20-year-old Alaska Native Inupiaq, is spending her summer break from Stanford University at the First Alaskans Organization interviewing native elders about their experiences with segregation. Holly is passionate about improving healthcare access for Native Americans, and protecting Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling. The 2008 presidential election is Holly’s first as a voter. She says: “This was the first campaign I felt I needed to support. I don’t have a lot of money, but I donate what I can because I believe in [Barack].” She will attend the convention with her mother who is the first Native American woman to pass the Alaska bar.

Kayla Whitaker of West Fargo, North Dakota Kayla is a 20-year-old student and evangelical Christian who credits Barack for her newfound interest in the political process. “As a Christian, I have seen it repeated that evangelical Christians are ‘required’ to vote Republican. When I heard Barack’s ‘Call to Renewal’ speech, I was surprised… This is change I can believe in and many other young, evangelical Christians can believe in, too. For the first time in my life, I got hooked on politics.” She now plans to register to vote so that she can cast her ballot for Barack in November. Among Kayla’s top concerns are health care, teacher pay, and the environment. In an effort to convince her mom to become involved in politics, she is bringing her to Denver.

By Devastator

August 18, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Fired Up, Ready To Go - Unite For Change Teams Program

Georgia - Last night in Georgia, spread out across twelve regions and including over 1500 volunteers from all 159 counties, the Unite For Change Team program began. The momentum that started in Iowa and continued to build through the primaries has taken on a new evolution. Volunteers came together last night to learn community organizing skills similar to the ones Barack used on the south side of Chicago when he started job re-training programs for people suffering from steel mill closings. Sharing their story of overcoming challenge and making a choice to take positive action by giving up something of themselves, these volunteers exhibited the epitomy of hope and the need for hard work to achieve change.

These teams continued their training today by learning how to recruit, motivate, and retain volunteers, take on roles of leadership and responsibility, plan action within their neighborhood as a team and register voters. As these teams evolve and recruit more volunteers into the political process, the Campaign for Change will continue to exponentially grow its grassroots campaign. Ultimately the goal is to persuade more voters to support Senator Obama as well as organize and mobilize these voters to the polls.

A movement for change at the ballot box has not been experienced like this in recent American history. The difference between this and past elections is that Americans are taking action and building their politics from the ground up. Instead of looking to leaders they are becoming leaders of their own and empowering neighbors in their community to do the same.

The Unite For Change Teams is not an organizing platform to simply get Barack elected. It is the empowerment and inclusion of all people to use organizing and mobilizing tools via the Campaign for Change to elect Democrats across the board. It establishes a network of individuals bold enough to seek something different. This does not end with the November election. The tools that volunteers will learn this weekend will build a lasting opportunity to affect change in Georgia neighborhoods far beyond the election this fall.

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

Dear Devestator @ 6:49-6:53, if I read your post right Chauncey cannot find anyone with entrepreneurial talent nor any particular beliefs or convictions to support him?

By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this

I think our friends PoFo and HIDT must have destroyed another AJC blog, http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/town-talk/entries/2008/08/18/forgetsurgery2.html

It was open only one hour this afternoon, but it has the funniest posts cumulated on one blog.

By Peter

August 18, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

HA HA HA………..By BFKaJ

August 18, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

Dear Ms. Tucker @ 5:57, President Bush is like Yogi Berra - even if the language is fractured, there is always an intelligent core argument. McCain is much the same. Obama, on the other hand is Chauncey Gardener - he sounds profound, but is actually amazingly shallow, with no core convictions, no real content.

Apparently you are of the conviction we should bilk America……..that is pretty much what Bush has been doing !

Bush an intelligent core argument…….. “Faulty Intelligence”…. HA HA HA…….. what a Joke and your statement……..HA HA HA………

Where is Bin Laden ? Does Bush even care ?

By GaLiberal

August 18, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

Well, Moron Jim, at least Russia isn’t lying to the entire world about it’s intentions. I recall the George Bush invaded and occupied a foreigner country that was no threat to the US so we could ‘liberate’ the oppressed Iraqis. Bush said we would leave after Saddam was removed from power, but we have occupied this country for over four years. Now the Iraqis want us to leave so Bush rejects it because he’s not done nation building. McCain is no better than Bush. He wants permanent bases in Iraq. He wants to occupy Iraq for 100 years. Can anyone draw a parallel to other dictators in history? Like Hitler and Stalin. Bush and McCain are two of the same. I’ll remember in November. Will you?

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And John McCain is “living” proof.

By GeneralRSPatton

August 19, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this

People that buy into the lie Iraq was illegally invaded have not read the resolutions and UN sanctions and the agreement after the 1991 Gulf war. There are idiots in this society even I do not agree with the way Bush and Rumsfield handled the war which I think they should have waited.

By john disney

August 19, 2008 3:50 AM | Link to this

sorry fellas .. Im all for the russians on this one. After the US illegal invasion of Iraq and the high handed treatment of Serbia by NATO, I believe the russians are the good guys .. They were the first power to STOP an attempted genocide in Ossetia by intervening to drive the Georgians out. If you recall the UN and the French simply sat on their hands in Bosnia and Ruanda. Condi and moron george bush should simply shut up.

By john disney

August 19, 2008 3:51 AM | Link to this

sorry fellas .. Im all for the russians on this one. After the US illegal invasion of Iraq and the high handed treatment of Serbia by NATO, I believe the russians are the good guys .. They were the first power to STOP an attempted genocide in Ossetia by intervening to drive the Georgians out. If you recall the UN and the French simply sat on their hands in Bosnia and Ruanda. Condi and moron george bush should simply shut up.

By john disney

August 19, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this

I wonder if the russians are extending their stay in georgia to collect evidence of US complicity in the attempted invasion of Ossetia. This may explain why Condi is so tense and shrill on the subject of their leaving ..

By ga_tech_92

August 19, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

This whole “blood for oil” argument is stupid. There is no way in a million years that we would go to another country and take their oil for ourselves. If we were there for that…where is the oil!?!?!? I don’t care if someone has ties to someone who has ties to someone who has ties to someone…that’s a stretch you can make to connect anything. We are not there for oil, or we would have taken it by now.

Grow up, use some logic.

By ga_tech_92

August 19, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

I want to give Jim props for having the balls to allow public feedback on his writing. CYNTHIA TUCKER, not so much.

By Ms. Tucker If Ur Nasty

August 20, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

BFKaJ, Yogi Berra rose from relative poverty in St. Louis to become a well known athlete, and product huckster, he probably doesn’t have a great education. Our president has had access to the very best of everything from day one, he gets no symphathy from me. As for core intelligence, our involvement in Iraq alone shoots that illogic in the foot, to make matters worse, saying the mission was accomplished was idiotic, especially since parents have entrusted the lives of their children to that Quixotic effort.

By Thomas Keel

August 30, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Because Russia has become super-rich due to its oil, it will now move to the world domination that it attempted previously. America’s refusal to become oil independent will be the demise of America. (Something the internal Communists have been working on for decades). Four actions must be taken immediately to resist the Rusian threat. 1. Cancel all court cases holding up drilling, refining, transporting, or exploring for oil/gas. 2. Begin drilling all known areas of oil/gas immediately (Alaska, Colordo, Dakotas, offshore—within 50 miles) 3. All Federal lands must be open for imediate exploration—and, private property with the permission of the owners (I would love to share in any profits from oil found on my property. 4. Contract with the French to have them build as many nuclear power generation plants as they can, as fast as they can, to eliminate oil-burining power plants.

This is a case of crisis proportion—-national security. Unless we become oil independent, the Georgia being occupied by Russian troops, wont be across the Atlantic, it will be Savannah and Atlanta.

Respectfully; TM Keel