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ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
Tue May 1, 2012, 03:04 PM May 2012

From AFGHANISTAN tonight, President Obama will make Mitt Romney look LILLIPUTIAN!

MSNBC (Martin Bashir) just reported that President Obama will address the American people at 7:31pm Eastern Tuesday May 1st. His surprise landing in Kabul occurred at 2:39pm Eastern.

What a way to celebrate the anniversary of his triumph over Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda! If President Obama had taken the easy way out a year ago and just ordered an air strike on bin Laden's suspected compound, the military and CIA would not have obtained crucial intelligence from bin Laden's disk drives.

The main purpose of the President's visit is to finalize 20 months of negotiatiation with President Hamid Karzai over a two-country partnership agreement until 2014.

But an important side effect is to miniaturize Mitt Romney, whose 3-question "press conference" with Giuliani in Manhattan this afternoon began with a statement commemorating bin Laden's death that DID NOT MENTION President Obama!

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

51 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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From AFGHANISTAN tonight, President Obama will make Mitt Romney look LILLIPUTIAN! (Original Post) ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 OP
and Rmoney eats pizza w/Rudy 9/11 Giuliani at a NYC firehouse today Bozita May 2012 #1
He better eat his pizza the right way! randome May 2012 #6
What I want to know is WHO yelled "Thank you Governor Romney" less than 5 minutes after ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #7
I'm howling with laughter malaise May 2012 #2
He is taking a big ol' dump in Romney's mouth. AngryAmish May 2012 #3
Bush-worthy kenny blankenship May 2012 #4
Oh, shut up. SpencerShay May 2012 #13
Bush-worthy, right down to sweet sayings of his 'backwash' kenny blankenship May 2012 #17
Not at all - Obama did not declare victory karynnj May 2012 #47
That was off the coast of California, far, far away from the war zone. Far away lunatica May 2012 #15
Don't forget to bring the plastic turkey kenny blankenship May 2012 #16
Karl, is that you? emulatorloo May 2012 #18
Why would anyone want to bring Bush? lunatica May 2012 #23
Shouldn't you wait to hear what he says before jumping to that conclusion? Motown_Johnny May 2012 #28
You must think Bush called the troops bad names or something kenny blankenship May 2012 #30
I am sure if the Mission had failed DearAbby May 2012 #40
The similarity extends even to the calling of abject failure "success!" kenny blankenship May 2012 #46
Romney could say it was his idea Enrique May 2012 #5
Mitt's ass is clenched so tight rufus dog May 2012 #8
Also reporting that the historic agreement says troops will stay until 2024. Plenty of cash in sad sally May 2012 #9
True, but COMBAT troops out next year, and no permanent bases, according to Chuck Todd on MSNBC ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #10
If reports are true (and of course only the truth is told by our government to our free press) sad sally May 2012 #21
"Permanent bases" -- Chuck Todd suggested the US might LEASE bases -- ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #22
I'm sure the US taxpayers will be more than happy to find the cash to support LEASED bases sad sally May 2012 #24
$4 billion a yr to prevent another 9/11? Sounds like a pretty cheap insurance policy to me ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #26
I can hear him now: "Even Jimmy Carter would have gone to Afghanistan." Bolo Boffin May 2012 #11
10 MORE YEARS. bluedigger May 2012 #12
But COMBAT TROOPS out next year. Would you withdraw all Special Operations units, so that ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #20
Spies are the CIA's business. bluedigger May 2012 #48
Sorry, but he can only be president for FOUR more years! jenmito May 2012 #27
We'll see. bluedigger May 2012 #49
I dont like it but it sounds like it will be much more diminished role. DCBob May 2012 #36
"The focus should be on intel and special ops". Couldn't have said it better myself. ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #42
Intel and special ops are our biggest advantage over any enemy. DCBob May 2012 #43
They're eating his dust lunatica May 2012 #14
I'm loving this surprise visit. Life Long Dem May 2012 #19
In hindsight, the tip-off something unusual was about to happen was the President's schedule ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #31
He already DID! He just spoke to the troops there and then spent a long time shaking their hands, jenmito May 2012 #25
But will it have been shown over and over on FOX? That's where it has to be broadcast ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #29
When I checked, CNN was showing it (along with MSNBC) but Fox was playing a commercial. n/t jenmito May 2012 #32
I believe Fox failed to pre-empt its "The Five" to show it. That appears to be its ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #34
I'm not surprised in the least. Hopefully, viewers were channel surfing during commercials and saw jenmito May 2012 #35
K & R Scurrilous May 2012 #33
"a two-country partnership agreement until 2014" Daniel537 May 2012 #37
"We should have left that place years ago" Before getting bin Laden's disk drives and taking out 20 ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #51
This President is about bury Romney and the Republicans. DCBob May 2012 #38
Is it going to be on CNN? underpants May 2012 #39
It will be on all the major channels. DCBob May 2012 #41
I watched it live on Fox, from the President's walk to the podium to his conclusion and walk off. ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #44
Yeah, I know... it was snarky comment. DCBob May 2012 #45
Fox had to allow the President to broadcast some real information. Mow they;ll have to step up ProgressiveEconomist May 2012 #50

Bozita

(26,955 posts)
1. and Rmoney eats pizza w/Rudy 9/11 Giuliani at a NYC firehouse today
Tue May 1, 2012, 03:12 PM
May 2012

Does Willard know the owner of the pizza shop?

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
7. What I want to know is WHO yelled "Thank you Governor Romney" less than 5 minutes after
Tue May 1, 2012, 03:22 PM
May 2012

the romney/Giuliani "press conference" began?

Romney abruptly turned and quick-walked away. Giuliani continued speaking, but not even FOX carried it live.

Can you imagine President Obama calling a "press conference" and getting a press flunky to yell "Thank you" after fewer than five minutes? The President answers questions evan at photo-ops.

kenny blankenship

(15,689 posts)
17. Bush-worthy, right down to sweet sayings of his 'backwash'
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:06 PM
May 2012

it's like you just switched sides and kept the script.

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
47. Not at all - Obama did not declare victory
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:54 PM
May 2012

nor did he suggest it would be over soon - just that this phase was over and they signed an important agreement.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
15. That was off the coast of California, far, far away from the war zone. Far away
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:01 PM
May 2012

And the mission wasn't accomplished by quite a few years. Still isn't. But, hey! Go for it!

 

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)
28. Shouldn't you wait to hear what he says before jumping to that conclusion?
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:03 PM
May 2012

From what I have heard so far he has been giving credit to the troops and thanking them for their sacrifices.

kenny blankenship

(15,689 posts)
30. You must think Bush called the troops bad names or something
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:17 PM
May 2012

"he has been giving credit to the troops"
"thanking them for their sacrifices."

If you think that's somehow a contrast with the previous Emperor, I have to wonder frankly what's in the water you're drinking.

Jesus Christ people, what happened to your memory? Bush never looked more happy and relaxed than when surrounded by enlisted - a photo op setting he contrived whenever possible. He was like a boy in a pile of puppies. And YES they adored him and all the attention he paid them. It was 24x7 televised troop worship with Bush. "Our heroes." "God Bless Murika." "The whole nation honors your sacrifices" bla bla bla.

Cynical political photo-op then is cynical election year photo-op today. Unless of course it isn't because the President is a Democrat, as some say.

DearAbby

(12,461 posts)
40. I am sure if the Mission had failed
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:26 PM
May 2012

Obama would be enduring heaps of blame about right now, that is acceptable, taking credit because the mission succeeded is also acceptable. I don't see anything similar to Bush.


kenny blankenship

(15,689 posts)
46. The similarity extends even to the calling of abject failure "success!"
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:51 PM
May 2012

It's amazing, but every time someone objects, the parallels just become clearer.

sad sally

(2,627 posts)
9. Also reporting that the historic agreement says troops will stay until 2024. Plenty of cash in
Tue May 1, 2012, 03:28 PM
May 2012

the US, so no problem with an extended stay.

sad sally

(2,627 posts)
21. If reports are true (and of course only the truth is told by our government to our free press)
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:22 PM
May 2012

the US will leave somewhere around 20,000 troops in Afghanistan after the 2014 date, and will fund the 352,000-strong Afghan security forces after 2014.

While there were no specific amounts, US officials have said they expect to pay about $4 billion a year. $4 billion a year times 10 years is such a small chunk of change, besides the Sec of State said they will be fully funded and have all they need until they're fully trained to our liking. Sounds like permanent bases might just be needed for decades to come.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
22. "Permanent bases" -- Chuck Todd suggested the US might LEASE bases --
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:32 PM
May 2012

A 10-year lease of bases the US has built but turned over to the Afghans would allow substantial US military secrecy and air support for counterterror operations.

sad sally

(2,627 posts)
24. I'm sure the US taxpayers will be more than happy to find the cash to support LEASED bases
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:50 PM
May 2012

in Afghanistan for the next 100 years if it means fighting terror to keep US citizens safe.

Heck, by 2024 US drones operating US drones might be keeping all us rebel-rousers running for cover anyway, which will ease the work of those elite US secret killing operators.

Bolo Boffin

(23,796 posts)
11. I can hear him now: "Even Jimmy Carter would have gone to Afghanistan."
Tue May 1, 2012, 04:09 PM
May 2012

LOL.

How about this one, Mitt Romney: Even Jimmy Carter could defeat you.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
20. But COMBAT TROOPS out next year. Would you withdraw all Special Operations units, so that
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:16 PM
May 2012

the US would go back to its pre-9/11 counterterror capabilities in that region?

Or would you keep a few thousand skilled counterterror spies and Rambos on site just in case al=Qaeda surges again in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Yemen?

bluedigger

(17,077 posts)
48. Spies are the CIA's business.
Tue May 1, 2012, 09:58 PM
May 2012

Special Ops are too valuable to expose in permanent occupation roles. And they don't like being called Rambo's.

jenmito

(37,326 posts)
27. Sorry, but he can only be president for FOUR more years!
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:02 PM
May 2012

And he'll get them! (I know what you meant-I couldn't resist.)

bluedigger

(17,077 posts)
49. We'll see.
Tue May 1, 2012, 10:01 PM
May 2012

He hasn't done a hell of a lot to get my vote lately. The "lesser evil" argument isn't very inspiring.

DCBob

(24,689 posts)
36. I dont like it but it sounds like it will be much more diminished role.
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:15 PM
May 2012

We have to get combat troops out of there. I think they are now beginning to do more harm than good. I think the focus should be on intel and special ops.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
42. "The focus should be on intel and special ops". Couldn't have said it better myself.
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:30 PM
May 2012

Given Afghanistan's history of unstable governments, IMO it would be foolish to think the US would be safe from another al-Qaeda resurgence without leaving a few thousand spies and Rambos behind for up to ten years.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
31. In hindsight, the tip-off something unusual was about to happen was the President's schedule
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:34 PM
May 2012

for today. Chuck Todd broadcasts it every morning on MSNBC. Today's chedule had two meetings sith Cabinet officials and a 4pm Jay Carney(sp?) press briefing. I thought, "No public addresses? That's strange, on the anniversary of his biggest triumph". But I had no idea President Obama would show up in Afghanistan soon after the Romney-Giulani "press conference".

jenmito

(37,326 posts)
25. He already DID! He just spoke to the troops there and then spent a long time shaking their hands,
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:54 PM
May 2012

hugging them, etc. I saw it on MSNBC. Chris Matthews LOVED the speech and went on and on about how this is a CIC and he said exactly what the troops and the rest of us needed to hear. Chris said he was "stirred" by that speech.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
29. But will it have been shown over and over on FOX? That's where it has to be broadcast
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:13 PM
May 2012

to reach the low-information "Reagan Democrats" Romney is counting on.

Even Fox, though, won't be able to avoid covering a prime-time Commander-in-Chief speech to the nation about future military activities in Afghanistan.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
34. I believe Fox failed to pre-empt its "The Five" to show it. That appears to be its
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:01 PM
May 2012

main vehicle for daily visits with ignoramuses such as Kimberly Guilfoyle and Dubya's former press secretary Dana Perino, who'd revealed on live TV she'd never heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

jenmito

(37,326 posts)
35. I'm not surprised in the least. Hopefully, viewers were channel surfing during commercials and saw
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:08 PM
May 2012

Obama speaking and watched it.

 

Daniel537

(1,560 posts)
37. "a two-country partnership agreement until 2014"
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:16 PM
May 2012

That's actually 2024. I don't care how this makes Romney look, we should have left that place years ago. This was never a "good war".

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
51. "We should have left that place years ago" Before getting bin Laden's disk drives and taking out 20
Tue May 1, 2012, 10:52 PM
May 2012

of al-Qaeda's top 30 leaders using the intel on those disk drives?

Can we afford to allow al-Qaeda back into Afghanistan in force, and risk another 9/11? Or should we spend $4 billion or so a year on a kind of insurance policy?

And if I heard correctly, the part of the agreement that happens after 2014 has been left extremely vague, intentionally, with no commitments of specific resources.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
50. Fox had to allow the President to broadcast some real information. Mow they;ll have to step up
Tue May 1, 2012, 10:43 PM
May 2012

thier DISinformation. But I predict Mitt Romney will lay low for a few days after the debacle in Mahnattan with Rudy.

The media will want to ask Mitt whether he supports the President's new agreement with and new plan for Afghanistan. So Mitt will have to do one of the things he's excellent at--eluding the press.

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