Where’s the Outrage?

Obama thoughtfully questioned Petraeus and Crocker in an effort to figure out the end point in Iraq. Of course, we know that neither Crocker nor Petraeus can or will give a straight answer. That’s because there is no end point- that’s the whole purpose of the War.

The War’s goal posts keep moving. First, we needed to oust Saddam Hussein. Done. Then, we needed to set up an Iraqi government. Done. Then, we needed an elected Iraqi government. Done. Now it seems we need peace and tranquility without Al Qaeda and without any Iranian influence before folks like John McCain will believe that we can withdraw. What? How is that possible?

Tags: Al Qaeda, Election 2008, Iraq by ecthompson
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Senator John McCain asks if Al Qaeda in Iraq is a major problem. Interestingly, McCain further asked if Al Qaeda is a minor sect of Shiites. The fact is, Al Qaeda is a Sunni sect. This isn’t the first misstatement that McCain has made.

Tags: Al Qaeda, Election 2008, Iraq by ecthompson
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I’m not sure why anyone would interview Senator Joe Lieberman. We already know exactly what he is going to say. Lieberman has been a hawk’s ‘hawk.’ There is no condition under which he would see withdrawing from Iraq, without Iraq looking like America.

Tags: Iraq by ecthompson
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Senator Joe Biden, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, asked a question today. He pinned General David Petraeus on where Iraq is on a scale from one to 10 with regard to the war. Answering with a “10″ would mean he would recommend a significant draw-down in troops. However, a “one” would mean that we need a significant increase in troop levels. Petraeus tried to bob-and-weave, but Biden quickly cornered him. He said that we are at a six or seven– very politically safe parameters.

 

 Joe Biden questions General Patraeus: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Iraq by ecthompson
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Michael Monsoor’s Medal of Honor was awarded by President Bush today. The citation reads:

“The President of the United States, in the name of the Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to Master At Arms Second Class, Sea, Air and Land, Michael A. Monsoor, United States Navy. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006.

As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper overwatch element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent-held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element’s position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy’s initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor’s chest and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Tags: Domestic Issues by ecthompson
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I saw this picture of Sojourner Truth a few days ago with the following caption and I knew I had to blog about it: ”I sell the shadow to support the substance.”

Sometimes hard facts are what you need.

But so often, when you are trying to convince someone of something or trying to understand something yourself, it is the essence of the facts– or the essence of the larger point– that you are looking for.

I’ve found that people who can easily grasp the essence of the matter at hand, or the “shadow” as Sojourner Truth says here, are often the most flexible and humane people I meet.

Rigidity and needing every fact can be toxic to understanding the world around you and getting along with others.

Being open, flexible, and grasping the issue at hand from the facts is a gift.

Here is information about Sojourner Truth

Tags: General by Texas Liberal
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I can’t imagine working hard enough to put yourself into position of wining the NCAA basketball championship only to give the trophy away by missing free throws. Missing free throws!! There is no excuse. Memphis missed five in a row, if my count was correct. They missed them down the stretch in the last three to four minutes of the game. All they needed was to make one out of five and the championship was theirs. Memphis handed the trophy to Kansas.

In high school, we shot 20 at the end of every practice. If you didn’t make 50 percent then you had to shoot another 20. You are tired and you want to go home. You drained your 20.

Free throws are simple, fundamental mechanics. Once you figure out how to shoot a free throw then you do the same thing every time. It is easy– but you have to be disciplined. You aren’t going to get on the cover of Sports Illustrated for shooting free throws, but you just might win your team a championship.

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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Don’t look at the man behind curtain. It might appear that Obama can’t win. Obama is an ‘elitist’  yet he has 1.3 million Americans donating to his campaign. Obama has won ‘meaningless’ states. Hillary Clinton has won states with electoral votes. This is the latest from the Clinton camp.

I heard all this on Lynn Samuel’s show a couple of weeks ago. Now, several Clinton supporters have pushed this notion. Does this make any sense to you?

Take Hillary Clinton’s home state of New York. If Barack Obama wins the nomination, does anyone really think that John McCain would win New York? How about California? Doubt it. The electoral argument is designed to distract us from what is truly important - delegates.

This portion of the process is about delegates. Obama has more. Period. Since February, Obama went from trailing Hillary Clinton by 87 in the superdelegate race to trailing by only 30.

I’m still having trouble figuring out how Hillary Clinton can win the nomination.

Keith Olbermann talks with Chuck Todd about Obama, Clinton and Super Delegates.

Tags: Countdown, Election 2008 by ecthompson
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