Mike Caulfield of Blue Hampshire has a great post up grading the candidates following last week's Dartmouth debate - specifically on Iraq and how the frontrunners punted their answer on 2013 and ending the war in Iraq. Caulfield writes:
I've had some time to think about it, and the three front-runners get an 'F'. Period.
Note to the frontrunners: we already know that you can't know the future. We get it. We weren't looking for a weather forecast, guys.
We were looking for leadership. And I have to say, y'all flunked.
Looking at the fundraising numbers today I'm ready to throw my Sidekick through a window. Hillary, are your sponsors putting up that $27 million to be out of Iraq, "maybe"? Obama, is that $20 million to get us out of Iraq, "depending"?
It's beyond belief.
The outrage Caulfield expresses towards Obama, Clinton, and Edwards failure to lead with clarity and conviction has been widespread since the 2013 answer. Caulfield, like many others, thinks tip-toeing around the most important issue facing our nation today shows the frontrunners out of step with the American public. He articulates this in a comment on his post:
Sometimes leadership requires precision, and sometimes it requires clarity.
This was not a time for precision.
Senator Dodd was clear, but also precise when he answered the 2013 question:
Tim Russert: I want to put you on the record. Will you pledge as Commander in Chief that you have all troops out of Iraq by January of 2013?
Chris Dodd: I will get that done.
Tim Russert: You'll get it done?
Chris Dodd: Yes, I will, sir.
The choice is clear: support a candidate who is committed to getting all American troops out of Iraq in his first term in Chris Dodd or support someone who does not have the conviction to do what these times call for and end America's involvement in Iraq's civil war.
Comments
involvement in Iraq's civil war
Better, but still problematic. Russert did not qualify his question. He simply asked about all troops. Are we going to admit to fomenting civil strife in Iraq in order to give the United States an excuse to remain on the bases, as it has in Kosovo for over seven years now?
I think it's interesting that even before 9/11 (on July 25th, 2001 to be precise) Bush Two took a trip to inspect the base in Kosovo, known as Camp Bondsteel, which, everyone agrees, has much more hardware than is necessary for keeping the peace in Kosovo and may well have been used to detain prisoners on their way to Guantanamo.
Two things:
Yes, Russert said "all troops" -- and Dodd said all US troops would be out of Iraq.
Also, Dodd has made clear in the past that he is opposed to permanent US bases inside Iraq. He says that we don't need them and he doesn't want them.
By refusing to keep US troops in Iraq and saying he does not want permanent bases, it should be clear that the US military presence in Iraq under a Dodd administration would be ended.
Secondly, Dodd has long called for an end to the US involvement in Iraq's civil war. He knows that it is a civil war and has been calling it such for a long time.
http://muzica-mp3.ro/forum//viewtopic.php?p=5052
http://www.rti.ci/communiquons/forum/viewtopic.php?p=47890
http://www.metalexpressradio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24450
http://www.umrecs.com/bbs//viewtopic.php?p=14130
http://forum.mp3.club.hu/viewtopic.php?p=27173
http://www.frunity.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=36764
http://www.ucm.es/centros/webs/fccee/cont/appl/foro/viewtopic.php?p=204583
http://www.i-muzzik.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=12468
http://www.thelocalbuzzmag.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=3314
http://www.havefunteaching.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2816
http://arabicpoems.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=81883
http://www.swollenmembers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=46342
http://arabicpoems.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=81883
http://www.swollenmembers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=46342
http://pictorials.us/board/viewtopic.php?p=9583
http://www.roscachapa.com/foro/viewtopic.php?p=2763
http://tango.prime-task.com/forums///viewtopic.php?p=4274
http://writersinkville.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=7997
http://www.bandonwesternworld.com/shared-content/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=4750
http://www.face.ubiobio.cl/~ieci/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=261661
http://www.bandonwesternworld.com/shared-content/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=4750
http://www.face.ubiobio.cl/~ieci/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=261661
http://forum.pyhrn-priel.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=33652
http://www.jurnalismonline.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?p=59657
http://forum.sendermusic.net/viewtopic.php?p=6360
http://www.iualumni.de/takeaction/viewtopic.php?p=2209
http://hardcreditcradit.info/instantly-credit-credit-score.html
http://fixcreadir.info/platinium-credit-card-golf.html
http://forbadcrediet.info/aspire-credit-bank-card.html
http://forbadcirdit.info/secured-credit-card-000.html
http://www.stripclubclassifieds.com/viewtopic.php?p=56376
http://forum.amekon.pl/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=23107
http://www.schleigho.com/messageboard/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=62119
http://www.sidecho.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=176193
http://www.schleigho.com/messageboard/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=62119
http://www.sidecho.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=176193
http://www.sofianoir.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4347
http://www.populassite.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=30&t=4636
http://www.truecombat.fi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3155
http://bb.gethuman.com/viewtopic.php?p=8600
http://www.thebellsband.com/version4/modules/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7231
Most of college students are immature and apply for credit cards without thinking how they will pay there debt back. By the way, most of them are already in debt with there student loans. They shouldn’t listen to those guys running around campuses offering credit cards but carefully compare the offers on professional websites such as
http://www.filterdesign.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4634
http://www.interwritelearning.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4237
Hi, I’m looking for a credit card to improve credit history. My credit score isn’t enough to be approved for a mortgage loan and I do want to buy a home of my own. I’ve browsed lots of websites on credit card deals available and I think of starting with a secured credit card. It seems like I’ve found the application for one that suits me best at
http://www.spin.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1727419
http://forum.mrdictionary.net/viewtopic.php?p=1110