Reality Circles In For The Kill

ABC News:

Obama's Iraq Withdrawal Plan May Prove Difficult
U.S. Commanders in Iraq Warn of Security Dangers, See Logistical Nightmare

Whatever nuance Barack Obama is now adding to his Iraq withdrawal strategy, the core plan on his Web site is as plain as day: Obama would "immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months."

It is a plan that, no doubt, helped Obama get his party's nomination, but one that may prove difficult if he is elected president.

We are braced for the mother of all flip-flops when Obama finally admits the truth on this.  But no worries on the left - Obama was never really a progressive anyway.

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

If B57O has glanced at the latest ratings of the Pelosi-Reid Congress, he will understand that surrendering in Iraq and adopting a statist domestic policy are not viable approaches.

[bgates]

Among the non-progressive positions Obama is said to hold (in Stoller's post) is that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is a terrorist organization.

In 87 comments, no one mentions Iran.

[PeterUK]

Obama should remember to factor in enough helicopters for the lift off from the embassy in the Green Zone.
The recent test,by the Iranians of long range missiles doesn't seem to have impinged on Obama's consciousness.A more seasoned politician might regard that as a message,flipping the bird.

[BumperStickerist]

Maybe Obama will just rename the "Combat Brigade" as a "Peace with Honor" brigade and keep them in Iraq.

Obama is tricky with words like that.

[ben]

"The race for the White House is getting a bit closer. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Barack Obama’s lead over John McCain down to a statistically insignificant single percentage point, 43% to 42%. Prior to today, Obama had enjoyed at least a four-point advantage every day since Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race over a month ago. This is the first time his support has fallen below the 45% level since May 31."

That's a darn shame....57% haven't see the light yet and are not voting for the second coming...a messiah should rightfully carry all 57 states.

[Cecil Turner]

We are braced for the mother of all flip-flops when Obama finally admits the truth on this.

Don't see why he'd bother admitting it . . . he's still pretending his earlier statements mean whatever the voting public wants to hear (e.g., meeting Ahmedinejad "without precondition" didn't mean without, you know, preconditions). Maybe he'll admit it in Spanish (oops, maybe not) . . . or, better yet, French.

[Neo]

I wonder what kind of mark this will leave ..

Obama was famous in the Illinois Senate for avoiding tough votes by voting “present.” This tactic, of course, is the last refuge of linguini-spined, unprincipled politicians. Even John Edwards took him to the wood shed on it during the debates.
At least it can be said of Obama that he was there and chose to vote “present.” But he voted. Now, it turns out that the Messiah can’t seem to get out of bed in the morning to go to the United States Senate and vote at all.

[ben]

"Maybe Obama will just rename the "Combat Brigade" as a "Peace with Honor" brigade and keep them in Iraq.

Obama is tricky with words like that."

Maybe he will have better luck than Murtha did we "re-deployment".

[bgates]

Neo - like I commented over there, Obama had 199 'no votes' (that's non-voting, not voting no), but McCain had about 280.

[DrJ]

> Obama had 199 'no votes', but McCain had about 280.

And McCain has 20 years in the Senate, and Obama has 3?

[PeterUK]

Much easier to rename Iraq,Okinawa on all official documents.The MSM would go along with that.

[JayC]

But no worries on the left - Obama was never really a progressive anyway.

And the Obamessiah said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice

[Elliott]

T plus half an hour and counting...

[MikeS]

On Iraq, on multilateral diplomacy, on business taxes, and on oil drilling, McCain should suggest that Obama reconsider his past judgments and listen to the advice of experts.

I think instruction from McCain to Obama makes it tougher for Obama to make the flop.

[Ann]

Elliott, Your link is bad to the Sunday Thread.

[clarice]

Got any friends in Germany? O's counting on a big adoring crowd to send the message that the world will love us again if only he's elected. I think we should do a Feldman Plan kinda after the Marshall plan) where we send lots of papier mache, feathers, beads, exotic hair color and face paint to make sure he draws the right kind of big crowd to make a photo splash.

[clarice feldman]

For the Invesco Democratischeparteitag I'm thinking Che posters, Hammer and Sickle Banners, Free Mumia--the usual.....

[bgates]

And McCain has 20 years in the Senate, and Obama has 3?
I thought the presented data went back to 2005, so it would be a straight comparison. I goofed, it goes back to 1995.

265 of McCain's 'no vote' entries are for 2005-present vs Obama's 199. Still not a winning issue.

[DrJ]

265 of McCain's 'no vote' entries are for 2005-present vs Obama's 199. Still not a winning issue.

Just curious: how many votes were there? And how does Hillary! do?

[Jane]

Elliott, What are we waiting for?

[Elliott]

I was trying to indicate that the waiting was over.

[Jane]

It still doesn't work.

[centralcal]

I think Elliot is talking about an iPhone for TM or something.

[bgates]

Hillary missed about 150 votes (again, virtually all after 2005.) There have been about 540 votes total during Obama's time in office.

[centralcal]

I am not a big fan of Allahpundit over at HotAir, but I notice he has been missing for awhile. Is he on vacation or something?

[DrJ]

There have been about 540 votes total

Unbelievable. Where can I get a job where I can avoid about half of my responsibilities?

[PeterUK]

Iranian President says missile tests highly successful.

[ben]

"265 of McCain's 'no vote' entries are for 2005-present vs Obama's 199. Still not a winning issue.'

It could be a winning issue if McCain can list the "tough" votes Obama missed that he didn't.
And supposedly this "straddle" goes back to Obama's state senate tenure also.

[Elliott]

Indeed, centralcal. Though I admit that it is not for TM.

[clarice feldman]

NYT reporting the Iranian missile tests were a total fraud..one missile and an old one at that with nowhetre near a 2k range.

[ben]

"NYT reporting the Iranian missile tests were a total fraud..one missile and an old one at that with nowhetre near a 2k range."

Hey but they will be honest and entirely truthful when they sit down with Obama, of course.

[ben]

NEWSWEEK: Obama 44 McCain 41

Holy Chicago, McCain must be ahead!

Which begs the question, of the 15% still out there, how many would be persuaded by Obama from here on in....will the new and not improved Obama be attractive to those who haven't seen the light? You could make the case that if you are not convinced by now you probably are not going to be...while McCain might be a late choice for fence sitters as a known quantity? Stay tuned...

[Elliott]

Holy Chicago, McCain must be ahead!

Let's keep that hush hush, on the qt.

[Jane]

Centralcal,

Allahpundit is on vacation. Thanks for clearing up the Ipod thing.

[GMax]

Newsweek found a rush to McCain of about 15% in a couple weeks. Holy whiplash Batman! Shouldn't that be a large print headline? Or is Newsweek just trying to climb back in off the ledge after realizing that they were even making Chris Mathews look downright sane?

[MikeO]

Hey, DrJ!

Unbelievable. Where can I get a job where I can avoid about half of my responsibilities?

Try USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site.

Knock yourself out. Heh.

[BobS]

Barnes and Krauthamer were extremely cool this evening to the McCain campaign. Can't help but agree with them that he's not attempting to take advantage of anything. Is this a re-run of Bob Dole's campaign like Barnes says? Is he just running on his reputation as a maverick?

[Danube of Thought]

Never forget the Bradley Effect.

[DrJ]

Try USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site.

Knock yourself out. Heh.

Sorry, I am *way* overqualified, and would never be hired. ...back to the NIH submission...

[JM Hanes]

bgates:

I thought Obama voted against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, and tarred Hillary for voting yes. Or was that just before he signed on himself?

Another heads-up from the Open Left comment thread: Obama will not be shifting his position on Iraq, he will just be laying out the particulars with regard to "residual forces."

[BobS]

OBAMA: "You know I was against the Iraq war before I was for it."

[centralcal]

Ohmigawd - the laughs I get from reading the comments here! I know that they (and the fermented grape alchohol that I drink) add years to my life!

USA jobs! Gotta love it!

[centralcal]

BobS - all I can say about McCain is blech!

I am still hoping and praying for a really decent VP and incapcitation immediately following Johnny Mac's swearing in.

[centralcal]

Jane: "Allahpundit is on vacation."

Oh, bummer! I thought maybe Michelle Malkin had found a new HotAir blogger to take his place, but yet to be announced.

Oh, well . . .

[Porchlight]

OT -

Iowahawk is the funniest guy in the entire internets:

The "Q" is for "Quality"

I'm laughing too hard to cut and paste.

[BobS]

I've been fascinated by the evolution of blogs to group sites....Pajamas Media, Hot Air, AT.

[centralcal]

TM needs to quit traveling and come home and FIX his blog. I have been having trouble all day with comments that are posted in the right margin not showing up in the actuall comment section.

[RichatUF]

DoT-

Welcome back, hope you enjoyed your trip.

Never forget the Bradley Effect.

I was thinking about that and the Obama ad buy (something like 21 states) a week or so ago might have been designed to test for it. There was a CNN poll that showed some troubling signs, and if the Obama pollsters have a Bradley correct making the published results worse, it might explain the "patriotism, service, faith" rollout and BHO doing a little flag waving at NASCAR.

[RichatUF]

JM Hanes-

I thought Obama voted against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, and tarred Hillary for voting yes. Or was that just before he signed on himself?

He ducked the vote, tarred Hillary for her vote during the debates, then at AIPAC, rolled out his unwavering support for calling the IRGC a terrorist group. Stunning I know that the MSM didn't call him for that one ;(

[Rick Ballard]

"BHO doing a little flag waving at NASCAR"

He better do it pretty early in the day.

That, or wear really good ear plugs.

[Cecil Turner]

I thought Obama voted against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, and tarred Hillary for voting yes.

Hillary voted "yes" . . . BHO and McCain both missed it. (McCain was a co-sponsor, however, so he has a clear position.) It passed overwhelmingly.

BHO was apparently against it then, but for it now (at least according to his clarification). A bit hard to tell, with that one.

[BobS]

Rick: Its a one-time buy by BHO on the Ken Schrader Toyota. Its not a very good car and probably won't even finish the race and will likely not get alot of TV time running in the back. Its in Pennsylvania so he's probably attempting to reach those guns, God, anti-immigrant Granite staters he dissed during the primary.

[BobS]

Personal admission: I'm watching the Nationwide Race as we speak.

[JM Hanes]

That's the singular advantage of voting "present" or not at all, isn't it? Saves you the embarrassment of being for something before or after you were against it, when you can be both for it and against it at the same time.

[JM Hanes]

Obama doing NASCAR. Isn't that sort of like Dukakis doing tanks?

[BobS]

Exactly, JM. I hope he shows up and they get him all pimped out in a firesuit.

[Sue]

I can't keep up with Obama. He is flipping and flopping so fast, by the time I think I know his position on a subject, he has scratching my head. Why, oh why, did we not have an energetic nominee willing to kick him in the fanny? Romney would be all over it.

[Sue]

I wonder if the Denver convention might be more fun than we suspected? What if Obama bottoms out? Will they slip in Hillary?

[BobS]

Sue: I'm beginning to see things your way. I supported and voted for Rudy here in Florida. I regret not listening to the sound judement of my 80 yo mom who voted for Romney.

[Sue]

Bob,

It wouldn't take much to beat Obama. If McCain would get busy, he could be ahead in the polls, which he probably is anyway. He could define Obama the way Rove defined Kerry in 04. And once defined, it is hard to undefine. Someone kick the old man in the ass!

[Porchlight]

Its in Pennsylvania so he's probably attempting to reach those guns, God, anti-immigrant Granite staters he dissed during the primary.

Exactly - Pocono is right smack in Clinton country. I think the internals are not looking good.

[Porchlight]

Sue,

Do you think Romney will be the VP pick? He could be effective in an attack dog role.

[Sue]

Bob,

Voting for Rudy was not a bad thing. I wanted Thompson, Rudy, Mitt, in that order. My husband has been Mitt fan from the get go. But with the economy the issue in the fall, Romney would have been da man.

[Sue]

Do you think Romney will be the VP pick?

I have no idea. It wouldn't surprise me if he picked Huckabee.

[BobS]

Am I out?

[BobS]

Yipee! I'm back. Its a miracle. Thanks, TM!

[BobS]

Sue: I'd love to have Romney on the stump. He's really good. And he won't mind at all playing the role of attack dog

[BobS]

I love Romneys comment from the campaign when asked whether or not he had and end point to how much of his own money he put it. He replied, no, but his wife did.

[Sue]

I can't imagine why he wouldn't want Romney on the ticket, except for the evangelicals who think Mormons are the devil incarnate. I mean, why on earth would we want a man in the WH who has had sex with one woman, never tasted alcohol, spends his spare time doing good works that he does without cameras, has the economic bona-fides to help win the election and just looks presidential? I can understand the objections of evangelicals to a man who is as squeaky clean as Romney is. /sarcasm off

[BobS]

Sue: Living in the south, I really believe to a large degree that the aversion to Romney by evangelicals has been overstated by the media. The media frequently misrepresents who evangelicals are. To many beltway and eastern MSM ty

[BobS]

...types evangelicals are families who attend church

[centralcal]

Now, you have depressed me. Romney. Oh Gawd. It would sure be nice if he were the VP pick!

But, McCain is unreliable and you just know it will probably be someone that makes everyone GROAN.

[BobS]

I have a hard time doing anything but admire Romney

[JM Hanes]

The media was ably assisted by Huckabee in that regard, BobS.

[BobS]

centralcal: I know what you mean. I get the sense that McCain listens to no one and surrounds himself with sycophants. I'll have trouble feeling otherwise unless he changes the direction, scope and focus of his campaign

[BobS]

With respect to evangelicals, JM? Agreed.

[JM Hanes]

Frankly, I just try not to think about McCain unless it's absolutely unavoidable. I think we're pretty much stuck with hoping Obama knocks himself off the pedestal or that the press actually attempts to pin him down on something if/when a head to head ever occurs -- unlikely, I fear -- because if McCain's performance in the Republican confabs is any guide, he really sucks at debate.

[BobS]

I'm not so sure about debates though, JM. BHO was faced with a different animal in the Clintons and was able to take high road techniques with things. McCain, on the other hand, is a bit of a policy wonk. He'll also be able to distinguish clear differences between himself in ways that Sen Clinton was unable to do. McCain will especially be effective in the debates he's able to leave the podium and address the crowd.

[BobS]

I'll bet there are still folks in the electorate that will favor a tested, vested veteran to the sleek newcomer. Our society still puts great trust and hold in significant regard the older generation - especailly its war heroes...and in a time of war.

[glenda waggoner]

Sue- I may be hallucinating..but I seem to remember during the end of Obama's senate race, after he tarred Ryan @his sexual problems;he admitted to an affair with a congressional staffer. Also, I tell myself that McCain is getting advice from Rove to be a quiet, non-attack dog for awhile and let Obama continue to flippy flop all the way to the convention. After all, many independents will not decide their vote until October-maybe November.(please, Lord,hear my prayer)

[BobS]

Your mouth to God's ears glenda

[ben]

"I love Romneys comment from the campaign when asked whether or not he had and end point to how much of his own money he put it. He replied, no, but his wife did."

Funny!! and probably true....

[centralcal]

Glenda, BobS: Ain't it a shame that this is where we are at - hoping Obama topples on his own (that is a-okay with me) so that McCain will cruise?

Damn! I do not like John McCain. But, that said, I absolutely abhor all that Obama represents (notice I can't say "stands for," because he stands for nothing except Socialism).

What a lousy damned election this is turning out to be.

[ben]

I wouldn't panic too much on the Obama-McCain debate....all McCain will have to do is exceed expectations like Bush against Gore, where everyone had decided beforehand Gore was the winner, policy wonk, great debater, etc. and Bush beat him...someone will surely tell Obama not to roll his eyes when McCain speaks, but if past performances are any indication Obama is sure to have at least one junior moment...

[Porchlight]

junior moment

excellent, love it

Obama is looking really really tired lately. He has had several junior moments already and I think there are tons more to come.

[Porchlight]

junior moment

excellent, love it

Obama is looking really really tired lately. We have only seen the beginning of his junior moments.

[Porchlight]

Oops, sorry, my first comment didn't show for a couple of minutes so I tried to re-do it.

[Sue]

Bob,

I know the south, at least my part of the south. I don't think the media overblew the distaste evangelicals have for mormons. All you have to do is look at Huckabee and see how they flocked to him. Which is why I fear McCain will choose Huckabee to garner that portion of the electorate that didn't cotton to Romney and aren't cottoning to McCain. I hope I'm wrong. Because if he chooses Huckabee, I'm sitting this one out.

[ben]

"because if McCain's performance in the Republican confabs is any guide, he really sucks at debate.:"

Actually I don't remember any comments on the Republican debates which were terribly negative on McCain. I remember Giuliani doing well, especially at first, but I don't remember any particularly bad McCain coverage. I just hope they limit "my friends" to 10 times during the debate.

[Sue]

I have resigned myself to McCain. I can't get enthused over him. I never thought about the Bob Dole analogy until it was brought up by Fred Barnes. I have gone back and read transcripts of the Dole/Clinton debates and Dole did a good job, in hindsight. At the time, I was bored with him. I never disliked Bob Dole. I have always disliked John McCain. ::sigh:: Not a good year to be a republican since they have no idea why they are in trouble.

[bgates]

Glenda - you must be thinking of the story linked to here.

[BobS]

But, Sue....Clinton was a known quantity. And were not at war. I'd never want anyone to have to deabte Clinton...except maybe Reagan

[Sue]

I've asked this before and still don't know the answer. When does Obama get tied into not accepting public financing?

[Elliott]

junior moment

Another right wing distortion. As his birth certificate explicitly indicates, it's an "II moment."

[Sue]

Bob,

But, Sue....Clinton was a known quantity.

I know. It's why I voted for him in 06. ::chagrin::

[Sue]

I would like to know how many of the women here care if a sign says Men at Work? I'll start. I could care less. The stupid cost to exchange the signs when the "economy is tanking" makes my teeth itch. Why not replace them when these wear out?

[BobS]

The last Dem I was able to vote for was Pat Moynihan when I still lived in NY. The Clinton years have caused me not to trust Democrats. Senate Dems are the worse as they clearly put their party before the interest of the country

[Ann]

I keep laughing at the idea of Obama giving a speech at the Brandenbury Gate in Germany scheduled for 07.24.08. I really think this will backfire with most Americans and was wondering what John McCain was doing on that date. Looking at his Calendar I can't believe he has nothing scheduled to upstage Obama in Germany on that date.

If I was working for his campaign I might suggest a very Patriotic speech at Ground Zero on 07.24.08. What do you think?

[BobS]

Add the trip to Berlin among the lists of incredible over reaches the BHO campaign has engaged in.

[Porchlight]

I would like to know how many of the women here care if a sign says Men at Work?

I care only in that I *prefer* that they say Men at Work and not some PC reformulation. ;)