In asserting this week that the surge has "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams," Obama was buying into the Republicans' framing on Iraq. As the Shiite-run Iraqi government is rounding up the Sunni leaders of the Awakening who were at the heart of the reduction in violence, political reconciliation -- the actual goal of the surge -- remains a mirage. McCain's amnesia platform holds that the outcome of the surge is the sum total of the Iraq scorecard -- wiping everything else clean. Forget invading over non-existent WMD, taking our eye off al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, war profiteering and the empowering of Iran. And forget that Gen. Petraeus wants to delay planned troop cuts because he realizes that widespread violence could easily return to Iraq. Success beyond our wildest dreams? Perhaps when Sarah Palin said, "victory in Iraq is finally in sight," she was talking about a PR victory.
I am now hearing from the Karl Roves of the world that having a 17-year-old daughter get pregnant out of wedlock will sympathize Palin to millions who know the pain of that situation. But my question is, where was the advice?
I forget how white Republicans are, and mean-spirited, and thin-lipped. I watch them and I think, is anyone buying this? Does anyone think we're better off today? That we're "winning" the war? Does anyone really think that executive experience trumps wisdom and intellect?
How can any candidate or party that hopes to lead America take such joy in putting down American institutions -- like grassroots democracy and its hard-working stewards?
Listening to the speech, you'd think it was the Democrats who occupied the White House the last seven-plus years and it was time to throw the bastards out.
Forget about the fact that Palin looks a lot like a really attractive TV star I know. Underneath all the Tina, she's George.
The scariest thing I hear about the Palin nomination was that she would appeal to voters because they would be able to relate to her.
We should judge her on her positions, if we knew what they were, and her achievements, if she had any. Here's where I get off board with Sarah Palin's privacy: The baby blanket.
My beautiful and loving wife, despite her passion on women's issues, despite having a son and daughter who may be conscripted, may vote for the party responsible for the entire mess.
A couple of very prominent Senators currently running for president might want to consider something when they arrive in Oxford, Mississippi in three weeks for their first debate.
Science does not belong to the right wing or the left, and the hijacking of science policy by ideologues has had a chilling effect on innovation.
Palin doesn't believe that women or girls should have birth control. She believes every raped female who gets pregnant should have to carry the child to term.
