sophistwatch's Comments (1307)

“This decision is unpopular with many on both sides. There are so many variables to consider that people can get lost in details and lose sight of the big picture. It is only in the larger scheme of things that this decision makes the most sense. Obama can't afford to throw the mic, intel and military communities under the bus and remain a viable force for change. Ironic is it not? He has to play their style of ball to get to where he wants to go.

As much as I have to hold my nose on this one, the political fallout domestically from a speedy withdrawal would undermine any chances of Obama being able to make good on some of his most important campaign promises. The Right and the organizations I mentioned above would go out of their way to crucify Obama if he allowed Bush's egg to remain on their faces by pulling out immediately.

Unfortunately, this is not going to end well even if the surge is a short term success because the country will revert back to business as usual when we leave.

Having said all of that, there is the tragedy of war to consider. This war and the Iraq war are both the wrong wars. The loss of blood and treasure in both wars is unacceptable. The problem is that it is now on Obama's shoulders to exit with his ability to lead and govern intact.”

“Ho Ho Ho for who who who??”

“Because nothing says I am a real bad a$$ mo fo like 5 deferments.”

“Instant death on sight for the purps. Sorry, I am not liberal when it comes to this.”

“Do you mean Poppy Clause.”

“Cheney, Bush and OBL have a cantina in a mountain side where they bring strippers and drink whiskey while they laugh at us for paying the tab.”

“You are sooo wrong. The oil and opium will pay for all of this.”

“Think the guy on TV runs the show? Who do you think tells Bush, Cheney and Obama what to do???

Here is a clue. It is the same people who started, escalated and drug out the Viet Nam war over 5 administrations.”

“The problem is that nothing will change as the result of sending in 35,000 more troops. We will surge, there will be a declaration of victory and then the country will descend into a power struggle when we leave. Blood and treasure for the illusion of victory is not smart policy but it is a chance for Obama to silence the Right on the use of force/ security card.”

“You are naive - Kennedy tried to deescalate Viet Nam.”

“KO is correct. The mic and the Pentagon constitute an overly burdensome drag coefficient on the domestic agenda of our country. Their activities should be scaled back at least until the economy is robust enough to produce surpluses.

Now there is very serious talk about a war tax. Wasn't the Iraq war supposed to be paid for with oil profits???

We had OBL in Torah Bora and we let him get away. Why are men and women being sent to die in the poppy fields when there is no chance of "winning" this war. Once we leave there will be a power struggle, which we will take sides on, even if we deny that we are providing cash and, or weapons.

This is a bad move to keep Bush’s egg off of a few faces at the expense of innocent life and preciously scarce treasure.”

“Hitler would be envious.”

“Bill O should be in jail for anti American activities. He is a Pentagon puppet and a Cheney neo-acolyte.”

“This story was confirmed some time ago by the Delta Force Commander in charge of the op which could have severed the head of OBL.”

“Any person who calls 80% to 90% domination of a particular market fair competition does not understand the first thing about business and how markets work. Since it is highly unlikely that Joe is that ill informed, it would appear that Joe is being deliberately disingenuous.”

“The WSJ is no longer a credible source of finacial news.”

“If Obama fails the Right will tell us all "we told you so". If Obama walks on water, the Right will say "see I told you he can't swim".

Elections have consequences and we are going to have to wait to see how this unfolds. The wise among us have already placed our bets. Let's see which side is correct.”

“There should be a bumper sticker that sums up the entire Lite-wing movement "Confused and Proud!”

“Defending the fed when they are the prime contributor to, and primary beneficiary of, this disaster is probably a sign that Mort needed the money.

The US tax payer paying taxes is the basis on which the world has confidence in the dollar. The world does not have confidence in the ability of the US government to spend wisely or for them to regulate WS wisely.

The fed could be cut out in an instant if the world finacial community understood that the US government, including tax payers, were in agreement to pay existing debts.

The fed is no longer necessary or useful. If commercial banks borrowed directly from the US tax payers vis-a-vis the US government a huge amount of interest would be eleminated from the system as it should be. The interest paid to the fed is slippage or seepage from the total amount of tax dollars which should be applied to other more productive uses.”

“Why take a risk like the rest of the chumps when you know what is going to happen? WS is designed as a gargantuan machine for seperating fools from their money. There is only one rule. Those that run the show are not subject to any rules.”

“So letting both of them fail would help unemployment? GM is headed for an IPO, it is unclear what Chrysler's fate will be.”

“why in God's name would you remind anyone that 911 happened on the Decider's watch. You undermine your own argument.”

“Don't forget the Bush tax cuts and the 700 Billion thrown out the back door of the Treasury with no questions asked thanks to the three page letter to Congress Hanky Pank Paulson as SOT.”

“5 trillion in two failed wars is the Bush Cheney legacy. They own it lock stock and barrel. They squandered surpluses on tax rebates and they were the ones who handed out 700 billion to Goldman Sachs and WS with no questions asked.”

“From an economic and finance point of view Krugman is correct to point out the risks of under stimulating the economy. The trick Obama has is how can he sell more borrowing to the public when unemployment is high and the economy has not yet shown signs of a major recovery.

The trick for the Obama people is getting more of the existing stimulus money out the door faster to show the public that the first stimulus is making a difference. Then, if necessary, public support might be feasible.

A lot of people don’t comprehend how much debt can be absorbed when a recovery actually takes place.”