Say Anything Blog

...this offers an insight into who Obama actually is that a lot of voters (this time on the left) probably aren’t going to like.

Rob,

Yours is almost certainly the more charitable take on this “leak” of a confidential paper.  A more realistic view would be that the Kahl memorandum was deliberately made public as a first step in moving Obama back toward the center of the political spectrum in preparation for the November general election.

Cynical?  Almost certainly.  But I would remind you that as one might expect of any neophyte to national and international policy, Obama has taken very few hard and fast, principled stands on any issue, while demonstrating an irritating habit of over-ruling his closest advisors as dictated by expediency.  Just ask the Canadiens who were, repeatedly, misadvised about Obama’s stand on NAFTA!

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

BatOne.  This guy is hopeless.  I have had personal experiences with people like him.  Incompetent and not at all focused on reality.  Emplaced is a good word.
Typical Democrat.  Can not take a stand and stick with it.  Not the type of person to be emplaced as a commander in chief, but Clinton did a great job of having our GIs give out food in Somalia.

Communism is evil

Chief,

Well said!  How different would our world be today had Bill Clinton not acquiesced to Jack Murtha’s insistence that the US withdraw under Muslim fire from Somalia before undertaking to impose Muslim self-rule in Kosovo?

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Rob et. al.,

Perhaps you should actually read the original article, to be found here: http://www.cnas.org/en/cms/?1129

There is no mention in the article regarding 60,000-80,000 troops remaining.  Seems the New York Sun misquoted Kahl, substituting instead the orginal paper put forth by others at the Center.  You should be ashamed of yourself for promolgating erroneous information.

You should be ashamed of yourself for promolgating erroneous information.
RyeLiz on April 4, 2008

The link you provide is to a paper written in August 2007 which is hardly appropriate for a statement concerning Obama today. You should be ashamed of yourself for promolgating erroneous information.

Anyway Rob’s link is to MSN not the Sun.  Don’t really know if it is accurate since major media does not sufficiently concern itself with the accuracy of its reports.

The Supreme Court is a bunch of black robed tyrants

Don’t really know if it is accurate since major media does not sufficiently concern itself with the accuracy of its reports.

Doc,

I wouldn’t worry about it.  Barack Obama is hardly a paragon of concise detail in any case.  If there is one thing we can count on where candidate Obama is concerned its his steadfast devotion to ambivalence and equivocation.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Sorry about that, but this is the link and it is from March 2008… btw, you can link to The Sun through the MSN.  So my information is correct, the MSN and The Sun are wrong. 

http://www.cnas.org/en/cms/?1888

RyeLiz,

Whether your information or that of The Sun and MSN is correct is ultimately of no importance.  There is more than ample reason to dismiss the idea of an Obama presidency in any case.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One,

Yes and there is also ample reason to dismiss the idea of a Hillary one (liar) and a McCain one (too old/senile/health). 

I just don’t like to see all this b.s. that is clearly false as reported being singled out to attack candidates - and that goes for all sides in my opinion.. it is difficult enough to decipher the truth among all this crap being circulated. 

BTW I like your quote, seems to me we need very much to address that problem, no?

RyeLiz,

I assume you can provide some authoritative documentation to substantiate your implications regarding John McCain’s presumed senility and/or health issues… something more than a mere accusation.

As you noted, “...it is difficult enough to decipher the truth among [sic] all this crap being circulated.”

BTW: The quote is from Montaigne, a long time favorite.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One,

I am referring to the report that McCain has once again deferred making public his health records until May.  In my mind, a person of his age (and I am not a young person myself) needs to provide for that, particularly given his history of melanoma.

Until that question is answered, I have to question his candidacy.  His age is also an issue with me, due to his seemingly misspoken comments a few weeks ago where he repeatedly had to be told by Lieberman what he should say.  I’m not saying he’s senile, but he certainly is doing just as bad as Hillary, in my opinion with some of his statements.  I do realize that the ferocity of this year’s campaigning has put enormous stress on all candidate - and us as well.

I’m not bashing, just questioning here, Bat One. 

I’ll have to look up more on Montaigne..thanks for providing me with his name.  I appreciate your help, it is nice to learn there are some people out here who are willing to go the extra mile to explain/question/comment when someone new questions or comments without totally bashing them, for that I thank you.

I’m not saying he’s senile, but he certainly is doing just as bad as Hillary, in my opinion with some of his statements.

RyeLiz,

But of course, you implied exactly that!  Re-read you question above.

Michael E. de Montaigne was an extraordinarily pragmatic late 16th century French essayist and philosopher.  His point of view could best be characterized as those two most uncommon contemporary commodities… common sense, and common courtesy.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

McCain has once again deferred making public his health records until May.

And Billy Jeff Clinton has yet to release more than a summary of his!
What’s the deal? The Republican nominee is all but decided. There’s plenty of time between May and the general election to factor in anything that’s in there.

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Perhaps I did, however, I did say that the stress of this election process has taken it’s toll on both the candidates and us.  As a whole, I believe that his remarks could have been just a fluke due to that stress… or an honest mistake, which we all do make from time to time.  Still, his age does trouble me.  Wishing Romney had stayed in the race.

Thank you for the additional info on Montaigne.  Do you have any suggestions on where to begin studying him?  I’d appreciate that immensely, Bat One.

Proof,

That may be true, but if there is something there, I believe it is in the best interest of the Republican Party to know this now prior to convention so they can deal with it first...and not let the Democrats run roughshod with it.  It’s just more fodder for the Democrats to use against him.  It’s already happening.  I think it is better to confront and answer questions quickly in order to allay any fears that could be seething underneath it all… that is just my opinion though.  BTW Billy Jeff Clinton(?) - Hillary would’ve been better off without him this time around I think.  His temper tantrums are not helping her LOL.

By the way Proof, I’m really disappointed that McCain has not backed the bill for Vet Education bill.  Having a son in the Military, this is an issue for me.

His temper tantrums are not helping her

Yeah! Just try saying: “Senior Statesman Bill Clinton” with a straight face!

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

RyeLiz,

The first reference to Montaigne I recall stumbling across was in the Nero Wolfe novel “The Black Mountain” by Rex Stout.  Way back then, there was no internet, books were sacred repositories, and libraries were considered the intellectual equivalent of Fort Knox.  At least in my family they were.  I still collect books, selectively, but I’d suggest the internet as a first resource.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One,

Thank you so much.  I will check the net.  Like you, I also have a repository of books that I love, I read voraciously.  I’ve enjoyed our exchanges.  Thank you.  The ability to read, absorb knowledge and think critically is fast becoming a lost art.

Liz

The ability to read, absorb knowledge and think critically is fast becoming a lost art.

Liz,

How sadly true!  And we and those who succeed us are all the poorer for our intemperance.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Liz,

Incidentally, welcome aboard!  There’s quite an assortment of very knowledgeable and thought-provoking people here at SAB.  You should find yourself at ease in no time.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Incidentally, welcome aboard!

Ahhh… how exqusitely cordial of you Mr Bat1.
Your genteel kindness brings back such fond memories of our first ... encounter
Bwahahaha....

She’s tanned! She’s rested!

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Anna,

“Exquisitely cordial” indeed!  After the smack-down I received from you (rightly, now doubt!) for my lack of manners, how could I possibly help but be cordial?  Even exquisitely so!

BTW, tanned and rested, or not, it is good to have you back again!  Miss us much?

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

I have it on good authority that Anna is currently suffering from extreme Dial-up-itis, but hopes to in full remission soon!

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

to be (as that obscure Danish fellow would say!)

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)