Just heard on MSNBC, Joe Klein saying that McCain made a big tactical mistake in his speech yesterda

[angie_love]

He went after Obama for saying he would attack Pakistan. Joe Klein said this was a huge mistake b/c it makes McCain look bad saying he would bomb Iran but ignore Pakistan who is a big threat to America. So I hope Obama uses this against McCain.

AP McCains speech: "Will the next president have the experience?" he asked. "Or will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan, and suggested sitting down without preconditions or clear purpose with enemies who support terrorists and are intent on destabilizing the world by acquiring nuclear weapons?"

Last August, Obama had said if the United States had actionable intelligence about top terrorist targets in Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf wouldn't act, the U.S. would. That pledge set off ripples of resentment in the relationship between Washington and Islamabad, prompting Pakistani officials to warn against U.S. incursions into their country.

[Mika]

1. Who will we bomb next?

:puke:

[angie_love]

2. Iran if McCain has anything to do with it.

[Arugula Latte]

21. He's gonna bomb anyone who crosses his lawn.

Damn kids! They had it coming! :nuke:

[Alhena]

3. Just as long as we bomb *somebody* (j/k)

[Emit]

4. McCain's probably trying to get Obama in the hot seat with anti-war wing of the Democratic party

Obama has to walk a fine line on this note -- he can't look too pro-bomb with one group and too weak on terror with another. It puts him in a tough position, potentially, IMHO.

I can see why McCain did this, and Obama should start now formulating a reasoned, balanced response to McCain's nonsense.

[redqueen]

6. He seems to have proved himself capable of walking that line...

last night he included lots of tough talk... I doubt he'll have any problems at all handling McCain's attacks.

I'm kind of excited to see them debate, actually. Seems to me like Obama would mop the floor with him.

[Emit]

12. It'll all get rehashed and Obama will continue to have to address such issues with McCain

McCain has little more than the experience meme and the classic Dems are weak on terror to go against Obama.


I agree that Obama will mop the floor with McCain and look forward to that, as well.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Wrong--the primary season is almost wrapped up. Obama's position

on taking out AQ in Pakistan's lawless areas was staked out last summer--it's not new. Obama doesn't walk a fine line here at all--Americans, and yes, Democrats, WANT to get the people who attacked us, believe it or not. Obama did the right thing, and now McCain has less of a national-security weapon to hit him with.

[Emit]

13. It'll get rehashed and yes, it will require he walk a fine line,

This talk -- this contest -- of who will be tougher on terror and who won't hesitate to bomb someone doesn't sit well with anti-war folks.

I trust Obama can manage this one, though.

[TwilightGardener]

19. I don't think Obama is in any danger of losing the anti-war folk, even

if he has to sound tough on terra. If he's the nominee (and that's likely now), the anti-war folks' only viable option then is... McCain. Hah! I'm just saying, Obama is past the point of trying to prove his progressive credentials--he is going to adopt some centrist/moderate tones as we move on--that's a fact, and as long as he doesn't abandon his current agenda, I don't mind one bit.

[Emit]

23. Eh. What was I thinking. Silly me.

Obama didn't vote for the war, so he can talk tough on terror all he wants now, 'cause, you're absolutely right in that the only alternative is the man who wants perpetual war, McCain. We are left with little choice in the matter now.

There's irony in there somewhere, but I can't wrap my brain around it quick enough to articulate. :)

[Bucky]

18. Which is dumb. Even the antiwar "wing" of the country (70% of us) is against alQaeda

[Ian David]

5. Plus, Bush actually DID bomb Pakistan exactly the way Obama said he would, too. n/t

[KittyWampus]

9. though it was a clandestine type bombing. Maybe Junior didn't even know.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I saw that--Klein said Obama is actually on McCain's RIGHT on fighting terror.

I hope Obama makes something of this. It's an important development.

[Bucky]

16. Fighting terror isn't a left-right issue. Obama's for fighting the RIGHT terrorists

McCain is for fighting everybody and thus making new terrorists.

[TwilightGardener]

20. Yep--I agree. It's sort of "right" to the media that paints Dems as appeasing

peacenik hate-Amurka weaklings, but really, I think most of us agree that you have to cut the head off the snake of the enemy who killed some of us and wants to do it again. That doesn't mean you start pointless wars, or continue pointless wars, everywhere else.

[CreekDog]

8. Yeah, but McCain just told Joe Kliein to %$^$#

and that Klein doesn't know #%@&%#@ and that he'll come over there and kick his %$^@!#^#

[TwilightGardener]

10. LOL! Klein is no longer allowed on McCain's lawn.

[Bucky]

14. Obama said he'd bomb al-Qaeda sites if OBL was there. McCain must think al-Qaeda is our ally

...as opposed to Bush who KNOWS al-Qaeda is his ally, but can't come out and admit it.

However, Klein still has it wrong. This was not "tactical error" on McCain's part. It was an outright lie, and thus SOP for Republicans.

[Renew Deal]

15. Obama's Pakistan position is very strong.

Americans will like it.

[morgan2]

17. bomb pakistan? they have no oil

that'd just be silly.

[ficus1]

22. We bombed Pakistan just a few weeks ago going after Al Qaeda

I don't recall McCain criticizing George Bush at the time. I guess John McCain loves terrorists now.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/31/alqaeda.death/

This bombing Pakistan nonsense is going to be a real non-starter for McCain as we've conducted airstrikes in Pakistan numerous times in the past few years. Obama can just ask him why he doesn't want to go after the people who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11.