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Barack Obama, Neocon Update: AOL Hot Seat Poll added

posted at 7:46 am on May 17, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Yesterday, John Gibson invited me onto his Fox radio show to talk about Barack Obama’s sudden outrage over a speech by George Bush that had nothing to do with him. Later, I YouTubed the segment in order to replay it here, and a couple of points struck me about the clips that Gibson played during the segment:

First, listen to how far Barack Obama has actually moved his foreign policy approach regarding Iran. Last summer, especially during the YouTube debate, Obama railed against the Bush administration policy, with “failed” being about the kindest term he could muster. Now, however, he has adopted the Bush policy towards Iran in toto. No talks with Iran until they end their nuclear-weapons programs, progressively tougher sanctions until they comply with international non-proliferation regulations and UN Security Council resolutions — that is exactly what the Bush administration has done since 2003.

What prompted this turn towards neocon policy? Obama can’t shake the consequences of his answer during that July debate and the promise of unconditional direct presidential-level talks with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the first year of his presidency. Even our allies, even those who thought Bush to be too hard line on Iran, don’t see what this would accomplish, other than boosting the prestige of Ahmadinejad and the mullahcracy’s hard-liners and further entrenching them in Iran. As John McCain put it yesterday, what exactly will Obama negotiate with Ahmadinejad? The destruction of Israel’s “stinking corpse”, or their grievances about the falsity of the Holocaust?

The meme du jour yesterday was that Barack Obama showed real spirit, real fight in his willingness to joust over foreign policy, as Chris Cillizza writes at the Washington Post. I’m sure that the Left will try to sell that spin, but that is not what happened yesterday. Barack Obama panicked over a speech in Israel that had nothing to do with himself or his party — it didn’t even mention contemporary Americans — and hysterically built it into a smear against him personally. He and some of his helpful Democratic colleagues tried to distract attention away from Obama’s foreign-policy blunder by insisting that a debate about his feckless approach was somehow out of bounds and at the same time demanded a debate on national security.

Obama didn’t come out swinging, he’s starting to drown. His Iran policy has swerved all over the map, and now he’s adopted the policy he called a huge failure. All of the shrieking and silly claims of victimization can’t hide the fact that he has no clue about foreign policy or even what appeasement means, and his drift from “without preconditions” to the Bush policy of diplomatic and economic isolation over the last few weeks clearly shows it.


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Obama and the Democrats know that their policy is appeasement and they are struggling and lashing out.

RobCon on May 17, 2008 at 8:04 AM

Barack Obama has neither the experience or qualifications to run a Fortune 500 company, let alone be the CEO of the Republic.

Barack is providing massive loads of material for split screen political ads. Keep talking Obama. All hat and no cattle.

“Oh, I say and I say it again, ya been had! Ya been took!
Ya been hoodwinked! Bamboozled! Led astray! Run amok!”

moxie_neanderthal on May 17, 2008 at 8:07 AM

This dynamic will be the focus of Sean Hannity’s show Sunday night. It’s now become obvious, not only does Obama have NO clue regarding foreign policy, economics, capitalism; Obama’s advisers also have NO clue. This empty suit needs at least (8) more years just to study up and learn the basics. Ms. Obama needs at least (8) more years just to learn how to keep her trap shut so that she doesn’t spread fear and hatred across the globe.

Rookies…

Keemo on May 17, 2008 at 8:07 AM

Does this mean that the only logical treatment of Iran is that which Bush has been employing?

Does this mean….Bush was right about something?

The left won’t like this at all…

jimmy the notable on May 17, 2008 at 8:16 AM

McCain cannot debate Barry on foreign policy?!?! LOL

RobCon on May 17, 2008 at 8:16 AM

Obama is a facade filled with meaningless rhetoric that has no discernable substance. His Marxist beliefs make it impossible him for him to even imagine what is best for the Republic. He must be constantly challenged and exposed and his ability to obfuscate and quibble eliminated. McCain and GOP must not play nice with this guy.

rplat on May 17, 2008 at 8:20 AM

Ultimately if Obama gets elected he will be in the exact same position that Bush is in now. He has two choices, do as Bush is doing (in his own words of course pretending its different) or do as Clinton did and get some bj’s while moving papers around. You either kill terrorist organizations or you run away from them.

Talking is not an option–only in campaigns.

Here’s yesterday’s “shuck and jive” with David Brooks

The U.S. needs a foreign policy that “looks at the root causes of problems and dangers.” Obama compared Hezbollah to Hamas. Both need to be compelled to understand that “they’re going down a blind alley with violence that weakens their legitimate claims.” He knows these movements aren’t going away anytime soon (“Those missiles aren’t going to dissolve”), but “if they decide to shift, we’re going to recognize that. That’s an evolution that should be recognized.”

Well Barack, that’s some deep thinking. Not.

We have been there, done that. Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush have already played that patty-cake. He’s just bobbing and weaving hoping that folks hear what he says but don’t actually listen to it.

Thankfully if McCain gets elected we won’t have to go through the usual tedious/phony learning curve. Hamas, Hezbollah etc know exactly whats coming to them. That’s why they are for Obama. Obama buys them more time as Clinton did.

patrick neid on May 17, 2008 at 8:26 AM

Worse than rookies, Keemo - rookies who don’t know they’re rookies; who don’t know how much damage they can do.

Rosmerta on May 17, 2008 at 8:27 AM

Quick, someone tell David Brooks. He’s too overwhelmed by how smart Obama is to understand what, exactly, Obama is actually talking about.

Jaibones on May 17, 2008 at 8:29 AM

The meme du jour yesterday was that Barack Obama showed real spirit, real fight in his willingness to joust over foreign policy, as Chris Cillizza writes at the Washington Post. I’m sure that the Left will try to sell that spin, but that is not what happened yesterday.

When the dust settles, and beating on Bush gets dull even for the loon left, the issue of meeting with tyrannical despots without Pre-Conditions will remain. (”Preperations” - his current walking away word to fool the fools of left - are not Pre-Conditions. Preperations are taking a shower and making sure you’ve got fresh underwear)

Keep the focus, when Obama dumb enough to let himself fall into it, on Foreign Policy.

Hillary landed a few sharp jabs early on; Mr. Bush nailed Obama with a brutal body shot while showing respect to Israel; and now it’s time for McCain to knock him out with a floating Kentucky church cross to chin for simply not being serious/ready enough to be President of the most important and powerful country on earth.

Life is So Grand!!©

Shivas Irons on May 17, 2008 at 8:33 AM

Good analysis, Ed.

We have to keep accusing them of appeasement in Iran, Iraq, Darfur, etc.

indythinker on May 17, 2008 at 8:40 AM

Obama is flailing, as Ed says, but the media is likely t continually provide cover for him as he picks himself up from the canvas. Chrissie Matthews is probably writing for Obama this very minute.

drjohn on May 17, 2008 at 8:53 AM

Barry Obama, pandercon.

It’ll fly about as well as his bitter clinging comments.

What a transparent tyro schmuck.

profitsbeard on May 17, 2008 at 9:14 AM

Best Case by McCain against Obama.

Anita on May 17, 2008 at 9:22 AM

He’s more of a Neophyte than Neocon.

abinitioadinfinitum on May 17, 2008 at 9:38 AM

Just like the media creates weak Dem candidates by providing absolute immunity to idiotic positions, they are going to create an absolutely laughable Dem nominee by protecting their party from the reality that Obama is evolving from a featherweight to a bozo.

The best part is that many in the MSM probably know it, but they have gone too far to stop now!!

Popcorn futures, folks… that’s where it’s at. It’s going to be great theater.

drunyan8315 on May 17, 2008 at 9:46 AM

http://willamos.myblogsite.com/entry165.html#track

William Amos on May 17, 2008 at 8:39 AM

Interesting clip, Bill. Thanks.

For the most part, the big O’s stance on iran seems to be pretty much exactly what the Bush policy has been. Except for the direct unconditional talks part that O favors right now (subject to change at any given moment, with the inevitable mention of ‘racist’ and ‘distraction’ thrown in for good measure.

So why does he claim it’s a failed policy? Because its George Bush’s policy, and therefore must be openly opposed to appease obama’s far left base, even though it’s wise policy. Bush can never be given positive credit by the left for anything. Ever.

And something else I don’t understand is why he and the libs can’t get it through their thick heads that Bush let the EU3 negotiate diplomatically for three full friggin’ years directly with iran, and the only one who came out ahead in that exercise was iran. They’re now even closer to a nuclear weapons capability and as defiant and intransigent as ever.

At what point will people see that the time for talk is over, and delaying action is actually the riskier and more irresponsible option?

techno_barbarian on May 17, 2008 at 10:21 AM

Would it be too ironic to say that the media have whitewashed the black candidate?

Mew

acat on May 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM

I’m confused. In addition to the fact that his statement that he will meet with Iran without pre-conditions is still on his website, has he discarded this position (which is most definitely not a “neo-con position”) from August 2007:

As President, I will work with our friend and allies, but I won’t outsource our diplomacy in Tehran to the Europeans, or our diplomacy in Pyongyang to the Chinese. I will do the careful preparation needed, and let these countries know where America stands. They will no longer have the excuse of American intransigence. They will have our terms: no support for terror and no nuclear weapons.

How are these countries supposed to know where America stands if Americans like myself have no clue as to where he stands?

Buy Danish on May 17, 2008 at 10:47 AM

What do you think of Obama’s perspective regarding Iran?

His old perspective or the new one soon to be read from his TelePrompTer?

abinitioadinfinitum on May 17, 2008 at 10:49 AM

Would it be too ironic to say that the media have whitewashed the black candidate?

Mew

acat on May 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM

Heh.

Mark Twain is smiling at you.

techno_barbarian on May 17, 2008 at 10:50 AM

Tulsa Beacon sc
Sensible immigration laws
House Bill 1804 is working. — Hundreds of illegal aliens have left Oklahoma and gone to other states or back to their country of origin. — That’s what should have happened. It’s a shame that state legislators have to pass laws that mirror federal laws because the Bush Administration won’t enforce our national boundaries…

DfDeportation on May 17, 2008 at 10:50 AM

If the Dems are going to refer to Iraq as a “quagmire,” then it’s certain fair for us to refer to their Iran policy as “appeasement.”

InDubly on May 17, 2008 at 10:55 AM

Since Obambi was in such a snit over what Bush said; how will he react IF he became president and our enemies are still chanting “Death to America” after he meets with them?

Hissy-fit anyone?

moonsbreath on May 17, 2008 at 11:07 AM

Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization to attack Iran.
–BarackObama.com

So, let’s see if we’ve got this straight…

He’s perfectly willing to undermine the power of the office he wishes to assume?

Or, are we ’sposed to believe, this would apply to “Bush” and only “Bush” ?

weak

franksalterego on May 17, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization to attack Iran.
franksalterego on May 17, 2008 at 11:08 AM

So the constitutional scholar is all for unconstitutional measures to manipulte foreign policy and pander to his base.

Beto Ochoa on May 17, 2008 at 11:24 AM

Beto Ochoa on May 17, 2008 at 11:24 AM

It’s just one more indication, Liberals can’t see any farther ahead, than the end of their noses.

franksalterego on May 17, 2008 at 11:30 AM

So the constitutional scholar is all for unconstitutional measures to manipulte foreign policy and pander to his base.

Beto Ochoa on May 17, 2008 at 11:24 AM

It’s a cruel joke that obambi’s supposedly a lauded ‘constitutional scholar’.

It just shows how low the affirmative action bar for such ’scholarship’ has been set. And how badly off-track our ‘higher’ education system really is.

techno_barbarian on May 17, 2008 at 11:48 AM

did my ears just hear Barack say “steeper stanctions”?

maverick muse on May 17, 2008 at 1:14 PM

Obama’s sudden outrage over a speech by George Bush that had nothing to do with him.

Nothing to do with him? Nothing? Like zip, zilzh, zero, nada? That doesn’t even pass the smell test.

All of the shrieking and silly claims of victimization can’t hide the fact that he has no clue about foreign policy or even what appeasement means

If Republicans think that they can take the White House on the strength of calling Obama an appeaser, Neville Chamberlain’s reincarnation, with not even a clue about foreign policy, while being basically bereft of anything positive (and McCain’s clueless cap-and-trade proposal to fight “Global warming” doesn’t count) to offer themselves anymore, they will lose in November.

MB4 on May 17, 2008 at 1:20 PM

BHO is the pinball. Enjoy the game, folks. The best that pinhead can do is play follow the leader into office.

Ed, I think you are too kind in granting BHO any more maturity given another 12 years of life, as he’s too stuck thriving in his own littleness to CHANGE himself. How has Obama matured given his past 12 years of life experience? His “relevance” in today’s liberal domain relies on Obama NOT changing himself. Against the odds of their conservative conversion, their only maturity will be the deteriorating rot desicating the liberal domain.

maverick muse on May 17, 2008 at 1:32 PM

If Republicans think that they can take the White House on the strength of calling Obama an appeaser, Neville Chamberlain’s reincarnation, with not even a clue about foreign policy, while being basically bereft of anything positive (and McCain’s clueless cap-and-trade proposal to fight “Global warming” doesn’t count) to offer themselves anymore, they will lose in November.

MB4 on May 17, 2008 at 1:20 PM

All too true Im afraid

UK Election 1945

resulted in the shock election defeat of the Conservatives led by Winston Churchill and the landslide victory of the Labour Party led by Clement Attlee, who won a majority of 145 seats.

The result of the election was almost totally unexpected, given the heroic status of Winston Churchill, but reflected the voters’ belief that the Labour Party were better able to rebuild the country following the war than the Conservatives. Churchill and the Conservatives are also generally considered to have run a poor campaign in comparison to Labour; Churchill’s statement that Attlee’s program would require a Gestapo-esque body to implement is considered to have been particularly poorly judged. Equally, whilst voters respected and liked Churchill’s wartime record, they were more broadly distrustful of the Conservative Party’s domestic and foreign policy record in the late thirties. (It is worth remembering that the last election had been held in 1935, and voters had been given no opportunity, due to the war, to “let off steam” electorally between then and 1945.) Labour had also been given, during the war, the opportunity to display to the electorate their domestic competence in government under men such as Attlee, Herbert Morrison and Ernest Bevin at the Ministry of Labour.

The Labour Party ran on promises to create full employment, a tax funded universal National Health Service, and a cradle-to-grave welfare state, with the sensational campaign message of ‘let us face the future.’

William Amos on May 17, 2008 at 1:37 PM

The Bush Doctrine toward Iran has only been a “failure” in so far as the voices of the Appeasers have managed to embolden Ahmadinejad and the mullahs. If the world got its act together and spoke with one voice long enough to change the regime, there would be the “hope & change” the Iranian people want, and the world would be a much safer place.

Connie on May 17, 2008 at 2:27 PM

Obama didn’t come out swinging, he’s starting to drown. His Iran policy has swerved all over the map, and now he’s adopted the policy he called a huge failure. All of the shrieking and silly claims of victimization can’t hide the fact that he has no clue about foreign policy or even what appeasement means, and his drift from “without preconditions” to the Bush policy of diplomatic and economic isolation over the last few weeks clearly shows it.

On the positive side, this does mean that we are forcing Obama into a more reasonable foreign policy. In the sad event of an Obama victory, we’ll have mitigated some of the damage he’ll do. Unfortunately, once Obama is president, he’ll stop listening to us and will do stupid things. (I do believe that the word “stupid” should be used sparingly, but it sure fits here.)

thuja on May 17, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Does anyone beside me notice that Ed looks a little like Tony Soprano?

Obama in my opinion, views Iraq like many other liberals do, in a MSM News byte. Very small, bias and without any factual evidence.

Shades of Kucinich logic…. if you can equate any logic to it.

Kini on May 17, 2008 at 3:12 PM

We need is a strong leader not a coward. Thugs will eat Obama alive and you can bet the bank that they won’t stop there.

jdun on May 17, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Wow, I saw the same thing two days ago after reading your post of May 15, 2008. That day I wrote:

Obama Capitulates — Agrees Bush Foreign Policy Is correct!

I sent a copy to tip lines around the net. I just can’t get any of my tips linked.

Another example is the widely linked column by Jack Kelly about Obama and History. I wrote virtually the same points at least a day before he did (Obama’s Role Model — Diplomacy That Nearly Destroyed The World)– sent it as news tips (specifically to Hot Air) — and posted it around the net but couldn’t get a link (but did get 30 or so hits — wonder where Mr. Kelly lives?). The good news is that Mr. Kelly got the word out.

Glad to be in the company of great thinkers — wish I could be as eloquent and get linked — my neurological illness sometimes gets in the way between my mind and my fingers.
DKK

LifeTrek on May 17, 2008 at 5:19 PM

The Bush Doctrine toward Iran has only been a “failure” in so far as the voices of the Appeasers have managed to embolden Ahmadinejad and the mullahs. If the world got its act together and spoke with one voice long enough to change the regime, there would be the “hope & change” the Iranian people want, and the world would be a much safer place.

Connie on May 17, 2008 at 2:27 PM

Exactly.

Buy Danish on May 17, 2008 at 6:09 PM

Waiting for Obama’s new position on Iran tomorrow.

More limber than a carnival contortionist.

More faces than a bank clock.

More confused than crap.

profitsbeard on May 17, 2008 at 6:54 PM

Whoa, did my earlier comment get lost? I thought it was there and now I can’t find it. My mind is Jello today.

I’ll try and remember it and repeat it here, sorry if it is a repeat:

Ed,

I had the same thought back when you made your post on the 15th, I wrote:
Obama Capitulates — Agrees Bush Foreign Policy Is Correct

I had sent that post by Email to tip addresses but it didn’t get linked.

I had the same thing happened with Jack Kelly’s Obama History Lesson column. The day before he wrote his column I had written:
Obama’s Role Model — Diplomacy That Nearly Destroyed the World (Posted it early AM May 8, sent it around — including the tip line here, and included it in comments around the web and got about 30 hits but it didn’t get picked up).

Luckily Jack made the same points the next day and his got picked up so the word got out.

I have a neurological degeneration that makes the thoughts hard to put on paper , um screen but I keep trying. Great minds think alike, just wish mine still worked the way it did a few years ago.
David
DKK

LifeTrek on May 17, 2008 at 7:48 PM

The website still says the same thing:

Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.

And then spells out the preconditions he claims he’s not going to use:

Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation.

He’s going to talk to them both without preconditions and with preconditions.

And he expects everyone else to ignore that he contradicts himself at this and almost every other turn.

baldilocks on May 17, 2008 at 8:46 PM

He’s going to talk to them both without preconditions and with preconditions.

And he expects everyone else to ignore that he contradicts himself at this and almost every other turn.

baldilocks on May 17, 2008 at 8:46 PM

Barry will just drop in to see what condition his condition was in.

Buy Danish on May 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM

Although I’m no longer a qualified programmer, I could still write a program to support the left’s considered, thoughtful, in-depth assessment of any of Bush’s decisions, actions, or policies. It’s really not too difficult.

Instructions: Type any Bush activity and touch Enter.

The program code:
Step 1. Accept input from keyboard.
Step 2. Display “WRONG”.
Step 3. Go to Step 1.

That’s pretty much it. No pesky IF conditions, no evaluation of variables, no complex arguments, just the results as predefined in the specs written by a consortium of the DNC, Kos, Huffington, MSM, etc.. It’s obvious they’ve been using a similar program for years.

Imagine that, Bush is sheer perfection – he’s ALWAYS wrong! We should be able to harness this unique ability and steer the country in the right direction by doing exactly the opposite of what the prez proposes. What a concept. How could we go wrong?

BTW, I’ll donate any license revenue to charity, I’m glad I could help.

Garnet92 on May 18, 2008 at 1:29 PM

Hey Ed. I thought you should know this. There is an AOL Hot Seat Poll posted right now by a guy named Ken Layne from Wonkette asking “Did Jenna Bush’s wedding heal America”? A. Yes, she looked beautiful. B. No, damage is done. C. Foreclosures continue!

SoulGlo on May 19, 2008 at 3:28 AM


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