Obama continues his attempts to square a circle on the surge. He got it dramatically wrong, predicting further chaos from the addition of more American troops, and proposed that we abandon Iraq in order to drive political reconciliation, which proved absurd. For some reason, though, he has taken the opposite (and correct) approach to Afghanistan. If American troops prove so destabilizing in Muslim nations, why does Obama want more in Afghanistan? And if retreat provides the impetus for national reconciliation, why doesn’t he propose a retreat from Afghanistan?

Exactly, why is the surge meaningless in Iraq but the answer to our problems in Afghanistan? I’ve been waiting for someone to ask this obvious question. Thank you!

That’s the same strategy that will work in Afghanistan.

McCain needs to avoid this statement until it is proven that the same strategy will, in fact, work in Afghanistan.

McCain’s responses were some of the best i’ve heard and perky Katie does her best to stir the pot with that: “you seem very frustrated with Senator Obama’s perspective”…where does she get that? He didn’t get all red and point his finger at her like Billy Jeff, he didn’t get flustered like the presumptive
Demo nominee. I wish someone would release her talking points.

What’s any of this got to do with change and hope?

Akzed on July 23, 2008 at 12:34 PM

Barry O hopes viewers will change the channel if a reporter has the audacity to ask him tough questions.

He was talking down to her. He really hates to be put on the spot like this..especially by a female. Im thinking hes a bit sexist and elitist!

Of course, Im one of those religious, bitter,gun clinging Pennsylvaniains! :)

The Anbar awakening along with Sunni tribal leaders was a direct result of Patraeus and boots in their neighborhood directly talking with tribal leaders, offering security, and appealing to their common sense desire to stop the insane bloodshed preached by AQ.

SAY IT!!

Obama: Now, Katie (oh, how patronizing!)

What Obama really meant was “Now, Katie, you’re being too LOGICAL about this. You don’t have to understand. You’ve gotta BELIEVE.”

Now let’s drink a toast to President Obama with spiked Kool-Aid…

Seems oddly familiar to Rush’s talking points lately and if she picks up on his ability to articulate questions and issues, she would be tough. They could use his revenue.

Perhaps there is an ‘Operation Chaos’ mole at CBS……

What’s any of this got to do with change and hope?

Because everytime B.O. changes his mind on anything, it gives us all hope that he’ll get his head handed to him come Election Day.

He looks like a total fool…and he had no answers for Katie.

becki51758 on July 23, 2008 at 12:06 PM

Yes. And, it’s not just what he said, although that’s important and incredibly weak compared to what McCain said, it’s also how he said it.

Go back to 2:44 and 3:20 and listen to the ultra-condescending, dismissive way Obama says “Katie” in response to Couric’s tough questions.

He sounds like he’s annoyed by such impudence from an inferior. How dare you ask me such things, sweetie?

I’ve been quick to criticize the news media for their ridiculous bias re the Obamedia World Tour (warning: big picture) but I’ve got to give Couric a lot of credit for what she got Obama to reveal in this interview.

Plus, kudos for having McCain on at all. At least they’re pretending to pretend to be evenhanded, which is progress.

I’m stealing this clip from Ed at Hot Air. Regular readers are probably sick of this topic, but in my own defense, this is the first time the candidates have squared off (via Katie Couric) on this issue. The result is Obama makes a fool of himsel…

JonPrichard on July 23, 2008 at 12:20 PM

Baghdad Bob?

Too bad her show is the least watched of the three…

That’s true, but baby steps are something. CBS has to be looking at the loss of revenues, loss of viewership, and loss of credibility which, cumulatively, is having an irreversible effect on their ability to survive as a medium. Whether Couric’s opening salvo is her own or that of a new direction for CBS’s news division, we don’t yet know. However, should they offer even a little objectivity, they’ll do wonders for their bottom line. That’s not to say the medium won’t continue to hemorrhage, but at least they’ll slow it down.

Plus, if you’re last, there’s nowhere to go but up… or out, and I don’t think any of them want out. Self-preservation may even trump ideology, except for the NYTimes, which is the freak of economics where stockholders and board members seem to enjoy losing money for the message.

Good for Couric. Some serious material… finally

Too bad her show is the least watched of the three…

If American troops prove so destabilizing in Muslim nations, why does Obama want more in Afghanistan? And if retreat provides the impetus for national reconciliation, why doesn’t he propose a retreat from Afghanistan?

Afghanistan didn’t attack us on 9/11 al-Qaida did, Afghanistan was just a “training ground” for al-Qaida.. If it was up to Obama Iraq would be the new “training ground” right now…

Does Obama want to invade and start a NEW WAR with Pakistan ? al-Qaida, is not just in pakistan but in LOTS of diferent countries.. how many countries does Obama want to invade?

Could this be the fall of the obamessiah?