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by Leelila_Strogov from West LA

Last Post 100 days, 16 hours Ago


While Barack Obama made headlines as he flew over Iraq with General Petraeus, television images showed John McCain riding a golf cart with former President George H.W. Bush. Now Obama is leading the headlines at the New York Times, the LA Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal – all of which seem to collectively agree that the Iraqi government’s announcement that it would favor a plan to withdraw U.S. troops on a timetable similar to the one proposed by Obama (by the end of 2010) is a victory for the first-term Illinois senator. There’s no doubt that Obama’s reception in Iraq was less as a presidential candidate, and more as a visiting head of state, something the media is generally claiming has bolstered the first-term senator’s credibility as a player on the world stage rather than a man too young and inexperienced to be commander in chief. 

Although some have neglected to mention the precise circumstances of his visit, Obama is spending a week touring the Middle East and Europe as part of a congressional delegation that includes Republican Senator Chuck Hagel and Democratic Senator Jack Reed, both critics of the war. But since his visit comes at a time when U.S.-Iraq strategy has become so key in the presidential campaign, his trip is widely viewed as an attempt to convince voters that he has enough cultural clout to succeed in the Oval Office when it comes to keeping our country safe and improving our image abroad. 

Assuming this is indeed the intent, is Obama’s strategy working? Does this announcement along with Obama’s warm reception in Iraq convince you that he is the fresh thought-leader we need to reverse the damage America has incurred from the war on terror? Or does his visit elicit that “give me a break” response so many seem to have when it comes to the Obama halo?
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statueman read my blog view my photos
Jul 22, 2008 | 8:28 PM

Well... If after his first year as President he brokers a seven year peace treaty in the middle east then we might want to consider where he got that halo from. Of course I'm only saying that cause I fully expect the mans continued successes to provoke even more absurd criticisms.

Is the news about to get interesting again? It seems so... An African American liberal democratic Presidential Candidate named Barack Hussein Obama is in the middle east being recieved like he already is the President.

Is Obama's strategy working?

Oh yeah... now excuse me I need to start cleaning my guns and listening to Charlton Heston bible tapes. All this under the picture of our last true American President Ronald Wilson Reagan! You know... I never noticed until just now that ol' Ron has 6 letters in each of his names...

drerunner read my blog
Jul 22, 2008 | 10:32 PM

THE MESSIAH HAS RETURNED!!!! I am still waiting for him to walk on water. Has anyone seen him do it, as of yet? THE MESSIAH HAS RETURNED!!!!! LA LA LA LA LA LA (I am on my knees now) la la la!!! THE MESSIAH HAS RETURNED (LOL)

craftyguy read my blog
Jul 22, 2008 | 11:19 PM

gee a guy named Hussein who wants our troops out is welcomed in Iraq..what are the odds ..almost as rare as Lou Gehrig dying from Lou Gehrig's disease and the liberal media is showing it like there is going to be peace in the middle east with Jews and Arabs living in peace while we pave the streets in gold in the USA every time i see that crap it reminds me of one of Clinton's speeches when she was making fun of her then rival ..the sun will come out the clouds will disappear and everything will be right in the world..this guy is the greatest con man since Fidel Castro or Nelson Mandela who also were the second coming who left their countries in ruins by calling themselves liberators in reality were nothing more then Marxists ..i know things are bad but electing Obama is like letting you white daughter date OJ

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:11 AM

leelila! i read some paragraphs by Jerry Seib and Sara Murray-- my summary: appearing “safe, sound and competent” does not make a candidate the winner. pictures of barack's visits with American troops and foreign leaders is a way to make Americans feel that they would be safe under his leadership. some journalists (well, Michael Grunwald) is ideating John McCain is a long shot. pundits have an incentive to make politics seem complicated. it doesn't matter to me if water is served at state dinners, i prefer coca cola. are you hungry?!!

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:19 AM


Gen. David H. Petraeus gives an update on the situation in Iraq to Barack Obama and other members of a U.S. Congressional delegation in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday. (AP Photo)

Happyg read my blog
Jul 23, 2008 | 7:24 AM

Leelila,
Maybe you missed it, but Obama was also given advice by Iraqi Head's of State that a time table and early exit could jeopardize the gains that have been made. He also said that despite "on the ground" assessments by the Generals, it would be him, as President, who would be all knowing.
Now I know that the liberal media is in a constant state of arousal over the possibility of an Obama "Presidency", but many of these liberals can't be paying attention. He's saying we need to leave Iraq dangling, gains and peace prospects be damned, so we can "surge" Afghanistan and then invade Pakistan if they don't help us. Unbiased reporting shows character. Lack of it, is to be expected.

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 9:59 AM

Happyg,

Leave Iraq dangling? The Dali Bama would have dome the same thing that caused the Vietnam Airlift? Proof of what happens when your enemies knows you're pulling out.

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 10:01 AM

Leelila,

Are you now a total shill for The Dali Bama?

Donspoliticalblog read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 10:11 AM

Didn't I hear somewhere over the rainbow that the Iraqi President said he was misquoted by the Germans? That he didn't agree with a set time table for a pull out? Why do we leave such important facts out of our news? Gee, I wonder.
Don

sebar read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:46 PM

Chuck Baldwin for president. No golf cart, no liberal media, the Constitution Party if in power will FIX everything broken in this country. If you don't believe me just listen to the video my friends. Here is your third party and candidate willing to make America into America once more!

Leelila_Strogov read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:54 PM

statueman – interesting indeed…

drerunner – you missed the news in the enquirer of him walking on water the other day? it was right next to the whole bit about john edwards visiting his mistress and love child.

craftyguy – you have a point here about the odds, I’ll admit. that said, all great men have a little con in them, don’t you think? it’s when there’s more con than great that the problems start to arise. and i guess that’s what you’re suspecting is the case here…

marv! it’s true… safe, sound, and competent does not a winner make. my feeling: this race is going to be a lot closer than we think. like splitting hairs. but we’ll see.

Leelila_Strogov read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:54 PM

happyg – there are things that arouse me far more than an obama presidency, frankly, but okay, i’ll take your statement as fair just the same. i missed the all-knowing part. you’ll have to fill me in. but the rest is woven of the same material i have come across, yes.

happyg & dfdeportation – what consistently amazes me is the degree to which people take certain statements as an attack, or as biased, when they are nothing more than statements of fact. the bottom line is that iraq is clearly favoring obama right now. that may be a good thing or a terrible thing, depending on how you interpret it. that may also change or remain the same depending on what he, or mccain, do or say tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. but those are judgment calls i’m not about to make, and haven't made.

Leelila_Strogov read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 12:54 PM

don – the spokesman for the iraqi government said that prime minister nouri al-maliki felt his statements to der spiegel (the german paper in question) were misunderstood and mistranslated, but never explained exactly what had been mistranslated or misunderstood. from everything i’ve read they seem to be trying to downplay their support of obama, not because they don’t like him or his proposed ideas, but because they want to look as independent as possible in having come up with their own (i.e. they don’t want to look like they came to some sort of agreement with obama about said strategies and timelines).

sebar – i’ve been reading a lot about the growing support for baldwin. the real question is this, though: are you nervous about who he might nader?

Demboy08 read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 1:10 PM

While the president of Iraq said that he supported a timetable whether being misquoted or not the idea is growing in support by both the Iraqis and the American. If anything success by the surge is pushing the pull out crowd more and like it or not success by the surge will not mean public opinion will change the American public already passed judgment on this war and want to leave. Now that the president went on record about leaving it just makes more people wonder "Why are we still in this country."

sebar read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 1:27 PM

Leelila, I believe that Baldwin can win. The CP is the third largest party in the USA and growing fast, and his VP selection is also a well respected Viet Nam veteran too. The problem I have is this. I love FOX and I am a long time fan admittedly of Mr. Murdoch as well. The problem I have though is that FOX while billing itself as "Fair and Balanced" I have yet to see as "Fair and Balanced." Either Mr. Murdoch is getting ripped off because his people are acting upon their proclaimed slogan or they really are not "Fair and Balanced" which indeed would be sad as it brings FOX down to the ABC, NBC and CBS news levels. Bob Tarlau a news head and others at FOX need to push for recognition of the other party candidates. I would love to see an interview with honest and tough questions for Mr. Baldwin to answer at FOX news, perhaps on one of those Thursday night specials for a half hour and also hear some of the other candidates views and their parties as well. To really be "Fair" and Balanced, you must be first and foremost as a news organization..."Fair!"

mystere read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 3:53 PM

Leelila,

To me, with Obama visiting the Middle East after McCain gave his challenge, it appears to be a political ploy to win votes. I will openly admit that I'm no Obama fan, and that he did not even move me a fraction of an inch to vote for him. Instead, he moved me a mile to NOT vote for him.

sebar read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 4:48 PM

We must have the stations show all of the candidates on a large equal debate, maybe a 4 hour debate carried on all of the networks or the ones willing to "Show Us America" candidates. How bout it FOX, up to the challenge of letting us hear every party candidate or at least major parties and even mid sized parties so we can hear what those presidential candidates have to say and where they stand.

Demboy08 read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 5:21 PM

If the debate is like the Dems ABC debate I doubt many would want to watch. Maybe a number of two hour debates would be better because I think the american public is not going to have the time to watch a four hour debate. I also believe that the Libertarian party is the largest third party. Where would Baldwin win realisticly? The guy is pretty far out. 9/11 was a conspiracy, The north American league. These are not mainstream views.

sebar read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 6:02 PM

Nope, the Constitution Party is the third largest party ahead of the Libertarian Party which is fourth. I think the Green Party is after that. The Constitution is now affiliated with the American Independent Party so they merged making it number three. It is also the fastest growing party too. The open borders, economy and over seas war priorities have made it that way and it ain't slowing down either.

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 9:05 PM

Put them on the same stage and give them equal time so the voters can listen to them. Voters need to hear what they have to say....side-by-side...

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Leelila_Strogov

Leelila Strogov is a general assignment reporter for Fox 11 News, specializing in investigative and feature reports.

Member Since: 9/25/2007