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Loose Canons
Romney’s Road Trip
A capital performance, once he got out of London.
At some point, every presidential candidate is bound to take a trip abroad to advertise his foreign policy credentials. Because most candidates don’t want to be accused of criticizing his opponent’s foreign policy abroad, the trips are usually little more than carefully staged photo ops.
Four years ago, during his “foreign policy” trip, Barack Obama donned a skullcap and pushed a written prayer into a nook in the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. He hasn’t been back to Israel since, and his enmity toward our only Middle Eastern ally has been demonstrated so often, there is no room here to rehash the evidence.
Mitt Romney’s trip this week was supposed to follow the normal script. Off to London first for the opening of the Olympics, then to Israel and last to Poland, the trip was planned to hit the headlines and Obama’s vulnerabilities. The U.K. is a strong ally, Israel is another (and of greater domestic political importance), and Poland is another that — until Obama came along — held a special regard for us. Poland practically worships Ronald Reagan for his role in winning the Cold War and embracing Poland’s struggle against Soviet oppression. And many Polish-Americans — who may comprise the swing vote in several states — are worried about Obama’s disregard of Poland’s defense.
Britain, as one wag wrote a few days ago, is an easy date for American pols. All a guy has to do is say something nice about the Queen or Churchill, josh them about the lousy weather and say something warm and serious about the “special relationship.” At that point, the Brits conclude that the American candidate is perhaps too unlettered or too much of a cowboy, but all in all a good chap. Then everyone smiles as the candidate climbs back on the aircraft to go to the next stop.
Unfortunately for Romney, his London trip was more reminiscent of Monday Night Football’s “C’mon, man” segment. You know the one: part of the halftime show with a half dozen video clips of players, refs or coaches screwing up big plays to Chris Berman’s cry of “c’mon, man.” Some reporter asked Romney whether Britain was ready for the Olympics to start. Instead of saying, “everything looks smashing,” Romney said, “You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials … that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”
That peeved Brit PM David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson who both made snide responses and launched Romney into two days of damage control. Romney’s unforced error is inexplicable. But it will be forgotten quickly after Romney’s superb speech yesterday in Jerusalem.
Romney arrived in Israel about two weeks after Obama’s National Security Advisor Tom Donilon reportedly went there to advise Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu privately about America’s contingency plans for Iran if the economic sanctions didn’t succeed in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons program. (The Israeli government denied that report.)
The Israelis had no reason to believe anything Donilon told them. Obama has done and continues to do everything in his power to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran. Though Obama has given the appearance of going along with congressionally authored economic sanctions against Iran, he has defanged the Iran sanctions, granting most of Iran’s trading partners in Europe and the Far East exemptions from them. When the Iranians revolted against the Tehran regime in 2009, Obama did nothing to help them. He will never use military power to prevent Iran’s achieving its nuclear weapons ambitions, and everyone — especially the Israelis — knows that.
In that context, Romney has given two excellent foreign policy speeches. The first, before the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention on July 24, and then in Jerusalem yesterday.
In his VFW speech, Romney labeled Iran as the greatest national security threat we face. And he said, “The President’s policies have made it harder to recover from the deepest recession in seventy years… exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify… compromised our national-security secrets… and in dealings with other nations, given trust where it is not earned, insult where it is not deserved, and apology where it is not due.”
Introduced by the mayor of Jerusalem, Romney began by emphasizing that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
Romney again hit Iran hard. Speaking of Iran’s threats to wipe Israel off the map, he reminded the crowd of the late Menachem Begin’s words that when a nation threatens Israel it should be taken at its word and said that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons should be America’s highest national security priority. He said that we must not delude ourselves into believing that a nuclear-armed Iran can be contained, and that it is right for Israel to defend itself and for America to stand with Israel when it does so.
Romney’s speech will be criticized as an embrace of neoconservatism, but it was not that at all. When he said, “We have a duty to speed and to shape history” he was not calling for the imposition of democracy in the Middle East. He was saying, clearly, that Israeli democracy had to be defended against the growing threats that surround it. He called upon the international community to pressure Egypt’s new Islamist government to honor the Israeli-Egyptian peace accords negotiated by Anwar Sadat. Importantly, he said that the US-Israeli alliance was not only a strategic one, but also a force for good in the world.
Romney’s performance in Israel was a superb defense of freedom and American principles. It set the stage for his visit to Poland.
The Poles, like the Brits, are an easy date for Romney, but not for our current president. Poland was promised a ground-based missile defense system by George W. Bush to defend it against Iranian — and implicitly Russian — missile attack. Obama reneged on that promise and instead promised a sea-based system, which our navy lacks sufficient missile ships to provide.
About the Author
Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies. You can follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (95) | Leave a comment
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aware| 7.30.12 @ 6:30AM
Still no mention of Romney openly holding a fundraiser on foreign soil? He even tried to bar coverage of the event until the negative impact got too big to ignore.
He pulled in 2 mil in London, too. But don't worry it came from "Americans living abroad". Yeah, for some reason the money couldn't find its way to him, he had to find his way to it.
I'm sure neo cons like Babbin have no problem with this, but what about "conservatives"? Seems like I heard plenty of hostility concerning this kind of thing when it was the antichrist Obama raising money from the hated Mohammedans(allegedly). Was that different?
Just askin".
k iott| 7.30.12 @ 7:17AM
Maybe Romney is raising big money from expats in London because they think he might do something sensible with regard to tax rates for repatriated assets. Or maybe, just maybe because the Brits don't freakin' hate all that is western us and want to take us back to the freeakin' seventh century.
just answerin'
Fast and Curious| 7.30.12 @ 8:32AM
Good answer. The truth is, the Obama campaign made no effort to determine the legality of donations before depositing them. The problem was pre-paid credit card donations. They came from patriotic Americans such as "jfhhff", "doo dad pro" and jfkdd. All on the up and up Mr. "aware".
Jack in Wi| 7.30.12 @ 9:09AM
Romney and Obama both bend over to kiss Netanyahu's behind every time they meet. It is disgusting to see both candidates for President give undying suppport for Israel and to threaten war with a Iran. Neither Romney or Obama has ever put on a uniform and none of Romney 5 sons have either. Oh! For the day when we take this country back from the plutocrats, banksters, and Zionists. The apartheid state is not worth one drop of american blood or one american dollar. We have dumped hundreds of billions into Israel. It is time the greatest welfare queen in the world learns how to support itself, or it goes out of business.
Counsel4pay| 7.30.12 @ 5:01PM
FINALIST: "Olympic Trolling Competition"
loulou| 7.30.12 @ 11:40AM
Great answer.
But there's no need to respond to the trolls. They are uneducable.
The hated Mohammedans don't just hate us--they BOMBED us!
AmericanCynic| 7.30.12 @ 1:46PM
Right, and we've only dropped flowers on them. ;) If more people would just pay attention to what Western nations and their energy corporations have been doing over there, they would realize that most of the terrorist bombings are see by them as retaliations.
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 4:53PM
Retaliations?
I favor a megaton retaliation against the next nation to turn a blind eye to their Muslims attacking the US.
If you wanna poke the big guy in the eye, expect to be whupped.
Jack in Wi| 7.30.12 @ 6:15PM
This country is ruled by a corrupt gang of old plutocrats, Banksters homosexuals and Zionists. They have destroyed the old white population with their pushing of abortion and contreception. They are replacing that with a huge insurge of 3rd world peoples. This country is bankrupt and yet it's leaders want us to continue a policy of war and worldwide empire that is unsustainable and and idiotic. This country would be a far better place id we had never left these shores to fight in other peoples wars. As for Israel, the Zionist Entity will vanish from the earth. It will die peacefully like South Africa or the segregation in the American south or it will die in flames like Nazi Germany. Lets hope the sane Jews take over and make Israel a place where all peoples under it'scontrol are treated like human beings with full civil, human, and religious rights. The Holyland belongs to the whole world not just a gang of murderous zionist sects.
Brookschwarzenegro | 7.30.12 @ 8:59PM
Jack,
I'm tired of the way Islam is demonized- it worked on 9-12-'01-- but 11 years on it is stale seeing as how there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Plus, the Shah of Iran was a butcher himself, so no wonder Iran hates us. Now, that is nothing to base foreign policy on however I don't believe for a second Reza Pahlavi was any more of a hero than Saddam, Ghaddafi, or any of them.
And BTW, I do not like Mitt Romney at all! he is an opprtunistic demagogue worse than the Bushes. With Dole and McCain there was a rationalisation: an admiration for their bravery in war.
What war did Mitt Romney ever fight? With buttons on his suits?
Brookschwarzenegro | 7.30.12 @ 9:02PM
"opportunistic demagogue"
Redundant!
If Romney wins in November I want Obama to run again in '16.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:44PM
"I favor a megaton retaliation against the next nation to turn a blind eye to their Muslims attacking the US."
Why not the last country, Saudi Arabia?
The attackers of 9-11 were not Afghans, nor were they even in Afghanistan before they attacked, they were almost all Saudis, and the few who weren't were radicalized by Saudi Imams.
And what if the next country is not an Islamic country?
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:45PM
"The hated Mohammedans don't just hate us--they BOMBED us!"
Speak the truth. The Saudi Wahhabi bombed us.
Now tell us how you want to punish Saudi Arabia.
Iran is no threat to us at all. Saudi Arabia is.
Intelligent Design| 7.30.12 @ 7:52AM
UK, home to 100 sharia courts as the English meekly surrender their liberty and heritage to Muslim terrorists.
Meister| 7.30.12 @ 3:03PM
What garbage. Your cheapskate insult isn't worthy of a more considered response.
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 4:54PM
I favor burning Sharia Courts in public, with live TV coverage.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:42PM
Do you favor burning Jewish and Mormon courts in public, with live TV coverage also?
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:41PM
How many Jewish religious courts are there in the US? AKA Halakha courts?
I didn't know before, but the Mormon church has church courts.
John786| 7.30.12 @ 7:53AM
I thought America and Israel are two separate countries? There is no shred of evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme. Protecting Poland from Iranian missiles: you can't make this sh*t up. If mr Babbins is a real friend of Israel he should advice them to stop persecuting the Palestinian people & concentrate on the peace process. This neocon confrontation with Iran will produce only bitter fruit for all.
benny havens| 7.30.12 @ 10:31AM
What else did you learn from your personal tour of Iran’s nuclear facilities from Ahmadinejad?
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 11:40AM
This John786 was drinking the kool-aid out of the pitcher of none other than Ron Paul. Only Ron Paul wants to completely disarm America. A fact which makes him more liberal than obama. I'm surprised that Dr. Paul hasn't been put in a straight jacket yet.
Counsel4pay| 7.30.12 @ 5:03PM
I was talking to someone just like John786 yesterday and I asked him why he drank Hussein's Kool Aid and he told me that he had tried but could not get a cup of sugar and two quarts of water into the little foil packet!
C. Vernon Crisler | 7.30.12 @ 10:58AM
I think John786 has been reading too much from Mein Kampf.
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 4:54PM
It's on his Kindle even now.
Anthony| 7.30.12 @ 11:00AM
Well John, with such moronic flight of fantasy comments such as yours, it's clear you are a member of the U.N.'s AEIC, or should be.
Are you really Mohammad El Baridai in disguise?Perhaps you're a former U.N. weapons inspector?Or better yet, a member of Hillary's clueless State Department.
You can't really be than naive and stupid and still walk upright, can you?
Actually you can, as demonstrated by those who inhabit the U.N.
John786| 7.30.12 @ 12:02PM
Iran has a civilian nuclear program. This means you need to enrich uranium, create fuel rods, build power stations, process waste to extract plutonium. This is legitimate activity under international law. Iran has been denied access to all these to disrupt its work. Irans's physics professor are being targeted for assainations: wonder who that could be. You have to work within international law.
Anthony| 7.30.12 @ 2:53PM
Fine, you can bet your pathetic life on your lefty fantasy, but not ours, pal.
Why don't you become a human shield and chain yourself to an Iranian nuclear facility to prove your point?
God G-d, are all you leftists f'n insane????
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 4:55PM
Pretty slick how Iran's nuke boys keep blowing up!
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 11:37AM
I think everyone should listen to lunatics like you concerning foreign policy.
First of all, your argument is based on a false premise. There is no such thing as Palestine or Palestinians.
March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said:
"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people"
John786| 7.30.12 @ 11:56AM
Keep of the pot my friend. Pot mixed with neocon ideologies can create very serious mental dissonance: you know protecting Poland from Iranian missiles. What next: protecting lions from koalas.
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 12:34PM
LOL,
That was hilarious!
A bunch of disjointed, random projections that had nothing to do with anything I said, but hey, I understand you live in your own world.
You can't refute facts with your lunatic rants, let me reiterate;
There is no such thing as Palestine or Palestinians.
KyMouse| 7.30.12 @ 12:47PM
True dat, Boar Hunter.
Where may we view the coins of ancient Palestine? Who were its monarchs? Where is the archaeology of ancient Palestinian cities whose stones record Palestinian names?
*crickets*
nathan| 7.30.12 @ 1:05PM
Palestinians, Arabs, call them what you will, what they are is . . . . people. People with as Jefferson said and we affirm on July 4th every year, people with "certain unalienable rights . . . ." which the ONE TRUE DEMOCRACY (that gets tiresome doesn't it?) in the region is obligated to respect and ENFORCE. Which means for the vast majority who don't strap on bombs or other such illegal activities, they can't be mistreated. If they obey the law, they can't have their property taken from them without just compensation. They can't be treated differently, we're talking individuals now, than Israelis themselves.
And yet we see example after example where the "sainted do no wrong" Israelis do not respect the individual rights of those people. And again, who cares what they're called? These are people who can trace their roots in the area right where they are back hundreds of years. Who have as much right to be there as those settlers do if not more so.
And I'm sorry, you can't just tell people how great you are, you have to act it too. Tom Paine was right 200 years ago, we have to defend the rights of those we hate to ensure our own. That applies to the Israelis too.
What pray tell again is wrong with telling the one true democracy to actually act like it? To walk it? To remind them that under Geneva when you occupy people, take charge of their lives, you incur responsibilities not to abuse them?
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 3:09PM
"Israelis do not respect the individual rights of those people"
In Israel, "Palestinians" can run for and hold elected office. Can you say the same about the other side?
You are a delusional bigot who simply hates the Jews.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 3:18PM
He isn't all that fond of Mormons either apparently.
nathan| 7.31.12 @ 1:04PM
Sigh . . . I was of course referring to their abysmal record in the occupied terrorities. Sheesh. Of course Israeli Arabs who by the way the Irgun with the tacit approval of Ben Gurion and others did their best to try and intimidate into leaving (yes I know the grand mufti of Jerusalem also encouraged Arabs to leave too but that doesn't excuse Deir Yassien and other acts of terror that they committed) can vote in elections etc but there is a growing movement among Jews in Israel to sharply curtail those rights.
But if you want to praise Israel for this then Iran deserves equal praise. Jews serve in their government too and a number of Jewish temples can be found fully operational in Tehran. The reverse diaspora in the middle east didn't quite apply to Iran which has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Strange behavior for a country that wants to do a second Holocaust?
Again, for the record I was commenting on the human rights record in the occupied lands and it really does suck. As the occupying authority it all rests with them not the PLO and frankly give me just ONE quote from any international organization that praises the the work Israel has done in terms of nutrition, education, health, any of it. Most such groups go the other way.
Call me all the names you want but it doesn't change the reality on the west bank for people who break no laws whose rights get violated by our sainted ally.
nathan| 7.30.12 @ 8:07AM
Yes, you have to love MR on this trip. Bibi just bent over, pulled down his pants, and MR did the obligatory butt kissing. Looking at what all MR said and you could be forgiven for thinking he was running for PM of Israel. He used the term "passionately" at one point? He doesn't hardly get this worked up on the campaign trail here.
And note: Bibi can come here and lecture OUR president but perish the thought that MR might say anything about those illegal settlements. Or the rampant human rights abuses against Palestinians accused of no crimes including "Kelo V New London" actions against people whose families have owned the property they're being removed from for hundreds of years and oh by the way without any judicial process? Why would the ONE TRUE DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST bother with such niceties regarding people many Israelis regard as sub humans and all too often treat that way? Grafiti written by those "noble" settlers saying "Palestinians to the ovens" doesn't bother MR? Or anyone else? Conceding all the terrorist activities against Israel doesn't justify the abuse they inflict on others who in so many cases aren't guilty of anything.
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 5:15PM
When a nation attacks its neighbor and loses, to the winner belongs the spoils.
We got the US from England by winning a war.
Most borders were drawn as a result of wars.
Germany is a lot smaller today because they also lost a war.
Lesson to the poor sad mistreated Arabs…err…Palestinians: don’t start a war you can’t afford to lose.
When you Arabs invaded Israel over and over, what were you gonna do if you won?
Give it right back to the Jews?
Sure. I’ll bet.
The fortunes of war can be a real drag, man.
Reggie Love| 7.30.12 @ 8:08AM
Romney is being proven right about the Olympics. Btw,what a touching tribute to the NHS. North Korea could not have done better.
Gary B| 7.30.12 @ 10:05AM
Right you are, Reggie. Not only that, but his little remark about Churchill's bust had the White House chasing its tail for a couple of days. Entertainment at its finest. I think Romney did pretty well in London. At least he didn't bow to anyone, as Obama did on his kowtow tour.
Purp| 7.30.12 @ 10:45AM
No, Mittens just pissed off our #1 Ally, Londoners, and the British people. No problem, huh?
And, in Israel, he just about declared war on Iran. Nice.
What's next? Poland should discuss border disputes with Germany?
Yep, RomBot has a load of foreign policy knowledge and experience, NOT.
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 11:38AM
Yap Yap Yap Yap Yap
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 3:28PM
Hey crazy purple dog!
Remind me again about how Romney's statement concerning the Olympics (which people apparently thought he did a pretty good job of running a few years ago) compare to Obama providing Britain's state secrets concerning it's nuclear arsenal to Russia?
About Obama returning the Churchill bust and then later lying about it?
About Obama calling it the "English Embassy?"
With Michelle hugging and pawing the queen?
With Obama giving the Queen an iPod with his speeches on it?
As far as Poland, should Romney be sent to one of the Polish Death Camps Obama referenced in one of his speeches?
I started to call the Obama's Hillbillies, but Hillbillies actually have far more class and decorum than this tasteless, self aggrandizing scum that occupies the White House.
The only reason that you support Obama is because you believe he is gay. Probably because he bows down toward the genitals of every man he meets.
Admittedly, the idea that Obama is gay is not nearly as far of a stretch as the overpriced fabric covering Michelle's behind.
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 3:39PM
Drip Drip Drip
Did you hear that Purp?
That was all the leaks coming from Obama's White House.
Oh, and don't forget when he promised his BFF from Russia over an "OPEN MICROPHONE" that he would further betray America's interests if he is elected again.
Communist, Treasonous DOG!
Three times. Three times Obama refused to sanction the elimination of Osama.
Obama is a girls bike, in ladies genes, no baseball throwing, effeminate traitor.
Meister| 7.30.12 @ 3:06PM
Romney is actually being proven wrong - on all fronts. Should have stayed in the waxworks with the rest of the dummies.
Marco2| 7.30.12 @ 8:30AM
It appears that the "John"s received their dollop of brains in ascending numerical sequence, and by the time number 786 was reached .....well.
Alan| 7.30.12 @ 9:44AM
What would you expect from a muzzie who thinks muzzies are a race?
John786| 7.30.12 @ 10:14AM
I recognise hate speech when I see it.
loulou| 7.30.12 @ 11:49AM
Get CAIR on the case, Muzzie.
John786| 7.30.12 @ 4:48PM
Loulou is a famous department store in the UAE. Arab attire can be brought at very reasonable prices. I recommend that you get a thawb and cover your head with it until you stop talking nonsense.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 11:50AM
You know you & Ron Paul are both flamingly liberal, right? It is a huge tesament to how incapable the American People are of self government to see people believe that a liberal like Ron Paul is conservative only because he says so.
Anthony| 7.30.12 @ 9:53AM
Well Jed, who gives a tinkers damn what the lefty Brits had to say about Romney's comments? A) Romney was right, B) lefty Cameron and the red mayor of London are total screwups. C) America is dying, so pardon us if the Olympics are not a major concern to Americans who are paying attention to what's happening on this side of the Atlantic.
Romney was spot on about Iran, and his support of Israel, in contrast to that of the Muslim Marxist, is striking. One hopes American Jews can get past their penchant to vote D to finally wake the hell up. Just listen to Pelosi and do the exact opposite.
Maybe if American Jews knew what the actual message was that Obozo stuck in the Wailing Wall, they might just wake the hell up.
Hint, Obozo's message, regardless of actual content, was SCREW Isreal.
Oh by the way, Romney's shot at Brian Williams was priceless. We need more Rs to take it to the MSM early and often.
Gary B| 7.30.12 @ 10:08AM
American Jews are hopeless and it may be a mistake to assume they're all pro-Israel.
Regarding Brian Williams... Republicans needs to always remember they're running against at least two opponents - the Democrat and the press. There should be a strategy for both of them.
Purp| 7.30.12 @ 10:48AM
Oh, Romney doesn't have the conservative press, Fixed News, Washington Times, Weekly Standard, National Review, Talk Radio, Rupert Murdoch Empire, incl Wall Street Journal, on his side? Naaa, they mean nothing, right?
Why are you so afraid of the Press, when 1/2 of it is on your own side?
Purp| 7.30.12 @ 10:46AM
Why did Romney go on his European vacation when we have so much trouble here at home that only he can fix?
Anthony| 7.30.12 @ 11:12AM
Well twerp, Romney went on his European "vacation" because 1) Obozo has all the American golf courses booked, 2) Moochelle managed not to book every damn hotel in Europe as she went to "cheer" for Americans, ( yeah right) 3) The Vinyard is booked for all of August with Obozo and all his rich 1%er lefty buddies, 4) Obozo has things under control, or so you trolls tell us daily, isn't this the Summer of Recovery III? 5) It will be Romney last vacation for a while, as he takes office in January.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 11:54AM
Because romney is a liberal on all domestic policy, unless it's when he is giving our taxpayer money to his special friends on wall street & in D.C. He can't stay home & talk. Both sides are a dog & pony show. Romney is being sold by the right wing media as Americas' savior. Meanwhile back at home, romney has nothing to say. Never has, never will.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 5:38PM
"lefty Cameron and the red mayor of London are total screwups'
They are both conservatives and in fact leaders in the British Conservative party. If that makes them 'lefty and red' then it must put you somewhere between an idiot and a fool.
Reggie Love| 7.30.12 @ 11:17AM
I also like his comments on the Palestinians.
ElGordo| 7.30.12 @ 11:28AM
The Main Street Media has not reported it, but yesterday Romney, in Israel, announced that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
.
Last week Carney would not answer that question.
.
I believe that and ObamaCare will cause FL to go to Romney.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 12:01PM
Why do liberals like Mitt Romney always care infinitely more about other countries than America? We have a nanny state society that is sinking every day. America is getting worse, not better. The American Peoples' refusal to self govern, made this disaster, no liberal republican can help us now. We the People need to wake up. Who is running this government? No one, really. Most who vote don't know why. I bet 90% of Americans don't know anything about any government. Romney can't help us. We don't need a savior, we need to admit that we the people are the problem. That won't happen with smiling liberal romney, he doesn't believe in us, he believes in him.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 12:18PM
And your voting for who?
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 2:17PM
If we don't address the very real degradation of America, it doesn't matter who anyone votes for, this nation will end. Romney will never address any of our real problems, he can only run from his liberal past. If you actually think that obama is the problem & not eighty years of communist sway that resulted in us creating a marxist nanny state, I feel sorry for you. Romney is a denial of what really is killing us. Collective despotism.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 2:20PM
You literally know zero about all of your governments but what you get from medias, right? You have a city & county council that effect your life. You have a state government that effects your life. Yet you tell me that all that matters is that we elect a liberal to replace obama. What you don't know is killing you, & this nation.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 3:23PM
Actually I can tell you who is running for office in my state right down to my local county. I knew Obama was bad news as a Illinois Senator and have been saying it for over 8 years. I'm not telling you all that matters is if we elect a liberal to replace Obama. First because, even though he is not as conservative as I like, he is more conservative than Obama. What I am telling you is sitting on the sidelines pissing and moaning, "woe is me" will not do a damn thing to improve our situation. Don't like it? Then get off your ass and do something to change it.
Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Things will not improve with the attitude you have currently.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 3:34PM
This America will never get any better with people like you who preach worship of their governments. All that you know how to do is tout romney as our savior, & you don't care what is wrong, & how we got here. Romney will allow what got us here to fester & rot worse than having obama in because people will think he's got it all under control.
The American people are clueless, & you are proof. Do you think that if we change nothing, win zero fights on conservative issues, things will get better. I know where this fear of mr. big bad obama came from, Levin has lost his mind.
You are wrong to blindly fallow the romney is better than obama crowd. Romney is not better, he is worse. But lets face it you don't care if America gets her freedom back or not all you want is "your side" to win, no matter how bad they are.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 3:57PM
You sir are a f**king idiot. I not only never have worshipped goverment, I despise big goverment. My moniker is in reference to Congress's spending habits. But the difference between us is I will continue to fight for every little inch we can get. You will sit on your ass and cry because nobody understood your canidate would have fixed all this. Tell me brainiac, what is your solution if you are not going to at least try to change things? Personally, I my thoughts are we push for the most conservative canidates we can get from the county level clear to the top. However unlike you I will vote for the most conservative party that has a chance of winning. Romney was not my first, second or even third choice but he is the choice we have. Voting third party will accomplish nothing at this time. Learn from your history. So pray tell, since you apparently have all the answers, what is your plan?
Skippy| 7.30.12 @ 5:34PM
...crickets...
Paulbot.
nathan| 7.30.12 @ 1:35PM
I don't know, Gary Johnson? Based solely on the RECORD, and all three candidates actually have one MR included, Johnson's record as governor of New Mexico is far superior to that of MR's in the commonwealth. Simply no comparson. And GJ sounds far better or civil liberties, far less likely with him to get mid night knocks and the door and get taken who knows where. No support for the NDAA, Patriot Act, all sorts of things. And he doesn't going around all day playing Beach Boys music unlike MR who more or less did a personal declaration of war on Iran. Based solely on record, Johnson is by far the best candidate running.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 1:59PM
And he might have gotten my vote if he won the Republican nomination, otherwise, Obama thanks you. Currently, I see goal #one is to remove Obama from office before more damage is done. Then we push for more conservative leaders at every election. You won't save the country in one election but make the wrong vote and you damn well may kill it.
Libertyinfinite| 7.30.12 @ 2:23PM
Hey there guy with a hangover, you literally don't know anything about governments in America than what medias are saying about this presidential race, right? This isn't all that there is. America has real problems that lib, commie romney will continue.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 3:24PM
See above whiner.
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 4:57PM
DS;
If you examine this guy's syntax, I think you will recognize that he most likely some third world transplant (Pilipino?) with a very limited grasp of American language, culture etc.
You are aware of my views on Romney, but they do not include allegations that he is a "commie." To allege that demonstrates the aggressive stupidity of this particular nut bag.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 5:05PM
BH,
Agreed it appears English is not his native tongue. Proof that idiots come in all races.
Marie| 7.30.12 @ 1:40PM
Meanwhile, London Olympic game officials are giving away tickets to fill seats. D E B A C L E. I wonder who bet against a profit. Perhaps Soros?
Anthony| 7.30.12 @ 3:01PM
Yeah Marie, and according to Rush, the Olympics have a rule that EVERY nation must be represented in all events, so if the Americans, or any other nation, have the top 4 participants in an event, only THREE can compete in the finals.
What a bunch of f'n leftist bullcrap.
Apparently, the U.N. has taken control of the Olympics.
They need to go back to naked Greeks wrestling with one another. That will get the left interested, especially Obozo and Barney Frank.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 4:50PM
From what I see the tickets were those given to the country delegations and VIPs who failed to use them - same think has happened at other Games. Now the tickets are being given back.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 3:02PM
Ha ha - road 'trip' indeed. Every time your Romney man opens his mouth he makes a mess. He would be a disaster for us if he meant what he said - although of course it's hard to know whether he knows what he's doing given he has no real stated position on anything except to to try and take the opposite to Obama's - and his own previous - positions.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 3:26PM
You still here? Explain something to me. We obviously are not going to change your mind and you are not going to change any of ours, so what do you get out of coming on here almost daily and posting your views?
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 3:39PM
There are plenty of silent readers and some will be interested to read the truth and take the path of decent and intelligent Americans. As a prime example of someone who's changed his mind I give you Richard Muller, concerning global warming;
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07.....eptic.html
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 4:04PM
"some will be interested to read the truth and take the path of decent and intelligent Americans"
Of this I have now doubt but your liberal, big goverment version of the truth will win over nobody on a conservative site.
And really? Your going to send me a link to a liberal newspaper about a professor at Berkley that now believes in Global Warming?
Here I'll do you one better. The godfather of Global Warming Turns skeptic.
http://saveourseashore.org/?p=1918
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 4:48PM
Vahrenholt I see has not got any published science whatsoever to back up his claims that the IPCC is wrong, and he's not even a climate scientist but primarily a businessman.
As for 'big government' I think you misunderstand - I want us to invest in our future and that means things like cancer research and energy, as well as decent conditions for Americans. You can call that big government if you like - I call it modern society.
Boar Hunter| 7.30.12 @ 5:06PM
I call most everything you say moronic.
You and all of the other liars and lovers of lies in the lib-mainstream can't tolerate the truth on any subject.
The fact that you believe in Global Warming even after they released e-mails from the people perpetuating the fraud is hilarious.
My favorite is the one where the head of the GW lunacy in England (Indian I believe?) used Global Warming to shut down the iron industry in England. LOL, all the while he was making millions on those he ran as England's competitor in India.
LOL, I gotta look that up and find the names...Oh why bother, the truth is irrelevant to you anyway.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 5:45PM
I think you must mean the steel industry - not sure where you got the idea than England has shut it down due to climate change. Sounds like something you've got a bit mixed up in your less than impressive brain.
Drunken Sailor| 7.30.12 @ 5:09PM
When you say "Invest in our future" and include things like energy and "Decent conditions for Americans" it screams goverment interference in the marketplace. And that screams big goverment, like it or not, I am not the only one on this site that believes this way.
I think you just like to stir the pot.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 5:49PM
No president or congress is going to shut down our public-private industrial partnerships, our infrastructure planning and things like Medicare and education. You can dream about anarchy but it won't happen.
Marie| 7.30.12 @ 4:47PM
Did you see the skewering that British officials gave to the head of the security company because they were not prepared? And you think Romney makes a mess? Now the Olympic officials are giving away tickets to fill seats. The Brits better hope that the terrorists are on vacation right now.
Marie| 7.30.12 @ 4:44PM
It's weird how the company that was hired for Olympic games security was skewered by British officials for being unprepared and then the British tried to skewer Romney for pointing out the fact that they were not well prepared. Bizarre.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 8:06PM
You don't criticize your hosts when you visit another's country.
Jack London| 7.30.12 @ 4:58PM
I see Romney has praised Israel's government controlled healthcare system for its low cost and high quality. Go Romney!
soljerblue| 8.2.12 @ 2:25PM
All the brouhaha over Romney's supposed "gaffe" in the UK is so much Bravo Sierra. He gave a reasoned response to what he was seeing of the Brits' Games prep, and -- as a guy who pulled off the tough task of actually managing a successful Olympics (surprise! surprise!) the opinion here is he had the credentials to point out a few of the gaps. And, by the way, from what I've seen of on-line comments from the UK, he has a lot of support on that opinion from some Brits. So get off it! Romney spoke his mind, and the Brits needed to hear it from a friend.
And, if you'll pardon a random thought on our Termite-in-Chief -- I'd be willing to bet the 'prayer' he shoved into the temple wall was a blank piece of paper.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 8:08PM
" Romney spoke his mind, and the Brits needed to hear it from a friend."
However, they didn't need to hear it from Romney.
For that matter, since it did no good at all, they didn't need to hear it at all.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:47PM
""…began with the sudden abandonment of friends in Poland and the Czech Republic. They had courageously agreed to provide sites for our antimissile systems, "
Those words strongly imply Poland and the Czech Republic did not want the missile systems, they agreed under pressure. So stopping the program did not betray them, but relieved them of the burden.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 7:50PM
Romney went to Israel and got one thing right. He praised the Israeli *National Health Care System*.
Yep, the medical care system Romney praised is every bit a government program as Romneycare/Obamacare. It's actually more socialist.
And it's a lot cheaper than the US system, just like every National Health Care system in the industrialized world.
Live with it.
Bob From District 9| 8.2.12 @ 8:04PM
"Obama has done and continues to do everything in his power to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran."
Thank God for that. With both the US and Israeli military leaders saying an Israeli attack on Iran would be incredibly stupid, someone has to stop it.
"He will never use military power to prevent Iran's achieving its nuclear weapons ambitions, and everyone -- especially the Israelis -- knows that."
Since both US and Israeli intelligence has made it clear the evidence says Iran is not trying to build a nuclear weapon, the sanctions are nothing but political posturing.
Oh, and Israeli officials have admitted Iran's president never said Iran would destroy Israel. That would be foolish seeing as it's about 1100 miles between them straight line, and involves crossing Jordan and Iraq. Not an easy way to launch an invasion.
Face it, an Israeli attack on Iran would be nothing but a play to force the US to attack Iran. And those with the most to gain from that would be the Saudis.