The American Spectator

Liberal Reader| 12.1.09 @ 11:58PM

This is a manly, sensible post. I doubt it will be given the respect it deserves around here, but I think Mr Klein makes a good point.

Pete2| 12.2.09 @ 12:56PM

Actually, Obama tried to cover all angles..troop surge and a withdrawal timeline. If you noticed, the withdrawal timeframe is 2011, just before the elections. 30,000 troops are fine if the "allies" do kick in the rest needed. Obama is trying to have it both ways. Let's see how it pans out. Last night, he sounded more like Bush also... could it be GW was right in this respect?

wmm| 12.2.09 @ 3:07AM

I applaud the temporary increase in troops, but that speech was simply nonsensical. No wonder cadets were falling asleep right and left.

Kitty| 12.2.09 @ 7:28AM

For the record, Gen. McChrystal asked for 60,ooo, with a minimum of 40,000, and how long ago was that?

While Mr. Klein gropes for a way to be magnanimus towards the man-child president, I prefer to think of the troops, instead.
...

louis tully| 12.2.09 @ 8:49AM

Hey Phil, you forgot to mention his superior temperament and intellect, and his oratorical prowess. Other than that, as the Axeltroll said, a "very manly post."

David Weiss| 12.2.09 @ 9:17AM

This is a very sensible post. If gasbags like Sean Hannity can't acknowledge Obama's good policies, they do serious damage to their credibility. The likes of Hannity and Olbermann are one-note hucksters, and probably haven't thought about creditbility in a long, long time.

Liberal Reader| 12.2.09 @ 2:07PM

Agreed. On both Hannity and Olbermann. Both should be waiters. Why they're given television shows is beyond me.

Margie| 12.4.09 @ 1:01AM

Obama's good policies? Hmm... must've missed those.

Grzmlyk| 12.2.09 @ 9:34AM

Come ON! This was a political calculation, plain and simple. Obama doesn't think in any other terms, and he couldn't care less about America, the soldiers or this war.

He figured that his base will ultimately forgive him (think these rabid lefties will vote for the Republican candidates in '10 or in '12????) - particularly since he's basically saying, once again, that he has to clean up Bush's mess, and in any case, he's circled the calendar - his exit strategy consisting of nothing more than a red sharpie.

Imaging your cancer surgeon telling you that he'll spend three hours in your chest cavity, but no more. Would that inspire confidence?

Meanwhile, he will appease so-called moderates and some conservatives - and inoculate himself against the classic criticism of Democrats for as wimps - because, yes, it is the right thing (actually, it's the least he could do) to send some more troops.

The fact is, he painted himself into a corner during the campaign by calling Afghanistan "the good" war - and all of his fellow comrades sang from the same hymnal. He figures that with this move, he'll be able to claim policy consistency and shore up the moderates and gullible conservatives.

If he could have gotten out of this, he would have left those soldiers that are already their to twist in the wind. He couldn't care less.

Doing "the right thing" has never entered Obama's head. He and Axelrod and Emanual and their cohorts are, one and all, cheap Machiavellians. At best. And like all Machiavellians, the end game isn't victory. It's power.

Tim| 12.2.09 @ 10:28AM

Obama voted "present". He tried to tack perfectly down the center of the domestic political storm.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.2.09 @ 10:54AM

Hey guys,
Back-off! Mr Klein is simply trying to keep the American Spectator off Obama's chopping block during the coming internet blackout.
Mr. Klein, I too get very tired of Hannity's constant hectoring tone. Point well taken.
But!
He does give no quarter to traitors, either.

Grzmlyk| 12.2.09 @ 11:33AM

For the record, I can't stand Hannity. I think he often does more harm to the image of conservatives than good, and I didn't watch last night.

But this took no political courage on the part of Obama.

Bush sending more troops to Iraq for the surge in the teeth of relentless criticism from all corners - that took political courage (and yes, I think Bush made TONS of mistakes and too often lacked political courage).

Obama did last night what Axelrod thinks is most politically expedient.

rt| 12.2.09 @ 12:35PM

Another reason I dont read Klein anymore.

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