[Newman]

Originally Posted by BigRapidsJackass

Newman, right now Obama would have my vote. Two main reasons:

1. Iraq. The full scope of the disastrous intervention has not even been realized yet. The latest: Turkey, upset at the prospect of a breakaway Kurdistan (the Kurds acting perfectly rationally when faced with the chaos in Baghdad), claims the "Iraqi" Kurds are making cross-border incursions. Turkey responds (or so they say) by sending their own forces into Iraqi Kurdistan. The Old Guard ("paleoconservative") wing of the Republican Party -- Bush 41, Scowcroft, Powell, etc. -- were right. Stability, even if it was the stability of a tyrant, was better than the alternative. I can't see how McCain, essentially a 100% supporter of the Bush 43 line on Iraq, can ever achieve a positive outcome. Maybe Obama can't either, but at least there's a chance.

2. Overall competence. Iraq is just the worst example of this Administration's blundering. McCain's instincts, I believe, are stronger than W's. But he exhibits a similar inattention to detail.

Don't get me wrong here. As I said, I'm more satisfied with this year's choices (if it is in fact Obama vs. McCain) than I've been with most presidential choices throughout my adult life. My dream outcome would be a modest Republican majority in both houses of Congress and Obama as President, since I'm afraid of the runaway excesses a strongly Democratic Congress will push on Obama. But that ain't gonna happen ...

Jackass aboard the Obama bandwagon.

I note in point 1 of your post where you mention Colin Powell as a Bush 41 advisor. That is what was so disappointing. How is it that Powell could see that an invasion and occupation was wrong under Daddy Bush, but couldn't stand up to W at all? No spine. Sure Hussein was a tyrant, but he did keep that delicate balance of power in check over there.

I see the date of your post. There was more activity recently between Turkey and the Kurds in northern Iraq. Hopefully that won't explode. And why is there peace right now, relatively, in Iraq? It's because that radical sheik al Sadr has decided, for some reason, to tell his tribe to cool it for another 6 months.

Hopefully we'll get Obama and a Democratic congress. Who wants 4 more years of Bush? A vote for McCain is a vote to stay the course, keep the Titanic headed for the iceberg.

Heltonfan sure is in an unsettled region of the world right now. Is he in the peace corps or what? Did he lose a bet with someone? Teaching English in Armenia? Wasn't Pakistan available???