“We Don’t Have A Strategy Yet”
[guest post by Dana]
The president admitted to the world today that we don’t have a strategy yet to fight ISIL.
“My priority at this point is to make sure that the gains that ISIL made in Iraq are rolled back and that Iraq has the opportunity to govern itself effectively and secure itself,” Obama told reporters in the White House briefing room.
The president promised to consult lawmakers on the strategy, “in part because it may cost some money,” and Congress holds the federal purse strings. But he repeatedly declined to commit to seeking a vote authorizing expanded military action in either Iraq or Syria.
“I do think that it’ll be important for Congress to weigh in,” he said. “But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. We don’t have a strategy yet.”
–Dana
UPDATE BY PATTERICO: Here is video:
Spokesliar Josh Earnest tries to explain it away by lying:
Earnest quickly scheduled an appearance on CNN during which he argued Obama was simply referencing the U.S. options against the Islamic State in Syria — not in Iraq.
“The president [was] asked a specific question about what approach he was going to pursue when it came to possible military action in Syria against ISIL. That was the specific question he was asked and the president was explicit that he is still waiting for plans that are being developed by the Pentagon for military options he has for going into Syria,” Earnest said.
But Spokesliar Josh Earnest lies badly. Here is the transcript of the question and answer:
QUESTION: Do you need Congress’s approval to go into Syria?
OBAMA: You know, I have consulted with Congress throughout this process. I am confident that as commander in chief I have the authorities to engage in the acts that we are conducting currently. As our strategy develops, we will continue to consult with Congress, and I do think that it’ll be important for Congress to weigh in and we’re — that our consultations with Congress continue to develop so that the American people are part of the debate.
But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. We don’t have a strategy yet.
Yeah, Spokesliar Josh Earnest, the specific question he was asked was: “Do you need Congress’s approval to go into Syria?” If you’re going to lie, lie better than that.
Hello.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:06 pmNot really surprising, he doesn’t even suggest he knows how to develop one, or else this detail would matter:
http://emmejihad.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/james-foley-was-held-by-belgian-fighters-last-year/
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:21 pmWe don’t have a President, yet!
The Emperor (6dcbd3) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:39 pmpush em back push em back WAAAAAAAAYYY BACK!!!
GO OBAMA!!!
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:42 pmWell said, Emperor! We still have an inexperienced empty suit. Had I voted for this ass I would be embarrassed. However, I get to sit at the bar and say “I told you so” over and over and over and watch as all the fools turn red and sputter.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:43 pmWhat happened to “don’t do stupid sh*t?”
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:45 pmor blaming Bush?
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:47 pm“ISIS in Syria? I got nothin’…”
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:47 pm– el Presidente Barack Obama on August 28, 2014
same as what happened to hope n change Mr. daley
everything gots an ex date i tell you what
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:47 pmwell it’s not a surprise is it really?
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/28/Flashback-Palin-After-Obama-Accepts-Pres-Nom-What-Exactly-Is-His-Plan
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:48 pmOur part time president came off the links today to address his ISIL strategy at present, he took a mulligan.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:50 pmWow. Kinda stoopid for him to say that, right? Even if it’s true that his administration has no strategy wouldn’t you think that at least PRETENDING there is one would be a good idea to maybe, you know, keep ISIS/ISIL on their toes and guessing? Apparently he didn’t think we needed a strategy for dealing with the JV.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:51 pmPresident Obama doesn’t have enough interest in his job to put the work in required to develop a strategy. Truth be told, it’s foreign policy conducted by children and the American people will be paying the price it exacts for decades.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:53 pmElissa, I think that the handlers and speechwriters who were skilled at putting words on the screen for POTUS to read have fled to get lobbying jobs. So we are left with…shall we say…junior varsity people?
That’s the problem with not having much experience, and a lot of pride, I’m thinking.
Even the most ardent supporter would have to grudgingly admit that saying “we have no strategy” is, um, nonoptimal.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:54 pmwhen it came to light Barack Obama couldn’t run a goddamn bake sale, his hoochie just up and abolished them is what happened
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:55 pmHowever, the First Family is planning a vacation to the Costa Del Sole in two weeks so the President can unwind from the latest crisis. During the two weeks he will play 18 rounds of “working” golf while Michelle and the girls draft a new no sugar, no salt, no fat, no taste of any kind diet all by hand for each of over 3700 school districts in the US. Chris Mathews commented about how his leg tingles at the dedication of the three Obama women to the health and wellbeing of America’s children.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:56 pmcage match
american news media vs. thai tranny hookers
oh yes Mr. Jake Tapper be afraid
be VERY afraid
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:01 pmHe doesn’t want to “put the cart before the horse” or some such horseshlt. The current strategy of not to worry is his strategy, straight from the Alfred E. Neumann Institute. He wouldn’t know leadership if he tripped over it in a sand trap.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:07 pm“A [JV] group like ISIS is beyond the pale.”
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:09 pmelissa,
I think the president already established that he doesn’t care if the enemy knows our plans, whether it’s when we pull out of a country or what our next step will be.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:10 pmWell, this is the same tactician and wartime “leader” who told the enemy many months in advance exactly when our military would be withdrawing from Iraq.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:12 pmYep. That’s my point.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:14 pm“pulling out”
“withdrawing”
call it what you will
I call it LEGACY
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:14 pmFrom Iowahawk:
Strategy? Hell, we don’t even have a hashtag yet.
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:16 pmBut, Dana, he had an election to win on a campaign promise of getting us out of Iraq and bringing our boys home.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:16 pmMaybe it’s from that one chapter of Sun Tzu’s that didn’t make into the book…
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:16 pmi got your our boys right here
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:16 pmI keep thinking of the efforts this administration places on individuals shot dead in a fracas with police officers, or someone mad at police officers, or hiding e-mails.
And then I think about the numbers of lives lost overseas…where we could have prevented it….and just a shrug.
You can’t really fundraise off genocide, I guess.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:18 pmthe genocide of the american middle class has been goddamn lucrative Mr. Jester
please to pay attention in class
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:19 pmThat eleven on the calendar of the month coming up soon is starting to make me nervous.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:20 pmoh trust me sweet pickles what ever happens on 9/11
what failmerica do on 9/12 will be much more consequential in a sad-making way
it’s a thang
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:25 pmWell, he does have a strategy for the Ukraine- let Russia have it…
Can anyone tell me why he had this press conference?
Typical blame shift. If Congress won’t do what he wants, he makes executive orders, when he wants cover, all of a sudden its Congress’ fault.
Most people don’t get away with this on their first paying job. He’s like President Clinton, his behavior is unacceptable for anyone who has to answer to someone, he would be fired; but since firing the president takes a public with a moral compass, no such luck.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:43 pmMaybe this year on 9/11 ISIS will just do some sparklers and the obligatory flag burning… see right there I am wishful that hope will become strategy.
steveg (794291) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:46 pmOh
steveg (794291) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:48 pmmaybe we can send John Kerry to go teach ISIL to pronounce “Genghis Khan” correctly
Here ya go:
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:51 pmhttp://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/28/al-qaeda-magazine-urges-terrorists-to-hit-vegas-military-academies-and-stores/
==Can anyone tell me why he had this press conference?==
Um, to prove he was not golfing? This is just a guess, really. I have no direct line into Valerie or anything.
But I wonder if the Dem leadership and ones up for election in November were begging him to address and say something serious about ISIS/ISIL after his massive fail on the day he talked about the beheading. So he had a presser and did say something. Heh, that’ll teach em.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:56 pmAll is well, remain calm. President Obama will be traveling to Rhode Island on Friday for a Democratic Party fundraiser. At least the Democrats know what’s important: raising money to buy votes! Screw the country as long as the Democrat power brokers are secure.
What really pisses me off is that everyone sees this including Obama’s supposed rivals yet no one seems to go on the talking head shows and scream like banshees about his being either on vacation, playing golf or at fundraisers while crisis after crisis occurs all over the world. Then has the balls to stand before the American people and say he has no strategy.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:58 pmMD in Philly, I live in Willow Grove so I’m on your timeline and I watched The Kelly File tonight and man was Megyn pissed.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:00 pmHow about – kill em
EPWJ (775325) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:04 pmHoagie, the media watchdogs are supposed to be doing this sort of analysis and questioning his vacation-fundraising-presidenting ratio, too. Yeah, I know. Don’t bust a gut laughing.,
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:07 pmHow about – kill em
peace prize much?
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:07 pmYou can forget the most stupid thing any President of the United States has ever said. Obama topped them all.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:11 pmAs long as we’re actively dissing the presser—-he really should never wear that color of suit.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:20 pmThat was a racist statement, elissa. (sarc) A beautiful light weight tan summer suit is always stylish. Now if someone would teach the man about French cuffs we may have something going.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:26 pmwell the Dog Trainer, dissents on all you:
http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ig-obama-tan-suit-stop-freaking-out-20140828-story.html
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:32 pm“Well, he does have a strategy for the Ukraine- let Russia have it…”
MD in Philly – No, no, no. Let me splain that please.
That is just a limited duration kinetic military incursion of Ukraine by Russian soldiers on vacation who happened to bring their tanks along with them because their cars are in the shop being fixed.
It’s all good.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:37 pmHay-Zeus ^$#@ing allmighty !@^%$#, I used to kick people who had more on the ball than this out of the Navy.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:38 pmDespite the criticisms, The Times’ menswear expert and fashion writer…
srsly?
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:40 pmi think they just made that up
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:41 pmOur Semi-Retired President just wants to stick with his previous strategy for Iraq and Libya of backing away, doing nothing and patting himself on the back. Don’t make him get all stompy foot.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:41 pmLittle did I know that the peeps I didn’t want working for me, someday they’d get elected so as I could be working for them.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:41 pmyes, it’s pretty much a figment of someone’s imagination,
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:47 pmIt’s golf day. Don’t you know on golf day, it’s golf? Who gives a rip if nothing is going on, or on the other hand ISIS is murdering Yazidis by the score. It’s golf day. Just like Wednesday is dollar pizza night, with a Pepsi and a side salad for just a dollar more.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:49 pmbetcha didn’t know this:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-obama-ukraine-20140828-story.html#panel=relatedContent
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:49 pmI had a tan suit once. I think my wife burned it. In 1982.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:50 pmMy wife is planning on burying me in mine.
Because that will get rid of it once and for all, won’t it?
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:54 pm“Just like Wednesday is dollar pizza night, with a Pepsi and a side salad for just a dollar more.”
Steve57 – Nope. Everybody knows Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8ti1hnLiLw
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:56 pmAmerica is going to hell in a hand basket. With a side of fries.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:02 pmTo be clear, I don’t have anything against summer tan or light khaki suits. I rather like them in certain circumstances in fact. But that one looked awful on him with his strange newly grey hair and his skin tone which seems to have been affected by all the sun he got on the golf course. .
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:03 pmUPDATE BY PATTERICO: Here is video:
Spokesliar Josh Earnest tries to explain it away by lying:
But Spokesliar Josh Earnest lies badly. Here is the transcript of the question and answer:
Yeah, Spokesliar Josh Earnest, the specific question he was asked was: “Do you need Congress’s approval to go into Syria?” If you’re going to lie, lie better than that.
Patterico (9c670f) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:04 pmHe only consults with Congress when he doesn’t want to do anything.
AZ Bob (34bb80) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:10 pmI think I went on record a while back of not only resenting the lies, but the poor quality of the lies.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:11 pmI’m thinking Benghazi. But it could have been earlier.
Give me a &*^%ing break.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:13 pmNot that I’m angry or anything.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:16 pmPhillip Klein tweet:
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:16 pm“This is what happens when Obama bypasses Congress to purchase a suit.”
You know how Obama could have bypassed Congress on the way to buying a suit?
Not becoming preezy, that’s how.
Sincerely, Steve57, of all 57 states, buying his own suits without Congress since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:24 pmOr, you could make it a budget item and prevent WWII vets from visiting a memorial they paid for until you get your damned suit.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:27 pmObama, sadly enough, is merely a grotesque reflection of far too many Americans.
I blame the large percentage of “we the people” who still give more latitude to Barry than he deserves and, in turn, are quite vituperative towards the US Congress, assuming the public isn’t reserving its ire for the left-dominated Senate and liberals in the House of Representatives.
President “Goddamn America” is far, far worse than George W Bush, yet that continues to not be reflected in various opinion polls. And, yes, although Obama has slipped in public esteem, he never should have gotten such high marks in the first place. He also remains much stronger in triggering the warm fuzzies among far too much of the populace than I would have thought possible over 6 years ago.
Regrettably, the human nature I see on display in Hugo-Chavez-ized Venezuela or I-love-liberalism Mexico, or Euro-sclerotic nations across the Atlantic, is not all that different from what I’m witnessing here in the US. I was hoping that wasn’t or wouldn’t be the case, but this ongoing period in US history has taught me otherwise.
The idiocy of feel-good liberalism will be, and is, America’s undoing.
Mark (14a4db) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:30 pmGuys, guys, guys. I doesn’t matter what color the suit is if it’s empty.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:33 pmHe ought to be standing at the podium and shooting his cuffs while he tells his weak suck lies like any other gangster would.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:33 pmHe only bought that tan obamanation because he was tired of hearing “the emperor has no clothes”…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:35 pmAnd here I was, thinking my dog licking his own testicles would be the end of us all.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:36 pmI guess that’s good news. For my dog.
Have at it, big guy.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:39 pmFrankly Mark I didn’t see any signs or examples of “feel good liberalism” in Mr. Obama’s speech today, at all. What I saw was not him as a “grotesque refection” of other Americans. I saw a president of the United States –a man with real power–saying stupid and careless and dangerous things that will get people killed. Did we watch the same speech?
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:43 pmYa think, Mark? While the damn Moslems are teaching their kids to kill ours to usher in the caliphate our country debates: wedding cakes, 32oz sodas, inefficient and expensive green energy, the proper school lunch, American Idol, stop and frisk, who should pay for Sandra Flukes contraception, gay marriage, legalizing marijuana, illegalizing tobacco, the importance of the snail darter and so many other dumbass leftist claptrap to divert the people from what they’re actually doing…..Murdering America.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:46 pmToday’s Americans have no fight in them. I will include myself in that. It will take the next generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to restore some semblance of fight in America.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:54 pmI think we saw the same speech. At least, I caught that one. Which to be honest was no different from all the others since 2007.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 8:55 pmThis is what Krauthammer said today.
I agree with Charles, and I think this was the scariest speech of his presidency.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:02 pmThat’s because the damn baby-boomers or hippies if you will, raised up their boys to “feel their feminine side” and be a bunch of ass-whipped metrosexuals, Age80. And the government spent decades programming boys and girls to be reliant on government, and that America is a bad nation and we’re all racists and homophobes and we’re at war with women. What the hell kind of men do you think we’ll develop with that kind of attitude?
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:03 pmI agree with Charles up and until the point of being shocked.
What part of being given the finger didn’t you get?
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:06 pmelissa, the prez has a pen and a phone according to him. The phone is to call the IRS, Holders office or the NSA to go after political enemies. The pen is to scribble out executive orders to cripple the economy, pay off his crony capitalists friends with taxpayer dollars, or keep score on his golf card. Neither instrument could be used for the security of the American people.
Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:08 pmBecause, you know, when Jon Stewart it the elder statesman of a former great nation, you may as well bend your neck for the sweet release by a former British rapper.
Did you know Angelina and Brad got married? I do. It was on the news. Joan Rivers is in a coma. That is sad.
Russia invaded Ukraine. Things happen. What do you do? That pesky Ebola may kill 20,000. Whatever.
Mrs. Carter is a feminist and Voxsplaining takes care of it all.
This is what we have become. Fiddling while Rome burns.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:09 pmAfter today’s empty speech …..
I guess the racist archetype of the lazy, low intellect black man has been burnished and updated by our current President.
Heck, at least the racist archetype is now well shaven, well spoken, rich and dressed in quality threads.
Good going Barry!
Rodney King's Spirit (8b9b5a) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:11 pm#68 Obama, sadly enough, is merely a grotesque reflection of far too many Americans.
You betcha!!!!!
As Franken is for Minnesotans.
Rodney King's Spirit (8b9b5a) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:13 pmIt’s Bush’s fault, racist!
htom (412a17) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:30 pmNot to decide is to decide.
BHO most definitely has a strategy – non-engagement. It’s horrendously mistaken, but it is a legitimate strategy.
It also flies in the face of traditional Democrat presidential action. They start wars, others finish them. Dude promised change, and by Gaia, change we’ve got.
Also, did his voters vote because they wanted a robust and responsive and pro-active America, or did they vote because they didn’t have the stomach for even maintaining Gitmo? Like it or not, this is a republican democracy in (in)action.
As I have written many a time in this forum…Pogo was correct: We have met the enemy and he is us.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:31 pmWhat I saw was not him as a “grotesque refection” of other Americans.
Elissa, I think he’s emboldened by all the people throughout this society who either subscribe to the ethos of compassion for compassion’s sake (which often leads to ass-backwards sympathies — something that Obama is quite skilled at — in which the good guy becomes the bad guy, the bad guy becomes the good guy), or feel warm and gooey towards those bigwigs in this nation who symbolize and happily exploit modern-day cheap do-gooder emotions.
An embrace of cheap compassion is why left-leaning debacles like Obama often will generate more benefit of the doubt than what’s given to even squishy conservatives, much less Sarah-Palin-type Republicans. How else to explain the fact that a scroungy, dishonest, disingenuous liberal like Hillary Clinton elicits an absurdly large amount of positive ratings in various opinion polls, recent ones included?
I’m fairly certain that Obama is even more arrogant and irresponsible because he’s fully aware of things like Gallup surveys that show his standing, while drooping, at least is still higher than that of the right/Republicans. That’s why I lay a lot of blame for Obama’s existence not just so much on him alone, and not just on left-leaning Americans too, but on all “we the people,” on all we squishes and saps throughout America who, for example — based on polls — now mean that a slight majority of this nation approves of things like same-sex marriage, etc.
Mark (14a4db) — 8/28/2014 @ 9:49 pmMark- the commander in chief’s horrifying speech today was almost exclusively about current fighting in several global hotspots and our foreign policy goals (or lack thereof). I think it’s important to focus like a laser on the impacts and serious repercussions his specific comments about ISIS and Ukraine are having not just in this country but around the world tonight. Not one word of his speech TODAY was about compassion or do-gooderism or gooeyness, or same sex marriage or Hillary Clinton. That’s all I am trying to point out to you. He stepped in it royally and we should not dilute what he said today with all this other stuff even though it is important, also. The day he signs his executive order on immigration in the rose garden we can have that discussion — and most here already agree about America going to hell in a handbasket because of liberalism. But today is on Obama alone and he (and Josh Earnest} need to stand alone with it and twist with it without a bunch of squirrels thrown in.
elissa (85870e) — 8/28/2014 @ 10:18 pmWell he believes that we are ‘the Evil Empire’ hence everything that happens is our fault, and most other parties are blameless, Volodya gets a little slap for tactics, and ISIS is rightly given the ‘confy chair’ but that’s the size of it
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 10:24 pmBelmont’s take:
http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2014/08/28/dont-worry-be-happy/?repeat=w3tc
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/28/2014 @ 10:31 pmI always enjoy Richard Fernandez’s views on things. What if he is wrong?
Not that I think Fernandez is wrong, or likely to be in the near future.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 10:51 pmNot one word of his speech TODAY was about compassion or do-gooderism or gooeyness, or same sex marriage or Hillary Clinton. That’s all I am trying to point out to you.
I see your point, Elissa, but while I agree it’s important to focus on just how bad Obama’s words or way of thinking was today, that is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Simply put, as bizarrely inept as Obama truly demonstrated this afternoon, what makes him just one part of the rotting core of 21st-century America — in which an absurdly clueless “we don’t have a strategy yet” mindset flourishes — can be seen in other snippets of this nation’s population.
Mark (14a4db) — 8/28/2014 @ 10:56 pmHave I mentioned that my Coastie dad served in the fleet tug Cherokee, and what was formerly the US Navy gunboat Mendota?
It’s for reason that I ask.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 11:14 pmI don’t know if my remarks regarding the Mendota hold. But as far as the Cherokee, yes they do. Her sister, Navajo, swung the cruiser Chicago bow on into the threat at Rennell Island.
What more, really, do yo want? What more, really, can a tug do?
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 11:36 pmMy dad didn’t serve at Guadalcanal in 1942. He waited until 1945 to lie about his age. My bad,
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/28/2014 @ 11:52 pmtheir cars are in the shop being fixed.
It’s all good.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 7:37 pm
Oh, I see. And I bet their tanks have bumper stickers that say, “My other tank is a car”.
What Krauthammer said.
And what Megyn said, though I didn’t see it, I’ll take Hoagie’s word for it. No cable here, but I do like to watch her show and Greta’s when I’m at my folks.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/29/2014 @ 6:02 amJumping Jesus on a pogo stick! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot has happened to my country?
The only difference between President Obama and a possum standing in the middle of a highway at midnight is the possum doesn’t call a press conference to announce that he doesn’t have a “road crossing policy”.
Russ from Winterset (830aac) — 8/29/2014 @ 6:13 amWell I think this was Wednesdays. but does it matter:
http://therightscoop.com/megyn-kelly-slams-obama-for-fundraising-again-get-back-and-start-governing/
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 6:45 amAmerica has made her bed and now she has to sleep in it.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:00 amClueless Twit confesses that he’s clueless. Big deal. Steady state condition. Move on to the next question or crisis, and he’ll be equally clueless. OTOH ask about his golf game and he can tell you all about his clever up and down out of the sand trap at the 7th hole on Tuesday two weeks ago.
Skeptical Voter (12e67d) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:22 amPrez gets invite
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:27 amteh wedding of George Clooney
Clueless and Clooney
from the link by narciso @2
I don’t think Bagdadi is sending anybody to the United States soon.
He’d be too afraid they’d defect.
Of course, anybody claims that someonewas switching sides would be ignored, and they’d be prosecuted and sentenced to long terms in jail – and, after a brief initial interrogation about “live” plots, and a Miranda warning, it might take half a year or a year or two before a plea bargain would be negotiated under which he’d talk, but the self-declared Caliph Ibrahim wouldn’t be counting on such a high level of stupidity.
Notice it’s an all-volunteer army, except for those who have already joined. This lack of a draft, and arrest of all soldiers who even hint at quitting is a profound weakness – and means it is possible to limit the size of his army.
Sammy Finkelman (7d0d47) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:29 am6. daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/28/2014 @ 5:45 pm
What happened to “don’t do stupid sh*t?”
The best way to ensure that is to do nothing.
Sammy Finkelman (7d0d47) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:30 amI brought up the last link, because it was the likely source for the info, on the attempted rescue,
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 7:43 amthere’s a later link about his jailer, they don’t focus on any targets or achievable objectives.
maybe this might have been of note;
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/28/found_the_islamic_state_terror_laptop_of_doom_bubonic_plague_weapons_of_mass_destruction_exclusive#_
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 8:40 amStupid Is, as Stupid Does!
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/29/2014 @ 9:36 am…and we’ve got Stupid overflowing the toilet.
Obama cited “News-reports”. Still with the “News-reports”? Really? Doesn’t he know that he is the news? He makes the news. News-reports are for hoi polloi, not the President, c’mon. Plus, everything that has been said upthread.
felipe (b5e0f4) — 8/29/2014 @ 12:58 pmI say weasel like it’s a bad thing. What I respect about weasels is while they only weigh one one or two pounds. they’re in it to win it.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/29/2014 @ 1:15 pmI also leave rabbits alone. It’s got to take huge cajones to live life as a rabbit. I mostly avoid eye contact. They look at me with such confidence. They can outrun me. They know that.
So they just sit there, eating my grass.
I pretend to ignore it.
Steve57 (99bd31) — 8/29/2014 @ 1:34 pmI really don’t know why you red-necked racists continue to hold the first black president to your ‘old white rich guy who attended class and served in some privileged capacity(like not inhaling, at minimum)’ standard.
gary gulrud (46ca75) — 8/29/2014 @ 3:27 pm105. Look, I know you urban ‘tards are consoling yourselves with the fact that the average IQ of an ME Muslim is 70.
Don’t be so cocky. They are lousy, fleabitten and will hit anything with a fold or wrinkle.
Be afraid. Be vewwwy afwaid.
gary gulrud (46ca75) — 8/29/2014 @ 3:42 pmMind you, the preceding link comes from a party that was interested in our direct involvement, last fall
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 3:42 pmKSM, graduated from a third rate university and took down the towers, I don’t dismiss the abilities of the enemy
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 3:49 pm113. I live in the province of Mogadishu on the Mississippi. Its just gallows humor.
gary gulrud (46ca75) — 8/29/2014 @ 3:54 pmsome do have some notions:
http://shoebat.com/2014/08/29/thousands-christians-take-arms-finally-crush-isis-end-persecutions/
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/29/2014 @ 4:07 pmBamBam DOES have a stragery…
do as much damage to America as possible while in office.
so far it’s exceeding even his most optimistic expectations…
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/29/2014 @ 4:07 pmCBS News indicated Obama rejected what te Pentagon proposed as insufficient.
Did he say – win but you can’t do X, Y or Z?
Sammy Finkelman (7d0d47) — 8/29/2014 @ 4:14 pm#117: likely because it didn’t involve failure, surrender or massive loss of American lives.
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/29/2014 @ 4:19 pmWell, to be honest, have they come up with a strategy for handling Obama visiting foreign countries, yet?
Is there, in fact, a strategy in place for ANYTHING that a President does?
No, I don’t think “golf” counts.
Smock Puppet, "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." (225d0d) — 8/29/2014 @ 8:46 pm37. Hoagie (4dfb34) — 8/28/2014 @ 6:58 pm
President Obama will be traveling to Rhode Island on Friday for a Democratic Party fundraiser.
He was also at two fundraisers in New York, the second one, in Purchase, New York, open to reporters. * Where he said:
All from a New York Times article published in the Saturday, August 30, 2014 newspaper..
* at the first [closed] fundraiser in New York, evidently he took questions. There were about 25 people there. The charge was about four times the rate of the other one [up to $32,400 per person versus $15,000 per couple at the one open to reporters.]
The Rhode Island fundraiser also had the $32,400 per person rate. And had about 60 people. About 250 people were present at the one open to reporters.
The ones in New York were for the DNC, and the one in Rhode Island for the DCCC.]
Sammy Finkelman (335ac9) — 8/31/2014 @ 2:40 amCorrection of one word:
“The truth of the matter is, that the world has always been messy. In part, we’re just noticing now because of social media and our capacity to see in intimate detail the hardships that people are going through.”
– Barack Obama, Friday, August 29, 2014.
Sammy Finkelman (335ac9) — 8/31/2014 @ 2:42 amone of them, was at the home of George Logothetis, of the Libra Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in healthcare, renewable energy and shipping,
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/31/2014 @ 5:33 am117. SF:
redc1c4 @ 118.
More likely because it didn’t involve quick total victory – so we would not have to “keep a lid on things” – with minimal involvement, and without controversy.
Sammy Finkelman (335ac9) — 8/31/2014 @ 7:27 amFox News Sunday had a map of Iraq and syria, with what looked like a weather lady, only instead of a rain, or a hurricane, it was ISIS.
Sammy Finkelman (335ac9) — 8/31/2014 @ 7:28 am