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Mississippi governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Haley Barbour weighed in several times this week not only on President Obama’s handling of the situation in Libya, but also what Barbour said was the Obama administration’s overall lack of leadership over the last two years.
On Tuesday, while in Nevada to meet with Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) and other Republican lawmakers, Barbour was at first measured in his criticism. "When our men and women are involved in military action I think we need to be very careful about critiquing the administration,” he said.
But he went on to say that “the administration dithered a long time before making a decision” and that the U.S. should not take orders from the UN, NATO or wait for permission from the Arab League.
“When it is in our interests and the needs of the United States require us to take military action, sure we should consult our allies, but we should not wait for them to tell us what to do,” he added.
In radio interview in his home state yesterday, Barbour went further and criticized the administration on leadership. “Since World War II, the world has looked to America for leadership,” Barbour said, “But we haven’t provided leadership in this administration. In fact, the Obama administration’s position has been to say, you know, we’re just one of the boys, so we’re not going to try to be the leader.”
Barbour also questioned the end goal of the operations, warning that the U.S. should be “careful…about getting into nation-building exercises.”
On a lighter note, as Barbour walked out of the building the Tuesday press conference was held in he quipped to the cameramen shooting him, “Make me look thin!” The recently trimmer Barbour has previously joked that his weight could be an indication he might be running for president. The Hill reported, back in June of 2010, Barbour saying, “If you see me losing 40 pounds that means I’m either running or have cancer.” In March, USA TODAY quotes Barbour as saying, “I hope I can lose some more.”
Leave a Comment:
No fly in place.
Nato has control.
What are we doing now?
Barbour criticizes Obama?
Give the man a sandwich... it'll make him happy~!
This is the same dude that said everything was fine and hunky dory during his youth in southern segregated Mississippi - tells you all you need to know about him. No chance in hell at the presidency...
Tundie - Eugene Robinson was critical of Obama this morning.
Not sure what his position on segregation is, but I'm guess he was against it.
Does Eugene need a sandwich too, or only Barbour cause he's fat?
Word hurt Tundie. Name calling is bad.
And if President Obama had tried to ask for a declaration of War from Congress, Boehner would still be crying on the floor of the House. Barbour then would be complaining that the President is not decisive enough and shouldn't have to go to Congress.
Give me a break.
BTW, has anyone found the WMD's on Iraq yet ?
Haley Barbour doesn't know anything about war. His state of Mississippi doesn't even make a contribution to keep our country safe. They take twice as much as they give from the feds because they refuse to pay a living wage or collect enough taxes to make it without the government teet. And this "gargantuan" candidate thinks he can lead a humanitarian effort or war in another part of the world? He can't even run his state!
To military personnel from Mississippi who contribute their own life and liberties to keep our country safe, I recognize your "personal" contribution and salute and thank you for it.
Spanky-
So? I've been critical of Obama too.... I think we needed the public option... but I've come to terms with that. I'll take 10 Obama mishaps any day over Bush's Iraq war blunder.
Yes, Eugene needs a sandwich too, and toupee for his receding hairline.
I know words hurt, but I doubt Haley Barbour or E.Robinson are actually reading to FR threads. :)
Its was light hearted joke about someone I could care less about.
Oh, a joke.
Sorry looked like a big fat softball coming down the middle.
Cool, check you next week. And remember, less studying, more fun First Read time. Take it from Anna M and me, we are professionals, we know what we how to allocate time.
wish I had me a sandwich. MMMM snadwiches.
Barbour can't say anything about lack of leadership after he, his wife and three aides flew in a luxury corporate jet to Washington on the tax payers dime. He mangared his state so badly it went straight to the bottom.
Speaking of exercise, it would do him well.
Bev, I'm sure the distinction is lost on you, but if it was a "corporate" jet, how was it on the taxpayer's dime?
Was it by chance a jet owned by the government? If not, which corporation owned the jet?
Wait I figured it out - it was a GE jet.
Spanky-
That's what I got for tuning in to FOX NOISE this AM to catch the LIES of the day from the monkey girls and 2 of the dunces. Dunno if you know; but, I call them monkey girls because they use their tails to hold their jobs down.
They said corporate I guess because tax paying were complaining about his personal time not being official business. You know how FOX LIES.
In regards to Boehnor, he could both way with that bondage thing. You know who week he is.
You know I love and appreciate you Bev.
But what in the hell are you trying to say?
Are you already at the Inn?
Bev, your posts are mostly laughable, but this one, #2.2 is unique.
So, if I understand your comment correctly, FOX NOISE is the Fox New Network, but who are the monkey girls and 2 on the dunces? And tell me please, how did you become so knowledgeable about prostitutes? "Use their tails to hold their jobs down." Those are certainly nasty comments to make about anyone. Isn't there some sort of agreement on this site that such comments can get a person suspended? Is that for everyone, or you and other liberal nasty girls on this site are exempt from this rule?
swampyjackpot
And tell me please, how did you become so knowledgeable about prostitutes? "Use their tails to hold their jobs down."
Get serious. You seem pretty knowledgeable; do you have any experience with prostitutes? I don't.
Those are certainly nasty comments to make about anyone
Fox News is nasty!!!
Since you brough the subject up in your post, please tell me why you refer to two ladies who disagree with your views as prostitutes.
And how do I seem pretty knowledgeable about hookers? Please tell me lady, for you post is nothing more than an ignorant racist rant.
Dog bites man...film at 11.
Imagine that JohnB, another day and more b!tching from the right wingers... Who would of guessed?
*yawn*
What, again? These republicans are so confused, they don't even remember they always prefer bombing. Honestly, that "lack of leadership" got the UN, the Arab League to do a lot in a few weeks instead of months; that "lack of leadership" convinced China, Russia and 3 other countries to abstain in order for the UN Resolution to pass. Yep, lack of leadership, too slow, too fast, too nuanced, too smart, too sophiscated, tenative, indecisive, and while they whine and moan and throw flames--President Obama has left them in his dust. Thank you, President Obama for being a decisive, smart, pragmatic leader--the kind Haley Barbour can only dream about being.
Jody, I don't think it was leadership. It was probalby more like the like bribes to get Obamacare passed. Watch for huge aid packages in the near future.
No, that was Bushbaby with the "coalition of the BILLING".
Rocco-2976776
Jody, I don't think it was leadership. It was probalby more like the like bribes to get Obamacare passed. Watch for huge aid packages in the near future.
Yea, right Rocco with more tea bags attached to them. Too bad Boehner prefers not to drink tea. It's nothing he can do about it either. They have him in bondage.
Oh no Bev. You are not playing the "bondage" card are you?
Or is this one of you tea-bagging sexual things? Bev. have you already broken out the red ball gag?
You dirty bird you.
Jody, Iowa
Yep, lack of leadership, too slow, too fast, too nuanced, too smart, too sophiscated, tenative, indecisive, and while they whine and moan and throw flames--
It's crazy
President Obama has left them in his dust
Yup, leave them right in the dust bin of history where they should be. President has laid that Georgie boy myth practically to bed for them to keep on dreaming.
Keep on keeping on Mr. President. You are the only adult in the room. Show them what it's like to be regal and majestic. Smoke 'em all out.
Got that no jo?
Bark! Bubba Barbour Bark! Bad boy, now sit! Eat Bubba! Okay, I think that's enough.
I know I'm not going to dither long in deciding who to vote for: this President is the best one I have seen in my lifetime.
I wonder how long the Republicans will dither over their primary choice? I don't know how much dithering I can take, the suspense is killing me. Will they ever make up their mind if they go for a Tea Partier or do they want to actually win?
Amy B. Portland, ME
I wonder how long the Republicans will dither over their primary choice? I don't know how much dithering I can take, the suspense is killing me. Will they ever make up their mind if they go for a Tea Partier or do they want to actually win?
Oh, they want to. The problem is the tea is got a little bit of the wrong herb in it.
Poor Boehner he is so tired of them forcing that tea on him. It's nothing he can do about it either.
Can't wait to see you at the Dew Drop Amy so we can crack up over them holding Boehner in bondage.
Beverly in Chicago
too bad today's Tea Party wannabes don't have the integrity of the original Patriots. That's not tea they are selling, it's a concoction of weird chemicals produced in a Koch plant.
Amy B. Portland, ME
too bad today's Tea Party wannabes don't have the integrity of the original Patriots. That's not tea they are selling, it's a concoction of weird chemicals produced in a Koch plant.
Indeed, and they are too stupid or afraid to save themselves.
Just another republican "BUM" using the taxpayers money for his personal comforts ...a pvt jet is a bit much for him and his family ...but i guess it beats having to pay for 2 seats just for him !
Okay. I know the President has to respect the office and shrug off the idiots in the GOP rather than telling them what is truly on his mind at every turn. So, as a tax-paying American whose voice is most assuredly within the majority camp of Americans supporting the President, let me channel his true feelings and articulate the following on his behalf:
Newt, you're an a$$!
Bachmann, you're a dumb a$$!
Limbaugh, you're an a$$**le!
Beck, God bless your deranged a$$!
Palin, get an a$$!
Romney, Pawlenty, Barbour, get your head out your a$$!
GOP, kiss my a$$!
'Nuff said!
(The foregoing was brought to you by an independent voter and in no way reflects the views or opinions of the White House, the Democratic party or anyone affiliated with either entity…or does it?)
I Must Be Dreaming
Just another republican "BUM" using the taxpayers money for his personal comforts ...a pvt jet is a bit much for him and his family ...but i guess it beats having to pay for 2 seats just for him !
Thanks for the laugh out loud comment.
Well This guy took Bush 101. If our interests are on the line it doesn't matter what any body says we are going in. I think the world has had enough of that attitude, hence Bush's failed foreign policy. It's time work together with other nations to help the awakening Arab world. We can't afford it financially or politically to go at it alone right now, or did he miss that.
 If these comments prove anything, it is this:
Liberals lack wit.
They need a bailout, a re-distribution of cleverness. The federal Department of Wit may order poster Spanky to make 33% of his clever posts in favor of Obama, to even the odds...
Bob-1887910, Gee, I don't know Bob. Did you mean we can order a poster of Spanky. Well maybe, by the way, do you work at the Department of Witless too?
Anybody catch this about Barbour? It is from Time Magazine's blog, and I wonder what the truth behind it is:
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/03/23/haley-barbour-flew-state-plane-to-deliver-cost-cutting-message-to-cpac-fox-news/#ixzz1HXwo4WUR
I found this as well:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014596688_apusrepublicansiowa.html
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110320/NEWS/103200343/Barbour-racks-up-travel-bill-10
Hiya Mickey!
We're over at the Dew Drop Inn under the 'Week Ahead' thread... it's where we hang out after another successful week of playing whack-a-troll! lol
Stop on by, I owe you a drink for yesterday! ;o) Cheers!
Sweet!
How do I get to the thread...reel me in baby...reel me in! lol
You GOT it! lmao...
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/25/6344746-the-week-ahead-libya-in-focus-but-shutdown-looms-
Obama is one term but Haley is a shill for the White Citizens Council and has no shot at being dogcatcher. Return him to his membership in the KKKlan.
A country of 320 million and the morons lead the pack of sheep.
The more the Republicans critcize the President on Libya, the better the outcome for him when Ghaddafi falls. And the President actually did not fight for oil, as some suggest. If he wanted oil guarantees, he would have cut a deal with Ghaddafi (like the British) and let him slaughter his own people under the guise of promoting stability.
I for one believe the oil is better secured by getting it away from Ghaddafi's control, from what is essentially a petro-mafia.
The rebels have regained control of Ajdabiya.
On another note, great reporting this past week from Richard Engel and all those journalists reporting from Libya.
Will we as a country ever get over the Bush/Cheney years emotionally? Everybody it seems to me still assumes the worst will happen in all things. Yet, this morning we hear that the rebels have regained control of Ajdabiya. This is indeed good news. But there is a long way to go certainly.
What does Barbour know about Libya? Nothing. His biggest claim to fame is being a lobbyist who is able to raise tons of money. Who cares what he thinks.
It's great news, isn't it Pat? Who knows if Ghadafi will fall quickly and his regime will be replaced by a more open society. What we do know is that the rebellion has a fighting chance, whatever they accomplish they will own, and this won't be seen as yet another armed occupation of an Arab country by western powers.
Barbour joked with the press-"make me look thin." He should have asked them to make him look smart.
The Rebals won a major victory overnight in a key Gee-I'm-Daffy occupied town, coaltion jets took out 20 tanks as the rebels advanced. Rebels were seen dancing on the tanks chanting 'Thank you Obama, Thank you Cameron'
All without a single boot on the ground and without the US having to take the lead. Yes 'Thank You Obama" indeed.
The delay for consultation, consensus and coalition building (or dither as the GOP call it), may actual be helping.
It stretched Gee-i'm-daffy forces across Lybia making them easier to pick off. I am hoping they are less conentrated in Tripoli where the real battle will take place.
nadeem, there are boots on the ground, trust me. They have been for awhile now.........
By the time the rebels get to Tripoli, the GDaffy "loyalists" will abandon their tanks and posts.