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Subscribe to RSSAs we wrote earlier tonight, the news of Osama Bin Laden's death -- and its implications for President Barack Obama's legacy and his re-election race -- is almost certain to change the contours of the 2012 race.
Here's some responses from potential 2012 GOP contenders to the news that the al-Qaeda leader has been killed in a U.S.-led operation in Pakistan.
Facebook post from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: "This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere. Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the families of Osama bin Laden's many thousands of victims, and the brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in pursuit of this murderous terrorist."
Written statement from former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: "This is terrific news for freedom and justice. In the hours after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush promised that America would bring Osama bin Laden to justice — and we did. I want to congratulate America's armed forces and President Obama for a job well done. Let history show that the perseverance of the US military and the American people never wavered. America will never shrink from the fight and ultimately those who seek to harm us face only defeat. Today, justice is done, but the fight against radical Islamic terrorism is not yet over."
Tweet from former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin: "Thank you, American men and women in uniform. You are America's finest and we are all so proud. Thank you for fighting against terrorism.
Written statement from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: "It is unusual to celebrate a death, but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dead. The leader of Al Qaeda--- responsible for the deaths of 3000 innocent citizens on September 11, 2001, and whose maniacal hate is responsible for the deaths of thousands of US servicemen and women was killed by U.S. military. President Obama confirmed the announcement late last night. DNA tests confirmed his death and his body is in the possession of the U. S. It has taken a long time for this monster to be brought to justice. Welcome to hell, bin Laden. Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens."
Written statement from Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann: "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. military and intelligence community. Their persistence and dedicated service has yielded success in a mission that has gripped our nation since the terrible events of 9/11. Tonight’s news does not bring back the lives of the thousands of innocent people who were killed that day by Osama bin Laden’s horrific plan, and it does not end the threat posed by terrorists, but it is my hope that this is the beginning of the end of Sharia-compliant terrorism.”
Written statement from former Sen. Rick Santorum: "This is extraordinary news for all freedom loving people of the world, and I commend all those involved for this historic triumph. Americans have waited nearly ten years for the news of Osama bin Laden's death. And while this is a very significant objective that cannot be minimized, the threat from Jihadism does not die with bin Laden. As we were vigilant in taking him out we need to demonstrate we will continue to be vigilant until the enemy has been subdued."
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Yes we can and Obama is the man!
Finally a president in the white house who has actually won a second term !
THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA ! HAPPY 2ND TERM !
"Sharia-compliant terrorism"? Bachmann making up works again?
At least a couple of the GOP candidates gave credit where credit is due. Those candidates should be on the top of the list because they've acted like a responsible adult. The other children should go home and be quiet.
Did you even think they would give the President any credit. You can't do that if your a corporate cronie and self centered like the the ladies up north . There more and more of a Donald (joke) every day. I sure hope that the district that elected Bachman votes her bobblehead out of office.
This is not about giving CREDIT are you people serious.....I would have expected Pres. Obama or anyone else to do their job and he did,,it's his job and I'm glad he did it. Amazing really amazing.
Great day to be an American....Kudos all around for everyone involved. OBAMA 2012
President Obama to trump "how do you like me now BITCH" !!!
Trump will probably want to see the death certificate.
That's CLASSIC!!! Obama should send SEAL Team Six to take out Trump's bad hairdo!! I want to see the death certificate for that thing! Besides, it would hilarious to see how cocky Trump would act if his giant noggin was bald!!!
Way to go Mr. President. Way to go!
(Some have CLASS and some don't.) Worldwide happiness that this madman is dead! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL INVOLVED IN THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. God Bless our entire world.
Yes He Did!!!
Obama 2012!!!
As soon as the rumors on the news outlets began announcing the death of bin Laden, I clicked on Fox Snooze and saw the blurb that" bin Laden had been killed by a missile strike last week"(sic)" Need I say more?
I beginning to have even greater doubt than I had before that Republicans even support the USA. When they're in office, our tax dollars disappear, our debt skyrockets, we get hit by terrorists, we attack a foreign government that didn't even have any weapons but they did have the 2nd largest oil fields in the world, Republicans borrowed all of our Social Security Retirement money and left in place of $2 billion dollars an IOU signed by George W. Bush, now Republicans are insisting on plan that says they don't have to pay us our $2 billion dollars Retirement money back, and before leaving the White House, wrote themselves a $750 billion dollar check fast and left the American People's Economy in complete and total shambles.
If ANYONE in the world had done those things to America, that too would have been considered a "terrorist" attack on the United States and they would also have been captured and/or killed.
While Obama was planning this operation he was hearing about being born outside America and not having the grades to get into Harvard. These last 2 weeks illustrates vividly the difference between serious people (Obama) and silly people (Trump, Bachmann,Palin) and any other right wing moron who dosen't understand what being President is really like. Hopefully this will put these fringe nut cases away so that we can concentrate on serious matters that confront us everyday and not this carnival show they want to perpetrate on the American people.
'Yes Virginia, there is one less boogyman in the world today"
"Mission Accomplished"! Now bring all the troops home.
I guess this makes President Obama and the republicans even. Obama tracked down, and killed Bin Laden. The republicans tracked down, and killed our economy and middle class.
Congrats to all of our American Troops, the President, and America! We have overcome today...
Donald Trump (aka...The "RUG" Doctor) must be so proud of himself!
Great "F'ing" job...now "STFU"
You know one thing everyone is overlooking is how those GOP dudes would have danced in the street if the event had failed. It took a huge amount of faith in his military (BTW he is the general of the generals ya know) to sucessfully carry out this mission. So GOP stand beside us and honor deeds well done, like it or not and if you don't like it how can you possibly ever wave another American flag!!!!
"You know one thing everyone is overlooking is how those GOP dudes would have danced in the street if the event had failed."
You got that right!! Had this failed, Limbaugh the junkie, Beck, all the clowns at Fox propaganda, Speaker Tan-Man, Palin, Trump, Bachmann -- the entire right wing noise machine would be celebrating.
But -- Republicans talk --- Obama delivers.
I told you so! Democrats don't let terrorists get away! President Obama has a pristine record on terrorism! This country has NOT been hit with any terrorist attack, he drew down our forces in Iraq, and God Bless him, he caught Osama Bin Laden with use of our Navy SEALS, a group that was created by another Democratic President, President John F. Kennedy. Yaaaahoooo!
I wonder if Trump will try to take credit for getting Bin Laden too(?). What an idiot. While Trump is deciding whether to fire Meatloaf or Gary Busey, Obama is getting the real job of leading and protecting our country done.
Jim, can you imagine what was going through the Presidents mind at that banquet knowing this event had been sucessful?? If this doesn't wipe that stupid grin off the face of any serious GOP member then they can not possibly be an American. In the words of their ex-leader, "you are either with us or you are against us" - and we are the Americans.
All of you great military people, spouting off about Mr. Obama's great accomplishment. His part in this event........ "your'e sure he is in there?" Yes sir its confirmed! Ok go get him! Period. Fini, over! The rest was done by a JSOC group of former Spec ops and a Navy Seal team. Mr. Obama was the sitting president while Osama was caught and killed (maybe)! Having 3 combat tours of duty, I can tell you, they kitted him and packed him for transport! I highly doubt they dumped him in the ocean. Thats what they want the rest of the Arab world to think.
Poor Jolly....must be combat fatigue, at least I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
The President made the final decision on when and how, he's Commander-in-Chief, in case you forgot after all your combat tours of duty (maybe). If this mission had gone haywire, he would have fried by the GOP and media, and probably been lumped with Carter as a failed administration. Give him some credit....I remembered in his interview with Steve Kroft before he took office, he made bin Laden his No. 1 priority for fighting terrorism and he delivered on his promise. End of story.
Boo-yah!! Congratualtions Mr. President!
And an additional congratulations to our Navy SEALS, our super-soldiers, who where also created and put in place by another great Democratic President, President John F. Kennedy!
Bachmann - what the hell is "sharia-compliant terrorism"? Why in the world, when our friends and our country are unified on the news, would you choose this opportunity to insult Islam?
You would NOT like to live under Sharia law! Specially if your a woman. Try spending time in Saudi and see if you like it!
Can't you even take a day to be happy for America? Must you spew treason every single day?
I am very happy, As a former military weapons spec. I love my fellow military people. I however do not see this event as a special Obama moment. All he did was say yes to the request for action on a qualified leak. I dont care which president gave the order, Im happy for my country and its military!
Especially (not "specially") if you're a man (not "if your a..."), you should'nt pretend to know what a woman would like. (This woman likes literate dialogues!) But even if I cede your point that I would much rather live in the United States than in Saudi Arabia, what does that have to do with "sharia-compliant terrorism" that is just a made-up phrase intended to divide rather than unite Americans with each other and with the the rest of the world. As Obama said, Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, he was a plague to Muslims, just as Scott Roeder is not a real Christian, but a blot on America and Christianity.
Jollyold...the same could be said of Osama. All he did was give the OK. The rest was carried out by his brain-dead henchmen...
"however do not see this event as a special Obama moment. "
Except if it failed. then -- like all well trained and well indoctrinated dittoheads, you wold be blaming the President. But --- Obama did what Bush only talked about.
Obama outsmarted Osama.....Way to go Mr. President, CIA, and our great military!
What a great week or so. First a death blow to the birthers and now the death of Bin Laden. Its a great day to be an American.
And the President and Seth Meyers did a great job of taken a little wind out of Trump's ego at the dinner Saturday Night.
This just won Obama re-election. However, when Obama finished making his speech and was walking back into the white house. You can picture how HUGE his head got. He must have been on Cloud 9.
Every American is on cloud 9. Thank you Mr. President, our Navy SEALS, and to all our men and women in uniform!
what a sad field of gop "contenders" why even hold the election if this is the best they can come up with
TO: dontgivemethepenguin who wrote:
“slick willy dropped the ball…”
^^^^^^^^^^^^
How much more sickening and hate filled can anyone be?
Every triumph America makes seems to be such a disappointment to Republicans who don’t even have enough class to give credit where credit is due.
The ONLY 2 Republicans so far who have given our Commander In Chief proper credit is Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, and the others, I presume, are full of jealousy, hate, and apparent contempt towards the United States.
For your information, penguin, President Bill Clinton WAS NOT in office when we were attacked on 9/11 and your feeble attempt to move blame from weak Republicans shows no respect for this country.
Others who attempt to give either George W. Bush or Donald Rumsfeld credit, who are not even in any position to catch a mouse, are delusional.
Congratulations to President Obama, and our Navy Seals, who were also created by another Democratic President, President John F. Kennedy.
So americangirl how many years of service do you have! Hell I will even toss in peace corps to give you a few chances at something. I have a lot of experiences to share of my fellow military people have done some worked some didnt. Since your going to toss out Mr. Kennedy (you must have had some personal experience with him) I was part of the failed Iran hostage rescue, ordered my Mr. Carter. I was also honored as part of the military honor guard at the Peace accord on stage with Mr Carter, Begin and Sadat. Some people actually have real life experiences in these types of situations. Some people just like to talk about them! I do not associate any politician with an armed forces success, unless they led the charge.
@jollyoldsoul1 - I respect your extensive military experience and I, too, am impressed and pleased with the results of yesterday's military operation. Still, I don't think that experience allows you to insult loyal Americans who may have served their country in other ways. (Yay, Americangirl!)
jollyoldsoul1
You are so full of it. No one that took part in a failed military mission voluntary talks about it, unless they did not take part in the mission. Being part of a unit and sitting on your couch does not mean you took part in the mission. Second, atlease read up on the mission before you claim to be part of it, and being a honor guard just afterwards. Carter only served one term, the hostages were released after or just before Regan took office.
Then to, you probably never was in the military. No military unit acts on its own, especially entering another country. Not even the Sec of Defense can authorized a US unit to enter another country, only the President who takes full responsibility, good or bad.
Congradulations to the President and all of our servicemenbers for a job well done and long over due.
In my long life, I've found those who like to brag about their military service -- more often than not --- didn't do much while in the military.