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Maybe more than at any other time in this presidential contest, the politics of Iran came into sharp focus today, as President Obama engaged with his GOP rivals -- though not by name -- over that thorny subject.
And it highlighted the starkly different world views between the incumbent president up for re-election in November and the Republican candidates who are vying to replace him.
“What's said on the campaign trail -- you know, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities,” Obama said this afternoon in the White House Briefing Room during a news conference, his first in three months and just so happens to fall on Super Tuesday. “They're not commander in chief.”
He criticized them for talking about war with a certain “casualness.” “This is not a game,” Obama said. “And there's nothing casual about it.”
He derided the field for “bluster” and “big talk” that’s “more about politics than actually trying to solve a difficult problem.”
Romney today, showing just how starkly different his worldview is from Obama.
“Israel does not need public lectures about how to weigh decisions of war and peace,” Romney said during a speech before AIPAC, the pro-Israel in Washington. “It needs our support.”
He called the president’s policy, one of “procrastination” and said that he, instead, would make this specific promise: “I will station multiple aircraft carriers and warships at Iran's door.”
Rick Santorum today during his speech before AIPAC echoed the hard-line hawkish views toward Iran that he has espoused throughout the campaign.
“If they do not tear down those facilities, we will tear them down ourselves,” Santorum said, referring to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
He added, in almost direct response to the president’s criticism, “This is not bellicosity and warmongering. This is preventing the most radical regime in the world from having a weapon that could fundamentally change the security posture not just of the Middle East, but as we've seen with planned attacks here in the United States, a nuclear Iran with a nuclear shield to project terror around the world is a nightmare for all freedom-loving people in the world.”
But that’s par for the course for Santorum. Campaigning in New Hampshire back in January, Santorum said that if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, he contended, events like the terrorist attacks on 9/11 would become “a routine occurrence.”
Newt Gingrich during his speech to AIPAC today – once again – invoked a potential “second Holocaust.”
“I would provide all available intelligence to the Israel government, ensure that they had the equipment necessary, and reassure them that if an Israeli prime minister decides that he has to avoid the threat of a second Holocaust through preemptive measures, that I would require no advanced notice to understand why I would support the right of Israel to survive in a dangerous world,” he said.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called for a “declaration of war” vote as a credible step in showing Iran that moving toward making nuclear weapons is unacceptable, NBC’s Debra Pettit reports. He called sanctions useful, but said they haven’t deterred Iran from going forward with their nuclear weapons plans.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he is "against any rush" to have such a vote.
"I think we have to be very cautious," Reid said, adding, "I am not going to be going forward rushing for a declaration of war.” And, like the president, he urged Republicans to stop throwing around the word "war" so casually."
Santorum also acknowledged the politics of the day, this being Super Tuesday.
“This is a somewhat important day in my life today,” he said. “But I wanted to come off the campaign trail to come here, because one of the reasons that I decided to run for president is because of the grave concern I have about the security of our country.”
When asked about Romney's criticism of his foreign policy at today's news conference, Obama showed he's ready for the general-election fight.
"Good luck tonight," he said. "Really!"
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I don't know how Romney can be so hawkish when he avoided Vietnam with a student deferment and a mormon mission to France. I believe this is one reason why people have a problem with a mormon President. Instead of encouraging their young men and women to serve their country in the military, they encourage them to go on a mission for the church. After these young men and women return from their mission, they become active in politics, then have no qualms about sending everybody else's children off to war. Romney is just kowtowing to the party's base now, but would show his true colors once elected. That will not happen though. in November he will lose to President Obama by a landslide, so for now, enjoy the horse and pony show.
I cant say am an Obama supporter,but am with him on this 1,we must try all the other option's 1st.going to war at this point is not called for.I hope that it never comes to that,am afraid if it dose it will be the start of ww3 and the loss of life will be greater then ww1 and ww2.
Well, jali in this case you better vote for Obama come November. Because God help us all if any of the wackjob Rethug candidates make it to the WH! No doubt - we will end up in a bigger war.
Unfortunately, it's not a laughing matter at all. I am afraid.
Had the former Communists in Russia remained in power today, W. Bush would have been considered, quietly, as a hero of the Soviet Union by the politbureau. Cheney would have been regarded, also quietly, as the architect of the downfall of the US of A, however accidental that was.
Something that many former Soviet Union leaders tried their utmost over several decades during the Cold War but failed to do. They did not have to. W. Bush and Cheney did it for them with help from conservatives and religious nuts.
Look at the US of A right now. You should be able to figure it out. It's not too late however to wake up and change the country for the better. Hard but it's doable.
Of course the GOP is against working for peace. If President Obama were in favor of attacking Iran, the GOP would want a peaceful solution. They are against whatever Obama is for, that's not news.
hola
SMART decision wait until IRAN built a nuclear bomb and then lets go to war.......REALLY??????
GOPher TROLL!!
fonsi,
Well, Russia has nuclear weapons and we did not go to war with them even during periods of high tension such as the Cuban missile crisis. What made you so sure that Iran is going to attack just because it has a nuclear bomb? You may not believe it but Iran has a longer civilisation than we do.
In case you were too young to know. Had W. Bush been in the Whitehouse with Cheney during the Cuban crisis, I doubt it if you and I are writing to this thread right now. The nuclear exchange after we attacked Cuba which in turn provoked Russian into retaliation with nuclear weapons would have brought the world into many Hiroshimas many times over.
On the other hand, you may forgot about it but the pre-emptive strike policy by W. Bush got us almost in a snafu in Iraq that we, under Obama administration, somehow managed to leave with some dignity left in the end. But not our intact reputation as a smart global power.
Now you can go and join the defence force if you like. I don't think anybody is going stop you, bullet head. But stop react like a kid on hearing a monster coming to get you.
Heart deceases killed hundreds of thousands of our fellow Americans. Much more than 911. It's hard to believe but true.
So, so, so glad that President Obama is in office. What a change to have an intelligent, thoughtful, considerate person leading the Nation instead of the buffoons in the GOP.
Like one of my fellow bloggers once wrote: President Obama could eat a box of Alpha-Bits and $hit a better Foreign Policy than ANY of these GOP CLOWNS.
Americans are just plain ignorant!
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
Why do you think gold, oil and gas prices are so high and future speculators are driving prices up?
Obama and his do nothing Presidency and policies!
America is no longer competitive in the global market! Bush and Obama's "Keynesian Economics" do not work!
Keep the "blinders" on Obama Supporters and stay in line for your welfare checks, food stamps, government entitlements, and endless unemployment checks!
When America can no longer pay on their Federal Debt and Deficit, like Greece, and your government entitlements end, which is sooner than later, it is because of the GREED of this generation, demanding a lifestyle they could not afford nor pay for!
Robbing the future for immediate gratification does not work!
Why is it Dems and Libs ignore the Debt and Deficit, demanding government entitlements, from a government that is spending a TRILLION DOLLARS a year more than it brings in?
PERSONAL GREED ended this country!
PERSONAL GREED ended this country!
At least the last line of your post is true! Greed by the rich conservatives!
MtMike, your poor use of grammar, simpleton meanderings and obvious love of exclamation points add up to a single digit IQ. Even an idiot like you cannot escape the facts of Bush/Cheney/GOP led record deficits, record spending, record job loss.
You think anyone could turn a ship the size of the US around in 1 year? The mess Bush/GOP created requires several years of digging. We are finally seeing the light of day and the GOP can't handle it.
I love it! (exclamation point included just for you)
Jack-956313
Jack, you are just one more brainwashed Obama supporter! Taxing the wealthy, class warfare, will not solve 1% of the Federal Debt and Deficit!
Taxing the wealthy is a Obama campaign slogan, to pit American against American.
This country could take (tax) the wealthy's income and it would not solve 1% of the Federal Debt/Deficit. The problem lies with a government that can not pay for what it is delivering and promising, so crooked politicians can get elected or re-elected. The problem is people wanting a cure all government to pay for their bad decisions and poor planning and crooked policiticans who make false promises that can not be met!
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/warren-buffett-s-taxing-rich-wont-solve-deficit-says-tax-foundation
socraticFun
Bush then Obama, both are Keynesian Economist. A country can not borrow and spend their way out of debt!
Anyone want to try that with their personal budget?
Two wrongs, Bush then Obama, do not make a right!
Take a good look at the Obama's Administration economic policies, three plus years, not one year and there is a reason oil/gas/gold are record highs.
The US is no longer the world power!
The US Dollar no longer has the "purchasing power" it once did, why, because of the Obama Administration Keynesian Economics, the FED printing money and Obama's "socialist" policies, makeing the US a nation dependent on Food Stamps, Welfare, Unemployment Checks and Government Entitlements that can not be paid for!
Government is not a "cure all"!
The Prime Minister of Israel shows up, enlists the Israeli lobby and our bought-off politicians and media, demanding that we have a fast game of "lets you and him fight." (US vs Iran). The Weapons of Mass Destruction script is dragged out again, just like Iraq, and we are supposed to all fall in line and clean up the mess caused by Israeli aggression. Been there, done that. If Israel, their lobby and our sympathetic "lawmakers" want to fight so bad, I suggest they load up their kids and money and join the righteous and powerful Israeli military and fight to their hearts content, knowing that they are special, chosen, beyond moral reproach and that God is most certainly on their side. Just leave the rest of us alone.
The people that are discrediting Ron Paul, and still trying to sell the fact that hes "senile" or too old, or been in office too long, dont know wtf your talking about and your either trolls, cointelpro, or just plain FNstupid and just regurgitating what "media" says, you have never really listened to what RP has to say.... Romney is apparently so senile he cant remember which B.S.lie he told from one day to the next. Santorum wants to run this country based on HIS OWN belief structure.
Ron Paul is the most intellectual man in this race. He's the only politician,I am aware of, that defends the constituion so avidly (exception maybe Kucinich) When he is gone, he will be missed and you can say good bye to the rest of your rights and the potential for a truely free america, mark my words. you reap what you sow....GUD JOB AMERICA THE PATHETIC HOME OF THE DISINFORMED, DISILLUSIONED, AND LAND OF THE UNSTABLE VOICE OF TRYANNY! YOU"LL NEVER WAKE UP!
If Obama wins have fun with the National Defense Authorization Act, the Stop Online Piracy->(PRIVACY) Act Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act ( these both will pass in time, but are still covertly being used today, goodluck watching a free movie in the future online,there are more news laws/Acts to come!ENJOY< I"M LEAVING THIS COUNTRY .)
If Romney wins, that will be a huge laughing joke on the USA. Im already LOL. Hes gonna make BUSH JR. Look like a great leader! ;]
I give up on these Idiots..."When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny"
“Insanity in individuals is something rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule”
This was never a fair election, it was fixed..LOOK AT THE COUNTIES RON PAUL WON IN MAINE, ENTIRELY EXCLUDED FROM THE CAUCUSS, among other counties....The people that are discrediting Ron Paul, and still trying to sell the fact that hes "senile" or too old, or been in office too long, dont know wtf your talking about and your either trolls, cointelpro, or just plain FNstupid and just regurgitating what "media" says, you have never really listened to what RP has to say.... Romney is apparently so senile he cant remember which B.S.lie he told from one day to the next. Santorum wants to run this country based on HIS OWN belief structure.
Ron Paul is the most intellectual man in this race. He's the only politician,I am aware of, that defends the constituion so avidly (exception maybe Kucinich) When he is gone, he will be missed and you can say good bye to the rest of your rights and the potential for a truely free america, mark my words. you reap what you sow....GUD JOB AMERICA THE PATHETIC HOME OF THE DISINFORMED, DISILLUSIONED, AND LAND OF THE UNSTABLE VOICE OF TRYANNY! YOU"LL NEVER WAKE UP!
If Obama wins have fun with the National Defense Authorization Act, the Stop Online Piracy->(PRIVACY) Act Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act ( these both will pass in time, but are still covertly being used today, goodluck watching a free movie in the future online,there are more news laws/Acts to come!ENJOY< I"M LEAVING THIS COUNTRY .)
If Romney wins, that will be a huge laughing joke on the USA. Im already LOL. Hes gonna make BUSH JR. Look like a great leader! ;]
I give up on YOU THE PEOPLE....You the Imbeciles, more like it. Your children will thank you., you'll see ;]
BE PROUD!
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny"
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
“Insanity in individuals is something rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule”
Oh good lord, Grimmel. More conspiracies? Weren't you going to infiltrate Area 51 or something more constructive than wasting bandwidth here?
And your not waisting bandwith? You obviosly think your better than everyone else.., Disinformation and name calling is your game.I not above dropping to your level, so,....Why dont you go infiltrate that little boy or dog you have locked in your closet ...Doesnt feel good to be misassociated with things does it? Think before you right again, because what you have done isnt cute and it isnt funny. It only shows your immaturity
No matter what I say, I know there will be mislead people, like you that wont listen to reason,.. I spoke to someone yesterday that voted for their precious Obama, they wont vote again. I was trying to make a point, telling them some facts and statements on Ron Paul. She told me they all sound the same! How stupid is that? Nobody in there right mind would say that from either side of this false division between Red and Blue.
war is a horrible thing and it should remain horrible - it is not a video game - it takes your sons, daughters to kill and maim - if a war is worth fighting, it must involve the entire country - it should be paid for in taxes, taxes, and more taxes - it should involve the draft of everyone (especially children of politicians) and not just volunteer ghetto boys - there should be rationing and hardship for everyone if the war is worth fighting for and not just to save a nickle a gallon to fill your hummer or to make haliburton richer - use diplomacy, use sanctions, use all your resources to avoid war since war has to be the last choice of an civilized nation not the first choice of candidates trolling for votes
first
president to kill usama bin laden , in just 36 months on the job , compared to
bush , and his wmd adm. 8 years of failure.
president to keep a country afloat , and kept from a depression , after bush ,
and his wmd adm. '' bankrupt the united states of america.
president to take on the 1% to pay their fair share of taxes , '' without the
loop-hole entitlements.
black president of the united states of america .
president to sincerely care for the american workers. '' rich or poor ''
president to kill quadafa
president to dance on live talk shows !!!!!!!!!!!!! fun loving
president to love you , just the way you are. '' rich or poor ''
black president to win THE NOBEL '' PEACE PRIZE '' , just for treating people
with respect.
first president to take sleep from the patriotic bigots of the united states of
america. '' KLU KLUX KLAN '' ETC. ECT. ECT.
president to give the whole military a christmas present !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
years of this quagmire is enough. What can be accomplished there has been
accomplished. Bin Laden is dead, Al-Quada is significantly weakened.
POLYGAMY IS STILL BEING HELD AT BAY , AND TRICKLED DOWN REAGANOMICS REMAINS IN IT'S GRAVE OF THAT GENERATIONAL TIME. REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T HAD A PLAN SINCE IT'S LAST NAIL ON IT'S COFFIN. THEY ARE NOW CALLED '' DITTO ZOMBIES '' !!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Democrat will vote Republican ...we just dont have a good leader.
I wonder if the decision to go to war would be so easy if the country would have to pay for it when we did. If 18 yr olds were drafted into the military. We have made it so easy to pull the trigger now, fewer and fewer Americans know someone who is in the military and is in harms way. If taxes had to tripple to cover the costs would all those 1%'s and conseratives be so hot for a conflict? As I said its easy to pull the trigger now without any hurt involved.
I don't see much difference on Iran. Sure the President is very careful how he says things...very polite, very presidential. As he should. The members of congress have never adhered to such politeness. They aren't speaking for the country in geo-politics like the president does. But when it comes to Iran, I don't see any real policy difference.
Both the President and the GOP, and most Democrats in the congress as well, publicly say that Iran getting a bomb is unacceptable. Most of them say that it can not be aloud to happen. Most of them say publicly that they want the sanctions to work and that they want to come to a diplomatic solution to the problem and they all say publicly that the "military" option is on the table.
I guess maybe the President might give diplomacy a little more time....one could argue that point for sure, but they all seem to say that at some point, before they get the bomb, they would use military force. Don't they all say that? The UN seems to think that them getting the bomb is getting ever closer to happening and if the president says the military option is on the table, then even he apparently can only let diplomacy and sanctions work for so long....if he really means what he says about the military option.
I personally don't think sanctions will ever stop them from getting a bomb and although I think them getting one would be bad for all kinds of reasons, I'm not completely sold on the notion that we have a right to tell them they can't. If Israel were to attack them, and it is looking more and more likely that they will, it might be a win win for us.....as long as we don't get drug into it.
I just don't see that much difference between the president and the GOP....they are both saying, at some point, we will us military force. Just my thoughts Cheers
The most stark -- clear -- contrast is that the zionist-jewish lobby owns the GOP, but, does not own President Obama.
netanyahu came to the USA to preach his zionist-thug lies and total BS, and while he clearly has not fooled European leaders (they openly discusss netanyahu as a total liar), netasnyahu has -- in all his self-serving sleaziness -- catered his beggar lies to the political opportunism of the warmongering zionist-shills in the so-called GOP.
The expansionist zionist-types like netanyahu, COMPLETE LIARS ANBD MANIPULATORS who seek to have the USA fight and pay for their "security".
But, make no mistake, zionist led israel is not the USA's friend, not an ally, and much more like a parasite.
War with Iran or Syria is not necessary, not warranted, and definitely not in the best interests of the American people -- but the interests of the American people is the very last thing netanyahu or any zionists care for.
Bottom line is, lying zionist thugs like netanyahu are as much an enemy to US interests as are anyone else in the Middle East.
Ron Paul has it right on this one, get out, get out now and don't look back.
And watch the Iranians take out the whole fleet with a few conventional anti-ship-missiles. US would be be forced to go nuclear (Iranian holocaust), or scamper away like a beaten dog.
Better yet Mitt, invade Iran from stations in Afghanistan and put another $2 or $3 trillion onto the tax payer tab.
The most radical regime in the world is when the GOP open there mouths and project terror all over the world.This would be a nightmare for all freedom loving people in the world. The GOP can not see is the military spending is the nightmare that killed the american dream.
Romney is a coward and so are his children. Apparently it's OK to send other peoples children to war at the drop of a hat but he and his sons have never served, none of them! The GOP makes me sick, it doesn't matter what President Obama says or wants to do, they will always disagree to the detriment of our nation. The world is watching and we look like clowns.
You can add Santorum, Gingrich and the entire GOP top brass to the list of cowards that would gleefully send your kids and mine to their deaths in Iran, then make us pay the bill for it while they created another tax loophole for themselves.
I'm retired Navy. My son's a Sgt in the Army with one tour in Afghanistan under his belt and his wife is deploying next month for her THIRD stint in Afghanistan. My son and daughter-in-law were and ARE being sent to war! NOT by the GOP nanameaof5 and NOT by Santorum or Gingrich socraticFun. By Obama! His "foreign policy" is horrendous! And don't get me wrong! Bush's was just as bad if not worse!
To slam Republicans for not "serving" is ludicrous. H.W. Bush earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in WWII, Reagan was an Army Capt. in WWII (barred from combat due to poor eyesight), Ford was a Navy LCDR and served on the USS Monterey during WWII, Nixon a Navy CMDR who served on various South Pacific islands in WWII and Eisenhower served in BOTH WWI and WWII.
We're talking about a surgical strike of two nuclear plants. Several Tomahawk missiles would do the trick without ANY US military personnel setting FOOT in Iran! NOT "sending kids to their deaths, so don't make Santorum, Gingrich and the rest of the GOP candidates out to be some kind of happy-go-lucky warpigs!!!
I DO agree with your statement "the world is watching and we look like clowns". And if something decisive isn't done soon (sanctions are NOT working nor never have!) the world will be watching when Tel Aviv or Jerusalem (or an American city near you) goes up in a mushroom cloud!!!
Republicans are showing some real courage here.
Republicans are willing to send wave after wave of other people's sons and daughters to their death so that the wealthiest few can get just a little richer.
It takes some really big ones to say that!
We've all been victim in the past of wrackless GOP foriegn policy. Many have died are been permanantly scared by the uncessesary war in Iraq. The GOP seems ready to rush off to war. It's not the first time. War is good for business and the GOP considers war and jobs program. They are wreckless and shouldn'rt be in charge of our military mite. Obama is doing just fine. He's taking care of those terrorists too in good order. That's something Bush could never do.
You've GOT to be kidding me! Obama had to be poked and prodded into FINALLY giving the OK to take Bin Laden out. In fact,,the CIA and Navy Intelligence people BEGGED him not to announce it had happened for at least several weeks. We confiscated all of Bin Ladens computers and cell phones, etc which contained links to his vast network of terrorists. We had that information in our hands and could have tracked down and/or infiltrated many MANY of Bin Ladens henchmen. But NOOOOOOOO,,,Obama-Lama-Ding-Dong just HAD to tell the world right away, including the terrorist network which cut and ran.
If that's too hard for you to understand,,,here's an analogy for you. It's like having a hundred cockroaches running around in your house, stepping on the biggest one, letting all the rest of them run away and proclaiming "Look what I did! Look what I did! Aint I great?!?!"
"taking care of those terrorists too in good order"???? Yeah right!!! Wake up knucklehead!!!
democrats... a cauldron of cowards and socialists.