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The bin Laden killing, one year later – how quickly things change … Republicans cry foul that Obama campaign is using the death as a reelection weapon … Foreign policy vs. the economy (it’s still the economy) … Is Obama the Warrior in Chief? … Another veep tryout – this time it’s Romney with New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. … Gingrich to drop out Wednesday.
Believe it or not, tomorrow marks a year since Osama bin Laden was killed. We wrote then: “While it’s doubtful that Osama bin Laden’s death will have as long of a political impact [as 9/11] -- especially in this fast-changing, short-term memory media landscape -- it will surely shape the contours of next year’s presidential race. … Last night changes everything (for now), but we also know how quickly it can dissipate.” And dissipate it did. The president’s bump – for something that was as big a singular accomplishment that any president could have -- was short-lived, because of the economy and the debt-ceiling fight. It’s a reminder of just how important the economy is that the bump was never as big as it would have been under normal circumstances. (By the way, NBC’s Rock Center went inside the decision making of the killing of bin Laden. Brian Williams previewed his interview with the president on Meet the Press. The full show, with interviews of others that were in the room) airs Wednesday at 9:00 pm ET.
Caption: NBC's Domenico Montanaro discusses the politics of the one year anniversary of the Osama Bin Laden raid, and New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte gets a look as a possible vice president for Mitt Romney.
*** Playing politics: Republicans are crying foul at the Obama campaign’s touting of the killing (and using it in a campaign video charging that Mitt Romney might not have made the same call. There are two lines of attack: (1) Republicans are trying to minimize the accomplishment, saying anyone would have done it; and (2) They say he’s politicizing everything, including foreign policy. Ed Gillespie, an adviser to the Romney campaign and former Bush adviser said on Meet the Press: “This is one of the reasons President Obama has become one of the most divisive presidents in American history. He took something that was a unifying event … and he’s managed to turn it into a divisive, partisan, political attack. … I think most Americans will see it as a sign of a desperate campaign.” It’s fascinating to watch Democrats try to demagogue foreign policy, the way Republicans do and have done over the years (see Cheney, Dick in 2004). Republicans usually find themselves almost overreacting when Democrats go over the top in their foreign policy attacks. Count on some REALLY heated cable and Twitter rhetoric this week on this topic as the run-up to the bin Laden anniversary kicks in.
Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks to troops at Third Infantry Division Headquarters at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Georgia, on April 27, 2012, prior to Obama signing an Executive Order to protect them from deceptive targeting by educational institutions.
*** Warrior in Chief? The Romney campaign has pushed the issue of foreign policy, trying to paint Obama as weak and appeasing (especially when it comes to Iran). The GOP would have liked to paint the picture of Obama as a feckless, weak president, lacking strength. But despite the rhetoric, Obama’s foreign policy has been incredibly muscular. In fact, Peter Bergen of the New America Foundation in the New York Times Sunday Review provocatively casts President Obama as the “Warrior in chief,” ticking off several of Obama’s foreign-policy raids, killings, and use of drones. The death of bin Laden undercut any hopes Republicans had of being able to paint Obama as Jimmy Carter. And he makes the point of this disconnect: “Despite countervailing evidence, most conservatives view the president as some kind of peacenik. From both the right and left, there has been a continuing, dramatic cognitive disconnect between Mr. Obama’s record and the public perception of his leadership….” Make no mistake, had it failed, that’s exactly how he would have been portrayed. Bergen writes that if Romney runs a risk when criticizing Obama on foreign policy. If he tries to portray him as “a typical, weak-on-national-security Democrat,” then “he will very likely trap himself into calling for a war with Iran, which many Americans oppose.”
*** McCain as top foreign-policy attack dog: Taking the lead on the attack, though, is Sen. John McCain, Obama’s 2008 opponent (who also believes Obama hasn’t had courage to act in Syria). McCain, now a Romney surrogate, said Obama’s “diminishing the memory of September 11th,” and accused him of “doing a shameless end-zone dance.” It’s a fine line. McCain clearly doesn’t mind playing this role. He says things Romney couldn’t get away with and it’s something that’s quite beneficial to Romney. If Romney said what McCain did, Romney might get ridiculed. It’s an interesting role that McCain is willing to play. It could be a preview of the role McCain might play going forward in the campaign -- traditional role of VP, but on foreign policy. McCain doesn’t mind going personal with Obama, as he’s demonstrated since 2008. You can try to explain away McCain’s motives all you want, but it could be oddly effective for Romney.
USA Today's Susan Page, The Washington Post's Dan Balz, and The Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page discuss the Romney campaign's accusation that President Obama is politicizing the death of Osama Bin Laden.
*** STILL THE ECONOMY: But for all the talk of foreign policy and how much credit Obama deserves or whether or how he should be touting it, the most important issue this election – as it was a year ago -- remains the economy. It should be like a flashing red sign – IT’S THE ECONOMY, IT’S THE ECONOMY. Jobs will get a fresh look Friday when the latest report comes out. The unemployment rate has been essentially flat for three months. Even though the rate has come down from a high of 10.0%, if the rate continues to appear not to drop very much or the trajectory seems flat, that is going to be a problem for the incumbent president. Watch the trajectory; it will tell you the whole ballgame.
*** Another veep tryout: Today’s another veep tryout with Romney and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte at 10:50 am ET. Though she’s been a senator for just two years, Ayotte served as New Hampshire’s attorney general (she was appointed by Republican Craig Benson in 2003 and RE-appointed by a Democratic governor). The Republican Party’s problems with women have been well documented over the last few months. If Romney is going to pick a woman, the most serious candidate is likely Ayotte. That is, aside from Condoleezza Rice if she wants it, and there’s no indication she does. But the shadow of Palin still looms large over the GOP pick, and the Romney team may be more risk averse because of it. But as GOP 12’s Heinze wrote last week: “Sarah Palin didn't prove that picking a woman doesn't help with women. Palin was simply the wrong woman.” (By the way, over the weekend, NBC’s Alex Moe reported that Newt Gingrich would officially drop out Wednesday.)
*** Obama fundraises with Clinton: There were a couple striking things at the fundraiser with President Clinton this weekend at the home of Terry McAuliffe: (1) How little Romney was mentioned. After a weekend and week of going after Romney personally, last night was more in line with where the Obama campaign was when this campaign first started -- go after the entire GOP. It was more the theme of -- they want to take you back, it’s their failed economic policies on steroids, not the party of Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt; it’s not their Republican Party. (2) This was not an ordinary Obama fundraiser speech. Here, he was trying to follow one of the Democratic Party’s best economic communicators. Obama knew he was on friendly turf, but not the friendliest turf, as he was trying to appeal to Clinton people. One Democratic source who is more of a member of Team Clinton than Team Obama described last night as kind of like a “first date” between Clinton and Obama; For the first time, this person could actually see the two of them starting to bond; It took a while for Clinton to get over 2008 but so far, things have gone well in this courtship. Two more Obama-Clinton fundraisers to go; New York and PROBABLY Hollywood.
*** A way to bring up Seamus: Don’t overlook the fact that the White House used the opportunity of the White House Correspondents Dinner -- when they knew they’d get lighter coverage for what they did – put a story that they’ve struggled to put into the mainstream, quietly trying to do for months, the Seamus story. It was frankly a way to get Seamus out there. Yes, Obama made fun of himself and eating dog, but they’ll take that to get the Seamus story mainlined; They’ve been trying for months.
** Waiting on Lugar’s fate: There are just eight days until the Indiana Senate primary that could see the ouster of the most senior Republican in the Senate. AP today wonders whether Richard Lugar waited too long to brand his opponent. On Friday, the 2008 GOP presidential ticket split its endorsement – John McCain endorsed Lugar; Sarah Palin endorsed his challenger and Tea Party favorite, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Mitt Romney said he was staying out of it. A poll aligned with Mourdock showed him up 44-39% Thursday. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette headline: “Hundreds cheer Mourdock at city rally.” The rally was organized by Tea Party Express, which has played a big role in this race.
Countdown to Indiana Senate/Wisconsin recall primaries: 8
Countdown to Wisconsin recall election: 36
Countdown to Election Day: 190 days
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Leave a Comment:
it would be great to see how politicians just admit that killing ben ladin was a combined effort of information gathering during the bush years ( water boarding the demo;s opposed) and the military organization during the obama presidency instead the don 't reach across the aile like they said would do or be transparent to work on something American people want. Obama is reaching for anything good he can use to make himself look good problem is he will run out of things
No credible or valuable information came from water boarding. Sorry, that is the conclusion of the CIA and US Military Intelligence.
PS every time Obama attempts to reach across the isle, he gets his hand bitten by the rabid mongrels in the T-party whose stated goal is to destroy America so they can all live out their sick vision of the 18th Century.
In their little minds, the solution to everything is out the end of a gun as we go back to the wild frontier days of Daniel Boone. They have not thrown away their little coon skin caps yet.
Sorry, fools, you cannot go back, maybe you could join up with one of those re-enactment groups and get some kicks out of your cap guns there.
Willard Romney would have outsourced the operation to the lowest bidder.
Why exactly would a billion dollars matter to a tribesman in Afghanistan?
Speaking of low,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,have you had an I.Q. test lately?
Can anyone imagine if a Republican President had been the one to focus on Osama Bin Laden and then got his man??? Oh yeah, they would simply keep mum about it and be like a little good boy, all proud and quiet, give me a break. Recall how Rudy Giuliani would bring up 9/11 when he was Mayor of NYC at every instance, every question or comment would refer back to his "heroics" of 9/11. Give me a break. Dubya wearing that stupid flight jacket with "Mission Accomplished" for the world to see. Give me a break.
Does anyone here seriously think that were Bush not completely incompetent and had actually taken out bin Laden, that he wouldn't be telling us about it every single day? Just like every other word out of his mouth was "911", so he would have also bragged "bin Laden is dead, and I killed him!"
It's a HUGE accomplishment, how is it President Obama's fault that Republicans were too incompetent to get the job done? He's earned the bragging rights!
There is nothing political about it, It is plain and simple, Obama got the job done within 24 months of holding office. With Bush, Dick and Rumsfield clowns still would have been searching for weapons of mass destruction and Bin Laden for another decade at expense of trillions of dollars of tax payer's money or by owing everything to communist China.
no one can admit it was a combined effort pointing the finger at someone that it's their fault seems more important than jobs,housing,energy and the economy it's all talk
When, if ever will candidates running for public office tell us about all the good plans, policies and ideas they have that make them the most qualified for whatever public elected office ? When will they stop harping about all the reasons the opponent is not qualified ?........I for one am so tired of the half, or no truth negative ads about how the other guy would be worse than me...........And let us voters do something to stop all the negativity.
Voters of each state have legislative powers by way of propositions (initiatives) to enact an anti-character assassination law which would make it illegal to use a visual image, partial statement, hearsay or inaccurate data to demean any individual without that specific individuals written permission.
A campaign should be more about why you would be a good candidate, not why the other guy would be worse than you.
Stop a while and read comment # 511.1
I read it Jamrod, good post. However, the question is do we just complain, or do we do something to change the culture in American politics ?
The point I am trying to make to readers in many of my posts is we, as a people can do much more than complain about the unethical behavior in American politics. Voters of each state can take off their party hats and exercise their veto proof legislative powers to enact laws governing public elected officials within their respective states, including mandating public elected adhere to specific terms and conditions associated with holding a public elected office.
Yes sireeee, we can certainly add our two cents worth to the debate, or we can choose to take action, choose sides .
Since the Republicans are hell bent on self destruction this will aid them in their endeavor. The presidents party has something to talk about and they have nothing. If there was an award for being an obstructionist they, the Republican's would win hand down. What I love about the Republican's spokes people is that they make things up. This president has been the most divisive in the history of the US??? There is no war on women??? Legislation dealing with abortion etc up 110% with these kooks.
That's a GOOD thing.
Didn't republicans politicize the fact that Bin Laden was still alive during mid-term elections?
It's only wrong to politicize foreign policy successes if you're a Democrat.
Correct, they despise the military.
USNRET,
As I said in an earlier post you folks make thing sup then believe your melarchy. First lie, the Iraqis fired at our jets daily. False. They were afraid to turn their radar on as our guys would hone in on them and take them out fact! Water boarding did not get the information you suggest. I know the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus will save the Republican Party!
obama is the worst ever hes a socilast and has divided our country more than anyone ever has...our first illeagal commander,,or wanna be comander..he was to chicken to sign up for the military he is a total country destroyer and massive divider of people..maybe even the anti-christ...jurys still out on that one..lol
Grow up
I have unassailable proof that Romney was born in a lab as a test tube baby. ( Not sure if it was an American lab though )
He also secretly wants to re-instate the Mormon practice of multiple wives when he gets into office.
While at Bain Romney joined the Bildeburg group to advance the policies for a New World Order.
There is also talk from the Romney camp about relocating the American Muslim.
Why do we even bother questioning a person that can't even spell Texas correctly? (dont mess with texsas) lol
Texas,
Thanks for that post it totally supports the conclusion that Republicans are conspiracy addicts and believe that the government and the black helicopters are watching you now.
You know it's just political whinning when the complaint is that you are taking credit for something just for political reasons.
This is funny coming from the Republicans who have politicized everything. They think it's terrible when Obama gets credit for anything. It's a legitimate criticism, Romney as much as told us he wasn't worried about bin Laden. And then to have John McCain be the attack dog is even funnier. Here is a man who has been on the wrong side of just about every foreign policy decision. pro Iraq war, pro Afghan war, pro Libyan war (wanted troops there), pro Georgian war, pro Iranian war, pro Syrian war. He thinks we should have troops everywhere. He seems to be pointing to where Romney wants to take us.
THE SHAME IS THAT OF A BITTER MCCAIN UNABLE TO GET OVER HIS LOST TO OBAMA and ROMNEY WANTING OBAMA’S ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN A QIUET ROOM.
RUBBISH! This rubbish is coming from people whose first and only goal is to make Obama a one term President—a decision they made on day one of his Presidency. Their criticism of Obama is obviously not a neutral argument: It is all SELF-SERVING. They DON’T want any acknowledgement of Obama’s accomplishments and they have openly criticised Obama on even his very successful foreign policy initiatives. Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" on one of America's premier war ships for a mission he did not accomplish—and Republicans never criticised him for doing so. Obama who actually accomplished the mission never did that. Now key Republican supporters of Romney are criticizing Obama for running on his record which they had said he was not running on. Funny too, Romney and other Republicans shout to us that Obama doesn't want to run on his record. It is a shell game. Let them spare us their feigned anger, please! Obviously, it is to their advantage if Obama would not talk about his solid accomplishments—hence they are ANGRY (as always) that he is. Thus they are angry when he talks about the killing of Osama bin Laden and the success of the auto-industry! It is all self-serving as Romney supporters. Detroit and bin Laden are all part of Obama’s distinguished record, but when he runs on his record, Republicans are jealously inflamed because they have no answer to that. What they really want Obama to do to not respond and be simply a door mat while they use dirty money from Wall Street to attack him and muddy the water with blatant falsehood! They are the ones who must be ashamed for trying from day on to sabotage the people's will and mandate! Finally, they are accusing Obama of “dividing” the country for daring to discuss his accomplishments in the open instead of “in a quiet room”, as Romney would put it. In reality, this is another case of projection. Republicans are the one who have been diving this country, pitting the rich against the poor; sabotaging the Obama administration from day one thus holding up the people’s business; shouting socialism on simple matters of social justice and equality; calling the President all kinds of names; starting and encouraging the “birther” movement and the Tea Party movement with one purpose in mind—to divide and conquer and get ordinary folks to work against their own interests. Is that patriotic?
GOP are sore losers. What else is new?
Would they rather we fetch Bin Laden out of the briny deep and resuscitate his corpse?
I have no problem giving Mr Obama "Got Bin Laden" credit. He gave the order, and the Navy Seals executed a successful mission on "Mr Obama's Watch".
That said. I would like him to accept the "credit" for things that have not gone as successfully. Such as:
Fast and Furious (RIP Border Agent Brian Terry)
Solyndra
Unemployment Rate over 8% for 3 years
Record increases in the National Debt
Record Increases in the Poverty Rate and Americans on Welfare and Food Stamps
Downgrade of the US Credit Rating
Your strange Morton Redneck.
NH_Shellback...............Very well said. Every word. Bravo.
NH_Shellback,
Fast & Furious? Same program ran under Bush.
Solyndra: well you'll have to excuse him for not having his crystal ball polished up.
Unemployment rate oner 8%: well we only have Republicans to thank for getting it that high, it's gonna take some time to reverse what the GOP caused.
Record increases in the national debt: This one seems to escape most Republicans, but I'll try not to use too many words so you understand. President no spend money, Congress spend all money. President not create debt, Congress create debt.
You see, Congress does 100% of the spending, the president does none. Just like the Republican congress under Bush. This century is over 12 years old now, of those 12 years the GOP controlled Congress for 10. The GOP congress has not passed one single balanced budget this century, yet they want to tell us that spending is out of control.
All the rest of it, poverty, food stamps, US credit rating, we have the GOP to thank for it.
What exactly do you think the president does? Maybe you should revisit 8th grade civics class.
Not surprising that your attempt to discuss Mr Obama's successes and failures boils down to a weak attempt by you to insult me, and the old blame someone else. So typical.
Republican George W. Bush ran footage of the World Trade Center being hit by planes on 9-11, in his reelection ads that ran on TV in 2004, and that wasn't taking our national tragedy & politicizing the event? For them to now claim Obama is using the killing of Bin Laden for political reasons is the height of hypocrisy. It is also pretty stupid, because it drives home Obama's point, that while the previous Republican President went on TV to declare he "Didn't care about Bin Laden", the current President made it a priority to find & get him. I think most Americans are glad he did.
That footage should be shown in every American classroom every morning before the Pledge Of Alligance.
Odummy vs O@!$%# //
No... it's a reminder of how the GOP pretty much determines the news narrative.
It really doesn't matter what Obama does. Whether it be good or bad the "conservatives" will find fault with it. They have trouble discussing anything without finding some way that than can say something bad about it. It must be terrible to hate everything so much.
Pot meet kettle— sheesh!
I'm not a conservative and I don't care the foriegn policy crap. I know Obama has not done anything he said he would do - that isn't half a$$ed complete and he doesn't know how to fund it.
Until you release the evidence from the sanctioned government execution, you do not earn a check mark for that. It is not like I am going to believe every thing someone tells me... show me the proof.
This whole discussion is pretty pathetic. The Navy Seals got OBL. Obama didn't get OBL any more than Bush got Saddam Hussein. Some highly trained and motivated kids were given an order and executed that order. Thank God they are out there representing us and doing the things we would never do, defending our right to be douchbags and "contribute" to threads such as this one.
sjkk.........WELL SAID.
The Navy Seals that Obama INHERITED!
Who was the Commander-in-Chief? Who made the decision? Who gave the order?
And who was going to take the blame if it failed?
Invisible Hand - We all know it would have been "Bush's Fault" if the mission failed.
No doubt. it's Ol' Tarballs answer to everything!
It's amazing how so many people think Obama deserves credit for giving the green light to capture or kill Bin Laden. Any of you, no matter if your a dem or rep or tea, if you think no other President of the United States Of America would NOT have made the same decision, then your really sick in the head. If your willing to put Obama up on that kind of a Pedistal, then you would also think it would be fine for Obama to praise Hitler and to say Hitler was the greatest man to ever walk the Earth ! It's fine to "Back your man" or stand behind your Party, but to put Obama on a Pedistal for making that decision...Wow...get help.
I judge Obama on his record. The Economy sucks and we are Bankrupt. China owns US. I'm not fond of Romney at all, but Obama had his chance. OMG now means Obama Must Go.
I believe that Dubya/Cheney did NOT use all rescources to get OBL.
OBL was a much better 'asset' to the GOP alive.
Without the ghost of OBL out there, the Iraq war would never have happened, the Patriot Act would not have even been considered...and TORTURE?
Corn Fed--We had Osama in our sights (literally) in 2002 in Bora Bora and the Bush administration wouldn't give the green light to take him out. They weren't sure enough it was him. And remember what Romney said, "It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."
That is completely FALSE!
EW--What is completely false? Romney's quote is readily available and the bit about Bora Bora comes from http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Tora_Bora_Report.pdf.
Mitt carries a little stick with a big mouth ! McCain carries a bigger stick. Mitt/McCain more of the same 2012.
The GOP is hoping in this election to fool all of the people all of the time.
That won't happen. As you can see from these comments, we're on to you.
wow..obama sure fooled all you naive libs........
Obama added an additional $1.6 TRILLION to the national debt for 2012,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,must have been the tab for Osama's coffin?
Romney & Ryan will add 4 TRILLION more to the debt & that is before their polices start another Middle East War
It takes short term spending & long term policies that address spending reductions to reduce long term debt...
Romney's Bushonomics 2.0 on steroids, flatly doesn't cut the mustard --- It's a doubling down on what created our economic collapse
Jim, by your logic, you really must hate Obama for "starting another" Middle Eastern War in Libya. Get a clue, we don't start wars there, Tyrants just get what they deserve once in a while
Libya was over & done with in record time without the loss of one American life & trillions in treasure
Republicans call that "Weak Leadership" ---- LOL
They wanted to create another Iraq War with an immediate "No Fly Zone" & "GO IT ALONE" ----- IRAQ, DEJA VU
In "record time", since when is months considered record time when Obama stated over with a few weeks? Get a clue, Obama took a back seat after first week of missiles. It was France and Britian that truly did the sorties. Just as you said, Another example of Obama weak leadership. Fighting from behind while claiming all the credit. Of course, Obama's War on Prosperity (code word "Operation Stimulus") against the US Economy cost more than Iraq, Afghanistan AND Lybia combined. It it time to get rid of Marxist waging war against the US Economy
Great going to all the great Americans, you are all Seaned Out, you are Limbaughed out and you are providing me great folly. Obama forever and ever, he is the President that you deserve for being so corrupt. To you this post make me a communist, say what?
Does anyone remember The 911 Mayor 911 of NY 911 Rudy 911 Giuliani?
While we all commend Mr. Giuliani for his calm that horrific day, he is unable to get a sentence out (to this day) without saying 911.