The not so great debate.

[The Big Dog]

There is nothing wrong with talking. Mr. McCain has said so repeatedly, including in the debate. What was in question was Mr. Obama's prior statements that, as president, he would personally meet with the likes of Ahmadinejad without any pre-conditions, which in diplomacy speak means without any talks to get ground rules and basic issues ironed out ahead of time. Head of state to head of state.

That is wrong at many levels, and now Mr. Obama has been called on it again (Senator Clinton worked him over hard with it during the primary season) he has backpedalled even further, and tried to spin some remarks by Dr. Kissinger out of context to support his idea.

Again... no one on the Republican side is saying "don't talk". The current administration has been an active participant in multi-lateral talks with North Korea (until the bad Koreans walked away from the table in one of their typically recalcitrant displays of foolishness). The current administration has indeed been talking at lower levels with Iran for some time, and has been working with the Euros to try to bring the Iranians to the table.

The quest for Democrat spin, absent of fact in evidence, as always leads to an easily refuted talking point.

[jgaffney]

The key question for me was when Jim Lehrer asked:

[W]hat are you going to have to give up, in terms of the priorities that you would bring as president of the United States, as a result of having to pay for the financial rescue plan?

Obama went on to list a litany of new spending programs that he thought were too important to even think about cutting. McCain proposed a spending freeze. That, I think, in a nutshell, illustrates a critical difference between the candidates. Other than the appalling lack of experience of the Democrat candidate, that is.

If Obama can't decide to cut any of his pet projects in the face of a financial crisis, what do you think he will do when the Social Security or Medicare tidal wave hits?

[bolverk]

Sept 27, 2008 21:46:27 GMT -5 Mink said:

Kissinger has been documented of saying both statements....there goes his credibility.

Bullshit.

Kissenger never said they should have Presidential level talks without precondition. The only person who is losing credibility is you by claiming Kissenger did. But, what is new. You are just playing on what Kissneger said to try and alleviate the huge mistake Barack Hussein Obama made in claiming "he would have Presidential level talks without preconditions." A mistake that he has been trying to back away from for some time.

And, to be quite honest with you, if Barack Hussein Obama had come out and said, "I made a mistake when I said that." I would have had a great deal more respect for him. But, he is sticking with his Chicago style politics.