Obama's rating: Strong. But Average. And Way Divided.

[Frigidus]

It's official...people would rather argue about Juan than either Robert Byrd or President Obama. Enjoy your new celebrity status, JB!

We try to be as shallow as possible. We lapse into relevance occasionally, but nobody's perfect.

[GabonX]

Besides, I kicked ass in that thread.

No, yours and Gabon's blockheaded-ness made me want to kill myself, and I gave up on both of you.

Fallacy!

[Juan_Bottom]

Juan, you can't preach tax cuts instead of stimulus, worship Peter Schiff, and be absolutely opposed to the bailouts and claim to be a liberal.

lol, the first two never even happened. Oh, You did forget support Ron Paul. Oh, and the troops...

Alright Juan. I give up on you. I guess you "kicked my ass".

Who-Ya!

I ask you to really evidence yourself and you give up instead. lol. Enjoy your fail.

It's official...people would rather argue about Juan than either Robert Byrd or President Obama. Enjoy your new celebrity status, JB!

Id repeat from my earlier post, if you choose to be an ideologue thats perfectly ok, you wont break out into hives.

And I'll repeat mine, give me a reason I can only be a Libertarian. I have already been saying for a long time that I am a liberal who leans Libertarian. But that I am not one. If you really want to make an arguement then try supporting it.

to define the numerous positions you post about and start threads on in the board.

What positions would those be? Seems to me we've only ever discussed like 5.
Bailout/stimulus, domestic spying, war on terror, universal healthcare, taxes?, supporting Israel?, homosexuality being a choice?....

[GabonX]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an audience Friday "never waste a good crisis," and highlighted the opportunity of rebuilding economies in a greener, less energy-intensive way.

Highlighting Europe's unease the day after Russia warned that gas flows via Ukraine might be halted, she also condemned the use of energy as a political lever.

Clinton told young Europeans at the European Parliament that global economic turmoil provided a fresh opening. "Never waste a good crisis ... Don't waste it when it can have a very positive impact on climate change and energy security," she said.

Europe sees the United States as a crucial ally in global climate talks in Copenhagen in December, after President Barack Obama signaled a new urgency in tackling climate change, in stark contrast to his predecessor George W. Bush.

Europe has already laid out plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions to about a fifth below 1990 levels in the next decade, while Obama has proposed a major shift toward renewable energy and a cap and trade system for CO2 emissions.

But with many countries in the grip of a punishing recession, some question whether businesses can muster the hundreds of billions of dollars needed to cut carbon emissions.

"Certainly the United States has been negligent in living up to its responsibilities," said Clinton, on her first visit to Europe as secretary of state.

"This is a propitious time ... we can actually begin to demonstrate our willingness to confront this."

Clinton said she was encouraged by China's stance on climate change during a visit there last month.

"It is very important that at the beginning of this effort, China has expressed a willingness to participate," she told reporters. "They realize they've just surpassed the unfortunate record that we just held of being the largest carbon emitter."

POLITICAL LEVER

Many politicians argue that the economic crisis, energy security issues and climate change can all be dealt with in a "New Green Deal," replacing high-carbon infrastructure with green alternatives and simultaneously creating millions of jobs.

"There is no doubt in my mind the energy security and climate change crises, which I view as being together, not separate, must be dealt with," Clinton added.

She attacked the use of energy as a political weapon, echoing Europe's worries after repeated spats between Russia and gas transit country Ukraine hit EU supplies in recent years.

"We are ... troubled by using energy as a tool of intimidation," she said. "We think that's not in the interest of creating a better and better functioning energy system."

Clinton is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for dinner in Geneva in the hope of improving relations after a post-Cold War low during Bush's presidency.

The latest cuts to Russian gas exports in January forced the closure of factories, hospitals and schools in Eastern Europe in mid-winter.

A new row between Ukraine and Russia appeared to have been averted Thursday after state-owned Gazprom said Ukraine settled payments at the heart of the disagreement.

But European leaders were rattled by the warning of cuts to supply by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

http://in.reuters.com/article/environme ... dChannel=0

[InkL0sed]

And you posted this why?

[LYR]

And you posted this why?

To see if posted a random article would draw feedback. It works most of the time.

[radiojake]

'Never waste a good crisis' is the mantra for all politician's and business leaders -

Look at all the oppurtunities the South East Asian Tsunami of 2005 opened up for investors wanting to illegally snap up cheap coastal land to build resorts on, while displacing local fishing families. Hurricane Katrina gave the private sector in New Orleans the chance to remove all those unneccesary public institutions and turn them all into for profit. What good is something if it's not making money, right?
Am I missing one? Oh yeah, i think the crisis known as the 'war on terror' has served a great tool in cashing in on - this one being a particularly good one because it can last indefinitly -

[bedub1]

hillary says "reset" but really means "overcharge". welcome to the real America. we accidentally say what we mean.

[GabonX]

Report: Obama intel pick was part of 'Iran lobby'

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's appointment as head of a U.S. intelligence council has been identified by the Center for Security Policy as a member of the 'Iran lobby'.

Also, government sources said Charles Freeman, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and appointed to head the National Intelligence Council, has expressed anti-Semitic views in government meetings. At one meeting, the sources said, Freeman turned to Jewish staffers of Congress and questioned their loyalty to the United States.
A report by the Center for Security Policy identified Freeman as a member of the so-called Iran lobby, which has been pressing the United States to lift sanctions from and reconcile with the regime in Teheran, Middle East Newsline reported. In a Feb. 25 report authored by Clare Lopez, the center cited Freeman's signature on a petition in 2006 for the Bush administration to improve relations with Iran without preconditions.

Freeman, 65, was selected by U.S. National Intelligence director Adm. Dennis Blair to head NIC, responsible for the National Intelligence Estimate.

"This is a really serious error on the part of Dennis Blair and the Obama administration," Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy and an official under the administration of President Ronald Reagan, said.
"Both in government and certainly in the period since he left government, he has compromised the objectivity that one would want in the person whose job it is to oversee the production of National Intelligence Estimates."

The sources said Blair sent Freeman on missions to China when the former was head of U.S. Pacific Command. From 1979 to 1981, Freeman was director for Chinese affairs at the State Department.

As NIC chairman, the sources said, Freeman, who joined the State Department in 1965, would serve as gatekeeper to U.S. intelligence. They said he would decide what intelligence and analysis would be released to Congress and the American public.

In 2007, NIC released a National Intelligence Estimate that asserted that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003, a conclusion later renounced by many in the Bush administration.

"This man can't help himself," a government source who worked with Freeman said. "He is rabidly anti-Semitic and everything he does ends up involving Israel and Jews."

"As NIC chief, Freeman would encourage rapproachment with Iran and an appeasement policy toward China," a congressional staffer who worked with Freeman said. "He will play a very significant role in the U.S. intelligence community."

The sources recall one government briefing by Freeman on China that included Jewish staffers of Congress. At one point in the briefing, the sources said, Freeman pointed to the Jews, calling them "you people" and questioning their loyalty to the United States.

"It was shocking, mostly because the briefing had nothing to do with Israel, the Middle East or Jews," a participant said. "He just simply saw some Jews in the room and went at them."

The sources said Obama did not seek Freeman, who never held a job in the intelligence community, to chair NIC. They said Freeman, president of the Saudi-funded Middle East Policy Council since 1997, was sought by Blair and approved by CIA director Leon Panetta.

On Feb. 26, Blair formally selected Freeman as NIC chairman. The appointment does not require approval by Congress.

"Freeman is reportedly the Obama administration's pick to be the next chairman of the hugely sensitive National Intelligence Council, a position from which he would be able to exercise profound influence on U.S. policies towards Iran," the CSP eport said.

Several members of Congress have called for an investigation into the appointment of Freeman. The members, including House Republicans and Democrats, have demanded a review of Freeman's links with Saudi Arabia and whether they pose a conflict of interest with his new job.

"In a position as critical as this, we need to ensure that American interests are being served and that no one in the position has established ties to other governments or entities materially supported by foreign governments," Rep. Steve Israel, a New York Democrat and member of the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, wrote in a letter to Edward Maguire, inspector-general of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribun ... _03_03.asp

[Juan_Bottom]

Also, government sources said Charles Freeman, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and appointed to head the National Intelligence Council, has expressed anti-Semitic views in government meetings. At one meeting, the sources said, Freeman turned to Jewish staffers of Congress and questioned their loyalty to the United States.

Because they are Jewish? Why doesn't it say "because they were Jewish?"

A report by the Center for Security Policy identified Freeman as a member of the so-called Iran lobby, which has been pressing the United States to lift sanctions from and reconcile with the regime in Teheran, Middle East Newsline reported. In a Feb. 25 report authored by Clare Lopez, the center cited Freeman's signature on a petition in 2006 for the Bush administration to improve relations with Iran without preconditions.

How does that make him an Iranian lobbiest?

"Both in government and certainly in the period since he left government, he has compromised the objectivity that one would want in the person whose job it is to oversee the production of National Intelligence Estimates."

How again? Because these guys want a war to stop Iran's oil bank? I completely fail to see a connection here....

In 2007, NIC released a National Intelligence Estimate that asserted that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003, a conclusion later renounced by many in the Bush administration.

Because they wanted a war to stop the oil bank... and their lobbiest friends wanted to get richer, quicker...

"This man can't help himself," a government source who worked with Freeman said. "He is rabidly anti-Semitic and everything he does ends up involving Israel and Jews."

Ok, so still, we have no one to source, and no proof of anything either. Gah...

The sources recall one government briefing by Freeman on China that included Jewish staffers of Congress. At one point in the briefing, the sources said, Freeman pointed to the Jews, calling them "you people" and questioning their loyalty to the United States.

"It was shocking, mostly because the briefing had nothing to do with Israel, the Middle East or Jews," a participant said. "He just simply saw some Jews in the room and went at them."

What??? This is getting stupid. How again did he "see some Jews?"

The sources said Obama did not seek Freeman, who never held a job in the intelligence community, to chair NIC. They said Freeman, president of the Saudi-funded Middle East Policy Council since 1997, was sought by Blair and approved by CIA director Leon Panetta.

Maybe this is what makes him a lobbyist for Iran?



Politics. No proof, no evidence, just "burn him he's a wich."

[InkL0sed]

I've looked him up, and it seems to me that he's critical of Israel, not anti-Semitic.

The quotes in the article are anonymous and not very convincing.

[joecoolfrog]

Yet another bash Obama thread.........Frog yawns

[Juan_Bottom]

I don't think the Iran article was an Obama bash, I think it was a political "support Israel or else we'll use terrorism against you" attack.

[got tonkaed]

I think hes currently under the same treatment you were getting when you were posting a lot of articles on a variety of issues. Maybe not the fairest thing in the world, but it sort of fits under the obama theme well enough.

[Frigidus]

I'd rate Obama as strong, yet gentle. Also, he smells nice.

[Juan_Bottom]

See this is what I hate... Again, I get the F-ing credit for all of the anti-Obama threads. RAAAAAAAGE!!!! I swear whatever mod did that did it on purpose....