Since when did the American people let foreign groups or other countries influence our election? Is there any doubt that Bush and McBush are more of the same? McBush is giving Hamas much more influence by making this asinine claim. Russia was the "threat to the American way" and thankfully we had leaders with vision. Without statesmen to guide us through these times we might have had a different and much worse outcome. The thought that having talks with other countries is appeasement comes straight out of the dark ages. Once again....if this isn't the largest sign that McBush is 4 more years, I don't know what is.

It boggles the mind that Bush would criticize the notion of negotiating with "terrorists and radicals" at the 60th anniversary celebration of the creation of the State of Israel, which came about, in part, due to the actions of terrorists and radicals.

http://www.etzel.org.il/english/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehi_(group)

It seems Bush thinks the creation of the State of Israel was a mistake, along with the Good Friday Accords, and the end of Aparthied in South Africa.

Not a big Obama fan...something about him doesn't sit right with me. But I think he is using the old saying: "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer" as a way to deal with people that do not agree with the US. It might not be a bad strategy with some governments.

In Obamaland, people are only supposed to be nicey-nice to the soon-to-be-presumed-nominee.

In the meantime, his operatives are free to slice and dice the competition.

I am not sure that this is a campaign that is prepared for or can weather "The Prime Time."

Th Republicans will not be pulling any punches and talking pretty to them is unlikely to yield any more results than it will with Hamas-- even if he were to call Cindy McCain "Sweetie" AND "give her a kiss."

Instead of making a political attack on the President, who is conducting foreign affairs as a world leader, Obama should be providing a reasoned, responsible erudite response to what he considered "false accusation" by the President, as suggested by McCain. Is this the kind of "fly off the handle" response to be expected from Obama when other world leaders make comments that he disagrees with? This just goes to show Obama is out of his depth and completely unqualified and too inexperienced to be commander in chief and president. The pro-Obama media's response to his irresponsible, childish conduct shows continued fawning over him, as their candidate "who has become all but the presumptive Democratic nominee for president."

The pro-Obama biased media have interfered in, undermined, and subverted the Democratic presidential nominatino process. The pro-Obama biased media continue to sabotage Sen. Clinton's campaign. This media tyranny is our democracy's worse enemy.

Fear and smear is only one way the lowlife republicans want to win. Here is another: Republicans can't win elections based on their failed philosophies, so, they've latched onto a new plan: make it as hard and expensive as possible for people to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote.
Since the Supreme Court decided two weeks ago to uphold a draconian law in Indiana that requires citizens show a government issued photo ID to vote, Republican legislatures across the country have started moving fast to pass their own version of this horrible law.
And just like the poll taxes and literacy tests of the past, Republicans hide their real purpose under the banner of preventing possible voter fraud. But these laws are really about stopping senior citizen, low income, and newly registered Americans from voting. Why? Because they typically vote for Democrats. Already 19 states are rushing to pass anti-voting laws. And just this week, Missouri Republicans started taking it a step further. A photo ID isn't good enough; they want you to show your birth certificate or passport in the polling booth too.
What's next? Require a blood sample? Maybe a lock of hair? Or some of your DNA?

Would the Swamp please post the interview with McBush in 2006 where he said we would have to negotiate with Hamas?

This dust up tells you everything you need to know about John McCain and GW. The former maverick is now a lap dog to the Cheney/Bush regime. No longer someone to look up to. A man who's best days are behind him. He sold out for the brass ring.

Ok this needs to stop. The President is right. There are people you cannot reason with. Yes, Obama wants to pull out and have dialog with everyone.

There are mental problems with dictators like hussein, Stalin, Hitler, Napolean etc. You cannot reason with them. USA has to show their strength or we will be attacked. 100% positive we will.

Also, this is America. We have free speech here.

Pelosi should not be where she is. She's a mess. Obama is a mess.

Bush is 100% correct.

McCain is Bush'e biggest dittohead.

Sure, let's keep up the charade that the president isn't a complete nincompoop. Let's act like there's even a chance what he said in Israel wasn't stupid and offensive. Treat this as a serious question and maybe you'll fool some people.

Bush's comments are consistent with what he's been saying the last seven years, so this appears to be a non-story.

Hmmm, Democrats say there is a protocol about not criticizing the president while on foreign soil. Hmmm, seems to be Jimmy Carter has done just that. Hmmm, seems Bill Clinton has done just that. Hmmmm, seems Nancy Peloooozi has done just that.
In regard to this hulabaloo. First of all, Mark writes that the Bush administration has "dubbed" Iran and Syria as state sponsors of terror. Newsflash, Mark: It isn't just the Bush administration that has done that. Newsflash, Mark: They ARE state sponsors of terror. In fact, hasn't the media just reported in the last week how Syria and Iran has been helping Hezbollah in Lebanon against the Lebanese government?
Also, if St. Barack and the Democrats are so touchy about any comment regarding appeasement, perhaps their protest is because they know it to be true?!?!?

The Dems can't deny they are Neville Chamberlain style appeasers. So they blow smoke and feign outrage.

Heck, even Chamberlain had more backbone than today's Democrats.

Once again, liberals are all for free speech as long as it agrees with their agenda. Anything else is to be persecuted.

Kerry railed against Bush and US policies at Davos after he lost the 2004 election. Gore directly slammed the Bush policy after 9/11 in Saudi Arabia in 2003. Pelosi slammed US,Bush, policy during her trip to Syria. So this subtle slam is clearly an assault on any who believe in this type of policy but hardly the affront the Dems claim it is. The new Democratic strategy is to fight back with fervor and venom until everyone forgets the original message. For the record I'm not endorsing Bush policy just pointing out the hypocrisy.

Give me a break. Unlike the Democrats, he didn't call anyone a Nazi. He merely pointed out that, like the Allies before World War II, there are some who would negotiate with people who have no desire for peace and won't keep their end of the bargain. President Bush is right. This won't work.

Obama and the democrats better stop whining and complaining. Bush didn't even mention obama. I guess obama feels guilty wanting to meet with terrorist leaders. Obama needs to grow up!! Does he want to sit down and talk to bin laden? This is why obama will lose thankfully in the fall. What a bunch of whiners....

He was referring to Carter, but obviously Obama believes the shoe fits him as well. The truth hurts sometimes doesn't it, wussies?

Someday soon the libs will wake up and realize that our enemies see our weakness, and that weakness is appeasement.

As reported in today's Washington Post, McCain told an interviewer in 2006 that Hamas was there and had to be talked to. As for Iran, isn't that the country Ronald Reagan was going to send arms to in the late 80's? I realize politicians are often hypocritical, but Bush and McCain are taking it to a new level.

Who was the president in 1981?

"Algiers Accords
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Algiers Accords of January 19, 1981, were brokered by the Algerian government between the USA and Iran to resolve the situation that arose by the capture of American citizens in the American embassy in Tehran. By this accord the American citizens were set free.

Among its provisions it was stated:

* The US would not intervene in Iranian internal affairs
* The US would remove a freeze on Iranian assets and trade sanctions on Iran
* Both countries would end litigation between their respective governments and citizens referring them to international arbitration, namely the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal.
* The US would ensure that US court decisions regarding the transfer of any property of the former Shah would be independent from "sovereign immunity principles" and would be enforced
* Iranian debts to US institutions would be paid

The US chief negotiator was then-Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher."

I thought it was one of the most tackiest, classless, gutter level attacks.

To do this during a commemorative of another country on that countrys soil for political advancement was downright sewerage in respect for that country and ours.

I'm sure someone else wrote that speech being that Bush probably didn't know how to spell Apeasement before he saw the speech let alone knew what it meant.

EVERYTHING the cheneybush regime does has been beneath the dignity of the Office of the President. That's what they do. It should surprise no one that this empty little bobblehead would continue to spew filth and hatred.

Funny how Bush follows up his speech about not talking to "terrorists and radicals" with a visit to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who's country supports both.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2801017.ece

The truth of the matter is that Bush does negotiate with terrorists. Our own CIA has shown that the Saudi royal family helped fund the WTC bombing. But most terrorists don't have lots of oil under their terriroty, do they?

You bet he did. Maybe he forgot what his crew foisted on the Dixie Chicks.

Then, compounding his hypocrisy, popping off the plane in Riyadh to literally smooch King Abdullah to make sure he's feeling safe and secure with all the petro and defense dollars we've shipped him for his price manipulateed oil.

This guy is the worst President ever.

Obama is a pacifist. He will be the worst leader this country has had since Jimmy Carter darkened the doors of the White House. I think Obama will not be able to deal with the Muslims from which his father was a member. Our only hope in the United States is that either Hillary or McCain get the White House. I hope Americans wake up and see who Obama really is. He is a man that went to a Racist Church so he could get elected to the Senate. He is the most liberal Anti-American Senator serving. He has a mere two years of experience and now he wants to run the Country. Please take a close look at who he really is. Don't wait until Jan 09 to realize this man should not be President. Come on Wake Up. Please. Our Children deserve better.

Meanwhile, Senator McCain can add to his list of flip-flops:

"I asked: "Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?"

McCain answered: "They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that.""

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051503306.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

The Republican party since Ronald Reagan has been the party of fear and smear. George Bush is simply carrying on this tradition. It has been a very successful tactic over the years. The real problem for the republicans now is that having won power and implementing their crackpot social, economic and foreign policies is that they have demonstrated for all to see the emptiness that lies at the heart of the conservative movement. Bush and McCains latest smear is unlikely to gain traction against Obama.

Please post the 2006 interview of McBush by James Rubin in which McBush said Hamas is now the government of the Palestinians and we will need to talk to them. This guy is just about winning...that ain't security.

I'm no fan of Bush and I think Israel has received a free pass in our press with biased coverage for years, although in the past year that bias seems to have shifted a bit. That said, it was very appropriate for Bush to make his remarks in that setting. Reminding people that Israel has been "surrounded" for years, reminding them of events leading up to WWII, and of the deeds of Hitler is appropriate. And reminding us of Neville Chamberlain's disastrous diplomacy in an election year when many voters seem to want a giant chorus of Kumbaya is also approopriate. Obama's repeated statements (that he would, in person, deal with Iran's leader among others in the land of jihad) are statements that merit a warning, no matter how "political" that might seem. In fact, with all the press noise Obama generates, the only way to get a message like this before the American public is to do what Bush did, and he grabbed the headlines. Nevill Chamberlain's problem wasn't that he went to talk with Hitler. His problem was that he was naive enough to make a deal with Hitler (the 1938 Munich agreement, i.e. you leave us alone and you can slaughter Czechoslovakia to give Germany some "living space" or "Lebensraum." Then Chamberlain returned to England proclaiming that he had secured "Peace for Our Time." With that phrase and the accompanying photo ops, he created a slogo that was a prelude to the bombing of England itself. Obama's naive willingness to have a U.S. President sit down for face to face diplomacy with the likes of Iran's leader makes for a fine slogo ... but reality is waiting to bite. Obama needs to pay more attention to the security of the United States, including rebuilding our alliances with friends alienated by the way we conducted the Iraq war. Let the state department sit down with various thugs first if you must, and let experienced diplomats hammer out tough agreements before you get to sign the paper and have the photo op. But let's not send a future President to the table ... and let's lock him in the White House pantry if he tries to do that ... because such a meeting sends a message of weakness. That a bumbling current President like Bush should be the one to send the message to Obama is not only ironic, it's also appropriate. That he chose to send the message before the governing body of our strongest ally is a reminder ... before you sit down with our enemies, don't forget our friends. The damage Bush did to our alliances in the west must be repaired. After all, they didn't attack us in 2001.

Pete and Re-Pete should take their ventriloquist's show on the road !! As to who is the Dummy, your guess is as good as anyone's!! I do know, Senator John " Questionable Conduct " McCain, expects everyone to bow down to the fact of his being captured, as a POW, but he will nor honor the title of Senator, when it comes to his Incompetent-In-Chief criticizing a fellow American and a United States Senator !! What kind of patriotism is that ?!! Ridiculous Republicanism !!
Now, we'll here a chorus of sock-puppets, Ridiculous Republicans, one and all, try to defend these occasional patriots, for their UnAmerican behavior on foreign soil !! Mouth all those platitudes about these ridiculous Americans, masquerading as patriots!! Come on, America, haven't we had enough of this phony behavior ?!! I sure hope so and I know a lot of other Americans feel the same way !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.

hmmm - calling a spade a spade gets people upset, not PC I guess. Seems okay to call Hillary a b-itch - but, heavens - not this!

Imagine going to the mall today - and undergoing a rocket attack. That's what the normal, everyday people in Israel put up with.

What else would anyone expect from a president who is like a whiney child having a temper tamtrum almost daily. This is from the so called commander in chief who gave up golf to support the troops. He really needs to be removed from office. I believe that he will end up being tried for war crimes and hopefully spend a great deal of time in jail.

Hold UP!

President G.W. Bush negotiated with LIBYA to dismantle their nuclear program and negotiated with NORTH KOREA . Aren't these two of the three countries that comprise his "roadmap" of the "axis of evil"? Now he is BEGGING SAUDI ARABIA to produce more oil for the U.S.because of his inability to negotiate with them for more oil to the U.S. in the first place.

President Bush is full of HYPOCRISY!

America as a Secular Democracy should not be supporting any Theocracy. America should not be engaging in Imperialism, the same thing that led to England having Arab land to "give." If the Jews were to have a homeland after WWII they should have been given East Germany.

After 8 years of ZERO diplomacy other than starting a "pre-emptive" that was based on lies, I think its time America take a new direction in terms of diplomatic relations. ... Obviously, Bush, Cheney and Connie and the GOP are not the folks to take the US in a new direction.

As I recall, President Bush use the same Nazi apeasement theme to shame anyone opposed to taking out Iraq and it's evil dictator and his weapons of mass destructions. It is quite a handy historical note that can be used for all sorts of occassions.

Did nobody fact check this quote about "if only I had been able to speak to Hitler?" The quote comes from Marian C. McKenna's biography entitled Borah. She draws on a bio-sketch provided by a Washington reporter one month after Borah's death in 1940. In a subsequent book, she casts doubt on that very report, stating that the reporter grossly exaggerated Borah's actions.

Someone needs to look into this--Borah did not make this statement!

Bush should have gone there and apologized for his grandfather helping Hilter rise to power and not be making incindiary remarks that are not even true!

What do you expect of the Dem's? They are going to jump on anything and everything any Republican says this time of year. Anything to get their candidate elected. Nothing but politics talking. Bush can't just not address things but obviously everything he says is open for interruptation. However, in this case he is correct. You can not talk to these people unless you have them by the throat. Wamaould you really believe anything they said? I personally feel only way to handle these people is to make sure they know when they do something against the USA then they will pay for it 10 times over. If they kill 1 American then kill 10 of them!

When the President of the United States finds it okay to slam a fellow American while overseas speaking at a celebration, we know that he has no integrity. This style of politics is so destructive...will we ever become ONE NATION where we can discuss civilly the things with which we disagree??? God help us!!!

Bushes comment shows how weak in the mind he is. I don't think he knows what he said. Brain dead, yes he is. I do believe we must negotiate with our enemies as well as friends. Most sensible, intelligent people would sit down with an enemy and try to find some common ground between them. All you have to do is go back in history and lots of Presidents communicated with those they did NOT agree with. Of course Bush does not know how to communicate, its his way or no way. That is why we are in a civil way in Iraq and our troops are getting injuried and killed.

8 years ago I thought I made the right choice in picking Bush over Gore. And he has spent the last 8 years making me regret that decision. I guess that if you can't help your party win an election based on policies that work (all of his policies have failed), you might as well just try and scare people into voting for your party.

Yes Obama seems to be a pacifist, but look what being aggressive has gotten us into. A quagmire of a war, the terrorists are stronger, Israel is in worse shape, our military is decimated to the point that we have to force people into service and recruit felons and the mentally challenged, and our diplomatic credibility is destroyed.

A good judge of a president is whether or not the country is better off than when he/she took office. Clinton could say it was, as could Regan and Bush I. Carter couldn't. Can anyone, honestly, say we are better off in 2008 than we were in 2000? If so, please lay out your argument, and if you have a minute about of intelligence (and aren't swayed by fear mongering Republicans), you will see that you are wrong...

So, Obama gets called for exactly what he stands for. From his attack on Clinton's comments on what Iran could expect if it delivered a nuclear device on Israel, it is obvious that he puts Islamic interests of terrorists and rogue regimes first. As far as Israel and Jews are concerned, well, just check with his spiritual mentor, Jeremiah Wright.

I was just a kid when the hostages came home from Iran, but I do recall the controversy surrounding the details of the negotiations of their return ... Including the allegations that Republicans held-up their return to coincide with Reagan's innauguration (isn't that a pleasant thought) ... How much could he have honestly been involved in the process if he just took office, the credit belongs to Carter, not Reagan.

I find it amusing that Obama and his entourage are so upset about what Bush said. I'm not a fan of George Bush, but I heard what he said and I never thought of Obama. I immediately thought of Jimmy Carter.
Why Obama took it personel actually says alot about the man and I don't find it to be all that good.

I think Mr. Bush's comments are embarrassing for the Country but typical of the lack of class in the Bush administration. He and the people who conspired with him need to know that the American people aren't sheep and we remember what you said and what you've done. I, myself, am more than excited to see you go. OBAMA in 08

No bias in the media, right? The comment couldn't possibly be about Pelosi and her visit to Syria or Carter's negotiations with Hamas last month, right? It must be a shot at Obama (all praise be to his name) who has never negotiated with any foreign power. Don't people who write the news actually have to keep up on current events?

My father used to say that if you get upset about something someone has said, its because there's a hint of truth to it. If Obama had wanted to prove he isn't truly an appeaser, he should have just stayed quiet. Who would have even known about the President's speech? Now its the main talking point of all the newpapers and news channels. The one lesson Obama should have learned from Reverend "God Damn America" Wright is: Shut up!

Ok this needs to stop. The President is right. There are people you cannot reason with. Yes, Obama wants to pull out and have dialog with everyone.

There are mental problems with dictators like hussein, Stalin, Hitler, Napolean etc. You cannot reason with them. USA has to show their strength or we will be attacked. 100% positive we will.

Also, this is America. We have free speech here.

Pelosi should not be where she is. She's a mess. Obama is a mess.

Bush is 100% correct.

*********************************
You're an IDIOT!

Here is link to 2006 video of McCain endorsing direct talks with Hamas. No excuses for this level of lies and hypocrasy. Like Bush, he has shown unbridled contempt for the intelligence of the Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXp-_RKTzo8

p.s. His wife owns 2 jets. How many do you have?

We are so self-centered that we have lost all perspective. Iran and Syria are sponsors of terrorism? If another nation attacked Canada or Mexico without provocation and occupied it with foreign troops, wouldn't the U.S. provide military aid and support for its embattled neighbor? Would that be state supported "terrorism?" Our arrogance and vulnerability to our owm propaganda are astonishing.

Bush said:
"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals"

ISN' BUSH ON HIS WAY TO SAUDI ARABIA? THE PLACE WHERE THE 911 ATTACKERS CAME FROM? What a hypocrite! Or does he expect us to forget that? Or worse, does Bush expect us to still believe that Iraq was at fault for 911? Typical republican smokescreen bs. I can't stand this two faced president.

Hey, maybe Obama can sell the Democratic Party form of democracy to the Iranians, with superdelegates our votes really don't count anyway - It gives every dictator in the world a chance to offer his people a taste of the good life, and maybe some purple ink on their thumbs to boot.

No, VivianC, he was obviously referring to Coni Rice:

"Rice Meets Syrian Foreign Minister

By HELENE COOPER and MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: May 3, 2007

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, May 3 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her Syrian counterpart here today in the first high-level diplomatic contact between Washington and Damascus in more than two years.
today.

The 30-minute meeting with Walid al-Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, came in the middle of two days of international talks on Iraq. At the talks, the Bush administration is appealing to the international community — and even some of its foes — for help in restoring order in Iraq.

To that end, Ms. Rice also had some contact with her counterpart from Iran, a country that was once grouped by President George W. Bush in the so-called Axis of Evil. Her exchange with the Iranians, however, was limited to pleasantries during a lunch session attended by diplomats from some 60 countries."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/world/middleeast/03cnd-sharm.html?em&ex=1178337600&en=69224bbad4855a38&ei=5087%0A

Ronald Regan did not negotiate with Iran? How fast did McCain forget the "Iran-Contra" scandal?

Once again, the President is clueless about how his actions have enhanced terrorism. His unfounded war has created more distrust, more terrorism and disrespect for the USA than any other person could have imagined. He will certainly go down in history as the President who led us into the Post American Age... and the worst President in History. How he could have allowed his speech writers to do what they did and then be proud of his statments once again shows that he needs to be impeached.

Please post the 2006 interview by James Rubin where McBush says we need to talk with Hamas. This interview will show that he will do anything, say anything to get elected.

Obama is more than a little touchy about Bush's statements. It is just an attempt to divert attention away from Obama's complete lack of foreign policy experience. And maybe Obama won't negotiate with terrorists but he has no problem campaigning for one. Obama is touchy about this because his sole foreign policy experience was to campaign for Odinga, the muslim terrorist, in Kenya. So Obama would prefer to align the US with a terrorist trying to overthrow a democratically elected government. Appeasement is the least of our worries.

You're an IDIOT!
*********************************************

You're the idiot. He is exactly right. we can't deal with them by talking. They give their own lives to kill innocent and they would gladly kill you too! They hate us with an unreal passion

McCain '08

While I am no fan of Bush, Obama's quick response seems to me as crying NO WOLF.

Does he wants to talk to those who intends to hurt our interest?

If you think Bush has no substance in foreign policy, imagine Obama being president (he has no judgement when it comes to his paster, how can he be a good judgement when it comes to those who he does not know yet?)

There are ways to address grievances and disagreements. Invading countries, like Hitler did in 1939 or lobbing missiles across borders into a sovereign nation like Israel or blowing up buildings full of innocent men, women, and children or driving nails into trees in order to kill or maim unwitting, innocent workers in the lumber industry are not valid ways.

I agree completely that we cannot and should not negotiate with terrorists. And you cannot ignore them, either, because it only emboldens them. Professional soldiers represent their country when they do battle. Who does the terrorist represent?

Terrorist groups and nations need to turn their back on terrorism and compose themselves like intelligent, rational adult human beings, not mindless animals. When they rejoin the human race, then they can bring their concerns and grievances to the table for discussion where all things can be addressed, with the understanding that not everyone gets their way all the time. If they continue to be petulant, blood-thirsty brutish animals, they need to be extinguished for our own safety as we would a rabid dog about to savage our child.

Democrats slam Republicans oversees
Republicans slam Democrats oversees.
Hillary wants Saudi to increase production
Bush wants Saudi to increase production
Meanwhile both parties stop exploration and nuclear plants in the U.S.
It is all politics
Sick of it and would love to have somebody serve who cares about America.
Name one politician who has the US as priority 1 and not thier own pocketbook or thier party

Since when is talking with another world leader considered "appeasement." Perhaps Mr. Bush should check his dictionary. Is English his first language?

McCain: "When President Reagan was inaugurated as president of the United States, he didn't sit down in face to face negotiations with the religious extremists in Tehran. He made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.''

Has McCain lost his memory?! The hostages were released six minutes after Reagan was sworn into office on January 20, 1981. The Reagan administration later provided arms to the anti-U.S. Iranian government. Was this in return for freeing the hostages, thus rewarding terrorism? Or for delaying their release until after Carter was out of office?

"Hitler comment?"

You Tribune people never cease to amaze me.

BTW, why not really Biden? Malarky? C'mon. Tell the readers what he really said.

Of course, that won't happen because then you'd have to take aim away from Bush.

It's just fascinating to see all the liberal appeasers scream when their ox is gored. W must have struck a nerve. Any idiot should know you don't negotiate with terrorists - YOU KILL THEM. But then I guess Brack Obama isn't just any idiot.

As a life long registered democrat who hasn't been able to vote for a party presidential nominee since Jimmy Carter (wasn't that a mistake) I think it's laughable that the party big names are denegrating the President right and left (mostly left). They've been villifying him ever since Florida in 2000. The problem with most people today is 1) they don't remember WW2, 2) they don't get an ounce of history in public schools these days so they can understand the gravity of what public officials say today and, 3) they equate "charismatic" political figures to celebrities because the media feeds it to them that way to pump up newspaper and magazine circulations or TV rating points.

to bill "hussein" I sure hope your not referencing Kennedy as the statesman who talked us through the problem with the soviets. If you are, go check out a history book and you'll find he's the one that got us in that mess. Now, if you were referencing Nixon for his ground breaking trip to Moscow and his SALT treaties. You seem to sound pretty liberal in you statements, just wanted make sure you were aware that it was a conservative conservative that talked us out the Soviet problem AND China for that matter.

"Hitler comment?"

The Trib spins another anti-Bush story right out of the gate. And I did enjoy changing Biden's comment to "malarky." That was really a stretch.

BTW, when's Zell closing the Washington bureau?

What I find most disturbing about everthing going on in this country is this. While our government, politicians, citizens, et al. are whining and fighting and pointing fingers there are other countries in this world that are strengthening each and every day. The U.S. has turned into a country of cry babies with weak leadership and policies and the day is going to come, sooner rather than later, that one of those other countries will show the U.S.A. EXACTLY what it has been planning for us for years while we all fight and whine about who is doing what.

Let me see if I understand this. Carter, fonda, biden, just to name a few, denounce American foreign policy, all they want overseas and that is o.k. The President makes a historical reference in Israel about dealing with anti- semetic tyrants and obama takes offense. I remember being taught in a liberal college that Bush's example about the stupidity of appeasement, citing the prime example of the misguided nature of appeasement, was the historical lesson to be learned from pre-World War II events. Why is obama up in arms? Is it because the "Times of London" and "Sun-Times" both reported this past week that obama had a staffer on his campaign who was secretly meeting with Hamas? What is most telling about this episode is not the correct factual lesson pointed out by the President, but rather the overreaction of obama. Me thinks thou protesteth too much (Shakespeare). obama insists he is not a Muslim and does not support Muslim extremists, and most Americans give him the benefit of the doubt, but his reaction to this makes people rethink his previous denials of associations with Muslim groups. obama needs to take a chill pill. No one mentioned obama. It was a reference to the historical lesson to be learned from Chamberlain and Hitler. This entire flare up makes people wonder if obama is ready to lead the American empire. Why is hillary outraged? Was she not saying the same thing as Bush in her debates with obama? The Democrats need to figure out what they are about. This year favors them over Republicans, but it is getting to be that another historical lesson will be learned from all this. Namely, how a party and a candidate can blow an election. They will study the Democratic defeat for years to come in college. Perhaps in defeat the Democrats will finally learn the lesson they failed to understand when they all went to their ivy league colleges.

Bush has a lot of nerve talking about appeasing terrorists while Osama bin Laden has been running around free for seven years. Who was the Nazi financier? Prescott Bush.

I guess that's why some countries won't work/negotiate with us, being they see our leaders as terrorists. I guess they have the same postion as our current president.

It's just fascinating to see all the Republican chicken hawks talking tough about killing terrorists while bin Laden continues to roam free.

Posted by: Jeff | May 16, 2008 10:30 AM

Jeff, then why don't you enlist to fight them if they are that evil? Why are you such a slacker? The country needs needs you. What are you doing that more important than putting your life on the line to protect the US?

What's the problem Jeffy? Too scared? Too much of an elitist to do the dirty work? Do you want the terrorist to win? Don't you believe your rhetoric enough to act on it?

Appeasement? What a typical "smear and fear" word from the republicans. Since when is wanting to talk things over to try and come to common ground "appeasement"? We (that is the US or the World) cannot afford more wars. Heck, we can't afford the one we have now. There is nothing wrong with speaking with those that you don't agree with to help promote peace and freedom for all. I guess the republicans are just afraid of conversation, because they know they don't have the intelligence to use it properly.

I guess since the English saw the American Revolutionists as " Terrorists ", they should all have been placed before a firing squad !! What nincompoops, you, Ridiculous Republicans, are, you put an Idiot into Office and then you spend the next 8 years, defending his stupidity and hypocrisy !! go figure !! Go Senator Obama !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.

Don't you people know that Obama is above criticism? Anyone who questions his lack of character, judgment, intelligence and honesty is a racist who is standing in the way of the presidency for which he is entitled. Period.

KILL! KILL! KILL! "They" are out to get us! KILL! KILL! KILL! Look out it's "them"!

They're out to get us! They're right behind you! KILL!

Ahhh, the nonsense that makes up the Swamp censors are at their petty little games again. So, we'll try this again:

It seems to me Jimmy Carter has been galavanting across the globe dissing this country and president. Bill Clinton has done the same. As has Al Gore. So, who broke "protocol?" Nancy Peloooozi did so too on her visit to Syria.
Anyway, Bush did not single out Obama. But the fact that Obama and the Democratic party took such offense to this could very well be because the truth hurts.

Negotiating is great -- when you hold the winning hand. Negotiating from a weak position --as we would be doing with Hamas or Hezbollah -- would be foolish and a mistake.

We negotiated with Libya after we bombed the snot out of the rulers' house and killed one of his children. He gave up his nuclear program -- everything associated with the program. A very nice trade saving many lives.

Our proxy in the fight against Hezbollah and Hamas has no great successes against them as of late. In addition, we had our butts handed to us in Lebanon and ran for the hills.

Until and unless we come up with a plan to put ourselves in a better military position, we should not think about negotiations.

There is an inherent trait that can be found in all Democrats, and that is hypocrisy.

For eight years, this Centrist has seen liberals in Che Guevera t-shirts, calling our troops murderers at protests, but whatever you do, do not question their patriotism.

These same liberals are the ones who claim they are the most caring and tolerent people on the planet, yet it is Christian conservatives who do and give more to help the needy and the poor.

It is these very same liberals who have called President Bush every name in the book, including "terrorist" and "murderer", however, if one labels the liberal for what they are - appeasers and cowards, they scream their shrill scream and call it unfair.

I could provide more and more examples of liberal hypocrisy, but unfortunately I could type for days and I simply don't have that much time.

You're an IDIOT!
*********************************************

You're the idiot. He is exactly right. we can't deal with them by talking. They give their own lives to kill innocent and they would gladly kill you too! They hate us with an unreal passion

McCain '08

Posted by: Jeff | May 16, 2008 10:30 AM

Oh yeah Jeffie, you've fought a war on terrorism for what, 6 years now, and look where it got us. Booming prosperity? Peace in our time? Love for Uncle Sam far and wide? So after all that, you want 4 more years of the same? I truly feel sorry for you sir.

Our beloved Commander in Chief has protected us from the Evildoers. There have been no terrorist attacks since 9/11. Al Qaeda is on the run! They are reduced to sending out videotapes, not suicide bombers. If elected, B. Hussein Osama will be the Neville Chamberlain of the 21st Center. After "talking" to the Evildoers, he will declare that we have" achieved peace in our time." Then will the Enemy attack. It is a matter of when --not if-- a weapon of mass destruction is used against America. May Almighty God forgive us.

Bush has Hitler on his minds as he may be jealous. He has to contend with water-boarding and he clearly feels he is not allowed to be all he can be !!

This is just Obama's chickens coming home to roost. He can sling mud at Bush all he wants but how dare Bush sling anything back. Talk about whiner.

Everyone, sit tight. Our nation's worse president and incompetent administration is almost to a end. The damage is done and our new president (Hillary or Barack) will have much to do to clean up their mess. Keep in mind, we're talking about a president (Bush) who recently said he plans to go on the "internets" and "the google" when he's out of office "to communicate with his buddies". His communications staff must be cringe every time he opens his mouth. This Bush instance is no different.

"There is an inherent trait that can be found in all Democrats..."

Good thing you don't paint with a broad-brush there, Jim. (This is but the first in an astounding number of sweeping generalizations in your comment.)

You're awfully one-sided for a "centrist." Maybe you should check what "centrist" actually means...

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Iran, Syria & Hamas cannot be trusted like Hitler should not have been trusted. Those who say we should negotiate prior to these countries or organizations showing through action that they want to join the rest of the world and respect peoples rights cannot and should not be negotiated with. Comments by people in this blog to the contrary scare me. Let's not repeat mistakes made by other generations, please!

You people are laughable. Obama's policy of sitting down with leaders of countries that disagree with us might be plausable if those countries based their government and policies on rational thinking and secularism. Cornerstones of western philsophy. Since when is it now politically incorrect to reference historical events when dealing with comparible modern day global problems?

Exactly what sort of common ground would you expect Obama to find with governments, leaders, (i.e. "Israel is a rotting corpse, there are no homosexuals in Iran, we stone women" Ahmadinnejad), and dictators that hate us primarily because we do not subscribe to their system of religious beliefs, because we do not lead our daily lives based on a set of 7th century religious laws that violate so many tenants of human rights its disturbing, inculcate hatred of other religions in children based on a racial/ideological tactics imported to the Arab world by people like the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Al Hassani from Nazi Germany, (yes, the leader of the nascent Palestinian movement spent WWII as a working colleague of Heinrich Himmler and the SS, read a history book), promote conspracy theories among their people to keep them ignorant of realities in the world, murder or expel from their territories those who are members of other faiths, call for the destruction of a UN member country and openly hold conferences denouncing and denying one of the worst crimes ever perpetrated by mankind while sitting silent when their co-religionists commit similar crimes in Darfur, Somolia, Malaysia, India and Pakistan.

you should all note that Bin Ladin issued a new audio tape calling for the killing of Jews in light of the 60th anniversary of Israel.

Bush may be a complete idiot, but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then. Negotiating with violent religious extremist groups that fly planes into buildings, hold kangaroo courts which summarily execute people, provide material support to Hamas (charter calls for the killing of jews-not "zionists" and launches rockets into population centers while claiming it wants a Hundah- temporary truce, Hezbollah - claims to be defending Lebannon from Israel even though Israel only went into southern Lebannon in repsponse to Hizbollah's affirmative act of invading and kidnapping an IDF soldier still in captivity, Al Qaeda, PIJ, etc. is not a realistic nor achievable goal.

Stop letting your hatred of Bush/Cheney cloud your ability to see larger and important issues.

This is another example of the 8 years of politics we have had with this failed administration. This is Carl Rove politics. Bush is cementing his legacy as the talking cowboy who doesn't have a gun in his holester. No wonder the world listens to him and laughs at us. What he says doesn't make any historical sense. Especially from the President who believed invading Iraq would bring safety and peace to Iraq. Boy did he blow that one.

Has McCain lost his memory?! The hostages were released six minutes after Reagan was sworn into office on January 20, 1981. The Reagan administration later provided arms to the anti-U.S. Iranian government. Was this in return for freeing the hostages, thus rewarding terrorism?


In solidarity with the quote above, it's unfortunate that some of the ignorant bloggers here aren't even well versed enough in history to realise that McCain is either stupid or a liar. Reagan's "deal", as mentioned above, was the reason the hostages came home, not "tough talk" by him. What does McCain think - that a few words by Reagan over the tv were enough to make the Iranian student protesters shake in their boots and release the hostages?


It's this bald faced disrespect for the intelligence of Americans (well, that is, all those who don't just submit to every word of this administration and their cronies as if it's from the almighty) that I'll be glad to see an end to.


Furthermore, for those who feel anything short of talking tough and keeping silent with our enemies is appeasement, I challenge you to realistically explain how much better off we are now - with N Korea nuclear and Iran in a huge power position thanks to a disasterous and unecessary Iraq war - than we would be if your government acted as adults instead of children - had talks with these two countries instead of isolating them and therefore putting us in our current position.


Oh, and to those who feel the only way to manage foreign policy is the way we've been doing it? You're a bunch of ignorant cowards. In fact, any American who props up this administration's approach and lies is doing so because they are so scared of everything in this world and hide behind their President as if he's their father out to protect them.


Get a backbone and a little courage and realise that your fear is only real to you - and does nothing for the reality of the complex situations around the world.

It's funny that Bush would bring up Hitler.

From the well-respected UK newspaper, "The Guardian":

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

George Bush's grandfather, the late US senator Prescott Bush, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from their involvement with the financial backers of Nazi Germany.
The Guardian has obtained confirmation from newly discovered files in the US National Archives that a firm of which Prescott Bush was a director was involved with the financial architects of Nazism.

His business dealings, which continued until his company's assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act, has led more than 60 years later to a civil action for damages being brought in Germany against the Bush family by t