Normally, I would side with get out and save money strategy, especially now in the current economic situation we are in....but with Pelosi, I would think it is more "agenda" than saving resources for where it needs to be prioritized. Many of you know I like and respect Obama genuinely...But as much as I do this Pelosi witch is someone I really, really can't stand.. .She seems to be putting Obama in a unfavorable position and that seems wrong. Thoughts?... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32782622/ns/politics-capitol_hill
I can understand pulling out of Iraq... but to not do it right in Afghanistan is flat out wrong and completely the opposite of what Obama campaigned for. I'm with you on this one ROXRAN.
I don't think it's wrong for her to put Obama in an unfavorable position if she and a strong cross-section of the Dem caucus disagree with his position. It's her opinion that may be wrong. One unforgettable lesson we should have learned from Iraq is that war decisions must be debated out in the open. Nothing good comes from stifling anti-war opinions.
Well supposedly 75% of Dems do not thinkg the Afghan War is worthwhile so why shouldn't Pelosi oppose Obama on this? It is he who is out of step with the folks who voted for him.
While this may be true, I cannot help but to wonder if Pelosi is grandstanding, dreaming of her own run for the White House.
glynch I agree. You know I supported your view as sound regarding Afghanistan, but it really seems like sharks among friends that are only doing this due NOT to ideology but based on polls... Where is alliegance and loyalty and helping the administration's goals?...(at least from the politicians on his side) Trust me, my advice to Obama is get out and demonstrate priorities that make sense to a majority of U.S. citizens, considering our economy but Pelosi is a real snake, and I can't help if this is like a wolf-pack decision to challenge the leader when he is seemingly vulnerable... Maybe I put too much idealism on this, but trust me...Bottom line, Pelosi is likely very correct on this positioning,...I just can't stand that it is coming from her.
I seriously doubt it. She's 69 years old. Even if she wanted to challenge Obama in 2012 (she wouldn't), she'd be the oldest person ever to run for president. If she waited until 2016, she'd be 80. She's also not oblivious to her rock bottom favorability ratings. She's not stupid. She knows she couldn't win. Besides, first female Speaker of the House is a pretty bad ass job.
I don't think it suits the Democratic "agenda" for Pelosi or a congressional Democratic caucus to oppose escalation of the war in Afghanistan. If anything, it can only politically hurt Democrats currently in power, as it will be used as a cudgel by Republicans in upcoming elections as an example of Democrats being "soft on the war on terror." Probably, they just genuinely feel it's a mistake to commit to such a large-scale war, and instead want to pull back to focus on whack-a-moling Al Qaeda when it shows up, like we now do (with admittedly limited success) in Pakistan. (Though, recently George Will & other conservatives have come out arguing that Afghanistan is "Obama's Vietnam," arguing for reduction in troops /pullout. Their voices were mysteriously absent when Bush was president, but oh well, they might be right. Though if it suits them politically they'll switch right back.) There are many people who believe staying in Afghanistan is like staying in early- to mid-60s Vietnam. Karzai plays Diem. (This is saying something, but Diem's government wasn't as corrupt as the current Afghan regime. Karzai's own brother is an opiate trafficker, who works in his brother's government.) We're propping up a despot who shamelessly rigs elections, and fighting an increasingly bloody war to do what, exactly? Spread democracy? Freedom? The NY Times recently has written articles on the outright fraud that was the recent Afghan election. This kinda sums it up, "Marred Afghan Vote Leaves U.S. in a Delicate Spot": ...adding, and expending American lives and treasure in a bloody war to keep him in that power.
Nancy Pelosi is a bit aggravating to look at. I'm not quite sure why. Sort of nervous, but she did not get her job without appeal and smarts. Many extremely talented men and women wanted it. However, Nancy's positions are sound and BTW you can't expect her to be a Texas conservative from the SF Bay Area.
I don't like Pelosi any more than anyone else. But the amount of hatred she gets is ridiculous. Part of what comes with being Speaker of the House is very low favorability ratings. Think of what the House is as an institution. Realize it takes being a partisan hack to get the job in the first place. The Speaker always ends up being the #1 target of the minority party and much of the public buys into it. The only "recent" exceptions can't think of are the dullard Tom Foley and Dennis Hastert, who let Tom DeLay run the House and who took Hastert's place as the lightning rod.
