Los Angeles
CHANGE MY LOCATION
Dan Spencer
Right Side Politics ExaminerDan Spencer has been blogging at, and as, California Yankee since 2003. He lives in Connecticut and practices law in New York. Here he will discuss the politics of the Right.
Examiner Feeds
These websites were picked by the Right Side Politics Examiner as useful resources.National Examiners
Auction Wally
Auctions and Antiques Examiner
Most Recent Post
An interview with Will Seippel on the GoAntiques - Worthpoint merger
Auctions and Antiques Examiner
Most Recent Post
An interview with Will Seippel on the GoAntiques - Worthpoint merger
Michelle Kerns
Book Examiner
Most Recent Post
Which fictional character would you most want as president? Cast your vote here
Book Examiner
Most Recent Post
Which fictional character would you most want as president? Cast your vote here
Right Side Politics Examiner
Campaign Admits Obama Would Ignore Commanders And Facts During Potential Iraq Trip
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
I will listen to General Petraeus given the experience that he has accumulated over the last several years. It would be stupid of me to ignore what he has to say. -- Obama on Fox's "Fox News Sunday," 4/27/08Yesterday, on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Obama Communications Director Robert Gibbs said that Obama would go to Iraq to see how he can withdraw:
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski: "And, Robert, is your candidate - I mean, just this whole Iraq thing is now being revitalized a bit because of the book. But is your candidate going to go to Iraq? Is that in the plans?"You can watch it at the 2:00 mark in this video.
Gibbs: "Well, as he said yesterday Mika, it's under discussion about going overseas and going to Iraq sometime between now and the campaign.
You know, I don't think we'll be taking that trip with John McCain because as Senator Obama said yesterday, the work that the men and women in our military are doing over there is just far too important for them to be props in some sort of political stunt or photo-op.
You know, what they're doing over there is separated from their families, giving for their country. It's truly, truly amazing, and I think we would want to go over there and talk to them and see what sort of difficulties they're facing and see how it is that we can begin to carefully remove them and carefully bring them back to their families and bring them back to the United States."
Why has Obama decided not to remain open to facts demonstrating the progress achieved by the revised strategy President Bush adopted in 2007?
In February 2008, Obama told CBS' Harry Smith that the President has to be "mindful of the situation on the ground and what the commanders say:"
CBS' Harry Smith: "If you are to be elected president and your commanders on the ground there and your Secretary of Defense said, 'Hold back; you can't be pulling these people out; we're going to create a civil war and a bloodbath,' what would you do?"
Obama: "My job as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe. But I firmly believe that we have to send a signal to the Iraqis that it is time to withdraw. We will not have a permanent base there. We will not have a permanent occupation there."
Smith: "Even if - "
Obama: "Within those constraints - "
Smith: "Even if it meant the beginning of civil war?"
Obama: "No, no, no. Within those constraints, I think there is going to be some flexibility. And obviously I would consult with commanders. We have to be mindful of the situation on the ground and what the commanders say." (CBS' "The Early Show," 2/4/08)
Last month, Obama said he would be stupid not to listen to General Petraeus:
I will listen to General Petraeus given the experience that he has accumulated over the last several years. It would be stupid of me to ignore what he has to say. (Fox's "Fox News Sunday," 4/27/08)
Topics: Obama , 2008 Election , Iraq
More from Right Side Politics Examiner
Gallup and Rasmussen tracking poll update - 9/6
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Image credit: AP Rasmussen: McCain - 45% Obama - 46% The Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll of likely voters for Monday shows Obama leads 46% to 45%. When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 49%, McCain 46%:As McCain... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Democrats have no use for the flag
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
.floatright { float:right}.floatleft { float:left} A worker at Denver's Invesco Field saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Image credit: Time Magazine ... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Governor Palin as commander in chief of the Alaskan National Guard
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Some in the elite media have belittled Governor Palin's role as commander in chief of the Alaskan National Guard. Greta Van Susteren went and got the facts about Governor Palin's performance as head of Alaska's National Guard from Major General Craig... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Traveling - RNC
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Sorry for not posting Friday. I was busy returning from the Republican National Convention.... Read More
Topics: RNC
Governor Sarah Palin's acceptance speech at the RNC
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Imagine the pressure that was on Governor Palin last night. The Democrats and their supporters in the elite media, in a disgusting display of "Palin derangement syndrome fever," dumped tons scorn and derision on her in the days since McCain... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign , RNC
RNC bio video of Governor Sarah Palin
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Here is the video bio the RNC produced to introduce Governor Sarah Palin: For more info: Sarah Palin's resume vs. Barack Obama's resume... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign , RNC
Actuarial Perspective
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
In today's Best of the Web, they run the actuarial numbers and conclude:Let's take the average of the two figures and say that McCain has a 14.65% likelihood of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, while Obama's likelihood is 1.465%. For the sake of... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Majority Say Reporters Are Trying To Hurt Palin
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Rasmussen reports polling shows that, by a ten-to-one margin, voters believe reporters are trying to hurt Palin’s campaign rather than help.More here. For more info: 51% Say Reporters Are Trying To Hurt Palin; 39% Say She Has Better... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Huckabee gave a great speech at the RNC
Dan Spencer - Right Side Politics Examiner
Former Governor Mike Huckabee did a great job in addressing the Republican National Convention. His best lines:On why he is a Republican: "I’m not a Republican because I grew up rich, but because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life... Read More
Topics: 2008 Presidential Campaign , RNC
