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Hindsight Is 20/20 [Dan Collins]

and just because The Surge turned out right, that doesn’t mean that the way that the administration saw things then was the right way to see things, because it wasn’t, because I was the one who was seeing things right:

In an exclusive interview, Obama told “Nightline” that if elected president, “we’re going to begin to phase out our troops.”

Obama is seeing a vastly different Iraq than the one he saw when he last visited more than two years ago. Violence and American casualties are way down, and the streets of Baghdad are bustling again.

So far this month, five U.S. troops have been killed in combat, compared with 78 U.S. deaths last July. Attacks across the country are down more than 80 percent. Still, when asked if knowing what he knows now, he would support the surge, the senator said no.

“These kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult,” he said. “Hindsight is 20/20. But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time, we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with, and one that I continue to disagree with — is to look narrowly at Iraq and not focus on these broader issues.”

So, he’s saying that he’d take a more comprehensive view of the fronts that constitute a  . . . what? . . . a Global War on Terror, or something?  The nutroots will tell him that’s wrong.

On the other hand, perhaps what he means by broader issues is addressing the nutroot causes, a vision which nevertheless encompasses going into Pakistan to root out the Talibs and the remnants of al-Qaeda and associates residing there . . . and damn Musharraf and the stability of nuclear Pakistan. 

It seems that hindsight and hindspeak go hand in hand, with O! if you can visualize that.

81 Replies to “Hindsight Is 20/20 [Dan Collins]”

  1. TheGeezer says:

    But, Dan, does he want to look narrowly at Iraq in contradistinction with the Bush opinion, or is the Bush opinion to look narrowly at Iraq?

    Unless the greater context nails it, this sentence is very confusing.

  2. MayBee says:

    I recognize every word in his answer as English, but I can garner no meaning from the way they are strung together.

  3. Dan Collins says:

    What? You haven’t acquired the Gift of Tongues? God must hate you.

  4. Aldo says:

    Everyone is focusing on Obama’s comparative lack of judgement in opposing the surge, but this claim is interesting too:

    But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time, we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with…

    I’m too lazy to dig it up, but there is a quote from Obama making its way around the political blogs from that time-frame in which he says that he and Bush are essentially in agreement about Iraq strategy at that point.

  5. JD says:

    we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with

    So the lying sack of shit that claims to be new and hopey and changey would give a happy hearty fuck you to all of those brown people because he needed to make a political argument against Der Fuhrer Bush. Fuck that fucking fucker.

  6. Obstreperous Infidel says:

    “These kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult,” he said. “Hindsight is 20/20. But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time, we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with, and one that I continue to disagree with — is to look narrowly at Iraq and not focus on these broader issues.”

    This is not how a lightworker speaks. This man is NO lightworker.

  7. Bender Bending Rodriguez says:

    But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time

    He was absolutely convinced…

    …he thinks…

    …at that time.

    Stupid people think Obama speaks well. Smart people see he just keeps adding qualifying phrases until the stupid people tune out.

  8. Pablo says:

    Shorter Obama: “I’d rather lose a war than an election.”

    Craven POS.

  9. JD says:

    But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time

    No teleprompters, and we get treated to this drivel.

  10. BJTex says:

    “There is no question in my mind, except on Thursdays, every other Saturday and the Vernal Equinox, that the policy was sorta OK but definitely, maybe, a change of direction would most certainly, probably, have resulted in the results that I predicted all along, or so.”

  11. Sdferr says:

    Obama does not seem to recognize the different weights Iraq on the one hand and Afghanistan on the other, have in the world. Yet another sign of his emptiness. Afghanistan is so backward a nation (if it is a nation
    at all) that it will be decades before it can play the role Iraq is playing in the world today, by which time Iraq will have advanced manyfold. The larger part of our effort should therefore be in Iraq and not Afghanistan. Sure, we should be in Afghanistan to help them hold back the Talib and hit Al Qaida where possible. But don’t overdo it. The potential returns to investment of effort just aren’t there.

    Obama however, seems to want to get out of Iraq altogether taking advantage of none of the tremendous blood and treasure expended on it to date. That’s just strategic foolishness.

    This strikes me as analogous to the current Democrat demand that oil drilling should take place first in the least likely places to find oil and only then in the most likely places. Again, foolish on its face.

  12. Mr. Pink says:

    HIS foreign policy is nothing more than a collection of political catch phrases and slogans patched together as polls dictate.

  13. Pablo says:

    Oh, boy. Senator Bad-ass. Oy.

  14. MayBee says:

    I think Jake Tapper was being tongue-in-cheek. If you read the whole post, he is clearly making fun of the photos coming out of Senator Reed’s fact finding mission. You know, Obama is Reed’s guest.

  15. kelly says:

    I fucking weep for my country that this ephemeral, effete, inexperienced, lightweight political hack has even a scintilla of a chance to be POTUS. Are we fucking insane?

  16. Education Guy says:

    Obama is a very stupid man. I am very sorry that he is going to be the next POTUS.

  17. Education Guy says:

    The good news is that in less than a year I am going to attempt to learn to surf, and if in the course of either the learning or doing I am eaten by a shark then I won’t have to worry that the Democrats managed to put the idiot that always claimed Bush was, in office.

  18. alppuccino says:

    I heard another “Great Moment in Hindsight History” from Obama out of Jordan:

    “Of course if you send 30,000 more of our dedicated troops into Iraq, things with improve greatly.” (paraphrased)

    But hindsight is 20/20. Hey, that would be a great name for a TV show.

  19. alppuccino says:

    or “will” improve greatly. “with” is “will” with a lisp.

  20. kelly says:

    EG: The sweet release of death looms heavily for me as well. And I just turned 50 today.

  21. Big Bang Hunter (pumping you up) says:

    “It seems that hindsight and hindspeak go hand in hand, with O! if you can visualize that.”

    – Which is of course in hindsight, the kind of hindsight he will get with his head up his ass.

    – Of all people, Mr Crapweasle himself was on FOX defending Obamas position saying Obama was, and is, 100% correct.

    – You see, “it was always about the political reconciliation between the Sunni’s and the Shia’, which the surge had no part of, and the drop off in deaths started BRFORE the surge began….Now I’m not meaning to take anything away from our brave men and women in the military, they have performed brilliantly, but its the agreements between the two factions that have made the difference, and Obama is 100% correct, and yes of course security has improved, and our troops have done a great job, but you can’t win a political issue with troops, so Obama is correct in his position.”

    – All of which leaves the listener scratching their heads trying to figure out just what Obama was 100% correct about, and whether or not the Senator agrees the surge has worked.

    – Of course without the surge the three factions, al Qaeda, the Sunni and Shia’ militias would have gone right on killing each other, and there would have been no conciliation, but apparently for a Lefty to say such blasphemy would immediately result in death through self-strangulation. Total lying fuckers.

    – Could the Left be any more obstinately feckless if it tried?

    – McCain shot back that “…from Obama’s unwillingness to acknowledge the success of the surge shows hes more interested in winning an election then winning a war, vital to the security of America”. Right on the nail head.

    – All of which brings me to the point of just why, aside from his total “on the fly learning curve” inexperience, I would never hand him the reins of power.

    – Its one thing to be so completely wrong so consistantly about something as vitally omportant to our country as the Iraq war and the greater WOT, its even worse when you lack the common sense, character, and introspeck to be able to simply admit when you were wrong, and I don’t give a fuck about the “reasons.

    – If the man was really as smart as everyone says he is, he would have dumped the whole gaggle of SecProg and hard Left idiots a long time ago, because he could have run in the center and beat McCain hands down. The way things stand, with his hard Left pandering, that will ne his downfall.

    – Hes following directly in sKerrys footsteps. Not so smart.

  22. Education Guy says:

    Happy Birthday kelly!

    Sadly, death will not be an option in Obama’s America. He will simply not allow it. After all, death can be traumatic to children.

  23. Big Bang Hunter (pumping you up) says:

    “And I just turned 50 today.”

    – Happy BDay kelly. Assuming you have your health, trust me, you’re still a kid, and the best is yet to come. Forget mortality, with any good luck at all you have another 20+ years before you’ll need to start thinking about that junk.

    – Just remember back when you were a child, and at times you wished you could be an adult. Then when you were you wondered what you could have been thinking, same thing here. Don’t think “old” until you absolutely have no choice. Enjoy every minute you can because old comes soon enough.

  24. kelly says:

    Thanks, EG.

    On the bright side, The Messiah has returned to Earth so we’ve got that going for us.

  25. kelly says:

    Healthy as a horse, BBH. Thanks for the best wishes and perspective. But come Jan. ’09 I imagine my only wish is to suddenly turn 54, if you know what I mean.

  26. Old Texas Turkey says:

    Obama paraphrased as per Damon Wayan’s character Oswald Bates out of “In Living Color” (cause you know this is coming in a townhall meeting):

    But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time, we had to impregnate the postpoliticalitification of the debate because the view of the Bush administration at that ,ipso facto,/b> time was beyond the colonic threshold from one that I just disagreed with…

  27. Dan Collins says:

    Happy Birthday, Kelly!

  28. kelly says:

    Thanks, Dan!

    FTR, I’m in a pretty good mood today and not really “fingering the pearly handled deck.” Going to see Lyle Lovett tonight and taking the rest of the week off…if MichellO will give me permission.

  29. Big Bang Hunter (pumping you up) says:

    – OTT – The part of that statement, the only coherent part, is at the very end when he says “….and I continue to disagree with.”.

    – Which is a loud and clear message to his maniac base that he knows they’re all backed into a corner because that smirking bastard Bush found a way to make Iraq a success, but don’t worry, no matter how much it makes me look like a lying feckless jackass, I’ll stick with the Narrativeâ„¢ like a good obedient Socialist.”

    – The idiotarian Left howling moonbats will take him down just like they did Lurch.

  30. TheGeezer says:

    Happy BD, Kelly! Take it from a geezer: 50 is just the beginning, when the aches and pains are small enough to ignore but big enough to leverage into lazy days, sympathy at the local watering hole, and withering glances at young upstarts who know nothing and don’t know it.

    Lyle Lovett is a great birthday gift, especially if he’s with the big band. The show is a hoot. Enjoy!

  31. Sdferr says:

    Barack Obama captured Radovan Karadzic yesterday and will haul him off by his ears to the Hauge to stand judgment for his crimes.

    Oil futures have fallen over $4.00 today as Hurricane Dolly obeyed an Obama order to veer away from offshore drill platforms. Obama had an unkind word for the futures speculators and they reacted with typical market cowardice, running for the exits.

    Estelle Getty died early this morning at 84. Rumor has it her last words were “Obama: Change we can believe in…Uhnnnarrr”.

    President Bush today averred he is quite ready to hand the reins of state to Barack Obama with-in a fortnight. “Sen. Obama is ready” Bush said, “and I can’t hold a candle to his blazing light. Besides I’m tired so I think we’ll just get it over for the good of the children. Thank you.”

    Happy birthday Kelly!

  32. JSinAZ says:

    Dan, if by “hindspeak” you mean “ralking out your ass”, then yes I can see a definite relationship with hindsightism – which in O!s case is all about the CYA.

    “Speak” “see” “cover” O’s ass; yep, that’s the pattern all right.

  33. JSinAZ says:

    “Ralking” – where did that come from? S/B “talking” – Scooby he isn’t.

  34. kelly says:

    Thanks all. Back from a great lunch with the Better Half. A couple of glasses of wine in me and feeling fine.

    PW is the best.

  35. alppuccino says:

    A couple of glasses of wine in me and feeling fine.

    Your spouse got you drunk at lunch and you’re blogging?

    .

    .

    sad really

  36. JD says:

    al – 2:00 on the 31st. I even got us a break on fees. Cannot wait.

  37. Clint says:

    I think in the all discussion of hindsight we’re leaving out a point that further emphasizes his willingness to make HIS points:

    But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is, at that time, we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with, and one that I continue to disagree with

    We have to change course because he disagrees with it. Seriously, he’s the child in the middle of the store screaming because mommy won’t buy him a cupcake and he continues to scream until he get his Little Debbie.

  38. Clint says:

    I should probably denounce myself before the Lightworker’s minions pay me a visit, huh?

  39. kelly says:

    I was the only one drinking, al, and we both had to go back to work. But, yes, it is sad I just can’t quit you, PW.

  40. alppuccino says:

    al – 2:00 on the 31st. I even got us a break on fees. Cannot wait.

    You didn’t use direct, aggressive diplomacy, did you? Looking forward to it. I’m packing a couple extra sand wedges.

  41. alppuccino says:

    I was the only one drinking, al, and we both had to go back to work.

    Working with a buzz.

    Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of……..

  42. alppuccino says:

    That should read “couple extra sandwiches.”

    sorry.

  43. JD says:

    al – All of the bunkers are crushed limestone, so you can hit almost any club out of the 100+ bunkers, and you will. You going to come by for dinner at the abode afterwards ?

  44. alppuccino says:

    You going to come by for dinner at the abode afterwards ?

    How many horror movies have I seen with that line in it?

    What if by the 8th hole, you’ve got a thought bubble over your head that says, “I’m playing golf with a complete doosh”?

    It would make those extra sandwiches unnecessary.

  45. kelly says:

    In the highly unlikely event of either of you acing a hole, you have to by all of us PW denizens a drink. Deal?

  46. JD says:

    Deal. I know some complete doosh’s, and you sir, you are no doosh.

  47. JD says:

    Horror movie? That is a category my swing fits into. Steaks on the grill and if we are lucky, Better Half’s mother will make some Vietnamese food for us.

  48. alppuccino says:

    In the highly unlikely event of either of you acing a hole, you have to by all of us PW denizens a drink. Deal?

    I’ll let JD report on it. He’s the honest one.

    Sounds great JD! My plaid shorts and tape-measure suspenders are back from the cleaners, and I’ve had my John Deere hat reblocked to give it that extra “big square dorky hat” look. I’ve already got the trip programmed into the nav system and I’ve begun stretching in preparation.(for golf, not dinner) To prepare for V. food, I’ll be lighting my tongue on fire daily (to build up my spice callus)

  49. JD says:

    I wear a John Deere hat on the golf course too, the one they gave me when we bought our first one. You truly have not done plaid until you do the quilted multiple plaid style. Even I cannot pull of suspenders, you are a better man than me.

  50. JD says:

    If I ever get a hole-in-one, you can bet that you will hear me yelling from wherever you are at that time. And you will want to confirm with multiple witnesses.

  51. Tiger Wood's Knee says:

    I can beat you both while being waterboarded. meh!

    I do like Vietnamese food though…

  52. Greg Norman's game says:

    I could beat you both, until Sunday, at which point I will puke all over myself, pack it in, shrug my shoulders, and fly off in my helicopter while counting my money and staring at my hot hot wife.

  53. alppuccino says:

    Who the hell is Tiger Wood?

  54. John Lloyd's divorce settlement says:

    my hot hot wife.

    You had me right up until then

  55. BJTex says:

    Is he related to Barack O’Boner?

  56. alppuccino says:

    You’re in IN aren’t you BJ? Why don’t you put your knickers on and come on out?

  57. JD says:

    al – I have been trying to get in touch with Lost My Cookies and Cowboy to see if they would like to join us.

  58. alppuccino says:

    al – I have been trying to get in touch with Lost My Cookies and Cowboy to see if they would like to join us.

    Cool.

    You’re out Beej.

  59. Elin says:

    Tiger Wood

    You have nooooo idea ;-)

  60. alppuccino says:

    You didn’t want to try to get quellcrest falconer to play, JD?

  61. BJTex says:

    I’m in Eastern PA, al. It’s a bit of a haul for a day trip doncha know.

    JD knows how to get in touch with me. Maybe we can do a fall Friday gig with a stay over until Saturday or something. My wife would be happy to come cause she’ll get to play with JD’s kids, especially the baby.

    Of course, we’ll have to sedate her to get her to give it back!

    If his club takes fat boys, I’m in.

  62. JD says:

    al – Teh Oppressor is in PA.

    If anyone else out there would like to join us, let me know.

  63. JD says:

    BJ – Pick a weekend in Sep or Oct and we will make it happen.

  64. JD says:

    al – having you and nishit in the same group would likely be priceless. But, they do not allow children on the course unsupervised.

  65. alppuccino says:

    I plan on hitting driver off of every tee. Now I will go to the Purgatory site for some fact finding. But I still plan on the driver thing.

  66. Charles Gibson says:

    alppuccino,

    You hit that driver into those people’s house. Knowing what you know now, would you still hit driver on a 129 yard par 3?

  67. alppuccino says:

    I would, Charlie.

    You see, at the time, I disagreed with my caddie when he handed me pitching wedge, so I, you know hindsight is 20/20 and at the time, my caddie was a huge boozer. I could smell it on his breath. I’d still hit driver.

  68. Charles Gibson says:

    I admire your courage.

  69. Katie Couric says:

    al: Is it OK if I sit on your lap?

  70. alppuccino says:

    Now Catie, may I call you Catie? Of course I can. Catie, if I let you sit on my lap, I’ll have to give Williams a turn and you know what a boney ass he has. C’mon.

    Oh, all right. Close the curtain.

  71. JD says:

    al – since it plays 7920 from the tips, your driver will get used fairly often, on second shots.

  72. Katie Couric says:

    Ooo, al! That’s some mighty fine change I can believe in!

    puuuuuuuuurrrrrrr

  73. BJTex says:

    7920 Yards!!??!!

    That’s not a golf course, that’s a freakin wilderness expedition!

  74. Sdferr says:

    Where do you play around Philly these days BJ?

  75. alppuccino says:

    Hey! The second hole is named “Stains of the Inferno”. What are the odds that a challenging par four would be named after my underwear? Eerie.

  76. JD says:

    There is a 775 yard par 5 that you have a 285 yard carry to reach the fairway.

  77. JD says:

    The names of the holes are pretty funny, and usually pretty appropriate.

  78. alppuccino says:

    My strategy has not changed. I feel I have the judgment to lead my ball to the hole.

  79. JD says:

    All joking aside, I am really looking forward to meeting you, and sharing the experience of spoiling a good walk with you. Better Half thinks it is a riot that I am going to go play golf with one of my “e-friends”, as she calls y’all.

  80. alppuccino says:

    I am looking forward to it as well. Could be great comedy fodder as well, if we’re both willing to sign a release.

  81. JD says:

    We could do a guest live-blog from the course.

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