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Obama opens door to altering his Iraq war policy

news.yahoo.com — Democrat Barack Obama opened the door Thursday to altering his plan to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq in 16 months based on what he hears from military commanders during his upcoming trip there.

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ssn697 95 days ago

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ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -2/+10"I'm going to continue to gather information to see whether those conditions still hold," he said. "My goal is to end this conflict as soon as possible."

Can you hear the screams of the Kos kids?
- Hortnon, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5What, that a candidate might actually be able to change his mind based on changing information and situations?
  
  Blasphemy!
  - jcm267, on 07/03/2008, -1/+5More like changing his positions based on the fact that he has won the primaries and must move to the center to appeal in the general elections.
  - ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -0/+7I personally have no problem with re-assessing. I am not stuck in the "never change a position" mindset. I am REALLY happy to see him say something Bush never could say: I am going to listen to the Generals...
    
    But, for his hard core supporters, and the naysayers, this is like poison. ESPECIALLY this.
    
    I admire politicians that can step back, and say "I may have been wrong. This might be a better answer". Way better than "I don't care what the intelligence says, I am going in!"
    
    But this particular issue? The KOS kids and Huffington (his core support group) are going to freak out, and you know it...
  - Hortnon, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4I'm with SSN on this specific issue for essentially the same reason.
    
    There's a difference between these two scenarios:
    Obama saying he wants to set a schedule for pulling out one day. The next day, saying he hasn't set a schedule and won't.
    and
    Obama saying, basically, "Hey, maybe I'm wrong. Let's see what the situation's like when I take office and we'll go from there"
onetimer, on 07/03/2008, -1/+8THAT is the sound of...pandering.

This recent back-peddling of sorts is kind of perplexing. Obama seemed like he was maintaining a moderate level of success even when he was sticking to the left on his positions. All this is going to do is alienate his primary support base, as well as giving the right the fodder to paint him as "flip-flopper", which up to recently, didn't hold much merit. But now...
- ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -2/+5He brings on the Hillary staffer, and BANG! All bets are off. I don't think it is a coincidence...
  - GhostyBoy, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Now I know what you meant when you said "never underestimate the democrats ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".
  - ssn697, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4@ghosty
    
    I remember that. Unfortunately, it has been all too true. Bush twice is their penance.
- Hortnon, on 07/03/2008, -1/+7I always got the feeling on Iraq that he was planning on having a 'loose' schedule. I agree, though, he's been pandering on a lot of other stuff in the last couple weeks.
- vault, on 07/03/2008, -1/+6Obama's base won't vote for McCain anyway, so his view is he might as well move to the center where he can at least pick up swing voters. They will say "nope I'm not voting" or "I'll vote for Nader!!1" but when push comes to shove on election day, they'll still vote for him.
  - bluto36, on 07/03/2008, -2/+3yes because in liberal land its ok to just "wink wink" say things in order to get elected.
    
    what did that one "progressive" icon say???
    oh ya... the ends justify the means
  - ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -0/+9"what did that one "progressive" icon say???
    oh ya... the ends justify the means"
    
    You mean like McCain pandering to the Christian right? Yeah, it is just the left that does it (pffff). What did that Conservative icon call the religious right? Oh yeah, "useful idiots". They all do it. You have to say ***** to get elected, because the majority of voters are clueless turd blossoms who only hear a few sound bites.
    
    Wow. I am going to go slap the cynical out of myself!
  - bluto36, on 07/03/2008, -1/+5the difference i think is everyone knows McCain is doing this and most wingnuts (me) think that it stinks and complain about it.
    
    the left actually excuse it (and justify it) because they know that a real lefty has to hide his true beliefs if they want more than 30% of the vote. it is not really a lie if it helps (insert progressive cause)
    
    believe me i am no McCain apologist and this is truly an election between eating a turd and drinking sewage
  - Hortnon, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2In the same post you say the right does it too, but only the left does it...I don't understand what you're trying to say.
  - eir574, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6He's saying that both ends of the political spectrum do it, but the people on the right know that it's wrong and the people on the left think it's a good thing to do. Because, you know, life and politics are really that simple.
  - ssn697, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2@eir574 with the clarity post of the night.
chukd, on 07/03/2008, -4/+3I love the sound of vindication. I have been dugg down so many times by telling Obama supporters that he will not pull out the troops in Iraq. His whole campaign of changing politics goes down another notch. Once again, McCain and Obama are the same people pushing the same basic agenda. Anyone who thinks America will be miraculously changed by either of them is so mistaken.

This Country needs a serious choice. Someone who isn't attached to the policies of parties so concerned with keeping power for themselves. George Washington was so right in his farewell speech.
- ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2You are wrong on a very basic level, that has NOTHING to do with policy. This election, and policy, are secondary to me. The President sets the tone, nothing else. He really has little power of change.
  
  BUT, an Obama win changes the perception of what is possible in America. It changes the whole "Old White Men only" perception.
  
  That would be good for America in the long run. The majority of Americans are simple people, who see basic things very simply. This is one of them.
  
  I would love to really expound on this, but my sweetheart really wants me to make muffaletta's for tomorrow, and start marinating the steaks for Saturday's UFC party. Yeah, America's future can wait!
luther70, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4He is saying he is willing to adjust his policy based on the facts on the ground. As long as he is basing it on al-Qaidas presence and not the Iraqis political situation I don't see the big deal.
- bluto36, on 07/03/2008, -2/+3 I don't see the big deal.
  
  that because you have already made up your mind to vote for and excuse anything that he does.
  - ssn697, on 07/03/2008, -1/+2So you would rather he pulls the troops from Iraq, success be damned, and lives be damned?
    
    His willingness to re-assess, and say maybe he is wrong, based on what the military leaders tell him, is a bad thing?
    
    Being willing to admit he is wrong, and change is a bad thing?
    
    /damn I love Devils advocate!
  - bluto36, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5"So you would rather he pulls the troops from Iraq, success be damned, and lives be damned?" (no i dont want him elected tee hee)
    
    that is the base left and paultard mantra. i want success, no matter what, in Iraq. America does not run or surrender. we both know he is doing this because he needs to not look ridiculous concerning Iraq. he also has to look tough and not like the surrendercrat that he was during the primary. i was pointing out that alot of Obamanist would still swoon for him if he took a crap on JFK tomb while eating a baby sandwich. most Obombies would say "look Obama is using organic fertilizer, he cares so much! and oh my goodness he is pro choice and nothing goes to waste, that is real change!"
  - luther70, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2bluto I am probably biased towards Obama. I did vote for him for the senate. I don't think he is the messiah and I have come to realize that he is a lot more like every other politician then I hoped for. I still agree with his positions more than any other candidate even if they are to nuanced for republicans to handle.
    
    I don't think we should have went to Iraq . I think its poor use of our military and finical resources. Unless the radicals in Iraq calling themselves al-Qaidas are a legitimate threat to us I don't think we should stay. So what real choice do I have in this election? Was there a republican candidate out there that thought that we should leave Iraq but wasn't also an isolationist?
verevi, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4Liberal Bloggers Accuse Obama of Trying to Win Election:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/libera ...

"Increasingly, Barack Obama's message is becoming more accessible, appealing, and yes, potentially successful"
- chukd, on 07/04/2008, -1/+4This is the same thing Obama accuses McCain of flip-flopping. His message of change is "I can change my mind, and no one else can." Got to love the kind of policy.
  - czeman, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2But he blames McCain for it! That's his new campaign motto. "Just Blame McCain!" I can just hear his supporters chanting it at rallies now!
czeman, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Obama has been taking positions with statements that can be interpreted two ways. Now he makes a clear statement of his stance, takes heat for it, and blames the McCain camp. I guess his latest campaign strategy is,"Just Blame McCain!"
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Obama opens door to altering his Iraq war policy

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