Open Thread: McLugar Edition

Lugar: "Pleased" with Obama (4.00 / 2)

Lugar: Obama ad 'accurate'

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:29 PM by Domenico Montanaro
"He did" reach out, Lugar said. He explained that in 2005, Obama asked if he could join Lugar on a trip to Russia and other countries to visit sites under the Nunn-Lugar program.  

"After that, we had legislation that we cosponsored together which passed" dealing with dangerous missiles. "So I am pleased we had that opportunity to work together," Lugar said. "I'm pleased we had the association Sen. Obama describes."

McCain NOT pleased with Obama or, Bush.

PARIS - The Bush administration's decision to send a senior American official to participate in international talks with Iran this weekend reflects a double policy shift in the struggle to resolve the impasse over the country's nuclear program.

U.S. Envoy to Join Meeting With Iranian (July 16, 2008) First, the Bush administration has decided to abandon its longstanding position that it would meet face to face with Iran only after the country suspended its uranium enrichment, as demanded by the United Nations Security Council.
-snip

Just when you think the administration is out of U-turns, they make another one," said John R. Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations, who was highly critical of the administration's decision to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism last month. "This is further evidence of the administration's complete intellectual collapse."

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:44:34 AM CDT

For John Bolton, (0.00 / 0)

anything that doesn't involve bombing countries back into the stone ages is evidence of "complete intellectual collapse."

I cannot believe that man once had much more power than he does now.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:24:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bolton (0.00 / 0)

I heard him call the North Korea decision "the first act of the Obama administration." How's that for deceptive rhetoric?

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:38:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ashcroft (0.00 / 0)

John Ashcroft has a weird form of integrity. Here he is, essentially repudiating one of the redeeming aspects of his legacy.

On the topic of the now-infamous March 2004 hospital visit, Ashcroft demurred from giving many details about the encounter at his bedside that pitted former White House chief of staff Andy Card and counsel Alberto Gonzales against former deputy attorney general Jim Comey and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Ashcroft said that he was "grouchy," that hadn't eaten in several days, and that doctors had been poking needles in him when Card and Gonzales asked him to approve a classified national security program against the advice of Comey and Mueller. Mueller has said the clash was about the government's warrantless wiretapping; Gonzales and the White House said it was about other intelligence activities. Ashcroft sided with Comey and Mueller, and, ultimately, President Bush agreed to change some aspects of the program to satisfy their concerns.

http://www.boston.com/news/nat...

I don't want to set the bar too low for Bush officials, but well, it already is too low. I can't help but compare this to Gonzales.

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 13:01:39 PM CDT

Then there's this (0.00 / 0)

Some political courage.

If you've read enough profiles of Barack Obama, chances are you're familiar with the name Kirk Dillard. An accomplished and articulate legislator who served with Obama in the Illinois state Senate, he is frequently called on by the national media to shed light on the presumptive Democratic nominee's early days in politics.

Dillard is an unabashed admirer, one whose high praise for Obama led the campaign to feature him in Obama's first biographical television ad.

All of that wouldn't be so unusual except for the fact that Dillard is a Republican. And a delegate for John McCain.

Now, as a result of his willingness to regularly offer an unvarnished take on Obama's Springfield years, Dillard is facing some serious blowback within his own party.
-snip

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 15:23:06 PM CDT

Maverick? Not necessarily. (0.00 / 0)

Contrary to recent evidence, being a Republican and a reasonably competent and pragmatic legislator at the same time doesn't make one a maverick.  It just makes him respectable.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 15:41:16 PM CDT

"Country first" (0.00 / 0)

Well, bluegrass.

Mad Mac?

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 20:28:11 PM CDT