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Home Front: Politix
Is America Really Going To Do This?
2008-10-26
by Melanie Phillips

The impact of the financial crisis on the American presidential election has somewhat obscured the most important reason why the prospect of an Obama presidency is giving so many people nightmares. This is the fear that, if he wins, US defences will be emasculated at a time of unprecedented international peril and the enemies of America and the free world will seize their opportunity to destroy the west.

Personally, I don't give any credence to the 'support' for one candidate over the other that has been expressed by the enemies of civilisation (Iran and Hamas 'support' Obama, while an al Qaeda blogger 'supports' McCain). Their agenda is simply to sow confusion and promote American recriminations and disarray. Nor do I set much store by many of the remarks made by either candidate during the latter stages of this election campaign, since under this kind of pressure both will now say pretty much anything to win it. The New York Times has run a useful analysis of the candidates' foreign policy campaign statements which shows how Obama has carefully tacked to the 'hard power' agenda while McCain has in turn nodded towards 'soft power'.
Posted by:Steve White

#11  Compare wid FREEREPUBLIC > THE BEGINNING OF THE END, aka AMERICA ON THE VERGE OF ELECTING ITS FIRST COMMUNIST PRESIDENT [POTUS Barack + Commie-Socialist Admin]!?

AGain, iff one believes that the 9-11/WOT > WAR FOR PRO/ANTI-US NATIONAL-GLOBAL "GLOBALIST" SOCIALIST ORDER, in the absence of any clear or decisive winner in the WOT bwtn the US versus Radical Islamism, ONE PRAGMATIC WAY TO IMPOSE "JUSTIFIED/VALID" SOCIALIST ORDER IS VIA PROLONGED OR PROTRACTED ECONOMIC CRISES-CHAOS, includng BEYOND THE Jan 2009-2012/2016 POST-DUBYA POTUS PERIOD IN USSA = USR AMERIKA.

No side or camp in this WOT will be happy becuz, e.g. GORACLE + SCIENS ENVIRON "IMMEDIACY" WARNINGS as per GLOBAL WARMING CRISIS, MULTI PROTRACTIVE US-WORLD "ECON CRISES/CHAOS" = NO $$$ OR NOT ENUFF $$$ FOR ANYBODY'S DOMESTIC ANDOR GEOPOL AGENDAS. Many fav projects or agendums, etc. will be delayed or stopped due to insufficient funding + political will [Local + Geopol], espec as the first reaction of many US-World Politicos will be to PROTECT AND EMPOWER MORE WELFARIST = PCORRECT "NANNY-POLICE STATE" DEFICIT SPENDING, NOT LESS LET ALONE "BALANCING THE BUDGET".

E.g. US TROOP REDUX AND RELOC FROM SOUTH KOREA > ITS THE USA NOW, NOT JUST THE SOKORS [ + Japan] THAT DESIRES A NEW TIME DELAY TO THE YEAR 2016-2019 TO ACCOMLISH SAME, NOT 2012 or 2016 ANYMORE.

In addition, IMO the USA is aware that Radical Islamism Jihad outside of Iraq is now out to destabilize and knock out the ASIAN MEMBERS OF THE COLD WAR "NUCLEAR CLUB", i.e. RUSSIA CHINA + INDIA, etc. while still empowering NUCLEAR IRAN/ISLAMISM, etc., AND IN RESPONSE IS INTENSIFYING US-SPECIFIC MILPOL ENTRENCHMENT EFFORTS ALL AROUND EUROPE AND ASIA.

IOW, to protect America + "normal" international diplomacy-geopolitics, the US is CYA-ing its ass in case Radical Islam succeeds in BREAKING UP THE COLD WAR EURASIAN ORDER + MAP, espec ASIA, which suits Radical Islam fine as per PRO-ISLAMIST GEOPOL NUCLEAR BRINKMANSHIP = MUTUAL DESTRUCTION ala the "Great Powers Confrontaionism-and-Mutual Destruction is to Islam's Advantage" Mad /Radical Mullahs.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-10-26 20:20  

#10  we address it when it happens. Until then, I believe Johnny Mac and Sarah Palin will pull it out. I smell internal poll desperation on the D side. If they weren't smelling it as well, they'd be behaving different. All it takes is another well-covered Biden "speak your mind" and....
Posted by: Frank G   2008-10-26 17:32  

#9  Yes, thank you Frank, and Darrell. But what happens if McCain does win? Wasn't that discussed here a few days ago? And then there was Annoymoose (?) predicting a (virtual) depression - 25% cuts in everything.

We need an October Surprise. Or is it too late?
Posted by: Bobby   2008-10-26 17:19  

#8  Just keep remembering the last guy who raised taxes and increased protectionism during a recession.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-10-26 17:17  

#7  Bobby, remember President Dewey?

"Dewey Defeats Truman!" -- Chicago Daily Tribune, 1948
Posted by: Darrell   2008-10-26 16:49  

#6  buck up Bobby! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

seriously, the polls can't be trusted (look at their sampling %'s - I know you took statistics as an engineering undergrad)
Posted by: Frank G   2008-10-26 16:43  

#5  It's too late. Obama's elected and Nancy will get a veto-proof majority.

I'm so depressed.
Posted by: Bobby   2008-10-26 16:08  

#4  Obama basically hates our independent spirit and thinks that by mass control/dependency that he can turn America into a country of illuminati liberals. He is going to try to unarm our military when Islamic Terriorist are looking to destroy our infrastructure. Get a Clue people!
Posted by: Ulins Peacock7744   2008-10-26 15:27  

#3  No, the only way to assess their position is to look at each man in the round, at what his general attitude is towards war and self-defence, aggression and appeasement, the values of the west and those of its enemies and – perhaps most crucially of all – the nature of the advisers and associates to whom he is listening. As I have said before, I do not trust McCain; I think his judgment is erratic and impetuous, and sometimes wrong. But on the big picture, he gets it. He will defend America and the free world whereas Obama will undermine them and aid their enemies.

HereÂ’s why. McCain believes in protecting and defending America as it is. Obama tells the world he is ashamed of America and wants to change it into something else. McCain stands for American exceptionalism, the belief that American values are superior to tyrannies. Obama stands for the expiation of AmericaÂ’s original sin in oppressing black people, the third world and the poor.

Hardly leftist kak. Melanie has been a consistent and vigorous defender of the west against Islamism. I agree with her assessment of McCain: erratic judgment that is sometimes wrong (witness campain reform), but his heart is in the right place.
Posted by: Ptah   2008-10-26 14:30  

#2  The rest of us can't sleep at night.

No sleep lost here over this leftest piece of kak. I can assure you of that. If he is to become the 'people's president,' then inshallah. We'll just have to kick the spoor and move on.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-10-26 10:18  

#1  Nor do I set much store by many of the remarks made by either candidate during the latter stages of this election campaign, since under this kind of pressure both will now say pretty much anything to win it

The only sensible part of this editorial imho.
Posted by: Cherelet and Tenille1095   2008-10-26 02:44  

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