Think Progress

Kristol’s 2008 predictions.

By Amanda on Mar 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Kristol’s 2008 predictions.»

“It’s going to be a national security election,” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol told a group of Oregon Republicans last night. “It’s going to be an election about our next commander in chief. History suggests that when we’re fighting a war, Americans tend to favor the more hawkish candidate.” (Perhaps Kristol forgot about the outcome of the 2006 midterm elections, in which Iraq war critics overwhelming swept the congressional races.)




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99 Responses to “Kristol’s 2008 predictions.”

  1. Zooey Says:

    Has Kristol EVER been right…..about anything?


  2. Bobwurst Says:

    The problem is ,bill, Iraq is a not “war” it’s an occupation. And the majority of Americans don’t want to continue this occupation.


  3. TheRadicalRightisRadicallyWrong Says:

    Why does anyone even bother to listen to anything that this neocon moron ever says any more?

    Has he been correct about anything he’s ever predicted?


  4. VerbalKint Says:

    Has Kristol EVER been right…..about anything?

    Comment by Zooey — March 1, 2008 @ 3:04 pm

    To my knowledge, no.


  5. Marie Says:

    Zooey,
    Little Billy has never, ever been right — I mean, correct — he is, an example of the “right” wing; an smirking, sneering smug, self-centered and stupid.


  6. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Has anyone ever told him he makes as much sense as a soup-sandwich?


  7. VerbalKint Says:

    Kristol is paid to do a job. It has absolutely nothing to do with being right. In fact, it is important that Kristol be wrong. This is because his job is propagandist for a criminal regime.


  8. sacopenapa Says:

    Please, please… pleaaaasssseee! I want to know what these right-wingers smoke!!!! What I smoke does not make reality go away… What is their secret?!!!!


  9. Witch1 Says:

    Any one know how many listen to this gas bag.? My guess his follower’s are in the single diget number now….Blessings


  10. Bad Eye Says:

    Nah…whoever rakes in and spends the most money will win. And according to a newspaper article I read today, the Dems are killing McCain on this front.

    (half snark)


  11. nullo Says:

    that’s a pretty stupid counterexample, 2006… since there was no president to choose then.


  12. georgia Says:

    Where have I heard that before? hmmm….

    If John is right and Senator McCain is the Republican nominee, we know that once again we will have a general election about national security. That is what will happen. - Hillary Clinton


  13. Fan of Man Says:

    lol, look at who he is talking to…. REPUBLICANS!

    hilarious…. why won’t anyone else listen to pedo-boy?


  14. This Machine Kills Fascists Says:

    Thanks for the input, Sir Kristol the Wrongest, but we would prefer someone with some frigging sense this time around…


  15. Daryll Says:

    Kristol’s 2008 predictions.“It’s going to be a national security election,” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol told a group of Oregon Republicans last night. “It’s going to be an election about our next commander in chief. History suggests that when we’re fighting a war, Americans tend to favor the more hawkish candidate.” (Perhaps Kristol forgot about the outcome of the 2006 midterm elections, in which Iraq war critics overwhelming swept the congressional races.)

    Being a conservative, I can say that I really dislike Kristol. Anyway, Kristol is completely wrong. This election will be about economics.


  16. tombaker Says:

    it’ll take a lot more than being wrong to get bloody bill to change his mind, and that’s o-k.


  17. VerbalKint Says:

    This election will be about economics.

    Comment by Daryll — March 1, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    How right you are, which is why the Republicans will get clobbered.


  18. tarazan Says:

    NeoCon Bill Kristol obsession with wars and specially wars in the Middle East seems to be obvious.
    The war issue always is the main point of his argument. While he suggests more wars, young Americans will be the ones to be sent to fight in these wars,get killed or injured.
    The burden of paying for these wars will be an all American burden shared by every American citizen.
    Kristol seems to think that the only qualification that a president should have is how to start a war..and the faster that president starts that war ,the better he is.
    That’s why he thinks McCain is the man…


  19. williamf Says:

    We have no war, there is nothing declared, this is Bush’s conflict. In order to have “war” the congress of the people has to declare one whether they “approve” of what’s being done or not. Kristol has loads of wartime experience so he would know what it means to be a “hawk.” Where did he serve?? I don’t need his GD predictions. Here’s a williamf prediction; Kristol is gonna have a panic attack when Obama takes the oath. What’s more, neocons are gonna feint when he upholds the constitution.


  20. chingebush Says:

    The election could be about war, the R’s will get creamed.
    Could be about the economy, R’s will get slammed.
    Could be about honor and integrity, R’s get their assses handed to them.
    What could the Repugs run on that could give them a chance?

    They can throw the zygotes against the wall, see if that sticks, try to scare the hell out of Americans, see if their constituents piss all over themselves again, could try to convince us that gay marriage will lead to cannabalism.

    I dunno, looks like all their good cards have been played.


  21. Bobwurst Says:

    that’s a pretty stupid counterexample, 2006… since there was no president to choose then.

    Comment by nullo

    “If this turns out to be a” stupid argument, then by all means, come back on November 5 and remind us all how stupid we are. On the other hand, if it turns out that you’re the stupid one, expect that to be brought up, if you’re brave enough to come back under this screen name.


  22. Bobwurst Says:

    I dunno, looks like all their good cards have been played.

    Comment by chingebush

    Well, they can try the “git on the right side of the rapture” debate. I guess that’s where hagee comes in.


  23. dark star Says:

    for fun I googled other Kristol predictions and found these nuggets:

    -On March 17, 2003, on the eve of our invasion of Iraq, Bill Kristol wrote the following:

    We are tempted to comment, in these last days before the war, on the U.N., and the French, and the Democrats. But the war itself will clarify who was right and who was wrong about weapons of mass destruction. It will reveal the aspirations of the people of Iraq, and expose the truth about Saddam’s regime. It will produce whatever effects it will produce on neighboring countries and on the broader war on terror. We would note now that even the threat of war against Saddam seems to be encouraging stirrings toward political reform in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and a measure of cooperation in the war against al Qaeda from other governments in the region. It turns out it really is better to be respected and feared than to be thought to share, with exquisite sensitivity, other people’s pain. History and reality are about to weigh in, and we are inclined simply to let them render their verdicts.

    April 28, 2003
    The United States committed itself to defeating terror around the world. We committed ourselves to reshaping the Middle East, so the region would no longer be a hotbed of terrorism, extremism, anti-Americanism, and weapons of mass destruction. The first two battles of this new era are now over. The battles of Afghanistan and Iraq have been won decisively and honorably. But these are only two battles. We are only at the end of the beginning in the war on terror and terrorist states.

    March 22, 2004
    T]here are hopeful signs that Iraqis of differing religious, ethnic, and political persuasions can work together. This is a far cry from the predictions made before the war by many, both here and in Europe, that a liberated Iraq would fracture into feuding clans and unleash a bloodbath. The perpetually sour American media focus on the tensions between Shiites and Kurds that delayed the signing by three whole days. But the difficult negotiations leading up to the signing, and the continuing debates over the terms of a final constitution, have in fact demonstrated something remarkable in Iraq: a willingness on the part of the diverse ethnic and religious groups to disagree–peacefully–and then to compromise. This willingness is the product of what appears to be a broad Iraqi consensus favoring the idea of pluralism.

    I’m not going to put much weight on what this wrong turn right wing hack has to say.


  24. Sachem Says:

    Sen Webb is the perfect choice for Barack’s VP running mate. He’s part of the military culture, cares deeply about this country and our soldiers, and completely fills in this hole in Barack’s resume.


  25. Fan of Man Says:

    This election will be about economics.

    Comment by Daryll — March 1, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    yep! iraq = BILLIONS OF LOST DOLLARS = usa in the shitter!

    republicans are doomed for generations!

    whoo hoo!


  26. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    Kristol needs to be hung.


  27. dbadass Says:

    This election will be about economics.

    Comment by Daryll — March 1, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    What about president elect Huckabee? Isn’t this election going to be about his ordained ascention? Come on D, tell us you misheard the Big Cheese or that the Big Cheese was wrong? Either way is cool with me.


  28. NOLIESPLEASE Says:

    On average 10billion per month = 120 billion x 5years = 600billion . How much could America use the money today?


  29. dixie blood Says:

    William “The Bloody” Kristol is an Israeli…not an American…need anyone say more?


  30. Nevar Says:

    This election will be about economics.

    Comment by Daryll

    Yup, tough times, Daryll.
    Are you still seeing the bottom of the collection plate when it comes back to your end of the pew?


  31. gummitch Says:

    What’s particularly funny about this is that Kristol was addressing the Dorchester Conference, the semi-secret annual gathering of state Republicans from which they once ruled the state. Lately? Not so much. The state party is nearly $300,000 in debt and there hasn’t been a Republican governor for 21 years. The current governor, legislature and all the statewide offices? Democrats. There is a Republican senator, but his job is on the line this year. And there is one Republican representative.

    The Republicans used to own this state but they’ve continued to shoot themselves in the foot for years by allowing the wingnuts to take control of the party. Oregon Republicans were once known for being true moderates and some great leaders like Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall. Anyone looking vaguely moderate or centrist now is dead on arrival.

    In other words, the idiot Kristol fits right in.


  32. Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:

    Predict this, Billy Boy: Hillary, McCane and Bush are busy lobbing fat slow pitches right over the plate to Obama and he is knocking them right out of the park. He is currently batting .960, not bad for a rookie, huh? This is too easy. McCane will be crushed in the November election by sn over 2 to 1 landslide. Democrats will have 67 seats in the Senate and over 100 majority in the House of Representatives… Watch out, GOP, a stiff Democratic breeze is blowing and Obama has all his sails up…


  33. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    “Yes we can”
    And the Repubican’ts


  34. dixie blood Says:

    Being a conservative, I can say that I really dislike Kristol. Anyway, Kristol is completely wrong. This election will be about economics.

    Comment by Daryll — March 1, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

    Correct.

    Afganistan War Economics

    Useless Iraq War Economics

    Corrupt RePugniScum Economics

    Corrupt Corporation Economics

    Phucking The Elderly With Phamacutical Companies Economics

    Tax Cuts For the Rich Economics

    Corrupt Corporate Facist Predatory Banks that Screwed People with Sub-
    Prime Mortgage Economics

    I could go on…


  35. Uosdwis Says:

    It’s the stupid economy, you stupid m-f’ing idiot!

    That $4 gas remark by Chimpy is the equivalent of his father’s wonder at the supermarket scanner moment.


  36. Marie Says:

    Kristol is a wimp, a chicken, a coward - that’s why he loves to play at war — with other people’s lives — he gets a vicarious thrill of seeing other people do what he cannot - and would not if he could!


  37. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    Obama/Webb

    OW ‘08

    I like the sound of that.

    Like “OW, I could of had a V8.”
    I could have had a better drink/thought/president than what I am currently being subjected to.


  38. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    Yeah economics 101.
    IF WE SPEND OUR MONEY ON IRAQ, WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO SPEND ON OUR OWN NEEDS HERE AT HOME.


  39. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    Economics of Healthcare

    Economics of Infrastructure

    Economics of Education

    Economics of Control of Corporations

    Economics of Constitutional oversight


  40. georgia Says:

    Webb was finished in my eyes when he voted against stripping telecom immunity from the FISA bill.


  41. 99Luf Balloons Says:

    Economics of War vs Life

    Economics of Hope vs. Fear

    Economics of Tomorrow vs. yesterday



  42. thirdparty Says:

    Actually, the problem here is that, in congressional races, people aren’t voting for the next “Commander in Chief.” I think Kristol’s analysis on hawkishness bears out when you look at this Rasmussen poll; despite the unpopularity of the war, McCain is still trusted more on Iraq than Obama.


  43. georgia Says:

    Luf, you got it.

    It’s also a bit troubling that Clinton and Kristol share viewoints, as noted above.


  44. greenpagan Says:

    Kristol is an imbecile. Look at him walking around smiling all te time. And how the hell did he get a job with the NYT? What the hell is wrong with those people? Bring back Howell Raines, Tony Lewis and Tom Wicker…! Chickenhawks Kristol and Brooks should both be dumped back at the Weekly Standard and PNAC where they came from.

    ===


  45. had enough Says:

    Kristol’s 2008 predictions.

    “It’s going to be a national security election,”
    Kristol, aka PNAC author, SOOO hopes the neocons can once again fear monger the masses into voting for this false protection against the false boogie man continuing the war machine therefore feeding the MIC and corporate powers that be. The masses have woken up and found there is an urgent need for US infrastructure rebuilding, health care for the dying and jobs programs to stabilize our country, NOT to fund these illegal ridiculous insane wars.
    Good bye Kristol (God, I hate that stupid fnck) and ALL your ilk.


  46. Ms_Joanne Says:

    How will goopers win?
    -ignore intelligence again allowing another attack on US soil
    -lies in all MSM (see http://www.mediamatters.com for how)
    -steal votes
    -all of the above
    -blather, rinse, repeat


  47. Lefty Patriot Says:

    “now” instead of “not”

    Comment by Frank M — March 1, 2008 @ 5:18 pm

    either way, frank. if you’re voting repuke, you’re electing the Coward In Chief. if you’re voting American (D), you’re electing a real leader, not a scumbag terrorist-enabling republican traitor.


  48. tarazan Says:

    The gasoline prices reached unbearable levels impacting not just the ordinary family but businesses,cities,counties and the government budger itself.
    We are now spending 4 times on imported oil than what we spent 4 years ago,which left our Balance of Trade in the minus column for sometime.

    Bush’s remedy of sending $600.00 dollars tax rebates to stimulate the economy for families will not achieve the results that Bush is talking about that will pull us from recession to recovery.

    The little money that Bush is sending people will be taken at the gas pump in a short period of time.
    The corporations who are now paying higher prices of gas will shift this cost of shipping to consumers,which means higher prices on stores’ shelves,and deliveries.
    The cost of gasoline and fuel which cities and municipalities have to pay now will also be shifted to taxpayer by raising property taxes and sales taxes.
    This all means that at the end of th day…the average consumer will be the one to pay for all of this,at the pump,in the store and in new added taxes, while the oil companies chiefs are the ones who will be smiling,looking at their nice corporate balance sheets at the end of the year and looking to get their hefty bonuses.
    The gasoline prices will affect and impact soon all prices and services specially transportaion and air faires.
    We need a president who has better understanding of this issue; a president who will put a plan short one and long one to solve this energy problem for good,talks and speeches are no longer the answer, actions is.


  49. Uncle Ho Says:

    Billy-boy, go Cheney yourself.

    in other words. phuck off!


  50. osage Says:

    Isn’t this kinda like Pee Wee Herman prediciting he’d beat Muhammad Ali in a fist fight shortly after getting his ass kicked by Joe Frazier?


  51. bilbobaggins Says:

    Kristol finds it convenient to ignore the 65% of people in this country who want us the hell out of Iraq. And he and the Republicans conveniently ignore the fact that this number has not changed even with “the surge is working”.


  52. bilbobaggins Says:

    Webb was finished in my eyes when he voted against stripping telecom immunity from the FISA bill.
    Comment by georgia

    There have been several times when Webb has disappointed me and this was the final straw for me.

    I say that Obama have Wesley Clark as his running mate. That would go a long way to filling the “war hawk” void on his resume. On the other hand, I would rather he have Kucinich and really start a Department of Peace.


  53. bilbobaggins Says:

    So, what is going on with our resident trolls. Many of them have said something intelligent and thoughtful in the last couple of days. It’s starting to make me suspicious that the RNC has a new tactic. Perhaps it’s, “tone it down a bit and agree with them on some things, that way you won’t get banned”.

    But, I notice that Francine has not joined in on this new tactic. Perhaps he didn’t get the memo.


  54. Nevar Says:

    Billy must be consulting his crystal meth ball again.


  55. katy Says:

    … our commander-in-chief.
    Comment by Frank M @ 5:16 pm

    just curious, frankm… are YOU in the military? ’cause i’m not…
    what’s with this “our”?

    duby’s not MY commander at all… he is commander-in-chief
    of the armed forces, and that is all

    when DID they stop teaching civics in schools? my youngest graduated jr.high in 98 and she had to pass the constitution test,
    among others, before being allowed to move on… and maybe that
    was included in the history classes… but it is illinois law…


  56. nofltwlt Says:

    I’d like to take Kristol to championship fights. He could pick the winner then I could put a bundle on the other guy.

    I would make millions, millions!


  57. scytherius Says:

    Sweet! We are gonna win the election! Kristol is the anti-prophet. He says it’s going to happen, the opposite does. And what is great is that people that follow him will campaign on that. ain’t gonna work dumbass.


  58. barfly Says:

    “It’s going to be a national security election,”

    Golly, Bullwinkle, he’s channeling Pete Peachfuzz again.


  59. dasm Says:

    Kristol is the most unimaginative & unintelligent & uninteresting so-called ‘journalist’ around. Sorry, Kristol. We just do not care about your gas-filled predictions. They have no meaning other than to promote Repub fear-mongering & pathetic policies. So just go away.


  60. flavorino Says:

    The interesting thing about closet queen Kristol is I have never seen a troll praise or defend him.
    That’s pretty unusual because the trolls come up with twisted logic to defend almost anyone or anything on the right and most have the personality type that takes delight in taking the contrarian position to the majority view…..but not one good word about Kristol.

    Kristol is the alltime king…I mean queen at never being right and accomplishing nothing positive in his life.


  61. muzz Says:

    go f@#k yourself Kristol


  62. Cal Malenky Says:

    Watch out for the False Flag attack. We’ve seen how far the GOP will go to get and keep power.
    Bush warned about an attack bigger than 9/11/01 if he doesn’t get all the spying immunity he wants. He’ll blame it on the Dems, even if his friends in low places carry it out.


  63. Ms_Joanne Says:

    Maybe some of the trolls seem more reasonable but a couple of the regulars took a dive off the deep end.

    But hey, we all have our pet issues, I guess.


  64. katy Says:

    does he really have any influence? authority?
    is it all a show? he’s just the front-man, right?
    jeez…

    Bush Urges Iraqi Leaders to Give Ahmadinejad Clear Message
    Voice of America - 3 hours ago
    By Scott Stearns President Bush says Iraq needs a long-term security agreement with the United States to ensure the success of its democracy.
    Bush pushes for more NATO troops in Afghanistan Reuters
    Bush Urges NATO to Send More Troops to Afghanistan (Update1) Bloomberg


  65. katy Says:

    and, more worries popping up elsewhere…
    juan? care to share any insight?

    Farc aura of invincibility shattered
    BBC News - 2 hours ago
    By Jeremy McDermott The death of Raul Reyes marks the first time a member of Farc’s ruling body, the Secretariat, has been killed in combat during four decades of fighting.
    Senior Colombian Rebel Commander Killed The Associated Press
    No. 2 Colombian rebel killed, government says CNN


  66. natisman Says:

    “now” instead of “not”

    Comment by Frank M

    No Frank M, do you really think we are going to buy that!

    RePUGs never use the word “now” about anything like paying off the budget. Of course RePUGs are famous about “not” me when it comes to taxes.

    Good try though.


  67. satirev Says:

    Irving Kristol, his grandfather (Grandfather of Neofascism) would be proud of him. Of course, he was mentally ill just like his grandson.


  68. satirev Says:

    Kristol, once again, is totally deluded and out of step with the american people. This election is about not having ‘ANOTHER GEORGE BUSH’ in office first and foremost followed in succession by the tanking economy, healthcare, affordable housing, etc. which ALL HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO THE IRAQ WAR.


  69. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    which ALL HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO THE IRAQ WAR.

    Comment by satirev — March 1, 2008 @ 8:26 pm

    I’m not sure they all have a direct link to Iraq in particular, but they definitively have a direct link to the Botch Admin and the GOOPer agenda


  70. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    I dunno, looks like all their good cards have been played.

    Comment by chingebush — March 1, 2008 @ 3:43 pm

    And the bad ones, too. Don’t forget the bad ones.


  71. Juan C. Says:

    and, more worries popping up elsewhere…
    juan? care to share any insight?
    Comment by katy

    Thank you, katy!!!

    My humble opinion: FARC made a bold move last month and these past days when they released two different group of hostages, with the diplomatic efforts of Chávez. Now, the only group that looked really bad in these events was Columbia’s Govt and, of course, Álvaro Uribe.

    That FARC releasing hostages is bad publicity for Uribe, cause he is getting out of excuses to sell that armed conflict. Uribe receives loads and loads of money from the US, all of it destined to buy weaponry and pay salaries of military and paramilitary against FARC. I read that there were found dozens of sites where the bodies of THOUSANDS of peasants were buried, killed by the paramilitary.

    So Uribe needs to stop any peace efforts so he can continue his war-like rethoric and keep the flow of cash and weapons into Columbia as long as the cocaine business remains in the govt’s hands. Uribe expects that by killing this FARC guy, the whole conflict will immediately intensify, which is the whole point of a military state.

    The situation is similar in almost any feature to Palestina-Israel conflict. Israel won’t ever signed a peace treaty beacuse it will stop the flow of weaponry. The situation is similar in almost any feature to Basque independents and Madrid.


  72. Keith Says:

    If the Republican voting machines give McCain enough votes to “win” the election, then all the pundits will say it was because voters were concerned about national security. They will ignore the exit polls that say Obama won by 5.0% and that Democrats do better on national security.


  73. georgia Says:

    I say that Obama have Wesley Clark as his running mate. -bilbobaggins

    Clarke is a Clintonite. Bill Richardson would be the best choice by far.


  74. Juan C. Says:

    Oh, bad grammar, I know…


  75. pbg Says:

    Even if the war were going well, even if Al Qaeda were on the run, no party presiding over a slide into recession will possibly win a presidential election.

    And we’re losing in Afghanistan and we’re losing in Iraq, and America knows why.

    Katrina was the dead giveaway. The Republicans don’t care about winning the war, just like they didn’t care about actually saving lives. They don’t want Osama Bin Laden captured. They don’t wantRoe v. Wade actually overturned; they don’t want the immigration problem actually solved. These are all just placards to win elections with.

    We could easily have won in Iraq: just reinstitute the draft, send two million soldiers into Iraq, and have a GI on every street corner. Iraq would be peaceful. But we didn’t, and why not? Because the Draaft would hurt the Republican Party’s domestic chances. Global War on Terror? Clash of Civilizations? World War IV? F&*^ YEAH! But not with a draft, or war taxes or attending funerals, or dropping troops into Pakistan to get the guy who blew up the World Trade Center.

    Until Katrina, it was working. Give our President the benefit of the doubt! It’s a new kind of war! They controlled the media, and the beat was steady. It reelected GWB.

    But then came a crisis that they actually had to perform in, get their snouts out of the trough and go save llives. And all the stuff they were supposed to be doing–first responder network! Revitalized FEMA! –none of it haad been done, none of it was ready. Bill Clinton would have been on the ground passing out bottled with the National Guard–as would Al Gore,as would John Kerry, as would John McCain,as would Mike Huckabee. But GWB flew over.

    They failed the test, and they started whining and blaming everybody else. And that’s when GWB’s ratings headed for the cellar and never came up. Because they looked at Iraq and discovered it looked and sounded just like Katrina.


  76. americangoy Says:

    Earth to Kristol:
    You were wrong on everything.

    Kristol to Earth:
    Well, there is a chance that finally I will get something right….?

    Atlas shrugs his shoulders….


  77. katy Says:

    juan - you’re welcome! … and, thank YOU…

    that was an enlightening explanation…
    of course, my concern now is, can the U.S. stay out of it…
    and we are already very much IN it…

    the latest, i just found:

    Chavez warns of “war” if Colombia strikes Venezuela
    Reuters UK, UK - 37 minutes ago
    CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez warned Colombia on Saturday it would be a “cause for war” if its forces struck inside Venezuelan territory as they …

    Chavez warns Colombia that military incursions into Venezuelan
    PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 1 hour ago
    © AP CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned his Colombian counterpart on Saturday that war would break out between the South …

    war… always with the war…


  78. Juan C. Says:

    Yeah, Chávez needs to keep its rethoric as a “socialist”, which is the opposite of Uribe’s rethoric: free trade and hardline. It was expected that those two wouldn’t get along.

    Now, Uribe is the US poster boy in South America, so he will do things to provoke a conflict with Chávez…


  79. Kane Says:

    I wish the republicans would make up their mind when it comes to what this election will be all about. So far in this election season I’ve heard republicans argue that this election would be about the Iraq war, the Surge, immigration, the economy, and national security.

    Whether the GOP understands it or not, the voters have made it perfectly clear what this election is about. It’s about CHANGE.


  80. shellyT Says:

    Perhaps Kristol forgot about the outcome of the 2006 midterm elections, in which Iraq war critics overwhelming swept the congressional races

    That’s true, but they didn’t end the war, did they? In fact, this has dragged on so long that even CNN is getting sick of it.

    I don’t see it ending with either a Obillary at the helm either. To say nothing of McBush.


  81. Lefty Patriot Says:

    Comment by shellyT — March 1, 2008 @ 10:52 pm

    thanks for that dollop of brilliance. your concern is noted.


  82. missmolly Says:

    I haven’t read through this whole thread, so somebody else may have pointed this out.

    2006 isn’t the only example of a year when the hawks lost the election. Kristol has also forgotten about 1968, when Americans were weary of Vietnam. Humphrey’s association with the war doomed him, enabling Nixon to get elected. And Nixon wasn’t running on a “bomb the hell out of them” platform.

    Hawks don’t get elected when “we’re at war” if the citizens are war-weary and believe the war was wrong to begin with. This spin ain’t even gonna get off the ground.


  83. TexasDemocrat Says:

    Kristol will be proven wrong again, as usual…unless the GOP can figure
    a way to rig the electronic voting machines.


  84. JosephW Says:

    Actually, didn’t Nixon win election in 1968 on a “law and order” campaign, rather than focusing on the Vietnam War?
    Humphrey (the Democratic candidate) campaigned against the war but Nixon really didn’t base his campaign on the war one way or the other.
    Before that was the Korean “War”, but Eisenhower (the former GENERAL) actively campaigned AGAINST the war, most notably with his pledge that, if he won, he would go to Korea to see if he could END THE WAR.
    Before that, of course, was WWII, and it’s not so much that the “more hawkish” candidate won, as much as the “don’t change horses in mid-stream” philosophy which led to FDR’s winning a fourth term (that war, incidentally, only officially involved US forces for 1365 days–some 450 days LESS than the current “war” in Iraq, and nearly 1000 days LESS than the official “war” on terror).
    The ONLY OTHER TIME when a Presidential election was held during a WAR (not counting the 2004 election, which had far more to do with getting religious conservatives to the polls to vote for measures which would prohibit same-sex marriage than any “hawkish” attitudes) was in 1864, and while McClellan was officially the candidate of the more “dovish” party, he personally supported the war effort against the party’s platform.
    The 1812 election (which took place just months after the formal declaration of war) was Madison (the incumbent) running against DeWitt Clinton (of New York). The funny thing is that Clinton ran as anti-war in the Northeast but ran as war supporter in the Southern and Western sections of the country.
    Naturally, Kristol isn’t right very often. If only he’d pay someone more than $5/week to check his facts………


  85. fletc3her Says:

    Good. The Democrats should win a national security election hands down. No question.

    It was after all the Republicans who were in power when the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil was perpetrated. It was the Republicans who failed to protect our country from that attack. It was the Republicans who failed to capture or kill those responsible for this attack. It was the Republicans who got a significant portion of our military tied up in a quagmire half a world away, leaving our country’s defenses woefully understaffed.

    I think it’s time to give the Democrats a shot at it.


  86. Keith Says:

    In the 1968 campaign, Nixon said he had a secret plan to end the Vietnam War. (He couldn’t tell us because then the enemy would hear the secret.) Later, Haldeman’s diary said that Nixon was working in 1968 and 1972 AGAINST the peace terms we finally agreed on. He said Nixon felt that peace would be harmful in both his campaigns. Nixon could have saved half the lives lost in that war—but that would have been bad for him politically—according to Nixon. Haldeman was the closest Nixon had to a friend.

    That was a withdrawal based on a timeline—-which seems to be so outrageously wrong today.


  87. GL2814 Says:

    Herr Kristol. Talking out his a** yet again!


  88. bilbobaggins Says:

    I say that Obama have Wesley Clark as his running mate. -bilbobaggins
    Clarke is a Clintonite. Bill Richardson would be the best choice by far.
    Comment by georgia

    I know, I was just looking for someone with military experience. Just because Clark supported Clinton doesn’t mean that Obama can’t have him as a VP. Clark is not badmouthing Obama so he is not burning his bridges.


  89. bilbobaggins Says:

    That’s true, but they didn’t end the war, did they? In fact, this has dragged on so long that even CNN is getting sick of it.
    I don’t see it ending with either a Obillary at the helm either. To say nothing of McBush.
    Comment by shellyT

    You know, I’m getting really sick and tired of people blaming the Democrats for not ending the Occupation of Iraq. I don’t think they have done all that they could do, but if they had not been obstructed by the Republicans and vetoed by Bush, we would be out of there by now. The fact is they don’t have enough of a majority to make it happen.

    Beware of concerned trolls. The new RNC strategy.


  90. Marie Says:

    It would be wise for Clintonites to not badmouth Obama as they praise Hillary. For instance, Wesley Clark has held his fire against Obama - and he may get a seat in the Obama cabinet, if not the vice presidency. In fact, I can see nearly every Democratic primary candidate having a high place in the Obama White House or Cabinet.
    We still haven’t heard who Edwards will swing toward, nor has Biden spoken. Note that Dodd and Richardson have come out for Obama, and I think Kucinich did also.
    When this cycle is over, however, all Democrats better line up behind which ever is the candidate — united we stand, divided we fall. Leave the divisions to the repugs who battle between biblethumpers, warmongers and heartless elitists.


  91. marlow Says:

    Nothing wrong with fascism. Hitler only gave it a bad name.
    Comment by Frank M — February 2, 2008 @ 12:48 pm


  92. RUCerious Says:

    Kill Bristol ~ All wrong, all the time.


  93. glenjo Says:

    Someone should remind little Billy that the ability to actually WIN the war is more important that starting a bunch and proceeding to lose them all. We need to elect someone that can FIX this BLOODY mess, not make it worst.

    Republicans strong on defense is a myth.

    Republicans even able to govern after they are put in charge is a myth.

    A bunch of dumb a$$ Repubs are running this country into the ground.


  94. dictatortot Says:

    If we suffer another major attack, or if the insurgencies in Iraq and/or Afghanistan re-surge (which is likely as spring breaks in Afghanistan,) Kristol may be right. I wonder if he’s “hopeful?”

    http://newsprism.wordpress.com


  95. Sabyen91 Says:

    “I say that Obama have Wesley Clark as his running mate. That would go a long way to filling the “war hawk” void on his resume. On the other hand, I would rather he have Kucinich and really start a Department of Peace.

    Comment by bilbobaggins — March 1, 2008 @ 6:09 pm”

    I am on board with that. Not to mention that in addition to Obama’s apparant strength in the Plaines states, Wes Clark would solidify that strength and you will see several purplish states in 2004 turn blue.


  96. Sabyen91 Says:

    “Clarke is a Clintonite. Bill Richardson would be the best choice by far.

    Comment by georgia — March 1, 2008 @ 9:08 pm”

    Despite not giving out his endorsement Richardson has long been a Clintonite as well. It is not a reason to dismiss anybody as a VP choice.


  97. Sabyen91 Says:

    “Comment by shellyT — March 1, 2008 @ 10:52 pm

    thanks for that dollop of brilliance. your concern is noted.

    Comment by Lefty Patriot — March 1, 2008 @ 10:56 pm”

    I see what you did there :)


  98. A Patriot Acting Says:

    In 1985 as chief of staff to then Vice President Dan Quayle William Kristol was dubbed, “Quayle’s brain” by The New Republic.
    -nuff said


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