Flashback: Lieberman said that ‘our enemies will test the new President.’
Flashback: Lieberman said that ‘our enemies will test the new President.’
Today, John McCain’s campaign is attempting to make an issue out of Joe Biden’s prediction that an international crisis will “test the mettle” of the next president. On a campaign press call yesterday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attacked Biden’s statement, insisting that “it is not uniformly the case that the mettle of American presidents is tested…Senator McCain would not present that same risk that Joe Biden seems to be worried about.” Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of John McCain’s closest confidantes, apparently disagrees. Appearing on Face the Nation back in June, Lieberman predicted that “our enemies will test the new president early.” Watch it:
The Wonk Room argues that the issue is not whether the president is tested, but how he responds.
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Yes, we expect hick riots and hate mail left on the doorstep of the White House.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pmWe know how McCain and the neotards would respond. they would attack the wrong country and then ignore the right country all together. then when they finally find the RIGHT place to attack, they would sit on their “richards” so they dont make the people harboring those enemies mad.
do we rally want to coninue the policy of incompetance, arrogance, and ignorance??
October 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pmThe last test went so well that they haven’t had to do anything since. Besides, there will never again be a President so weak and unthinking.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pmwith lots of misspelled words on the signs and in the emails.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:17 pmEvery new president has enemies. The most annoying ones consist of everybody who didn’t vote for him, the portion of the media that embraced the ideology of his opponent, and every member of Congress from the opposing party. Those are the “enemies” who will do what they can to test him soonest.
It also stands to reason that any foreign enemy of our country will also try to push the envelope to see what they can get away with, just like schoolkids do with a substitute teacher (although the stakes are a great deal higher on a global playing field). I’m sure that — like a substitute teacher — anybody who’s serious about being the president will be prepared for this.
I have confidence that when Obama gets a surprise “test”, he won’t spend seven minutes staring at “My Pet Goat”.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pm.
Joe, Joe, Joe…
… You have no idea how much you have tested your constituients back in Connecticut. O.K. but I digress…
WHY DOES JOE GIVE BUSH A PASS?
.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:19 pmThis sounds like a quote out of the onion.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pmOr put on his mighty mouse suit and run back to dc to fix the economy…..heh. That one’s gonna leave a mark for a while.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pmPeople should not be alarmed by Biden’s hypothetical situation. Both candidates have been challenged by a real crisis – the economy. McCain’s response showed that he is indeed not ready to lead this country.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pmmore fear-mongering.
but certainly, expect the unexpected, folks.
both acts of terrorism lieberman cited were perpetrated with US government complicity:
http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_911_timeline&warning_signs:_specific_cases=firstwtcbombing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jub8tQvrFxY
…or just tap the snooze button once again… ’cause, you know…. there’s other more important things to be concerned about.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:32 pmOT (and sorry if this has been brought up already)
Bernanke endorses Obama (’s plan):
October 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pmhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB122455027730552509.html
what giuliani means is: “mccain is the manliest president, and biden is a pussy. but the manliest of all is myself.”
October 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pmI hate to say it but Biden put his foot in his mouth with this one – stick with the economy, Joe.
¶ AIO
October 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pmLike QUALAR said, if you wonder about the response to emergency, look at how McCain handled the economy (from David Letterman to a hotel room in Washington without even setting foot on the hill).
But let me provide evidence to make Lieberman’s point: We have overextended the military. Our military is now in the middle of a civil war in Iraq and open tribal warfare in Afghanistan. Pakistan seems a rather questionable friend. North Korea and Iran are both topics of a tenuous agreement on nuclear inspections. The economy is in the toilet.
It seems like now would be an ideal time for Osama Ben Laden to dust off his attack plans.
So how do we respond ? Do we beligerently sing “Bomb Bomb Iran” to almost guarantee diplomacy won’t work. Do we further alienate our allies (many of who house our military and may be looking to kick us out) ?
Or do we show some real leadership and talk, even with the nations we don’t like ?
October 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pmI believe it will happen. It happened in 1993, and it happened in 2001. To say it probably won’t happen in 2009 is plain silliness.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pmENEMY NEW PRESIDENT TEST:
q1: Two trains depart from their respective stations at the same time, 9 am. The east-bound Arizona train travels at 150 miles an hour, the west-bound New York travels at 250 kilometers an hour.
At what time will the terrorists blow up the trains as they pass each other?
McCain: “Never! I know how to capture terrorists!”
Obama: “What the eff are you talking about? For a start, the US doesn’t have a train capable of 150 mph…”
October 21st, 2008 at 2:43 pmJoe Liarman get ready to change parties.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
I hate to say it but Biden put his foot in his mouth with this one – stick with the economy, Joe.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
______
How do you figure? Biden said nothing incorrect or embarrassing. He merely stated a fact.
The next President is going to be facing a global food crisis, a global credit and financial crisis, ongoing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Pakistan, continuing tensions in the Caucasus region, an anti-US coalition in South America, low-level conflict in Sudan, the DRC, and Uganda, possible civil wars in Lebanon, Zimbabwe, and Burma, and an increasingly unstable climate.
Why is it somehow a gaffe to predict that at least one of these crises will rear its head early next year? Seems to me like a pretty solid bet.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:45 pm“the issue is not whether the president is tested, but how he responds.”
And The Wonk Room scores! They win the Pennant! It’s all over!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pmI just got through reading the article headlined on drudge (links to the new york post article on this “issue”.
The article was bad enough, but reading through the comments made me nauseous. Nearly every post brings up one or more of the following points:
1) Obama is a socialist, marxist, pinko, commie
2) Obama has a secret plan for “surrendering to some foreign power”
3) Obama won’t be able to handle any foreign crisis
4) Obama has a big conspiracy funding his campaign
5) Obama is an arab
6) Obama is a muslim
7) Obama is an arab muslim
8)Obama is a terrorist
9) Obama is an arab muslim terrorist
ad nauseum.
The thing that makes me sick is that all of these talking points are coming directly from the top of the republican ticket.
John S. McCain — You and your running mate are inciting violence with your rhetoric. Every one of your negative attacks has been thoroughly debunked, however, you continue to spew the rhetoric in the belief that if you repeat it enough, then people will assume it is true. You and your party are responsible for dividing this country and creating an atmosphere of fear and hate… the likes of which we havent seen since Sen Joe McCarthy and the HUAC. Sen. McCain, as the titular leader of the republican party you are HONOR BOUND, and it is your DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to stop this line of rhetoric and argue your case on the merits of who you are and your policies, not on the merits of how much fear and loathing you can stir up among your base. Any acts of violence perpetrated due to this are on YOUR hands Senator McCain.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
Why is it somehow a gaffe to predict that at least one of these crises will rear its head early next year? Seems to me like a pretty solid bet.
I agree, but we don’t need to be feeding the right wing fear, fear, fear machine two weeks before the election.
You have to figure Obama wishes Biden hadn’t made that comment.
¶ AIO
P.S. Just heard Hannity call it a “rather FRIGHTENING comment”. This plays right into their wheelhouse.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pmAhhhhhh. This explains why the McInsane campaign is cwying and whining about how mean and nasty the media has been to John and Sarah (and Cindy too). They’re just field-testing their responses to provocation….
Cheers,
October 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pmBiden’s comments were the biggest mistake of the campaign and could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The rights and wrongs, the importance of the statement are immaterial. What counts is the right will pound us to death over this statement and it just might resonate with the public. Biden is a competent man but those who predicted he would be liability may just be proven right. I’m sick.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:25 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
P.S. Just heard Hannity call it a “rather FRIGHTENING comment”. This plays right into their wheelhouse.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
_______
Sean “May Or May Not Be A Child Molester” Hannity can say what he likes, but the fact is that we’re already in a crisis. Several of them. The one issue that Obama/Biden is not leading on is national security, and it would seem logical to emphasize that not only are they prepared to deal with the nation’s economic woes, but also deal with other woes that are probably going to come up.
What’s the alternative? Lie? Say everything’s going to be fine and the rest of the world is going to give us a six-month sabbatical while we’re in transition?
October 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pmThe real enemies are already testing President Obama. Will he help in getting a real and independant prosecuter to find out who really is responsible for the demolition of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Unfortunately our current president made certain that no meaningful investigation and without justification wrongly blamed it on Middles Eastern extreamist that could not possibly had done the job and had no access to the buildings to place the expertly installed demolition. The airliners were not hijacked but radio controled, and were there simply for the terror effect on the American People to get their support for the already planned invasions. The enemy is from within.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pmAnd the enemy most likely does not wish Obama to win the election.
So Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh are going to test the new president?
October 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pmWritten or Oral?
So it’s great when McCain supporter Lieberman says it but horrible when Biden says it. More of that liberal media bias?
October 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pmAnd rumors of Joe Biden being whisked off the campaign trail are bogus. He’s speaking right now in Colorado.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pmAs a resident of New London County and an employee of the state of Connecticut, I feel within my rights to say, shut the fcuk up, lieberman, your traitorous piece of cow manure
October 21st, 2008 at 3:44 pmLieberman’s friends will test the Obama presidency perhaps by instigating another large false flag attack.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pmWhat is wrong about stating that the new president would be tested by the enemy? I think it is to be expected. Therefore, the new president should be prepared for such occurrence and I am quite sure that Obama will be up to the task.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pmI believe it was George Bush who was not only unprepared, but unwilling to listen to the warnings that occurred.
McCain recently demonstrated that his lack of skills and poor instincts in a time of crisis; whereas Barack Obam remained clear thinking and steady.
So what’s criticism of Biden about — looks like just another manufactured item from the McCain campaign.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Same shit, different day.
Stupid GOPigs.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pmDid he remember to mention that Iran wants to “wipe Israel off the map”?
October 21st, 2008 at 4:55 pmhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9007079754355711945
October 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pmhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3979568779414136481
Biden’s remarks are all McSame/Palin and their sycophants in the press are talking about and while they suck at governance they’re very good at ginning up outrage. Biden’s remarks were very unhelpful, lets hope they don’t become the Joe Piscarik moment of 2008
October 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pmsorry, first link: Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime
October 21st, 2008 at 5:13 pmsecond link: 9/11: Press for Truth
RUCerious Says
October 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
So Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh are going to test the new president?
Written or Oral?
_________________________________________________________
The threat of getting anything “oral” from Bill or Rush ought to dramatically cut down on the number of people running for office.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pmWhen John Fitzgerald Kennedy ran for President Republicans said the same thing about him except it was because of his age as the youngest President. He did great. Every President is tested and Obama will be no different. Now McCain is asking Russia for funds to his campaign so I guess it’s trying to not only beg but make friends with the so called enemy. Next the McCain/Palin team might write to Iran for help with campaign funds. The World Leaders must be getting a good laugh at this one. Sarah says she would bomb Russia but turns and ask them for money.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:37 pmOh, Lieberman. Such a joke.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:51 pmWhoops, caught in another act of demagoguery!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:19 pm“Fascinating.”
–Spock
Really, thanks for digging this up. I was perturbd by what Biden said, but it’s coming into perspective quickly now. There’s more at stake than who wins the U.S. presidential election, although that alone is very, very high stakes for America and the world. However, Obama takes office, doesn’t mean our troubles are over. It only means we can now take on the heap o’ trouble we are in.
*Deep breath* I’m girding my loins right now. No snark.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 amAnother thing Biden was spot on about: It WOULD be the height of patriotism for the blood drinking war mongers to shell out as much in taxes as they expect our troops to sacrifice in blood. What’s the matter with f-tards who want a war, love a war so much they moan in ecstasy and can’t sit still, but don’t want to pay a nickel for it? F-tards who don’t mind owing China for the next 150 years and rising?
Patriotism is biting the bullet at tax time, all you Red State Rich Folk. Or whatever kind of “folk” you folks are. I’m mystified. You want my son, his family, to literally sacrifice everything, and do it GLADLY, patriotically, but let Uncle Sam stretch a hand toward your fat wallet, and you faint from horror and revulsion that anything so barbaric could be asked of YOU?! Go to hell! Show me your patriotism or get out of my country! Come here and say to my face that you aren’t going to accept a tax hike just because you earn a quarter million a year, but the troops had better be prepared to sacrifice until YOU say it’s okay to come home!
Boy, is your karma bad. Gooooood night.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 am