Well, I totaly respect your opinion.
However, I disagree on the matter this is the only position he ins’t changing. He has been picking Clintonites and NeoCons for his administration. In a time he has a mandate for Change! Gates, is a War Criminal. Obama wining the election does not change this. Gates was on the back stage of Iran-Contra scandal. The atrocities commited by the USA in Nicaragua.
The World is watching, and if the USA does not change its direction, it will be impossible to restore its international image. It has to prossecute the administration officials who have comited war crimes, Gates included!
I still have hope for this new administration, but I’m not going to follow it as though it is some religious sect. I’ll be skeptical and critical because we are talking about Polititians, not the comon type, but Washignton type! I’m hoping for real meaningfull change, not rethoric and ’slgans’.
Thanks for discussing the matter so civilized! There is nothing wrong in exchanging different ideas!

However, I was anticipating the appointment of a deputy secretary more opposed to the Iraq War who would ultimately replace Gates. We’ll see what happens.

With the mess overseas, this is most likely a good choice, he needs someone informed of the present situation, change might happen here sometime in the future, but now….not a good idea.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
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I reluctantly agree. I can’t say I’m a fan of Gates, but I can understand the incoming administration not wanting to rock this boat just yet. I’m hoping that it will be a short-term extension rather than a long-term one. A few months, rather than a year.

I’m also wondering if this is a decision that’s waiting on the Senate race in Georgia – perhaps the desired pick is a Senator in a red-governed state, but the administration doesn’t want to rob the Democrats of vote #60?

Lovely. Corruption is bliss isnt it!

Is your ISP watching?

—-
See this stupid and annoying shit?
I say when we do we take it out back and beat the living shit out of it.

F UCK YOU ASSWIPE!

I expect shared sacrifice and for corporations to quit making money hand over fist on our tax dollars.

Most Americans don’t want a free lunch, but a fair shake. Most want a good job to do, one where they’re more than an input to be manipulated, reduced or outsourced.

Most Americans want a government that works and a Congress that balances individual with business interests. We have sorry leadership in this country in government and business.

Dude, this is about the only position he isn’t changing.

I’m concerned about veterans’ issues too. Dems have been in the right on this since at least before 2006. If they don’t follow through, then veterans essentially become what the evangelicals have been to Republicans – do some talk, get their votes, then forget about them.

However, we did get the GI Bill 2 through. That’s a good start.

But it’s worth remembering that not everything goes top down through the Executive branch. A lot of it can be done more broadly by looking at the IAVA ratings for your local congresspeople and voting accordingly.

I’ve still got hopes that Obama’s going to come through for vets (Duckworth, pleez!!!) but even if he doesn’t make it a priority, it’s not like he’s actually going to block initiatives coming from other directions.

As he likes to say, change happens from the bottom up.

And anyone seen Rummy? Oh yeah, he’s a pariah who can’t cross the border. Even Gates can see Obama is not Bush and Iraq has no more prestige or power left for old D.C. hawks.

Wayne, as a veterans’ advocate, who would you like to see running the VA and who would have been your better choice for Sec Def?

Mac Cleland for either selection would be my first choice. If Cleland got the SOD nod, then Tammy Duckworth for VA or if Obama wants to be bi-partisan, Chuck Hagel for the VA

Jackie, I don’t trust Patreaus for lying, and pandering to the Bush/Cheney crowd, but he has had the correct military approach to guerilla war. He is very smart, and will do the best job of any general likely to get the chance in the MidEast. It is a sorry commentary on our military that only one seemed to learn, should I say, not forget what we learned in VietNam. If his strategy cannot stabilize Afghanistan militarily, we are in big trouble there.

I can hear the chants already, Afghanistan is not like Iraq, which is true, but it is a guerilla war, and must be fought as such. More than a surge as in Iraq is needed.

Keeping Gates allows Obama to concentrate more on the economy. He should stay a year, unless he cannot follow orders. I trust he can.

Obama Campaigned on Treating The Veterans Right. Many Veterans Groups supported his candidacy for that very Reason.

If Obama doesn’t keep his promises about Veteran’s Issues, there will be LOTS of people and groups pointing that out.

I think Obama is being sincere, and will not let the Vetrans Down…but if he does…I’ll be right there with you.

I just think we should give him a chance to prove his sincerety.