I don’t see why Obama not co-sponsoring this bill will hurt him. I mean he has made known why he wouldn’t agree to sponsor it because they don’t have an exact time to get out. They can bring it up again and again but I don’t think his followers will care too much. But he does need to explain the situation himself not someone that works for him.

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

To me this sounds like if we do the deployment like it is stated we would have to begin a draft in order for those troops to stay home if ever we had new conflicts which would require a large number of troops ? The Al Qaeda Strategy Bill seems to make me feel very unsafe as far as being able to produce troops only and I say only if another war should break out. And like Vietnam if a bill like Iraq redeployment bill was not done we would put all kinds of people at risk like Vietnam where many were killed for helping the United States Of America. We need to protect those who have helped us and not just leave them to those who will hurt them after we are gone ! I dont think that is AMERICAN do you?

This seemingly proves Obama’s position of voting “present” on so many issues, as he did for the Illinois legislature. I am undecided, but these issues make me a bit uncertain. The American population seems to think generally that the war was a mistake, and Obama is certainly riding on the coat tails of the anti-war movement. I do believe that his strategy is working to gain the democratic nomination, but feel his positions are going to be so widely scrutinized, he will not maintain the movement he now enjoys. His ability to daily hit on what was said, and turn it into something more favorable towards him really still goes back to just one point; he didn’t support the war in Iraq. In all of his speeches, this seemingly is his ‘cherry on top”. His agenda for how troops will be deployed would require a HUGE increase in the military, which may not be a bad thing, but certainly will not happen very fast. I think he needs to have a reality check on how that would work by the media. If all seems in place, and he is the nominee, I could stand with him, but I have way too many unanswered questions, which when asked, he manipulates it back to his “being right”….”present” is neither right or wrong, it is a cop out and I worry about the commander in chief being just that.

I think its time for dems to stop letting the word liberal be the new four letter word. It was liberalism that got the civil rights movement in action, Bill Clinton in the white house voting rights acts and the list goes on. So now we have another movement and it will be liberals that will lead the way again. It takes a strong person to lead but, it takes an even stronger person to stand out front and lead the way

I’m tired of people mentioning the term liberal and referring to it as a losing proposition. I’m a liberal and I’m proud to be one. When running for the Presidency in 1960, John Kennedy defined the word liberal.

“I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, and the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, this faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith, for liberalism is not so much a party creed or a set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man’s ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves.”

- John F. Kennedy

Obama says he’s for getting the troops out but he won’t co-sponsor a bill for that unless it meets all his criteria? We don’t always get everything we want and sometimes taking half of it is better than not getting anything at all. Obama’s non-support of the bill to pull the troops out because of the lack of the 120 day deadline worries me about his ability to negotiate with Congress and meet them half way on bills where they pass some but not all of what he wanted. I know Obama is an idealistic guy but he needs to get a reality check to be effective or we will end up with the same do-nothing government we already have.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

This is not going to hurt him…he’s coated in teflon. All he has to do is find someone that voted for the war, that’s his winning hand. Though, when asked, HOW he would have voted if he could have voted he says he doesn’t know HOW he would have voted, because he didn’t have all the information that was being considered. I don’t get it..you are either FOR it or NOT..isn’t that what HE keeps saying? So, now that Al Qaeda is IN Iraq and he will re-deploy if they are there..why leave? He is such a load of conflicting positions…he will find one the sticks.

These resolutions and bills the senate and house are wasting their time on are just that, a complete and utter waste of the governments money. The congress has one play, they are the keepers of the money. Either make the one move you can make, or get off the field. You keep making yourselves look pathetic, and Obama is smart for not co-sponsoring any bills or resolutions for troop withdrawal!

Seems to be another example of Obama not having the courage to take a stand on something, like the Iran bill and all of his “present” votes in the legislature. Seems like he avoids voting on things that might be controversial. Hmm… sure sounds like a politican to me.

Obama always manages to avoid to taking a stand on critical issues. The argument that the bill does not include timelines is bogus. Everyone knows that you cannot put timelines on withdrawal of troops because it will depend on the situation at the time. You can put tentative timelines but will be like not not having any at all. Hillary’s plan does have a time period for withdrawal; one or two brigades per month until all the troops are out. Obama is just feeding voters unrealistic goals and false promises, like giving drivers licences to undocumented workers. We all know the issue of licences is up to each individual state. Obama is too risky because of his lack of knowledge and experience on foreign policy, the economy, healthcare and national security. You can dress up a monkey but he still a monkey. No racial meaning to that statement so don’t freak out. It is an old saying in the Latino culture.

What gets to me is that everytime Obama is questioned on anything related to Iraq he comes up with his lame argument, “but I was against the war from the start”. If he were the president on 9/11, I wonder what he was going to do. I know, after 30 minutes of pulling his very small ears he would say something like, “We can’t retaliate because I am against the war, but I still look good saying that”.

Clinton will send the troops to The Florida Keys if it means she will get elected.

She will do or say anything to get herself elected and the CNN (Clinton News Network) will agree to get her elected.

Do a search on the web for “Clinton Scams” then read to get fully informed about the Clintons, you owe it to yourself.

She woun’t turn her documents loose because she doesn’t want you to read about their past money laundering.

Have fun.

Labeling is not the Issue but Washington Is? Why now come up with a bill why not before election time?

Why is it that folk that have been in Congress for many years only have new ideas and plans to rescue Americans when they want to run for a higher office or maintain their current office? If these folk were so helpful and smart why did they let the economy and our foreign affairs get in such a mess? They sat and watched. Is there some rule in Congress that says you are not allowed to present great plans or provide advice or propose great bills to ensure that Americans are receiving the very best representation by their Congress? If these folk are so great why are they responsible for problem? They watched this situation that Americans are facing, loss of homes while up rooting their children, unaffordable gas prices, high education costs, tainted food, medicine and toys, folk dying and sick due to unaffordable Healthcare. Why did Congress not ensure appropriate safe guards to prevent this mess? Don’t Americans deserve better? Isn’t it time to draw the line on our expectations of those we send to Washington? If we don’t who will? Until we use our vote and keep changing the guard in Washington and send a message that when we hurt, money wise, our children are not getting appropriate education or expenses are unaffordable, high gas prices, food prices, no Health Care families are disrupted, our dreams are shattered while our homes are taken away while our children watch yet Congress was asleep at the wheel. They were also asleep while the Banking industry implemented and sold loans to hard working Americans that adversely affected their ability to be able to repay them, thus ending in a foreclosure rate upward of 40+%, this trickles down to all Americans in home values even when homes are not loss, Yet they nothing to stop it. Washington has not changed. Who was in charge when this happened? Ideally, it seems the longer these folk stay in Congress the better our economy would be and world affairs would be outstanding, of course that’s if folk were doing their jobs. Isn’t that what they told us when we elected them they promised! Isn’t this why we send them in the first place? So far we sent them to sit until they seek a higher office to make a difference in our lives and to sit on the side lines while we are impacted so adversely financially that even owning a home and disrupting our families and up rooting our children is allowed. The very folk who let our lives get in this mess are the very experts we should trust to get us out? Now does that really make sense? The record of a long-term candidate should be one who has actively fought for American families from DAY 1 for the very hardships that we are currently experiencing whether they succeeded or failed. Their record should be clear, no lip service. Somehow out of all the bills none were on our behalf? Would a stimulus package be necessary if those long-term people we sent to Washington to ensure that we were treated with the utmost respect as Americans and to ensure that our lives were their Priority had kept their eyes on the Ball? There are consequences to lack of Leadership or Bad Leadership. There should be consequences when those we entrust fail us. It’s really time for a Change, since the American people are now engaged in the toughest fight on behalf of our families that we can remember in our lifetime. Perhaps we can have that Change going forward, if we demand it, because it’s long overdue.

The RNC shouldn’t worry about labeling Barack but instead should worry about the labels found among those who support him. Democrat, Independant, Republican, Liberal, Moderate and Conservative.

They should be concerned that the young conservative Christian vote is turning out for Obama inspired by the true righteousness of this candidate and meanwhile threatening the future of the conservative movement.

The solitary binding interest his broad coalition of voters possess is the burning desire to have a government that is at least as responsive to their needs and they are to the wishes of the lobbyist sitting in their office with a bill in one hand and briefcase of bills in the other. A Democratic Candidate with a mandate against ‘business as usual’ running against a Republican Candidate who because of his endorsement of the failed Bush leagacy is seen by us as a symbol of that legacy.

My prediction is the general election will not even be close and my November vision is a map turned blue and country emboldened by hope prompting their legislators to action to reclaim control of our government and to return to all americans the promise of the American Dream.

Gary in Vancouver, WA

A man who made no mistake usually doesnt make anything says an author, are we looking for a perfect president for the usa or someone who can solve problem and get the country back on track…

Why is that the media seeks to portray a person as Liberal given their views on Bush’s war when the ECONOMY is the most important issue today!

Why doesn’t the media contrast the economic policy differences between the Conservatives and Liberals for the voters. If as reported John McCain supports “more of the same” Republican policies regarding the economy, why not report on the Liberal view of the middle class struggle.

We have let the “values” folks define the debate over Liberal vs Conservative for too long, lets get back to the ECONOMY and compare views!

Obama is a far left liberal. You will not reveal how liberal because you will discover the truth about his past that he is hiding. You know Fox news revealed last night, and I do watch both, that the Repub. party has been threatened if they start revealing Obama’s past if he gets the nom. What makes him so special that his camp can get away with something that is not the normal for any campaign in our history. They are hiding something and we all know what. This is why he gets on the defensive about his name, the picture, his heritage because if there is nothing there then he and Michelle would not get so angry and bite back so qickly and with such urgency. Like Fox said you will shut them up nor the bloggers or chat rooms. I have a question for you Anderson if Obama can’t run with the foot soldiers then how will he run with the horsemen later. He will never shut up the late night talk shows Letterman, Leno and others.

Here is what amazes me. We have been in Iraw for years, and yet there is still a need to get “clarity” on what the strategy is to defeat AlQaeda.

As a student of Homeland Security, I find it perplexing as to why we didn’t simply defeat them in Afghanistan when we had them hemmed in back in 2001. Sure, some elements of Al Qaeda may have been en route out of the country days or weeks prior to the attacks of 9/11; however, the largest contingency of Al Qaeda was most certainly still in the mountains of Afghanistan and I believe we should have kept our focus on annihilating them while they were more isolated and contained.

S. 2634 was written because there is an apparent need for threat analysis (which should be ongoing and part of the PDB every day) and a need for a strategy that is complimentary of our homeland security needs as well.

That is rather curious since we should have had a frim grip on these issues not long after we began this seemingly unecessary campaign.

the reason why he wont support this bill is because he hasnt got a clue what he is doing. if you look at him at every debate he looks dumb founded…………why do you think someone has to give an answer before him………i really do think we can remove our troops but we need to start removing them a little at a time…….. these people dont want us over there anyway……..they have been fighting in that area of the world throughout history and probably long after we leave….they dont want our religion or politics and we dont want theirs….(american ) the government has always been after their oil………… but the time has come to let them keep their oil and move on to other things……… if they dont have some fool to sell their oil to they will soon be broke anyway… begging anyone to buy it at a decent price……..