Romney's Reckless Rebuke

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Time to Abolish Left vs. Right

Excerpt: "Romney rushed to release this statement before the facts were even in - before we learned that the American ambassador and three others were killed in Libya. It's hard to imagine how Romney's statement could be more incendiary or tasteless in the tinder-box context of the moment."

Mitt Romney makes comments on killing of US embassy officials in Libya. (photo: Charles Dharapak/AP)

Comments

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+125 # overanddone 2012-09-13 06:59

Being president is a reactive job with consequences world wide based on decisions that often include no good choices. Usually there is not time to poll test, focus group or weather vane before pulling the trigger. How many of those decisions you make that don't cost people their lives or lively hoods are the true measure of what the president, the man/woman can control.

Mitt Romney has demonstrated in his run for the presidency bad judgement and unpresidential reactions from everything from allowing his first add against the president to be a lie " if we talk about the economy were going to loose", to his reaction to RL calling Miss.Fluke a slut, to his embrace of birtherism and D. Trump, to not calling out debate jeers at a wounded service member at a debate, to refusing a 10 to 1 spending cut to tax increase hypothetical question, to............. ............... I could go on and on,to his most recent breech of civility, American one president at a time protocol, not to mention the truth.

His disrespect for the murdered American foreign service workers, and the Libyans who died trying to defend them, in my mind, disqualifies him as a christian. When he disrespects our president, he disrespects me and all Americans and disqualifies himself as a patriot. In total he has disqualified himself as a Man who should or could be president

+40 # genierae 2012-09-13 08:04

Very well said, overanddone, thank you!

+15 # Barbara K 2012-09-14 09:44

overanddone: You are so correct and I hope people are paying attention. Romneyhood has surrounded himself with idiots like him. He shows us every time he opens his mouth that he is not Commander-in-Ch ief material. He would have us in a war as soon as he could. I just hope all our kids refuse to go. Let Romneyhood take his family and go fight it himself.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
The alternative is unbearable.

-97 # The Voice of Reason 2012-09-13 07:24

Strange how this has become a partisan political issue, and not news about AN ATTACK ON A US EMBASSY.

'... but it also ignores the administration’ s actual “first response” to the Libyan violence (a sharp condemnation by Hillary Clinton)'

Reports are that her condemnation was "in the harshest terms". Doesn't get much sharper than that.

hmmmm. Not sure how that conveys much of anything in the midst of this senseless and provoked violence. And of course since this is not really violence but a cultural expression of ... I'm sorry, this is out and out violence, murder and mayhem.

With condemnations like this, the rioting should have stopped by now. Maybe we need another harsh condemnation to put it to rest. That oughta do it.

+45 # reiverpacific 2012-09-13 08:17

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

Strange how this has become a partisan political issue, and not news about AN ATTACK ON A US EMBASSY.

'... but it also ignores the administration’s actual “first response” to the Libyan violence (a sharp condemnation by Hillary Clinton)'

Reports are that her condemnation was "in the harshest terms". Doesn't get much sharper than that.

hmmmm. Not sure how that conveys much of anything in the midst of this senseless and provoked violence. And of course since this is not really violence but a cultural expression of ... I'm sorry, this is out and out violence, murder and mayhem.

With condemnations like this, the rioting should have stopped by now. Maybe we need another harsh condemnation to put it to rest. That oughta do it.

Eh??? Confusing comment at best.

-42 # The Voice of Reason 2012-09-13 09:36

English must not be your first language. Eh ???

+28 # David Starr 2012-09-13 13:21

Intelligence must not be your first requirement, eh?

+23 # reiverpacific 2012-09-13 13:58

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

English must not be your first language. Eh ???

Right, I'm Scottish -the English "Talk funny", we use topspin!
Simply asking -politely as I thought- for some clarification on your somewhat disjointed post, that's all. I mean, my typing skills are primitive at best and sometimes ghastly typos still sneak through my agonized vigilance but I do have a go at combining subject, syntax and conclusion clearly.
Care to try again; eh, what ???
"O wad some power the giftie gei us, to see oorsel's as others see us" (Robert Burns).
Come to think of it, that is pretty apt for Twit R' too, who shouldn't be let out his carefully guarded cage, especially to insert his foot-into-mouth on world affairs, let alone domestic.

+3 # Independentgal 2012-09-13 11:51

Agree. That's why I didn't know whether to click on the up or the down hand!

-2 # David Starr 2012-09-13 13:22

Abstain, if you're confused.

+2 # vitobonespur 2012-09-15 11:20

Thank you, reiverpacific. I was afriad it was just me.

+11 # Ralph Averill 2012-09-13 09:03

So, THE Voice of Reason, you're suggested courses of "reasonable" presidential response are....?

-15 # The Voice of Reason 2012-09-13 12:54

I would start by telling the entire Muslim community that their Promised One, the Qa'im, the Wali al-Asr as the Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution calls Him, has come. And that they should one and all follow His teachings and abandon jihad, which is one of the first teachings, abandon their hatred of all things good, and be spiritually transformed by the very words of the Promised One.

Thank you for asking.

+26 # David Starr 2012-09-13 13:28

How about if the U.S. sincerely renounce itself as an imperial, monetary empire, as well. Sure would save a lot of peoples' lives without invade, occupy bomb, an imperial tradition. That would be a probable plus, the U.S. being a socially responsible nation among nations; without the old trappings of "greatness,"exc eptionism, etc. that have been major threats to humankind for generations. Can we, including yourself, learn from history, rather than dwell in it?

+6 # Bill Clements 2012-09-14 07:57

You would be "tried for treason" by the TP, the GOP, and/or neocons for your sentiments. But your post is, of course, spot on. Many of us have arrived at the same place, but, atlas, how many decades will it take our government's foreign policy to get there?

+6 # David Starr 2012-09-14 09:40

Yeah, maybe the Right would lynch me or shoot me by firing squad or, given their 12th century mentality, call me a heretic,torture me, put in a show trial, and burn me at the stake. Good question Bill about foreign policy. It certainly looks like decades (hopefully not more) but the current state of the world proves that necessary change is obviously needed.I think for it to be for real, there has to be an ideological change, going gradually, sometimes anyway, into a new epoch. It's apparent that profiteers don't get the idea of real and responsible freedom, where poverty is eliminated worldwide,e.g., among other things. A beautiful feeling: Total freedom from poverty.

+13 # genierae 2012-09-13 16:43

The Voice of Reason, jihad in its original sense means the battle in our hearts between good and evil, but Muslim extremists, both Shia and Sunni, have taken it literally, and think they have a right to be violent in their protection of Mohammed. This kind of literal translation occurs in all religions, including Christianity. The Sufis are the mystical God-worshippers of Islam, they express its true spiritual essence. They have no violence in them, they are filled up to the top with love.

"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art."

The Essential Rumi

+7 # David Starr 2012-09-13 13:20

To: "Right for the Wrong Reasons." Interesting how you talk you talk out of both sides of your mouth. "We good, invade. Them bad, kill. Such a B/W outlook of the world. Rather infantile and akin to a loose cannon. It sure became a partisan issue with Romney desparately jumping on it, and letting loose with something akin to pyscho-babble. Yeah, partisan, alright. That's right political retard (No offense to those with Downs Syndrome.), let's put it to rest, sure that oughta do it. Spoken like a true, ugly "American." And an infantile-sound ing one at that. You were born too late. You should have lived in the Dark Ages. Anything else you want get wrong, political asswipe?

+15 # BlueReview 2012-09-13 15:08

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

Strange how this has become a partisan political issue, and not news about AN ATTACK ON A US EMBASSY.

It's a 'partisan issue' because Romney chose to make it so, trying to score political points against the President, ignoring the deaths and lives risked by those who had no way to escape this sudden madness, as well as those who could have stood aside, but chose not to in favor of standing between their own people and the people inside the embassy.

Your sarcasm may or may not be justified--"Wit h condemnations like this, the rioting should have stopped by now. Maybe we need another harsh condemnation to put it to rest. That oughta do it"--but it does nothing to defuse the situation. And your later statement, “. . . abandon their hatred of all things good . . .”—The problem there is, your definition of “all things good” will almost certainly differ from theirs. Or mine. And how do you plan to out-shout the rabble-rousers and hate-mongers that are almost certainly there, as here, looking for any opportunity to cause problems?

Does the phrase 'mob mentality' sound familiar? I'm not a psychologist, but I've heard the term enough to know that that's probably at least part of the problem here.

+101 # NanFan 2012-09-13 07:27

I smell a Carl Rove rat!

With regard to Romney's ridiculous, knee-jerk, before-the-fact s comments about the horrendous uprising and killings in Libya...I smell Carl Rove tactics, trying to get their brain-dead candidate to incite the far-right Republicans, who WOULD believe that President Obama sympathizes with the attackers, because not so deep in their meager psyches, they still believe that the president IS Muslim and was not born in America! They believe he hates America, because this is what they're being told by the lying Republicans at every turn.

The mere fact that Romney made this egregious statement before the Libyan attacks took place ON the anniversary of 9/11 looks, feels, and smells like the classic Rovian propaganda machine on high alert. And why, might you ask? The day was right: 9/11. The need was great: to deflect from the same day's new evidence that Bush/Cheney & Co. (which includes Rove) ignored NUMEROUS warnings of imminent attacks on America 11 years ago.

So stir the pot big time, buy someone off to create a film making fun of Mohammed...BIG no, no, and so wrong...and get him lost (Sam Bacile?? Sounds like "imbecile"...ho w did he so easily disappear?) And then, get your candidate to say something against Obama BEFORE the attack happens. Never mind that Americans will/did die!

Conspiracy theory? Maybe, but I wouldn't put it past them; this is one sicko campaign by the Repugs...AGAIN!

N.

+7 # stonecutter 2012-09-14 04:17

@ NanFan
You're a prophet. Trenchant post. I couldn't be more disgusted with Romney if he was molesting little girls on the side (for the NSA techs monitoring this site in Utah, of all places, that's a metaphor, not a statement of fact). This campaign makes Dole and McCain seem like Einstein.

+79 # carneyva 2012-09-13 07:34

This is a harbinger of Romney's foreign policy, which is a duplicate of W's: "Yee-haw!"

Think about it: Do we REALLY want to be dragged into a war with Iran? Which will be fought on our national credit card? With our current national debt?

Please.

-83 # edge 2012-09-13 08:10

Quoting carneyva:

This is a harbinger of Romney's foreign policy, which is a duplicate of W's: "Yee-haw!"

Think about it: Do we REALLY want to be dragged into a war with Iran? Which will be fought on our national credit card? With our current national debt?

Please.

"Walk softly but carry a big stick"

Obama is not willing to wield the stick and our enemy's all know it. That is much worse and one reason we got hit on 9/11!

Clinton kept turning the "other cheek" so they were emboldened.

+46 # MainStreetMentor 2012-09-13 09:37

No "big stick" from Obama? Tell the now deceased Osama Bin Laden that.

+39 # dkonstruction 2012-09-13 09:55

Quoting edge:

Quoting carneyva:
This is a harbinger of Romney's foreign policy, which is a duplicate of W's: "Yee-haw!"

Think about it: Do we REALLY want to be dragged into a war with Iran? Which will be fought on our national credit card? With our current national debt?

Please.

"Walk softly but carry a big stick"

Obama is not willing to wield the stick and our enemy's all know it. That is much worse and one reason we got hit on 9/11!

Clinton kept turning the "other cheek" so they were emboldened.

So, we were attacked on Sept. 11th because we didn't carry a big stick? Sorry, but we were attacked on 9/11 (if one accepts the official version) precisely because we have been carrying and using that big stick in the middle east for a long time...how about the overthrow of the democratically elected president of Iran in 1953? Or our support for the Israeli gov't (including supplying them with weapons); or our naval base in Bahrain or air base in Saudi Arabia (which was what really pissed off Bin Laden in the first place)...and one could go on and on.

Finally, what evidence do you have to make the claim that "this president" doesn't go to his briefings and then that this was the reason for the attacks in Libya (and how do you know that this was done by Al Qaeda?)

+14 # X Dane 2012-09-13 14:56

dconstruction.
You even forgot that when Saddam attacked Iran, after the fall of the Shah, WE supplied him with chemical weapons, which he used AGAINST Iran, and later against the KURDS in northern Iraq...... We have a lot on our conscience.

-19 # robniel 2012-09-13 10:39

Platitudes like these rarn multiple red marks.

+5 # reiverpacific 2012-09-13 15:57

Quoting robniel:

Platitudes like these rarn multiple red marks.

Again, eh???

+20 # James Smith 2012-09-13 11:49

No "big stick?" Tell that to the Somali pirates. Oh wait, two of then are dead on Obama's orders.

+30 # Independentgal 2012-09-13 11:54

Unless I'm wrong, we got hit on 9/11 during the Bush boy's term. And Bush had all the information telling him that an attack on U.S. soil was imminent.

+22 # noitall 2012-09-13 12:23

Quoting edge:

Quoting carneyva:
This is a harbinger of Romney's foreign policy, which is a duplicate of W's: "Yee-haw!"

Think about it: Do we REALLY want to be dragged into a war with Iran? Which will be fought on our national credit card? With our current national debt?

Please.

"Walk softly but carry a big stick"

Obama is not willing to wield the stick and our enemy's all know it. That is much worse and one reason we got hit on 9/11!

Clinton kept turning the "other cheek" so they were emboldened.

Where have you been!? No big stick? When have Americans not been anxious to use the big stick? Spending our stocks of 'sticks' is good business and that is why we're in constant war; some people make BIG MONEY. Why should the willingness to use the big stick be a positive quality of a president? The fact that we have no problem using the Big Stick is the reason that these so-called terrorists are 'emboldened'. Getting even is hand-in-hand with their religion, apparently, and we certainly give them cause to have to be constantly 'getting even'. We call it collateral damage, they call it "blowing the hell out of my family at the wedding party". I think most countries see us as being trigger-happy, not pussies afraid to use the big stick. What does history tell you?

+21 # humanmancalvin 2012-09-13 12:55

edge wrote" Obama is not willing to wield the stick and our enemy's all know it. That is much worse and one reason we got hit on 9/11!"
Hate to break it to this low information poster but President Obama was not in office during 9/11, the incompetent Bush was, & he was warned of an imminent attack & did nada to prevent it.
President Obama is credited with killing more members of the Taliban & Al-Quida than Bush ever did. I remember the good ole days when citizens would rally around a war-time president. That is of course when we had a White president.
For the sake of sanity vote Obama or be stuck with Bush Lite on steroids.

+4 # bingers 2012-09-15 04:42

We got hit on 9/11 because Bush and the gang were a bunch of fricken idiots who ignored the advice of the Clinton administration and numerous CIA briefings.

-72 # edge 2012-09-13 07:37

This attack was on the anniversary of 9/11.

Why weren't the Embassy's on high alert!
Earlier this week Bush was accused of not paying enough attention to terrorism even though he did get all of his briefings.

This president does not go to his and Al Qaeda attacks again on 9/11 of course he should be chided!

+27 # mjc 2012-09-13 10:34

Obama gets all of his briefings too...but unlike Bush who detested reading...Obama is reading them and responding...th e way we do here.

+13 # Independentgal 2012-09-13 11:56

Are you privy to what goes on in these meetings? Obama would've been on top of this had he known there were plans to attack.

+3 # mjc 2012-09-15 09:16

Absolutely!

+4 # mjc 2012-09-15 09:15

Just for your info, the American compound in Benghazi is NOT an Embassy; it is a Consulate. The American Embassy is in Tripoli. This attack was completely unexpected; COMPLETELY!

+55 # myungbluth 2012-09-13 07:48

Boy-o-boy. Romney has so MANY lies to choose from. This week he has selected an old right wing-nut chestnut: Obama "apologizes" for America. This is another Romney/GOP belief that if you screw up - like all people and organizations eventually do - you should never, never, NEVER admit it. Perfect example is when Mittens had the chance to walk back his hasty, pandering statement yesterday, he, instead, DOUBLED DOWN on it! Many of the elephants didn't like that - yesterday. Today, like the true flip-floppers they are, many GOP have decided that Mittens was RIGHT in his ridiculous statements. Typical. For a couple of hours, they were actually sane and grounded in reality, but a couple of sips of the Koolade later, they were back to the tried and untrue line that if Obama says it, it must be wrong. The ONLY "apology" that America needs to make is for allowing one of its two major parties to become so undone by right-wing, fantasy-based disrespect for facts, empathy, and the American people. NEVER vote Republican!

+20 # Independentgal 2012-09-13 11:57

Great comment, especially your last two sentences.

-32 # MidwestTom 2012-09-13 07:49

Maybe we should look at who supported the so called Arab Spring. Has our not so secret support resulted in the ultimate elimination of Christianity from the middle east? Why not just get out of the area completely, and stop all aid. We have been war with a loosely organized Muslim sect. We cannot tell who is radicalized and who is not. we cannot kill them all, maybe it is time to simply get out. we now should realize that literally millions of Muslims hate us. When do our leaders finally acknowledge this.

+31 # overanddone 2012-09-13 08:07

You seem to believe that we, the US, would have veto power over people seeking a better life and a more democratic government, that it was up to us to allow or forbid.
Perhaps a question about who made it their mission to reshape the middle east, with a cake walk through Iraq and a Pax Americana fantasy through military force to begin with.

-3 # edge 2012-09-14 04:58

Quoting overanddone:

You seem to believe that we, the US, would have veto power over people seeking a better life and a more democratic government, that it was up to us to allow or forbid...

While Mubarak was a bad actor, he did help keep the region safe for many years.
If you back someone then make sure he has a parachute when ousted or no one will trust you again!

Yes, we should have let him be ousted, but making him leave naked to be arrested and tried only makes the others harder to get out and for us to be trusted in the future!

+38 # genierae 2012-09-13 08:25

MidwestTom, "millions of Muslims hate us" for very good reasons. I am very saddened at the heavy loss of our ambassador and his staff members, but I cannot ignore the fact that the US has been interfering in the Middle East for several decades. Installing and propping up dictators who tortured and murdered innocents, invading and destroying countries for the purpose of establishing military bases and/or stealing their oil, and using propaganda to demonize legitimate protests and suppressing any acts to overthrow US puppets. I agree we need to get out, but it can't be overlooked that we have done great damage to the people there, they live in chaos every day of their lives and so when we leave the suffering will continue, courtesy of the historic right-wing crimes of the US government. Karma is now catching up with us.

+17 # noitall 2012-09-13 12:34

You've got that right genierae, and the same goes for our covert policies in central and south america. With our government being an agent for our corporate greed, we're pretty much the ass holes in the eyes of the rest of the world. Difficult to come up with an argument against that perception.

+9 # genierae 2012-09-13 16:56

I agree noitall, bullies like US inspire hatred around the world, but I do see a future where this country can take its place as a compassionate, even-handed, global power that really does want to bring unity to the world, and I think that this may happen sooner than we think.

+6 # noitall 2012-09-13 23:11

I do too and it will be the youth of America that takes ownership from the greedy old twisted bastards that own this government. Their day is coming and they know it.

+16 # Ralph Averill 2012-09-13 09:08

"Why not just get out of the area completely, and stop all aid."
Two words; Oil and Israel.

+38 # Regina 2012-09-13 09:20

Since when is it an American goal to promote Christianity anywhere? We are NOT the United States of Evangelicalism.

-32 # The Voice of Reason 2012-09-13 09:39

Actually, millions of Muslims hate us, and hate most everybody else, because they are full of hate. Have you seen those videos of 'devout' Muslims slashing their head or backs with razors as a pious expression? This is how they are raised, to believe that violence is a cultural expression of piety. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but it is the only truth they accept.

+10 # bbaldwin 2012-09-13 10:36

I beleive if you read your history you will find this is an ancient tradition called Flogging. Not sure of that spelling, however I am sure of my statement

+2 # robniel 2012-09-13 10:43

Translation: Let the next phase of the religion wars begin.

+8 # dkonstruction 2012-09-13 12:48

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

Actually, millions of Muslims hate us, and hate most everybody else, because they are full of hate. Have you seen those videos of 'devout' Muslims slashing their head or backs with razors as a pious expression? This is how they are raised, to believe that violence is a cultural expression of piety. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but it is the only truth they accept.

and, we are all sure that you know many muslims personally and so are speaking from personal experience...no ? well, then we're sure you have done extensive scholarly research and reviewed the extensive literature on the history and teachings of Islamic scholars? no? oh...sorry, i forgot...you've seen "those videos"....sad, that this is what passes for "reason" in your mind.

+2 # bingers 2012-09-15 04:59

I do know a small number of Muslims and you would never meet more caring people nor better friends. If you judge them by the small percentage who are worshiping a whacked out version of Allah, then why shouldn't they judge us by the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church or Reverend Jones?

+3 # bingers 2012-09-15 04:54

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

Actually, millions of Muslims hate us, and hate most everybody else, because they are full of hate. Have you seen those videos of 'devout' Muslims slashing their head or backs with razors as a pious expression? This is how they are raised, to believe that violence is a cultural expression of piety. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but it is the only truth they accept.

Have you seen the videos of millions of Muslims supporting us after 9/11? Have you seen the videos of the masses of Muslims in Libya supporting us and condemning the terrorists in Benghazi? Have you noticed that the Libyan police have arrested 4 of the terrorists?

The Muslims who hate us hate us for the atrocities we have committed against them in the name of oil.

+1 # bingers 2012-09-15 04:56

Quoting The Voice of Reason:

Actually, millions of Muslims hate us, and hate most everybody else, because they are full of hate. Have you seen those videos of 'devout' Muslims slashing their head or backs with razors as a pious expression? This is how they are raised, to believe that violence is a cultural expression of piety. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but it is the only truth they accept.

And flogging is a long time observed tradition with fundamentalist Christians.

+15 # dkonstruction 2012-09-13 10:00

Quoting MidwestTom:

Maybe we should look at who supported the so called Arab Spring. Has our not so secret support resulted in the ultimate elimination of Christianity from the middle east? Why not just get out of the area completely, and stop all aid. We have been war with a loosely organized Muslim sect. We cannot tell who is radicalized and who is not. we cannot kill them all, maybe it is time to simply get out. we now should realize that literally millions of Muslims hate us. When do our leaders finally acknowledge this.

If the Arab Spring has "resulted in the elimination of Christianity from the middle east" then why are the majority of christians staying whether it is in Lebenon, Syria or Egypt (not to mention Iran, which though not an Arab country, has maintained a fairly but stable small christian and jewish communities and who also haven't left not including those that left right after the revolution which was much more about class than religion i.e., those with money wanted out)

+10 # noitall 2012-09-13 12:29

Why not just get Christianity (and religion) out of our government? Why should we be taking religious sides in the middle east while Israel sits there like a spoiled kid poking it's neighbor with a stick (and allowing its citizens to encroach on land that isn't theirs)and all the while using all it's considerable influence on our government to push us to another costly (to life and treasure) and needless war, this time with Iran.

+1 # bingers 2012-09-15 04:50

Seems like the folks on the crazy side of the aisle want to eliminate Islam here. Even giving your conclusion more credit than it deserves, what's the difference between the Muslim haters and the Christian haters? All fundamentalists of every religion are basically insane.

+31 # George Baggett 2012-09-13 07:54

Possible a number of two-legged rats in the mix, but it also appears that the "American Taliban" creates a number of films of late in an effort to affect the election, and they clearly demonstrate they have no concern or understanding of how these actions might be received in the global circle by groups who are as fundamentally off the charts as this select group of "American Taliban" members.

Clearly, from the comments of many Libyan leaders, this was not a sanctioned attack and possibly orchestrated by some who desire a wedge between the new government efforts and the US. "Shoot first and aim later" is putting Romney responses nicer than he deserves.

+57 # LeeBlack 2012-09-13 07:57

The point is - Romney is a guy with a knee-jerk reaction who jumps in before he has the facts. Think what that would mean if he becomes President.

+27 # Regina 2012-09-13 09:23

Romney wouldn't know what to do with facts if he were drowning in them. Keep in mind -- the Republican cabal has said that all they need and want in a president is s guy who can sign his name whenever and wherever they tell him to.

+2 # ABen 2012-09-14 03:30

Well said Regina! To paraphrase from a prominent NH newspaper, Romney is a phoney.

+36 # DaveM 2012-09-13 08:02

The United States has recently been involved in attempts to violate the sovereignty of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. While the weapons used have been pens and rhetoric rather than firearms, some of the same principles are involved.

I condemn this attack on American diplomats without reservation, and hope the criminals responsible are apprehended and brought to justice. At the same time, I hope that the United States will use this tragedy as a powerful reminder that the sovereignty/imm unity of an embassy or consulate must be respected without exception. If we do not extend that consideration ourselves, we cannot reasonably expect such consideration from others.

+7 # genierae 2012-09-13 08:34

DaveM, you neglected to mention that the attempt to violate the Ecuadorian Embassy was led by the British, and according to Julian Assange, they physically entered the embassy searching for him. They continue to refuse him safe passage out of the UK, which at least is a violation of protocol, if not international law. How hands-on was the US involvement?

+2 # bingers 2012-09-15 05:02

Quoting genierae:

DaveM, you neglected to mention that the attempt to violate the Ecuadorian Embassy was led by the British, and according to Julian Assange, they physically entered the embassy searching for him. They continue to refuse him safe passage out of the UK, which at least is a violation of protocol, if not international law. How hands-on was the US involvement?

They're doing it as our agents and if he is arrested he will be sent here for his kangaroo court prosecution.

+11 # rebelgroove 2012-09-13 08:30

What can I say? If the American electorate votes this fool into office, then you deserve him and his moronic policies ... thank god I'm not american ...

+17 # wwway 2012-09-13 08:50

The Bush Administration ushered in a long planned "preemptive war" foreign policy that puppet Romney will reintroduce to justify engaging this country in perpetual war.
As a side note. In my opinion, the American who created that video should be caught and tried for treason because it resulted in the death of 4 AMERICAN citizens. I'm for free speech but it's not free when if it cost someone their freedom.

-28 # edge 2012-09-13 09:49

Quoting wwway:

... In my opinion, the American who created that video should be caught and tried for treason because it resulted in the death of 4 AMERICAN citizens. I'm for free speech but it's not free when if it cost someone their freedom.

The movie did not cause the problem!!!

This was retaliation for killing Al Qaeda members, get your head out of the sand!

+14 # noitall 2012-09-13 12:43

Quoting edge:

[quote name="wwway"]... In my opinion, the American who created that video should be caught and tried for treason because it resulted in the death of 4 AMERICAN citizens. I'm for free speech but it's not free when if it cost someone their freedom.

It seems like these fundamentalists are pretty consistent in their reaction to blasphemy. Salmon Rushdie, cartoons depicting Mohammed, etc. have garnered the same reaction and then we have blowhards like this dip shit in Florida burning the Koran and this movie...these dicks should be held accountable. There are Americans who would kill someone for burning the flag if they thought they could get away with it. Fundamentalists are the actors not necessarily the main stream but they're the ones who do the damage and get the publicity. Then we have Mittens wanting to look like the big man by pushing for extreme reaction (that would beget stronger extreme reaction). Using ones head, maturity, patience, compassion, are not signs of weakness but signs of leadership.

+1 # bingers 2012-09-15 05:03

Maybe we would, but you have all the head burying sand locked up in your dream world. ;o)

+33 # genierae 2012-09-13 08:52

Mitt Romney is incredibly ignorant when it comes to any kind of sensitivity toward foreign policy. Putin said on Tuesday that Romney's comments about Russia being enemy #1 had strengthened his resolve to resist NATO's plan for a missile defense shield in eastern Europe. This presidential wannabe keeps making ridiculous statements, apparently not realizing that other countries will react to them, and then he refuses to back down, adding even more stupidity to his original unwise remarks, and instead of calming down the troubled waters, he makes them worse. One shudders to even think about him in charge of this country. I thank God for such a cool head as now resides inside the Oval Office, and I pray that he will get four more years there. Thank you President Obama for your good leadership!

+1 # bingers 2012-09-15 05:07

You're giving Romney way too much credit. He'd have to grow up intellectually to reach that low bar. There is no question that Bush was either the worst president in history or maybe tied with Polk, but Mittens would make Bush look positively angelic. Remember Bush warned against making this a religious war or blaming Islam. So, right there the dumbest president ever is head and shoulders above Romney.

+30 # pernsey 2012-09-13 08:57

Mitt should not be making statements, nor should he be trying to take down the president in a time where we should be in national unity, because our embassies are being attacked.

I think what Mitt did is disgraceful, I think hes a complete and utter fool, who wouldnt have a chance in hell without the Fox spin machine and his rich buddies, trying to put lipstick on this pig. President Obama isnt what Fox news says he is, and neither is Mitt what Fox news says he is. I held my nose last night and watched Fox spin this latest huge blunder, into something its not. Mitt leave the international diplomacy to the adults in the room, will you please go back to the kiddie table and shut up!

Here is their new talking points and Im sure we will be hearing this repeated over and over by the Fox news sheeple.

Mitt is the adult in the room (Oh Please!)

Obama is an apologist and apologizes for America...yet another lie.

That this latest blunder somehow makes Mitt look forceful...Anot her huge sigh...really? Really?

So look out for these lies from a Fox viewer near you.

+13 # Independentgal 2012-09-13 12:05

Really frightening -- Fox Republican News and its equally nuts minions. All of whom are brainwashing many, many Americans.

+12 # X Dane 2012-09-13 14:14

Yep pernsey.

This is a very serious situation, but when I heard Romney shoot of his mouth, I thought: you incredibly stupid fool you finally did it.

Romney cut his own throat!!

In his rush to skewer Obama as incompetent he fell on his OWN sword. He finally showed us that he is totally out of his depth. Not only is he backstabbing the leader of our country,
He will make our country seem weaker. That is being unpatriotic and illoyal.

He came off as STUPID and STUBBORN. In face of facts he kept insisting, and you could SEE that he looked REALLY uncomfortable.
I THINK he realized that he was loosing the argument. But there was no hole for him to crawl into.

The few independent undecided voters, I think, will finally be able to see how utterly unqualified he is for the presidency.

IT IS 3 0CLOCK, AND HE SURE SCREWED UP THE ANSWER TO THAT CALL

+2 # bingers 2012-09-15 05:10

"Obama is an apologist and apologizes for America...yet another lie."

You know, maybe if he did go around apologizing for all our misdeeds it might actually make a huge difference in bringing peace to the world. Of course it would also make the wingnut crazies mount an armed assault on him.

+17 # vgirl1 2012-09-13 09:04

Wow, we thought Romney's gaffs during his European diplomacy tour gave pause for thinking of him as America's leading face of diplomacy. This latest Romney knee-jerk, shoot, aim reaction over the very volatile Cairo and Libya situation proves to me Romney is not ready to be Commander-in-Ch ief. More calm, thoughfulness and world perspective are what I expect to see from someone who looks for my vote as US President / Commander-in-Ch ief.

+16 # David Starr 2012-09-13 09:55

Quoting: "Last night, Mitt Romney accused the Obama administration of sympathizing with the attackers who killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya. He was apparently referring to a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Cairo that condemned the anti-Muslim movie that incited the violence. That statement, however, was issued hours before the Libyan attacks. Is Romney going to regret his sloppy response, or will this, regardless of the facts, mobilize his 'no apology' base?" Warped. Again a Repub pulls an Akin. Desparate, aren't you Romney? In a panic? It shows. Don't point that accusing too much. It may be "bitten" off.

+24 # Buddha 2012-09-13 10:20

Months ago it was noted how Robme was filling his foreign-advisor positions with Bush-era neo-con retreads. I wondered when we would see their footprint on his rhetoric. Today we do. All the ignorant bluster and "I do not apologize for America" blather that just signals their own insecurities as our nation proves again and again that it ISN'T exceptional anymore. God, do we really need 4 more years of neo-con insanity after W's 8? Can't we stop with Global Empire, bring our troops home, and focus on rebuilding OUR nation finally?

+15 # seniorcitizen 2012-09-13 10:31

Romney, there you go again! keep this up and you will not have enough super pac $$$$ to buy enough ads to cover your a**
any better than the emperor's new clothes.

+10 # seniorcitizen 2012-09-13 11:05

Mitt, there you go again! How much super pac $$$$ will it take to buy enough ads to cover your blunders. You are really showing your ineptness, while your base is yelling, "but, he is right!" Does anyone remember the story of the emperor's new clothes? The story shows that stupidity cannot be covered up when seen through the eyes of anyone looking for and telling the truth. Mitt, you are going to be needing a lot of cover up!

+1 # David Starr 2012-09-13 11:09

The following may sound unusual, and a bit strong. But I thought it would be a no-nonsense reflection of the U.S.'s current political climate, especially regarding Repub political insanity. It's a song from the late 1970s from a punk group called The Sex Pistols called, "God Save the Queen." I've tailored it to reflect the U.S., changing many words. Here goes:

Hail To The Chief

Hail to the Chief
Repub and Dem cheats
They've made you a moron
Potential nuke bomb

Hail to the Chief
Thier corporate thieves
With them, no future
The USA's dreaming

"Free" trade is not what you want
"Free" trade is not what you need
No future, No future, no future with them

Hail to the Chief
We mean it, man!
We love our Prez
All hail

Hail to the Chief
There's lots of "funny" money
But our Mr. Prez
Is not what he seems

All hail our history
All hail their mass charade
Oh hail, the Dream
Profits are to be made

With no future, there's no grief
We're a memory for the Chief
We're a legacy for the unseen
We're the future, your future

Hail to the Chief
We mean it, man!
We love our Prez
All hail

No future, no future, no future
for u.s.
No future, no future, no future
for them
No future, no future , no future
for Dreams

No future, no future for them!

+6 # dkonstruction 2012-09-13 12:54

I'll give you points for the effort but i still like prefer the original (can you do one to Sid's version of My Way...always loved that one too).

+2 # David Starr 2012-09-13 13:33

Most times the original is best. Thought this would fit right into the current U.S. political climate. My way? No way. Nothing there to reflect politics.

+18 # fredboy 2012-09-13 11:24

Romney's kneejerk, immature, disgraceful mocking castigation of our state department workers while they were in peril clearly demonstrates why he can never be president. He revealed blatant ignorance, and an utter lack of empathy. Let's remember that this is a man who has never experienced any crisis more severe than missing a tee time at the country club. And that his only exposure to conflict has been the time he gang attacked a gay student with scissors.

+4 # X Dane 2012-09-14 11:49

fredboy.
It is actually WORSE than that. He is not just ignorant, he has NO principles, and the people around him are from the Bush regime 17 out of the 24 are Bush NEOCONS.

Romney can be led to do whatever THEY want
EXACTLY AS THEY STEERED BUSH TO DO THEIR BIDDING. We have good reasons to keep Romney FAR away from the White House.

For if the worst were to happen we would have the BUSH REGIME on STEROIDS, for they are ALL itching to attack Iran. Remember,.. we all worried that Bush Cheney were going to bomb Iran on the way out the door??

It may only have been the financial collapse that stopped them.

+18 # BradFromSalem 2012-09-13 11:46

Remember back in 2008, when Obama was challenging the then presumed nominee for the Democrats, Hillary Clinton? She challenged the voters with the question about who do you want to answer the phone at 3 am when some type of crises has expectantly occurred. Obama at that point in time rose to the challenge by meeting with foreign leaders and exhibiting a good grasp of foreign issues.
On that issue one would have to give the edge to Hillary, especially with an experienced advisor lying next her in bed. But Obama closed that gap to where it was no longer significant issue, it may even have won the nomination for him.

Ask that same question now. It actually is a fair, even though unrealistic, question. At 3 am who do you want to pick up the phone? Obama or Romney? And which spouse would be more valuable to the President? The answer is easy, Romney keeps increasing that gap, possibly to the point where it may cost him any chance of winning. (Add in their Veeps and its game over!)

-10 # dkonstruction 2012-09-13 12:51

Quoting BradFromSalem:

Remember back in 2008, when Obama was challenging the then presumed nominee for the Democrats, Hillary Clinton? She challenged the voters with the question about who do you want to answer the phone at 3 am when some type of crises has expectantly occurred. Obama at that point in time rose to the challenge by meeting with foreign leaders and exhibiting a good grasp of foreign issues.
On that issue one would have to give the edge to Hillary, especially with an experienced advisor lying next her in bed. But Obama closed that gap to where it was no longer significant issue, it may even have won the nomination for him.

Ask that same question now. It actually is a fair, even though unrealistic, question. At 3 am who do you want to pick up the phone? Obama or Romney? And which spouse would be more valuable to the President? The answer is easy, Romney keeps increasing that gap, possibly to the point where it may cost him any chance of winning. (Add in their Veeps and its game over!)

who's the experienced advisor Hillary is lying next to in bed (inquiring minds want to know)? Can't imagine it's been Bill for a long, long time...but i could be wrong.

+6 # noitall 2012-09-13 13:50

Quoting dkonstruction:

Quoting BradFromSalem:
Remember back in 2008, when Obama was challenging the then presumed nominee for the Democrats, Hillary Clinton? She challenged the voters with the question about who do you want to answer the phone at 3 am when some type of crises has expectantly occurred. Obama at that point in time rose to the challenge by meeting with foreign leaders and exhibiting a good grasp of foreign issues.
On that issue one would have to give the edge to Hillary, especially with an experienced advisor lying next her in bed. But Obama closed that gap to where it was no longer significant issue, it may even have won the nomination for him.

Ask that same question now. It actually is a fair, even though unrealistic, question. At 3 am who do you want to pick up the phone? Obama or Romney? And which spouse would be more valuable to the President? The answer is easy, Romney keeps increasing that gap, possibly to the point where it may cost him any chance of winning. (Add in their Veeps and its game over!)

who's the experienced advisor Hillary is lying next to in bed (inquiring minds want to know)? Can't imagine it's been Bill for a long, long time...but i could be wrong.

What value is this bullshit? it is only your "inquiring mind" that is stuck in the Fox mode.

+3 # BradFromSalem 2012-09-14 04:34

noitall,

I threw a pitch right down the middle and dkonstruction hit it for a foul ball homerun. If you had read any of his posts you would know he is not a Fox Fool. In other words I made a valid comment worded intentionally as a mild, lightly humorous dig at the Clinton's marriage. dkonstruction turned it into a bad taste joke. As our VP says, BFD.

-2 # dkonstruction 2012-09-14 09:00

Quoting BradFromSalem:

noitall,

I threw a pitch right down the middle and dkonstruction hit it for a foul ball homerun. If you had read any of his posts you would know he is not a Fox Fool. In other words I made a valid comment worded intentionally as a mild, lightly humorous dig at the Clinton's marriage. dkonstruction turned it into a bad taste joke. As our VP says, BFD.

Right, i'm an Autonomist Marxist fool or perhaps as a long time Frank Zappa fan a "Dancin' Fool" (though that one has never been one of my favorite Zappa tunes)...but a Fox Fool? i don't think so.

A bad taste joke?....hmmmm. ..actually wasn't joking (not that the issue matters at all) but always assumed (i know always a dangerous thing) that Bill and Hillary have had an "arrangement" for years given that it's hard to believe she was unaware of his sexual escapades.

+1 # dkonstruction 2012-09-14 08:54

An Autonomist Marxist stuck in "Fox mode"...lol...i 'm not sure Fox will be happy to hear it if there was even the remotest possibility that it were true.

+3 # Regina 2012-09-13 21:49

Meeeeeee-owwwww www1

+15 # James Smith 2012-09-13 11:53

Not only is Romney a liar, he isn't even a good liar, his apparent lack of intelligence and inability to attract any decent people to keep his foot from colliding with his dentures are going to be fatal to any elective aspirations he thinks he has.

+15 # TomDegan 2012-09-13 12:24

And the winner is....

Not Mitt Romney. The blow he dealt his campaign yesterday will probably prove fatal. Think about the recklessness of the people who are advising him to go out there and make the statement - and then reiterate it a couple of hours later! Do we really want to go down that road again?

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan

+4 # mjc 2012-09-14 07:52

No matter how Romney tries to re-frame his blunt, unreal, unfounded criticism of Obama's foreign policy, he speaks impulsively, without all the facts...althoug h that has always been his motif...the damage has been done. The spread of the trailer of this rabble-rousing movie by Muslim radicals interested in one thing, riots and destruction of America's reputation, will hinder any American influence in the Middle East whether it is investment opportunities, American charity, or any diplomatic efforts to solve the Palestinian/Isr aeli conflict. Our only hope is that it will be seen by voters in this country as a very good reason not to vote for Romney...and perhaps to vote for Obama; no guarantee of more votes for Obama.

+5 # stonecutter 2012-09-14 09:29

In foreign policy, it's deja vu all over again. Enough Kristol, Perle and their ilk, and especially Bolton, to last 10 lifetimes. Next we'll have Wolfowitz crawl out from under his rock to assure us that the war with Iran will be paid for by Canadian shale oil and fracking. Haven't these scoundrels caused enough global pain and suffering? If Romney gets in, THEY'RE BACK!!

+4 # X Dane 2012-09-14 11:54

stonecutter

A sick disgusting bunch. We must keep them away from POWER!!!!

0 # boudreaux 2012-09-17 08:39

I really don't see why we have to respond to the people who raise your blood pressure, that's what the green and red thumb is for. Some of this crap just goes on and on and it seems to me like bullying that is done in gradeschool.
Please grow up and use the up and down thumb.

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