Comments on: Obama and McCain Foreign Policy Brain Trusts

By: Bithead

Bithead — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:07:37 +0000

(I'm skeptical of realism, BTW. I think it brought us to where we stood on September 11, 2001).

(nod) Agreed.

As Walter Russell Mead has pointed out American foreign policy has been remarkably consistent over the years. This list of worthies suggests that, for good or ill, the consistency would continue.

Well, as I've said previously... Consistency is only a virtue, if you're not a total screwup. As the first quote line points up.

Looks like Danzig already put his foot in his mouth by mentioning foreign policy and Winnie the Pooh in the same sentence.

"Bother!" said Pooh, as Cthulhu rose up and ate him.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:04:53 +0000

When I look at the political lineup this year.......I AM "a man of constant sorrow"!

By: rgaye

rgaye — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:09:19 +0000

I had to laugh at one name and the timing. This morning on the local news a segment aired which indicated that Rep Dan Boren (son of Sen David Boren), had said last week he wouldn't support Obama because he was too liberal, issued a clarification this morning. He of course will support the nominee and will vote for Obama at the convention and in November.

By: rodney dill

rodney dill — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:07:23 +0000

SSDD

By: Steve Plunk

Steve Plunk — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:58:15 +0000

Looks like Danzig already put his foot in his mouth by mentioning foreign policy and Winnie the Pooh in the same sentence. He does know this is American politics doesn't he?

By: Davebo

Davebo — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:22:31 +0000

Richardson and Woolsey are the only mainstream guys listed in the piece, although there may be more of them.

Woolsey Mainstream? On what planet?

And I must ask, if Woolsey is indeed mainstream, does that mean Laurie Mylroie is mainstream as well James?

I guess what I'm asking is, do you believe that Saddam was behind the OKC bombing too?

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:04:56 +0000

It's the height of hackism to ignore Clarke's indictments of the Clinton Administration.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:03:07 +0000

M1EK:

I don't think that the lead-up to the attack on 9/11 began on January 20, 2001. I think it most certainly goes back to the Bush 41 administration and the policies from that administration continued under the Clinton Administration. Indeed, it may go back to the 1960's. If that's “the height of hackism”, so be it.

By: M1EK

M1EK — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:50:21 +0000

Dave, it's the height of hackism to say that Clintonian realism brought us to 9/11 when Clarke tried to get the Bush administration to focus their energy on alQaeda, and instead they spent their time on missile defense and Iraq.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:20:20 +0000

Expand.

These are the usual suspects (Democratic style). Not unknown quantities. Basically, I think the people in this group would advise a return to the variety of foreign policy realism that was practiced during the Clinton Administration (I'm skeptical of realism, BTW. I think it brought us to where we stood on September 11, 2001).

As Walter Russell Mead has pointed out American foreign policy has been remarkably consistent over the years. This list of worthies suggests that, for good or ill, the consistency would continue.

I think that's how the Iraqi foreign minister interpreted his recent meeting with Sen. Obama: that Sen. Obama would not feel bound by the impressions he gave to some of his more radical supporters during his stump speeches but would act according to the situation on the ground. Saying that is what got Samantha Powers sacked. That fits the (I think) Michael Kinsley definition of “gaffe”: inadvertently telling the truth.

By: Spoker

Spoker — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:10:03 +0000

Sure looks like a lot of the same people that ran things for several years until just a few months before some changes were made on 9/11.

I feel so much better now knowing we are going to be in such good hands.

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » Apparently, “Change” Means “Hiring The Same Old People”

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:46:49 +0000

[...] course, John McCain’s team of foreign policy advisers isn’t much better: The McCain campaign’s foreign policy coordinator is Randy Scheunemann, a former top legislative [...]

By: Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:45:58 +0000

Obama` 08: Because hiring the people who were in charge during the Clinton Administration sounds like such a great idea.

Or something like that.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:32:32 +0000

I hink I see where you're going, but let's make sure.

Expand.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:30:59 +0000

Actually, Bit, I find it sort of reassuring that a good bit of the change rhetoric is boilerplate.