I'm listening to a speech from Obama right now on CNN. He mentions the fact we are spending $10b a month on rebuilding infrastructure and the fact they have a $87b surplus (give or take). This is a theme he has been repeating throughout his campaign. I don't know if he is implying they should be paying for this work themselves (which I would support BTW) or if we should simply not be doing the work. But if we demanded they pay for the rebuilding, would we be viewed as conquerors as opposed to the liberators we present our selves as? He seems to be intimating that we should be entitled to some of that surplus (which again I support), but if we did take that money wouldn't the Demos demonize the Bush admin. as invaders?

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So, you agree with what the Democratic candidate says, but disagree with what you think "the Demos" will say if the Democratic candidate gets his way?

I'm not trying to start a fight so don't get excited. I am not saying Obama is even advocating such a move. It's just a question for consideration. If he did come out and say "we should seize the Iraqui funds and use them to fund this war" I would support that. If he did that, I believe his party would attack the position and I would disagree with that. Does that answer your question?

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Did Bush get his way on privatizing SS?
Did Bush get his way on private school vouchers?

What makes you think Obama will get his way?


To the extent that mwood believes Obama is presenting something he can't deliver that sounds good, because he knows it would never happen and if it did said act would align him with the current admin., I agree with him. (Yes, that's Faulknerian, no I won't further explain--dealing with footnotes)

Yes. To answer your question, I don't know what the Democrats' reaction would be. My guess is that anything that reduces our financial burden will find a warm reception with Democrats and Republicans. It's not as if the Democrats have shown much political courage when it comes to Iraq.

I don't think it is a 'conqueror vs. liberator' thing...I think his point is that it doesn't make sense for a country like the US to continue to help out Iraq and spend money that frankly the US doesn't have...when the Iraquis have an actual surplus. He didn't seem to go into more detail as to whether the US would ask Iraq to pick up the tab, or if the US would simply withdraw and let them build it themselves.

It appears he was highlighting this scenario under the umbrella of the overall Iraq situation as one of the many issues that need to be properly addressed. Beyond that, I didn't hear any specific plans as to how it would be dealt with in actual terms.

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"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

No, thank God.I don't know much about that one.I think those examples are apples and oranges. Bush didn't get his way of privatizing SS because his plan lead the the demise of SS, which is about as popular a government program as you will ever see. Likewise, vouchers were seen as destroying public schools, which are also very popular.

I don't know whether Obama's plan to get money from the Iraqis has a snowball's chance, but I don't see why it would fact much political opposition in this country.

I don't see them as different at all. 'Very popular' doesn't get my attention much, as if I am going to live in a welfare state and pay for XXXXs kids to go to school, I should get a slight refund to send my to the school of my choice.

If Obama would have given any insight as to execution of his plan, maybe I would think it was anything more than a hollow, feel good political promise.

If he had said he was going to shave $1/gal off the price of pump gasoline the day he took office, it likely wouldn't face much political opposition from anyone, but how could he do it?

Do you think the Iraqis or the rest of the world for that matter, buy into the 'liberator' line?

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That's really not the point. WE present ourselves as liberators, if we sieze funds or land or oil we would be conquerors in the eyes of the world, which we may be already, but again, that's not the point.
I just want Obama to connect the dots when he keeps pointing out our spending vs. their surplus. I'm not flamming him on this, I just want to know if he has a point to make. I personally think we should be demanding payment for our efforts in tankers of oil.

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2006 Mustang Convertible 4.0 Eaton Supercharged

At the moment, no.

If we leave Iraq and Iraq develops into a strong independent country then history will probably be more kind than the popular passion of the moment.

People seem to think they are getting an Emperor instead of a President. People think the President can deliver all he said he would do without realizing that there is this pesky part of the govt in place aka, congress, that he has to go thru.

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That would be easy. More financial juggling or increasing some tax.

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WGAS what the rest of the world buys or doesn't buy? Everybody knows that govt (pick any one you want) say much, believe in few of what they say and do even less. To Mah To, To May To.

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99 E300 Turbodiesel
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Raise taxes on rich people. It's their fault anyway.

Or hell, let's kill the bastards and take everything.

Do it for the children. And the handicapped.