Getty Images
Newt Gingrich said a variety of odd things last night, but this quote stood out for me:
"This is an administration which, as long as you're America's enemy, you're safe. You know, the only people you've got to worry about is if you're an American ally."
I'm curious if anyone, even Gingrich, believes this. Sure, Republicans feel obligated to criticize President Obama on every possible issue, and the debate audience in Arizona even applauded the disgraced former House Speaker's strange rhetoric.
But for those inclined to take the facts seriously, the notion that the only folks who are "safe" under the Obama administration are America's enemies isn't just wrong, it reflects a detachment from reality that's almost unsettling.
Just how many U.S. enemies should Obama be expected to kill or capture before this sort of nonsense stops? I'd largely assumed the strike on Osama bin Laden and the fall of Muammar Gadhafi would have put this to rest. Indeed, ABC News ran a piece in September, "The Terrorist Notches on Obama's Belt," noting the "list of senior terrorists killed during the Obama presidency." It's a rather lengthy list.
The administration's detractors from the left have far more legitimate complaints, raising concerns about the use of drones, civilian casualties, and restrictions on civil liberties. If these critics push for a debate about the costs of Obama's counter-terrorism successes, that strikes me as a debate well worth having.
But when Newt Gingrich, who has literally no experience at all in the areas of national security and/or military policy, tells Americans that only America's enemies are safe under Obama, the man should simply be laughed out of the room.
I'd also note that the entire discussion about international affairs in last night's debate was disturbing, with each candidate more eager than the last to seem desperate for more wars, ignorant about current events, and pandering to the worst instincts of their party's base.
This Mitt Romney line seemed especially incoherent: "This president should have put in place crippling sanctions against Iran, he did not."
He didn't? Jeffrey Goldberg, a conservative, had a piece this week noting the real-world circumstances. Maybe someone should send Romney a copy.
It is precisely because the Obama Administration has constructed a sanctions program without precedent, and because the Obama Administration has funded and supported multinational cyber-sabotage efforts against the Iranian nuclear program, that Iran is panicking and lashing-out.
It is not only Israeli leaders who have doubted Obama's commitment to stop Iran's nuclear program; Iran's leaders themselves didn't take Obama seriously. After all, George W. Bush labeled Iran's government a member of the axis of evil, but then did nothing much at all to thwart its ambitions. But Obama, while avoiding rhetorical drama, has actually done more to stop Iran than the Bush Administration ever did.
Leave a Comment:
Gingrich is a random idea machine. He doesn't matter anymore except as a spoiler to Santorum.
Yes. Like a Lottery Quik-Pik. Pays off about as often, too.
As an exercise, strip off the poser boilerplate intros like "What's astonishing is that...", "The interesting question in this debate that no one is confronting is..."
Replace with:
"Gee fellas! I just had another really COOL idea!"
Well, I 'm waiting for the allegations that Obama has hired assasins to kidnap Gingrich for fear of losing the election to him....just what this election needs: Ninjas!!!....no...Muslim ninjas, yeah...that's the ticket!!!
if you see this on SNL..I thought of it first...hehehehe...
He's too busy rewriting history according to his way of seeing things. He just can't be bothered with current events.
Where have these guys been the last three years - in Newt's moon colony? I used to think the Republican propaganda machine was despicable with their lies and half-truths, but this year's class has taken lying to levels I didn't think were possible. They literally will say absolutely anything, because they know someone somewhere will hear it, take it as fact, and vote accordingly. It's just a question of whether they can get enough fools to believe enough lies to win the election.
They correctly figure that they won't be called out on lies. That's especially true for the Republican base, since news unflattering to the right wing will never show up on Fox.
"But when Newt Gingrich, who has literally no experience at all..."
Then shouldn't he really keep his trap shut? Wasn't it Ben Franklin that said "it's better keep your mouth closed and let others guess your intellectual level, then to open your mouth and confirm suspicions"! Course he's babbling to the "know nothings" so I guess he's alright!
Gingrich is not speaking to all the voters. The intended audience is Fox News viewers. But Gingrich is unable to move them enough to get their votes. Going after Romney and Santorum is not making any friends in Republican party. Gingrich knows he is irrelevant and outrageous statements are the only way to get back in the spotlight which appears to be fading.
Is it any wonder that Santorum wants to stop fed. and st. funding to schools. If funding is cut it dumbs down the population, and with home schooling you can freely teach the bigoted rt. wing propaganda. Informed voters are enemies of the GOP.
I am from Arizona and again I am embarrassed. If it's of any comfort you may want to know that the state of Arizona as a whole was not excited that they were here. Except the wicked witch of the west Jan Brewer. It's almost becoming a waste of time to watch these debates the candidates I think are cut from the same cloth the Fox news school of lies or How to lie in 15 seconds and not get caught. Just slip a few lies in there it's okay only their Stepford like subconscious will know. The candidates scare the hell out of me especially when they start talking about going to war with Iran. God help us.
My condolences for your being from Arizona. I will admit to having been born in Texas if that makes you feel better.
Don't forget Sheriff Joe!
Don't tell Newt that. He may be shocked to find out that he didn't actually "end Communism with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher." Let the poor, old man down easy from his delusions. It's the only kind thing to do. =)
Well, you have to give him credit for the way he handled the Cuban Missile Crisis....(o'man...hahaha). sorry I couldn't help myself.
I don't believe any of them have a true grip on the foreign affairs and the complexities that are happening right now....and that is scary knowing it is possible one of them could be elected to POTUS.....
For a True Conservative, nothing is complex.
Don't forget the TM.
Liberals want people to stop being our enemies, so we try to work with people who can be persuaded, and we fight against those who can't.
Conservatives want people to stop being our enemies, so they try to totally annihilate anyone who disagrees with us.
It's true that we don't create all, or even most of our enemies, but we create far to many. It's neither possible nor desirable that we try to control the world out of fear.
Diplomacy works better.
Speak softly and carry a big stick after all.
If the Middle-East did not have oil the GOP would ignore them. The Dems are not innocent but at least are less inclined to spend as much blood to get the oil. In actuality the GOP should love these theocracies, as role models for their religious zealotry and treatment of women.
Is he saying we should start a few more wars???? Should we nuke half the planet? Now there's a concept worthy of Newt!
No experience in military policy? Newt actually teaches generals and has forgotten more about military history than you'll ever know. I think being a House leader for 2 decades and 2 heartbeats away from the presidency as Speaker meant Newt was very well-versed on all national security, military and intelligence issues. Newt's statement was in reference to countries. If you're a sworn enemy of America like Iran or Syria, you know you're safe, but if you're an ally like Egypt or Israel you have to worry. Witness Obama refusing to help the uprisings in Iran or Syria, constantly giving Israel a hard time, but letting more secular rulers who had made peace with the West in Egypt and Libya be overthrown by fundamentalist Muslim groups. Knocking off a handful of high-profile names like Bin Laden is strictly for PR. It's good cover for his letting the worldwide fundamentalist Muslim movement proceed to install the anti-woman, anti-homosexual, anti-freedom Sharia law in every country it can. I have no idea if Obama wants Sharia law to spread or is simply too cowardly to take on this very powerful enemy of freedom-loving people. I do know that either way, Obama is a fundamentalist Muslim's best friend.
We here in America don't have to worry about being overhtrown by fundamentalist Muslim groups since we have the guys like Newt and the right wing religious to do it for them. What's going on in America is Sharia law with a different face. Geez Jedi, get serious...
hem hem, that would be the Religious right like Newt, Santorum and the rest of the ilk who are eager to install anti-woman, anti homosexual, anti-freedom American version of Sharia law right here in the USA! I'd call vaginal probes, a push towards a theocracy, reinstatement of DADT just to name a few, a fundamentalist Christian's best friend!
Mr. Jones, the answer is not going to war with everyone who disagrees with us or to war for everyone we like. We killed many in Iraq for no good reason, and many Afghans for a better reason and nothing has changed. You are not going to change anyone's mind with a bomb. If we had untold millions of American citizens not just happy about war, but willing to go and die there, the best we could hope for is a potential compromise. We are fighting ideas, not zombies, and repression does not kill an idea. They idea will be fertilized by the futile blood spilled.
But see, he doesn't talk tough. Real tough-guy Presidents make speeches about doing horrible things to our enemies, they have great lines like "we will bury you!" They quote a lot of serious, world-class American tough guys like Dirty Harry and Rambo.
There is nothing more contemptible and anti-Republican than walking softly and carrying a big stick.
It just kills me how they don't want government in our business especially interfering with our religious rights but they expect us to stick our noses into the religious business of other countries. What a double standard and what a bunch of crap!
If it killed more of us and fewer of them the people who want to do it might be less popular.