Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis

by: Jon Soltz

Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 17:58:05 PM EDT


So, because there's a financial crisis, Senator McCain cannot take 90 minutes to address how he will face challenges around the world, including how and when he will send American troops to fight, and possibly die.

Wow.  Troops would sure love that luxury.

Unfortunately, though, insurgents in Iraq don't stop shooting at us, or setting IEDs, because our Commander in Chief needs a breather to figure out Wall Street.

Al Qaeda in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region don't send our troops notes that read, "Hey, I hear you guys are tied up with Wall Street.  Your President needs to concentrate on other things, so we'll give you a break.  So, to make things easier on you, here's our coordinates."

Nor do our troops get a few days to figure out how to hold onto an area we've secured, if there's an unexpected attack.  Sometimes we need to deal with multiple flare-ups at once in any warzone.  We'd sure love a time-out, but sadly, the world isn't such a nice place that it gives us that kind of pity.

When you're Commander in Chief, I don't think there'd be a worse signal to send to our troops in harm's way than to say, "Hey, hold on guys.  I know you're getting killed over there, but I have to get a time-out here to deal with Wall Street."

If troops need to multi-task without a break, is it so wrong that we demand that a potential President-in-waiting prove that he can manage a financial crisis, and still address crises around the world for 90 minutes?  And, if a potential President-to-be can't manage that, is it wrong to think that maybe he ought not just suspend a debate and the campaign, but move aside and get out of the race?

Just something to think about.
Jon Soltz :: Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis
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Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis | 18 comments
Here's something else to think about! (4.00 / 1)
This is the full video of Senator Biden addressing the National Guard Association of the United States...

http://my.barackobama.com/page...

I sure would like to know what everyone thought of it...personally, it left me wondering out loud why this presidential race is so damned close at this late stage of the game. I guess we'll just have to wait for the VP debate...call me a cockeyed optimist.

Not Cockeyed! (0.00 / 0)
Elizabeth, being true to my word!, I thought the Biden address was really fine.  I admire your devotion to him -- really.  In fact, I think all the candidates are honorable people. They just need to be inspected by a truly "objective" microscope.

CU

[ Parent ]
It's not devotion to Joe Biden, per se... (4.00 / 1)
but the realization that he is the most capable - by far - of restoring US credibility in the world and of regaining America's global leadership role.  And, he is the only one who intimately understands how to end the war in Iraq without leaving a failed state behind...any truly "objective microscope" would reveal that...and so much more!

Speaking of objective microscopes and VP debates...it's looking an awful lot like we won't be seeing a Biden-Palin duel...if Biden didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any damned luck at all!!

I'm glad you liked the speech - though, it was kind of short, I must admit.

[ Parent ]
Huh? (0.00 / 0)
What's this?

...it's looking an awful lot like we won't be seeing a Biden-Palin duel...if Biden didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any damned luck at all!!

You're kiddin', right?  Source?

[ Parent ]
I wish I was kidding, ernliz (0.00 / 0)
Source? What, can't a person put forth a simple opinion around here...we have to back it up with a link? Well...OK!...I heard that Senator McCain wants to move the first presidential debate from Sept 26 to Oct 2 so that he may put all of his energy and effort into the economic crisis where the fundamentals remain sound.

I heard that on CNN - so it must be true. ;-) Well, I added the last bit about the sound fundamentals...sorry...

I say, fine - go for it! And, you can move the first presidential debate to any date you want, Senator McCain...except for OCTOBER 2! That date is already taken.

I guess my problem is that this just reinforces my own thinking that McCain has been trying to devise a plan to cancel the VP debate, outright, since the day Obama announced Biden as the Democratic nominee for vice president.

I say that because there is no one who John McCain could have chosen who could have scored any political points by going up against Biden. That remains the case today and I won't believe that we'll see a VP debate this year until it actually gets underway.

[ Parent ]
I get that impression to Elizabeth (0.00 / 0)
If you add in the McCain campaign's refusal to allow Palin to do press conferences, answer questions on the fly or meet with foreign leaders while the media is present you can't help but come away with that impression.  A  Palin/Biden debate is the last thing McCain wants in my opinion.

"Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home."

Marcus Tullius Cicero 106 BC-43 BC

[ Parent ]
Obama-Biden should win this thing by a virtual landslide... (0.00 / 0)
based on McCain's VP selection alone...and they will...IF there is an once of justice in the world and if a majority of the electorate start voting in favor of their own personal interest instead of against it.

And, I'm hoping that President Bush scared the you know what out of people the other night in his "the sky is falling and you should be afraid" address... right into the safety and security of an Obama-Biden administration. Now, that would be irony!

[ Parent ]
Sources. (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
ernliz (0.00 / 0)
When are you going to take your own words to heart, you haven't shown that in previous replys, can't speak from both sides of mouth, or through toes instead of fingers!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
So, what did you think of Biden's speech... (0.00 / 0)
...at the National Guard Association of the United States?

I think you would be particularly interested in what he had to say. It's only 45 minutes long!

[ Parent ]
Help me out.... (0.00 / 0)
Uh, how does suspending a debate and working directly on a huge U.S. financial crisis relate to dissing our soldiers?  

Got several emails recently from "over there" and the guys/gals are seriously concerned about returning home to a dysfunctional economy, which will adversely affect their livelihood.   Furthermore, as they said, tongue-dancing during a debate won't make the IEDs go away.

Yup, "over there" they get Limpballs................ (0.00 / 0)
Maybe YOU should go check out the foreign press and see how this is influencing international relations-global markets.

Seems, that this is a "Global" thing in a Global economy.

I'm not knocking those deployed as their ability to follow all the issues is severely limited. There is a real need to see the BIG PICTURE.

Besides, McCain doesn't even serve on the Committees that are/will be dealing with the legislation. More of a Hot Dog than a Maverick.

 

[ Parent ]
Because McCain is using the economy (4.00 / 1)
as an excuse to get out of a debate about foreign policy issues that effect troops more than anyone else.

If McCain wants to be Commander-in-Cheif, he needs to be able to work on the financial problem, and take an hour and a half to debate Senator Obama. Presidents, you know.. have to do more than one thing at a time.

I'm on twitter.

[ Parent ]
McCain seems to be taking a 'hit' for his backing out of the Debate. (0.00 / 0)
Those in charge of the Debate have said it is still on the schedule.

Now, I am hearing from the Cable McCain surrogates that Foreign Policy is only a concern of 15% of the nation. Foreign Policy doesn't matter.  So, if the Debate which is still scheduled is held, the TOPIC should change.

Ari Fleischer [remember him as the 'spin merchant' for Bush that took us to Iraq] is a big one for 'forget' Foreign Policy.

AMEN Jon............. (0.00 / 0)
But maybe it's past time that they Did, just take that 'Timeout', it Worked during 'Nam, though the powers to be still kept us there a couple of more years!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
I have a (0.00 / 0)
solution for the financial crisis. Let them all come crashing down. Maybe if the institutions in question learn that they will have to face the consequences of their actions, then maybe they will engage in much smarter business practices. However, if they are bailed out, we will be playing this stupid little game for years to come. Might I add that the bail out is unconstitutional. Now, how hard was that?
Senator mcCain, if we can "muddle" through Afghanistan... (0.00 / 0)
... then surely we can muddle an economic crisis.

On the other hand, maybe not. Uh, how's the muddling in Afghanistan going?

POW BAM THWAP! (0.00 / 0)
Rick Davis's 15k a month take up until a few months ago

Sarah's abyssmal Couric interview

Sagging poll numbers

what's an aged POW to do?

I know! Distraction! Delay...Delay..Delay ( is he in jail yet btw?-Tom, that is)

And upstage the guy who thought of the bipartisan idea in the first place.

Obama needs to call him on it.

I wat a president who can juggle chainsaws and debate at the same time, I don't know about you- but that's called multitasking and requires leadership and brainpower.

CNN's quick poll showed 71% of the people think its a political gimmick.

Where were you last week John McCain?
Huh?

Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis | 18 comments
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