This is true. I apologize.

Right.

Minutes spent on Farrakhan - 7
MInutes spent on Iraq - 4
Minutes spent on education - 0

Super job.

This one question asked during that debate just galled the shit out of me.

The whole basic premise is fucked up, it is a concession that now presidents decide when to go to war. This has never been a part of our history. It has always been a Congressional decision to go to war. This whole idea that presidents "reserve the right to invade" is just sickening.

I could give a list of items not covered as well.

Then he should have asked about that. "Have you considered the various possible outcomes of a total withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and do you have contingent plans to deal with those?" That is a real, valid question; it's not a wildly biased, wholly invented hypothetical with a question mark at the end of it.

It shouldn't be that difficult to see the distinction between the question I phrased and what Russert said.

Douche was retired in 2007. But 2008 could be the year of the twunt.

You should do that, since it undermines your point that Russert did a good job.

Well if we're are asking questions that aren't reality yet, Iraq is just the icing on the cake. What about the possibility of future attacks on our soil, what about our failing infrastructure, overcrowded prisons, underfunded and overpopulated schools, school shootings, the list goes on.

My last concern is a re-invasion of Iraq. I am pretty sure that after this last diabolical blunder of an invasion, i would like to think that the president and congress would double, if not triple think going back there.

I would of liked to hear something about this, because those numbers are scary big, and growing larger.

What about the fact that we can't even vote right?

Or the fact that the president now has an unprecedented amount of power?

I'm not saying he asked every question that he should/could have. The debate was limited in time, and actually allowed for a bit of discussion. What I am saying is that, the stupid Farrakhan crap aside, he did ask good questions.

I am not licking his asshole, I'm stating that compared to all the other questions asked by the media, at least these were a bit challenging.

Because they were thinly veiled attacks.

FTR,

I usually love your posts; you are a great commentor on today's politics.

However, I have to point out that Russert's question about wether Obama will go back into Iraq if there is a terrorist 'surge' that threatens to topple the government we installed is not based in hypotheticals or fiction, but in recent US history.

I mean, many people are comparing Iraq to Vietnam... do you remember what happened once we left? It's a valid question, as terrible as it is to ask.

The Iraqis don't want us or out type of government there. The Iraq Occupation is not a matter of when we can win, but when we will finally admit defeat.

Russert actually made them answer some real questions, and saw through most tapdancing.

That said, he was indeed way harsher on Clinton than on Obama (partially because there's more to trash on, but that's not the point) and I realized the next day why he had all those bullshit hypotheticals: they were to be used by McCain and Bush to attack the Democrats... "I've got news for Senator Obama, Al-Qaida is already in Iraq..." No, they're not... in the bullshit hypothetical, we'd eliminated them completely and the question revolved around them coming back.

Russert was being a cat's paw for the Republicans, and that destroyed any good will I had for him actually moderating instead of just throwing a flank of beef in a lion cage a la Wolf Blitzer.

Yeah. Here's the deal. When we leave Iraq, whether tomorrow or in 10 years, it will turn into one of the most horrendous civil wars in modern history.

That is what happens when you remove a brutal dictator, who was sunni, and replace him with a government that is shiite. Also, we have spent the last 10 months arming the sunnis AND the shiites.

It is the ultimate recipe for disaster - and it doesn't even include the Kurds, who will go to war against Turkey.

This will all happen. It is just a matter of when. We cannot stay there forever because WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. End of story.

There will be no "re-invasion." It's just a stupid and embarrassing thing to say.

You may recall that Russert got his job thru attrition. Everybody else bailed out of the "Meet the Press" Sunday format and he was left holding the seat. Any journalistic credibility he has was bestowed by the once fairly prestigious MTP. Buckley built its speed up years ago and Russert just sat there and let it coast. Tho it wasn't much when Russert walked in. I come down on the Conservative side, so I tend to talk biased in that direction. People now look at me with disbelief, when I say I have and I'm voting for Obama. If you really look at his experience and intellect, you might see he is the closest thing to a by the numbers conservative we have. McCain does not remotely resemble a conservative. I just want a President that rules by logic and not party tradition. Obama definely has it on that count. I'm sure many on both sides will disagree. I so enjoy stirin' shit up anyway.