One can look at this event from many perspectives, but folks held against their will for a long time have been released, so I will take it as a good omen. Lets hope the rest of the folks being held in Columbia will be released soon. Maybe McCain brought some "good luck" when he visited Columbia.

What an Interesting campaign tactic. A Columbian rescue is definitely original but hardly believable as anything other than a tactic. McCain’s advance briefing tells the story. Good try, no cigar.

Just shows you how far out of touch Obama is with foreign policy. And Foreign leaders do not even acknowledge Obama. Makes me wonder if Obama wins the election, if foreign countries will deal with him, or deal with McCain instead and ignore Obama if he is President. I have a feeling Obama is just going to be a figurehead. No foreign country will take take him seriously.

JUST CURIOUS, Was Senator Obama provided with advanced knowledge. Or did no one feel it necessary to inform him……….was it one of those "for Republicans only " ELITIST club meetings…….."GOP only need know about this military operation" plans?

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!!

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE NEED THIS MAN AS PRESIDENT. AND THAT AND HIS NOT PUTTING UP WITH OF THE DRUG DEALING ORTEGO CROWD THAT HE JERKED THE FELLOW UP BY THE COLLAR. WE CAN FINALLY HAVE A PRESIDENT WITH GUTS. NOT LIKE THIS CRY BABY BULLCRAP MESS OBAMA IS TALKING ABOUT OR HIS SUPPORTERS. YOU PEOPLE MAKE ME SICK. PLUS JAPANS IMAGE OF AN OBAMA BEHIND THE PRESIDENT'S EMBLEM IS RIGHT ON NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF MONKEYS TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THIEY'RE NOT. IF OBAMA GAINS OFFICE IT WILL REMIND ME OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

how conveniant for john at a time of his visit i agree with brian hint hint!!!!

so there is some insider trade going on..hmm. funny it is a sham and I thought that before I opened the comments section and read somebody else thougth so too..

McSHAM…………..

and Free Trade is an OXYMORON

Fox News is disgusting. Really disgusting. America needs to petition to FCC to censor and monitor the garbage that spews from that network. CNN is 10x the news agency Fox News can ever be. MSNBC 20x what Fox can ever hope to be. Libermann is just like Fox News, full of baloney and touting disgrace to his constituency.

And why am i always being moderated, i have been posting for months

There is no poitical scor point on this. Just a waste of time.

Political sham!!! This is a beauty contest, McSham is trying to rig foreign policy credentials by begging foreign Leaders to give him credit where he deserves none.

McCain had knowledge of the raid….meanwhile, Obama can't find Columbia on a map.

Where do people get the knowledge to make statements such as, "Cindy McCain spends $750,000 on her credit cards?" Cindy McCain was not dating John while he was with his wife. They were seperated for months before he met Cindy. Cindy had a drug problem, which she overcame. Obama, according to his book, also had a drug problem which I hope he has overcome. Cindy is not my main concern, nor is Michelle. I would prefer to not ever see either one of them again. When Bill Clinton was running for office they drug Hillary through the mud. It is called politics and it stinks. We love to hear the nastiest things said about people, it is called news and it also stinks. People without money love to hear people who have it aren't happy either. It is called jealousy and it stinks as well

Here comes the bush-hype by the new mcshame campaign manager (bushes old boy)

Sen. Lieberman is a crOCK POT, JUST LIKE MCCAIN.

Yes of course he did, Did Obama?…did the current "President" even know? Why was McCain so special? OH….the raid was in celebration of McSame's visit?…give me a freakin' break!

"Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders."

maybe to some small ammount of foreign leaders, but the polls suggest foreign countries PEOPLE do NOT want McBush as president….

Oh and Lieberman is a political opportunist and smells funny

Brian, you can't have it both ways. Either it is a sham and they only briefed McCain because he was in the country or they scheduled the time to go to the country because they knew the hostages were to be released. When you grab anything and try to make a negative, you will often become confused.

CNN is too touchy! What is appropriate for CNN? Sometimes I think I am posting for Fox News!

This has gone from a campaign to a "Bucket List"! McCain needs to cut Lieberman loose and surround himself with younger fresher supporters. Lieberman is spinning this very important and historic rescue to make it seem as though McCain had something to do with the operation. Come On!!! Give credit where credit is due Lieberman! Every event that occurs in the news does not have to equate to an opportunity to endorse McCain.

I'll bet if I went to Columbia to push NAFTA, I would have been briefed on it too! How many American jobs did that little, political stunt cost us?

OBTW, Lieberman is a joke. Why hasn't CT began a recall on that idiot? Maybe, he should move to Israel and man a gun in their defense. What an idiot.

Lets look back in history for a minute. What made people so blind, gullable, and awestruck that millions followed the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro and Saddam Hussein, Because we're seeing it before our very eyes happening once again. Obama the 'Pied-Piper of America' leading his followers into the depths of the abiss. NOTE; Obama cannot walk on water, even though he says he can.

Joe Watkins is a joke

No disrespect for McCain, as he isn't the story anyway. Was it a "raid" or a "trick helicopter ride", whatever that is ? Maybe next time we can just leave a trail of M & M's through the jungle and lead the captors into a jail cell ? Something stinks in Denmark … errrr Columbia.

This McSame is an opportunistic.What a disgrace for real American people!! Any voter who doesn't see the economic and political suffering that we've been through the last seven years, is a moron and an idiot. I don't care about democrats, republicans or independants, I care only about the well being of my country America. And our country is destroyed the last seven years, and this McBush wants to continue another four more of this.

Wake up America for America, and put Obama in the Oval Office and let's start some butt kicking!!!

Obama 08 and we'll see how he deliever and decide for 2012

You have to understand that foreign leaders have respect for McCain. They don't have the same respect for the inexperienced Obama. When this country embraces this same concept this election will be will go decidedly for the best candidate, John McCain!

He's sneaky isn't he?

Who better than to get advice from? Certainly they would not get advice from Obama.

This looks and sounds fishy to me… Too convenient…

What does Lieberman know? All he cares about this nation is for all of us to sacrifice our childrens' lives in the Middle East so Israel can guard its nukes. I wish the blubberer would pack his bags and move back to Israel. Maybe, he will take his pal McWar with him.

Since all three were briefed does that mean any one of them can be prez. ? And I thought John McBush just went down to Columbia to give more of our jobs away.Remember when he was in Michigan and told them there jobs were never coming back, he knows he visited our jobs in Canada and now in Columbia and Mexico. I don't know about him being president can we afford to have Liberman and Graham follow him around to keep him straight . That's kind of like the blind leading the blind. Barack Hussein Obama 08

Connie"hussein"Sturgeon from Indiana

WHO is paying for these trips that McCain takes? US! The taxpayers! It kills me that these candidates have actual JOBS that they are being paid for all year, yet they aren't doing these jobs, they are campaigning for president. On top of this, my guess is that they are not using campaign funds for these trips.. What about McCain's trips to Canada and the middle east. Isn't there enough going on in our own country! McCain doesn't even seem to get the struggles that America faces. How could he-living the way he and his wife do……

Also, Lieberman is a traitor! He should be formally kicked out of the Democratic party. He is NOT a democrat……

mccain has no knowledge about anything so please please please mccain quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep.. Another Lobbyist's Mission Accomplished … Did anyone say Charlie Black ?? Anyone ? Anyone ?

This should only speak well of one foreign president's confidence in McCain; how many others have the same confidence, we don't know. But it's too far-fetched — and even absurd — that McCain's visit was allegedly scheduled to coincide with his presence in Colombia, as "brian" thinks. Let's make some sense here…

McCain 08 - the only wise choice!

so?

Before McCain comes up with coments or reaction he should count to ten. He has a quick temper and it will back fire on him.

Yeah and this proves???? I'll tell ya what it proves, these foreign governments, like the ones Mccain just visited , love NAFTA. And they would say or do anything to keep it. folks we need to change Nafta, we can no longer trade GOLD FOR STRAY INTHESE UNAMERICAN TRADE DEALS. OBAMA 08

But wait the Columbian's carried/planned the raid independently, this has nothing to do with McCain's experience or judgement so this is important why? It's just stupid, McCain should stay in America because he's looking clueless right now.

The Columbians shared this with McCain because they know who he is and they TRUST him with the information. Unlike BO, McCain can actually handle situations this delicate and dangerous operation. Of course, the other person the Columbians could have trusted in such a situation would be Hillary Clinton.

I can't imagine they would take a chance telling such things to BO, who knows what he'd make of it - probably couldn't keep his mouth shut (always a problem with BO) and no one who held the lives of 7 people in his hands would be so foolish as to trust this used car salesman.

have you noticed how the timing of this so called raid and it came as a complete surprise by the rebels at the same time timed nicely with JM visit, staged??? um you figure it out!

So are we suppose to believe McCain was instrumental in the rescue ? Give me a break!

Are Americans so stupid?

I'm sure McCain will be in Pakistan or Afghanistan when Osama bin Laden is captured or killed.

Wake up America.

I find it incredible that in your headlines news article about the FARC Hostage rescue you blatantly omitted the role Senator McCain played in this whole endeavor.

Nobama 08!

CNN: Moderate this for the Republicans; this kinda stuff, won't get it done, in Nov's. election. Joe, this means "did-a-lee-squat"; what "foreign leaders" are you talking about?

Thank You , Sen. John McCain , You Are Truly Amazing !!!!

God Bless You Sir ,

Even as a McCain supporter, I'm uncomfortable with what seems to be the campaign trying to gain political advantage from what these hostages have gone through for years.

MCCAIN had nothing to do with this AT ALL!! come on don't make these peoples suffering something he can try and use for politics this is a shame he came out with a statment like he was prevey to some info ans if he was president or he had intelligence so thats why he was there. HE WAS THERE TO PROMOTE FREE TRADE!!! TO FIND A WAY FOR SOME MORE OF OUR JOBS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. REMEBER WHEN HE TOLD THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN THE JOBS WERE NEVER COMING BACK THERE? WELL NOW YOU KNOW WHY! HE KNEW IT ALL THE WHILE ITS A SHAME WHAT REPUBLICAINS WILL DO TO BE IN POWER I'M TELLING YOU KNOW THAT THEY KNEW THAT MCCAIN WAS GOING OVER THERE AND THEY TOLD COLUMBIAN OFFICAILS TO TO THIS RAID WHILE HE WAS THERE TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD PEOPLE WAKE UP AND THINK ABOUT THIS IT WAS JUST REPORTED ON HERE ON CNN THAT THE UNITED STATES GAVE THEM THE INFO ON WHERE THE HOSTAGES WERE AT!! THIS IS A SHAME

I'd be more interested to know the details of the raid and less about what some politician thought about it. Of course it's a good thing, genius! How did it go down? Is this news?

Yeah, McCain's there to talk about free trade and how it will benefit Columbia while we are suffering from rising gas,food cost and jobs there have gone to foreign countries. When McCain was in Ohio he didn't mention free trade, just vote for him. Yeah, just vote for McCain he'll have you putting newspapers in the sole of your shoes to cover the holes that need repairing.

Well, well, well. Now if the MSM would report that McCain's backer's firm just pleaded guilty to funding Colombian terrorists….

What a fraud McCain is at best, and extremely corrupt at the worst.

Had McCain stayed in the USA and the operation taken place, that would have be more creditable than he visiting the country. Nothing is hidding in such a visit when the rescue of American citizens are involved.

(Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders.)

This is the saddest attempt to link a story to this campaign. Joe, it does not show a vote of confidence it shows that John McCain is a presidential candidate who was in Columbia when this was set to go down, so they let you know.

Its a stretch, it really is a stretch.

Gotta love good ole Joe!

PUBLICITY STUNT!!! WON'T GET MCCAIN ANY VOTES.

A raid that McCain knoew about…was it possibly staged?!

One more proof that the 'war on terror' can be won with stealth tactics and intelligence.
Bring troops home from iraq now !

Lieberman is McCain's hack. Lieberman will loose his seat in November.

NO DOUBT ,MCCAIN WAS GIVEN A BRIEF PLAN AND HOPE TO RESCUE THE THREE AMERICANS HOSTAGE HELD BY F.A.R.C [ REVOLUCIONARY FORCES]

This is sooo going to back-fire on Lieberman. Just wait! Lierman is a loser. It's the blind leading the blind….or maybe a loser leading a loser.

J.Li. from Connecticut has no idea what he is doing. In the name of winning a war against terrorism he has lost his true self. God bless him.

ok, a shady don't follow the rules gov trusts mcsame - how is this positive?

Gramm and liarman are in bed with the drug lords,lots of money on that table.

What about freeing the innocents at Guat. Bay??

Can McCain go anywhere without Leiberman and Graham??

A little false flag maybe?

What do Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman want? They follow McCain around like hungry puppies. If John really wants to be president, he has to ditch these two transparent groupies. No straight talk unless you connect with real people, not Washington hacks.

Liz T. in Tucson

Can someone tell me what Lieberman is to McCain besides his shadow? Why don't he go hang out with the loser Puma tards or something….sheesh.

Bush told McCain of the raid in advance. How can you say that this means people trust him? This is pathetic….Old man will go down big time on November 4, 2008

That is what is so funny that they are trying to paint Obama as an elitist. With McCain being a long time Senator, a son of an Admiral and married to an heiress, I can see who fits the mold of an elitist. Obama seems like a real down to earth guy, someone you would like, someone with character. A genuine person. The country so needs that right now.

What really makes me sad about McCain is how much he is pandering now. I honestly don’t think he believes half of what he says anymore. Poor guy sold out and has lost sight of everything that made him worthy of being a good leader.

Ok, but what does this have to do with high gas prices, the rising cost of food, and all of the other factors invovled in the reason majority of Americans are struggling?

Are we supposed to be surprised that the right-wing militarist ruler of Colombia is pro-Republican? This is a non-story.

OK here we go again!! I'm having flash backs:
when Iran released hostages THE DAY Reagan was elected- not hard to do when you've given the terrorist weapons in trade for thier lives before you were elected-remember Ollie North- "I do not recall." (over 100 times)

Then the Berlin Wall- Reagan didn't have a thing to do with it- that wall was comming down anyway, you can't keep families seperated; he just used it as a cheap oppurtinuity.

Anybody see the GOP pattern- taking credit for things that they had nothing to do with.

Just goes to show ya what other nations can do when Bush keeps his nose out of things.

Now McCan't is using this as a cheap oppurtunity. Imagine that!!!

But he does not know the price of gas.

Other article was closed, so I'll post here:

Let's see, Cindy admitted to her abuse of PRESCRIPTION (legal) drugs

Barack admitted to his use of ILLEGAL cocaine in his book

Cindy is the spouse of a candidate

Barack IS a candidate - oh, yeah, what Cindy did upsets me WAY MORE than what the skunk in a suit did

Sorry, Obamabots - you can't have it both ways…..!

PUMA PAC

I'm sure Obama will visit Columbia soon. Just as soon as he figures out where it is.

Oh! Give me a break. Do the McCain camp need to spin every story? or do they think the American people are not informed? Gee….

McCain is the more qualified candidate. At least we know where he stands on the issues. Obama will say anything to get elected.

So can Lieberman honestly say that if Obama was in Columbia he wouldn't have been briefed as well? The desperation of the McCain camp is pretty darn funny if it wasn't so darn sad.

i bet this dirty trick was karl rove's idea.

the US has screwed nicaragua and other central american countries over and over and over and over again.

columbia is the last bastion of our bastards.

good luck with that, mcshame!

Lieberman, nee Benedict Arnold. It signals nothing. McCain's "goodwill tour" to all of these foreign countries tells us the obvious - he has no plan for the American people. So let's feign leadership by hopping a plane to all these other countries with tweedle dumb and …. come on, the American people are smarter than that. Besides, once Colin Powell comes out and endorses Obama, McCain is toast.

McCain already being treated like a President

WHY DO WE CARE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE? WILL IT LOWER OUR GAS AND FOOD PRICES?

trying to repeat the treasonous stunt by the senile liar, reagan?

insane shameless mccain is desperate, obviously.

Great photo-op McCain! Considering thr fact that Pres. Bush knew about the mission, I think McCain took this trip not to push free trade, but to parasitically attach himself to the positive press coverage. I hope Americans see right through this mess.

OBAMA/SEBELIUS 2008-2016

I can't believe he's trying to milk this incident for it's political use to John McCain. Disgusting!!!

Comments were closed for the other article, so I'll post here:

I think their (the Japanese commercial's) only problem was that they had the wrong animal behind the podium - it should have been a skunk like Barack - black and white and stinks up everything

Showing Barack as a monkey is an insult to monkeys

PUMA PAC

Dear John,

Just wanted to wish you and your oil buddy a Happy 4 Dollar A Gallon Holiday.

See you in November.

And to think. McCains economic advisor is Phil Gramm.

Of course he had knowledge. His right hand man advisor Black is a lobbiest who has recieved over a million dallors in fees from Occidental Oil to push the Columbian Free Trade Agreement. A company allegedly responsible for the annialation of an entire villiage and all of its inhabitants.

Republicans don't be naive. This is not a trip to promote free trade.

This is a trip to ensure the Columbians that thier money is well spent and they will get what they want from the US.

So much for the Straight Talk Express. We're being had again (Haliburton, KBR)

Brian, it's a total stage show. You can see it from 2500 miles away.

Playing the usual Hero card.

Because he has no solutions on the Economic Front other than a carbon copy of W's old plans.

No, what it signals is a "lock" by the Republicans on the machinery of government! And that is a very dangerous thing.

I am very happy about the release of the Columbian prisoners. We should be told more news about the release, about who captured them, about the # of people captured in Columbia, etc. Who really cares that McCain knew the day before — it is not like he planned it or had anything to do with its implementation of the release. He was visiting, he met w/Columbia president who told him. So what. Says nothing at all about his character.

ben, i've been awaiting moderation since my very first post, and i have no idea why!

I don't know if it is just me or what but I can't stand to listen to or look at Mrs. Obama. She scares me, she really does. I bet they sell a lot of Halloween masks with her face. Whew…..

And obama is two faced. i can't believe his flip flop of positions.

this guy has no scruples or values. He should never have been the candidate. He was put there by howard Dean and the DNC.

Hillary won the electoral votes and could have had a cake walk to the presidency but no we have to have someone who doesn't share our values running. I hope he loses and loses big.

Ben, I feel you. Especially when you're one of the first 10 or so in and you have written absolutely nothing that is in anyway inciteful or inflammatory.

I'm sure, Joe, that since you all were briefed, that all of you are trusted by foreign leaders.
OR, it could be that the US is funding anti-drug operations down there and they want to continue that flow of money.

And, they want to show some appreciation to their lobbyists who help run Sen. McCain's campaign, and to ensure they continue to lobby for the Colombians.

Oh yeah, this goes for Mark Penn too.

I wonder if the Colomians really made the grab? It wouldnt suprise me if they gave the go ahead to some black ops from the UN or US. Maybe signs that things are changing for the good in that country. If they really did then my hats off to the columbians for their HRT(Hostage Rescue Team).

Of course McCain is liked by the Colombian government. He wants to sign the free trade deal that would send more American jobs south of the border.

bush will probably let minibush bring home the three americans so he looks like a hero. ancient republican campaign stratagy.

Are my eyes deceiving me?….Is Lieberman there to correct any mis-speaks McWar might make?

Seems he's really trying to be McSame's VP….and both wearing ballcaps…Lieberman's cap say's "Dunce"

So when George declares was on Iran, won't Lieberman look like a great politician. Isn't that his homeland?….hmmm the plans are in place.

"Grumpy old Men" sound close?

Just shows that McCain is also a political opportunist which is what he accuses Obama of. Hope you Americans get it right this time!

Ben, don't feel bad, it is happening alot these days especially when you have something very legitimate to say like the President of the United States of America has immorally used his presidential power to play SHILL for his party's candidate in the Columbia hostage situation.

Or when you are not a hater on these blogs and give a balanced critique that does not fit the mold of the divisiveness the media wants to keep feeding.

You are a better sport right now Ben, but I am fuming over this and hope to get posted this time..

McCain is out of the country campaigning in Columbia and Mexico. Why? Does he have plans to invade Mexico too? Columbia also on his top 10 list of countries? He is a never ending source of comic relief.

Kudos for John McCain. I am very happy the hostages were released but America's economy is in big trouble. Could he please stay here for a minute and stop traveling the world. McCain probrably received a briefing on the military operation and now he wants someone to give him credit for the rescue I guess. Who knows, he is too old to become president. Here is a man that been in the senate for years and lord he doesn't know anything about the economy. He is old school and we need someone fresh and new. This is about our children's future.

We need big time change in America and someone who knows something about the economy. All the Republicans are trying to do is scare people about a possible future terrorist attack. Sorry that is not going to work. McCain please retire. Yes we can and will!

Excuse me, Mr. Lieberman - but leaders all over the world, with the exception perhaps of Columbia and Israel and MAYBE Iraq, do NOT want anyone other than Mr. Obama. Your statement is incorrect - like a lot of things you say.

How stupid does the republicans think we americans are, if it smell like a polecat you can bet it is a polecat. This trip was set to make MccMccain look good. Not Fooled at all. BUSHS PUPPET. "FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU FOOL ME CANT FOOL ME AGAIN' . Right bush, but the Republicans can are able to fool 28%of america. SCREAMS OF PHOTO-OPS

Was the timing of the raid and the GOP candidate in Columbia a coincidence? Sad to think the hostages could have been freed so much earlier.

Doesn't surprise me in the least that McCain and Lieberman would stoop to an attempt to politicize the story for campaign purposes. How sad.

Had McCain not been in the country, no 'briefing' would have been provided. And Senators Lieberman and Graham would be hearing about it on the news too. What a group.

This guy McBush is so desperate to appear to be relevant. Rather than entrust our gov't to McTemper, I think we should let him work full-time helping his wife manage her finances.

Well he should be aware he is a leader on the Foreien Relations Committee in the senate. He has been involved with these types of things for quite some time. Glad it was successful, sounds like a job well done to me….

Democrat for McCain

What a farce.

LIE-berman is pandering in the hopes of getting the veep spot. I hope he does get it, because then McCane would lose the GE in a landslide.

Great to hear that these hostages were freed safely.

Lieberman and Graham can't hide the fact that McCain just doesn't know his stuff. You can't have your hands up his back moving his mouth 24/7 boys!

GM the best car manufacturer is now valued at $9.78 per share all because of the bush cheany war in iraq people dont buy the best made suv anymore also gm may very well go under the end of an AMERICAN giant people wake up vote right vote obama

Hey! There is nothing wrong with Lieberman. He is just backing the wrong candidate

This were a sham for none military persons.

Pssst! It was all a big show America. More of the same!

Liberman's thought process involves mindless statements without any foundation behind them.

We have another Out-of-Control Republican claim's of self-appointed superiority. Liberman is a Republican white elephant for the Democrats.

His affection for McCain is actually kind of creepy.

Liberman should go… He should be honest and change to the GOP.

Ok, the timing of this is just too close.

Did McCain know about this in advance and wanted a photo opt. Sound like a karl rove moment.

I didn't even make the waiting moderation with my last post and I understand. I still am a fan of CNN

"Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders."

OH PLEASE, SHUT UP!!! how stupid and gullible do you think we are, LIEberman?!?!?!?! the silly repug tactics dont work on 75% of us anymore, so dont even waste our time with your nonsense…and the october surprise BETTER NOT kill anyone, you've killed enough people already you vile, disgusting neoCONs!, !!!!

they had to wake mccain from his 3 PM nap to give him the news

BRIAN: SPOT on.. I bet the Bush-McCain camp knew so they thought why not send McBush down there so it makes him look better..

McCain seems just as bas a Bush and I suspect he will be worse than bush as he has some level of inteligence which bush lacked.. he is more likely to make sinsiter moves knowing full well what he is doing, whereas bush would just do what oil men need.. after all they sent him to the whitehouse..

Senator McCain, I'm NOT BUYING IT! Too Transparent. Hope the American people see right through this for what it is.

The President of the United States PLAYING SHILL for his party's candidate. AN ABUSE OF POWER AND IMMORAL!

JUST THE HEADLINE ITSELF IS A PLAY ON WORDS, MCCAIN HAS
ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE……….LMAO. NOT.

columbia wants to make sure they keep getting the tax dollars from republican presidents to fight this war. obama might actually make them negotiate and end this conflict.

maybe if mccain goes to pakistan, they will find bin laden…

This will not help you John McCain!
We are prisoners in America.
We have been held hostage for eight years
by George Bush and the republican party.
NOT THIS TIME! We will not be fooled by
all of your stunts and predicted terror attacks.
Back to the Arizonia ranch for you sir!

Took the time, to look in on his neighbors… Not just because they were special to him… Mr 'Nice Guy', McCain… Not Mr 'Bitter' Obama…

i am sure that gave McSAME A RUSH! after all ,that is all he knows. i can not stand anything this man stands for and this is just a show-off to the american public. why is he not at home trying to help us little people fix our domestic problems like…..most of us can't afford to travel on big airplanes, we can't afford gas now to travel to the next town!! this man is so out of touch with reality, i shiver at the thought of him in the whitehouse giving orders that effects the american people in anyway!
does this man even know we are in a criis? right now i don't care about mexico or columbia, i DO however care about where my next tank of gas is coming from and what i can't pay in order to pay for it!

Looks like a clever setup by the McSame campaign and the lobbyist lobbying for Columbian Free Trade.

Firstly, it is a wonderful thing that the hostages were freed. That is the most important thing and we say "thanks be to God".

Secondly, in my gut of guts felt BEFORE I even saw this headline (came to the website as soon as I watched the news segment), that President Bush had a heads up of this and cued McCain in on it for political reasons. If McCain was given a heads up by the Columbian president, WITHOUT A DOUBT President Bush had to have known too. Smells awfully fishy. Smells like partisan politics at its worst especially at a time when Bush is pushing for a Columbian free trade policy and is using his presidential knowledge to advance the republican candidate.

VERY FISHY !

I foreign government briefed me so make me president or I'll lose my temper.

Lieberman is like his pet chearleader, I'm so anxious to vote him out of there, wow I cannot wait, he just keeps fueling my fire.

Who cares?

McCain- what about our economy and jobs here in the USA???

Lieberman & Graham need to be in our Country doing their jobs as our representatives!!! A couple of real losers!

wonder where this is going

What a disgrace, Bush Mccain and Cheney left hostages in danger until it might prove an advantage to the most deceitful politician that has come upon the USA since The current administration. Talk about Carter he is a Saint compared to Mc Bush and his Flunkies. Mccain has again shown what a dispicable person and/or group he is heading with his suck up shadow LIE BERMAN. Think about it america this GOP has reached a new low for humanity and its present candidate uses prisoner tactics as a crutch for personal gain. Apparently he learned his lesson and used this Columbia episode for personal gain . GOOD LUCK WITH THIS MANUEVER. NO WONDER WE ARE DISPISED WORLD WIDE BECAUSE OF THIS POLITICAL PARTY.

liberman is a sham..mccain only had a briefing of the operation because he was in the country meeting with their leader…come on…i bet his visit was scheduled for this time for a reason..hint hint

He was only told because he was in the country, it has nothing to do with other world leaders having confidence in him. They would have told ANY high profile american politicians. MEDIA, PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK. THE ONE POLL i WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IS THE ONE REGARDING AMERICANS CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN NATIONAL MEDIA. IT SUCKS!!!! I HAVE BEEN SPUN TO DEATH! ENOUGH ALREADY PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now Bush is divulging top secret information to the Presumed Republican Candidate in order to help the campaign. Disgraceful. Just like the rest of Bush's so-called "Presidency."

Do they really think we're so stupid that we can't figure this out?

Good Grief….is it November yet?

Now lets get on with the rescue of our Americans held hostage in IRAQ by their own government perhaps you can be in on that also.

Bush made sure mccain was briefed, by the colombian's. Another example of republicans putting their own selfish needs ahead of human life. that propaganda move did'nt fool anyone Go Obama08.

Lieberman and Graham are ridiculous lemmings. I quess the Colombians do like McBush, he's all for free trade which hurts Americans.

Let's see… a pro Columbian "candidate" gets secret intel that maybe even President Bush didn't know. Perhaps Bush told McCain a story of a "little birdie told me you should go to Columbian around hmmm… now."

You have got to be kidding me….

Thanks for the laugh….I bet they have confidence. They want the CAFTA bill enacted.

"Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders."

What?

Somebody please explain if you dont mind, what is Lieberman talking about?

I do not agree that this signifies a vote of confidence by foreign leaders. McCain is a respectable senator of USA who is helping Columbia fight the war against drug. So were other senators. All senators were briefed.

It is a fact that Senator Mccain would be preferred over Senator Obama as a candidate of balanced diplomacy. Senator Obama wins the international relations column any day.

They have been held hostage for 6 years and the day the McCain just happens to be in Columbia and all of a sudden they are rescued. What are the odds of that happening? There are better odds at winning a state lottery. I believe McCain just as much as I know believe that the Iraq war was not about the oil. This sounds like a planned event to give John McCon a big headline.

And why are we supposed to care?

I really hope that McCain's people keep leaking stupid, insignificant stories like this. This kind of crap will put the nail in "McSame's" coffin.

Goodnight and good luck.

We now know President Bush knew all about this quiet operation in COLUMBIA to resue hostages (including 3 Americans) and Senator McCain goes to talk to the President before his trip and then goes on to find out "more" once he talks to Pres Urabe. First, am I the only one who thinks this rescue operation at this time was "set up" to make McCain/Bush/the Republicans look good? Don't get me wrong, I am so HAPPY they are rescued, alive and mostly well, without a single shot being fired!!!!! Second, could this mean someone knows where Osama ben Ladan is and will bring capture him in a "timely" manner? I no longer trust…how many more have to die…what are we doing? This rescue shows countries can work together without people dieing. Why can't this happen worldwide?

I smell a political stunt here. The day McCain arrives in Columbia and this just happens out of nowhere. Something smells fishy here just like Lieberman predicting a terrorist attack in 2009.

President. McCain will be on top of world events in his 8 year term in office. Quiet, but effective. Unlike the Jr. Sen. from Illinois who is all talk and nice smiles.

Super McBush arrives in Columbia and hostages are freed. Coincidence? I think not. If McBush is elected no doubt millions of American jobs will head south to Columbia to reward McBushs amigos for their support.

They might have just wanted to give him the heads up to stay out of the way.

So McCain did go over to Columbia to play politics. This is disgusting because he had nothing to do with this rescue mission but went over there to make it seem like he's commander-in-chief rescusing hostages,

SICK!!!!!

Is this where I put that 95% of foreign countries believe Obama would make a better president? (according to a poll about a month ago)

Only 2 nations weren't sure… the US and some small country

Just in time for the polls. You could have told your friends to release them years ago. Thanks McClaims.

Okay…. What about Bush…. Did anyone mention anything to Bush… Anything…. From Anyone?

"Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, both traveling with McCain, were also briefed. Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders."

OR

Politics being played by the Bush Admin in favor of McCain, meant as a direct slap in the face to Obama. Sorry, I'm not impressed.

Cool. So does this mean that Colombia will no longer be known for its brutally fascist labor policies and corrupt governmental complicity with drug cartels? No? Huh.

Well then its no wonder McCain is so eager to be their friends.

your dang right McCain had advanced knowledege of this hostage release….well before yesterday…. This was NO coincidence. Bush was already aware of this longgggggg in advance………..5yrs in the planning…reported by CNN………..McCain planned his trip just right.

People..use your common sense………..was just a political promotion for McCain orchastrated by Bush.

McCain=Bush….third term

Mccain is in the loop and so is Hillary Clinton. These two should be competing for the top job, not some smiled faced, hollow media promotional who is not in the loop.

Wonder what deal Mccain promised colombia once he is president.

Will the three Americans that were rescued be compitition for McCain? They went down in an airplane crash and were held captive for five years, so that makes them eligible to be President of the United States.

"Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders. "

Oh, give me a break!!! You really think that the Columbians would possibly have left the potential next president of the U.S. in the dark if such an operation were to happen while he was visiting?? Do you really think they would have NOT told Obama, if he were the one visiting???

The thing that is bizarre to me is the fact that McCain is going to Columbia on the week of July 4 in the middle of his campaign for President. Is he just punting on even trying to work on his domestic issues??

It is great news that the hostages were rescued, and the Colombian military should be congratulated on its ingenious method.

That being said, it appears that any Senator visiting at the time was given a heads up, so for McCain to trumpet the rescue of captives in a political manner is pretty low.

This is very fishy to me. McCain, the huge supporter of free trade with Columbia, just HAPPENS to arrive in the country on the eve of the culmination of a months-long operation to successfully free the hostages? And then Lieberman touts it as proof that McCain is trusted by foreign leaders?

The whole thing is too perfectly orchestrated if you ask me.

now we know why john mc cain when to colombia . he will try to spend it as it was he's leadership and militry knowledge that helped to free the hostages he is a dirty politiction this info to him and not to oboma is not fair and you should not be used as part of mccains run for the white house bit if will sod is on it

I'm not suprised, especially considering McCain benefitted from one of his staffers paying an organization labeled by the U.S. as terrorists. Of all the places he could visit, McCain goes to Columbia, the bastion of the drug trade? Ridiculous.

That is a SCARY CREW: John "MAD DOG" McCain, Lindsey "KILL KILL" Graham & Joe "TURNCOAT" Lieberman. It seems as if McCain is afraid to go any place without them. Together they are worse than BUSH, CHENEY & ROVE.
Uribe would have told me about the raid if I was a member of an American Delegation. Maybe McCain chocked it out of him.

Well surely Liberman and Graham won't be elected as presidents yet they were briefed too. I don't see the political gain here.

'Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders.'

Nonsense, he was briefed because of his position with regards to the armed forces committee.

Nice try to spin Lieberman, but McCain's position is public knowledge to the voters. You better pay attention to your own state that is likely to kick you to the curb for switching sides in this election.

Was Senator Obama briefed on this too? If not, we have two sets of rules here: One that benefits McCain and one that does not benefit Obama. It is the same way the press treats McCain and Obama: McCain get special, preferential, kid gloved, soft balled treatment from the press, while Obama gets hammered.

Such is the way the press treats Republicans and Democrats differently.

No, it just signals that he's in cahoots with all the other bullies in this hemisphere…

Not McCain, not now - NOT EVER!!!

good luck , hope you win you have my vote

Great. Now we know who Uribe is voting for.

This seems fishy to me…….the republicans might be up to something

Wow, a vote of confidence by foreign leaders…according to Joe Lieberman's opinion anyway. Are we supposed to be impressed by that statement? Under the circumstances I think Uribe would have said the same things to any US government reprsentative. House or Senate member, just a common courtesy, not any great endorsement that's for sure. When are politicians going to wake up and realize that we citizens are not as stupid as they would like to believe. It's time for them to start being honest and try to help solve some of the serious problems facing our country, and dump the posturing. It galls me that neither party will address the serious consequences of the damage being done by drug addiction in this country. We hold the number one spot for drug crimes in the world, and it costs us dearly. Yet no one wants to dig in and get the job done. If I were a candidate for the highest office in the land I'd propse that we take our troops out of Iraq, supplement the troops in Afghanistan with half of them, and put the other half to work in Drug Enforcement. I'll bet those special forces guys could do a bang up job cleaning out some of the trash responsible for doping our people.

(Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders). John McCain will take all the credit for this rescue. He is shameless!

What a coincidence….

Good thing they didn't brief Obama, never know who would have been in on it!

Thia BS won't fly. The GOP machine won't stop at nothing to portray their man as the man of security. What did it cost the US for this jive azz show? Remember Carter and the hostages, how the GOP had them withheld until after the election of Reagan. The GOP is one LOW DOWN part. They are worst than the Mafia.

This DOES demonstrate that leaders of other countries have confidence in McCain.

I can't imagine that Obama would have been "briefed" about an upcoming military operation by a foreign governement. I doubt they would trust him to keep that information to himself.

McCain is mature and ready to take on the role of president from the start. Can't say the same thing about Obama.

Lieberman is the ventrilquist while McCain sits on his knee as the strings make his mouth open and shut. LOL To bad we need an individual of integrity and not a carnival side show act to uplift our country from the crooks, thieves, liars and thugs of this world (of which Uribe qualifies as such in his own country).

Yea, let's all get behind Senator Loserman and Senator Graham as foreign policy advisors. McCain and these 2 clowns running around the world, god help us if this old hack gets elected.

Is Lieberman delusional or just plain old blind. You have a republican administration giving the republican candidate opportunities to conduct quasi foerign politricks. Do you not think that people will see through this? Simply infantile.

they told you in advance because you were visiting diplomats,nothing more,lieberman.if this had gone down without your knowledge,you would have been upset with the colombian government.quit trying to spin everything to your republican buddy.have you seen your approval ratings ,recently,mr. lieberman?your loyalty to sen. mccain will be your final undoing in american politics.you should move to israel!

Lieberman has beome the biggest flake in US politics. What a hack !

Yes, he does have more experience with foreign leaders, and he will have their respect from the onset. OB would have to earn their respect.

so what, that isn't going to bring the price of gas down or put food on our tables, or give us jobs, or give us health insurance. nice try. The US has the military operation thing down, now we need to get the rest of our affairs in order, you know that stuff that REALLY matters right now????? Hello? I do not hear a response at the end of that red phone. WHERE'S the beef?????

I'll bet the house that McCain knew about this BEFORE he headed to Colombia. The Bush camp probably planned this all out so McCain would get some press! Don't trust the Republicans!!!
Obama '08

Bush and the GOP and McCain has been keeping war going on in Colombia for the last 70 years. The worlds longest Civil War. We need better policy.

Idependent for Obama

Yes, they're confident he's too addled and stupefied to take any notice of what they're doing.

Just how advanced was McCain's knowledge of the rescue attempt. Was that the real reason he went to Mexico, while uses free trade as a cover? Had he been briefed some time ago by the White House. After the incorrect information given by the White House and Republicans, I'm suspicious of any and all information coming from Republicans.

Bravo! Getting our service men and women out of harms way without!

Obama said McCain going to Columbia is a bad thing yet he didnt even know why McCain was going there. We will never know how much of a roll McCain played in setting them free but i dont think after 5 years they just happend to be set free while McCain was down there…Hmmmm McCain goes down there and they are now free…Thats why im going McCain 08

Lieberman should STFU. Haha.

He wants to start a war with Iran so bad, he knows that he can count on the only candidate who have NOOO understanding whatsoever on the U.S. Economy.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 NOT because of a lack of Millitary Might but because of the Economy.

It's the Economy Stupid!

Lieberman has a screw loose. McCain's so-called campaign is getting downright disgusting. How anyone could vote for this Bush clone (wait — I may be insulting Bush, if that's possible). A "vote of confidence by foreign leaders", I think not. More like a telephone call arranged by McCain's upended campaign to make him look like he has some modicum of intelligence.

Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, both traveling with McCain, were also briefed. Lieberman said McCain's advance knowledge of the raid signals a vote of confidence by foreign leaders………….What a Liar……. …..Old HOG JAW!!!

Mccain will be a foreign Secretary for the Obama administration.
Afterall, he knows nothing about the economy and domestic issues.
He is well qualified for a foreign secretary.

Of course! Isn't that special. It just happened. On this day no less. The administration and the media will stop taking the American people for fools, when we stop acting like fools and buying (without question) everything they say as fact.

No not a vote of confidence by foreign leaders but a signal that he is in bed with and scratching their backs as he tallies up for future favors.
Please give the American people more credit than this. We all know what the truth is.
So many of us (GOP) choose to turn and look away.

GET REAL
OBAMA 08,12

OOoooOOoo…. he got an email about some random hostage rescue in colombia, your acting like he authorized the rescue or something…. it was probably somethin like….."hey John……whats up?……remember that politician that got kidnapped a couple years back?