CNN

This country has suffered enough with the Axelrod's. They have a very long bleak history

Good for Axelrod.The plastic man is just trying to suck up to his right and they won't consider him no matter what he does. Back to the Republican talk tapes.

Mitt Romney will never become president simply because he is Mormon......and a moron (but that's a seperate issue).

The Christian presence in the US will never allow it. And, I hate to educate Romney on this, but a substantial part of his GOP affiliation are conservative Christians.

What do Americans really want from our leaders when they think about electing them? We probably do not often agree with the way Congress
men and women vote, but they still have the power to benefit the country, for better or worse. We can definitely see wrong paths taken by Bush and the Congress during his reign. What can Romney really do for us?
He appears to have a very limited coalition at this time.

Finally we have a President and group of advisors who will think issues thoroughly through before acting. What a refreshing approach!

The request for additional troops in Afghanistan sat on Bush's desk for 8 months – and no action was taken.

Why? Because they knew it was a difficult decision, and they decided instead of manning up and making it, they'd wait until after the election.

You know, in case things went badly, it would once again remind Americans just how incompetent they were. It would have reflected badly on them, then-candidate McCain and the GOP in general.

Lovely, wasn't it, the way Bush played politics with our soldiers' lives?

To Former Army: I don't believe you ever served. If you had, you'd certainly know that Obama is too young to have dodged the draft. And if Axelrod is 50 or less, he is too. Even with 2 sons, I say bring back the draft. That'll end these godforsaken, ill-advised, illegal wars soon enough. All you right wingnuts are mad at the wrong man. Obama is trying to fix the vile, sinful mess that Bush created. You want to be angry? Then direct it towards Bush for diverting troops from Afghanistan to Iraq and at Cheney for...well, just for being Cheney. What a sorry excuse of a human being he is.

Bill.

I guess you are too unintelligent to get the point of my post:

I was referring to Repub hypocrisy. Of course there are Dems who never served–did you not read what I wrote about Clinton?

The point is, it's always Repubs like Cheney who bluster on about war and patriotism even though they actively avoided serving their country.

I don't see Dems who have never served or who dodged the draft claiming to be experts on national security. But that's what Repubs like Cheney, Bush, and Limbaugh do.

Now go play outside and get off the computer!

wow... testy testy ...

a lot of emotions on this one. yeah, how dare anyone question the president. amusing. you guys can dish it out for 8 years but can't take a little criticism. welcome to the big-time dems. now it's on you. not so easy from this side of things is it? hopefully your skin will get thicker and your whining will lessen. you should be happy – the job is now yours. tears over criticism will do you no good.

now to Mr Romney's point – he's right. 10 months and no plan for Afghan war. the president was supposed to come in with solutions and here we are without one. the biggest issues coming into the elections were Iraq/Afghanistan, the economy, and healthcare. what happened to his 'plan' for all those issues that he kept talked about? guess that was all hot air. ok, you didnt have one, got it. but now we've given you 10 months to come up with one for these issues. seems like you got one for healthcare, great. still nothing for Iraq/Afghan wars and economy? unacceptable. as president you have to be able to make sound decisions on multiple fronts – that's just part of the job. if you can't handle that we'll find a replacement.

Romney's best line to Obama a couple months back was 'focus, focus, focus'. Apparently Obama hasn't taken that advice.

wait, before you start steaming... no whining – remember, it's your turn now. put up or shut up.

Bush didn't need to give careful consideration to starting another Vietnam like war ! He just puffed out his chest and said " bring it on!"

In my pathetic life, I fight after being attacked. After eight years, the mandate to fight is less. Our only remaining achievable mission is to secure Pakistan's nukes form the Taliban.

Personally, I don't think it is unwise to take your time and get it right...but despite all the negotiations on trying to do it right...you must know that if you leave the Lord out of the equation..it will be naught.
This is not just a issue of protecting innocent civilians...this goes way back to the days when men split from worshiping the same, one true God. Ideology became the devil. It's God's will to unite all as one body but the masses have yet to understand fully the division and the deceptive hand that has been upon it. Keep praying.

“We've seen in the past what happens when we don't do that; when we don't do the necessary preparations.”

Had the AWOL Bush and the 5 time draft dodger Cheney not acted from the "gut" but been more deliberative, 4500 young Americans may still be alive, not to mention all the ones maimed.

Oh yeah, oh yeah! You're a Redumbican!

Obama is playing politic with American lives, that is clear. To say no will show that he does not support the military and to say yes will antagonize him base, the left . By doing nothing he does the least amount of harm to his stature and I'm sure in his advisors thinking- who knows, the situation over there might change and the additional troups might not be needed or something bad might occur that would force his hand to sent more troups.

Democrats need to deal with the attacks. Obama is a liar and blowhard. He isn't even a US citizen, legally.

Axelrod is a clown and a buffon. Doesn't he know that Obama had no experience making any kind of decision before he became president.

The 2010 election is going to be a bloodbath for the democrats. They may not lose the majorities, but it's going to be close. Most normal think folks have the BHO administration figured out as nothing but a bunch of far-left leaning children.

10.2% and going higher!!! Congrats to you who voted for this embicile.

Tomorrow's print headline:

"ROMNEY AXED BY AXELROD"
(. . . and deservedly so)

Well if you want to talk about lies, how about the one we heard that within 120 days we would be pulling out our troops. Here is one fact that everyone needs to remember: Politicians lie and we should fly the Jolly Roger over the capital instead of the what we have.

Thank you Mr. President for not making a quick decision on this matter. Thank you Mr President for making an unplanned stop to speak with family members who have lost love ones at Arlington last week. Thank you Mr President for not rushing into this decision and for looking at the whole picture, which we the people can not see. Thank you Mr President for not feeling pressure from people who are just trying to get air time. We appreciate you Mr President for taking time sending our son's and daughters in harm ways and all the other issues war brings to the people of these United States of America.

The last time there was a Knee-Jerk reaction to making decisions
about war via the republcans, it got us into a mess.

Now is the time to just let the REAL military professionals along with
President Obama unwind this ball of twine that Bush and the
republicans got this country into.

NOW they want to speculate and criticize the clean up crew.

As a veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraqi campaigns, I for one am happy that we actually have a leader that is carefully considering the options and the consequences. We had too many years of decisions being made from the gut, not the brain.

Conservatives had their chance for 8 years and failed miserably. Now it’s time for all of you to just pipe down and let the grown ups clean up your mess…once again.

Let me dumb it down for you conservatards a bit more. When you catch your home on fire through gross incompetence, you don't get to stand around whining about the amount of water used to put it out. People just wont take you seriously anymore. That's why we had the results in 06 and 08 and that’s why you can expect the same in 10 and 12.

Have a nice day now.

I so sick and tired of Alexrod....on the weekends...yes it is taking Barry too long to make a decision about the troops...I don't believe he has picked a church...how long for a dog. But to send Gitmo trials to New York... no problem.... My message to president....wrong move...national security and cost....unnecessary.... one hair on a New Yorker is harmed.... Mr. President....you and Eric Holder will have to resign. No more being politically correct now with soldiers massacred by a Terrorist.
-------------------------------
So Bush, Cheney an Ashcroft should have resigned after 9/11?

It must be amusing to God to see so many people arguing about things that they no nothing about. On both sides of this issue, everyone posting here is an ignorant fool. I understand that most of you immaturely post here to vent your frustration with your little lives.

None of your comments are worth the time to read. You are all pathetic.

I hope that Obama takes his time and gets its right!!!

A President should NEVER dispatch troops to fight a war with providing the tools to win the conflict and a proper exit from that conflict. The Bush folks did not do that and 8 years later, we are still paying for that crucial error. We may lose additional troops if our next moves are not thoughfully thought thru.

Also, 40K troops are not going to come from thin air. It could be a year or more before we can meet this mandate. If those that are so eager to continue this conflict, please report to the nearest recruiting office and enlist. Otherwise, let the duly elected Commander in Chief do his job!!!

Obama was and still is not qualified for the job. Whether or not Romney is doesn’t matter.
The fact is that we elected a "hope" without the real world experience for a tough demanding job.
Obama has allowed unfettered access to the White House for all his financial supporters and now he is beholden to them.
The dithering you are seeing is due entirely to a weak man trying to keep everyone happy. His ridiculous TV exposure is a clear indicator that he is concerned more about what people think of him than what is right for America. If you look at all the bad choices he has made in the past (Reverend Wright as his family pastor and advisor, for one), how do you expect him to be able to make the right choices for America.
When this "Social Experiment" fails, and it will, our country will swing way back to the right. This is sad because that isn’t a good choice either. Sarah Palin is a moron and I could never support her either. That still doesn’t change the fact that Obama is out of his depth and is damaging the country every day he remains in office.

Chloe in Chatsworth:

Great post! These Repubs who keep telling other Americans to leave the country if they don't agree with them sound like a bunch of neo-fascists.

Romney is right....Alexrod is wrong...unemployment at 10.2% with trillions dollars of pork solutions....trillions for 20 million of American healthcare...when 280 million are happy with their healthcare..$24,000 for each $4,000 Cash for Clunker, $43,000 a house for a $8,000 cost $43,000, Bailouts, Now he wants Bailouts to Newspapers, Broke-Amtrak, SSN, Medicare, more bailout to Freddie and Fannie....

Alexrod....America has already figured out you guys do not know what you are doing.....these are your solutions...the only good thing has been the leaving of CZAR Van Jones, Anita Dunn & now Craig. Get rid of the rest of the communist & socialists.

Axelrod is a chicago crook. Check his scummy past. Obama is way over his head. The worst part of that is, he has awful ideas and believes in a govt. run economy. Help these poor troops at war....instead, all the white house does is ATTACK, ATTACK AND LIE.

That is why we need a democrat as president as the republicans got us into this mess. Romney should stay retired for good.

Who would have thought we would ever have more of an incompetent coward than Jimmy Carter but Owhiner has already surpassed him.

Who cares about Romney? Who cares what any Repub has to say? Only 20% of the people even call themselves Repubs these days, and with good reason.

Hit 'em again, Ax.

I remember all too well when the shrub and crew would blast dissenters as being "traitors" for critizing the shrub when the U.S. was engaged in a war.

Now, that is all the "traitor" from the domestic "christian" taliban do is blast President Obama.

Here is question to all the war hawk cons.

You had 8 years to wrap this up, now you argue over a month???

You are all hypocrtical anal sphincters!

David, all you had to say was "Mitt Romney is a Republican"! That says it all, Greed – Liars – NO – anti America, etc.

Former Army:

Everyone knows "W" dodged Vietman with the help of his wealthy family's influence. Also, I noticed that you had no comment regarding Cheney, Quayle, and Limbaugh.

The fact is, wealthy politicians who have never experienced war will always send young men and women off to die. It's happened all throughout history, and will continue to happen.

But it's the Repubs who are always screaming the loudest about war and patriotism, even if they've never fought in a war.

People, please. Can't we all just get along. It takes time to figure out where to build all the hospitals, roads, bridges, schools, and parks over looking poppey fields. An aternate means of paying Karzai's pharmacutically oriented brother needs to be devised. But most difficult is figureing out how to get middle class America to cover the bill.

This president can't make a decision to save his life. His only concern is about political advantage. He is using the military as a prop in photo-ops while putting their lives in danger. If he can't make a decision as president he needs to pull our troops out so they aren't sitting ducks.

David Axelrod may not be intelligent enough to know that our ENEMIES are noticing how indecisive this president is....he is making Jimmy Carter look good and that is a travesty.

Just one minor question to the people that are saying Obama is taking too long, including Mittens. How long did Bush take to decide on "The Surge" in Iraq? Hint: It was longerthantwo months.

Rose November 15th, 2009 12:03 pm ET "Freedom is a gift, and not to be taken for granted. You are for America or against it. If you are against it then go to some other country where you fit in. Don't try to make the USA into a socialist country. That is not what our service men and women are dying for."

Rose, how dare you? My mother's family has been American since 1639, my great + grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, and no fanatic is telling me to leave my country because I don't listen to Fox News. We have a multiparty system, and all Americans have equal rights to their opinions and beliefs. This is EXACTLY what our service men and women are dying for. Disagreeing with you and the Republican Party is not treasonous. And, in spite of what Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh bloviate, the Democratic health care reform bills are no more likely to turn the USA into a socialist country than did Social Security, Medicare or the fire departments or public works systems.

I so sick and tired of Alexrod....on the weekends...yes it is taking Barry too long to make a decision about the troops...I don't believe he has picked a church...how long for a dog. But to send Gitmo trials to New York... no problem.... My message to president....wrong move...national security and cost....unnecessary.... one hair on a New Yorker is harmed.... Mr. President....you and Eric Holder will have to resign. No more being politically correct now with soldiers massacred by a Terrorist.

Axle Rod (Oops, I meant Axelrod) is definitely an idiot, and so are the people and bloggers that are supporting his moronic comments. While President NObama sits on his butt and listens to his Arm Chair Generals, our service men and women are being viciously attacked not only in the battle fields, but also on our own soil. If this rookie of a president is not going to support our troops, then might as well bring all of them home and stop procrastinating.

As for Mr. Axle Rod, he should stop being President NObama's attack dog. Whenever people disagree with President NObama’s policies, he sends his attack dogs to discredit the individual. If this trend continues, soon there will be no such a thing as freedom of speech. I never thought I would be ashamed of my Democratic Party colleagues. But my fellow Democrats have become the biggest liars ever. And of course they have had an experienced Teacher.

America, PLEASE wake up. It's about time we rescued our country from the idiots that are trying to destroy the very fabric of our country.

Former Army:

Are you saying only 1 in 100 Democrats / Progressives serve in the military? That is absolute BS, and you know it.

I guess Romney is upset that the big oil and Haliburton isn't at the table anymore. Obama is making an informed decision. I like that for a change from our government. I am sick of these Republicans who are so happy to send our troops off to a fight. We have seen how the Republicans have treated these wonderful soldiers when they return injured. Many of the tax cuts cost quality care for the vets. Many return over and over to fight while the republicans continue to find new ways to make money off the wars.

Hey "common sense" you have no idea what you are talking about when you say that it would be different if Obama had a son or daughter over their fighting. As it happens Obama and our nation has thousands of sons and daughters over their! They are all are our children. Where is your patriotism?

Romney at least had some basic understanding of economic issues unlike the chosen one.

I was appallled by Romney's remarks! For eight years the Republicans screwed everything up! Taking the time to 'do it right' is better than they did which was 'doing everything wrong' without thought to the consequences. The deliberation on our 'war(s)' is necessary; and in the meantime, President Obama is working hard to fix our sad state of the economy.

My 18 year-old nephew is in the Army and will most likely be going to Afghanistan early next year. I for one am glad that President Obama is is being pragmatic and deliberate.

Bush and Cheney were impulsive, reckless,arrogant, and ignorant, and look where that got us. Thousands of our brave troops and innocent civilians have died needlessly or are maimed for life due to the previous administration's lack of planning and intelligent foresight.

Abraham Lincoln was also criticized for being pragmatic and thoughtful during the Civil War–but, these qualities helped to win that war.

Too bad the Repubs can't learn from him–wait, I forgot. The Repubs long ago ceased to be the "Party of Lincoln," and that is to their detriment.

Hey" GOP–Toughl Talk No Action"; How are you so smart? Your president has never seen the inside of a barracks and anyone can list the dumbacraps that have avoided military service. Do you know the republican, or any presidents that have been in the military or even generals? This is a quiz. You probably don't know because all you liberals know is what someone tells you.... Including the liberal rag CNN.

To think that a thug politician from Chicago link Axcelrod and Osama would have any knowledge of the military is just absurd. All they know is bully tactics and play for pay politics.

Go outside and play and get off the computer!

Go outside and play and get off the computor!

Mr. Axelrod is correct in saying that the decisions the President of the United States has to make are sometimes difficult decisions and shouldn't be rushed into. But the people of the United States then should have elected a President that was prepared to make those tough decisions in a timely manner. Mr. Axelrod, we've been waiting on President Obama to make the tough decision of lifting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since he arrived in office almost a year ago. What needs to be looked at and debated here. Are you telling me he didn't know the facts of what it would take, when he promised a portion of his electorate that he would get rid of the military ban on homosexuals? If he didn't know what he was talking about, what was he making promises for, and why isn't he taking action at a time, when he can almost assure that it will be passed in Congress when the Democrats have a majority in both houses, and a filibuster proof congress. Obama is only showing he isn't prepared to make these tough decisions. He is ok with the status quo, as long as it doesn't tarnish his pop star ego that he has woven to the people of the United States through the media. So don't go blaming Mitt Romney for the fact this President is afraid to make a decision. Will he take this long if we are actually attacked?

@ Good Riddance

Let's not forget that trillion you speak of is the cost over a 10 YEAR period.

again more humor for the campaign manager (new career in 2013?)

Obama is taking the time to ensure the right [political] decision is made, Axelrod said." and "Axelrod called the deliberation process, which has lasted more than two months, a necessity when considering the lives of American troops involved and the enormous investment by the United States."

it took two years and a bombing of a military base for another democrat to do the right thing (p.s. ww2) and how many people died (albeit i am sure of the thoughts: a bunch a jews!)

Mitt needs to keep his complaint to himself because he is not in the league where decisions and deliberations are made. This is typical of the Republican party's tasks: Make quick decision and ask questions later. And you wonder why we are in the hole in Afghanistan when it should have been resolved long ago. I never heard the Republicans complaining when Bush took his time to make decisions on the Iraq surge even in the face of complaints from various policy makers and the Iraqi Group headed by James Baker.

Adam November 15th, 2009 9:38 am ET

And this is in comparison to all the vast experience Obama had before getting elected? Obama never ran anything but his mouth and now America is getting what we asked for: A big empty suit.

-----–
Romney and Palin are one of many empty suits and yet the media clamor for their opinions even in subjects they do not know a thing about.

I just don't understand why all these right wingers, the ones always crying "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" seem so anxious to quickly send them into possible harm's way. I am glad we have a president that wants to think this thing through before puttting the lives of our men and women on the line. And in fact he DID make a decision, he decided he did not like what was offered at the time and for the officals to go back and come up with another plan. Plus unlike Bush, Obama is somewhat listening to the will of the people because Americans are tired of war and polls say that we are against sending more in. Not sure why the right doesn't see that..just more war and death is the only thing they can understand.

Axelrod is absolutely right. Shut the piehole Mitt.

Why all the talk about Republicans here? I agree with the people who say Republicans are irrelevant right now. They gave up their chance to lead with their incompetency the last several years. Why then is David Axelrod always talking about Republicans then? I suspect that he is trying to create an equivalency between President Obama and Rush Limbaugh or Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck so any of them can be blamed if things go wrong. Axelrod will need someone to blame. The "blame George W. Bush" argument will only go so much further.

The problem with this strategy, Mr. Axelrod, is that Democrats have been too successful these last few years for this to work. There is not a major Republican elected official that the average person can name. "Watch out for that Boogey Man John Boehner," doesn't quite have the ring to it. The average person knows Democrats control the White House and Congress and soon, the courts.

Mr. Axelrod is trying to push off the fact that Democrats have total control right now. He must be worried about what the next few years entails. He is desperately trying to pin future problems on Republicans. Sorry, I am not buying it.

sitting on your hands doesn't help either.

...is it because I used the word goat herder?

German,Irish American: Not sure I agree with you on the assertion that military voters choose Republican candidates. That certainly wasn't true in our household this past election. I work on an Army post in the DC area and can tell you anecdotally that during the last election I encountered more Soldiers, esp. senior officers, who voted for Obama instead of McCain. Many are former Republicans (like me) who got fed up with the GOP's fear mongering and exploitive tactics which have only worsened since the election. It may also interest you to know that Democratic leaders have historically been better on veterans issues. My husband is currently deployed and I for one appreciate the President seriously weighing how many more troops he sends. Many Soldiers are doing 3rd tours in Iraq already. They, their spouses and children deserve the careful consideration this issue merits!

This is just my opinion so it dosent matter much but here goes , Obama was not a military man , but now he is in charge of our military, the cheif general in charge is a career military man with many many years serving his country ,so i tend to lean to the side with the most experiance , when a general ask for more troops he needs them now not 2 or 3 months later after several hundered more americans die , people are being killed waiting on an answer from a man who is nowhere near qualified to make that decision , we as americans have bumper stickers that say support our troops, we have signs, we have coffee mugs, tee shirts , ect ,but our leader is the one person who won't support our troops if the people who know what they are doing need more troops the it is his job to see that they get them as soon as possible to save as many lives as possible stop flying around like a playboy and send the reinforcements today!!!!! at least accomplish one thing your first year in office ...just one thing at least !!!!

Reagan was commissioned in the army reserves; he was later disqualified for poor eyesight. That is not dodging WWII. How many libs serve? 1 out of 100?
W served, he was a pilot in the reserves. Are the reserves not good enough for you peace-corps folks?

Why are you'll keep trying to pump up S Palin's book??? That's fox news job!! I'm surprised that she can write and spell !!! Just report the facts please!!!

So many of these comments are really redneck....

Obama is taking his time with the decision because unlike our last President and every Republican under the sun, Obama understands that these troops are humnans with families and lives.

They are not pawns... they are not toys... war is not a game.

To Bush, the military was an extension of his iron fist and unlimited resources.... he never once thought about one particular soldier and the weight of life or death – He didn't care. The military is to be respected, not used as a disposable way of getting what you want from other countries.

Amazing how the GOP let Bush ruin this country for 8 years and we fought the wrong war and they never said a thing. Now they are experts on what is needed to win a war that was ignored for years. We are repeating the Vietnam history again if we think the military will win without having a stable government in place. I agree we need to do better in planning a strategy that contains economic and military incentives for Afghans government to step up, or we will lose face for fighting the wrong war.

Romney is beginning to look more and more like Palin, not getting his facts straight, I thought he was smarter than this. I guess Romney is recognizing the only way to get ahead with the Republican party is to just lie and distort the facts and really you can't blame him.

Thank God we have a thoughtful and intelligent President who takes American lives seriously. I can't imagine a more complex decision.

The west's hiistory of military failures in Afghanistan should remind any thinking person how difficult "success" will be – do Mitt or the Republicans remember Russia's efforts in Afghanistan?????

Life and death decisions like risking the lives of our soldiers in very nonconventional warfare in geographically difficult area should take extremely careful consideration.

Obama is doing the right thing! The idiots who second guess him are the same fools who pushed to rush into war in Iraq to find the non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction! Some people (Republicans really) never learn!

The longer Obama takes to make a decision... more of our troops die everyday in Afghanistan. He is in China now, and maybe he is waiting for Kwai Chang Caine to come and tell him "Grasshopper...when you can walk the rice paper, it will time for you to go".

for a neophyte admin it is SO FUNNY for them to utter statements such as axlerod (a campaign manager) did when he said "I know that Gov. Romney has never had responsibility for any decision akin to this, so he just may not be familiar with all that it entails,”

hey axlerod. neither did/does obama!!!

How did it work the last time the "wingers" fought a war for us? We might easily handle the problems in Afganistan if the "W", "Darth Vader" and "Rummy" trio hadn't lied our way into Iraq – where we're still mired down in corruption. It takes a giant pair to criticize the way President Obahma is taking time to plan! "We don't need no sissy planning... He should just fly in and declare the "Mission Accomplished! Look how well that worked for President Bush's idiot son.

Where were all the Democrat warmongers during the Bush years? The Taliban have no history of terrorism outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They do NOT pose a clear and present danger to the security of the US. Al Qaeda is a proven international threat and we're ignoring their resurgence in Indonesia and Somalia. Pull out of Afghanistan now.

Good the best defense is a good offense

Mitt Romney never even made it to the final count down, mnnn.......Romneys accusation of dereliction of duty is appaling! Bush Jr. and Cheney should be in prison for their dereliction. Need Romney be reminded that we are in this position because of the dereliction of that pair of circus clowns? Never mind the war, lets talk about Wall Street! That was on the watch of the circus clowns! Obama needs to take all the time necesary to make this decision. Is the wait frustrating? Of course it is. Especially for those of us who are waiting for our childrens orders to go to war. However while I sit and wonder if my son will be deployed, I am comforted in knowing that the decision to send him, has been very clearly thought out and negotiated. I am also comforted by the fact that Romney, and Palin have absolutely NO say so in this terrifying decision that Obama is faced with.
If Obama were to have made an overnight decision, he would have been accused of being reckless and foolish. There is no rest for the wicked, and you holyer than thou rrebublicans need to get over the fact that you lost your ass, and work as a team! This hate and discontent between the 2 parties sounds almost like what is going on in the middle east!

When anyone challenges the flamboyant stupidity that flies out of the mouths of neo-cons they complain that they're being told to shut up. This is a transparent lie, and a perfect example of the cognitive distortion that they suffer from. The feeling that they should shut up comes from within. It is a gut instinct telling them that they are wrong, but they are encouraged by other neanderthal orangutans to continue their reckless, ignorant tirade.

So, neocons, when you think you have the answers to everything, you will be checked, and cross checked. If you don't like it, shut up!

I cannot believe the big discussion on your informative network this Sunday morning was Presidents Obama's bow to the Chinese and its symbolism to negative all the good things he is trying to do for the nation. The discussion speaks to the obvious socially narcissistic attitude that plagues the news world and the irresponsibility with which you handle views just to make some content. To those of us who are highly educated it's quite very pathetic. Please do something different for the up coming year. I was going to say thank you but how can I think you will appreciate the criticism when you can actually air such folly.

No one but the measly 20% of people who claim to be Repubs cares what a Repub has to say. Repubs are a dying party, and it shows.

How could this Yahoo of an administration criticize anyone for not knowing what they are talking about???????? Axeldumb is clueless and Obama lacks any knowledege of how to act as commander in chief. He just wants to play war games.

These are real live soldiers Axelrod and Obama; ask someone that understands the military process; listen to the generals on the ground, not the yahoos that you have around you.

We do not need a bunch of know-nothings trying to run a war with real live soldiers...Axelrod, Obama: step aside and let real men make these decisions.

Axelrod's comment reflects the ultimate in hypocrisy. What experience does Obama have in matters like this? Oh, that's right he was on the campaign for the last 3 years and still at it. It is becoming more evident every day there's a small group of Chicagoans who are the brains behind the Obama personality and their record is suspect at best. Accomplishments, none! Broken campaign promises, too many to count, but let's look at the biggies; change: the only change has been who influences the White House, unions, ACORN, trial lawyers, the list goes on and on and transparency: the only transparency provided by this administration has been transparency to the Bush administration. Working with lobbyists, congress, union leaders, etc has all been behind closed doors.

Did Axelrod serve? Did Obama serve? Did they dodge the draft or just claim another country as their residence?

Obama is taking his time because he has no idea what he’s doing. While Romney’s never been President and made those decisions Obama is STILL a complete neophyte in administrative work. He is a politician and everything he does is weighted for its political value; that includes health care and the decision on troops for Afghanistan.

Thank God for people like Mitt Romney. If we do not speak out against acts of treason against our country we are doomed to destruction. All that our fore fathers went through to establish this great land and formed a constitution as a guide is being lost in the name of liberalism. We have elected a entry level employee as CEO of this great nation. Sadly those of us who value our freedom and love of America have to pay the price for our misguided citizens who blindly voted this incomptent man as our leader. So many of these posters blindly go back to GWB as though they have to have a scape goat for this presidents incomptance. Man up and admit you make a mistake in electing Obama as president. He is not one of us he is a product of all his radical friends, and Rev. Wright. Can't you all see what is right before your eye's. Are you in denial because you voted for Obama. Freedom is a gift, and not to be taken for granted. You are for America or against it. If you are against it then go to some other country where you fit in. Don't try to make the USA into a socialist country. That is not what our service men and women are dying for.

I praise the muslim for not wanting to kill no more of his peeps. GLY

The fact is that all republicans are searching for popularity for the 2012 elections.
Each one of them is trying to appeal to the base by saying stupid and unintelligent stuff because the base is just full of hate and they have no sense of rational thinking at all as long the view you express is against the president or you are criticizing the president for their delight.
That is the fact.

To JB: Thank you for the reasonable, rational and common sense response. The division right now is so wide, I don't know if we can ever heal. People are like sheep, following whatever their assumed "leaders" say, and you are right - until we, as Americans, do our own research and have minds of our own regarding the information we find, we will remain a divided Nation.

*Dick Cheney–dodged Vietnam 5 times due to "other priorities."
*George W. Bush-dodged Vietnam by using Daddy's influence to
get into the Texas National Guard.
*Dan Quayle–dodged Vietnam by using family's influence to get into
the National Guard.
*Rush Limbaugh–Vietnam Draft Dodger
*Ronald Reagan–dodged WWII

Yes, Bill Clinton dodged the draft too. But he wasn't out there claiming to be the ultimate authority on military matters and accusing Repbs of being appeasors and soft on terrorism, communism, etc.

All of the GOP hypocrites listed above HAVE done that (and there are a lot more to where they came from....).

I wonder how many of the people critical of our President's careful and deliberate process have sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, who will be directly affected? It has been far too easy for the previous administration to send someone else into harm's way, based on bogus and self-serving rationale. Now that we actually have a leader who is weighing this decision with the deliberate process it deserves, the Chicken Hawks are being critical. Shame on you, saber rattling war mongering fools! If it was your son, your daughter, who would be sent, would you not want to ensure that there was a solid strategy in place, a clear set of objectives, the support of our allies and a viable partner in the Afgan government before your child went to war? I know this former Marine Officer would. God Bless President Obama, let us all pray for him as he makes such an important decision.

I find it very humorous in all the comments on CNN. This board has people complaining about Mitt Romney not knowing what he's talking about and he should shut up. Where were all these critics when Obama was talking about how bad a job George Bush was doing.

People will see what they want when people talk. We will remain a country divided until people follow the issues more closely and stop taking what media sources say as gospel. Research things for yourself and then make an informed decision. Both sides will always bash the other, its not until we, as citizens, take control and figure out the truth for ourselves.

I'm glad the Obama administration isn't taking any crap from the village idiot Romney. Doesn't matter what he does Republicans will be against it, and they rail against Obama like somehow, how dare he be elected and be the President, as if it was their sacred right. To me, the Republican arguments lack any merit until they offer real solutions, not just no because the idea came from a Democrat or because they are out of power so they must obstruct every bit of progress or initiative. The Republicans want Obama to fail because they are selfish, power hungry unpatriotic idiots, and they have all the numnuts who have so little critical thinking skills that even speaking to them is frankly no better than having a conversation with a dining room table. They know no reason, just find every way to not take responsibility for the past 8 years and then slap all their baggage on an administration that got to inherit a huge mess, and then criticize every move to fix it. Guess what, I hope Obama simply asks one time do you want to be part of restoring America and if they don't the hell with them...you have the power ram through everything you need to and tell them to get bent. Bi-partisanship is apparently not appreciated so I hope he stops. Who cares what they think? They got voted out of office for a reason. They suck at running a country except to let all the big wigs rape it.

Obama is taking his time, unlike George Bush, to make sure he is doing the right thing for OUR country. It is time for other countries to take responsibility for their own actions and stop expecting the U.S. to fight their wars for them. Obama has intelligence, unlike our previous president.

Hey Naysayers!!

Maybe if there had been some "dithering" 8 years ago, maybe we would not have so many thousands of dead service men and women. Maybe 10s of thousands fewer women children and uninvolved civilians in Iraq and Afganistan. Its' not about the dead for many of you, is it? Its' about winning, Isn't. In the end, we will have won NOTHING. Maybe we would do well to be wise and begin to contemplate what Obama has contemplated for years...yes years, HOW TO SAVE MORE LIVES. Sending 40k troops may not provide that solution. Have you anti-Obama-ites studied the history of that war prior to U.S. entry? I thought not.

Well, making an important decision takes time, and that might interfere with Obama's travels.

Terry, VA – this is sad, and your lack of knowledge of anything outside your little world is frightening. President Obama's bow was the proper protocol in this situation, just like it's proper for we Americans to shake hands. I've seen this all over the Ticker, and it's just sad that we're this ignorant. Just sad.

It is easy to talk like these Romneys of the world. It doesn't really matter if we have 20,000, 40,000 or 100,000 troups in Afganistan. The same number of military folk will be put in harms way. Numbers won't defeat the enemies....however, strategic planning may actually work. That is what this President is trying to determine.

I agree with Mitt but I would have put it more succinctly than he did. In the words of my late dad,

"Shut up and deal!!!"

I praise the Obama administration for taking the time to actually plan the best course of action. Unlike our previous administration!!!!

Mitt Romney is a Republican. The United States citizens have spoken. We do not want to hear Republican opinions any more. In fact, VOTE ALL REPUBLICANS OUT OF ALL OFFICES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!! They want to take us back to the good 'ole days. We cannot afford to go backward while the rest of the world moves forward.

Michael Moore once described his impression of the average Democrat and it created the picture of a fairly down-to-earth, family oriented individual, who you might think had a dog, liked kids, enjoyed bowling, was pretty easy going, was considerate of others, valued honesty and, the weakness, gave in to others pretty easily. Now that is obviously an over simplification but the point may be well taken that the different political values may tend to draw different common personalities. Even being moderately liberal seems to infer a conscience that dictates more concern for others and accepting more responsibility for the world, while conservatism can be seen as implying a stricter, more self-focused, aggressive and, the fault, a lack of any real community conscience (even in it being seen as a weakness). Taking it one step further, whether liberal or conservative, it should be recognized that any honest and conscience driven person is at a disadvantage when dealing with a person who has no conscience and is easily dishonest. While one is waiting for understanding the other is simply walking away with the goods. Really there are only two ways for an honest person to deal with a dishonest person: one, trying to compete with them and hoping to be successful at being more dishonest than they are (i.e., playing their game), which rarely works; and two, tell them what you expect and will tolerate, bargain no further and accept nothing less. In the early stages the results can favor the dishonest person but as time and the negatives progress, the recognition comes, the patience wanes and the strength gains with the honest person then confidently becoming more firm. Which do you prefer to represent you? First, I am not implying that all Republicans are dishonest by any means yet I do really see a current trend for it to be more tolerated there (maybe just in their several sociopathic personalities; Palin, Bush, Rove,,,). Second, I think the answer is in what does your conscience dictate; what can you live with and are you susceptible to the con, to the manipulative appeal to your self-interests, and then are you concerned for only immediate individual gain or instead looking at being responsible, including to future generations? Personally, I'd like to see honesty and compassion, responsibility and integrity be the standard for both parties and for all representatives – we the voters are the only ones that can force that to happen.

Romney has such an arrogant, holier than thou attitude and he seems to think he has all the answers. Folks like him, Cheney, Limbaugh and others keep saying the President is dithering and wasting too much time because he is weighting all the angles concering Afghanistan for a couple of months. The last administration dithered in Afghnaistan for over 7 years and allowed Al Queda to rebuild under the radar all over the world. As far as the trials for these low lifes is concerned, it is about time. Only three people have been convicted by tribunals and that's not a reassuring record. At least this President is going to bring them to justice. It is a shame that Romney, Guilianni and others do not have more confidence in and respect for the judicial and law enforcement agencies in your country.

If President Obama had a son or daughter there would it take this long????????

While taking criticism is part of being President, being disrespected is not.

Obama is certaintly open to CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, which also tends to involve more than the words "YOU'LL BE THE DEATH OF AMERICA!"

When It comes to healthcare that affect the life of americans families the GOP was barking all over the media asking for more time to get it right (kill the Bill).
Now when it comes to sending american young boys to war every sudden the president is dragging his feet because he wants to get it right.
These folks are amazingly ridiculous in their arguments.
WELL IT'S TRUE IF THE PRESIDENT FIND CURE FOR CANCER THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT.

Hmmm..am sure we all know what happened last time when these politicians knee jerked and decided to send our valuable and valiant men and women into a war that has long forgotten its objectives. At least here is someone who is taking his time to ensure that the decision he takes is well thought off and concerns the ones actually laying their lives while the Romneys of the world will watch the news of the fallen on TV from the comfort of his mansion. Romney is not on the frontlines and no wonder he is not happy about why more of others are not laying down their lives. My only hope is Obama calls it a wrap and brings back these heroes home safe and sound. Haven't we lost enough lives already.

All you liberals posting here, why don't you take your time to look up the facts instead of posting random crap without any evidence.

Someone said that Romney thinks he is god...this is a load of crap. Look at Obama, he is a result of media endorsements, the media freaking loves him or at least they used to. They made him look like a god in the eyes of some Americans leading to people making uniformed votes which lead to him becoming president. Now you blindly follow Obama as though he is your savior.
You state that Bush entered war without reason and lead America into debt. This is all false. No matter how wrong you think the war in Afghanistan and Iraq is...just think back to 9/11. If you think that America is going to take that from terrorists and not fight back then you do not deserve to be called an American. While this war has dragged on, it is about terrorist prevention and what Bush thought was right at the time. Plus, I would like to point out that both the House and Senate approved all laws that Bush signed and that the House has a majority of Democrats, so you can't blame everything on Bush.
As for our national debt and failing economy, I would like you to take a look back the democrat president before Bush, in 1994 president Bill Clinton signed NAFTA which resulted in the beginning of the de-industrialization of the the Untied States. NAFTA was the beginning of the outsourcing of jobs to countries such as Mexico and later Asian countries such as China. NAFTA is the cause of the shortage of jobs in the United States, of course NAFTA didn't begin to really start effecting jobs until the early years of Bush's presidency which means Bush got blamed because people were losing their jobs. I would also like to point out that our current president Obama spends money like water, he comes up with these multi-billion or trillion dollar plans and pretty much tries to force them through congress. His stimulus package has done nothing for the people of the United States, only this October our unemployment rates reached their highest in almost 40 years.
Personally I agree with Mitt Romney, Obama needs to hurry up with his decision. We have troops getting killed daily in Afghanistan because Obama fails to provide them with the support they need. The General in Afghanistan has stated that he will not be able to succeed in Afghanistan if he does not receive these troops, this should be enough for Obama to send more troops instead of letting soldiers die. What disgusts me even more is that Obama has only talked to the U.S. general once or twice since he began his presidency in January. Obama is more uniformed than Mit Romney, he never talks to the general who knows more than anyone what the situation is in Afghanistan, that makes no sense to me. Obama should be having talks with him weekly in order to stay up to date with the situation in Afghanistan, maybe it would help him realize that our troops are in need of support and that they are going to continue to die without his support.
I think that Romney will be the best choice for president of 2012, he helped bring Massachusetts out of debt when he was governor because he is a business man, he understands how our economy works.
So I'm sorry to all the liberals on this site who think they are smart by insulting republicans, but you guys are idiots. Maybe you should get some evidence to support your statements and get your heads out of the clouds and realize what is really going on here.

Could Obama be delaying his decision because he doesn't want to alienate his radical left base and risk their support on healthcare? This has been dragging on so long there can be no other explanation. Three months is far too long to make a decision, especially after Obama said in MArch he had a new strategy and HIS new general.

Yes, sadly, Obama is placing our soldiers at increased risk for political reasons. Sad, sad, sad....

maybe obama realizes that the lives of tens of thousands of troops are not expendable. maybe obama realizes that it was a snap decision that got us into the quagmire that is the wars in afghanistan and iraq in the first place. maybe obama realizes that one should have and exit strategy in mind before committing even more resources to a war that should have ended years ago. maybe mitt romney doesn't care about the lives of tens of thousands of troops, or the fact that people are paying taxes that go directly to the war effort, and just cares about drumming up support for a run for president in 2012. maybe if mitt romney and other conservatives decided to work with the president, and not against him, we would be on the way to fixing health care, climate change, etc., instead of mired down in ridiculous name calling and showmanship.

Cathy, do you know much about the business world?

Our government should be run on business principles, and that is what Obama is trying to do.

He is taking his time to make a huge decision about future engagements in Afghanistan because he is looking at this situation from many angles. Successful businesses do the same thing.

Try using your brain on your own behalf instead of repeating the tired old mantras of the Republican party and its weirdo spokespeople.

People should understand that with hatred and bigotry, the republican party wouldnt exist. It is sad to say the because of politics and corruption by big business, the democratic party has lost the guts to act. While the democrats still have the majority, they must stand up and take care of the American people. We must all understand that our survival as a nation is at stake. The President is doing the right thing even as he considers the political ramifications. The republicans are subversionist, powered by the almighty dollars, and using the ignorance of those just as bitter and hateful as they are. They are a small sector of our society and as loud as they speak, the majority, with guts, can send them back under the rock from which they crawled. For the life of me, i can understand how people can vote against their own self interest (oh yes i can.....bigotry and hatred).

A clear difference is while republicans are stiffling progress on healthcare, democrats, lead by people like Keith Oberman are organizing clinics to help the less/under forturnate. Name one thing the republicans have done.....NOTHING!!!!

Based on the personal values and morals please fill in the blank: ......... because the alternative is not profitable. For the republicans, and their values it goes something like this:

1)The average american doesnt deserve healthcare because the alternative is not profitable.
2) We cant treat people humanely because the alternative is not profitable.
3) We cant have a public healthcare system and hold the insurance companies accountable because the alternative is not profitable.

Sound hateful and illogical....but of course that the republicans value system.

Wake up, people! Both the Repubs and Dems are beholden to special interests. All they care about is staying in power. They will say anything and promise anything to get elected or re-elected.

They only give lip service to caring about the people and believing in the Constitution. In reality, they only care about the cozy relationships they have with special interests, which keep them in power. And, they use the "divide and conquer" strategy to keep us all bickering at each other like we do on this blog.

A divided populace is a powerless populace, and that is what they want. They fear the people joing together in common interest, because it would be the death of their reign.

Time to create and unite behind a viable 3rd party that actually cares about us, and throw ALL of these selfish, corrupt aristocrats out for good!

Let's reinstate conscription and see how many of these pro-troop deployment change their minds when they or their children are called to fight the war. This is not business. THis is about the loss of human life. Get a real perspective Mitt!

Mitts right I don't always side with Mitt, but I do on this one.
The moral of the troops is slipping....they don't see a president who is "supportive" of their efforts. When he ran for pres, obama said he wanted the emphasis put on Afganistan. Now that hes pres....wheres the emphasis???? I don't think "I need time to think" is a viable excuse...some times decisions need to be made and the people on the ground realize that no decision is a decision.
You go get um Mitt. Keep our whitehouse saying your name. I like it.

Ditther dither, dither, dither, meanwhile our troops are fighting and dying in Afghanistan without the support the Obama's own hand picked General says they need. 4 months? Even worse than leaving the troops exposed without the support they need is the message of utter indecision and weakness that our adversaries are getting that could be even more costly down the line. The Iranians, North Koreans, Chinese, Russians...they must be chuckling and making plans to take advantage of our Ditherer in Chief!

quarterback, I carried a M16A1 – I served, my brothers served, my father served, my daughter is now serving. The majority of service members are conservative, do a fact-check Libs take note, the terrorist have hated us all the way back to Kennedy, R. Kennedy was killed by a Palestine. Carter, remember the hostage situation? Our embassies (US soil) have been under constant attack for 30 years, pay attention. Obama dithers!

mitty is a pompous empty headed tired old repug. he's as smart as sarah palin. both have the intelligences of a tree stump. who cares what he says. whatever President Obama does is never good enough or right in their eyes. as usual they don't have any solutions of their own. where were all these know-it-alls when bush/cheney started the wars and put this country in the mess we are in now. they just seem to not want to talk about the 8 horrible years of bush/cheney rule.

I just wish the Republicans could come up with someone new to headline their party. It is the same old tired names and faces, like Romney and whats-his-name, the old mayor of NYC.

Then there is Sarah. Sarah will be in her late 40's if she runs for prez in 2012. This last time around people voted for her because she was "hot," but I wonder if her "hotness" will be as much of a draw when her face starts to look like a road map.

Mitt Romney has by far the greatest economic experience that any major candidate has in either party...the fact that this is ignored is laughable....The fact is people give excuses for Obama, and maybe hes new on the block and inhereted a lot of stuff so alright maybe its warranted, but Mitt Romney would be a better president with regards to economics which im sorry to say it a little more disconcerting to me than afghanistan

PC
Well said.....they are not smart enough to understand that.

The rethuglicon idea of governance?

Ready, FIRE, Aim...

The Mitter-man is your typical bed-wetting "I afraid of everything so you should be too" GOP'er except that he wears magic drawers instead of a pointy hood.

Just remember, while the rethugs continue to block health care reform and the public option, another 122 of our fellow Americans die every day for lack of health coverage. America says "Thanks" rethugs...

I saw this take down this morning. It was a sight to see. I can't understand where Mitt Romney thinks he has any experience to criticize the President on Afghanistan. Where is that coming from? Just your usual Republican mode. Put down everything this administration is trying to do to clean up the mess left them, but don't even try to come up with solutions. I wonder nearly every day – since we witness this nonsense nearly every day – what Presidents Lincoln or Eisenhower would think of what's become of the Republican party.

So, tell us Axelrod, just what qualifies Obama to make such a decision? And what about you, what qualifies you to question what the people think and feel. I think Romney is right to question. The Community organizer has no clue that is why he is taking so long to make up his mind. He said he doesn't want to put our military in harms way, what does he think he is doing now to those who are alrerady in Afghanistan. They are already in harms way.

But the president IS taking a lot of time to decide, since Afghanistan was a campaign issue and they asked Bush to hold decision once they got the overall analysis of the previous administration. Even if they want to take the time, they should not announce they are taking the time but that the strategy is of some sort (e.g., hold with the same troops till some time). The problem is that local party politics plays a role: they tell the general to push and then delay to say it is not them, then they will decide due to pressure on half measure saying they pushed the general back. Playing politics with national security is obvious and this is not the change we expected (and the fact that the campaign expert Axelrod is the spokesman for it is already telling). Voting "present" is not an option anymore.

Why is David Axelrod so sensitive to criticism? Does he not think a president, any president, deserved to be criticized from time to time? I remember how Ari Fleishcher got some well-deserved criticism when he said that people need to watch what they say and when they say it. Isn't Axelrod shooting for this same standard?

I think Mitt Romney was the worst guy running for president last year but let the guy say what he wants to say, Mr. Axelrod. We saw during the Bush Administration what happened when the opposition party (Democrats, I am talking about you) just sat down and did nothing when it counted.

OMG. The right wingnuts are out in full force today. Why are you so hateful? Give the man a chance to think. I know you're not used to people doing that, and especially not our last president, but it's something I for one am grateful that Obama is capable of doing. I never heard any of you right wingnuts screaming for Bush to make a decsion–even 8 years into the Afghan war. Yet Obama has to make one NOW, NOW, NOW. Give me a break. You're all a bunch of right wingnut hypocrites. Bush got us into gigantic, almost insurmountable problems, and Obama is supposed to fix it all in 10 months? (almost 10 months, that is) If you believe what you write, then you are the biggest fools walking the face of the earth. If you don't believe it but are just spouting right-wing propaganda, then you are the biggest bunch of hypocrites walking the earth.

Wow Obama and the Chicago crowd is going to have to make a decision – and they may be criticized for it. But, not to worry, it's all the fault of Bush and the Republicans – everything is in their world!

Dear PC:

You should look at the polls--the unbiased, national polls--Rasmussen, Gallup, etc.

Independents now support Republicans by 52% to 30%

The Democrats are going to be sent packing in 2010 and 2012.

And, Obama will be just like Carter--one and done!!

The Democrats are already talking about running someone against Obama in 2012--even they know that your "Messiah" has NO chance of winning in 2012!!!

I have to take exception to the headline. This wasn't a "slam". It was a statement from Axelrod on Romney's ability to speak with any authority on this topic. He didn't slam Romney. He merely countered. CNN's headline should not be this skewed.

It seems as if everything Obama does is wrong. Where are the voices of reason in America? The president is contemplative and wise. Sending more troops without understanding the big picture of what is really happening in Afghanistan is not wise.

As is usual with America, we cannot finish what we start. Too many people forget that we were attacked on our own soil, by terrorists. tey forget that a military man warned congrees about Osama bin Laden prior to his plot to attack us and the Democrats in congress made fun of him, they forget that the Clinto administration FORCED the Isrealis to release Mohmed Attah the terrorist that flew the first aircraft into the World Trade Centers. People we are at WAR with MUSLIM extremists and how do we handle this. We place Devout Muslims into key positions at Homeland Security. We cannot profile because it might offend someone, so we strip search little old White ladies (because we cannot do that to a minority because of lawsuits) HOW STUPID is this country? I spent 24 years in the military to protect and defend our way of life and I am watching this country devolve and disintegrate due to liberal judges and acedemics with NO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. The people who voted for Obama are getting what they deserve, unfortunately they are taking the entire country down with them. If you are NOT a US citizen, then you are NOT protected by the US Constitution, if YOU are here ILLEGALLY, it means you are BREAKING the LAW. The LAW needs to be ENFORCED. Competant MILITARY commanders say Troops are needed in Afganistan. If we fail in this war due to our leaders inability to make a decision we should just turn the country over to the terrorists because they will take it anyway. America has lost it's spine and we need to get it back!

Cled November 15th, 2009 11:17 am ET

such limited experience, along with his thug-like chicago adivisors, make for a very dangerous world..........we have diminished the stature of the presidency while making Jimmy Carter now look competent
______________________________________________________

Funny how short the memories of right-wingers have become. Don't kid yourself, your hero GWB and his VP thug diminished the Presidency. Or like all the other wing-nuts you were asleep for the GWB fiasco. Thankfully, Obama is bringing the position back to some level of respect.

Do you think the world is as partisan and hypocritical as you so called "conservatives? The answer is no. We haven't forgotten how your last POTUS used an attack on your country to start an ILLEGAL war. We didn't forget that it was GWB that took away your freedom with the PATRIOT ACT instigated TARP, ignored your own in New Orleans and signed the Stimulus package.

Conservatives may not have the brains to think clearly, but thank GOD Obama is leading this country out from the darkness it was left in for 8 years.

The WORLD is thankful for an intelligent, thoughtful Black POTUS.

And as for folks like you – you have been weighted, measured and found wanting.

German,Irish american

Well the he!! do you get your information from......your neighbor...who is just like you....back your claims up with some proof...point me in the right direction.

President Obama needs to hatch a decision....and soon!!! He has had ample time to weigh all the options, and there can't be too many more options to consider. How much input does he need??? Mitt Romney is entitled to his opinion, right or wrong, he is a tax paying citizen just like to rest of us. It has nothing to do with political parties, this is a military situation, and needs to be handled as such. One thing is for sure, no matter what Obama's decision is, he cannot win. We can add his indecision on what to do in Afghanistan, to his long list of screw-ups.

This is too funny LOL!

Dick Cheney-dodged the draft FIVE times so he wouldn' t have to serve his country. But he says Obama should just hurry up and send other people's children's in the line of fire.

Romney-said his own sons were too busy helping in his pathetic campaign to serve their country.

But these are the jokers who claim that Obama is taking too long to send forty thousand of our men and women to do they ARE NEVER willing to do.

At least Romney ran a successful business. At least Romney ran a state. At least Romney brought the Olympics to Salt Lake City and ran them successfully. HEY AXELROD, WHAT HAS BO DONE???

President Obama is dragging his feet on a decision about Afghanistan and on many other critical issues that he slammed Bush for and promised to expedite action on if he was elected. I don't have a problem with him taking time to make good decisions; I want to hear apologies and recognition that President Bush was likewise being thoughtful in his decision making. I am so sick of the main stream media persecuting conservative approaches then granting allowances and understanding when liberals do the same. Is the glass half empty of half full? How we answer will depend only on your political perspective. The situation will remain the same. Could we please get some fair reporting and analysis?

No extra troops before there is an EXIT strategy.
That's change we can believe in!

Go, Barack, take your time for a wise approach.

The world supports you more thand any former President ever..

Steve,
We should listen to Willard "Mitt" Romney because he "looks like a president"?! Are you SERIOUS? Bush played "dress up fighter pilot" so he could "look like a warrior" and look what his ignorance about war got us. The time for fake leaders who just "look" the part is over. Now we will listen to those who know what they are talking about.

@Steve

You sound really silly when you say Mitt Romney looks like a President!

What does a President actually look like? I am more concerned about how a President can turn this country and lead us in the right direction than whether or not he or she walks and looks like a President.

These guys are so into timelines for withdrawl yet they can't get a timeline for this??? Nice work Dems....

Mitt Romney should think twice before making any statement about our troops fighting in Afghanistan. I do not believe that Mr. Romney served in the military but do remember that he stated his boys were doing their service by helping in his presidential campaign. It may be a generality but many of those who send our troops into battle have not served not have their children. It is easy to snd someone else to fight your battles.

Mitt Romney did not stay with the job in MA even after he so gallantly pushed Jane Swift out of contention. He then left his Lt. Governor hanging and did nothing to help her in her run for governor.

Obama and the Democrat party are the true enemies of America. They give constitutional rights to enemy combatants and make it more of a political theater for the terrorists to make their case. The Democrat is also the true party of NO. They say no to American liberties and freedoms every day.

Liberal Democrats will be the death of America.

Eight meetings over almost three months and no decision! If this were a business, it would be headed towards failure and bankruptcy. Successful organizations have strong leaders with a clear vision that can quickly make strategic decisions between competing actions with imperfect facts.

Everyone has heard the joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. The joke typically leaves out how long it took for the committee to complete the design.

quarterback- you are calling the GOP gutless swine for not joining the military. Why is it then that the military ALWAYS votes OVERWHELMING for REPUBLICANS? If you brave rattle-headed liberals are doing all the talking, why are there more Republicans that Democrats in the military? For that matter, all you so-called "caring for the poor and minorities" Democrats, donate less to charities than the conservatives, even though your income is higher. But that is the typical liberal mindset, hold your hand out and complain that the bigoted, racist Republicans aren't giving you enough of their money. What a sorry state of bloodsucking liberals the Democrat party has become, and getting worse by the day with the unexperienced, uninformed, and becoming clearer everyday, average IQ President we have. What is also becoming clearer is the real people pulling puppet Obamas' strings, is Holder, Axelrod, Emanual, and George Soros.

This administration is so sensitive to any sort of criticism from anyone or organization it is not even funny. The Bush administration dealt with neverending criticism for 8 years and didn't complain near as much as the Obama administration. Criticism is part of the office, deal with it.

"Now, Romney has NEVER had to make a decision on a military action, and considering Mr. Romney’s past decision making abilities, many still remember Romney’s pink flyers at the gay pride parade, Romney’s support for abortion, the check he and his wife give for abortion rights and many other of Romney stands– like he wasn’t a conservative, he wasn’t Ronald Reagan, only to later state he was against all these issues, and he was the very thing he said earlier he wasn’t. Romney would more than likely get confused, if he ever had to decide on military action, if he was American or the Taliban, and this sir is a risk no American can take."

best quote today so far.

this sort of thing is true for ALL pople. please people ... hold your tongue until you have some facts.

I'm so sick of NOBAMA, no more in 2012. NOBAMA, you should stop enjoy with your family and start to do your job.

when will dems have the spine to call sleaze balls, sleaze balls. imagine people that did nothing to help this country for 8yrs talking about everything the president is doing to clean up their mess. its terrible when dems can't shut them up. repubs even had abortion in health plan since 1991 and time after time they campaigned against abortion. dems need to know how to make issues of everything the repubs do too. right?

Axelrod is correct. Romney doesn't have the skills to be today's president. Romney could never do what Obummie does.
Did you see Obummie bowing before the Japanese leader? He bowed when he was candidate Obummie when he was on his worldwide rock star tour, but his people said that wasn't a bow.....he was just looking at the mans' shoes. Does he have a foot fetish? What about the garb he wore in Singapore yesterday. A rickshaw hat would have really topped of his outfit.

Romney has successfully run more than Obama or Axelrod could ever dream of. Obama had several years now to come up to speed on Afghanistan. He's been in office for nearly a year and continues to blame everybody else for his failings and indecisiveness. The fools that voted this incompetent into office should have their citizenship revoked.

HANK . you took the words out of my mouth . I am so glad Obama is taking his time, and if you asks me I think Obama wants out of both wars .

The republicans wanted more time to make a decision on saving american lives – ala – healthcare, but they when it's time to make a decision that could take away young american lives, they apparently don't need time.

Larry S is right.

Liberals with their same ol' talking points about how the republicans messed things up for 8 years. How Cheney ruled the House with an iron fist and bullied us right into a couple of doozies. Stop talkin' about that and how Romney disappeared after a crash-and-burn appeal to conservatives on his way out of the 2008 primaries with a firebrand criticism of the direction of the democratic party.

Hey Larry!! I'll bet we can shut the Libs up with some really good examples of what the before-Obama administration and Romney did for the country. Come on. Let's list some some and stop their nonsense. Let's see, there was ummm....ummm. Come on...

Mitt Romney socialized Massachussetts healthcare system. nuff said

Obama and Axelroid can't find an option that will benefit them politically. Looks like the community organizer and his flunkies never thought they'd actually have to back up their empty rhetoric with action. These people are so clueless and that is becoming very obvious to our enemies.

Maybe Mitt is just volunteering to lead the surge? The Dems should at least make the offer.

Mitt, the man who believes in magic underwe@r, has no credibility with me!!

that's right – let's go back to the Bush method of striking first and, well, with Bush there was no thinking afterward.

Republicans become more strange and irrelevant each day.

such limited experience, along with his thug-like chicago adivisors, make for a very dangerous world..........we have diminished the stature of the presidency while making Jimmy Carter now look competent

Someone mentioned the world watching while the party of NOthing destroys our political system and what it once stood for. How true. They are making what was once such an honorable system a laughing stock worldwide with their shameful, irresponsible behavior. They have sold out us and our country for big business, continue to put party, winning at any cost over our survival and hide behind the Bible while being hypocrits, liars, obstructionists and unAmerican.
How anyone can support a political party that has lost all concern for representing our country and the American people is beyond me.

Axelrod is an exel in a wheel. The world is spinning around him.
Obama is slowwww. Romney is in , is hip, smart, and looks like a president. Go get em Romney.

Romney is an intellectual midget that will criticize Obama 100% of the time. He has no credibility and will probably be one of the Republicans leading contenders for 2012. They just don't get it. Being a member of the opposition party doesn't mean oppose everything, it should mean provide a better choice!

dear bev.......please do not speak for the MAJORITY of our country when you say we don't support our president. it makes you sound very stupid! the majority is still out here.we may be silent as we watch you republicans sound more like fools an ediots every day but beleive me when i tell you we are still out here and barack obama WILL have 4 more years as our leader. just hang in there with the tea baggers,FOX news and limbaugh because we are enjoying the comedy while our party is being strengthened with every hate filled act and deed.
so bev from above........we ARE THE MAJORITY AND WE WILL RE-ELECT BARACK OBAMA!

Oh Mitt tie the dog to the top of the car and take a trip. It is republican's like you that make me very proud to support the President You that run with your money your fine homes a couple of books thinks well ok!! now I can be President. No No No the American people have spoken and they continue to speak out loud today..When you are unable to look past what you have, and try to understand those living around you don't maybe then it will click in. I would let each senator know that when the Health Care Reform Bill is sent down, if you have a heart vote yes.at the end of the day the history books will show the Heros and the Zeros What do you want to read in the history books?

Reslugs are a dying breed. Good to get these lunatics out of the gene pool.

Mitt Romeny is just trying to steal the spotlight from Sarah Palin....they are both Republican "no-loads"!!!!

It took Obama how long to pick a family pet (which was given to him)? So if a soldier's life is more important than a family pet, I'ld say it will take O about ...hmm...oh, don't bother me now, I HAVE to go to Asia to get some rock-star photo ops. Either send some troops in or get them all out now. In the meanwhile, Hillary plots her next presidential bid. Hey, prez, are you sure it's good to leave the country while Hill & Bill are around?

Poor ole' Mitt. . . . he's a lost cause.....literally!

I challenge anyone to show me fact any president of our country had pryor experience before he took office.

There isn't one Reslug that is intelligent enough to listen or understand anything tht is going on. They just shoot off their mouths and scream when ordered to.

Mitt thinks he's the new up an coming Republican star......don't forget the Republicans have created a monster called Palin. Enough said.

Romney has run successful businesses and served as Governor of Massachusetts. A more appropriate comment would be “I know that Barack Obama has never had responsibility for any decision akin to this, so he just may not be familiar with all that it entails,”

Mr Axelrod contnues to play the "hatchet man" and try to protect President Obama from the truth about his performance by "shooting the messenger" rather than considering the message.

Obama, your doing the right thing.

40,000 troops lives, please take as much time as you need. I love a presdient who thinks before he acts.

Don't let anyone pressure you.

First let’s all understand Obama does have a plan. He is so great and powerful that all should follow without question. We the people should just get in line like sheep, even if that means we walk off a cliff.

Second, if he does nothing there is always the finger which points back to the previous administration.

Third, all individuals working in the private sector should quit our jobs so we may gain jobs thru the government. This way we can always be thankful we are employees of Obama.

Fourth, I guess we do not have to quit our jobs. We should not question his takeover of private sector.

Fifth, always jump to a conclusion when a white cop makes an arrest, but understand when a Muslim kills defenseless individuals.

Sixth, prior to being elected to office Obama did accomplish many great things. You know, helped ACORN.

Seventh, embrace all Black Panther types at voting locations to intimidate individuals. We should bring them milk and cookies and allow them to enter the voting booth to ensure we vote correctly.

Independents, lets start voting both parties out. Get rid of lobbyist, special interest group. Utilize our resources, protect our borders, remove individuals not legally here and punish those foreigners, which have done harm to United States citizens. What is so hard about this?

I'm soooo sick of Republicans, they have become useless.

Is it possible for just one liberal to state a fact and support the ignorance of their comments???? I guess not . . . that is what makes a liberal.

Name one thing the republicans done to benefit this country as a whole,for 12 years,absolutely nothing but keep up crap.No ideas no solutions,just keep up crap,if the last administration took time to think we wouldn't be in this mess!

I have to chuckle...NASA has to clarify to us dumb Americans that the world is not ending in 2012. No wonder we fall for all the lies, distortions, and fibs the Republicans throw at us. We believe anything.

Axelrod knows his Chicago-style politics won't work against somebody as intelligent and as mainstream as Mitt Romney in 2012, so he's trying to portray Mitt in a bad light now while he can.

Romney is going to sink his teeth deep into the Obama juggernaut all the way until 2012.

After reading all these comments, why do Democrats continue to say, "The Party of No", when they are bashing Republicans. What, they are not allowed to question everything that King Obama is doing? They all need to get in line and follow blindly like you leftists do? This is a democracy, not a monarchy. But you Democrats don't think like that do you? You are nothing but pure Hate for anything that stands up to your chosen one. Years ago, I recall the Democrats being the Party of No when Bush was President, but all of you seem to forget that. It's all Bush's fault now, so we can give Obama a free ride on everything he's doing.

When will you idiots get it though your thick heads that Obama is NOT a Leader. He has never left Campaign mode. Has he even been in the White House a week straight, without flying off to some place to make a speech using our tax payer money? No. He tells us to save our money, but why? So he can just tax us and take it away faster then we can earn it. He and the Democrats are destroying America under the guise of "Not my fault, it was all Bush." He goes into a "Crisis" to pass his agenda without letting anyone get a say-so, then sits on his hands when our Military is in need of help. He is continuing his ways as Senator, voting Present on the important issues and just hoping they would go away.

You may have been stupid enough to believe his lies(Promises) to vote Obama into the Presidency, but he is no leader and never will be. The Teleprompter/Campaigner in Chief is a coward and has yet to stand up for America. Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Dodd and the rest of the Corrupt need to be Impeached before they can effectivly destroy everything this Country stands for. What they are doing now are the reasons why our founding father left Europe to form America.

Mitt Romney is merely trying to score political points in an effort to rerun for the U.S. Presidency. He is going about this the wrong way. Romney is operating from a position of ignorance and not knowledge and will not be successful were he to run for President in 2012. President Obama's eventual success in reforming the American health insurance system and in turning the economy around and bring our troops home will nullify Romney's 2012 candidacy.

Neville Obama – "There is peace in our time". It's happened before, it will happen again.

Oh my gosh . . . the liberals continue with the same old talking points. Blame others and do not provide support for any of your own comments. Please stop the talking points . . . it shows your lack of intelligence.

Romney is just another disgruntled Republican who thinks he's God.

Everything and anything is wrong is Mitt's eyes.....afterall, he's a disgruntled Republican!!

Ole Mitt hasn't got any solutions...but he can sure gripe!!!!

So, it is now becomming a major issue if someone questions the ability of the president oBLAHma??? I guess the facts prove this administration is only able to critize . . . no ability to lead. Turn out the lights, the part is over.

Interesting to read through all of the posts here. It seems that most of the posters don't think that 6 months (the request by McCrystal was made in June of this year) is a long time for the President to take in making this decision.

My question is, if 6 months isn't too long, when should the Obama Administration come to a decision? Before Christmas? Before the New Year? Before Valentine's Day? At some point he has to make a decision. That is the point of Romney's criticism.

I'm not saying that Romney, or any other Republican would do a better job. But I think it is a fair criticism (much like when Democarts rightly criticized the Bush Administration for the failed Iraq strategy prior to the surge) to level against Obama.

i find it funny that republicans are getting mad for obama taking his time to make an important judgement call when they were in power for 8 years and have nothing to show for it except for the endless war they started and a huge deficit.

Why rush to judgement?First troop increase doesn't happen until spring at the earliest even if he decides tomorrow.

"Iran is just a little country, it poses no threats to the US or the world"
Barack Obama, 2008.

I believe that President Obama is correct in taking his time to look at and understand the war in Afghanistan...decisions made by G.W. were beyond stupid and ill thought out!
Maybe those who supported President Obama from the start should not fall off the wagon so easily...CHANGE takes time!
To all of the naysayer's...SHUT THE HELL UP! I am sick and tired of the sheep bleeping and blathering, using the same old tired fear and smear tactics to derail everything.....our country is in dire trouble and I cannot fathom why some people are sickeningly gleeful at any type of failure by the Obama Administration! Upon your heads be it should this great nation fall further for the bickering and finger pointing instead of doing the work needed and that which you were all hired to do for the betterment of us all instead of your own interests!

I'm not really interested in anything that David Axelrod has to say.
He is just an assistant and he hasn't been elected to anything.
Has anyone else noticed how suddenly David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel are speaking more and more in public? This seems rather strange to me – unless somebody feels that the president is not getting the message that he, she or they really want across to the public.
I am very frightened for our military in Afghanistan with the world seeing the indecision that is going on in the white house. It is extremely obvious that Obama doesn't know what to do about Afghanistan and hasn't found a scapegoat yet to take the blame in case everything fails, which does not have to happe.

Axelrod needs some serious help. The rest of America has an understanding as to what will happen. In the first place, New York has more knowledge and experience than the WH on what will happen in NY. This trial will go into a monkey show and oblivion. Even if convicted, these guys will live the life of Riley, appealing any court judgment for the next thirty years. All the nuts in the WH associated with this 'decision' will not only be out of the WH, but will be dead and buried before it ends. All the while, the US will pick up the bills and give these guys free medical care. Thanks Obama.

Axelrod really doesn't know anything, does he.

This is exactly the politics that have been used against this great nation through out the world. What ever happened with the sense of pride and Patriotism to support this Nation's leader in the deciscions.

All around the world people are viewing how this nations so called leaders try to pick apart each other for political gain for the next election. Then people wonder why the US is not looked at with high acceptance. How could they, when the news shows we don't view ourselves with high marks.

The is no Correct decission. There is only the best one to put you on the path you have set out for. Your elected officials have been tasked to lead us to a better tommorrow. all we have to do is Support them and let them know that we are counting on them to deliver.

Quit giving people amunition to show how broken our nation really is, The problems within my house are not to be gossip for my neighbors.

Our army will continue to take over your boards until you are all defeated or conform to our way of thinking. You will soon all be jailed for dissenting views against or leader.

Hey MITT, (nice name by the way) LOL... U need to keep your mouth SHUT,...U IGNORANT FOOL!

Oh, really, Nan – "Obama won overwhelmingly"? No, he did not. He barely won by outspending McCain almost two-to-one and with the support of the Obama smooching media. Axelrod is another bigmouth lib monkey who chatters loudly to drown out the voices of REAL Americans.

Unbelievable. Am I the only one wondering what we are doing in this "terrorist" war. The original "plan" was to find and eradicate Osama Bin Ladin and his ilk. The Taliban supported him. Now we want to hire some of them to quiet the mess. Oh please get out of there. We are not going to change that country or it's fickle people. Only they can. We owe nothing to the Afgans. They harbored our attackers. We lost Osama in the impossible terrain and now we want more boots on the ground for what? Does no one know the history of the middle east. I'm thinking there is something in the Washington water. No one is capable of critical thinking. Get out and use the troops and money to work on our own, not the Afgan's problems. Nothing can be "won" there.

All you chickenhawks strap on a combat load and volunteer for service.

Gutless swine who will throw someone's kid into a firefight but have never picked up a M-16A2 and would not get your kid into the service.

Afghans are not at our borders marching on Tucson. Thus, we can take measured approaches to how we should end this when Bush should have won here rather than try to take down Iraq for no good reason.

No matter what, Repubs are only negative with no ideas.

WOOOOOOW. You liberal sheep are beyond hysterical at this point. It's become funnier than anything on TV or in the movies.

Now Mitt Romney, former Governor of the state of Massachusetts, is the one who lacks the experience to govern as an executive leader?

This was the exact argument against electing a man who's executive-level career had only including being a "community organizer".

I guess the argument works for you, only when it works for you. Is that right? Romney was infinitely more qualified for Obama's job than Obama is. There is no denying it. It's solid fact.

I feel sorry for Axelrod. He has to go out every Sunday and defend the inadequacies of Obama. He run out of any use any rational arguments; therefore he has to take cheap shots at whoever is criticizing Obama. Sam, even the village idiots, can figure out that Obama talks alot, but no action.

I love the folks accusing Bush of getting us into Afghanistan. Kind of like accusing Roosevelt of getting us into a war with Japan.

What did Americans expect , Obama who voted 166 times PRESENT during his very short time as a Senator.
It is not just the time he is taking to make decisions , it is his lack of leadership and experience that is clearly emerging and is being interpreted as a dithering President , with other words , a weak one.

Barkatansky

So being concerned about our involvement in a war is being a coward? Being concerned about sending our troops to a foriegn land to fight and maybe die. A land that has been fighting for hundreds of years with others and amongst themselves. Warlords only wanting power. Obama's a coward ? What does that make all the Republinazis that constantly critic enerything he does? I'll tell you what it looks like......War criminals. The Republinazis only want to feed the war machine. There are billion$$ to be made in war. This is about money. And that is all the Republinazis think of. Money. Trace some of the lobby cash from the machine. ChaChing!

If Rebublicans spoke only when they knew what they were talking about they would stand mute.

How any on this discussion group have lost a loved one in Afghanistan? How many have lost a loved one have thought over and over and over how that could have been prevented?
This war is costing us lives and a lot of money we do not have.
All those who think our president is dithering, please remember that he has his heart and mind in the right place when he wants to avoid loss of lives, keep our country safe AND keep the country from going into further economic losses.
That does take some very serious thinking and time.
The delay is reassuring because it shows that the president is serious about finding the right solution and not a rash rush for action.

According to previous report President bama hs incresead troop levels since he took office. Clearly evaluation and course correction is part of any responsible decison making progress.

It is ironic thar the crics who dont't think that Americans need adequate helth care can only see war as the only solution to conlict.

How many of Romneys's sons are in the military?

Who said it is not the crtic who counts....

What happen to the idea of not critcizing our leaders when the county is it war.

If these so called leader aspirants are so critical of our leaders, what do they expect from Alcaeda?

Mitt Romney said:

"Because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to stand aside for our party and our country,” he said.

What a phony.

LET'S GET REAL FOR JUST A MOMENT HERE...

ANYTHING... I mean, ANYTHING that President Obama decides to do is going to be criticized by every single Republican, whether Obama is doing the right thing or not.

Two months ago, EVERY Republican was complaining that Obama was moving too fast on health care reform. They're doing everything they can to delay it or destroy it. Now, they're asserting that he's not moving fast enough on his decision about Afghanistan, which involves the lives of our kids in uniform.

Eight years ago, George W. Bush jumped into two wars, both of which were unpaid for and both of which had no post invasion planning at all. Today, every American is paying for those impulsive and imprudent decisions, while thousands of our kids are dead, maimed or emotional scarred.

Take you time, Mr. President. Be smart. Unlike the empty-headed partisan critics who are just looking for a way to score points with their ignorant, pin-headed base.

Sickening.

Sickening.

Sickening.

Axelrod should tell O BOW MA to continue bowing to all leaders in Asia! A junior senator elected by the uninformed was bowing to Emperor of Japan. PRICELESS!

It's refreshing to have leadership that is thoughtful and deliberate. We should not, under any circumstances, commit more troops and money into this war unless we have a clear war strategy and exit plan.
Kudos to the president for resisting our poisonous 24 hours news cycle (and right wing war mongering).

@ mtovet

Agreed Obama has no prior experience with responsibility; but at least he is taking his time to commit more US troops to Afghanistan after Bush dropped the ball for 8yrs and went for his Daddy's war-for-oil in Iraq!

Mitt Romney has no prior experience with responsibility whatsoever; but just wants to bloviate his republiklan talking points....if he cares so much about the war; he should enlist himself and his fours sons to go fight in the frontline!!!!

Talk is cheap; as is now the republiklan platform of all criticism with no substance....you can't say take your time with passing healthcare for ALL americans; then trun around and say the president needs to hurry up in sending more young american soldiers to die in an unjust war....sorry, repugs you can't have both ways!!!!

4 to 5 tours because Bush didn't get it right,the President is doing the job right

Mr. Axelrod is so correct. Romney, Palin, Huckabee or Pawlenty just know how to be negative.

Romney's experience is buying or selling multi-million dollar palatial homes and getting his hair done and sprayed.

Romney has 'no' experience whatsoever.

Lance:

You're no independent. If you want to act like a mouth-breathing wingnut, at least have the stones to admit it.

Sit down and be quiet. The grownups are in charge now.

This president said a lot during the campaign and now that its time for decisive action, he footdrags while our soldiers are fighting and dying in a war he even opposes. You won sir.....NOW LEAD.

I wish with all my heart that people on this and other sites watch some news outlet other than Fox News. Don't let them do your thinking for you. They are village idiots.

We are in two protracted (that means "long" to you Fox News watchers) quagmire (that means muddy swamp that is difficult to get out of) wars because of snap decisions by the Bush administration. It's about time our administration start carefully considering next steps. The situation in Afghanistan is not a Hollywood movie, with a simple plot in which we will be heroic in 2 1/2 hours of battle, the handsome lead actor will get the girl, and we'll go home. It is extremely complex. It will take our best minds to get it solved. How about we let the experts (military and political) think this through, so we don't have more Bush-esque nonsense? And Mr. Romney? With all due respect, shut the hell up. You're an idiot.

I love the statements made like "the majority of the country feels..." Truth is anyone who states they know how the majority of the country feels is either delusional or just shooting off their mouth. Content people go about their daily lives. They don't speak out and they don't participate in polls. The majority of the country rarely votes. This past election was different and the majority of the country expressed how they felt. Obama won overwhelmingly. Now to state that the majority of the country is unhappy with him is foolish. Let him take his time. Many lives are at stake and the situation on the ground is not changing rapidly. Let him have an exit strategy. Radical "Christian" right and extreme left please do not pretend you know what the majority is thinking.

Two months? More like SIX months. McChrystal made his request for more troops make in June.

what is so great about an obama aide, sounds like another obama disease.

Romney had his head in the sand during the Bush admin, well he need to stick it back in

Obuumie will make a decision when he is good and ready!!! He sees all and knows all. Remember he's the world's leader not just a measly president of what used to be The UNITED STATES of America.

Maybe if the prior president would have taken more time to adress this sitiwation we be in a better sitiwation today.Whats the rush to make a sound decision.

There was a post here by some fool named 7papa7 where they state that "Obama has had two months to make his decision since the troops were requested."
Uh, by the way, oh wise one, we rushed in to Afghanistan and 8 years later we're still stuck in that forsaken quagmire. I have a hard time believing that the military has been very successful with their current strategy.
There is a quite valid reason why we have civilian leadership. You and your ilk prefer to criticize ANYTHING our current leadership thinks, feels or does.

When the leadership of a country with their actions causes the creation of terrorists and terrorist groups to the highest level ever in history I do not know how some can claim their actions have kept our country safer now and in the future.
Bush and company destroyed our standing in the world, destroyed what our country once stood for even turning those who used to be allies against us. This most certainly has not put our country in a better position.

Amazing. I guess it would be better to make a snap decision, whether it was right or not, than to take time to examine the options and carefully assess the best course of action because acting "fast" makes you "look" decisive makes you "look" like you know what you're doing. Yeah, I think that's what I'm hearing. And that's the problem, but so, so typical for this Hollywood-obsessed nation of brightly blooming narcissists. It's all about the image – who needs content (aka, character – aka, a plan). Sad, because these decisions cost billions of dollars, and more importantly, potentially thousands of lives. But silly one-track-mind little green army men so puffy and self-proud, and the vacuous self-serving corporate-led vampires presiding over our government keep stirring up FUD that our 'enemies' will see us as weak if we don't act now! Act now! God, we must act now or all is lost!! Send in the reserves, Mr. President! Ready the nukes! Don't let 'em think even for a second that YOU actually THINK at all cause THINKING is for the WEAK!!

Romney, if you asked him, wouldn't be able to tell you much about why he feels it taking "too long". No. This just came up because one of his staff put it on his calendar as Nov. 15 "to do" item. Seriously, you know this is how it happened. It read, "... blast pres. 4 Afg. stall", with some supporting sound bytes from other gas bags.

Now, imagine if you could sit ol' Mitt down and talk to him. Just you and Mitt, an' maybe a pitcher of Tennessee Tea, just hashin' things out like old friends. What do you think Mitt would have to say? Do you think he would have a well-formulated opinion and approach to exactly what course of action this country should take?

Didn't think so.

We invaded Afganistan, they're shooting us because we invaded their country, we're shooting them because they're shooting at us. What's to decide? It was a Bush war started with false information, Bush and Cheney lies, so the decision is to sacrifice more U.S. lives to a lost cause in a feudal country in a war that was started on false pretenses.
I'm glad Obama is giving it some thought, instead of the knee jerk hick reaction of "Smoke 'em out dead or alive" by the last idiot who got us into this mess. Stop campaigning Mitt, you can't buy the presidency.

The fact is that Obama has attended more fundraisers this year than Bush did his entire first term. He also has broken the record for number of golf games in a single year by any sitting president. Maybe there is something to the complaint that he is lolly-gagging when an important national security decision drags on endlessly, and he spends more time on his party's business– and his handicap– than his nation's business. Oh- but I hear he is planning another "Beer Summit."

As an independant, I find the liberal lemmings who post on this page comical. Just because you love the guy doesn;t mean that you can't consider his performance critically, or use some common sense.

After Oba Mao (this is what the Chinise are calling Obummie) gets his inspirations from visiting and studying his name sake Mao Tse Tung, he will decide that the communist way is better and he will do a total withdrawal.

ROMNEY..... the wealthy man who has NEVER lived in the REAL world, think he is an expert???? Romney is the typical GOPer, criticize, demonize.

Some comments here complain that Axelrod is "taking cheap shots at Romney" however........ stop and READ ALL the CHEAP SHOTS the GOPERS take DAILY at President Obama! These are the same people who would tell us, Democrats, "love it or leave it" when we dared to complain about Bush! So the GOP are the only ones allowed to criticize?! Hypocrites!

PS. Romney will NEVER, EVER be elected president! The Evangelicals will NEVER vote for a Mormon!

“I know that Gov. Romney has never had responsibility for any decision akin to this" The real problem is that Obama has NEVER had this responsibility either. He can not just vote PRESENT.

Jethro: Bush "kept this nation safe"... for 7 out of 8 years. The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history happened on his watch. Not good enough.

yup, thank you axelrod -
i just wrote romney that he made himself a less-than by not equating it to a business (he is such a good businessman??) that all options in every dept need to be looked at -
obama is heading towards a peaceful world -
romney also doesn't seem to realize you can physically BE in one place & BE connected to your staff which is in another place on our globe -
romney, bad decision you made by speaking just to be heard -

Obama needs to bring our boys and girls home to US. His heart is not with them! No more politics our children are dying!

Clearly Obama doesn't want to do anything controversial until he gets his healthcare passed. BTW - I'm generally in favor of healthcare reform - but this bill that came out of the house is crap. if congress and Obama are going to raise taxes (which they are) raise them to our faces, not in all these complicated ways that are hidden. That's just an insult.

@7papa7

Two months is really quite a short time to determine a correct strategy that will meet with success AND save lives and not bust the bank. Wars are not fought by rushing in without knowing what is at stake......but the republicans, and you, seem to have overlooked that. Kneejerk strategy and criticism are the only thing you and the republicans seem to know.

We get the idea of how republicans treat troops I.E. Walter Reed,troops die taking a shower H.burton Cheney's company,and lack of armor need I go on

LBJ.....er...on I mean Obama will micro-manage this war to a very unsuccessful end. We have seen this movie before and it doesn't end well.

Mitt is right on. Obama is iin permanent campaign mode. He's in way way over his head. Spineless. Fuzzy thinking. What's so hard about making this decision? The generals say we need this. 8 meetings? What are they talking about? He claimed he had already thought this through in the spring. Either get in all the way or get out. Has indecision every won a war?

I never heard these losers raise any concerns during Bush's 8 years of inaction in Afghanistan (of course because they all supported the idiot's war in iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11). Maybe these losers are hoping the american people are too stupid to figure that.

If we had been more cautious in the past we would not have this mess. Take your time Mr. President but most of all get the hell out.

I agree with katiec. I have said it many times
before that the GOP are the "enemy within."

It is always easy to critical of the person making the decisions. As the Republicans have shown, they will be negative regardless of the the decisions made. Sitting in the chair and making the decisions is hard and really comes down to the courage of your convictions, especially when you know someone will be slamming everything you do. We have become a nation of armchair quarterbacks!

The irony of the situation is that if the decision to send more troops is made tomorrow, most of them won't get there until the end of 2010. So the argument of needing them to lower casualties is totally false and actually will increase casualties over the long term. While I hope our leaders would be smart enough not to commit this country to a ten year extension of this war, history would prove me wrong.

The real question for Afghanistan is how many lives and dollars are the American people willing to spend for very little in return. Our history shows that is what happens when we get into these types of situations. The most glaring example is Vietnam, remember the 58,000 plus lives that were lost for nothing?? If you really look at the history of Afghanistan, you will see that regardless of how long we are there, they will revert to the way they were before we arrived and there is nothing we can do to change that.

It is interesting that the New Republicans on this site, Republicans lacking the decency and love-of-country once shown, consistently respond in these forums with direct attacks on Obama...rather than addressing the issues. As people (democrats included), we are starting to sound shallow, hate-filled...confusing opinion with fact.

Here are some of my opinions. First, there is no guarantee that sending more troops now will save American lives. Before making that claim, read about Viet Nam. Second, taking time to make a decision is a sign of strength, and not weakness, in leadership. Read your history. Third, calling PRESIDENT Obama an "empty suit," and a "do-nothing" president sound like maybe you've been listening to Rush, Hanity and that Un-American fascist Savage a little too much. Try reading some unbiased news source, like...sadly enough, the BBC.

Take your time Mr. President, You have three years.

We must be patient and respectful of our leader – isn't that corect – like we were to the former president. We can't have a double standard? Now Now Obamacrats – you are only getting the same as you gave out against the former leader?

And – uh maybe, Mr. President, you might make another important decision or two before your time is up.

Right now you are batting zero on getting anything you promised done – you remember you promised a balanced budget and NO new taxes. 10 trillion $ for health care and no new taxes – a magician you must be.

I wish the community organizer would take the time to think out the damage his health care social agenda will bring on this once great nation. And Katie Bush kept this nation safe.

Another no nothing BIG MOUTH from the party of NO.

A History Lesson

Prior to the Second World War, the Republican Party was an anti-interventionist party who felt that overseas military endeavors were a waste of tax-payer dollars.

After WWII, the party began to fear the rising tide of Communism in the east. Communism represents everything that Republicans hate. The world was divided up into three groups:
– The First World: Capitalist West (Western Europe and the US)
– The Second World: Communist East (Russia and the Eastern Europe), and
– The Third World: Nations that were neutral, and generally underdeveloped... of these, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India were the primary nations

There was fear that Communism would seep into the Third World because the Third World had a history of being exploited by Colonialism that left the people of those nations poor and radicalized. Poor and radicalized people tend to be more left wing, for obvious reasons.

Thus, to prevent Communism from taking root in the Third World, the Republican Party became a military interventionist party, rather than a party of isolationism.

Military interventionism has been a failed strategy in stemming the tide of communism. We failed in Korea and Vietnam, and we helped establish despotic leadership throughout the Middle East by arming Islamic Fundamentalists to combat communism.

Meanwhile, diplomacy and trade has successfully led to the collapse of Soviet Russia and the Eastern Bloc of Europe. And China is slowly becoming the world's largest capitalist economy.

The greatest irony of all this is that communism is no longer a global threat, and yet the Republicans haven't changed their military interventionist strategy. We are now fighting the very people that the US military interventionists installed to combat communism.

Lesson: War doesn't work. Trade and diplomacy does.

And Obama has experience making decision such as this – I think not – he is putting all our soldiers at risk with his dithering. Interesting to see that we are back to its Bush/Cheney's fault. The libs out to find another record to play.

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin have so much in common they should have ran for the presidency together; both live in a glass bubble with rose color glasses; while neither have clue about the real world and problems. They choose to deflect from reality and play the political bashing game, look where it got them.....wanna be's that have no clue or common sense, just a bunch of jibberish and name calling; gee they must have been real popular in school....you know the ones that put themselves high up on a pedestal, and then we watch them fall.

Holy mackerel, the nuts are out in force this Sunday morning. Come on...the facts on the ground in Afghanistan are not fast moving. Things aren't changing rapidly. So the problems today are largely the same as the problems during last year's campaign, last year's transition, and the early months of Obama's administration.

But maybe this is what is to be expected. To date, Obama's most difficult decisions usually involve which Acorn office to visit on a given day, or which left wing radical to hob nob with. Now that decisions actually matter, he's finding that the power of his luminance alone is not enough to get the job done. Not even close. And those around him, like Axelrod, are good at getting people elected, but governing? What's that.

If anyone thinks this is an easy decision they are delusional.
Sending your young men and women to a war is the most painful and difficult decision.....so please everybody chill. Let the President take ALL sides and views before he makes the right decision. Like to see you figure this out without intelligence.
It is tough. if we leave, the Taliban will become more bold and take over the Government and cause havoc all over the world. If we stay our troops are subjected to harsh conditions and many other risks everyday.
May immense wisdom guide our wise President. And God bless him and our incredible troops!

Romney Romney Romney... It really makes my blood boil when this so called smart guy opens his mouth.. Did he say anything when his masters Bush and Cheney deceived us and sent troops to Iraq.. Does Romney understand what is the value of a life? 4,300 you american soldiers died. More than 30,000 are wounded emotionally and physically and they can't get a job when they are back.. and billions of our tax moeny were spent with no way to track how.. Now, does this rich guy remembers what he said about his sons... here is what he said: Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist in the military, saying they're showing their support for the country by "helping me get elected." How easy is for this neophite and mediocre individual to open his mouth when other parents' sons are the ones that would be going to to wars based on lies and deception.
Please, Mr. Romney, crawl under a rock and don't open your mouth.. you don't the right.. even though we are in America.. worry about your houses and how your sons spend your money... which is yours.. but don't try to state what is right when your sons are comfortable living in one of your houses.

Guys like Romney are content to make impulsive decisions about sending our sons and daughters to war – I bet Romney spends more time fixing his hair and looking in the mirror than he does thinking about the ramifications of his decisions.

The MAJORITY in our country have now figured out-–Obama and his Administration are NO GOOD for our country.

They are no good at protecting US citizens from terrorists on US soil, they are no good at doing what is right for our troops, they are destroying our economy, we are now seeing unemployment rates that we have not seen for 25 years, etc,.

Independents now support Republicans 52% to 30%

And, Republicans and Independents--–are going to send the Democrats packing in the 2010 and 2012 elections--by numbers that we have never seen in the history of our country.

Hey there Axe Man. Your boss has never made decisions like this either and he still can't. Hell, it took him weeks to decide what kind of dog he wanted. Difference being American troops weren't dying while he chose his dog.
Additionally, here's a hint "Governor Romney". Governor? What would that imply? A position of leadership at the state level. What's your daddy Hussein ever run besides a corrupt fund raising organization.
And lose the comb over. You're not fooling anyone.

Mitt: The very rich guy wirth the six very handsome sons who when they were asked in a TV interview if they would volunteer for military service collectively looked like deers in the headlights, until one son said "NO". Typical well off politician with children: quickly offering to send other families' kids to war; a war his our own kids refuse to fight. nor is there any evidence he is encouraging his kids to volunteer for the fight (or any other service to this country).

Romney, Cheney and the rest of the warmongers want more troops sent to Afghanistan because they are all war profiteers. Cheney still runs Halibutron, albeit secretly, and Romney probably has investments in companies with critical DoD contracts like M-RAPS, UAV's, etc.

Maybe if Bush et al took a little more time in 2001 we wouldn't have lost 4000 plus men in Iraq and would have done something then about Osama, Afganistan and Pakistan.

We need understand the limitations of our positions, the corruption of Karzai and the capabilities of Pakistan before commiting.

And who is Axelrod? A former so-called liberal journalist? What qualifies him for the job he has? Romney has been a Governor and a leader. Can't say the same about Axelrod.

I find this administration's inability to shift from partisan campaigning to governing quite astonishing. Of course, they are Chicago Machine Democrats, and perpetual demonizing of the opposition is "the Chicago way."

What frightens me is not these isolated events of aggression but what they mean when looked at as one big picture. It seems the GOP has been getting more and more angry and less and less rational since 9/11, and losing big in the last elections pushed them over the deep end. I've never seen a single group of people act more selfishly and be more angry about things that they clearly don't understand than the GOP in the last 12 months. Its absurd how insane they've become, and its frightening how they will sacrifice everything including their own principals to take action on that anger against anyone who doesn't agree with them. Future conservatives will look back on this time and shake their heads in shame.

In Obama world..................

The safety/security of our military against terrorists---and the safety/security of US citizens against terrorists---are not urgent issues to him.

However, spending billions of tax payers dollars--are always urgent issues to him.

Shoving his socialist agendas down our throats--are always urgent issues to him.

Less than a year until the 2010 elections---when the power/control begins to be taken away from Obama and the Democrats!!!!

I don't care how long it takes President Obama to make his decision. I want him to make the correct decision, period.

When will the party of NOthing ever start showing some concern about the survial of our country domestically and internationally?
Have yet to see the GOP admit or acknowledge that their leadership these last eight years almost destroyed our country. Yet, they continue to lie, distort inciting hate, anger, division of our country with their swiftboating activities. Their main goal of destroying our president, consequently our country is leading them down the path of becoming our countries most dangrous, domestic terrorists.

A slam. Go figure

Vic Nashiville – When were we close to catching Osama Bin Laden? I thought the only time we were close was back when Clinton was president.

When bigots take over, they get us into wars that mangle our youth & wreck their minds with trauma.

The bushers should realize that until presidents & congressmen are willing to send their own children to die, kill, mame, be mamed, and go through mental torture, rash decisions will be made.

I would feel very uncomfortable with a neighbor that loves to jump into war decisions quickly... they seem a little gun happy and I wouldn't even wish my children see this side of humans that is wicked.

General Colin Powell say the President should not rush to make a decision.......I Agree......What Military backround does Mitt have.....who is advising him.....for those that say President Obama doesn't have a backround.......he has people under him that do you guy make such weak arguments to justify your dislike......If Mitt sends one of his sons...it might give him just a little credibility...not much...but you know what I'm trying to say.

most of you idiots need to realize that Axlerod never spoke of experience....just situational awareness of military tactics and strategy....

That the PRESIDENT, not some GOVERNOR has access too...and even with that, Obama is still smart enough to talk to and listen to his military advisers.

Romney needs to stay in the picture somehow...and opening his mouth with something so ignorant is his way

Obama won, its his call, support him now, vote against him latter if you like, get OVER it, or leave my country.

In condemning Romney, Axelrod only demonstrates a lack of competence, good will, and perspective. Romney's view on this issue is that instead of pandering, playing politics, and waiting it out, we should take action.

Interestingly enough, when it comes to stealing our tax money, as Americans, Obama is not hesitant at all (see ridiculous stimulus package ). When it comes to killing the unborn, Obama is ready at a moment's notice to sign any pro-abortion legislation. But when it comes to protecting and defending liberty, Obama is all about "an extended timetable."

Taking lessons right out of the playbook of Jimmy Carter is going to lead Obama right down the path where he belongs: to re-election failure.

Romney. along with Cheney and the rest of the war mongers need to just shut up. I am so pleased that for the President is actually thinking about what it means to send more troops to risk their lives for us- Cheney found ways not to go when he was asked, Romney has never served yet they are so gung ho for other people's children to die- for what? Cheney's war was for greed – he and his cronies made billions of profits in Iraq and cared nothing for what it did to our great nation. So shut up, Romney, shut up Palin, shut up Cheney- we did NOT elect you – thank God. We have an intelligent thoughtful leader who does not look for war profits for his friends, like you do.

Romney is just looking for attention by trying to create an issue. He doesn't have a clue as to the truth or facts.

Maybe if they spent as much time figuring out their strategy in Afghanistan as they do responding to every Republican's criticism they would have it figured out by now! I have no problem with taking the time to do it right the first time, but concentrate on the problem at hand, not snappy comebacks!

It really doesnt matter what he thinks or says...seriously...

Finally, a president who is taking his time and weighing the options before charging ahead like John Wayne, guns blazing. We are in this mess because Bush acted first, without any thought of what the mission is and without any type of exit strategy. Take your time President Obama, and get it right. We know that you will. Too much is at stake. Romney is an opportunist moron. If he is such an expert on such matters, why didn't he get the GOP nomination instead of J. Mac. Republicans are such hate mongering, losers!! Give it up Mitt.!!!!

Arm chair generals always have such strong views, in ignorance. The corporate raider has absolutely no background experience, just Republican talking points and negativity. Stick to haircuts, posing, and expensive suits Mitt. Oh Yeah, McCain kicked your butt in the last election.

Bush/Cheney and company dicked around the Afghanistan conflict for almost eight years. They never had a clear goal or exit strategy. What they left there for Obama to resolve was nothing more than a formula for failure. Obama and his team are trying to take that set of conditions and come up with something that they think will work. People like Romney and the whole Fox News fantasy world mindset have a kneejerk, negative response to anything the President does, regardless of the consequences for our country. They do not love America, they love their obsolete and juvenile idea of what it should be like.

Romney is absolutely right. Obama has had OVER 2 months to make a decision since the request for additional troops was made. They problem is that this neophyte is incapable of making a decision in a timely fashion because he is not capable of leading only talking. Over 100 brave men and women have died since the generals request and Obama is sitting on his hands and doing absolutely nothing. He should try to take the lead and do what is right and not politically beneficial to him like he always does. I guess they are not his kids that are getting killed out there so why does he care. Make a decision Obama for once in your life, do something and accept responsibility for your decisions. It is long past time for that. You want immediate action on socialized medicine but won't make a decision that would save the lives our military heroes.

@ Sheri November 15th, 2009 9:50 am ET

Oh wait, you mean like the cheap shots Obama threw at Bush while campaigning and making promises to shut down Gitmo when he didn't have "all the information the president had"? Glad you're talking about that now, instead of back then. BTW, is Gitmo closed yet?

General McChrystal has the information, and he asked for more troops. I bet you Dems will start saying next how HE doesn't know what he's talking about...

Maybe Mr. Romney could best protect America by taking his five sons and himself to fight in Afghanistan.

Sounds like shut the hell up if you don't know what you're talking about to Old Mitt there.

Chamberlain wrote: "The fact is that the American military presence in Afghanistan is infantilizing the Afghani people and taking away their right to self-determine."

Barkatansky wrote: "Axelrod is a coward. So is Obama."

Because Conservatives are not FOR anything, they can criticize everything. They can criticize Obama for not putting ENOUGH troops in Afghanistan and simultaneously criticize him for having TOO MANY troops in Afghanistan. They can criticize him for going to the summit and – if he stayed home – criticize him for staying home.

It is the hyena strategy. When a pack of hyenas picks out a target, they harry the victim to death. One hyena is biting your tail while another is biting your foreleg. When you turn to face the one biting your tail, another bites your hind leg. No matter where you turn, two or three hyenas are biting your backside.

This, to Conservatives, is debate. Criticize your opponent endlessly for anything and everything. Because Conservatives don't believe in anything, they can criticize everything. The goal is not to make America a better place. The goal is to destroy your opponent and have a nice meal.

To Mitt Romney

We have to capture Osama bin Laden not Saddam Husain . Our military was so close to Osama bin Laden but Bush changed his the plan invaded Iraq So republican can’t criticize Obama

In south east Asia
India doesn’t like Pakistan
Afghan government doesn’t like Pakistan
Enemies enemy my friend it is total mess there we have to bring this three countries together
When you have this mess It will take time to decide good strategy

I request republicans don’t listen to FOX or Rush read the world politics in internet

We know our forces need more help we have to send more forces but we have to make sure our troops come home safe

Obama is doing the right thing by taking his time coming to a conclusion as to what to do in Afganistan. Just remember what Bush and Cheney have placed this country into by their "rush to judgement".
We should have never invaded Iraq and because we did there were not enough resources available to find and capture or kill Osama bin Laden in Afganistan. Romney should really think about what he says bbefore talking to the media.

Republicans of today...you are from the poorest states, the most violent states, the most uneducated states, the least happiest states..as just released online this month...there is hardly a category that bodes well for the red states...is it a surprise that they make bad choices. Mitt Romney is another old white man saying the same old thing...you would thing the old white folks would get a clue and understand that they are obsolete in the new america. How many black, asians, hispanics are in the Repub...old white man party.....? It's the old America guys...wake up and grow...

So we can rush healthcare and pass a terrible bill by the end of the year, but we can't help our troops on the ground in Afghanistan already by sending more in a timely manner?

And the "cost" is laughable at best as an excuse. We're talking about a trillion dollar healthcare bill that will cover illegal immigrants, but again we can't help our troops on the ground in a timely manner. Sad day for our troops.

In War an peace a person on a hill do not know what all the hell! going on in the valley! Said enough

Mitt is in a perpetual campaign cycle, a professional politician who uses his own wealth and status to attempt to steer the United States of America to continue the military industrial power structure.

You are correct Mr. Axelrod! We are in this mess because of Romney's party. Is it also despicable how the Republicans are politicizing this war and Ft Hood. President Obama is an amazing leader-and the GOP can't handle it!

Haha... REALLY??? That's what I was saying all election season long about Obama! HE had never made a decision like this and yet was so vocal about pretending he knew what the heck he was talking about.

Politicians, civilian Americans including media talking heads and average Joes should stop pretending to be armchair Generals and trying to tell President Obama what to do about Afganistan. Especially Republicans who seem to be bent on him following some ill gotten advise so they can bask in him making the wrong decisions, as if he should trust them.

President Obama should only take advise from those who are
qualified to advise him, and fellow civillians, IT AIN't US.

In other words, leave it to the military professionals.

Barkatansky – How are they cowards? You make no sense.

They answered the "cheap shot" Mittens threw. Mittens isn't involved with the meetings, he doesn't have access to the information the President has, but he feels the need to make a statement? A few days ago there was an article that one of the things Our President insisted on was an EXIT STRATEGY! Unlike the previous Administration who didn't have an issue keeping us there forever! This makes Mitt a petty little man.

Couldn't agree more with Axelrod. Have been trying to figure why is Romney so anxious to put another 40,000 troops in harms way to support what appears to be a corrupt and ineffective government. How come he hasn't considered what is the next step ? I just can't believe Romney would do all this for a bit of cheap publicity to further his cause to be president. At least not with all that is at stake.
Would someone please enlighten me?

Just another Republican who thinks what he has to say is gospel......he's a total moron.

Romeney is blabbering on and on just to hear himself talk. Moron.

Republicans never know what tthey're talking about.......

The Old White Men party is responsible for the mire we are in. Thank God we now have a president that cares that our young people are being injured and killed on foreign soil. There may not be a good way out at this point, but I trust President Obama to make the absolute best possible choice.

Politicians who are rushing the president are reckless and irresponsible. Guaranteed not one of them has any family at stake in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's real easy to make quick life and death decisions about other people.

I'm a fiscal conservative and I don't see why we should have any troops in Afghanistan. What a waste of American lives, resources and tax-payer dollars!

The fact is that the American military presence in Afghanistan is infantilizing the Afghani people and taking away their right to self-determine. We have removed a despotic leadership and produced a democratic government in Afghanistan. We have supplied the Afghanis with more than adequate training and supplies to operate independently. The American military presence, at this point, is just preventing the Afghans from doing their job.

Afghanistan is like our child. We clothed them, nurtured them and sent them to school at great cost and time to us. And now it's time for the child to grow up and become self-sufficient. Instead, we've become the abusive dad that is always punishing and disparaging his child, the net result is that we've made the child feel helpless and weak.

Nope. At some point we need to let Afghanistan take care of itself. We also need to let them decide their own future. They know what is at stake. If the Taliban or another despot takes over after we leave, then you know, maybe that's the will of the people. And who are we to judge?

Romney is a biggest idiot...i told you long time ago....Pakistan is getting every day bombs by Alquida...is it where america goes next....just forget Afganistan, and work to pass health care reform with public option...ok, it is better...idiots like Mitt Romeny, Mitch Mcconnol, Joe lieberman, these are thugs...democrats, listen, pres. obama is doing excellent job....i am unbiased....we need to forget sending more troops because of these idiots like republicans....work on home front...ok...fix passing health care with public option....which cuts down greed by insurance thughs and hospital thughs....ok god bless, the nation the USA!!!

Maybe the wingnuts should burn Mitt in effigy, too.

And this is in comparison to all the vast experience Obama had before getting elected? Obama never ran anything but his mouth and now America is getting what we asked for: A big empty suit.

While the wingnuts embrace anything negative about Obama, they really need to step back and take a serious look at the stupidity of Mr. Mittens. The former president ignored the generals request and did not send the 20,000 troops requested for 8 months. Obama filled that request in March. Now, the additional cost of sending the 40,000 troops going to cost us over $40 billion; to protect a corrupt muslim regime in Afghanistan. Mitt is being clueless and reckless because Sarah is getting the attention and he is jealous.

Axel fails to note that Obama ALSO has no prior experience with responsibility – at all. He also ignores the successful result obtained in Iraq. With all this "rigorous review" taking time that McCrystal has said is of the essence in Afghan, one thing is for sure, whatever Obama comes up with at the end of all this better work, work well and work quickly. And he better be VERY clear about what he decides to do, why and how/when it will be accomplished and how we will know it.

They are the most anti American, radical, right wing extremist unpatriotic people I have ever seen in my life, Romney should be ashamed of himself

Republicans need to shut up so they can go back to being the obtrutionist that they so much love to be

True and true-er. Every Republican should shut up and let President Obama do the right thing. These people never said a word when Bush all but abandon Afghanistan for Iraq.

Axelrod is a coward. So is Obama.

Taking cheap shots at Mitt Romney is Axelrod being lazy. It's like he's throwing stones a "huge distance" of two feet. Axelrod's a coward. So is Obama.

There's utterly no reason AT ALL for Axelrod's continued acerbic nastiness. He wouldn't know a proper statement if it bit him, or how to deliver such. Thus, a coward.

Note his grandiose snottiness about how he opines Romney's never faced such decisions, yet what about Axelrod? I guess in his mind, his grandiosity involves dispatching military might all over the streets of Chicago to "fight the system" or such. Axelrod's a tiny man.

OMG, Mitt at it again. The tired old Republican complaining about EVERYTHING that President Obama does. This age of easy information is interesting because it allows these clowns to have equal access to the slobbering media of both sides. Mitt belongs in the same league as Sarah Palin.