CNN Political Ticker
798 days ago

CNN Poll: Americans mostly agree with Obama on Afghanistan

ALT TEXT

Americans agree with the Afghanistan policy Barack Obama announced on Tuesday night at West Point, according to a new national poll out Sunday. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Washington (CNN) - Americans agree with the Afghanistan policy Barack Obama announced on Tuesday night at West Point in large measure because they agree with the arguments the president made in that speech, according to a new national poll.

In his prime time address at the U.S. Military Academy, where Obama spelled out his decision to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to the war, the president stressed that America's safety and security are at stake in Afghanistan. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey released Sunday morning indicates 64 percent of Americans agree with the president, with one in three saying the country's safety and security is not at stake in Afghanistan. According to the poll, 63 percent of people questioned also agree with Obama that the U.S. action in Afghanistan is morally justified.

Full results (pdf)

"That's one major way that Afghanistan is different from Iraq in the public's mind," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "At the time of the Iraq surge in 2007, most Americans questioned whether that war was justified."

The president met with military and civilian advisers for three months before announcing his Afghanistan decision. Obama said he needed that time to review the options available. Did he take too long to decide? Fifty-six percent say no, with 43 percent feeling three months was not necessary.

But Obama also said that his objectives in Afghanistan included preventing terrorists from re-establishing a base of operations in that country and establish a stable government that the terrorists will not be able to overthrow. The poll indicates less than four in ten believe that those goals will be reached.

"As a result, nearly six in ten say defeat is possible, but an equal number also say victory is possible. Most Americans think a stalemate is the likeliest outcome, something that may make an exit strategy harder to implement if that prediction comes true," adds Holland.

Forty-two percent of people questioned in the poll say they watched the president's Tuesday night address on Afghanistan. Of those who viewed the speech, 34 percent say it makes them more likely to support Obama's polices on Afghanistan, 16 percent said the address makes them less likely to back Obama's strategy, and 50 percent said it had no effect.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey was conducted Wednesday and Thursday, following the president's Tuesday night speech, with 1,041 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The poll's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.


Filed under: Afghanistan • CNN poll • Popular Posts
soundoff (232 Responses)
  1. Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    Why is it that the right wingnuts are unwilling to accept the fact that the ditherer in chief (Bush) and his notorious sidekick (Darth) were the ones who dropped the ball in Afghanistan. They also left the 20,000 additional troop request for Afghanistan unfilled for 8 months, leaving Obama to fill it last March.

    I do blame the previous administration for their ineptness, but, we knew that before they were elected. I have a a better feeling, now that we finally have a strategy and an exit plan.

    December 6, 2009 09:03 am at 9:03 am |
  2. Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    Palin supporters (birthers) will say this is a poll from state run media and doesn't count. Too bad they cannot except the fact that there is only real media, who report the news and does fact checking, and of course, extreme media (Fox) who makes up crap, repeats it enough until wingnuts believe it.

    I am convinced that most people prefer real news to Rupert's "shag book."

    December 6, 2009 09:12 am at 9:12 am |
  3. nate

    If the left is mad at you and the right is mad at you, you must be doing something right.

    December 6, 2009 09:13 am at 9:13 am |
  4. Tammy

    In the eyes of the losers, the President can't to anything right. Whether it's foreign policy, education (imagine, telling kids to study and stay in school and be responsible! how dare he say such a thing), receptions ("wasting" money on diplomatic trips and receptions) - isn't that part of the job?

    December 6, 2009 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
  5. Ingrid Velatore

    These polls are as credible as the divisive newspapers.

    December 6, 2009 09:25 am at 9:25 am |
  6. Sam

    "Americans agreeing with Obama on Afghanistan" is just agreeing to do the right thing, which is very unusual for this administration on anything but Chicago politics and paying back the unions for the election.

    December 6, 2009 09:26 am at 9:26 am |
  7. Dave G

    nate says: "If the left is mad at you and the right is mad at you, you must be doing something right."

    Yes, well said.

    December 6, 2009 09:28 am at 9:28 am |
  8. Woonsocket

    When we have a commander in chief dedicated to Jihad and an attorney general dedicated to destroy the justice system there isn't much else to do than to wait for the 2010 elections to clean out that rats nest. And then in 2012 boot the Jihadists in Chief out of the White House. By the way, has anyone at CNN see Barry Obama's college grades, or his medical history, or anyother record of his life ?

    December 6, 2009 09:28 am at 9:28 am |
  9. Jim from New York

    After a series of meetings, the best minds in Washington, DC came up with this strategy, endorsed/approved by the smartest guy in the room. Whether you agree our troops should be on the ground or not (and I don't), you have to give it to the system we have in place. Freely elected, the President spoke repeatedly during the campaign that we had to take action in Afghanistan and the region. I have full faith in President Obama's intellect, emotional strength and vision to see this through. He will "allow" outreaching to the Taliban, and the more moderate among them will lead to a split in their group, etc., etc. It's history. Personally, I think we should 'drone' the crap out of them and leave our troops out of it....

    December 6, 2009 09:31 am at 9:31 am |
  10. Woonsocket

    CNN polls are crafted to support Obama. Time and time again when you look at the underlying samples they are usually 2 to 1 Democrat. And CNN does not say ooops or sorry about that. Total silence. The fact that FOX has 9 out of 10 of the most highly rated cable news and opinion shows shows that CNN as screwed its self royally.

    December 6, 2009 09:32 am at 9:32 am |
  11. stlfox

    @nate: Amen brother.

    Obama's polls are down; both parties are resistant to support him on his *original* health-care plan; and both parties have issues with his stimulus methodology. Sounds like both sides don't enjoy having their financial status-quo interrupted.

    Not to mention the fact that he's booted all the registered lobbyists off the advisory boards. Whoo wee!

    December 6, 2009 09:33 am at 9:33 am |
  12. Lynne

    How can you argue with the talent, intelligence, patriotism and experience that President Obama brought to the table to reach this decision. Clinton, Biden, Gates, McCrystal and Jones are all on board.

    The difficulty lies in the Republicans and the let's create division and controversy driven media trying to attack the President purely for political reasons when many of the people now out explaining to the media the meaning of "BEGIN to draw down troops in July 2011" are the very people they were praising while the decsion was being made. Americans are smarter than that and will formulate their opinions as they see results.

    The republicans want to criticize the President for not solving all the domestic problems they created in less than a year and now criticize him for not taking long enough in Afghanistan. What a bunch of hypocrites they are!!

    December 6, 2009 09:34 am at 9:34 am |
  13. Rich

    Well, Whoooope do! CNN is using all its resources to prop up Obama, just as his poll numbers are falling below 50 percent.
    Its just like the reports that the country has reached a 10 % unemployment rate, instead of 10.2 %, and he is praised for that! All poll numbers can be twisted to reflect the reader's bias.

    December 6, 2009 09:35 am at 9:35 am |
  14. Woonsocket

    Hey right wing – Process this. Abstracts of legal documents don't reveal everything about that legal document. Mr. Obama doesn't want to release his birth certificate because it shows his race as WHITE.

    December 6, 2009 09:36 am at 9:36 am |
  15. scott p.

    Hi All, I must be in the 40% that doesn't agree. We should withdraw all troops from the middle east tomorrow and let Muslims live in their own lands the way they want to. The only reason 9/11 happened is because Bush I sent troops to Saudi Arabia to occupy their holy lands during the Kuwait conflct. The truth hurts and Obama is not ready to face it. Nor the 60% of moral americans either! These useless draining imperial wars have to end. I know that Wall Street, Weapons manufacturers and Military contractors are having a financial field day on other people's misery but I say enough.

    December 6, 2009 09:36 am at 9:36 am |
  16. stlfox

    @Sam: Yeah, kinda like how it was unusual for the last administration to do anything right other than get Halliburton, Defense Contractors, and Big Oil obscenely rich.

    You're completely naive if you think *every* politician who makes the presidency doesn't have to "pay the piper" who helped get him/her there.

    The American people will lose to big business *every* *single* *time*.

    December 6, 2009 09:39 am at 9:39 am |
  17. Patti

    woonsocket – what planet are you from? I am embarrassed for you!

    December 6, 2009 09:41 am at 9:41 am |
  18. NancyLV

    I agree there needs to be more troops sent in if nothing else to help the troops already there that are so burnt because they been over there 2-3 times, if they were not going to send more then bring our guys home because they were just sitting there sitting ducks. I don't believe however that Obama should have given a redrawl date on TV now the Taliban Al-Queda are writing this date down on their calendar, this should have been something that he talked about to his generals not the public I believe he did this to appease his political base that yes we are sending more troops but yes we are also withdrawing. I also don't believe that we will be out of there when he says it will be much longer, hell it will probably take 18 months to get everyone over there.

    December 6, 2009 09:42 am at 9:42 am |
  19. Woonsocket

    patti dearest – live your little Obamist fantasy. Mr. Obama grew up in a Islamic household in Indonesia. Did you know that ?

    December 6, 2009 09:46 am at 9:46 am |
  20. Oriol

    The plan is simply genious. I mean, everyone is screaming at the plan to withdraw troops by July 2011 because they're afraid that the enemy will hide until then. Now, my question these retards is What's wrong with that? With 18 months off peach in Afghan, can you imagine the amount of work our Soldiers Would get done over there? By the time 18 months come, the Afghan military would be able to take over the fight while our brave young men and women come back home safe. On the other hand, If they want to fight, the additional 30,000 troops that are going over there will most certainly blast them away.

    Obama 2012

    December 6, 2009 09:47 am at 9:47 am |
  21. stlfox

    @Woonsocket: The President was freely elected by a majority of the U.S. population and on day one in Office inherited nothing less than a complete disaster left by the last "tenant" of the White House. You worry about solutions he's implementing before we can even see what their results will be but you make no criticism of how "We the people" got into the mess that the current administration is trying to resolve.

    If you voted for Bush, man-up and take some responsibility. Believe me, if in 3 more years we're in worse shape as a *direct* result of Obama's policies then I'll be the first one to say: "Time for someone new to give it a try."

    December 6, 2009 09:47 am at 9:47 am |
  22. Terry from West Texas

    If Obama had announced a withdrawal from Afghanistan, America's Conservatives would have opposed his decision.

    If Obama had announced no change in his Afghanistan policy, America's Conservatives would have opposed his decision.

    If Obama had announced an increase in troop strength in any way different from the policy he did announce, America's Conservatives would have opposed his decision.

    If Obama had announced that he had just purchased a pair of green pajamas, America's Conservatives would have opposed his decision.

    America's Conservative leadership doesn't give a crap about America. Their policy is to oppose anything and everything Obama does without regard to whether it is good or bad for the nation.

    America's Conservo-zombies will support America's Conservative leadership not matter what.

    December 6, 2009 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  23. Indy

    Woonsocket, Kind of of a lonely life with you and Palin believing Obama is nothin but a conspiracy. If you stop the hallucinations you will realize that this is the right thing to do and it does not matter what grades Obama got in school, it is still the right thing to do. Your main boy, Bush and Cheney terrorized Americans far too long and their strategies will not be allowed back in the Whitehouse in 2012.Why not look at the truth and support the troops, because of Bush and Cheney going to Iraq for personal reasons and financial gains is why this strategy is needed.That is a fact and not an illusion like yours and Palins and again it remains true no matter waht Obamas school grades were in the PAST

    December 6, 2009 09:50 am at 9:50 am |
  24. Woonsocket

    Patti and right wing – Fact after fact after fact reveals that Mr. Obama does not have the best interests of the United States at heart. His willingness to destroy the economy and ignore his military advisors pretty much puts an exclamation mark on his hatred of America. Unless someone can show me facts to the contrary, I can only believe that before the end of 2012 he, or some of his close poltical advisors, will be charged withe high crimes against the republic.

    December 6, 2009 09:51 am at 9:51 am |
  25. Chicago Mob

    Our liar-in-chief is only sending in more troops to save his political butt. His heart is absolutely not in this one. He would much rather be appologizing for something than commit to a winning strategy. In time he will turn this into an opportunity for his buddies on the left to disgrace America. CNN and the lame stream media to provide cover.

    December 6, 2009 09:51 am at 9:51 am |
  26. Woonsocket

    stlfox – I think the confession that we should see here today is which amongst actually voted for the Obama. I for one did not. I did not have a titallation within me that drove me to worship him, as apparently patti and right wing do.

    December 6, 2009 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  27. Mark B

    Well,

    This shows one thing. America is NOT a liberal country. Contrary to what all the left is saying about Obama, and all his policies. When Obama DOES do something that leans away from the left point of view, it shows in polls and commentaries.

    His left sided programs and attitudes with the health care and economy issues all show poor support with amercian voters, but yet this move with troop support shows good polls.

    Read between the lines lefties,,,, your not the majority by a long shot.

    I did not vote for Obama, but I will say, he did this one half right. He should have NEVER put a date on withdrawl. But, he did, so now we must live with it. But you will see how the enemy will just hide in thier caves for a year or so, and come back out when we are gone.

    My personal opinion, the extra troops may work. But taking a lesson from Hiroshima would have been better. They killed thousand of innocent people on 9-11. I say we pay back the debt,
    Dont tread on me. Its as simple as that.

    December 6, 2009 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  28. mary

    The president's decision to extend troops is correct but all that is lost when the president played partisan politics and set a withdrawl timeline. Possibly the most unwise, irresponsible and unpresidential call i have ever witnessed. He could have kept the intention under-wrapped. Publicly announcing it will allow the talibans and al queda to push harder, dig their heals into the country deeper and makes the whole mission harder to achieve. All this so that the president can play politics. This decision will haunt Obama as it will back-fire on him but more importantly, it will haunt the US, the military and the nation.

    December 6, 2009 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  29. Woonsocket

    stlfox – the Constituion of the U.S. (sorry to use that term, I know it offends you Obamists) has a mechanism that allows for the removal of a President. We don't have to wait until 2012.

    December 6, 2009 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  30. Indy

    Woonsocket, Bragging about Fox news tells us you are a cult memeber of Fox news, and live for lies and conspiricay theories. By the way the reason there is more Dem like comments is because there are far many more educated people on here then your kind of people. Most educated people know hopw to use a computer, your freinds are all at target practice

    December 6, 2009 09:57 am at 9:57 am |
  31. stlfox

    @Woonsocket: The country is facing serious problems and you're worried about a "birth certificate"?? Where the hell are your priorities man?

    You don't throw a new quarterback into a game you're *already losing* and waste a time-out to ask why the team is drinking red Gatorade instead of orange. Get your head in the game man!

    The country is deciding on major issues like healthcare reform, war, environmental regulation and economic recovery and you're worried about somebody's paperwork after they're already in the game?? That's pathetic.

    December 6, 2009 09:58 am at 9:58 am |
  32. Richie

    Perhaps that ("most Americans questioned whether that war was justified") is the difference between Iraq and Afghanistan. But, I think it is that we know we can trust big O. He'll say what he's doing and do what he's saying. He is not a pathological liar like Bush/Cheney.

    December 6, 2009 10:01 am at 10:01 am |
  33. Holly

    Most Americans, the ones with any type of brain at all, would mostly agree with President Obama on everything. It's the ones who are sooo easily fooled by Republican propaganda who fall for anything that is put in front of them.

    December 6, 2009 10:02 am at 10:02 am |
  34. MARK

    It was George W. and his Republican thugs who put us where we are today. President Obama was left a heap of messes from the past administration.

    December 6, 2009 10:03 am at 10:03 am |
  35. Why cant the antichrist be a woman

    I laugh at the Ron Paul nitwit on here everyday.

    December 6, 2009 10:04 am at 10:04 am |
  36. Stu

    We have not fought to win a war since WWII. We still insist on publishing deadlines, fighting politically-correct, and playing nice. The objective of war is to win. Sadly, this nation has no resolve and has turned into a nation of spoiled cry-babies. Our enemies measure our resolve and it encourages them. Obama, showing his total lack of military ability (not to mention leadership), erred greatly in giving a three year deadline (coincidental to his reelection bid). Just like the North Vietnamese and VC in Viet Nam, when Nixon announced when the bombing in the north would end, they just had to hold on a little longer and they did. The Taliban will do the same.

    December 6, 2009 10:06 am at 10:06 am |
  37. Willow

    The Man with a Plan, and obviously it is the right plan for the American people who have been dooped previously by Bush & Co.....

    Taking back the nation for the people, good for Obama!

    December 6, 2009 10:07 am at 10:07 am |
  38. Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    Woonsocket-How can you be so anti American? We can overlook that you are uninformed, but you really need to give up being against the U.S.

    December 6, 2009 10:09 am at 10:09 am |
  39. Dan Felshin

    It's not really an Afghan policy, it is an IRAN POLICY. If we withdraw from Afghanistan, then Iran will take that as giving free rein to do anything they want.

    December 6, 2009 10:09 am at 10:09 am |
  40. Willow

    To: Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    "Denail" is not a river in Egypt but rather a state of mind occupied by zealots, right wing nutjobs and others of the same genetic predisposition who floated up from the shallow end of the gene pool....

    December 6, 2009 10:10 am at 10:10 am |
  41. Fenney Derden

    If you believe Pelosi, Reid, Spector, Shumer, Dodd, et al, then I have a bridge to sell you, it's currently being used as the Golden Gate in California bay, but, hey, I have as much right to sell it, as the demos have to shove the Obamacare plan down our throats.

    December 6, 2009 10:12 am at 10:12 am |
  42. Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    Woonsocket, are you sure you aren't Glenn Beck? You sure sound like the sheep that follow the foreign billionaire media mogul who wants to see Obama's presidency destroyed.

    December 6, 2009 10:12 am at 10:12 am |
  43. Dennis

    Woonsocket, put up or shut up, that is the one thing the Fox nazies are never abel to do. Pease give us the proof that the commander in cheif is dedicated to jihad and that the attorney general is dedicated to destroy the justice system. Without proof It is plain to see that you rely on the same principal that Fox does which is “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”
    by the way that is from Adolf Hitlerl,

    December 6, 2009 10:12 am at 10:12 am |
  44. JT the Show Me State College Freshman

    Nate, I could not have said it better myself. If you make the far left mad and the far right mad, you are somewhere in the middle. That is where you should be as President of the United States. Personally, if the far left is mad and if the far right is mad, that makes me happy. We need to move to the middle, and work together as Americans. Now what did Abraham Lincoln say about a house being divided? It cannot stand.

    December 6, 2009 10:14 am at 10:14 am |
  45. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey Woonsocket.....
    The polls MAY be 2 to 1 Democrat....that's because there ARE 2 Democrats to 1 reptili'con' in this country.
    Barely 30% in this country want to be called reptili'con'. This is a fair sampling of the actual citizens of this country!!!!
    I guess you are part of the stupid, gullible minority!!!
    Why don't you go get your daily brainwashing over at FAUX news, now.
    ...and don't forget to get your daily dose of s**t in your ears on your drive to work(assuming you do work) from your talk radio nuts!!!

    December 6, 2009 10:18 am at 10:18 am |
  46. Nekodapnw

    @ Woonsocket, So, if I'm reading this correctly, Obama is (and forever will be) a Muslim because he was born to a Muslim father or the moms boyfriend was a Muslim or the school he went to was full of Muslim kids. Even if he practices Christianity, he is still a Muslim because he was born that way? If this is true, why are Christian charities bothering with things like missionary work in Islamic countries, and why do people like Ann Coulter advocate "invading all Islamic countries and converting them to Christianity?" Isn't this a waste of time and resources according to this "once a Muslim, always a Muslim" logic?
    Your extreme line of thinking has hijacked the republican party much the same way Al-quaeda has hijacked the Muslims.

    December 6, 2009 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  47. JD

    And isn't it ironic that the public only agrees with the parts of Obama's plan on Afghanistan that were originally put forth by George W. Bush?

    Oh wait...we can't talk about that.

    December 6, 2009 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  48. Seid

    Grewing up in Islamic household doesn't make you a terorrist. Those who fight in the support of Taliban have their own agenda like any other fighters but the media lable them as "islamic Terrorst" . That is where started the rift. The war is between America and those who commit a crime during 9/11, the war is not beween America and Islam unfortunately the narrow minded Bush maped out the war is between Islam and US which leads to this cheaos. Have you heard a Jweish or a christian terrosrist despite so many crimes made by this group, i haven't heard none from the media, why the media didn't lable as a Jewsih or a christian act of terror? becasue it is wrong to generlise a group of pepole act is an act ofthe mass, it is also wrong to lable an act of individual to the motive of a terrosrist group. I am mulism am not supporting the Taliban..

    December 6, 2009 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  49. gary davis Harbor Oregon proud american

    he is cleaning up Bush Cheney Rove mess and we will be pulling out soon . this country is lucky to have a man that really cares :)

    December 6, 2009 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  50. Indy

    Why on earth are people scared of Obama pencilling in a date to START withdrawls from Afganastan ? This means nothing to the Taliban and they are not as stupid as the people that take this date literally. The people that have a problem with this date just have to put Obama down for almost everything. Anyone with any amount of intellegence knows the date means nothing other then he would like to start bringing troops home. That is the words and strategy of an intellegent President, verses the republicans that want to spend an eternity at war. The days of shoot first, invade first are in the past. It is time to be more responsible and include allies and keep your promises such as Obama did when he campaigned that if he sent troops into harms way there would always be an exit strategy. If anyone thinks this date does anything to help the taliban they are without a clear thought. Too easy for the everage person, to figure out the date means nothing until July 2011 and may mean very little when the time comes.

    December 6, 2009 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  51. Right wingnuts are as dumb as a woonsocket

    If you believed Bush, Cheney and Fox news, then you must still think Iraq was responsible for 9-11, had WMD's, was not a war of choice, and "Mission Accomplished." However, being greeted as liberators is not the same as being shot at for being occupiers.

    I'll take my chances with the president the majority of voters elected in 2008, and not the one who lost by 500,000 votes in 2000.

    December 6, 2009 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  52. Death Panel Sarah

    To Woonsocket......
    Again FAUX is lying to you .....they don't have 9 tou of 10 highest rated NEWS shows!!!

    It is maybe 9 out of 10 highest rated right wing wacko OPINION shows!!!

    Get your facts straight....when you speak without checking, you look like a total ignoramus( like a tea-bagger or a birther)!!!

    December 6, 2009 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  53. Party Purity will never bring Political Power!

    I support the efforts of President Obama to clean up all the problems he inherited from King George the II and not to do it just one at time. There are too many to be worked on one at a time.

    No other chump-in-chief left a bigger mess to be cleaned than the shrub.

    Now, President Obama's "porkulus" bill is bringing home the bacon by lowering the rate of unemployment, we have actually moved back into positive growth by quarter manufacturing is beginning to turn the corner and inflation has remained non-existent..

    Good job President Obama!

    December 6, 2009 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  54. Susan in NC

    Let's "get it done" and get the heck OUT of there - the sooner, the better! CONGRATS to President Obama for having a PLAN - something we're not used to!

    December 6, 2009 10:33 am at 10:33 am |
  55. Don

    That would be correct, the 'Bush' war policies that Obama has adopted are favored by Americans.

    December 6, 2009 10:36 am at 10:36 am |
  56. somoHllalliK

    What do you mean we agree with Obama, don't you mean Obama agrees with most Americans?!! This is the true reason why it took him 4 months to make the decision...he had to wait till the poll results were in to see what the popular (most likely to get re-elected) American response would be.

    December 6, 2009 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  57. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey everybody....let's ignore Woonsocket. He is too dumb to ever 'get it'!
    It is always best to ignore the ignorant!!!

    December 6, 2009 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  58. Aspen Professor

    I certainly have no objection with going after al Quida and the Taliban militants wherever they are and that includes Pakistan.

    I'd dramatically increase the number of armed drones and attack attack attack until the militants were so nervous and so lacking in sleep that the non-militant population rose up and went after those fools themselves.

    What we need to STOP immediately is the dumb Republican extremists idea of Nation Building – Democracy Building anywhere else in the world. It is the choice of those countries, NOT ours to make for them. The Repub attempts show arrogance, hypocrisy, and ignorance of history, which has become their trademark.

    December 6, 2009 10:38 am at 10:38 am |
  59. phoenix86

    Americans are tired of the wars, but they won't like the taste of surrender either – which is where Obama will lead us.

    Unfortunately for the women of Afghanistan, their days of freedom are numbered. Unfortunately for the students fighting for freedom in Iran, they are on their own as well.

    The American president seems happy to play the patsy to most totalitarian regimes and content to ignore the human rights violations all around him.

    2012 can't come soon enough.

    December 6, 2009 10:39 am at 10:39 am |
  60. Marty, Grand Rapids MI

    Super, lets send more troops and not pay for it. That way, the remaining 99.5% of this population can continue to have no involvement with our military objectives. Bomb other countries? Why not, it's no skin off of my teeth.

    December 6, 2009 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  61. ur still an id10t

    Hey Sniffit, why did you change your name to woonsocket.

    December 6, 2009 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  62. diridi

    I told you he is doing fine.....poll was 51/50....in fact, i do not want to go to war....but...well, they messed our nation...so we have to.....rusians went....this is lame excuse....we win....

    December 6, 2009 10:42 am at 10:42 am |
  63. GeorgeVT

    Hello? This is NOT Bush's plan for Afghanistan – his plan was to ignore it – use mercenaries – and probably before it was over have Haliburton running the war – oh wait – that's Cheney's plan...

    December 6, 2009 10:44 am at 10:44 am |
  64. A Canadian

    The ironic thing I find as a Human Being is that America will spend Billions on a war in Afghanistan and have the publics support but when it comes to spending on Health Care for her own people that are sick or injured...There is a HUGE public outcry. America you MUST look at yourselves.

    December 6, 2009 10:47 am at 10:47 am |
  65. wes

    woonsocket – If that's not sarcasm, it has no credibility.

    December 6, 2009 10:50 am at 10:50 am |
  66. Willow

    For those fools who keep referring to the "Bush War Policy", are you referring to the polcy of lying to your allies, getting them into Afghanistan and then Cut & Run to Iraq–leaving others holding the bag?

    That policy? The same one that has ruined the US relationships with other nations around the world, destroyed US credibility internationally, oh and the same policy which has sealed the fate of American soldiers in Afghanistan who will no longer have the military suppot needed to complete the task.....

    Congratualions you bragging fools of the right, you must be so proud of yourself! and the failed policies of your doomed former demigod "W"

    December 6, 2009 10:51 am at 10:51 am |
  67. Phoenix 666

    Hey 86! Keep up the evil, and you will soon earn your tail and horns.

    December 6, 2009 10:51 am at 10:51 am |
  68. Helena Montana

    When President Obama was campaigning he stated he would remove the troops from Iraq responsibly and take the focus back to Afghanistan which General Petraeus has requested.

    I'm happy to see the President is keeping his campaign promises.

    December 6, 2009 10:53 am at 10:53 am |
  69. Dan, TX

    The republicans have become socialists. They don't want to stop waste fraud and abuse in Medicare, they want to perpetuate it. Kids don't need to help take care of their aging parents, its the government's role, according to the republicans.

    REPUBLICANS ARE NOW SOCIALISTS!

    December 6, 2009 10:53 am at 10:53 am |
  70. Death Panel Sarah

    To somo(whatever that gibberish is).....

    Don't you think a President SHOULD see what the people want to do, since he represents us?

    The last president probably sought approval from big business as to what to do(or from Darth Cheney).

    Which is better??

    December 6, 2009 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  71. quarterback

    Republicant's are some of the dumbest people on earth.

    Blind, deaf and stupid.

    December 6, 2009 10:54 am at 10:54 am |
  72. annie s

    I agree with A Canadian. What kind of a people are we that we support billions for more war but fight against providing affordable health care to our citizens?

    December 6, 2009 10:55 am at 10:55 am |
  73. ashley

    @ Mark B- "My personal opinion, the extra troops may work. But taking a lesson from Hiroshima would have been better. They killed thousand of innocent people on 9-11. I say we pay back the debt,
    Dont tread on me. Its as simple as that."

    It's as "simple" as that huh? Killing hundreds of thousands of people with an atomic bomb is not simple. Imagine the country who pays back the debt to us in return, would u agree that is is so "simple" to smell the flesh of your fellow Americans, if you survive such a travesty, I think you need to take a deep look at your soul. The lesson from Hiroshima is that the atomic bomb is a very dangerous weapon, and if all world leaders think like u, then the world as we know it would end, it's as "simple" as that.

    December 6, 2009 10:57 am at 10:57 am |
  74. Nick San Diego

    Woonsocket Your hatred runs deep...........You're going to be an unhappy individual for the next 8 years.
    Your kind is going to be left in the dust as Obama rights the wrongs of your hero's Bush/Chaney.
    Palin ........she'll flame out quick enough.

    December 6, 2009 10:57 am at 10:57 am |
  75. Fitz in Texas

    Death Panel Sarah December 6th, 2009 10:27 am ET

    To Woonsocket......
    Again FAUX is lying to you .....they don't have 9 tou of 10 highest rated NEWS shows!!!

    It is maybe 9 out of 10 highest rated right wing wacko OPINION shows!!!

    Get your facts straight....when you speak without checking, you look like a total ignoramus( like a tea-bagger or a birther)!!!
    ********************************************
    Or, perhaps a "truther"...Death Panel Sarah"....which I would bet is the category you fall into.

    December 6, 2009 11:04 am at 11:04 am |
  76. Ernie

    The people who agree with Obama are fools.

    December 6, 2009 11:04 am at 11:04 am |
  77. Anonymous

    woonsocket...you are a racist idiot

    December 6, 2009 11:05 am at 11:05 am |
  78. jim

    (shakes head)

    it's such a shame that there are people like woonsocket out there who are pathetically ignorant and darn proud of it. i mean, even when you show them proof, they stick their heads in the sand and just ignore it.

    one things for sure. I'm glad i have a mind that is capable of reason. AND, that I'm not frightened by some imagined bogeyman politician.

    December 6, 2009 11:06 am at 11:06 am |
  79. Woonsocket

    Hey Death Panel – lets see, we shouldn't judge Obama by his Islamic upbringing ? Should we judge him by his 20 year association with a racist black nationalist the most Rev. Wright ? Or Mr. Obama's association with the killer Bill Ayers, who was invited to the inaugural ? Or perhaps Van Jones, the Marxist-Leninist worshiper of Castro ? All of these people are the closes advisors to Mr. Obama and consult with him regularly.

    And why did Mr. Obama lash out at the police in New Haven but tell us to wait to make a judgement on the Jihadist who butchered our military people at Fort Hood?

    And why did Mr. Obama seem oblivious to the massacre at Fort Hood in the days following ?

    Mr. Obama is not fit to be President. Your heart and soul must be with the American people but his is CLEARLY not. But of course Obamists reponses are always BUSH, BUSH, BUSH. You and Obama may not want to accept responsibility for Obama's radicalism and short comings but you can't avoid them.

    December 6, 2009 11:06 am at 11:06 am |
  80. John in Iowa

    "And isn't it ironic that the public only agrees with the parts of Obama's plan on Afghanistan that were originally put forth by George W. Bush?"
    I wasnt aware Bush suggested sending 30k more troops to Afghanistan, you sure you have the right plan?

    "My personal opinion, the extra troops may work. But taking a lesson from Hiroshima would have been better. They killed thousand of innocent people on 9-11. I say we pay back the debt. Dont tread on me. Its as simple as that"

    Let me get this straight, you are suggesting the best thing we can do is drop an atom bomb on Afghanistan to kill thousands of innocent civilians in return for 9/11?
    Do not tred on you is right because you are full of c**p.

    December 6, 2009 11:07 am at 11:07 am |
  81. We need a "woonsocket" poll

    I'd like to see a poll that uses the ideas put forth by "woonsocket" so we can find out how many people in this country actually think so ignorantly.
    I'd like to think it's a very small minority, but if "woonsocket's" approval rating is high, I truly believe we are doomed as a nation

    December 6, 2009 11:08 am at 11:08 am |
  82. Woonsocket

    CNN – a subsidary of KOS.

    December 6, 2009 11:08 am at 11:08 am |
  83. m jeff

    We have been in Afghanistan for eight years without a plan, it's about time we got one.

    December 6, 2009 11:08 am at 11:08 am |
  84. Fitz in Texas

    Woonsocket December 6th, 2009 9:46 am ET

    patti dearest – live your little Obamist fantasy. Mr. Obama grew up in a Islamic household in Indonesia. Did you know that ?
    ******************************************
    And Obama just hasn't found that perfect church yet. Must be pretty tough because there's only about 900 to choose from. Seems many folks are off that kool-aid high, but there still are a few drinking it.

    December 6, 2009 11:09 am at 11:09 am |
  85. Woonsocket

    Anonymouse – I was wondering when one of you Obamists were going to play the race card. So if Obama is only half black wouldn't that make me only 50% racist ? Trying to understand your charge.

    December 6, 2009 11:09 am at 11:09 am |
  86. Fraud, fraud, fraud........

    Obama's overall job approval rating is under 50%.........

    It's meaningless if the public agrees with him on a single item.......

    Obama is ONE and DONE. Start the drumbeat.

    December 6, 2009 11:10 am at 11:10 am |
  87. Carl

    Let's all remember that Afghanistan was BUSH'S MESS. He and Cheney created it over eight years of serious neglect. Had they adequately funded the real war against our real enemies with the resources and troops needed to get the job done...from the start...we may well not even be in Afghanistan today. Obama takes this fight very seriously. As soon as he became president, he dispatched 21,000 additional forces there. We need to give our new president the opportunity to employ his strategy in Afghanistan. We already tried the inept Bush-Cheney one. It got us no where. Obama has made it clear that our committment there is NOT open ended. Don't forget that, unlike Bush or "5 Deferments" Cheney, Obama has met the coffins of the war dead returning to the states. He has walked among the gravestones of section 60 in Arlington National Cemetery...where the dead from Iraq and Afhanistan lie buried. In eight years, Bush or Cheney did not attend a single military funeral. It's hard to understand the cost of war when your administration seeks to hide it (barring news photos at Dover) from the public. For them, it was easy to send other people's children to fight and die in needless wars (Iraq). Thank God that President Obama gets it! He will never use the military as the first and only option...but the very last!

    December 6, 2009 11:12 am at 11:12 am |
  88. Indy

    Everyone on here notice that every entry Woonsocket comment on here is what Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin have said and not one comment is fact. They are all fiction that the above have concocted to their masses, and he actually believes them. I actually feel very sorry for this person, as I would if someone was abducted by a cult leader. I thought everyone knew that Obama had a white mother ? I thought everyone knew that Obama spent time in Indonesia where Islam is the main religion ? Woonsocket, your paranoia is old news and I would highy suggest you turn off your radio and Fox for one week and feel the peace that will come with that. God Blees the ones that cannot help themselves, we need to pray for this person !

    December 6, 2009 11:13 am at 11:13 am |
  89. Brewhafunk

    "As a result, nearly six in ten say defeat is possible, but an equal number also say victory is possible."

    What does this say about your polling CNN? Are your questions skewed or is it just (to borrow a line from G dub) fuzzy math? To recap, 120% of the population says we will either win or lose. Wow.

    December 6, 2009 11:15 am at 11:15 am |
  90. Woonsocket

    Well......slander me if you must, but November 2010 elections puts an end to the Obamadrama. Barry will be a lame duck the Wednesday morning after the election. The Marxist will be removed from congressional leadership and the nation will begin to heal after the nighmare that began on inauguration day 2009.

    December 6, 2009 11:15 am at 11:15 am |
  91. Mobius

    This only proves that nobody's paying attention, as evidenced by all these clueless folks who think there's a difference between Dem and GOP shenanigans.

    It's not Red and Blue, it's them and you.

    December 6, 2009 11:17 am at 11:17 am |
  92. Fitz in Texas

    Anonymous December 6th, 2009 11:05 am ET

    woonsocket...you are a racist idiot
    ****************************************************
    Let's see.....the thinking must be when I can't come up with a good answer it's always good to fall back on the race card theory. Yawn, how old that one is getting.

    December 6, 2009 11:18 am at 11:18 am |
  93. Bev

    This poll was taken by Obama's state run media-–and should NOT be used to reflect what the majority in the country think/feel regarding Obama's Afghan decision.

    This would be the same as the opposing side using a Fox poll to indicate what the MAJORITY in the country feel regarding his decision/plans (although the Fox poll would be more credible, as they have the LARGEST number of Independents who contribute to their polls).

    Look at the unbiased, national polls--to get the "real" views of the majority in the country regarding Obama's Afghan plans.

    I think that the fact that Obama's approval/support numbers are going down daily--is also a GREAT reflection of how the majority in the country "really" feel as well.

    December 6, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |
  94. Dave

    To all of you "so-called liberal intellectuals", woonsocket must have hit a nerve. He sure got a lot of reaction; when maybe it should have been ignored.
    We are not going to accomplish anything in Afganastan, except more losses of our young men and women. The Taliban will hide in their caves until 18 months have passed; when Obama, mistakenly set the timeline for withdrawal.

    December 6, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |
  95. Ron (Denver)

    Well, finally! The man is pragmatic (and criticised for it) and thoughtful (again, criticised).

    When it comes to ensuring everyone gets access to healthcare, so many are against it, but when it comes to expanding a war, let's all jump on the bandwagon (and yes, I support his strategy on Afganistan). Is anyone paying attention?

    December 6, 2009 11:20 am at 11:20 am |
  96. Larry in Houston

    Woonsocket,

    The constitution that treasure was violated regularly under the Cheney/Bush administration (the order of power is correct). Your short memory on the situation this country is in was handed to Obama, not caused by Obama. Don't get it twisted.

    December 6, 2009 11:22 am at 11:22 am |
  97. D.W. Rehoboth, MA

    Phoenix, we aren't in Afghanistan to liberate women or students or even for human rights issues (though I"m sure if we actually were you'd be screaming that we had no right to be there for that) .. we are there to track down Bin Laden and those responsible for 9/11 .. period. Those against President Obama can flip sides faster than lighting on any issue.. just wait to see what Obama does and then spin the opposite side. He can do no right, whether it's getting a dog or his wife's dress the haters will swarm. As far as I am concerned any republican who did not stand up and shout for Bush's head while he destroyed this country and got us involved in two wars despite what we the people (and yes this is MY country too not just yours) wanted and what the rest of the world wanted then you have no voice now. Childish racists comments and hate mongering like Woonsocket posts show just how irrational and desperate the other side is to stay in control.

    December 6, 2009 11:23 am at 11:23 am |
  98. Tom in Illinois

    What you write Woonsocket really hits a nerve with Obama supporters. Keep up the good work. Many people in this country agree with what you are saying, but don't take the time to put it into words like you.

    December 6, 2009 11:25 am at 11:25 am |
  99. Black Viper

    The only one way we can "WIN" in afghanistan is to be able to separate other talibans that are willing to join the Karzai government and work together to build their nation for peace and prosperity from the extremists talibans that strongly believe in the shariah muslim laws and willing to take over the power in afghanistan by force or terrorise day and nights their own people to achieve that goal.
    This also will not happen without a strong desire from Karzai to fight corruption within his regime and establish a trustfull environment for the people of afghanistan to work with him to achieve tat goal.
    The goal for the us army now is not only to kill the extremist talibans but to win the trust of the afghan people in working together with their leader Karzai to provide security and training not only militarly but also socialy.
    How do you achieve that goal at very low cost? You do it by giving to this people what is most important to them in their day and day life FOOD and GOD.
    1. Start to build 1 or 2 mosques in every provinces
    2. Equip people with the coran not radios to listen to fraudulent election results.
    3. Build more islamic schools to teach the coran and recruit more afghan teachers
    4. Work with UN to provide abondance of food to the villages
    5. Work with local leaders to develop real agriculture instead of growing poppy.

    That is my strategy I think will work otherwise we will be there for 100 years. is this achievable in 18 months I don't think so. It is good to set a withdrawal date for political goal at home but also to send a signal to the afghans that we are not there to take over their country .

    December 6, 2009 11:26 am at 11:26 am |
  100. Selina

    Isn't barack the one who said "we are not a Christian nation" I remember hearing that, sure it WASN'T on cnn...also he pronounces PAKISTAN way to well!!!

    won't get posted for sure

    December 6, 2009 11:27 am at 11:27 am |
  101. JT the Show Me State College Freshman

    Woonsocket, I am starting to think you are saying this just to grab attention and spark a verbal fight just because you want to. I am not that immature. I am still young, but at least I learned when to keep my mouth shut when I need to. After reading what you have said, I am going to open my mouth, and say this, "If you don't have anything constructive or nice to say, DO NOT say anything at all." If you are so sure that President Obama is a "Jihadist" "Muslim", get off your couch and prove it. Have a good day, sir. If you want to see a real Republican, pick up a book, and look at a picture of Abraham Lincoln. Then read about him, and how all Americans should act.

    December 6, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |
  102. St. Louis Jake

    Woonsocket grew up in a single-wide in the hills of West Virginia. Did you know that?

    December 6, 2009 11:29 am at 11:29 am |
  103. Bren

    Woonsocket:

    Fox News has ALL top cable news/commentary shows. They are beat by nobody!!!

    The state run media sources will NOT question anything about Obama and his Admin that does not put him in a good light.

    Where are the live/print reports on the "Climategate" emails--which proves the Al Gore, Democrats, and MANY others---lies, fraudulent information, etc.---regarding global warming/climate change.

    And, you are right..........Why no questions as to Obama's college records not being released??? His medical records?? etc.--no questions by the state run media sources.

    The 2010 elections cannot get here soon enough--and they will be like Christmas--as MANY Democrats are going to be sent to the unemployment lines. There are 49 blue dog Democrats in conservative districts--up for reelection---all in districts that were won by McCain!!!

    December 6, 2009 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  104. Mike

    Losers: Continue to spew your hate from both sides of the aisle, CNN will continue to provide your forum to denigrate America.

    December 6, 2009 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  105. republicans hate america

    cant wait for 2012 when i get to vote for obama again. thats the bottom line people he will be president again

    December 6, 2009 11:30 am at 11:30 am |
  106. e.c.coleman

    There is no way that any news about obama is "good news."

    Without Afghanistan, the poll for obama would read "0" or ZERO!!

    obama is the weakest, most ineffective president in the history
    of the United States.

    All those "nay-sayers" who said obama was too Inexperiened, Unqualified, and did not possess any Management Decision Making Skills, were obviously, totally, 100% Correct.

    obama does not belong in Our Oval Office.

    It is also an amazement that obama was elected because of a
    crooked, "community organization, ACORN." Let's not forget that
    ACORN is in deep trouble with the Federal Government because
    of Voter Fraud.

    This is a terrible curse for obama, since he bragged about working with ACORN, structured the association into the community organization it had become, i.e., until the organization was charged with fabricating Votes.

    WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE, AMERICA????

    December 6, 2009 11:33 am at 11:33 am |
  107. Clifford in New York

    How does woonsocket get so much air time and I almost never can get through?!

    December 6, 2009 11:33 am at 11:33 am |
  108. Max Par in NY

    I loved it when Mccain said "to withdraw from Afghanistan would be a historic mistake"...the key word being historic...as in history...as in every other country to fight in Afghanistan hasn't come out better than when they went in.

    Education is a key part in forming valid, logical, opinions. Its now become a fact that the right is becoming less educated than it already was...logically making their opinions less valid.

    December 6, 2009 11:34 am at 11:34 am |
  109. Big John

    Woonsocket you're a pathetic sick lemming obviously following everything faux tells you. I agree with Patti, I'm embarrassed for you and people like you. We wouldn't be in the mess we're in if it hadn't been for ignorant people like you who believe everything faux says.

    December 6, 2009 11:37 am at 11:37 am |
  110. Jim

    Oh. So the majority agrees he has been the dumbest rock on the planet.

    December 6, 2009 11:38 am at 11:38 am |
  111. Bren

    Indy:

    "Why on earth are people scared of Obama pencilling in a date to START withdrawls from Afganastan ?"

    -–Are you really this clueless??? This is like giving the opposing team your plans/strategies before a football game.

    The enemy are just going to stay low-–and organize/prepare for when the troops leave.

    Do you really think that any Afghan citizens are going to volunteer and step up to the plate to become part of the military, police, etc.---knowing that the troops will be leaving--and they will be left to face the barbarian enemy once they are gone???

    Nick from San Diego:--–You need to WAKE UP. The Democrats are going to get clobbered in 2010 and 2012--And, Obama is just like Carter-–"one and done"--–and the national polls are showing this EVERY day--as his approval/support is dropping a little more each day.

    December 6, 2009 11:41 am at 11:41 am |
  112. JJ in Chula Vista, CA

    Woonsocket, yes, you're right, just because you say so. Ignorance for you is undoubtedly bliss.

    Your claims about President Obama's "corrupt" nature are laughable, imagined, and exceedingly entertaining. Keep it up. It makes us all realize who we really need to vote for again in 2012.

    I hope Sarah Palin is nominated for president that year.

    December 6, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |
  113. Fitz in Texas

    Anonymous December 6th, 2009 11:05 am ET

    woonsocket...you are a racist idiot

    St. Louis Jake December 6th, 2009 11:29 am ET

    Woonsocket grew up in a single-wide in the hills of West Virginia. Did you know that?
    *********************************************
    So, "Anonymous" are comments from folks such as "St. Louis Jake" ok with you? Or would that fall under the "racist idiot" category?

    December 6, 2009 11:44 am at 11:44 am |
  114. dallas alphonso

    e.c.coleman
    ":There is no way that any news about obama is "good news."
    Without Afghanistan, the poll for obama would read "0" or ZERO!!
    obama is the weakest, most ineffective president in the history
    of the United States"

    Unlike you Mr Coleman, the Majority of Americans are pretty smart. They make me very proud of my Country on this beautiful Sunday Morn! Actually look at all the poll results! Americans are using their common sense and can now make informed decisions based on the facts. This is so since now we are being given the facts instead of misinformation from the VP's bunker and by the party of NO!

    December 6, 2009 11:44 am at 11:44 am |
  115. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey Woonsocket...
    I thought you had your wires crossed when you kept writing 'right wing' when you obviously ment 'left wing'!

    But, I never said anything about President Obama. You are ranting against the wrong person! ....you really need your pill!

    December 6, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  116. Bren

    Remember when Obama said this---and just think, he is now in charge of our domestic/foreign threats, issues and security!!!

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

    Barack Obama, 2008

    December 6, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |
  117. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey everybody Woonsocket is Fitz in Texas(or, at least, they share the same brain!!!).

    December 6, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |
  118. ur an id10t 2

    Death Panel Sarah said: Hey everybody....let's ignore Woonsocket. He is too dumb to ever 'get it'!

    Make sure you pick the side of the playground with the slide and the swings when you get "everybody" to join you. (typical Libby)

    December 6, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |
  119. Texas Longhorn talks Truth

    I'll agree with his do nothing program, only when he accomplishes the mission of chasin' down "BIN LADEN", until death do we part.

    December 6, 2009 11:49 am at 11:49 am |
  120. Dean

    Woonsocket, Sniffit, et al are Fox News operatives – isn't this obvious? They pay people to sit on various blogs, including their own, and post as quickly as possible to all news stories that are Republican/Democrat hot buttons. This is the only way these people can successfully have so many of their comments published – as you know, only a percentage of posts actually get published, so if you post 100 then at least 10 will get published.

    December 6, 2009 11:50 am at 11:50 am |
  121. Texas Longhorn talks Truth

    This is not a duplicate remark. I wish you people could get your site fixed.

    I'll only agree with Obama's program when the do nothing accomplishes the mission of chasin' down "BIN LADEN", until death do us part.

    December 6, 2009 11:53 am at 11:53 am |
  122. Death Panel Sarah

    To 'We need a "Woonsocket" poll' ....
    Actually, we need to round those people up, as they most assuredly escaped from the local 'looney bin'!!!!

    December 6, 2009 11:54 am at 11:54 am |
  123. Ken

    Bren Faux News has high ratings because conservatards like you flock to it like lemmings. You don't want objectivity, you just want an echo chamber to validate your preconceived worldview. So every source of news that doesn't parrot your opinion is suspect.

    December 6, 2009 11:56 am at 11:56 am |
  124. Big John

    I can't believe thatpeople are so stupid to believe that President Obama would pull the troops out on any given preselected date. It's a TARGET so that the troops have something to work toward. Obviously if the task is not where it should be there will be delays and the troops would be the first to know it.
    ....Stupid people!!! No wonder we have difficulty making progress.

    December 6, 2009 11:57 am at 11:57 am |
  125. Ken

    Bren

    You Lie!

    December 6, 2009 11:59 am at 11:59 am |
  126. dallas alphonso

    Woonsocket: Well......slander me if you must, but November 2010 elections puts an end to the Obamadrama. Barry will be a lame duck the Wednesday morning after the election. The Marxist will be removed from congressional leadership and the nation will begin to heal after the nighmare that began on inauguration day 2009.

    I really wish you knew what real Marxism was not the Fox created for TV nonsense, after writing what you did, they would have rounded you up and silenced you. You are a disgrace to all the people who fought and died protecting us for that horror. if you don't know of what you speak then shut your mouth. You would not have survived a day in the USSR. You and the other brained washed sheep who watch Rupert's Propaganda a machine have not yet figured out what they are trying to do our country, they are trying to destroy it and you are helping them. Rupert Murdoch is not an American an could careless about this country. He and his ilk are trying to weaken our country and has hired other collaborators to spread their propaganda. You have simple become a pawn in their game and are helping to destroy our great country, shame on you!

    December 6, 2009 12:00 pm at 12:00 pm |
  127. John in Iowa

    "It is also an amazement that obama was elected because of a
    crooked, "community organization, ACORN."

    Are you suggesting that ACORN rigged so many votes that it got Obama in? Wow, that has to be the silliest one yet.

    "Isn't barack the one who said "we are not a Christian nation" I remember hearing that, sure it WASN'T on cnn"
    He then went on to say 'certainly not just' and went on to say we are also a nation of Jews, muslims, atheists etc.
    I believe it was a mis-speak, he should have said 'we are not just a christian nation', he had a yoda moment.

    December 6, 2009 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |
  128. A New Generation is Coming and they are not Conservatives

    Fox "News" has high ratings for their opinion shows, but when you consider that their average viewer age is over 60 then you realize that they have cornered the market on older americans who watch a lot of TV opinion shows. You know where most young people get their news - the internet. I do not watch any TV news shows. I read credible sites such as CNN, Politico, etc., and gather my news from there (of course all the right wingers out there will claim the ONLY source of news that isn't biased is Fox which is totally laughable since anyone with an ounce of neturality can see that Fox is biased) and I also read the newspaper. So, Fox thinks they have so many followers - they don't. They have people (on average older) who watch TV shows that tell them what they want to hear. The younger, informed people do not even watch those shows (on any network) and are on the internet.

    December 6, 2009 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |
  129. Selina

    used to hate fox new
    now I watch it exclusively
    the only news channel that isn't
    having a slobbering love affair with barack

    December 6, 2009 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |
  130. wbn

    Yes, Obama sure didn't want to commit more troops, and he delayed far too long; however, Bush's success with the Irag surge (which Obama opposed at the time and denied its effectiveness all along), Obama's own campaigning about how Bush dropped the ball in Afghanistan and how that war was much more important than the one in Iraq, and Obama's military leaders on the ground pushing for a surge in Afghanistan all pushed him toward his decision. Sad to say, it seems his heart is not really in it (how discouraging this must be to our troops in harm's way), and that is shown by his foolish desire to start removing troops in such a short time. he knows that is impossible, but he says those things to try and appease the left-wingers who are upset with him. President Bush made decisions (always with the guidance of his military advisors) without worrying about which way the political winds were blowing.

    December 6, 2009 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |
  131. beevee

    I think that the President's troup surge strategy will work if only it is executed with care and precision. The US and NATO forces should build all that is required quietly and surprise the terrorists on both sides of the region with a lightning strike and move away. They should call it the operation 'lightning'. The less said about the actual plan the better are chances to curb the enemy.

    December 6, 2009 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  132. Ken

    @Bren

    "Are you really this clueless??? This is like giving the opposing team your plans/strategies before a football game"

    Hah...we set a timeline in Iraq. Seems to be going according to plan. You know Gen McCrystal doesn't seem to have the same concerns you have. I'd trust his military planning skills over your football planning skills any day of the week.

    December 6, 2009 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  133. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran and Anti-GOP

    As Rachel Maddow points out, Obama has continued with the Bush Doctrine: Strike first anywhere in the world even if there is no threat to the U.S. Afghanistan is the Warmart for the Taliban and Al Quaeda, but let them shop there. The U.S. can still use UAVs to kill these heroin manufacturers and distributors. Does that place even have an airport? How in the hell are they a threat to U.S. soil? Are they going to attack us with a tribe of renegades on camelback? Come on! This war is NOT necessary. Our allies won't even commit more than 500 troops because they already got embaraased by Jarge Duh-Huh?-Bu'-Yuh Bahoosh because of his idiocracy and reatrded insane lies to the world. This whole thing sounds eerily familiar just as when Gee Dub Bahoosh said we were in immenent danger and the war would be over before he planned his next bar-b-cue at his TexASS ranch. Everything that is taking place now is the backlash and fallout form the plan created by nerd of the century, Karl Rove. Karl Rove never got laid in High School so he decided to become Lex Luthor and succeded. When he ran into Jarge Bahoosh the first time, he knew he could manipulate and control his little pea sized, coke and alcohol soaked, -1.- GPA fragile brain and make him say and do whatever Karl told him to do. Jarge Bahoosh never was and never will be smart enough to make a wise decision on anything in politics or life. Bush was the consummate dummy. Yet there seems to still be a segment of society in the U.S. who still worships Bush because these same comatose victims line up to get an autograph from Barbie GOP Playmate Sarah Palin on the cover of her best selling book, "Going Bogue." Fox Noise staffers like Glen Beck and Sean Hannity were reportedly caught with her book between their legs jerking off on set. This is a big deal. Why are so many Americans still uneducated and too StOoPiD to know what is being sold as Fascist propoganda? Why is the GOP a bunch of war mongering fanatics, whose primary concern is not the safety of America but how much money can be made at the expense of Americans? Pretty soon universl health care will be passed and the Re-Dumb-Agains will be so pissed off that they will probably have a seance and try to cast a spell on the Democrats. The good news is that Rush Limbaugh is going to die soon from lung and mouth cancer because he keeps puffing on those cigars to show how big and rich he is and just how much his clogged arteries are at risk from chomping down ten quarter pounders at McFat drive throughs. Yay, the Dems won!

    December 6, 2009 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  134. Fitz in Texas

    Death Panel Sarah December 6th, 2009 11:46 am ET

    Hey everybody Woonsocket is Fitz in Texas(or, at least, they share the same brain!!!).
    *******************************
    Nope, we're not the same people and once again you make a stupid untrue statement.

    December 6, 2009 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  135. Dcook140

    I am suprised that the number is only in the mid sixties what with all the positive help that the MSM and CNN provide. I will make a bet that after the deployment, CNN will unleash Michael Weir, etc and tell us all how futile our involvement is. Of course, at that time it will result in the loss of American lives.

    December 6, 2009 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  136. txleadhead

    Where do they take these polls? Not from the average American. Bush made a joke of Afghanastan + 9/11 when we detoured South to Iraq. Greed will do that to you. It was never over oil but oil prices. We had six times as many troops in Iraq that Afghanastan. And Afghanastan was where our attack came from. Don't look for too much help from the allies. They were there for us in the beginning till Bush stabbed them in the back + had the Troops head to iraq. And, that was on phony intell. Phony from the start.. We need to bring our troops home to protect our own Country + Borders. After all 15.000,000 illegals have made it through. Just imagine how many sleeper cells have come in?
    Also, why should they get new roads built by us while I can't drive on one. When will the next Antique Bridge collapse? Americans are tired of their Tax money getting spent on everyone excepts Americans. No-one is doing anything for us. He can take his war tax + shove it.

    December 6, 2009 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |
  137. Dave

    If it has support of Republicans, then good poll.
    CNN get a life!!

    December 6, 2009 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |
  138. Bren

    Big John:

    And, I do not believe that Obama-as president and commander and chief--would actually give a "DATE" as to when our troops will be leaving--so that the enemy can organize/plan accordingly. It just further proves the point-Obama could not even manage a lemonade stand--or a better example would be Obama couldn't even manage "cash for clunkers"--let alone more serious concerns/issues regarding our country.

    Ken: I did not LIE. Google it.

    Also, Fox news does NOT just have the largest number of Conservative viewers-–it also has the largest number of Independent and moderate Democrat viewers!!!

    December 6, 2009 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |
  139. Gary

    It's pretty pathetic when helping Americans health care isn't popular, helping Americans bussiness isn't popular but increasing a war in another country is a hit. We knew if we kept trying we would find something you right wing idiots could support.

    December 6, 2009 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |
  140. jj

    Just like ill advised lou dobbs spewing hate, we need to stop basing polls on race and what republicans approve or not.....
    Ok CNN?

    December 6, 2009 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |
  141. Steven

    America doesn't agree with Obama. America agrees with America. Obama didn't want to send the troops.

    December 6, 2009 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |
  142. Geaux Tigers

    Do any of you people that continue to bash Bush know that in 2006 the democrats took control of congress and that is when the economy started going down hill. As far as the military pulling out of Iraq or Afghanistan do you realize that still today the US has bases in Germany, Italy, Japan... do ya get the picture, we will never leave. Keep your change Im looking forward to 2010 and 2012. And for you Fox haters, please explain to me why Van Jones is gone, could it be because Fox reported it, what about ACORN???? Climate-gate not on ABC, CBS, NBC. Face it liberalism is going down.

    December 6, 2009 12:09 pm at 12:09 pm |
  143. Craig

    Ok... so if things go completely wrong, then how many will flip on a dime and be against him?... See, this is why polls don't have any credibility.

    December 6, 2009 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |
  144. Selective Memory

    I remember Mr. Reagan's poll numbers being in the twenties at the end of his first year in office, and unemployment had reached 10.8%.

    December 6, 2009 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |
  145. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey Everybody,

    Come on! We are taking the side of the playground with the biggest slide so we can throw our rocks farther and keep woonsocket far away.

    December 6, 2009 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |
  146. TOTUS

    I simply love my photo. Finally, a towering and glorious tribute to the real power of the once free world – TOTUS!

    December 6, 2009 12:11 pm at 12:11 pm |
  147. Dean

    You have got a wagon leading the horse problem here. People don't agree with something Obama has done. Obama did something because the people agree with it. His decision was based entirely on polls. Get used to it.

    December 6, 2009 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |
  148. Bren

    We will see after the 2010 elections---what the MAJORITY in the country "really" feel regarding Obama and the Democrats.

    And, based on numerous national polls--it does NOT look good for the Democrats. They are going to get clobbered.

    There are 49 blue dog Dems up for reelection-in conservative districts-that were won by McCain!!!

    I can't wait until the elections--it will be like Christmas for our economy/states/country!!!!

    December 6, 2009 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |
  149. Jack in OH

    Obama is a shady character and is sending more of our sons to their doom.

    December 6, 2009 12:20 pm at 12:20 pm |
  150. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran - To: "Selina"

    Selina, please come to your senses before you get sucked into the dark abyss of hate and depravity and outright false truths and unfounded absurdity perpetuated by FoX News. Please sign back in and give all readers here why you hate President Obama so much. Is it because he is Harvard educated, black, a successful family man and husband with a hot wife and two absoluetly wonder daughters? Is it because he actually has enough wisdom and patience to weigh the evidence, intelligence and security assessments without someone like like Karl Rove writing it out for him in PowerPoint slides? Is it because he has gained worldwide respect and admiration because he sees a way to acheive a better world through international cooperation without war being the number one goal? Is it because he has an infectious smile and is confident in his ability to run the executive branch without the Vice President telling him how and what to do day-by-day? COme on Selina, what is the reason you hate Obama? Give us some solid leitimate answers based on rationalle and reasoning. Come on. give it the 'ol college try if you can. We are all waiting to hear from you. The stage is yours.

    December 6, 2009 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |
  151. Rod from Indy

    Woonsocket: People like you have such a hard problem with the truth. Bush and Cheney almost ruined this country; we may never recover fully. And yet when we get someone who immediately begins to tackle the myriad of problems he left us with, who uses whatever power the government has to help jumpstart the economy(tax breaks for the rich over 8 years didn't work), you swallow any right wing extremist idiotic idea that Rush or Palin throws up to try to defame him. So now you're calling him a jihadist??? If you can't lead, or follow, then get out of the way and let the man do his job. You add nothing to the solution; no Republican has.

    December 6, 2009 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |
  152. Cyrus

    Woonsocket et. al.

    I am an an American Muslim, and could you and your right-wing comrades explain to me, what it means by "Islamic upbringing" and what it means to be a "Jihadist" or "Muslim"? You guys seem to add "ist" after any word that you can find, and use the words "Jihadist" and "Muslims" interchangeably.

    Besides, what's wrong with being a Muslim, or a Muslim in America for that matter? It's not a disease or a disability, as Fox News and the right-wing would want to make you believe. As a Christian or a person of other faith, you SHOULD be proud of your faith. Why is it wrong when a Muslim man/woman is proud of his/her own faith?

    And you wonder why liberals and progressives in this country cannot stand religious right and the neocons like yourself!!

    December 6, 2009 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |
  153. ATL Guy

    Maybe we should run this country based on polls. It seems like everyday CNN has a new poll about something. Who wants healthcare reform today? 48%? Okay no healthcare reform today. Who wants bank reform today? 34% Okay no bank reform today? Ok who wants pizza for dinner? 76%? Okay let's call pizza hut. Enough of the stupid polls. This is the first time I've ever seen someone polled so much in their first year of the presidency.

    December 6, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |
  154. H

    So, if sending more troops with a targeted date of closure is a bad idea – what are the moral and political alternatives? Pull out now, and know with almost full certainty that we leave a relatively intact terrorist grid? Or, stay forever with no defined measures of success? Oh, those are really much better ideas. Assumption is that troop escalation will accomplish change, and it won't just be a matter of the enemy lying in wait.

    December 6, 2009 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |
  155. Joel Harper

    Do you like the stories photo angle ? He's almost like he's looking down upon us little people, dispensing his wisdom to his subjects. Also, didn't his popularity rating drop below 50% in the last week? Why are they cherry picking this specific-subject poll to emphasize?
    Yeah.... the media is politically neutral.

    December 6, 2009 12:32 pm at 12:32 pm |
  156. manhandler

    Did you just keep polling and polling and polling until you finally got the propaganda number that you needed? Obviously ypu've polled way more Republicans than Democrats because Democrats have been solidly against this insane war for a while now. So are you telling us that those against the war are now strangely FOR the obscene option of pouring more troops into it? You people are a disgrace. Obama will find out how popular he is when he finds out his base has turned against him and the warmongering Republicans that are for him sending more troops to their deaths are NOT for his re-election.

    December 6, 2009 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm |
  157. Death Panel Sarah

    Hey 'ur an id10t 2'......

    Just because you can type 'Death Panel Sarah' doesn't make you more intelligent.....we all know it is you from your previous remark. You will always be our loveable idiot!!!(Maybe you fell off that slide).

    December 6, 2009 12:34 pm at 12:34 pm |
  158. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran - To: "Geaux Tigers"

    Come on man, stop it. My sides are busting you're making me laugh too hard! Fox News is so out of touch with main stream voters that Hannity has to color all the Fox News ads with colored drawing pencils to save budget funds. Fox News is just like the 3 X 5 annoying loose advertising inserts that fall out of magazines each time you open up the pages. Nobody reads them, they fall on the floor and get swept up by the custodians at the end of the day. The White House and all serious academia have black listed FoX News because everything they say, write and promote is based on emotion, ignorance and intolerance for other views and other non-white races. I'm ceratin if Hitler were still around he would be either a Fox News reagular guest speaker or a consultant.

    December 6, 2009 12:34 pm at 12:34 pm |
  159. Debby

    Of course he has ratings for this as alot of Republicans and Independents agree with his decision on more troops.

    December 6, 2009 12:35 pm at 12:35 pm |
  160. Bill

    Why is it that everytime a republican speaks out about the socialist takeover that seems to be happening in this country some moron says that we're pawns? that we dont know what we're talking about? I've got news for you dallas alphonso and you other socialist democrats, Marxism isn't far off the beaten path from the socialistic road that you'd like this country to take. Personally I wouldn't be up in arms about a health care bill ( we need it) except that it's just something else the government wants to mico-manage in the public sector. If Obama went after the 20 million illegals in this country with as much zeal as he has for taking over private companies, giving away billions of dollars and pushing his health care bill, we would be a hell of a lot better off. Think, if you can, how much would be saved in education costs, welfare costs, medical costs and lets not for forget how many jobs that Americans could fill if these people were deported. Used to be that knowone cared about illegals in this country because they were doing jobs that Americans didn't want to do ( I know, I've picked cotton and I've picked citrus, and wasn't very good at either). They were servents in rich households, Tricky Dick had illegals working at his place in San Clemente. Now they're in every trade and it hurts those that can and want to do that kind of work.

    Now back to the subject at hand. Obama is right, Afghanistan is a problem that we need to subdue but I have to disagree with the numbers, I dont think 30,000 more troops can do the job. Unless we commit 500,000 men to Afghanistan and have a clear outline ( including help from the Afghan President and the people of Pakistan, aas to winning this war against terrorists) – then it wont happen, all we will have is another Vietnam. But you know maybe that's what those people on top are thinking. War has always been good for business. Yes, the government spends billions but where does it go? Defence contractors = jobs= more spending in the marketplace = more jobs=more spending in the marketplace, ect. It's called trickle down economics, works for good as well as bad. The bad part is that it's like borrowing from peter to pay paul. Service men and women are killed and the disabled have to be cared for somtimes for a life time and they deserve it 100%, but the fact is that it costs more in the long run then the short term gain that we can get by all that spending. I dont know the answer and you can bet your last dime that Obama hasn't got a clue either. At least I've been to college, I know somthing about economics and I've spent 16 years in the Marine Corps, what does he know? how much time has he spent in the defence of this country? ( I say this and not his because I still dont believe he's an American, but sooner or later, wheather he is or isn't will be proved).

    December 6, 2009 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm |
  161. KO

    I think Obama made the best decision out of several bad options. He's getting beat up by the left, but when your general on the ground says more troops are needed it's hard to back away completely. He's getting beat up by the right because they're ridiculous and will beat him up for saying the sun sets in the west. Either this strategy works and he can claim credit or it doesn't, at which point he can say he followed his generals' advice but now it's clear that the war can't be won and will start to pull out. Again, for all those criticizing him, what would have been a better solution?

    December 6, 2009 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm |
  162. Mike, formerly from Syracuse

    Sending more troops is the only correct path. If we left, we'd be attacked again. The HUGE mistake Amateur Boy made was announcing a date to leave. You don't win a war by announcing a date you'll give up and go home. Anyone who was a fit Commander-in-Chief would know that.

    December 6, 2009 12:37 pm at 12:37 pm |
  163. ThinkAgain

    It's a tough decision for everyone – and I appreciate that the President put thought into it before making the decision.

    Bush and Cheney dropped the ball on Afghanistan; like all Chickenhawks, their military policies are naive, made in a vacuum without the input of the generals and others who have actually seen combat.

    Hence, the idea that Iraq would be a cakewalk (Rumsfeld first said he'd surprised if it lasted 6 months, then amended that to "war is messy"). Bush & Company also thought that letting bin Laden slip over into Pakistan would somehow make the whole problem go away. (Or was Bush hoping that his good buddies, the bin Laden family, would somehow reign in their black sheep?)

    Regardless, I hope we get bin Laden soon and stabilize Afghanistan enough so that our troops can come home!

    December 6, 2009 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |
  164. Kim in Iowa

    You just hve to feel sorry for "Woonsocket".
    There is nothing worse than going through life so utterly unable to think for yourself. Woonsocket, try watching something other than FOX once in a while...it's called being an independent thinker. Try it sometime.

    December 6, 2009 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm |
  165. john

    I do not believe most people agree with obam's strategy in Afganistan because nobody really knows what it is other than sending more troops. This man never said the word victory once. I reall do not support more troops in Afganistan unless we WIN! Anybody but barry in 2012

    December 6, 2009 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |
  166. Selina

    @ Randall from Detroit

    I like nothing about barack, I don't hate!

    first time I didn't vote for President

    December 6, 2009 12:45 pm at 12:45 pm |
  167. ThinkAgain

    To all the "birthers" out there and everyone else who believes the garbage about President Obama the GOP and its lackeys keep floating in the media:

    If there were any credible evidence about these claims – be it birth certificate, college grades, citizenship, religion, etc. – the GOP would have presented it all in court during the presidential election and proved it beyond a doubt.

    And yet, the GOP never did and never will do that – even though they certainly have the financial means and motivation.

    The only conclusion: All that garbage is made up.

    Everyone who believes this nonsense should pause a moment and consider

    - What the GOP really thinks of you (that you're stupid)

    - Why they keep feeding you these absurdities (because they want you to vote for them, even though their economic, social and military policies are proven failures).

    December 6, 2009 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |
  168. Death Panel Sarah

    To Bill.....

    You just proved OUR point!!!

    December 6, 2009 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |
  169. Mark

    Now we will get to watch the media over hype any report in support for war.

    Whatever

    December 6, 2009 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  170. John in Iowa

    "Also, Fox news does NOT just have the largest number of Conservative viewers-–it also has the largest number of Independent and moderate Democrat viewers!!!"

    Sure, they are most likely like me. I have to watch once in a while because its like rubbernecking at an accident; you cant turn away and cannot believe what you are seeing.
    Plus it is also funny to see Hannity trying to always be negative on the 'great american panel' and watch him try to deal with 2 of the panel members telling him he is wrong, like the other night. So funny.

    December 6, 2009 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  171. bill

    The real question who is Obama.

    All he wants is Government take over of the private sector.

    December 6, 2009 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  172. Adam in VA

    Rod in Indy: "People like you have such a hard problem with the truth. Bush and Cheney almost ruined this country; we may never recover fully.".......what flavor is that kool-ade today. We won't recover soon because of BO. He spent more in less than a year than Bush did in 8. He also wants to had more to that with the expense that his healthcare plan will inflict......then add the cap and tax burden and we will be soo far screwed down the economic road that we will be a third world country. I know you all have been smoking too much weed because you have NO memory of history. While not a big Fan of Bush on many issues the economy was not his problem...although he certainly didn't help it wiith the bailouts. FACT iswe had a BOOMING economy until 2007 when it started to decline. Unemployment was low and people were doing well....despite the medias' hammering that the economy was bad, bad, bad. However, once the Dems took over Congress the markets knew this was BAD since Dems are never business friendly. Businesses in general started a pull back expecting tax hikes that would effect businesses.. A large part of the collapse had much to do with housing. A Dem problem....the Community and Reinvestment Act mandated that banks make loans to lower income families for homes. In plan english...make loans to people who can not afford them. That was in 1977 and in 1996 Clinton made it even more stronger and even Janet Reno sent out letters to banks saying they will be investigated if loans aren't given out. Freddie and Fannie bought up those loans. It was a bomb waiting to go off. Almost ALL of our economic problems can be traced to Congress and the Senate. They like to control things and when you try to control a free market system you will ALWAYS have disastrous unintended consequences.

    December 6, 2009 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  173. Bren

    The Generals said that they need 40,000 or MORE troops.

    What does Obama do--he wants to send LESS troops. Who cares what the Generals say that they want/need. Somehow, the Community Organizer knows better.

    Then, the Community Organizer helps the enemy to organize/plan by giving them a withdrawl date.

    This is after the Community Organizer went on his--"sympathize with terrorists" world tour-–and apologize for the US and our military world tour.

    Personally, I just wish that all of the troops would have been brought home. They should NOT be risking their limbs/lives for the anti-American, terrorist sympathizing person--that is currently renting our White House until 2012.

    How many will be prosecuted/thrown in prison---for doing their jobs??? How many will lose their limbs/lives--because they were fearful of doing something that might end up with them being prosecuted and thrown in prison.

    Did you hear about our 4 military men--who are now facing prosecution/prison after capturing a terrorist on the "most wanted list"--because the terrorist accused them of punching him in the face???

    December 6, 2009 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |
  174. ThinkAgain

    Bill: Your anger at "illegals" is misplaced. The bottom line is if people were unwilling to employ them, they wouldn't be here.

    It all started under Reagan, when he made conditions more favorable at the request of big California agri-business.

    Regarding socialism being a slippery slope to Marxism, please explain to me why all the countries in the world with socialized medicine – including Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, etc. – are thriving democracies.

    Our government doesn't want to micro-manage health care; reform is about lowering costs for small business and individuals, so that employers can afford to hire more people and folks don't need to worry about losing everything should they get sick.

    It's just common sense that if we have a healthier populace, they'll be more productive, and everyone wins (except, of course, the health care CEO's who'll somehow have to scrimp by on less than $14 million average annual salary .... ).

    December 6, 2009 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |
  175. Beverly in NC

    Most Americans know we can trust President Obama to do what is right and the best option possible. This Bush war has been a total disaster and we must end it with real goals, a strategy on what is to be done, and then a plan to get out.

    Bush did none of these things. He lied to the UN, our Allies, the Congress, and the American People about Iraq and ignored where the terrorists really were. Bush had no plans, no strategy, and put no thought into any war objective. He and Cheney thought they were going to just waltz into Iraq, take their oil (for Cheney's own oil company) and have adoring Iraqis falling at their feet.

    Instead they destroyed the relationship with our Allies, made us more unsafe by invading a Muslim country on false pretenses, and killing tens of thousands of American soldiers for nothing. Thye both should have been impeached but Republicans don't believe in honesty, integrity or the rule of law.

    President Obama inherited this mess and is trying to do the best he can to achieve some objectives to cripple terrorist groups and then bring our soldiers home. He knows we need to stop wasting money on war and killing people and invest that money in America and saving American lives, restoring our economy that the Republicans demolished, and pass progressive programs that once put the People first and not the large greedy abusive corporations Republicans cater to- the insurance industry, banks, and oil companies.

    Thank goodness we finally have an extremely intelligent leader who is a good and decent man that can be trusted to work for the best interests of ALL Americans...and we don't have to pass a "purity test" for him to support the critical needs of our nation.

    December 6, 2009 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |
  176. faux buster

    Hi Woonsocket or Sean Hanity or Glen Beck, you are obviously a frightwing plant trying pathetically to restage the election (which is over) sorry, by bringing up lame character assassinations already vetted out by the american people during the years long election season. To another point I'm a little bored with your kind trying to make "Muslim" a dirty word trying to scare people with your us and them tactics. The fact is that musims like myself born and bred in the USA are just as american as anyone who ever wore red white and blue and according to the Constitution "are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights" my father is a former marine parrot trooper who fought for this country in a war i dissagree with. If muslims(who number in the billions) were the boogeymen you frightwingers make us out to be beliving in killing anyone who doesn't beleive like we do "Let the bodies hit the floor "would not just be a Disturbed song. don't beleive the hype

    December 6, 2009 12:59 pm at 12:59 pm |
  177. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran - To: "Joel Harper"

    Unfortunately, the Military is a "Top-Down" organization. Meaning that directions comes from the Commander-in-Chief, and filter out to the DoD Armed Services and DoD components. It's called the chain of command in cae you didn't know or never served. I served proudly in the Nvy for twenty years and you just learn to take and give orders – that's how it works. How did you expect the photo to be shot? From the roof? From the podium? What's your point? If you can't tell the difference between Bush's tone and Obama's tone when making a decision or by the inflection in their words, then you are asleep. Bush had no patience, was arrogant, egotistical, dumb and couldn't speak English very well – and these were his good qualities. This why the GOP like him so much – because he represented everything a CEO and tax evader could ever dream and hope for. Conversely, Obama has a sense of human dignity and understands the struggles Americans and other people from other nations face everyday, and he is trying to add and integrate the human dimension into his ideas and policies. Bush never cared about who has health care, or how much the middle-class has to fight to survive BECAUSE of policies that prevent fair and equitable due dillegence in foreign or domestic policies. Bush the oilman, only cared about oil, profits from oil, drilling for oil, keeping the U.S. dependent on oil, overthrowing other countries for oil, and making sure his SUV had oil. Other than that, Bush was completely remiss in giving the slightest nod to the middle-class unless he wanted them to fight his wars of choice and die in his unnecessary wars. Soon, more than 5000 U.S. troops will have died for oil, because Bush stood and looked down on us little people as if we were his subjects and said, "Now children, please listen to my bedtime story, I have written just for you. We are in danger of Sadamm Hussein striking the U.S. with a nuke and even though the CIA says there is no evidence whatsoever, we are going to pretend this is all a fairy tale and we are going to take over Iraq. When we find WMD AND OIL we will be heroes the world over! And everyone will live happily everafter." The problem was that there was no WMD and the GOP had to invent reasons to stay there, hence MISSION UNKNOWN and NOT COMPLETE.

    December 6, 2009 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |
  178. Tired

    Glad our President finally got a glimmer of good news. It's been a tough year so far. I hope we can finish up the job and bring our troops home in 2011,

    December 6, 2009 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |
  179. Faye

    Many claim we are a Christian country but they spout lies and anger against their fellow Americans. If we were a Christian country we wouldn't do that, as it goes against Christian teaching. I don't think we can "win" in Afghanistan unless our allies line up with us, man for man. If we would actually show more Christan respect for each other maybe they would.

    December 6, 2009 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |
  180. David

    For those of you critisizing that he is sending 30,000 versus 40,000, you have no idea what other factors this President has to consider. For example many of you don't know that as of right now we have 50,000 troops that are combat ready right now. If we sent 40,000 that would only leave 10,000 combat ready troops to send if some other conflict broke out. He needs to think about more than just this one conflict and this one country. He dealing with a hostile Iran, North Korean, and other possible threats. Some of you should have a little faith that this man has a lot more information at his disposal. The Republicans always want to talk about Victory. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not as simple as blowing up and killing enemies and that's it. Victory is not as clear as some past wars. We have to set goals and if we meet those goals, then we are successful. Then we get the heck out of there and let the Afghans take over their own country's security.

    December 6, 2009 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |
  181. Jeanne H.

    After 8 years of no policy in Afghanistan, it's time for somebody to make the hard decision even if this situation was caused by somebody else's stupidity.

    December 6, 2009 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |
  182. Libertarian

    about time we got back to the real business here!!
    Have we found any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq yet?

    GW was still just trying to win approval from Dad on that one. After he bankrupt TWO businesses Daddy GAVE him.
    MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! LOL

    GOBAMA!

    December 6, 2009 01:18 pm at 1:18 pm |
  183. La Chatte

    People support him for the moment. Just wait until we extricate ourselves. Here we go again.

    December 6, 2009 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |
  184. bmw

    Although I'd rather avoid war, I agree with President Obama's decision to send more troops to clean up the mess in Afghanistan left by the Bush administration. The withdrawal timeline is also necessary to serve notice to Afghanistan that America (a) does not intend to occupy the country, and (b) will only give them 18 more months of our resources.

    December 6, 2009 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |
  185. I am the flacid and powerless wizard of Rush

    Yesterday's poll: Bad for Obama
    Today's poll: Good for Obama

    My Poll: Too may freakin' polls.

    December 6, 2009 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |
  186. diy

    His policy was dead on the same as Bush's minus the time table. So the libs agree because they are blind and will support anything Obama says. The conservatives agree with the policy because it was Bush's policy... This poll is common sense.

    December 6, 2009 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |
  187. James, Ho. TX

    OK Obama if your sending more troops to Afghanistan; Why don't You lead the Charge? You Know, Ala Teddy Roosevelt; Walk the Talk, Commander in Chief. Joe Biden can send You, "Care Packages".

    December 6, 2009 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |
  188. Pineapple Express

    Reading some of these comments make me sad.

    December 6, 2009 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |
  189. FactCheck

    Ah, the loony wing-nuts. Screaming, yelling, watching FOX... doing everything to convince themselves of a Republican uprising in 2010 and 2012. It ain't gonna happen. The Republicans are like the giants panda and the Vancouver marmot... a species on the verge of total extinction.

    December 6, 2009 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  190. NYC REPUB

    I support this President on all if not most issues......As a moderate republican, it's hilarious to see both parties try to put Obama in a box and say this is who he is.......truth be told, the President is a pragmatist, w/ no allegiance to ideology, but to what works.

    Obama 2012.

    December 6, 2009 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  191. John in Tampa

    Some people complain that Obama never used the word 'victory.'

    He shouldn't. It's not a game.

    December 6, 2009 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |
  192. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran - To: "Selina"

    Selina, when you say you don't like Obama, are you talking about him personally (looks, youthful appearnce, color, race, education, success, author, etc.). Or is Obama's foreign and domestic agenda policies and health care stance at odds with your political ideas?

    December 6, 2009 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |
  193. Former Republican now proud Dem! Obama 2 Termer!

    To Selina who didnt vote at all last year: Thank you! Somehow i get the feeling that the country is better off without your vote, hate and Negativity!

    December 6, 2009 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |
  194. scorpio

    Nobel peace prize for Obama!! ....lol

    I thought he is going bring CHANGE he talked about!! But sorry, I don't see him doing anything he talked about!
    On top of that Nobel proce for peace..was biggest joke!

    December 6, 2009 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |
  195. C. Farrell, Houston, Tx

    To disagree with President Obama is to agree with Karzai who clearly prefers Bush's plan of no exit and to stay and pay forever.

    December 6, 2009 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |
  196. MikeH

    Kim in Iowa;

    Don't waste your time trying to use rational arguments with the likes of Woonsocket.

    Folks like this are either irrational ingnorant extremists, or paid liars of the Republican Party, given stipends to post right-wing extremist trash on these forums.

    December 6, 2009 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |
  197. slp

    I can't believe that I am saying this but there is something here that I have to commend the president on. For the first time in his presidency, he made a decision that didn't pander to his left base supporters. A lot of liberals are furious with him for this decision. However, this decision has a lot of problems. First of all, General McChrystal asked for 40,000 troops. President Obama is sending 30,000. Next, he gave a date of withdrawal. All that does is let the enemy know to lay low for a while and then continue their mayhem once we withdraw. It seems to me that he doesn't have confidence that we can win this thing. That is not good coming from the commander and chief of the armed forces. it doesn't do a lot to boost the confidence of our troops. It does, however, give our enemy lots of confidence.

    December 6, 2009 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |
  198. steven harnack

    When I picture a Woonsocket I see a creature with a bloated body(kind of like Rush), long spindly neck and a really tiny head shaped like a socket , the creature designed so its socket head plugs into an orifice between its legs , thus insuring that its only diet is the same recycled "stuff" over and over again.

    December 6, 2009 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |
  199. Chris in California

    Hi Woonsuckit,

    Just for the record, Bill Ayers was NOT invited to the inaugural and does NOT confer with the president regularly.

    Oh, and you might find this funny, but the Secret Service reads these posts too so start looking over your shoulder you paranoid, racist loser.

    December 6, 2009 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |
  200. Don in Albuquerque

    Floundering health care reform, that is now a gift to the insurance companies, credit card reform that resulted in skyrocketing interest rates, heal the banks and Wall Street so they can continue doing exactly what they were doing only now they laugh at Main Street and the POTUS. AND now lets re-invent W's war, that even he was smart enough to see he could not win. Besides what constitutes winning?
    Trillions spent on every dog with a fea, but we still have growing homeless, uninsured, and people dying without insurance. SOL America, and business as usual.

    Next elections I will spend my shoe leather going door to door to make sure the POTUS is not reelected, and neither are any membes of the House or Senate on both sides of the Aisle.

    December 6, 2009 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |
  201. valwayne

    Imagine you are a soldier risking his/her life in Afghanistan or you are about to be sent to risk your life over the next 6 months or so. After watching Obama dither month after month you finally got to watch his decision and speech. What did you see? A President who decided to send 3/4 of the troops his Generals requested. A President who is so committed to the mission and victory over the Taliban and Murdering Terrorists that he's going to start pulling troops out just after the last ones in the current surge arrive. The Taliban and the Murdering Terrorists also know that troops will start leaving in 18 months. Is what our soldiers deserver from the nation?

    December 6, 2009 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |
  202. imalwaysright

    The "change" is there's a plan.

    December 6, 2009 01:57 pm at 1:57 pm |
  203. Randall from Detroit now in Torrance, CA - Desert Storm Veteran - To: "Bill"

    Bill, you seem like an intelligent man and I served with the Marines too but am now USN retired. Do you really think Obama could pull off not being a U.S. citizen and then getting elected to the Illinois Senate? There would have been a lot of people in the bureacracy to have missed that fact. How do you explian that? Everyone who had a need-to-know actually had no physical legitimate artifact (i.e., a birth certificate) to prove his citizenship??? That is absurd. I am a securiy administrator for the Department of Defense and I'm here to tell you that nobody even gets a job with the government without being vetted 100%. How can you possibly believe that everyone in the chain of responsibility for vetting Obama's citizenship failed to notice Barack is not a U.S. citizen? If Obama is not a U.S. citizen, then America has bigger problems than we ever imagined. If that were the case, we owe the Director of the Secret Service a formal apology when he said he was responsible for not stopping the two Whiten House dinner crashers the other day recently. The Secret Service actions pale in comparison if the government actually failed to validate Obama before he made it to the Senate and now as POTUS.

    The illegal immigrant problem is significant, but don't you think that stopping endless unnecesary wars would free up some federal money to help with health care? Opponents to health care reform are quick to say the government has no business providing health care and running such a system in the first place. But they see nothing wrong with allowing insurance company CEOs and companies to rake in billions of dollars in profits while the least amongst us die without that access every year. Every U.S. Senator and congressman should get on their knees and ask God to forgive them for how neglegent and irresponsible they are for ignoring and shunning those who need but cannot afford basic medical care in this blessed "In-God-We-Trust" nation. It's inexcusable.

    December 6, 2009 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |
  204. Truth-Bomb Thrower

    I was all for the invasion of Afghanistan, but when the U.S. government started seeing nation building as the main goal instead of the killing or apprehending Bin Laden and his lieutenants is when the war effort went awry in my opinion.

    The fact of the matter is we can kill all the people we want, spend all the money we want, and have all the photo ops we want, and it won't make any difference in the end. The Taliban (and afghan government corruption in general) is like weeds that have already gone to seed. As soon as we leave and stop tending the garden, the weeds will just spring back and the Taliban will be as strong as ever. Everyone who is killed in Afghanistan is dying in vain. We need to capture or kill Bin Laden, swiftly execute him, and the GET OUT! Unfortunately the Pakistani military could have Bin Laden TOMORROW if it really wanted him, but that is a whole different story.

    December 6, 2009 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |
  205. Rush

    It's got to be that way. We love you President Obama!

    December 6, 2009 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |
  206. ICARE

    It's sad that WE always have to do the dirty job and spend billions and trillions while other countries benefit from it. Do we have to pay back our debtors? Cant they forgive us the way we forgive others for their debts?

    December 6, 2009 02:09 pm at 2:09 pm |
  207. Jerry

    It's about time this idiot President did something half-right. Announcing the 2011 withdrawal was the most moronic decision about a war that I have seen a president of the USA make in my life-time.

    Now if he could make a half-right decision on the health care issue, his ratings might go back above 50 per cent.

    December 6, 2009 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |
  208. ICARE

    Well, investing in war is a bad idea for now. The Obie camp really needs to sit down and strategize what can be done to grow jobs. He needs to sit down with Nobel Prize economists and INVEST heavily in sectors that will grow future job.

    This is the job we voted him to do, not chase after a dying dog. We could use that military money to jumpstart just about every private sector that will fuel job growth.

    Go green or go extinct!! We should have invest heavily into green jobs in the past 8 years, but instead, we invested in DA war.

    It's sad to see him follow the same path of the Zombies.

    December 6, 2009 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  209. Fan of Common Sense

    If we are not going to devote ourselves to one goal and ONE GOAL ONLY–and that is CAPTURE AND/OR KILL BIN LADEN and his cronies–then we need to get out and get out NOW!! Enough of this nation building nonsense. All these people know is tyranny, corruption, and violence. It's simply ingrained in their culture. We're tyring to teach chimps how to play chess for God sake!

    December 6, 2009 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |
  210. ICARE

    About the announcing date... I dont think Obie Kenobie had a choice. People want to know a start date and an end date. They dont want to see USA committed to the land of the wandering zombies so he had to give it a date, but you know, date are meaningless.

    I dont know. I dont know where he got or who recommended Mc Chrystal to him. I cant believe the first thing this general wanted to do was go out there and chase them devils without even thinking the whole picture. Obama had to actually sit down for months and review the whole entire thing.

    For one thing, I think Bush is the smarter man for not pursuing or doing anything about the Afghan war.

    December 6, 2009 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |
  211. ICARE

    To A Canadian

    Funny that you said those words, I was thinking about DAT myself. We spend billions overseas and we get nothing back and WE'RE Totally HAPPY.

    We start spending on ourselves and everyone CRIES socialism. We shouldnt ask the government to provide for us, but it's right to ask the government to do the right thing and UNIFORMLY serve all for the better.

    Sorry to disappoint you but US citizens were never too bright :)

    December 6, 2009 02:22 pm at 2:22 pm |
  212. Bill

    Selina, it's good that you enjoy Glen and company. I tried watching him cry daily and it looks really pathetic. It's good that you enjoy Bill. I tried watching him bully people and he is an uncomfortable person to look at with his mean streak. But in the end I just feel sad that these pions are just pawns in the Murdoch hate fest. At least the heartless and mindless folks in the US have a place to turn for their daily dose of pablum.
    Now for those idiots that think that marxism and socialism are somehow related, please do your research. Jesus was a socialist, not a marxist. You Fox sheep please try to remember that at church today.

    December 6, 2009 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |
  213. JonDie

    In 2001, Bush & Cheney sent our soldiers to hunt for bin Laden and to defeat the Taliban. Then they called it off.

    And by the begining of 2002 and all the way until late 2008, Bush & Cheney abandoned our troops in Afghanistan with no military leadership, no mission and no strategy.

    Republicans, including John "votes with Bush 90% of the time" McCain rubberstamped these Bush-Cheney mistakes that may have literally cost us any chance of defeating the Taliban no matter what Obama does.

    So I don't much care what these senile, old fools have to say about anything, especially anything about Afghanistan.

    December 6, 2009 02:27 pm at 2:27 pm |
  214. slp

    JT the Show Me State College Freshman,

    Since you are so gungho on being "nice" when are you going to condemn the post that comes from your fellow liberal, Randall from Detroit. Have you read it? Scroll on down and take a look. Oh yeah, I forgot, you only tell conservatives who don't agree with you to be nice. You, my friend, have more growing up to do than you know. But you are young, maybe you will learn.

    December 6, 2009 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |
  215. Bill

    Hey woonsocket. Put a sock in it. Another birther that that can't think for yourself. Do your research, you moron.

    I was wondering if all you haters ever have a pleasant thought as you trod through your miserable hate filled lives?

    For all you haters of immigration, Feliz Navidad!

    December 6, 2009 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |
  216. ICARE

    I believe we will win! The muslim world is not going to come and help the Talibans. I believe most muslims do not like the way Talibans treat the human race. They're a twisted group.

    Meanwhile, set up camp and graze with the camels. We'll be there UNTIL the last DOG dies or until our debtors no longer finance any of our operations, (just like Rome).

    But while we are at it, let's also blow a mountain up to get to Iran. It will help save time and money for the next war with the Iranians.

    December 6, 2009 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |
  217. Eric

    According to what poll? I don't know a single person who agrees with the troop surge. All I hear everywhere is what a mistake!

    December 6, 2009 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |
  218. Mark B

    Carl December 6th, 2009 11:12 am ET
    Let's all remember that Afghanistan was BUSH'S MESS. He and Cheney created it over eight years of serious neglect.

    My god, you folks blaming bush for everything a year after he left office are as bad as the goons wanting to see Obamas Birth Certificate.

    I did not vote for Obama, but I do not like his policies. But I have dropped the Birtht hing and the Rev Wright crap. It is over, lets move past it.
    AND, all of you Obama supporters, let Bush go. It is time to get past it, it is NOW Obamas country to run and ruin. WHichever comes first.
    Bush is history,,,,, grow up and stop saying,,, he did it, he did it. Like some little playground school child.

    December 6, 2009 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  219. Go Barak Obama!!!!

    People need to understand there will be no open comittment to Afghanistan. If we gave open comittments to every country where Terorists were nomadically settled, while giving tax cuts to the rich, and making the poor/middle class fund our war. Our country would become bankrupt very quickly. This is just how Bush dismantled our economic system....with some assistance from fraudulent sub-prime mortgage CDO accounts by Hedgefund managers on deregulated Wall Street. Obama has been elected to implement the discontinuation of Coporate Socialism in America......and he's doing it. Good job Barak !!!!

    December 6, 2009 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |
  220. John

    To Bill:
    I find it ironic that you predict that only sending 500000 more troops will prevent another Vietnam, yet the solution you envision is EXACTLY what we've done in Vietnam. I haven't spent as long in the military as you have but I will be on my second tour soon so I do have some insight as to modern Warfare

    I've done grad school in econ and your theories on illegal immigration are factually incorrect, also you might want to research public goods and network externalities to get some insight as to why a private market ALONE cannot deal with things such as health care. but that's not the subject at hand.

    Modern Warfare isn't all about numbers anymore as it was during the 20th century, any military tactics class will tell you this within the first week. If it were easy it would have already been done.
    AS for all of those who are ranting about the withdrawal date from their couches, I will be THERE and I can assure you, that giving the sense of an open ended commitment is a strategic mistake.
    because:
    a) it is not the date at which the last soldier will be out, it is the START of the transfer of responsibilities, what is so confusing about that?

    b) even if the Taliban wait out for 2 years until we leave do you thing that WE will be waiting doing nothing? Do you thing that we will be leaving the country in the same strategic settings as it is today? Them waiting out would be the best thing that can happen to us, giving us time to regain tactical advantages throughout the country.

    c) right now pakistan is pushing hard on the taliban so even if they wanted to wait out 2 years they couldn't afford to do so.

    Now I don't agree with several issues that the president has put on the table, but Bill if you still believe that he isn't a citizen of this country then I think you are helpless. Because even with a high resolution scan of his birth certificate available online you will claim it's a fake, even if Jesus himself came down to say that he was born here you would say that that mustn't be Jesus.
    But the bottom line is that his mother was American (unless you believe that that is not true either) and so even if he was born in Kenya, he is born a UNited States Citizen. Deal with it. You can try to vote him out of office in 2012, that's how this great country wokrs.

    God bless the USA

    December 6, 2009 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  221. Michele

    "Geaux Tigers December 6th, 2009 12:09 pm ET

    Do any of you people that continue to bash Bush know that in 2006 the democrats took control of congress and that is when the economy started going down hill."

    Right, they took CONTROL with a slim majority and Bush vetoed every single bill they sent him that had anything to do with the "general welfare," and only signed war funding. The economy was headed downhill long before 2006...but it sure is easier to blame everything on Obama and the Dems, isn't it? And as far as the economy, think where we would be if Bush had not jumped at the chance to start another war, and spent all those unaccounted for trillions on his defense contractor friends? We could have had health care, a healthy economy, and not be in debt to China up to our eyeballs. It IS Bush's fault.

    December 6, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |
  222. Jeremiah

    just like iraq.....this will be the same result.....we dont learn do we?

    December 6, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |
  223. Jeremiah

    Gary- your liberal president is the one sending troops, not the repubs. Obama and Bush are both useless

    December 6, 2009 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |
  224. em

    Afghanistan war was inherited from GWB. President Obama has handled this war by actually examing all the aspects of the war.Going over details,strategy. What works,what doesn't. Planning a strategy and executing it..Using his brain,not his gut.

    December 6, 2009 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  225. Pragmatic

    Question: This is what President Obama has decided after careful consideration: Afghanistan has no easy answers: going in – staying in – pulling out all offer immense challenges.

    What do you think the alternative choice of leadership, McCain/Palin would have done ... and would you be happier with that decision?

    December 6, 2009 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |
  226. Robert

    "Sending more troops is the only correct path. If we left, we'd be attacked again. The HUGE mistake Amateur Boy made was announcing a date to leave. You don't win a war by announcing a date you'll give up and go home. Anyone who was a fit Commander-in-Chief would know that."

    Someone named Mike wrote this nonsense. Well, Mike.... the generals have tesitifed that the targeted withdrawl date is a valuable part of this new policy. You see Mike, it incentivisez the Afghans to step up their efforts to take over their own country.

    Nobody announced a date where we'd give up and go home. Rather the president set the withdrawl date as a goal and said it would only happen if the conditions on the ground warranted it.

    Did you miss all that????

    December 6, 2009 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |
  227. Stephen

    Oh my goodness.

    People like Woonsocket, Beck, Limbaugh, and Palin, keep on hating instead of discussing anything civilly. They're the ones who're trying to make this great nation a laughingstock.

    Quit spewing hate and conspiracy theories and try...just TRY, once at least...to come to the table for a normal, adult, discussion of the issues.

    December 6, 2009 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |
  228. mavcal

    These Americans must be the same sheep that voted for Obama and can't own up to the reality that he is an ineffectual leader, more master of ceremonies than commaner-in-chief. Anyone with any sense could see that Obama was pressured into his so-callled "decision" by the military forces and that at best he is loaded with ambivalance about continuting a war that should have never started to begin with. And now we have the 2010 predictions coming from John Hougey who states that Obama will regret the day he put more troops into Afghanistan, that the decision was ill-fated and that the economy will take another downturn before 2010 is up. Plus, I really don't believe anything CNN reports anymore – they are still so biased.

    December 6, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |
  229. Jim in Florida

    "That's one major way that Afghanistan is different from Iraq in the public's mind," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "At the time of the Iraq surge in 2007, most Americans questioned whether that war was justified."
    -----------------------

    Keating, then again, in 2007 the people had the media hammering a message that the war in Iraq wasn't justified, hammering that message each and every day from Day 1 of the war.

    Along comes Obama – takes him several months to decide he is sending 30k troops to Afghanistan – Obama doesn't listen to the General he selected to lead the war effort – and suddenly the war in Afghanistan is golden.

    The media drumbeat determines how most polled Americans respond to the polls – most do not have a clue what is at stake in that part of the world – it is all much bigger than Afghanistan, which is a small part of the overall war on terror (it's a war on terror regardless of the fact that Obama and his media corps, CNN included, do not want to call it a war on terror).

    We've investigated the wad-wastes who rashed Obama's party – it's about high time that Obama ibnstruct his lap dogs in the House to investigate Fort Hood.

    Remember Fort Hood?

    Anyone in the media remember?

    December 6, 2009 03:41 pm at 3:41 pm |
  230. Perusing-through

    THE REPUBLICANS ARE PATHETIC

    It is now clear Bush & Darth (Cheney) sent the minimum number of troops and gear to Afghanistan because they had plans to use the nation's limited resources in a pre-emptive war with Iraq.

    Nearly 7-years after Bush & Darth redirected valuable resources desperately needed in Afghanistan over to Iraq, and after 4,400+ dead and 45,000 wounded U.S. servicemen; plus 400,000 killed Iraqi citizens with 4-million displaced Iraqis; Darth Cheney has the nerve to accuse President Obama of dithering. Darth is a lying hypocrite.

    December 6, 2009 04:00 pm at 4:00 pm |
  231. Bill

    I forget to mention I'm xenophobic and it really surfaces in my political assumptions. I declare immigrants are taking all of our jobs. Yet I voted for Bush who outsourced those jobs to other countries. I want Immigration reform because I'm xenophobic. Yet I voted for Bush who enjoys cheap labor for Coporate America from immigrants. I guess I'm stuck in contradiction between my racial values and ineptitude about economics. Please help me..........

    December 6, 2009 04:00 pm at 4:00 pm |
  232. Independent

    i would give woosocket some credit..he did back his thoughts with facts..just because someone doesnt WANT to believe it doesnt make it untrue...i will admit too that i am tired of the "bush, bush, bush" excuses...at what point does this administration take on its responsiblity...oh thats right..when its good news..i didnt like bush when he was in office..couldnt stand some of his positions ...but geez im starting to respect him more now

    December 6, 2009 04:17 pm at 4:17 pm |