American Glob

I’m live blogging Obama’s Iraq speech tonight.

7:55 – Here we go. Watching Bret Baier’s opening remarks on FOX.

7:57 – Foreign correspondent in Iraq.

7:58 -  Steve Hayes, Juan Williams and KRAUTHAMMER are on the case. Juan Williams wants Obama to focus on Afghanistan. Shocker.

7:58 – Krauthammer says the world is watching. And listening…

8:01 – Heeeerrrre we go…

8:02 – Decade of war, recession, but this milestone is is a message to the world.

8:02 – First mention of Bush was neutral. Everyone drink!

8:04 – Obama compliments troops. Nice.

8:05 – I am announcing Iraq combat operations are over. MY pledge. MY promise to the American people…

8:06 – Saying everything Bush said about democracy in Iraq.

8:07 – OUR agreement with Iraq? Umm that was Bush’s agreenment, buddy.

8:07 – Great news! Biden is taking care of things in Iraq.

8:08 – Ending this war is in our best interests. It’s been really expensive… of course, not as expensive as the Stimulus or ObamaCare.

8:09 – Today I spoke to W. No one can doubt his commitment to our troops and country. Collect 15 points.

8:10 – Al Quaeda is still a threat. We will keep going after them. Good, good….

8:11 – Props to Petraeus.

8:12 – We’re going to start pulling out of Afghanistan in a year. Lose 5 points.

8:13 – America is the leader of the free world. Collect 10 points.

8:14 – Bush spent way more than me and screwed up our economy. Lose 30 points.

8:15 – Honor our troops by working for the American dream. That sounds nice.

8:16 – Here comes the green economy crap again…. Oh wait. Just new businesses. OK.

8:17 – I’m doing lots of stuff for the military. Unlike last year when I suggested they pay for their own benefits…

8:18 – A story about some soldiers I’ve never talked to or met….

8:19 – Quote of the night… “In an age without surrender ceremonies…”

8:20 – Better days are coming.

8:20 – God bless our troops. Bye.

8:21 – Krauthammer: Well that was flat.

8:22 – Dr. K says war is a “distraction” from what Obama really wants to do.

8:22 – Juan Williams: Hooray! Obama is made of awesome!

8:23 – Steve Hayes: Krauthammer is right. Obama opposed Iraq every step of the way as a candidate.

And now, the O’Reilly Factor.

Boy, that was quick.

Obama’s Memorial Day Speech in Illinois was cut short yesterday due to rain and the threat of lightning.

The Greek God of Olympus, Zeus, known for his pet peeve about hubris and habit of hurling lightning bolts at self-important mortals was pretty much unapproachable for comment.

See the video of Obama canceling his speech after the jump…

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Breitbart covers the media, ACORN, the O’Keefe arrest and talks about the videos he has yet to release.

Awesome.

Wow! CSPAN was finally allowed into the room. Wasn’t it Obama who promised that would happen?

This video is 59 minutes long but Palin’s speech is about 40 minutes long. The rest is a Q & A with the organizer of the event. Enjoy!

Wow. Just wow. Share this far and wide. Newt talks about taking back congress, national security and impeaching Eric Holder. Wow!

Hat tip to AP.

“It’s not exactly the kind of speech that you would have heard from Henry V or Churchill.”

You usually end up making everyone miserable.

That’s my take on President Obama’s Afghanistan speech tonight.

On one hand…

He tried to appease the right by announcing that he’s sending 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. He seemed genuinely concerned about national security. He talked about freedom and liberty. He spoke respectfully of the United States Military and the sacrifices made by our service members.

On the other hand…

To satisfy his base, he coupled his announcement of a troop increase with an immediate disclosure of their departure date. He made absolutely no reference to the accomplishments of the previous administration but did take a few shots at them. I wonder if I’m the only one who noticed his careful use of the term “tools” of mass destruction. He dare not say “weapons” of mass destruction. Predictably, he followed up his praise of the USA with the usual “we’ve made mistakes” BS.

Finally, I didn’t think the president had anything new to say. His entire speech was rounded out by the usual “Let me be clear…” and “There are those who will say…” statements.

I think Obama is trying too hard to be everything to everyone.

That rarely works.

Dick Cheney made a speech last night at the Center for Security Policy. One of the highlights of the speech was his remarks on the situation in Afghanistan. The video is twenty-five minutes long.

If you have the time, I recommend watching the whole thing. Cheney really goes after Obama on national security and the danger of putting politics before safety. He also reveals that the Obama Administration used the plan for Afghanistan that was handed to them by the Bush Administration, despite the fact that team O continually runs around claiming otherwise.

Final word? Unpresidential.

Those are the words of Doug A. Coulter, head of private equity for LGT Capital Partners when asked to describe Sarah Palin’s speech in Hong Kong which he attended.

The quote comes from a story about the speech in the New York Times:

“A number of people who heard the speech in a packed hotel ballroom, which was closed to the media, said Mrs. Palin spoke from notes for 90 minutes and that she was articulate, well-prepared and even compelling.”

“The speech was wide-ranging, very balanced, and she beat all expectations,” said Doug A. Coulter, head of private equity in the Asia-Pacific region for LGT Capital Partners.”

“She didn’t sound at all like a far-right-wing conservative. She seemed to be positioning herself as a libertarian or a small-c conservative,” he said, adding that she mentioned both Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. “She brought up both those names.”

“Mrs. Palin said she was speaking as “someone from Main Street U.S.A.,” and she touched on her concerns about oversized federal bailouts and the unsustainable American government deficit.”

Something tells me Governor Palin has been following the Tea Parties in the news very closely.

File this in the department of “things that make you go, hmmm.”