Hack, please remember that some of us (who did not even vote for Bush, (id est; Me, Joe Lieberman, et al)) feel we have to stay longer now, even though we find ourselves in a situation we didn't want to find ourselves in.

In the case of at least this guy, I assure you I have not eagerly, nor without questioning the competence (of MANY involved in this conflict), arrived at a decision that we need to stay long enough to get Iraq on it's feet and further promote democracy in the middle east.

It has already been too expensive and too long, but reports of real progress are emerging and the friends and family I have both there and back are saying to me (for the most part) that we need to stick it out a bit longer.

Would I have rather it have been Iran or Syria - or no one at all? You betcha. As you have heard me say before "that is where we want to be, this is where we are, now what do we do"? It is possible to just disagree on how best to move forward.

If Richardson has a shot - he still has my vote. I must tell you though; I am hearing things from a close friend in Richardson’s campaign that are NOT good. If not Richardson, I am looking at Rudi pretty close right now. I do NOT like Clinton nor do I think she's ready and I really don't think Obama is ready.

I don’t' care for McCain personally but I respect the fact that he is willing to stand up (be it against torture or for the prolonged deployment in Iraq) to unpopular polling positions that I agree with. I would pick him over Edwards, Obama or Clinton.

I know we need someone with conviction, courage, integrity, and faith and having combat experience is a huge plus for me too.

Richardson, Rudi, or McCain I guess. What about you?

In hoping we did not blunder into Iraq in 2003, I told all of my co workers that the people claiming Iraq would be a cake walk were full of it. Nothing in my three visits there lent credibility to that. In 2005 I wrote in this paper that we would see the situation worsen and that we cannot solve civil unrest for another country. Those that have argued otherwise have been consistently WRONG. I am not inclined to believe them now. The longer we stay, the longer we delay the planning required to leave. The longer we die with no progress towards sunni and shiite mending fences.
As for Presidential politics, I believe if a man will lie to his wife, he will lie to me. I feel one's children know them better than anyone. Rudy's son is a respectable citizen. He does not support his dad. Ground zero first responders don't support Rudy. I cannot support him. His judgement wrt Mr. Kerik is very flawed and indicative of our current croniism problems.

John "Baghdad is safe to walk through" McCain seems dillusional. From his lie about General Petreus driving around in unarmored vehicles, to his deaf support of staying in Iraq for the foreseeable future. He does not represent my interests.

I like Richardson, Edwards, and Obama. This will be an interesting race.

Kevin "Hack" King

It was interesting to see Presidential candidate Bill Richardson call yesterday for bringing ALL troops home by the end of the year, or by March 2008 at the very latest.

I am sure this has got Enigma in a quandry. He criticizes anyone who favors withdrawal, to the point of mocking the military service of those who are of that opinion.

However, his Air Force buddy, Myword_mark is a huge Richardson fan. Gotta wonder if Enigma's head is gonna 'asplode trying to decide what to do!
________________________________________________________
Get your Klanpoints™ today!