But another news item of immense import surfaced today as well: the agreement by the Iraqi and American governments on a deadline for the withdrawal of most U.S. troops by 2011.

Now, aside from the groundbreaking nature of this agreement, I would like to suggest a possible impact on the presidential election.

Given that a large part of the campaign (aside from the economy) is centered around foreign policy (especially Iraq, Afghanistan and, more recently, Georgia), does this agreement not, in some respects, take the issue of when to bring the troops home off the table?

And, if so, does that not hurt Obama more than McCain? As it is, Obama has been able to hammer McCain on his judgment in sending troops to Iraq (while Obama opposed it in the first place) and his (out of context) comment about remaining in Iraq for a hundred years. By losing this as an issue, Obama loses one of his most effective talking points and the motivation for some of his supporters to work so diligently for the campaign.

Hopefully, I am overestimating the impact this agreement will have on the campaign, but it should be interesting to watch unfold.

For the conspiracy theorists out there: Does this also not smack of a President Bush playing politics with the war?

It reminds me of that quote from Kurt von Hammerstein:

I divide officers into four classes — the clever, the lazy, the stupid and the industrious. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy is fit for the very highest command. He has the temperament and the requisite nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious must be removed immediately.

I once thought Bush fit in the clever and lazy category which is good for a President. After a while it became clear that stupid and lazy was closer to the mark which is a bad thing but not the worst. But it’s clear that around him are serried ranks of the stupid and industrious and the sooner the whole lot are gone the better. Is this the worst, most willfully blind wartime leadership in American history? I think it is.

[Hotel Tango: Kings of War]

Ralph Nader, Al Gore, and George W. Bush went to a fitness spa for some fun.   After a stimulating, healthy lunch, all three decided to visit the men’s room and they found a strange-looking gent sitting at the entrance.  He said:

Excited over the possibility of having a wish come true, George W Bush looked into the mirror and said, “I think..,” and was promptly sucked into the mirror. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Hans Klingler at 512/477-9821

Democratic Senate Candidate Noriega Asks “Netroots” Donors to “Step Up” And They Don’t
Dismal Three Day Online Fundraising Effort Further Points to Anemic Start for
Liberal Senate Wannabee

Austin- Today the Republican Party of Texas questioned Democratic Senate wannabee Rick Noriega and the commitment of his “Netroots” community in his quest for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat currently held by Senator John Cornyn.  Noriega challenged his “Netroots” community to step up and donate to his campaign to counter the successful events featuring President George W. Bush on behalf of Senator Cornyn.

“Rick Noriega has requested online money help to kick start his anemic campaign from the most liberal left leaning donors of the national Democratic Party.  Apparently with a whopping three day total of $2,045 via the internet these liberal donors don’t find his candidacy viable,” stated Hans Klingler, Spokesman for the Texas G.O.P.

Noriega has been relying on ACTBLUE, a liberal “online clearinghouse for Democratic action”, to appeal to their most ardent liberal base of donors for contributions to help Rick Noriega’s fledgling campaign.  Noriega’s last campaign contribution report filed in early October reported slightly more than $500,000 raised for this campaign.  Noriega is relying heavily on internet support for his financial contributions.

“Noriega and his liberal cohorts targeted $50,000 in three days and raised $2,045.  Basic campaign fundraising would tell you when you undershoot a small online fundraising goal 96% it probably does not portend good things in the future for your candidacy,” concluded Klingler.

Paid for by the Republican Party of Texas
900 Congress Avenue, Suite 300, Austin, Texas 78701.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

Now go back to the subhead and the first sentence and reread that if you missed the misspelling the first time.

I had no idea Noriega had wings. Too many Red Bulls?

Probably a Freudian slip ’cause they know Noriega is going to sting Cornyn in the ass.

Just for their failure to write correct English (if you can’t speak it, get out of the country!), I’m going to link to Noriega’s online donation page, how ya like dem apples, TRP?

In an interview on MSNBC Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. Cheney said that in the course of researching her husband’s genealogy for her new book, “Blue Skies, No Fences,” she discovered that [Vice President Dick Cheney and presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama] share an ancestor eight generations ago.

. . .

Obama’s family ties to the Bush administration don’t stop with Cheney. According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times last September, Obama is also an 11th cousin of the president himself. The two share a 17th century Massachusetts relative.

There goes Obama’s campaign. No matter how many generations separate he may be from Dick and Bush, there must be some green, reptilian blood still flowing through his veins.

[On a sidenote: It's too bad we didn't know Bush and Dick had a black man in their family in 2000 and 2004. Would've made for some great Republican-style hateful direct-mail pieces and phone-banking.]

Mrs. Cheney won’t be supporting Obama in his presidential run, though. So much for keeping it all in the family.

The Obama campaign had the best reaction:

Obama’s campaign spokesman Bill Burton told CNN’s Dana Bash with tongue in cheek, “Obviously, Dick Cheney is sort of the black sheep of the family.”

Get it? Black? Sheep?

As one story notes, “The Body, The Blood, The Machine,” the band’s third full-length, was produced by Fugazi‘s Brendan Canty, released by Sub Pop and tells the fictitious tale of a young couple attempting to flee a U.S. governed by extreme Christian fascists.

The Body, The Blood, The Machine is well-written and filled with energetic, poppy anthems and, much to the act’s delight, has inspired political debate by both religious and non-religious people. The three Thermals were raised Catholic and they don’t see the album’s 1984-like themes as a cry against organized faiths, but as a worst-case scenario on how bad things could get with the current U.S. administration.

. . .

“It’s gotten people thinking and talking about the state of the U.S. and about how much involvement Christianity has in our government, and how much our government uses Christianity’s influence and affluence for its own agenda. Ultimately, it’s just another viewpoint on the state of things in the U.S., but with a paranoid fantasy/science fiction twist to it. Plus, you can jump up and down to it.

I often find myself jumping up and down when listening to critiques of the religious right.

“It also ended up being a kind of rallying album for the obvious lefties and punkers, but also for Christians who don’t agree with how their religion is being dragged through the mud by the Bush administration and the rest of the Christian right. We’ve gotten a bunch of emails of appreciation from Christian fans, and that’s something I totally didn’t foresee.”

Their next album, “[M]ight be a sequel to the last album, or it could have something to do with cavemen, aliens and time travel. It’s still too early to tell.”

And the difference between that album and the current one would be . . .?

Opinions are one thing. Actually paying close attention and then voicing an opinion is another. Stick to state politics, Mickey B.

Army Chief of Staff George Casey on Tuesday said his heavily deployed force is “out of balance” after six years of operations overseas.

The Army is “consumed” with meeting current demands, making it difficult to prepare forces as rapidly as service leaders would like for future contingencies, Casey said during a speech at the National Press Club. Casey, who served as the top military commander in Iraq before taking over as Army chief in April, also acknowledged that soldiers do not have “acceptable” time off between deployments.

. . .

Over time, these operations have stretched and, as a result, have stressed our all-volunteer force,” Casey said. “But we remain a resilient and committed professional force.”

Efforts to grow the size of the Army by 65,000 troops will require “considerable resources and sustained national commitment” but will ease deployment pressures, Casey added.

Casey also stressed that Army officials do not plan to reinstate a military draft, even as the weight of constant deployments bears down on the all-volunteer Army. “Right now, there is absolutely no consideration, at least within the Army, being given to reinstating the draft,” Casey said. “We are not to that point.”

Casey’s comments come just days after White House Deputy National Security Adviser Douglas Lute said in a National Public Radio interview that the draft has always been “an option on the table.”

Personally, I’m surprised anyone in the administration would leave even that much leeway for interpretation. Bet Cheney ripped him a new asshole when he got off the phone with NPR.

As I’ve always said, I’m happy to head over (my Air Force service notwithstanding) as long as everyone else has to as well — men and women, no deferments for rich kids or college students or any of the other avenues that allowed the current crop of cronies in the White House to get out of serving.

I suppose no one remembers Bush’s inability to name Pakistan’s president before he was elected:

Andy Hiller, a political reporter for WHDH-TV in Boston . . . asked Bush to name the leaders of Chechnya, Taiwan, India and Pakistan. Bush was only able to give a partial response to the query on the leader of Taiwan, referring to Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui simply as “Lee.” He could not name the others.

“Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?” Hiller asked, inquiring about Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, who seized control of the country October 12.

“Wait, wait, is this 50 questions?” asked Bush.

Hiller replied: “No, it’s four questions of four leaders in four hot spots.”

Bush turned the tables on Hiller, though, asking him if he could name the foreign minister of Mexico. Hiller said he could not, but also added he wasn’t running for president.