Lunching with Obama

By GottaLaff

Via Taegan, Politico reports on a lunch fest pre-Obama Afghanistan speech:

Among those who attended: Joe Klein of Time, Fareed Zakaria or Newsweek, and Tom Friedman of the New York Times.

One out of three ain't bad. I'd love to meet Fareed.

Now let's sit back and wait for the criticisms from the Blechfast Club.

VIDEO: Fareed Zakaria Matthew Hoh Who Resigned In Protest Over Afghanistan

By GottaLaff

"We don't know why we're here" indeed:

CNN's Fareed Zakaria Interviews State Department Official Matthew Hoh Who Resigned In Protest Over Afghanistan War - 11/01/09

Fareed is an excellent interviewer who has equally excellent guests. I am so glad Matthew Hoh was one of them.

H/t: Hippie_Cyndi

Video- Hillary Clinton erupts in laughter at the mention of 'John Bolton'

Double damn skippy.

VIDEO-- Colin Powell slams Palin: I’m from the South Bronx, ‘and there’s nothing wrong with my value system.’

By GottaLaff

Pitiful Palin and her "small town values" are no match for Colin Powell. Suh-nap:

In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that will air this weekend, former Secretary of State Colin Powell sharply criticized the Republican party and it’s “value system,” taking particular aim at Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).

My respect for Powell dropped drastically after his little WMD presentation to the U.N., but that doesn't mean he can't talk rings around Idiot Spice.

In addition, there's this:

Powell also says that we should rethink its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military.

Fareed Zakaria endorses Obama

By GottaLaff

Just now on CNN, Fareed Zakaria endorsed Barack Obama, not only for his good ideas and temperament, but also because McCain represents the past, and Obama represents the future.

GObama!

VIDEO: CNN's Fareed Zakaria slams Sarah Palin

By GottaLaff



As was also mentioned here, Zakaria says that IWRC* Palin "clearly does not understand the question". "The scary answer was on the economy... she simply did not understand any of the issues involved, did not understand the question."

H/t: Alec

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

Fareed Zakaria: "Obama has been strikingly honest... but don't call him naive"

By GottaLaff

Fareed Zakaria calls Barack Obama a "foreign policy realist":

The rap on Barack Obama, at least in the realm of foreign policy, has been that he is a softheaded idealist who thinks that he can charm America's enemies. [...]

These critiques, however, are off the mark. Over the course of the campaign against Hillary Clinton and now McCain, Obama has elaborated more and more the ideas that would undergird his foreign policy as president. What emerges is a world view that is far from that of a typical liberal, much closer to that of a traditional realist. It is interesting to note that, at least in terms of the historical schools of foreign policy, Obama seems to be the cool conservative and McCain the exuberant idealist.

I have to disagree. McZzzz isn't what I'd call the "exuberant" anything.

Obama has been strikingly honest about his inclinations and inspirations. [...] Obama rarely speaks in the moralistic tones of the current Bush administration. He doesn't divide the world into good and evil even when speaking about terrorism. He sees countries and even extremist groups as complex, motivated by power, greed and fear as much as by pure ideology. His interest in diplomacy seems motivated by the sense that one can probe, learn and possibly divide and influence countries and movements precisely because they are not monoliths. When speaking to me about Islamic extremism, for example, he repeatedly emphasized the diversity within the Islamic world, speaking of Arabs, Persians, Africans, Southeast Asians, Shiites and Sunnis, all of whom have their own interests and agendas.

No! Stop! I can't take it! After nearly 8 years of dim-bulbdom, it's too much! Kind of like being in a dark room and suddenly opening the door into bright, blinding sunlight. Must... get... stupid fix. Need... more... slackwittednessessnesness... cough, wheeze....

Obama never uses the soaring language of Bush's freedom agenda, preferring instead to talk about enhancing people's economic prospects, civil society and—his key word—"dignity."

One thing with which Bush can never be associated: Dignity.

As important as what Obama says is what he passes up -- a series of obvious cheap shots against Bush.

Damn. I do kinda wish he'd dabble in that a little more. Oh well, can't have everything.

Ironically, the Republicans now seem to be the foreign-policy idealists, labeling countries as either good or evil, refusing to deal with nasty regimes, fixating on spreading democracy throughout the world and refusing to think in more historical and complex ways. "I don't do nuance," George W. Bush [said].

That is ironic! The Republicans have become everything they've mocked! Why, that would make them, what's the word again? Oh yeah: Hypocrites.

Obama and McCain are obviously mixtures of both realism and idealism. [...] A foreign policy that is impractical will fail and one that lacks ideals is unworthy of the United States. But the balance that each leader establishes is always different, and my main point is that Obama seems -- unusually for a modern-day Democrat -- highly respectful of the realist tradition. And McCain, to an extent unusual for a traditional Republican, sees the world in moralistic terms.

Let me think... who else sees the world that way, all moralistic and such? Wait, wait, don't tell me. Starts with a G... W... Forget it, it'll come to me.

So what have we learned about the real difference between Obama and McScowlyJowly?

In the end, the difference between Obama and McCain might come down to something beyond ideology -- temperament. McCain is a pessimist about the world, seeing it as a dark, dangerous place where, without the constant and vigorous application of American force, evil will triumph. Obama sees a world that is in many ways going our way. [...] Call him an Optimistic Realist, or a Realistic Optimist. But don't call him naive.

We won't. We promise. We're not that naive.

Fareed Zakaria and Barack Obama: Part 4, U.S. approval abroad

By GottaLaff

Fareed: You're going to Europe, Middle East. You have 86% approval in France. Will that worry some here?

Obama: As I travel around the U.S. people understand that there's been a diminished regard ... of the U.S. over the years. It's not just about being liked, but also we have less leverage. America's ready for a president who doesn't alienate the world. This [approval number] is just a bonus, we'll see how long that lasts.

My job is to make sure Americans are confident that I'll advocate for them, keep them safe... by paying attention to the rest of the world. By leading by values and ideas.

Zakaria and Obama, Part 3, Iraq

By GottaLaff

Just in: 9 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan.

Fareed and Barack, two awfully bright men, have a conversation, billed as a broader discussion than usual:

Fareed: The chief beneficiary of Iraq War is Iran, you've said. If we leave, would it cede it to Iran?

Obama: I don't think so. I've never talked about "leaving the field" entirely, but not having permanent bases and getting our combat troops out. We'd leave some in to provide training, logistical support... Not abandoning. I'll make sure, based on conditions, how to carry this out without a large force. But preventing Iran from too much influence: Make sure the government has capacity, insure that we end corruption... The stronger their government is ON ITS OWN, will prevent that... [Iran problem] ... This will be messy, there's no easy solution to the blunder by this administration. There will be some progress, some slippage. We have to make sure that by w/drawing, we mount diplomacy and reach out to allies to isolate Iran if it keeps pursuing unacceptable foreign policy decisions.

Fareed: 10 years from now, troops?

Obama: I try not to put numbers out... No permanent bases, combat forces, unending McCain commitment: mistake that fans Anti American sentiment and Iran mischief.

Fareed Zakaria talks to Barack Obama: liveblog Part One

By GottaLaff

Fareed and Barack, two awfully bright men, have a conversation, billed as a broader discussion than usual:

Fareed: What shaped your foreign policy, your first memory?

Obama: My mother telling me she was marrying an Indonesian and we were moving to Jakarta. It made me realize how big the world was. This was about a year after a coup. As a young boy, for me, it was a magical place. As an American, it made me realize what an enormous privilege it is being American, especially then when the gap in wealth between the West and East was bigger at that time.

The generals there were living in lavish mansions, government worked for insiders, not for the people. Rules of law have to be abided by. It made me appreciate America that much more.

Fareed: End of Cold War, college:

Obama: Having lived in Hawaii and overseas, and having a mom who practiced micro financing early on, helping women enter into the economy, it was natural for me to be interested in national affairs. Viet Nam wasn't formative for me, it was an earlier generation. The Cold War was, I developed interest in the Third World, nuclear issues.

Farreed: Islamic extemism?

Obama: Terrorism, groups that are resisting modernity due to ethnic, religious identities, can be driven to extremism, that's a severe threat. Not the only one. When I lived in Indonesia, late '60s early '70s, Indonesia wasn't the same culture as the Middle East. The brand of Islam was different. Islam wasn't inherently opposed to the West or the rule of law, but now you see some extremist elements. There's some correlation of the financial crisis and the acceleration of Islamic extremist forces... a shift, not a direct correlation... due to failures of governments to work with these countries.. make sure there's bottom up economic growth.

We have to hunt down those who are violent to move their agenda forward, go after Al Qaeda, but also shrink the pool of recruits, by engaging the Islamic world rather than villifying it. Those who are violent are a tiny fraction of the Islamic world, and the Islam world is averse.. they shouldn't be lumped together with those who are extremists.

Fareed: If Osama bin Laden were caught?

Obama: If alive, U.S. justice, world justice should be brought down on him. I'm not a cheerleader for the death penalty... but planning the killing of 3000 Americans justifies such an approach. The fact we've failed to seriously go after Al Qaeda, due to the war in Iraq... we're seeing consequences in Afghanistan: Drug trafficking, poppy growth, a need to organize judiciary and police forces... We allowed the Taliban, Al Qaeda to regenerate. As president, I'll correct that.

Barack Obama on Fareed Zakaria's GPS this Sunday

By GottaLaff

ObamAlert!

This week on

An exclusive interview. Senator Barack Obama answers the tough questions on the world's greatest crises, from Iraq to Afghanistan, from Israel to Iran. Don’t miss what promises to be one of the best interviews of the year!

GPS, CNN Sunday at 1pm ET.

Be there or be square. I'll most likely liveblog it.

Fareed Zakaria on CNN's "tradition"

By GottaLaff

I watched Fareed Zakaria's new CNN show today, and he did something highly unusual. He discussed substantive topics... at length. Remember that? Remember when substance was what CNN offered, instead of force-feeding us tabloid news, sound bites, gaudy graphics, and talking points? I do.

At the end of his show, Fareed showed a montage of clips dating back to the very first CNN broadcast. Then he said this:

"I will try to carry on that tradition."

Interesting choice of words. "That tradition". Not the tradition since that one, but "that tradition". Based on his first effort, he may come close. I hope he meant what he said. I miss that CNN.

Fareed Zakaria officially has his own CNN time slot

By GottaLaff

Slo-o-ow day. Here's some CNN programming news:

The much-discussed Fareed Zakaria CNN program now has a timeslot — the AP's David Bauder reports "Fareed Zakaria — GPS," premieres next Sunday at 1pmET. The guest on the first show will be former British prime minister Tony Blair.

He's been a frequent member of CNN's TBPNTOTV!!!* He's an author who has also been a recurring guest on The Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, and other shows.

*THE BEST POLITICAL NEWS TEAM ON TELEVISION!!!