Top diplomats say Obama presidency would sent a message to the world

[Chris]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Three former US secretaries of state said Monday that Americans would send a huge, powerful and electrifying message to the world if they elect Barack Obama as their first black president.

Offering foreign policy advice for the next president at a panel in Washington, Republicans James Baker and Colin Powell and Democrat Madeleine Albright all agreed the election of Obama, a Democrat, would be positive.

"I think electing the first African American president would send a powerful message not just abroad, but within this country as well," Baker, who served President George H.W. Bush in the 1990s, told the audience.

"Having said that, I have of course endorsed Senator (John) McCain," he said, triggering laughter from the students and diplomats during the CNN-moderated discussion at George Washington University.

Albright, who served under President Bill Clinton, said: "I think it would send a huge message in terms of what America stands for and in terms of diversity and potential. And I of course am supporting Senator Obama."

Her remarks triggered both cheers and strong applause.

Powell said he agreed with his colleagues but said he had not decided for whom to vote yet.

"I think that there's no question it would send that kind of messge. I think it would be electrifying," said Powell, who served under President George W. Bush during his first term.

"But at the same time we have to make a judgment here within our country as to which of the candidates brings the right measure of experience and judgment to the task and (who) would be best for America," Powell said.

"I know them both extremely well and I have not decided whom I'm going to vote for yet," he said.

"And I'm anxious to see what the debates are going to be like because we have to get off this lipstick on a pig stuff," he said, triggering laughter and applause.

Former top diplomats say Obama win would send message to world - Yahoo! News

 

[007]

Well when a well qualified black man presents himself as a Presidential candidate, he might get elected. Hussein ain't that man. Anyway... he's only HALF black.

 

[Skull Pilot]

right now I'm not really concerned about "the world".

It's time to put the focus back on America. We should be stopping ALL money flowing from our government to foreign countries. Invest our tax dollars in America. lets fix our own roads, our own schools, pay down our debt first and worry about the rest of the world in 5 or 10 years.

 

[editec]

right now I'm not really concerned about "the world".

You ought to be.

It's time to put the focus back on America. We should be stopping ALL money flowing from our government to foreign countries. Invest our tax dollars in America. lets fix our own roads, our own schools, pay down our debt first and worry about the rest of the world in 5 or 10 years.

Great idea.

When did you decide that socialism wasn't entirely a bad thing?

 

[Skull Pilot]

right now I'm not really concerned about "the world".

You ought to be.



Great idea.

When did you decide that socialism wasn't entirely a bad thing?

not socialism. we are already collecting enough taxes to do all we need. Gee wouldn't it be great if we used the money from our already confiscatory tax rates to do something in this country?

Spending on infrastructure is not socialism. Take all the tax money we are sending to everyone else in the world and reduce taxes on Americans. Spend American tax dollars in America first the rest of the world can beg for what's left over if any. That is not wealth redistribution it is prioritization.

 

[editec]

right now I'm not really concerned about "the world".

Understood. YOu meant you do not thinK we should be giving money to the world when we need it here, right?

But this is a world economy we live in, so ignoring the world isn't really possible.

not socialism. we are already collecting enough taxes to do all we need. Gee wouldn't it be great if we used the money from our already confiscatory tax rates to do something in this country?

Yeah, understood. I was sort of yanking your chain.

Of course to the Scroogitarians, all that should be done by private industries because the government shouldn't be in the job of controlling public roads, schools, and bridges. They don't believe in PUBLIC PROPERTY like you and I do.

To them, what you are calling for is socialism. To me, what you say makes perfect sense, Skull.

Spending on infrastructure is not socialism. Take all the tax money we are sending to everyone else in the world and reduce taxes on Americans. Spend American tax dollars in America first the rest of the world can beg for what's left over if any. That is not wealth redistribution it is prioritization.

No, it's not privatization,it's a government doing its job protecting the commonweal.

Jesus, here we go again...words have meanings.

Deciding that you like the word privatization and therefore anything you want must be privatization is simply ignorant.

Accept the fact that you, just like me, understand that government has a role in some areas, that government can do a better job, in some areas, and that a mixed economic system like we have, works well IF the government actually does its job.

Sheesh!

 

[Silence]

Well when a well qualified black man presents himself as a Presidential candidate, he might get elected. Hussein ain't that man. Anyway... he's only HALF black.

so he's not black ENOUGH?

 

[007]

so he's not black ENOUGH?

Doesn't matter to me... it was the writer of the OP that brought it up. :shrug:

But if he's going to talk about electing a black man, shouldn't that man be "all black?"

Just sayin'... with the amount of nit picking that goes on, on this board, why not nit pick that?

 

[Ravi]

Doesn't matter to me... it was the writer of the OP that brought it up. :shrug:

But if he's going to talk about electing a black man, shouldn't that man be "all black?"

Just sayin'... with the amount of nit picking that goes on, on this board, why not nit pick that?

What does "all black" mean?

 

[editec]

What does "all black" mean?

Good question, Ravi. It means:

Hello, I am a complete idiot.

I CARE about such things as how Black Obama is.

I care enough about that silly nonsense because I am too stupid to even think about the actual issues facing my nation.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Understood. YOu meant you do not thinK we should be giving money to the world when we need it here, right?

But this is a world economy we live in, so ignoring the world isn't really possible.



Yeah, understood. I was sort of yanking your chain.

Of course to the Scroogitarians, all that should be done by private industries because the government shouldn't be in the job of controlling public roads, schools, and bridges. They don't believe in PUBLIC PROPERTY like you and I do.

To them, what you are calling for is socialism. To me, what you say makes perfect sense, Skull.




No, it's not privatization,it's a government doing its job protecting the commonweal.

Jesus, here we go again...words have meanings.

Deciding that you like the word privatization and therefore anything you want must be privatization is simply ignorant.

Accept the fact that you, just like me, understand that government has a role in some areas, that government can do a better job, in some areas, and that a mixed economic system like we have, works well IF the government actually does its job.

Sheesh!

if you look back you'll see that I wrote:

prioritization not privatization

slow down, it's OK if your lips move when you read

 

[007]

What does "all black" mean?

Duh...

 

[editec]

if you look back you'll see that I wrote:

prioritization not privatization

slow down, it's OK if your lips move when you read

Oh...excuse me all to hell, then.

My completely unnecessary lecture on the value of word meanings was completely based on my failing eyesight.

I do apologise for my error and hope that you forgive me for assuming that you were of that class of people who ascribe all things they like to conservatism, and all things they don't like to liberalism.

Seriously...I was wrong, and I am sorry.

 

[Chris]

right now I'm not really concerned about "the world".

It's time to put the focus back on America. We should be stopping ALL money flowing from our government to foreign countries. Invest our tax dollars in America. lets fix our own roads, our own schools, pay down our debt first and worry about the rest of the world in 5 or 10 years.

$200 billion dollars a year is being wasted in Iraq. Obama wants to bring the troops home and save that money for America. Iraq is not our country!

 

[SwingVoter]

Obama wants to bring the troops home and save that money for America.

No he doesn't. He wants the same orderly one brigade at a time withdrawal Petraeus, Bush, Gates & co are now calling for.

 

[sealybobo]

No he doesn't. He wants the same orderly one brigade at a time withdrawal Petraeus, Bush, Gates & co are now calling for.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? Bush & Co are doing almost exactly what Obama called for, but they are making it their own idea. This is regodamndiculous.

Swingvoter my arse.

 

[clazona]

Well when a well qualified black man presents himself as a Presidential candidate, he might get elected. Hussein ain't that man. Anyway... he's only HALF black.

He was raised in Hawaii by his grandmother (dad and mom=mia), went to Harvard, Columbia, and met some good people in the neighborhood in Chicago (followed Dr. Martin Luther King). Typically path for a black man, right?

 

[Skull Pilot]

$200 billion dollars a year is being wasted in Iraq. Obama wants to bring the troops home and save that money for America. Iraq is not our country!

FYI I have said repeatedly that Iraq was a bad move and that we should have never invaded in the first place. But, since we did invade, we now have an obligation to leave that country in a position politically strong enough to survive and physically in at least some semblance of working order and we haven't done that yet.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Oh...excuse me all to hell, then.

My completely unnecessary lecture on the value of word meanings was completely based on my failing eyesight.

I do apologise for my error and hope that you forgive me for assuming that you were of that class of people who ascribe all things they like to conservatism, and all things they don't like to liberalism.

Seriously...I was wrong, and I am sorry.

you're just in too much of a hurry , man. Slow down life is short so enjoy it.

 

[Chris]

FYI I have said repeatedly that Iraq was a bad move and that we should have never invaded in the first place. But, since we did invade, we now have an obligation to leave that country in a position politically strong enough to survive and physically in at least some semblance of working order and we haven't done that yet.

We have no obligation to Iraq. Iraq is Shia and allied with Iran.

Our obligation is to the people of the United States of America.

Bring the troops home now. Let the Iraqis run their own country.