On Barack's Smack Down Of Howard...

[WillyT]

Barack: Beautiful Response to John Howard, Now Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Paul Abrams - Huffington Post

<snip>

Barack gets it. Democrats are accustomed to whining and groaning and expressions of outrage to rightwing attacks. As a consequence they allow themselves to be put on defense. Rightwing Republicans pay no price in the gut-level impressions of their mettle. Instead, as suggested in the first contribution on this page (Democrats Still Need to Learn How to Fight), the more fruitful approach is to shove it right back down their throats.

Barack has done that. When John Howard, Australia's Prime Minister, lashed out at Barack's proposal to withdraw from the Iraqi Quagmire, rather than decrying his intrusion into US politics, Barack said, "OK, let us see you send another 20,000 Australian troops to Iraq". That is, put up, or shut up. Note how much more effective this approach is---since that comment, we have heard nary a word from Mr. Howard.

That, however, should not be the end of it. When the other side chokes when they have had their own hypocrisy shoved down their cowardly throats, Democrats go silent, believing they have "won". If the tables were turned, the rightwing would interpret the events differently, realizing that the silence means that they have struck a sensitive nerve that they can exploit and expand.

Barack should now do two things: 1) continue to taunt Mr. Howard, daring him to put up or shut up, insert that into every speech for the next month; let the Bushies rush to his defense, the dialogue will be precious; and 2) expand on the concept, that those criticizing the substitution of aggressive diplomacy for failed military intervention should demonstrate their resolve by volunteering themselves; for example, Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of the National Review, is only 38 years old, wonder aloud why he does not volunteer; Adam Putnam, in the House Republican leadership, under 40, why has he not volunteered?

<snip>

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/barack-beautiful-respons_b_41138.html

I agree completely! The Republics have created a mountain range of hypocrisy. They should be made to dine on it 24\7!!!

Beautifully played Barack!

:applause:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. What can I say?

I agree.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. It's not obama's style to go taunting for a month. He hit's back and moves on

No cowardice like most dems. He just makes his point and doesn't make a big deal of it. It took a while before anyone learned that Barack hit back at fox by freezing them out. His office did not make a big deal. They just froze them out. Move on.
Watch for other things not in typical pol. mode. No whining about Bush did this or that, no outrage or endlessly going on some talking point to proove innocence. He just hits and goes forward.

[Catch22Dem]

3. I've been saying this since Obama's rebuttal

He did a GREAT job. Couldn't have done any better. Now he definitely needs to do your #2.

[WillyT]

4. Looks Like It's Having An Impact In Australian Politics... Lookee Here !!!

Can Rudd learn from the Barack Obama masterclass? = http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20070214-Can-Rudd-learn-from-the-Barack-Obama-masterclass.html

<snip>

Canberra and Washington are 15,944 kilometres apart – but in one short sentence at the beginning of the week Barack Obama bridged the gap and skewered the Prime Minister right through the heart:

"I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops in Iraq, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1400, so if he is... to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq."

Barack Obama understands exactly how John Howard operates. He claims the moral high ground in his rhetoric – but in practice makes a minimal effort. As it is on Iraq, it is on every other topic.

Obama pinned the PM deftly. Can Kevin Rudd?

<snip>

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Howard accused of being gutless, without plan for Iraq = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=590&objectid=10423954

<snip>

CANBERRA - Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has turned the attack on Iraq policy back on John Howard, accusing the prime minister of being gutless and without a plan for the future of Australian troops in the troubled country.

Mr Howard, who has been under fire for his attack on US presidential hopeful Barack Obama's Iraq policy, yesterday labelled Mr Rudd gutless for dodging questions about the consequences of an early US withdrawal from Iraq.

Mr Rudd, who has challenged Mr Howard to a televised debate on the issue, today reiterated that his policy would be a withdrawal of Australian forces, in consultation with the Americans at the end of a six-month troop rotation.

He said it was Mr Howard who did not have a plan.

"Mr Howard in this debate talks about guts and courage ... guts and courage doesn't involve sending the sons and daughters of Australian families to fight a war with no exit strategy in mind for them," Mr Rudd told ABC Radio.

"Guts and courage also lies in rising to the challenge of a nationally televised debate on his alternative plan for Iraq and mine."


Australia has no deadline for removing its 1400 troops from Iraq.

"The alternative strategy, by the way, is a continuation of the current military strategy which, after four years, has failed," Mr Rudd said.

<snip>

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PM turns down TV debate = http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/659006.html

<snip>

PRIME Minister John Howard tried to increase the heat on Labor over its Iraq policy yesterday but refused to go head-to-head with Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd for a TV debate on national security.

After two days of criticism over his attack on US presidential hopeful Barack Obama, Mr Howard attempted to turn the tables by labelling Mr Rudd gutless for dodging questions about a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Mr Howard has dismissed calls to apologise after igniting a storm at the weekend when he accused Senator Obama of playing into the hands of terrorists with his policy of withdrawing troops from Iraq by March 2008.

In comments widely broadcast across the US, Mr Howard said: “If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March, 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats.”

Labor accused the Prime Minister of putting the US alliance at risk by drawing the US Democratic party into his attack and both US Democrat and Republican politicians told Mr Howard to butt out of their business.

Yesterday, even one of his own backbench, WA Liberal Mal Washer, suggested Mr Howard had overstepped the mark.

“Spreading it to the Democrats probably was not such a good idea, there’s a lot of good Democrats there that probably don’t feel the same way,” Dr Washer said.

<snip>

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And the picture that accompanied that article???



Damn... could be the start of a world-wide ass kicking of conservatives!!!

I'm in.

:evilgrin:

[Cobalt-60]

5. It does call for a sustained beat down

Obama provided the initial stun.
But an example needs to be made.
By the time its over this guy should known as nothing more than another one of Bush's bitches.
It doesn't really matter who shovel's the sh*t at his opponent, so long as there's a heavy steady flow of it.

[truebrit71]

6. Howard is a well-known lying sack of shit...

During this past winter's Ashes cricket series he was a guest commentator in the booth...several pundits noted that at that exact moment all across Australia people could be heard hitting the mute buttons on their TV controllers!!!

He is, as we say in England, all mouth and no trousers....

He shot his mouth off and got publicly caned for it...

Serves the nasty little bastard right...

As for Obama, move on, one less chickenhawk to deal with...