Does he even know whose side he's on?

Carlo Marutti

I think this is preemptive PR to sell Israel down the river, and force it to make concessions that will ultimately be severely detrimental to its existence.

Bob R.

Senator Lieberman made the same observations I believe, as well as many others, including little old me. I suspect that if an enemy threatens the US or anyone else Barry O. will simply give a resounding speech and flop around like a fish on land. Now if someone offends his ego, as Israel will do once it rejects some foolish demand for a concession for "peace" then we'll see President O.get tough.

ferg

i was thinking the same thing just a few days ago(while collecting the dead leaves in the garden as a matter of fact).i'd bet on the russians.

John Montgomery

Dear Melanie, It looks like Senator Biden is putting his foot in it again like his namesake and next President of Europe Neil Kinnock.

The trouble will come from Iran, or it may be that Israel will launch a strike against that country's nucleur installations. Or it could be an attack by Syria and Hetzbollah on Israel. The other possibilty that occurs to me is a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I don't think any of this will happen if McCain is elected.

Harold

The problem is no one is listening. Everyone is so enamored with Obama, he is coasting to victory. It is very sad to see so many Americans being hoodwinked by a great speaker with so little of importance to say.

John Birch

Please give it a break. Not a peep out of you about Republican Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama yesterday. Today, Republican Ken Adelman, a neo-con, endorsed Obama. Both cited Obama's measured response to the economic crisis in contrast to McCain's hysterical reaction.

Matthew Blott

@ John Birch

Apparently the head of Google is gonna come out for Obama tomorrow also.

I cannot think of any British political commentator that sits to her right she is so extreme. The fact she detests Obama and his policies suggests he must be doing something right.

Matthew Blott

I mean, seriously, the language here - all Americans that vote for Obama are guilty of "suicidal recklessness". Balance, fairness, insight, do you think you get any of that here?

Ian G

Here's a scenario that Biden is hoping won't come up - two lawsuits against the UberMessiah.

http://www.omegaletter.com/blogs/index.php/2008/10/14/the-october-surprise/

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78258

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78609

George Steiner

Mr. Birch

Colin Powel wants a job. Preferably secreatry of state.

Anon

Harold - I keep saying I don't think he's a great speaker. I turn off the radio every time he's on it...I just can't stand the falseness and posiness; the coached diction; the elocution style of it.

I swear that I believe: English is not the language of his soul; and the voice that manifests his spirit...Oh, it is so sharp and hard!!!

MLK was a great speaker. JFK was a great speaker. BO is a ham.

I Am Joe The Plumber

Joe Biden - the gift that keeps on giving.

Verity

For funny comments on this statement, made several hours ago, go to www.littlegreenfootballs.com

d1carter

What is really astounding is that no matter what "Plugs" says the MSM will cover for his gaffes. The media has selected the next POTUS and no one or no thing is going to get in their way. God save the USA.

DK

I agree with Joe...

...or is that Joe agrees with McCain?

Anyway, point being that Biden is right. Electing Obama, an inexperienced, untested, weak politician, to the White House would put the nation's security in grave danger.

You know your campaign's in trouble when your own Vice-President thinks you're an unsafe choice who can't be trusted as commander-in-chief.

Thanks Joe!

JohnW

Such a crisis erupting within six months of a President Obama (I'd say three months)is a 100% stone cold certainty - history tells us so. The intrepid souls at the BBC will hardly have time to clear the empties away after their victory parties at Broadcasting House before their Obama supporting reporters have to go scurrying off to cover events. Wonder what kind of spin they will put on any military action under Obama's command when he has to deal with that crisis?

Actually, I'm surprised that Israel hasn't already made moves towards Iran - that would help McCain no end and it could be done before the election.

JohnW

John Birch:

"Obama's measured response to the economic crisis..."

He's promising to send the numbers on the existing budget deficit into the stratosphere to fund his cradle to grave socialist super-state. Is that what you call a "measured response"? If so, God help you.

Of course, we've seen what happens to finances when Democrats get "hands on", as witnessed by the sub-prime defaults and the ensuing Fannie/Freddie carnage - all Democrat pet projects.

Howard

The more you bang on about an Obama victory the less credit you have. The States is not going to elect a 72 year old and a VP that cannot think on her feet. You better get used to it.

You should cease to attack Obama. You should direct your attacks at the republicans for nominating such a disastrous ticket.

I do not know how well you know the States but the place is gripped by this election. They want change and they are going to get.

It is odd that you ignore Powell's endorsement, or are you still trying to find some dirt on him!

Jeff

I cannot understand the thought processes of the American voters. The financial melt down was apparently due to the actions of the Democrates and yet they appear to be in favour of electing a Democrate to run their country.

HarleyDavidson

John Birch
Republican Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama yesterday. Today, Republican Ken Adelman, a neo-con, endorsed Obama. Both cited Obama's measured response to the economic crisis in contrast to McCain's hysterical reaction.
==============================
Now, John, where would Obama have gotten his economic experience? Has ever Obama run a small business of any kind? A town? Perhaps even a government department? A city? How about a state?

Where exactly did Obama miraculously gain his economic knowledge and experience?

Conservative Cabbie

Biden also said in the same piece:

"There are gonna be a lot of you who want to go, 'Whoa, wait a minute, yo, whoa, whoa, I don't know about that decision'," Biden continued. "Because if you think the decision is sound when they're made, which I believe you will when they're made, they're not likely to be as popular as they are sound. Because if they're popular, they're probably not sound."

As the NRO points out however, he doesn't wink so he's considered statesmanlike, an obvious reference to the disparity in the way he's been treated and the way Sarah Palin has been treated.

I find it amazing that he has been given such a pass by the media. I would definately prefer Palin a heartbeat away than this buffoon. Trouble is, he's a likeable buffoon.

Roy

Indeed like Powell they are clinging to what they see as the winning team, the boat that's going to stay afloat, whether or not it follows their fancy they follow their herd instinct and stampede with the rest for an uncertain and unclear path. We could say what’s new? But we all wish for some sort of new clean cut America, washed clean from the old world and its dirty linen. What the Americans don’t see, has they didn’t the 9/11 fiasco, is the old world’s new sneaking spreading cancer of intrigues for world domination. As Colin Powell took Musharraf at his word, what sane person who had the slightest inclination of the whiles of these people, who live by their wits and give nothing away, would ever speak the truth unless it suited them. So why should we have any belief in this man’s understanding.

Canon Alberic

What about the tests that GWB faced within months of his 'election'...what a disaster on all fronts he turned out to be.

David

Given that you yourself have written of how Iran must be confronted to the extent of a pre-emptive attack, to suddenly turn round and say that this is the height of recklessness is utterly pathetic.

John Birch

JohnW: The Democratic Clinton administration left office with a budgetary surplus that now has been squandered by the Republicans.

HarleyDavidson: Have you ever heard of someone named Warren Buffet? Check out who he's backing for president. Look into who his choice for president has advising him on economic matters. How many previous American presidents ran small businesses? W had experience in the oil industry through family connections and that worked well for the U.S. economy. I think Jimmy Carter ran a peanut farm.

John Birch

JohnW: The Democratic Clinton administration left office with a budgetary surplus that now has been squandered by the Republicans.

HarleyDavidson: Have you ever heard of someone named Warren Buffet? Check out who he's backing for president. Look into who his choice for president has advising him on economic matters. How many previous American presidents ran small businesses? W had experience in the oil industry through family connections and that worked well for the U.S. economy. I think Jimmy Carter ran a peanut farm.

Brian Moshe

"Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."

My belief is that Biden is referring to the US placing an arms embargo on and cutting off all aid to Israel and then announcing that either Israel withdraws to the 1948 lines or takes what comes. (Which will happen anyway in this scenario.)

Hope and pray I'm wrong.

Ian C

That the V-P cnadidate can say this about his running mate and it not affect the polls tells us what a sorry state crowd judgment gets to when a momentum is allowed to get rolling. The incompetence of Bush allowed this to happen and once McCain screwed up over the Paulson plan, the game was over.

Just hope that the new Congress elected reflects more closely where the blame really lies for the main cause of the sub-prime mess. And that is not with the GOP.

phil

All you are doing is making that scenario more than ever possible -We in the west have many enemies without supporting them as this type of rhetoric does .If they want to attack us ,they will, without thinking who is the next president .For goodness sake wake up ,Obama is going to be elected and he is the person who will need all our support regardless of who our preference was

.Stop this nonsense and stop it now it is all our lives you are playing with and I might add that of your own children. I cannot seem to stop the foolish ones like verity who revel in their tomfoolery ,but there are sensible people amongst you who prefer sen Mccain understandably -and it is time for reality to be seen and for all of us to come together before we wish a catastrophe upon ourselves .

Barry Larking

Is this the Melanie Phillips who contends – at every opportunity – that "our children isn' learning?"

"Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

Where on earth did you learn English? Kansas?

JohnW

Canon Alberic,

Bush faced the most treacherous act of war committed on US soil since Pearl Harbour - an act perpetrated by Islamic fanatics who vowed they would strike repeatedly. It is to Bush's eternal credit (but which you will never read in the MSM) that he prevented even one further attack, despite the snivelling complaints of the Democrats and their ACLU friends.

Can you in your wildest dreams contemplate any Democratic incumbent doing the same? They simply do not have their heart in it? Clinton had Bin Laden in his sights and wimped out. Prior to that, he had laid the ground for these attacks by his wishy washy responses to the first WTC bombing, the attacks on the US embassy in Kenya and the US Cole debacle.

Case closed.

Bob Latchford

John Birch, you are spot on in your assessment. The neo-con right have tried every tactic in the book to scare American voters....firstly it was that Obama had no experience, the American people didnt buy it, secondly it was the 'Obama is a secret muslim', which the Americans dismissed as a racist lie, then it was Obamas associates dragged out of the closets, and again the American people dismiss this as irrelevant, so now, the last throw of the dice is if Obama gets in, Americas national security is compromised, and guess what? That will be dismissed by the Americans too.

Face facts neo-cons, in around 2 weeks time, Barack Hussein Obama will be striding into the Whitehouse, and what a glorious day for the world that will be

Dora

Read again, detractors. They’re not Ms Phillips’ words – they’re Joe Biden’s.

Unlike the bulk of the British press, Melanie Phillips is not some sort of passive intermediary between press officers and the public just blowing in the winds of fashion from one week to the next.

Have we ever heard of Warren Buffet? Yes, we have. We know that he’s a businessman and that business comes before everything. Business people always try to back the winner because they’ll want to lobby them afterwards for favours.

There are even donators funding Obama and McCain.

I love this from Howard: “The more you bang on about an Obama victory the less credit you have. The States is not going to elect a 72 year old and a VP that cannot think on her feet. You better get used to it.”

Of course. Don’t question the Obamessiah. What are you doing in journalism, Ms Phillips? You must worship like everyone else before the Fifth Column’s divinity.

Howard, you’d better get used to the fact that once America sobers up from all this drivel, people will want to hear from writers such as Melanie Phillips and will want to know why so many journalists turned a blind eye to what the Obamessiah’s shortcomings.

Joe Biden has been close to him for a few months now and look what he thinks of him.

The whole free world atmosphere reeks of 1930s complacency. Kevin Dud in Australia, Barack Obama in the US and the dweebs of New Labour. All of them think they’ve got some magic wand they can wave and make a Utopia.

What’s worse is these fools will run to the Cassandras and expect them to save them.

What lemmings.

Conservative Cabbie

John Birch

She probably hasn't mentioned it for the same reason she hasn't mentioned Joe Liebermann (former vice-presidential nominee for the Democrats) not only endorsing McCain but actually campaigning with him. Other things are more important like Obamas VP candidate who has already said that Obama does not have the experience to be President and has now effectively confirmed that view.

John B

Steady on Melanie. You're wandering off the script. It's supposed to be Sarah Palin who is the stupid one. Read all about it in the Daily Telegraph most days. You just aren't supposed to mention Joe.

elixelx

You´ve all missed the point.
This is not about a nugatory response by Obama to a manufactured threat; this is about who will be there to step into Obama's shoes and do the right thing when The One has a heart attack upon being confronted by world-class, rather than windy-city thugs who can't be subverted with cries of "RaaaaCist"!
And who is the mess-up who will be there to clean up when the idol messes up and evacuates into his pampers?
This is Biden caterwauling "Me Me Me Me Me...2

JohnW

John Birch,

Clinton's so-called surplus was a mirage.

First, it was artificially boosted by the massively distorted CGT receipts generated by the stock market bubble - which itself was fuelled by the easy money policies of Alan Greenspan. The pain caused by these policies is still with us as witnessed by the global meltdown.

Second, Clinton secured huge budget savings in potentially the worst way possible - by dramatically defunding the military and intelligence agencies. In doing this, Clinton was able to show on paper a projected 10 year federal budget surplus. The legacy of this (and his prior wimpish policies towards appeasing the Islamofascists) was the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Bush needed to urgently and dramatically refund the military and intelligence agencies due to this highly irresponsible action.

Hope that clears things up.

elixelx

John Birch (Hope you know where that comes from; but of course you were only 2 when the Society went out of business!)

Do YOU know who Buffet voted for in 2004? 2000? 1996? If you do please tell us. If not, then your reading of Buffet's intentions this time around are meaningless and simply a justification for your own choice. Or do you believe that voting the same way as Buffet does somehow makes your choice MORE legitimate (Oxymoron)

By the way: if Buffet has always voted Dem, what difference does this time make? And If he has always voted Repub, then what caused him to choose such a disaster in 2000 and 2004 and can he guarantee Obama will not be George Bush III?
Ever asked youself, jellybelly, why there was a surplus in 2001? Wasn't it because Billy (The Stain) Clinton would simply not fight back against a looming threat, believing that a quick cruise missile or two into the mouth of a willing terrorist would suffice to keep America safe and solvent (he should have used that solvent!)

Finally, Bircher-Boy: If there is nothing bad/wicked/ nefarious/evil about Ayers/Wright/Farrakhan/Hussein et al/et al/et al and etc. etc. etc. why is linking them to Obama in ads "NEGATIVE"?

Joe The Plumber

John Birch writes: "Not a peep out of you about Republican Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama yesterday."

That's because no one gives a crap who Colin Powell identifies with. He is, and always was, a busted flush promoted beyond his competence level because of his colour.

Matthew Blott: "I mean, seriously, the language here - all Americans that vote for Obama are guilty of "suicidal recklessness".

I mean, seriously, the language here. Did you mean "all Americans WHO vote for ...".

You blunder on: "Balance, fairness, insight, do you think you get any of that here?"

This is what we call a "blog". It is for the opinions of the blog owner and the people who wish to respond to her arguments.

Is English your first language?

Anon - I totally agree with you. Obama isn't a great, or even a very good, speaker. He is overly dramatic and precious and his manner shrieks of self-regard.

Verity

Howard - You're pathetic. Giving editorial direction to Melanie Phillips. Get your own national column.

BTW, fans of the O-one - what happened to the Citizens' Militia that was to be as well-funded as the US military? We haven't heard anything about it for the last few months.

Who is to be in this Citizens' Militia? Why is this Citizens' Militia needed? Who is it going to control? Given the dire financial straits of the US and the world just now, how is this Citizens' Militia going to be funded to the level of the US military?

Doesn't it all sound a little, uh, Staziesque? Not to say c-r-e-e-p-y?

John Birch writes: "W had experience in the oil industry through family connections and that worked well for the U.S. economy. I think Jimmy Carter ran a peanut farm."

George Bush also had the trifling experience of being elected the chief executive - the Governor - of the state of Texas for an unprecedented two consecutive terms.

Bill Clinton had been the chief executive of Arkansas for two consecutive terms, and he is still very well respected in Arkansas for his management of that state.

Harry Truman had run his haberdashery store in Missouri - so a small businessman. Ronald Reagan had run the state of California as chief executive. John Kennedy's father Joe was a liquor importer and distributor during Prohibition. Other than that, Kennedy was just a frat boy. Al Gore, who never quite made it - doing anything - has tobacco plantations.

Obama has no experience of anything except mixing around in bad company.

Verity

"For goodness sake wake up ,Obama is going to be elected and he is the person who will need all our support regardless of who our preference was."

No.

raymond joseph douglas

Let me say this to all who want A president Obama to get tough with Israel"those who bless Israel will be blessed,those who curse her will be cursed!Genesis 12v3.I know that we,in our godless arrogance, dismiss the bible,but that doesn't alter God's view that Israel is the apple of his eye!

Conservative Cabbie

Part 9 of the Wingnut Files: McCain can still win this thing.

In 18 of 20 exit polls during the democratic primaries, pollsters overestimated Obama's support by an average of 7 points. The reason, "Obama’s supporters were younger, better educated and often more enthusiastic than Hillary Clinton’s, meaning they were more likely to participate in exit polls.”

I realise there's a difference between exit polls and tracking polls but those 7 points would put (according to Real Clear Politics); Florida, Ohio, N Carolina, Missouri, Nevada and Colorado all in the McCain camp. New Hampshire, Minnesota, Virginia and New Mexico would be very close.

I'm just saying.

Joe The Plumber

Pity Bob Latchford and Phil and all the shrieky little wannabee Americans posting here. The American election has absolutely nothing to do with them, but they so b-a-a-a-dly want to have a say!

The American election will be decided by the American electorate. It is not your business. Your opinions are of no consequence. The Americans have been running their country for 300 years without your assistance.

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

Barry Larking, are you daft ! Melanie was quoting Biden. It's his English that's maybe from Kansas !

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

JohnW, applause for your response to Canon Alberic!

Bob Latchford, viva the "neocon right"! G-d help us if Obama is elected !

N

Mel, good post! You said it right "...Iran will seize the opportunity to create an international crisis because they will assume Obama won’t be strong enough to defend America – and his performance may be so weak that Americans may well come to the same conclusion." Not only is having an apparently weak president going to inspire Iran, but lets not forget that the US is leaving Iraq, opening the door for the Iranians to make an attack against Israel.

Brian O'Connor

Second attempt at making this point. First attempt failed, evidently, 12 hours ago.

Biden left his "Kennedy-was-tested" point unfinished. In fact, Khruschev ate JFK's lunch not 5 months after Kennedy was elected and chose to meet with him "without preconditions." Worse, that meeting precipitated a series of dangerous confrontations that need not have happened, including, perhaps, the Viet Nam war.

The whole sad and calamitous story is here: http://tinyurl.com/62x3zr

Here's the money quote:

The following year brought the Cuban missile crisis, another sequel to Khrushchev's reading of Kennedy's weakness. Close as the Cuban missile crisis brought the two sides to war, however, it was perhaps not the most consequential effect of Khrushchev's reading of Kennedy's weakness. Persuaded that he needed further to demonstrate "fearlessness and backbone," in the words of William Manchester, Kennedy observed to Reston that the only place where the Communists were challenging the West in a shooting war was in Southeast Asia. Summarizing Kennedy's own evaluation of the aftermath of the Vienna conference in his 2003 biography of Kennedy, Robert Dallek writes that Kennedy "now needed to convince Khrushchev that he could not be pushed around, and the best place currently to make U.S. power credible seemed to be in Vietnam."

In short, the Vienna conference resolved no issue between the United States and the Soviet Union. On the contrary, if anything, it precipitated crises that were resolved through the display and use of military force.

Bill Kristol translates Biden here: http://tinyurl.com/5ehswl

Kennybhoy

This statement of Biden's plus Clinton's "Red Phone" ad SHOULD provide a great, possibly decisive, avenue of attack for the Republicans. But will they make effective use of it...?

Kennybhoy

Recall that it was Clinton's administration that bombed the embassy of a superpower and ordered British units to fire on Russian airborne forces....

Be afraid folks, be very, VERY afraid....

Kennybhoy

I entirely agree with Conservative Cabbie's last and previous posts here.

I was stateside until last week and it was pretty obvious to me that despite the undoubted boost that he has received from the economic crisis, Obama still has a real problem with Clinton Democrats.

"I'm just saying..."

phil

Joe The Plumber- keep your pity to yourself .if you knew anything you would not bracket me with mr latchford ,whose opinions I despise.YOU KNOW NOTHING OF US WHICH IS APPARENT TO ANY REGULAR POSTER. For you own benefit I would have voted for Sen Mcain had I thought he was the right man at this time for the job but have come to the conclusion that he is not and his running mate scares the hell out of me .that leaves me with one other unless you can alter the rules .

. We here will pass whatever opinions we want to even though we do not have a vote .This is still a democratic country with free speech and in most cases responsibility -keep your remarks to the fragrant one, who no doubt would agree with every word you say ,and whom in spite of her denials has obviously read all that I have said..

Too many voting on your side of the fence have made outrageous racist remarks which have no place in a decent society ,which I believe the USA is .I do not include you but as many of you keep reminding us if you keep company with the wrong people you are damned by that company ,so what is good for the goose is good for the gander -comprende ?

Ronnie

Joe the Plumber (Venal Verity), The Spectator is a British Magazine and as far as am aware we can still post what we like about anything we want and not even the most fanatical, empty-headed, wing nut can stop us.

Steeevyo

Hey Joe the Plumber,

how does it feel that the american electorate will kick some Republican ass, despite your endorsement based on your rejection of an imaginary taxation based on an imaginary income based on an imaginary business you claimed to have?

What a laughing stock.

Conservative Cabbie

Ronnie

Obama might stop you posting whatever you want though. There is talk of him reinstating the fairness doctrine, he's already tried to suppress adverts opposing him using his legal team and his supporters tried to shut down two investigative reporters digging into B.O.'s connection to you know who.

I'm just saying!

Conservative Cabbie

Kennybhoy

Thankyou for your support. Tell us more about these Clinton Democrats, do you think they're being underrepresented in the polls?

Logic tells me this race is over as does conventional wisdom. However, I'm seeing quite a few glimmers of hope if one looks hard enough, something inside is telling me this is not as clear cut as Obamacons and the media are saying.

It's all down to party ID and turnout. Obama's campaign have registered a lot of new people as Democrats, this is represented in the polls and this weighting is showing very positively in the polls in Obama's favour. (Horrible last sentence there). However, these new registrations (when they're not the Dallas Cowboys, dead people or Mickey Mouse) are generally African-Americans and young voters, two groups who don't normally show up at the polls in big numbers. If they do come out in force on polling day, Obama will win comfortably. If they don't, he won't. We may have some indication of what will happen. Ohio had a week of early voting, apparently the turnout was disappointing.

I'm just saying!

Keith

A previous President of the United States once said, "A successful man surrounds himself with successful people."

Who has Obama surrounded himself with? Hmmmmmmm!

Pip

Does anyone remember this interview with Biden in 2007, bashing his own colleagues, and Obama?

Worth a read if you haven't already read it lol

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/11/21/biden/

Verity

Keith - good call.

AmericanDerek

Now who's being naive. As if international crises were simply the result of a foreign leader's whimsy to "test" a new president, not the culmination of various factors and actors that require time and humility to sort out.

Ronnie

Well, Conservative Cabbie, he'd have to have very long arms to stop me posting.

As for legal teams, that's what they are for, unfortunately. I remember the Republicans having a rather formidable legal team too.

Margaret

Biden is a loud-mouthed, reckless liar and bully when he is a member of a Senate committee grilling political appointees. He is one of the worst possible choices for Vice President and a harbinger of what is to come for the U.S. if Obama is elected. Unbelievable situation except that it may come true.

We can only hope that Obama's "Joe the Plumber" revelation and Biden's admission of the risk of Obama as president will cause some "undecideds" to play safe and vote for McCain. The polls seem to indicate a shift, if they are to be believed.

Kennybhoy

conservative cabbie,

Fourth and final attempt at replying to your question!?@$??

Let's just say that while driving from Columbus to Ft Lauderdale recently, it became increasingly apparent to this observer that the "Bradley Effect" is very real and may yet play a major part in this election.....

I'm just saying...?

PS Do you have really nice Mancunian cabbie relative? No' quite as conservative as your good self but a sound man nonetheless. He took me back to my hotel from Old Trafford late on Tuesday night and refused to take his fare on the basis that we wuz robbed! He was Man City fan, poor soul, but, as I said above, a sound man!

Cheers!

Stephen

Erm... those comments could have been made of any new President. Any new president would need help if a crisis erupted in the early days of their presidency. This doesn't mean they can't handle it, just that they were human. What matters is how they perform, not whether they need help.