Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gopher]

You prefer McCain over Clinton, BB? Interesting. I do, too. But if it came down to that choice, it would remain a tough call to make. I would consider runningmates, potential cabinet members, and platforms at that time.

For one thing, it seems a no-brainer that Clinton would appoint Richard Holbrooke SecState. Have no idea who Obama might appoint. And that remains one of the reasons I seem him as unstable and unready.

Czarjorge: what does "political stability" mean to you and how do you go about measuring it...?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm wondering if czar means something like this: During the Roosevelt New Deal era which arguably extended until the end of Carter's administration, the general thrust of American politics was liberal as it was understood at the time. Neither Eisenhower nor Nixon challenged the New Deal legislation, like Social Security. Starting with Reagan we went conservative. Then Bush's election in 2000 was by electoral college majority in spite of Gore's popular election majority. With 75% of the public dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, everyone campaigning on the idea of 'change'... unstable could mean the feeling that the country wants the status quo to change.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Latest news from the Strait of Hormuz: (There seems to have been a prelude to the incident the other day.)

US Navy fired warning at Iranian craft

CAIRO, Egypt - The U.S. Navy said Friday that one of its ships fired warning shots at a small Iranian boat in the Strait of Hormuz in December during one of two serious encounters that month.

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The USS Whidbey Island fired the warning shots on Dec. 19 in response to a small Iranian boat that was rapidly approaching it, said a U.S. Navy official.

"One small (Iranian) craft was coming toward it, and it stopped after the Whidbey Island fired warning shots," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

It was the first official confirmation that the United States had fired warning shots in any recent confrontation with Iran in the Gulf.

In the second incident that month, the USS Carr encountered three small Iranian craft on Dec. 22, two of which were armed, said the official. The USS Carr did not fire warning shots, but sent warning blasts on the ships whistle, which caused the boats to turn around.

The reports come a day after the United States lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Iran over an incident Sunday in which Iranian speedboats harassed U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf.

Adm. William J. Fallon, the top U.S. military commander in the Mideast, said Friday that Iran runs the risk of triggering an unintended conflict if its boats continue to harass U.S. warships in the strait.

[stevemcgarrett]

YaTa Boy asked of jkelly:

[thiophene]

I wonder how all yous would feel if IRanian ships were so close to your shores, albeit in international waters...the US has no good reason to be there...in my humble opinion.

[Czarjorge]

Political stability as in politically stable as in the results of an ongoing political campaign seems to have clear results. Until the last two weeks the politicos and pundits seemed to have painted the election as over with Clinton winning handily. That is clearly not the case, hence politically unstable or lacking political stability. It would seem the country is tilting toward the left, the right and far right are perhaps willing to do something drastic to prevent that from happening. These are the same guys who reference Jack Bauer, a tv show character, in policy discussions.

Those that would support McCain, why? Eight years ago I was right there with you. I've grown to dislike McCain greatly. He has been complicit in supporting some of the greatest mistakes of the current administration. He has stood up for his ideals only insofar as they don't inconvenience him, re: the torture debate. He has been a tool of the administration and has lost my support because of this. I wondered for a long time if the Bushies had something that would destroy his life, polical or otherwise, and were using that to manipulate him. Of late I don't think that's the case. I think he's just a soldier. A good captain, but incapable of being a general, of making bold decisions. We don't need a stay-the-courser like McCain or Clinton, we need change.

[Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee]

[stevemcgarrett]

thiophene reprimanded:

[jkelly80]

Great Lakes Democrats are more socially moderate than coastal democrats, and tend to be more hawkish on foreign policy.

[Kuros]

[Gopher]

[bucheon bum]

[thiophene]

[jkelly80]

[Ya-ta Boy]