Should Bush negotiate long-term deal with Iraq?
An Iraqi army soldier stands guard at a checkpoint in the Shiite district of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Now is not the time for President Bush to negotiate a long-term security agreement with Iraq – that's the message from lawmakers in both Iraq and in the U.S.
More than 30 Iraqi lawmakers who represent parties making up a majority in the Iraqi parliament sent a letter to Congress last week. They said they will reject any agreement that "is not linked to clear mechanisms" obligating U.S. troops to leave "with a declared timetable and without leaving behind any military bases, soldiers or hired fighters."
The Associated Press reports that Iraqi officials familiar with the negotiations warn that a deal is unlikely to be reached before President Bush leaves office unless the administration lets up on some of its demands that Iraqis see as giving U.S. troops way too much freedom and stepping on Iraq's sovereignty.
Here at home, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are accusing President Bush of trying to tie the hands of the next president when it comes to Iraq. The four senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee sent a letter saying the administration hasn't consulted with them on this agreement and that the need for legislative approval "remains an open question."
For its part, the administration insists that this agreement is not a treaty and so it doesn't need to be approved by the Senate. More of the same from George Bush. Do whatever you want whether the people think it's a good idea or not. Officials say the deal won't commit U-S troops to staying in Iraq, won't create permanent bases, and won't pledge to protect Iraq if invaded. Here's the problem: the U.N. mandate that authorizes U.S. presence in Iraq expires in December.
Here’s my question to you: Should President Bush be negotiating a long-term security agreement with Iraq?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
McCain: Fundamentals of economy “very strong”
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The economic news seems to get worse with each passing day... but it sounds like John McCain may not have heard the news. Here’s what he said Thursday in Florida: “I have a fundamental belief that, I have a great belief that the fundamentals of our economy are very strong, very strong.”
Really, Senator McCain? That's not what millions of Americans are saying. A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 78% of those surveyed rate economic conditions as "poor”. Only 22 percent say "good."
Here are some of the reasons: The economy lost another 49,000 jobs last month, which means more than 324,000 jobs have been lost since the first of the year. The unemployment jumped to 5.5% last month – that's the biggest increase in the unemployment rate in 22 years.
More and more Americans are losing their homes: one million homes are now in foreclosure. The equity Americans have in their homes-their biggest asset-has declined to the lowest level since the end of World War II. Americans' net worth has declined by a staggering $1.7 trillion dollars.
Then there are the rising costs of energy. For the first time in our history, gasoline now tops $4 a gallon and is headed higher. Oil traded at a record high of $139 a barrel Friday, with predictions of $150 a barrel by July 4 and Goldman Sachs saying it could reach $200 a barrel within two years. The peak summer driving season is just getting under way. These fuel prices impact the cost of virtually everything else.
And, with the nation on the brink of recession, the stock market is taking a hit too – declining almost 400 points last Friday alone. The U.S. dollar continues to weaken against almost all foreign currencies – declining 15% against the euro in the last year. We are $9 trillion in debt thanks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the irresponsible fiscal policies of the Bush administration. And we continue to run huge trade deficits with China.
Here’s my question to you: Is John McCain right when he says the fundamentals of our economy are very strong?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How can Obama win over Clinton supporters?
Senator Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters Saturday at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton may be out of the race, but that doesn't mean her supporters are automatically going to flock to Barack Obama. Not by a long shot.
As she officially endorsed Obama on Saturday - Clinton urged the crowd to back Obama. When she said it, many cheered. But some supporters booed, loudly.
A CNN poll out Friday shows 60% of Clinton supporters say they'll vote for Obama, but 17% say they'll vote for Mccain and 22% say they won't vote at all.
Hillary Clinton's base includes many working-class voters as well as elderly, and of course, women voters. Clinton made a special appeal to women in her speech on Saturday, as she compared the milestones that both she and Obama had achieved in this race – as the first serious female and African-American candidates with a shot at the White House.
Obama says he's "thrilled and honored" to have Clinton's support and honors her historic campaign, saying, "She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere" unquote.
There are now signs of unity online as well: Obama's web site was updated with a message that says "thank you Senator Clinton" and links to a form where visitors can write to her, and Clinton's web site now urges visitors to "support Senator Obama today."
Some Clinton supporters think the best way for Obama to get her 18 million voters is by putting her on the ticket as vice president.
Here’s my question to you: What does Barack Obama have to do to win over Hillary Clinton’s supporters?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
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