Should Obama heed Gorbachev’s advice on Afghanistan and prepare to withdraw troops?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev who has "been there, done that" when it comes to Afghanistan says that instead of sending more troops, President Obama should prepare to withdraw U.S. forces. It's advice Mr. Obama may want to consider as he weighs sending up to 40,000 additional troops into that eight year old war.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/art.gorbachev.jpg caption="Former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev ."]
You see, the Soviets occupied Afghanistan in 1979. A decade later, they picked up their toys and went home after intense opposition from Afghan fighters, backed by the U.S. and Pakistan.
13,000 Soviet soldiers - and more than a million Afghans - died during those 10 years. At the time that Gorbachev withdrew his forces - he called the occupation of Afghanistan a "bleeding wound."
Gorbachev now says the Soviets talked about sending more troops back then - but decided against it. Instead, he says they chose to work on domestic development in Afghanistan and promoting reconciliation between the various factions in the country.
Gorbachev acknowledges that terrorism can't be ignored... but that the overall emphasis should be on dialogue and ultimately a withdrawal of troops.
Meanwhile President Obama has been holding meetings for over a month now with top military and foreign policy advisers about what to do next in Afghanistan. Maybe some day he'll make up his mind.
Last month was the deadliest in the eight year war for U.S. troops.
Here’s my question to you: Should President Obama heed former Soviet Pres. Gorbachev’s advice on Afghanistan and prepare to withdraw U.S. troops?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Do you think Ft. Hood shootings were an act of terrorism?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Army might have had a terrorist in its midst and not even known it. As the days pass, there are more and more signs that Army Major and psychiatrist Nidal Hasan - who slaughtered 13 people and wounded 42 others - was an Islamic extremist who was sympathetic to al Qaeda and had strong objections to U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/art.hasan.jpg caption="Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the suspect in last week's Fort Hood mass shooting."]
Independent Senator Joe Lieberman says the shootings could have been a terrorist attack; and that he'll launch an investigation into whether the military could have stopped it.
Lieberman, who chairs the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, says there's evidence Hasan was a "self-radicalized, home-grown terrorist." If that's true, last week's killings could be the worst terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Witnesses say at the time of the shootings Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is great" - something terrorists have used as a battle cry.
Then there's this: Hasan apparently attended the same Virginia mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers in 2001 - at a time when a radical spiritual leader preached there.
And, ABC News reports U.S. intelligence agencies knew for months that Hasan was trying to contact people associated with al Qaeda.
Finally, former classmates complained repeatedly about what they saw as Hasan's anti-American views. One says Hasan gave a presentation that justified suicide bombing and talked about how Islamic law trumped the U.S. Constitution.
The Army isn't ruling out terrorism - but is concerned about a possible backlash against Muslim soldiers.
Here’s my question to you: Do you think the Fort Hood shootings were an act of terrorism?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How much does the House health care bill matter?
House Democrats clap for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) during a press conference after a vote on health care. The House passed the health care reform bill 220 to 215 after a late night vote. (PHOTO CREDIT: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Don't cancel your existing health insurance just yet. Health care reform narrowly passed the House late Saturday night; but it's a long, long way from a done deal in the Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is comparing this legislation, which passed by a scant five votes, to the passage of Social Security and Medicare; and President Obama says he looks forward to signing it into law by the end of the year.
Not so fast...
One top Senate Republican, Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, is already declaring the bill "dead in the water."
Here's why: What happens to the so-called public option? Harry Reid still doesn't have the votes to pass that. And Republicans along with Independent Joe Lieberman are promising a filibuster if the public option stays.
The House bill costs hundreds of billions of dollars more than the latest Senate version; which means the Senate could wind up cutting expensive parts of the bill - like a requirement for employers to provide coverage. Another huge difference between the bills is how to pay for reform.
And what about abortion funding? At the last minute, the House passed an amendment that prohibits federal funds from going to insurance plans that offer abortion coverage. For millions of women - this could mean the house bill breaks the promise that "if you like your current health care you can keep it."
This much you can count on. Anytime the House votes late on a Saturday night after last minute changes were made and the promise by Pelosi is broken to post the bill online for 72 hours before a final vote, it ain't good.
Here’s my question to you: How much does the House health care bill even matter?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How confident are you in the next generation of Americans?
(PHOTO CREDIT: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
If you buy the axiom that "You're only as strong as your weakest link," this country is in some serious trouble.
Consider this: 75 percent of America's young people between the ages of 17 and 24 are unfit for military duty. Army statistics show these youngsters are ineligible to enlist for lots of reasons: From lack of education to illegal drug use, being overweight or out of shape to having a criminal record. 75 percent.
This disturbing news comes just a month after the Pentagon met its annual recruiting goals for the first time since 1973. But military commanders point out that during economic downturns, recruitment numbers go up and "a weak economy is no formula for a strong military."
This is scary stuff. We continue to fight two wars and there are additional potential threats from places like Iran and North Korea.
And here is a very real sign our standard of living is declining: Research shows almost half of all U.S. children - and 90 percent of African-American children - will be on food stamps before they reach the age of 20. The current recession could push these numbers even higher.
This study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says many of these children could be at risk for malnutrition and other problems associated with poverty. What kind of future is that for half of our children… and by extension, for the country?
Here’s my question to you: How confident are you in the next generation of Americans?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should U.S. Census Bureau be allowed to ask if you're a citizen?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Census takers in 2010 won't be allowed to ask people if they are U.S. citizens. That's because Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican attempt that would have required census forms to inquire about citizenship.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/06/art.census.jpg caption=""]
Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter had introduced the measure... meant to exclude illegal aliens from the population count. Vitter says including illegals in the census is "wrong" and goes against the idea of the Congress as an institution that represents citizens.
The Census carries a lot of weight - it's used both as the basis for apportioning congressional districts for the following 10 years; and it serves as a guide for distributing billions of dollars in federal aid.
Critics say the plan would discourage immigrants from participating in the Census... they insist the law states congressional seats are determined by the number of people living in each state - regardless of whether they're citizens.
The Census Director also opposes the proposal... he says asking about U.S. citizenship is "just not doable" and would mean delaying the census.
Not counting illegal aliens in the census could potentially hit states like California and Texas the hardest when it comes to apportioning Congressional districts. Those two states are where there's a high concentration of undocumented immigrants. It's estimated there are 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S.
Here’s my question to you: Should the U.S. Census Bureau be allowed to ask if you're a citizen?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Obama force Congress to vote on health care reform?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When it comes to health care reform, it almost feels like President Obama doesn't want to get his hands dirty. House Democrats are planning a vote on their 2,000 page bill this weekend - which is fine, but it won't mean anything unless the Senate acts too, and that's looking less likely
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/05/art.obama.podium.jpg]
After losing governorships in Virginia and New Jersey - and after being told by Majority Leader Harry Reid that his health care reform is probably going to be put off until next year in the Senate - President Obama was out the day after the election making a speech about education in Wisconsin.
What if instead he made a speech that said:
"That's enough. I've tried to be bipartisan. I've tried to leave Congress alone to do its job. In general, I've tried to be a nice guy through it all, but it's not working. And before we lose any more governorships, Senate seats or congressional seats, here's what I've decided to do:
"I'm ordering the Congress to remain in session until both houses vote on a final version of health care reform. Pass it or don't, but you're not going home until you address it. And if that means you work through Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter and the 4th of July, so be it. You were sent here to do the people's business and you're not going on vacation until it's done."
The Constitution gives him this power. According to Article 2, Section 3, the president "may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them." Harry Truman called such an emergency session in 1947.
Here’s my question to you: Should President Obama keep Congress in session and force them to vote on health care reform?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Palin, Beck, Limbaugh fail in N.Y. congressional race
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Democrats took a beating in the New Jersey and Virginia governors' races... but the far right got their clocks cleaned in that congressional race in upstate New York.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/art.crist.jpg caption="Florida Governor Charlie Crist has been accused of being Republican in Name Only (RINO)."]
In defeating Conservative Doug Hoffman, Bill Owens will be the first Democrat to represent Congressional District 23 since the Civil War. Hoffman was aggressively supported by a bunch of the right wing's loudest voices - Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
They tried to make this race a symbol of how the Republican Party has strayed from its conservative values. Pressure from the right-wing of the party helped push the Republican candidate out of the race last week - because she just wasn't Republican enough. Some even saw this contest as a struggle for the soul of the GOP. At least the results don't suggest Sarah Palin won that fight.
Nevertheless, it seems like conservative activists are just warming up. They have their eyes on a list of so-called RINOs - or Republicans in Name Only - for the midterm elections, people like Florida's Republican Governor, Charlie Crist, who's running for the Senate.
And some warn that Sarah Palin could be entering dangerous territory if she leads the movement against well-established figures like Crist. After all - Florida is often a key state in the presidential election. And, there's the issue of Palin's ability to control a group of activists once they're fired up. You could make the argument Palin entered dangerous territory when she left City Hall in Wasilla.
Here’s my question to you: What does it say that the likes of Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh failed to get their candidate elected in the N.Y. congressional race?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Chances of health care reform if it doesn't pass this year?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has raised serious doubts about the future of health care reform by saying he can't promise a health care bill will pass this year: "We're not going to be bound by any timelines."
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/art.reid.jpg caption="Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill yesterday in DC. Reid discussed efforts to pass health care reform legislation."]
The words were barely out of Reid's mouth before his office issued a statement saying their goals remain unchanged and they want to get health reform done this year - and send a bill to President Obama by Christmas.
You suppose the White House wasn't happy with Reid's initial assessment? Delay on health care is probably just about the last thing the president wants. First, it brings back memories of President Clinton's failed attempt at reform. And it means other legislative priorities - the energy bill, immigration, regulation of Wall Street, etc. - will remain on the back burner.
Plus - and this is a big one - once 2010 rolls around, all 435 members of the House along with one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election. Good luck getting these lawmakers to commit to a controversial health care bill ahead of the midterms.
Meanwhile – the Associated Press reports that the House health care bill, which is headed for a vote soon, would cost $1.2 trillion or more over a decade. See, the Democrats have added on billions in additional spending.
After saying $900 billion was the limit on what he wanted to spend for health care reform - I wonder if President Obama would sign one that costs $1.2 trillion... just so he could claim victory.
Here’s my question to you: What happens to the chances of health care reform if it doesn't pass this year?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How can Democrats avoid getting noses bloodied in midterms?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Democrats could be in for some serious bloodshed come the midterm elections - if yesterday's races in New Jersey and Virginia are any indication. Voters in both those states elected Republicans governor. The message was pretty clear: "It's the economy, stupid."
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/art.va.gov.jpg caption="Republican Governor-elect Bob McDonnell of Virginia greeted the crowd at his victory party last night in Richmond. McDonnell beat out Democratic challenger Creigh Deeds."]
Exit polls showed more than 80 percent of voters in both states said they were worried about the direction of the economy in the next year; more than half said they were very worried.
Another trouble spot for Democrats - those independents who were a key to President Obama's White House victory last year broke big for the GOP yesterday. And, exit polls suggest Democrats had a hard time turning out their base - including the first-time minority voters and young people who voted for Obama last year.
Nevertheless, most voters in both Virginia and New Jersey said President Obama was not a factor in their vote. But if the administration can't do more to lessen the impact of this recession in the next year - yesterday's elections could be a sign of serious trouble in the midterms, when most governors, all of the House and a third of the Senate will be on the ballots.
Of course the White House is dismissing the New Jersey and Virginia losses as "two very local elections" that say nothing about the president's standing with the American people right now. They have to say that. President Obama campaigned for both these candidates.
Here’s my question to you: What can the Democrats do to keep from getting their noses bloodied in next year's midterm elections?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
What's Al Gore's real motive when it comes to global warming?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While Al Gore warns about the dire consequences of global warming, apparently one of those consequences is that he's filling his pockets - big time. The New York Times reports that few stand to profit as much from the green energy revolution as the former vice president does.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/03/art.-gore.jpg caption=""]
Critics say he could become the world's first "carbon billionaire." They suggest Gore is profiteering by promoting government policies that would drive billions of dollars into companies he's invested in. Some say he's fattening his wallet by what they call alarmism and exaggerations about global warming.
Gore insists that he's just putting his money where his mouth is. He says his investments are consistent with what he's been advocating for years.
The Times reports that Gore has invested millions of dollars in environmentally friendly energy ventures; things like carbon trading markets, solar power, electric vehicles and waterless urinals. Actually - we could probably do without those.
The former vice president has also given away millions to a nonprofit he started and to another group focused on climate change. Plus he's invested in areas like technology and media with no ties to the environment.
Bottom line here: Al Gore is not a lobbyist, and has never asked the government for funding or a specific law that would directly benefit one of his investments. But, he has advocated relentlessly for policies that would get the country off using coal and oil... while investing in companies that could make this happen.
Here’s my question to you: What is Al Gore’s real motive when it comes to global warming?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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