Daily Archives: July 7, 2008

Obama waffling on Iraq pullout?

July 7, 20081:28 p.m.

obamahandtoface5.jpgBarack Obama is catching heat for seeming to waffle on his pledge to remove U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months. He now says there’s a chance he could have a longer timetable for the pullout, depending on conditions on the ground.
It does look like Obama the campaigner is acknowledging some of the practical realities of governing in his recent moves to the center. But some flexibility on the timetable is a good sign that Obama recognizes the complexities and potential dangers of the Iraq endgame.
And Obama’s shift probably reassures some voters who want out of Iraq but also want, in Obama’s words, to do so “responsibly,” in a way that doesn’t endanger our troops.
It’s ironic, though, that Obama’s move comes at a time when the improved security situation in Iraq is leading to optimism from military analysts about the prospects for major U.S. troop withdrawals in 2009.

By Randy Scholfield | Filed under Iraq, Presidential race | Comments (130)

Bush right about Olympics

July 7, 20081:25 p.m.

bushhandout1.jpgPresident Bush is right about attending the opening ceremony at the Olympics in Beijing next month: “I happen to believe that not going to the opening ceremony for the games would be an affront to the Chinese people, which may make it more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership.” Refusing to attend likely would have no impact on China’s bad behavior in Tibet or otherwise, as it suggested a lack of support for U.S. athletes. But Bush should use every opportunity on his trip to make China squirm about its human rights record.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Foreign affairs, President Bush | Comments (20)

Should pharmacies be pro-life?

July 7, 20086:05 a.m.

pharmacyA Washington Post story noted an emerging trend: “pro-life pharmacies,” which refuse as a matter of conscience to distribute products the pharmacists find objectionable — such as birth control pills, morning-after pills and other forms of contraception — on grounds that they promote promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases.

“This allows a pharmacist who does not wish to be involved in stopping a human life in any way to practice in a way that feels comfortable,” said Karen Brauer, president of Pharmacists for Life International.

Maybe this is a reasonable reflection of society’s diverse beliefs on reproductive ethics.
But don’t consumers deserve access to legal health care products? Critics ask why such pro-life pharmacies carry Viagra for men but don’t address female reproductive needs. What if a “pro-life pharmacy” is the only pharmacy around for miles?
What do you think, bloggers?

By Randy Scholfield | Filed under Abortion, Health and safety | Comments (320)

Open thread 7/7

July 7, 20086:04 a.m.

thread

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (94)

What Brownback forgot about Obama

July 7, 20086:00 a.m.

brownback“I think that the biggest thing I’ve seen from Barack Obama is a willingness, aggressiveness, to talk bipartisan and yet to vote the hard left — most liberal member of the United States Senate.” — Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., prompting the Obama campaign to release a list detailing how Brownback and Obama worked together on issues such as Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iran sanctions

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation, Presidential race | Comments (11)