TPMCafe: Obama Confronts Petraeus and Crocker

[flpoljunkie]

Obama Confronts Petraeus And Crocker
By Greg Sargent - September 11, 2007, 2:35PM

It needs to be said that Barack Obama made some pretty solid points when questioning General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker today -- points that are probably on the minds of many people.

First Obama pointed out the absurdity of the hearing being held around September 11:

"I think we should not have had this discussion on 9/11, or 9/10 or 9/12. Because I think it perpetuates this notion that somehow the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11."

Obama also made this rather salient point:

"It is not clear to me that the primary success you've pointed to, in Anbar, has anything to do with the surge."

The best moment, though, might have been when he asked what exactly has to happen for us to withdraw from Iraq:

"If we're there the same place a year from now can you please describe for me any circumstances in which you would make a different recommendation and suggest it is now time for us to start withdrawing our troops? Any scenario. Any set of benchmarks, that have not been met."

At this point, Crocker hemmed and hawed a bit -- after all, it's a tough question. But alas, when Obama tried to press him for specifics, Joe Biden stepped in and, as a senior Senator, basically bailed Crocker out by saying that they were running out of time.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/09/obama_confronts_petraeus_and_crocker.php

[BeyondGeography]

1. Nice candidate ya got there, Biden supporters

Bailing out Crock-of-Shit because Obama asked a tough question. This will go down as the first time old Joe ever seemed to care about the clock.

[gateley]

4. He wasn't the first one Biden curtailed -- don't be too sensitive.

Others had chosen to use the majority of their time making a statement, and Biden cut them off as well. He didn't just do it to your guy. Obama was able to get a lot of salient points in which means more than Petraeus's or Crocker's lame answers.It is unfortunate that they (who?) didn't schedule an entire day for this hearing, and that the following hearing was breathing down their necks.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Maybe you're right

I didn't like how Biden jumped in and confirmed for Obama that he was running out of time right after Obama himself acknowledged it...he seemed a little too eager to cut him off to me.

[jillan]

11. Does Obama deserve more time then the other Senators?

Nice try.

[Dawgs]

13. So, you're against Obama getting his question answered because you support Biden.

Pathetic.

'Can you describe any situation in which you will criticize Biden and/or not attack Obama?'

[jillan]

15. I will and have criticized Biden when he deserves it

And I will praise Obama when he deserves it.

If you watched the hearings today you saw that the next group was waiting for the SFRC to finish.

I precisely remember Biden saying that even tho they were running late he wanted Petreaus to answer
Obama's question.

Do you really think that this was about politics today? How shallow and petty.

[jefferson_dem]

2. VIDEO here --->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x53367

[mod mom]

3. Thank you for posting Jefferson dem.

[maximusveritas]

5. Obama did good. Can't wait for his speech tomorrow

If his words today were any indication, it might be as good as his initial speech against the war.

[killbotfactory]

7. Complete transcript here

As well as video
http://dailykos.com/story/2007/9/11/165225/702

[Bucky]

8. Distorted cheap shot on Biden

Biden said right up front that everyone had to keep their questioning to seven minutes. Obama's job requires him to time out his grilling of witnesses. Don't blame Biden for enforcing the rules.

[Bucky]

9. PS, Biden held himself to that 7 minute time limit too.

Chairmen used to not do that. Biden is different.

[jillan]

10. I know - I read that somewhere else on here today.

That is such bs. Obama was at the end. There was another hearing at 2.

And if you catch Biden on Hardball, you will know that the last thing on his mind
today was politics. He broke down.

[illinoisprogressive]

12. Those were very solid points and Webb pointed that out as well.

[Colobo]

14. I'm proud of Barack!