http://americaspeaksink.com/the-conservative-reconstructon-project/

Stay classy, man.

but his administration can hardly afford to lose the support of the realist right at a time when it is fighting heated partisan wars on gargantuan issues like healthcare.

Then it’s high time that Obama made a Grand Bargain with congressional Republicans: The GOP will support Obama’s escalation in Afghanistan, if Obama drops the public option from the health care reform and also accepts major tort reform. Plus a few other goodies for the GOP that are too numerous to mention here.

I don’t give a whit if it affects Obama politically

Of course, our main concerns should be national security and the fate of our troops.

But there is a political bonus:

Obama can’t escalate in Afghanistan without political support.

Obama can’t hope his own left-wing base will support further escalation in Afghanistan. But many congressional Republicans may support his war–for a price.

McConnell should tell Obama that the GOP will throw its support behind Obama’s Afghanistan war policy, but only if Obama moves to the center on domestic issues, jettisons the public option on health care, and comes up with a plan to cut the deficit sharply–even at the expense of postponing Obama’s domestic initiatives.

support on the right, particularly amongst realists like Mr. Will (and myself) may not be as reliable as the administration may have originally believed.

Me too.

I’m certainly right of center (go read my other posts).

But I don’t see the point of continuing to fight a war in Afghanistan when even the Administration admits that the top al-Qaeda leadership are now in Pakistan. (If al-Qaeda had never been in Afghanistan, neither would we.)

And I don’t like nation-building, especially when the nation happens to be an impoverished toilet of a country like Afghanistan.

(Chris is actually my best friend Carl’s nephew, but I’ve known him since he was floating around in his mommy’s womb.) (*WINK*)

Chris has spent the last four years (???) in the Marines, did a tour in Iraq, did recruiting duty… got out this past July.

His younger (one year) brother Adam is a Marine also – serving his second tour in Iraq as I type. He’s due home next month.

Chris is NOW going to join the ARMY…

(*SHRUG*) (*HEADACHE*)

Sounds weird, huh? Apparently he believes he’ll have more varied opportunities in the Army, and once all the paperwork goes through he’ll enter at his “old” rank with no new “basic training” requirement or anything.

Adam is “in LOVE” (*SMILING AS I ROLL MY EYES*) with “the girl back home” so he’s 99% sure he’ll take his discharge when he gets home and finishes serving out his present enlistment.

BOTTOM LINE… I wouldn’t want EITHER of “my nephews” being sent to Afghanistan.

(*SHRUG*)

Now some might wanna start a debate with me about their service in Iraq and our continued role there.

NOPE! Not gonna engage. (Not now, not here anyway; one SPECIFIC issue at a time.) (*NOD*)

Afghanistan… I just don’t see the need to risk “my nephews’” lives and limbs over there; nor do I see the need to risk ANY of our fellow countrymen’s lives over there (in terms of major deployment of combat forces).

* Jay. As always… (*SHRUG*)… I note that you’re not big on “conversing” with us “regular posters.” That’s ok. It does IMHO reflect badly upon you… but… it’s not like it keeps me from sleeping at night.

(*WINK*)

* Jay. Seriously. If you wanna be a hawk… man up and join up. (*SHRUG*)

I didn’t when I was your age and I regret it today.

Still… at least I’ve always been for a return to a draft. (That’s my position for a VARIETY of reasons.) I felt that way as a “kid” too. (*SHRUG*)

My basic thought… (*SHRUG*)… I try to look at combat deployment from the perspective of someone who has something – SOMEONE – to lose.

BILL

I do believe you’re completely wrong.

Btw, Jay… I hear the Marines are still looking for a few (more) good men. You look young and healthy judging from your photo.

(**Thumbs Up! **)

Jay. It’s not just “doves” and it’s not just “the Left.

Btw, Jay… I hear the Marines are still looking for a few (more) good men. You look young and healthy judging from your photo.

(*SHRUG*) Just saying…

BILL