2008 Election Round Up

Some interesting articles on 2008:

Washington Post: On what the policy aims of Fred Thompson will be when formally announces he is running for President. On the whole they cover national security, reform of domestic spending. A good read worth a look.

Washington Post

: A old White House Hand gives advice on the final year of the Bush Administration. The article points out small victories but major policy aims don't work in the final year. I was reading the Reagan Diaries, Reagan made sure he had a good book deal half way through, Reagan was realist that was why he was a great President. Also if you have the chance see episode 365 from Sixth Season of the West Wing about the final year and how tough it can be, the press has moved on, power yes but on the whole the best policy is to get your party nominee elected, then you win.

New York Times: Karl Rove goes after Hillary Clinton's record. Is this his real reason for leaving so he can go after Hillary Clinton from the outside, give the White House some distance. Karl Rove is good at winning elections.

Iran after Iraq?

Is Iran next after Iraq, the omens seems to point that way, the Bush Administration is building the blocks for a future attack.

USA Today: The Bush Administration is going to declare that the Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group. This is well over due, Iran has been a threat since 1979, the West has tried talking that has failed, time to for stronger action if diplomacy fails again. Iran is the German and Japan of the 1930s. Appeasement never works.

The New York Times: Odd article from the the NYT, they see the threat from Iran but don't want to do anything that can cause real problems to Iran, a pre 9/11 mind in the heart of New York one has to wonder. NYT hates Bush so much it cant think in a logical manner, well the paper has released Top Secret Papers that has damaged national security. One has to wonder if they had been around during World Wart Two in the UK, would they have been closed down as a threat to national security.

The New York Sun: Looking at the Appeasement of the American Left when it comes Iran. A good read.

Elite Press and Rove

Lets have a look at what the press has to say about the Rove Departure:

Washington Post: How Rove helped George W. Bush become President, how the Democrats wanted him to resign over Plame and the firings of the US Attorneys. Worth a Read, very fair article.

Time: Looking at the Rove myth and not finding much to be positive about, elections won yes but policy below a pass level. In other words a typical Liberal view of Karl Rove.

RealClearPolitics: A very positive article about Rove from an insider. Worth a read for some of the background details about Rove.

The New York Times: Not the greatest friend for Karl Rove but very informative article, covers the same areas victories but policy problems and investigations. Don't expect them not to be happy that he has left the administration.

Rove Out!

I was surprised to hear that Karl Rove the Mastermind behind the political development and victories of George W. Bush was getting out before the end of the term. Of course the press think there is another story, this is the Beltway after all, what other shoe is to fall in other words.

The Politico excellent article on Karl Rove, if your running for President you want Karl Rove on the other hand his policy aims are a question. Read this article if you have the time.

Romney on the March?

Mr Romney won the Iowa Straw Poll, but since none of the major candidates turned up what is the point, few good press headlines but and there is the but the real test comes in January. VIEWS will make a prediction, Mr Romney will not be heading the Republican ticket in 2008. The reason for this is simple, views does not think the Republicans will vote for a Mormon to be there leader, harsh but true.

Iraq

Here is the Sunday round up of what to read if you have the Time.

The Politico: A look at the prospects for Iraq as we head for September and a very important report. Also how Terrorists in Iraq might try to have their own Tet e.g Vietnam and the turning of the war. The Administration review of the prospects for Iraq, good and bad. A very good article that looks at the prospects for Iraq and the good and bad developments, if you read one article this Sunday read this article.

The New York Times: The article looks how getting out of Iraq might not be that easy, how the candidates deal with the issue. The NYT knows that what appeals to Democratic voters is somewhat different from the rest of the country, the paper is giving cover to the candidates who want to give a balanced version of a policy.

Afghanistan Never Ending War!

As readers who have been kind enough to read this blog will know VIEWS has been very concerned about the War in Afghanistan. It seems a War without End, over the last two hundred years we have lost thousands of our good troops there, and we are still in the bloody place. Views has not lost his mind, of course we have not be there all that time but deaths are deaths no matter the time frame. Today it is reported by the BBC we have lost another Soldier, so far we have lost 70 UK Service Personnel in the place since the war started in 2001. A few months ago VIEWS caught a ITV story from Afghanistan, our troops are in 1914 - 1918 conditions, e.g trenches in some cases and not enough back up. The answer of the government send more troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, it could be argued the other way around, get out of Afghanistan and send troops to Iraq. One simple question can we win in Afghanistan if not why lose troops, we might win in Iraq if we stay, running out now would be a disaster. Also lets start to get more European troops in, they have been very quiet, whats the point of NATO if they will not support its founders.