WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he'll host a White House summit next month on fighting the chronic joblessness that continues to be a drag on a struggling economy.
"We are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we've already taken to put America back to work," Obama said before taking off for a trip to Asia, where U.S. and global business prospects will be among the key issues under discussion.
Speaking at the White House, the president called a report showing fewer claims for jobless benefits "a hopeful sign." But with millions of Americans out of work, Obama said the government has "an obligation to consider every additional responsible step we can" to get people back to work.
While Obama may have good intentions and is just trying to show Americans that he knows that people are still hurting and that he really does care about those people, I think he made a mistake announcing this plan to hold a forum on jobs in December.
This is just what the Republican Party was waiting to hear. To them, this is an admission by Obama and the Democrats that their Recovery and Reinvestment Act didn't do the job they had promised it would.
What makes this even worse is, Obama announced it just as they are finally coming closer to voting for a final bill for health care reform.
Can't you just see the ads now?
"How can we believe the Democrat's claim they know how to cut the cost of our health care, when just 10 months ago they also claimed they would save or create 3.5 million jobs, but now we're told they need to hold a special "Jobs Forum" because too many people still need jobs?
I predicted previously that the jobs would return in the spring and summer of 2010. I continue to believe they will, economists are also predicting this. Jobs are always the last to return after a 'normal' recession. This recession, everybody knows, was the worst we've had since the Great Depression. Of course, it's going to take a bit longer to get the jobs back. The recession began in late 2007 according to experts. It's only logical that the jobs are just now starting to slowly appear again.
Instead of holding 'steady' with their plans they made in February, the Democrats are caving once again to the pressures laid on them by the Republican Party. By even hinting that the jobs market might not be what they had hoped for by this time, they are hurting their chances politically and putting more 'fear' into the hearts of Americans.
When will they learn?
]]>WASHINGTON - Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court, officials said Friday.
NBC News confirmed that Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce the decision later in the morning. ..
The New York case may also force the court system to confront a host of difficult legal issues surrounding counter-terrorism programs begun after the 2001 attacks, including the harsh interrogation techniques once used on some of the suspects while in CIA custody. The most severe method -- waterboarding, or simulated drowning -- was used on Mohammed 183 times in 2003, before the practice was banned.
Indeed, this trial, while I'm sure will be a long one, it may also finally bring to light what was done to these men in the name of Homeland Security and the War on Terror authorized by those in the Bush/Cheney administration.
Could this one man's trail be the catalyst that breaks the camel's back? By holding this man's trial in New York; the court's actions will face the scrutiny of the media on an hourly basis. What sort of defense do you suppose Mohammed's attorney will put forth? I'm sure they will say, "Not Guilty your honor".
Can't you hear Mohammed's attorney now, "Mr Mohammed was beaten, thrashed, physically tortured by his interrogators," Mr Mohammed's lawyer, told the reporters. "Under this fear he recorded his so-called confession."
For example, remember this case,
The man alleged to be the sole survivor of the terrorist team that carried out the Mumbai attacks told a court yesterday that his confession -- which hints at the involvement of the Pakistan state in the atrocity -- was beaten out of him by police.
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is accused of being one of ten highly trained Islamist militants who raided Mumbai in a commando-style strike that lasted three days in November. He faces 166 counts of murder and is accused of waging war on India; crimes that carry the death penalty...
"Kasab was beaten, thrashed, physically tortured by police," Mr Kasab's lawyer, Abbas Kazmi, a veteran defence council in high-profile terror cases, told The Times. "Under this fear he recorded his so-called confession."
Mr Kazmi said that Mr Kasab does not want to plead guilty and intends to fight the case."
As you may know I've been pushing for a full investigation by a special prosecutor of the way the Bush/Cheney administration handled prisoners and the way they spied on American citizens over the past 8 years.
I'm no lawyer but it sure would seem that it would be entirely appropriate for the defense attorney for Mohammed to bring out the details of the way the man was tortured and harassed into confessing or saying things that were not true with the authority given by President George W Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, the Pentagon and the attorney general and specific members of Congress.
I'm also guessing but you would think that the defense attorney would be allowed to demand the right to ask questions of these interrogators and anyone else that was involved with the torturing of his defendant. Could it be possible that the attorney could demand to speak to George W Bush or even Dick Cheney about authorizing such torture?
Forget about this specific crime that Mohammed committed for a moment and imagine being arrested for a crime such as a murder of a governor. This is a huge political crime and could make the prosecutor famous if he wins it. The police capture and arrest you and take you to the jailhouse. The detectives and the prosecutor in charge, in order to win this huge political case, authorizes the police to torture you into confessing or giving up names of others involved. Now imagine not being able to tell the jury this information as your own defense; not going to happen.
If the lawyer has proof, or thinks he can get it by forcing a few people to take the oath and swear to tell the truth about any such torture or abuse, that judge will most likely allow the testimony.
So my friends, I'm betting that Mohammed's attorney will be demanding to speak to a those interrogators that waterboarded his defendant. I'm betting the truth will finally come out.
Will the man get found 'not guilty' because of this truth coming out; probably not? I doubt Attorney General Holder and yes even President Obama, would risk holding this trial in United States, because of this possible defense's actions, if they didn't have other proof that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was indeed guilty of masterminding the 9/11 attacks.
Yes indeed folks, I'm finally getting a bit excited about the thought of having this trial held here in the United States instead of behind closed doors in a military trial where the facts would be forever hidden - as George W Bush and Dick Cheney would much rather have happen.
]]>What happen; did they all suddenly go on drugs? Why else are they dragging the behinds in getting what could be the most important piece of legislation since the Social Security and Medicare were created passed?
Poll are showing that the Democrats bickering between themselves over what should or shouldn't be in this Health Care Reform bill is actually helping the GOP candidates during their run for Congress in 2010.
The healthcare battle appears to be helping Republicans running for the Senate.
Two Quinnipiac polls released Thursday show the leading GOP candidates in Connecticut and Ohio growing their leads.
Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) leads Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), 49-38, and former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has opened his first leads over two potential Democratic opponents.
Do Democrats realize they are walking away from controlling Congress and therefore losing any chance of making American lives better with this or any other legislation?
They are all acting as though they have years to do this health care plan. They are nuts thinking this way. History shows that any major legislation got done in the first year of any one term, after that, it ended up being dropped.
Back in August the Democrats allowed the Republicans to take control of the issue by them having staged rallies during town hall meetings. Democrats should have immediately pulled Congress back into session and voted on the plans back then; but no, they let themselves be suckered into the GOP's famous traps.
Now, once again another trap has been laid. Instead of talking
about passing the final Senate version of the Health Care, they are
arguing about abortion rights. Just what the doctor (GOP) ordered.
Also today we were told by CDC that over 22 million people have now had or are experiencing the H1N1 flu since April. That over 4000 adults and over 540 children have died from it.
Some 98,000 people have been hospitalized from this new flu or its complications, including 36,000 children, 53,000 adults younger than 65 and 9,000 older adults.
Who will be paying for the hospital stays by those sickened with the H1N1 pandemic flu -- that have no health insurance?
Yesterday we were told about a new study that over 2000 veterans died in 2008 because they had no health insurance.
A new study by two Harvard researchers estimate that over 2,000 U.S. veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance. Unlike popular belief, many veterans do not qualify for health care by the VA once they are out of the service.
The death toll of veterans, quantified by the researchers, David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Stephanie Woolhandler, was said to be 2,266. This would be 14 times higher than the military death toll in Afghanistan in 2008.
The study found that nearly 1.5 million veterans between the ages of eighteen and sixty-four were uninsured last year.
Who will pay for these veterans health care when it is needed?
You and me, those of us that have health insurance that's who.
Exactly what else do the Democrats need for a reason to pass health care reform and finally ignoring the Republican Party's traps.
I blame the leadership in Congress. The Democratic caucus should vote Senator Reid out of his seat immediately. They should also remove the chairmanship that Senator Lieberman holds and they should stay in session till a bill is passed --- they should go ahead and do the Majority Rule vote.
Republicans have announced they will not vote for ANY health care reform. There are a few Democrats saying that same thing. So be it. ENOUGH!
Get the bill passed and on President Obama's desk BEFORE CHRISTMAS or lose even more votes from the Democratic base then you about to lose right now and lose once again the chance to help millions of Americans.
The polls show Democrats are dropping in favor. It's not because people don't like the bill. It's because people don't like the way this thing is being drug out and watered down. How many people do you see today complaining about the way the Stimulus package was passed 11 months ago? Very few.
Get off what ever drug you are on Democrats and get to work. Get that damn bill passed or start packing your bags.
]]>Currently the H1N1 flu shot is free to all Americans because this virus is a pandemic, at least that's what I understand it to be. The federal government paid for the vaccinations. Does that mean that the health care of any serious illness related to H1N1 will also be paid for by the federal government?
While thinking about this issue it occurred to me that this one illness could be used as a very good reason for health care reform, health care for all, and yes with a public option plan.
The GOP constantly push the idea of terrorism and the many ways we could be attacked again if we don't' stay alert. Well, what do they recommend if something 'were' to actually happen; how do they plan on covering (caring for) possibly thousands of Americans that may be exposed to something like a bio-chemical attack or some virus like an Ebola virus attack?
Just imagine the loss of income for the hospitals, doctors, nurses, office personnel, emergency personnel, the victim and their families, etc..., if God forbid, something catastrophic were to actually happen. Would the GOP be willing to use taxpayer money to pay for the losses incurred? Somehow I doubt it.
Even if we were never attacked in this manner, a simple flu like the H1N1 could wipe a family's savings away. What will happen to them? Can we avoid this in the future? Sure we can. Offer affordable health care for all with a public option that is even more affordable to the poorest among us.
]]>They run between $999 - $1800 -- and are not sold in stores (can you imagine walking past the health care products directly into the Casket Room---Geez, that would sure make you feel good huh?).
While this may sound ridiculous, I'm all for these companies doing this. There needs to be more competition between funeral homes and products required for a funeral. Just imagine the money that those one or two funeral homes and the companies they do business with -- the profits they are making. And, they are pretty much assured to stay in business for several life times.
In fact, I think Wal-Mart of Costco or some other place like that would make out pretty well if they were to create a separate division -- just for life or death products. Imagine what that could include. Not only medicines to keep you well, happy and healthy (medicine, insurance, assistant devices, weddings, baby items, homecoming dress/suits, etc..), but products for when your life ends(caskets, urns, clothing, flowers, insurance, cemetaries, etc..).
Yes I said cemeteries. I meant however however, those special Cremation Niche that some cemeteries are now offering but in small amounts. They are like a big concrete dressers, each drawer holds the cremation remains.
I would also love to see Wal-Mart offer up nursing home care. Perhaps just the long term care policies. Lock in those prices while you are young.
Imagine the possibilities folks...what a little competition will do.
David Gregory pointed out some people saying that the Democrats projected spending this year and the unemployment rate of 10.2% would, in one example, cause a "Tidal Wave" for the GOP in 2010. I would argue that the "Tidal Wave" would instead, be a great "Tsunami" for the Democratic Party.
We recently saw a "Tidal Wave" for the Democratic Party in the 2008 election. Not only did Republicans lose the White House, they lost a great deal of seats in the House and in the Senate during that election.
The Republican base wasn't enough to get them over the hurdles they faced back then. Their refusal to admit to any failures during the Bush/Cheney years, both in the White House and with Congressional actions caused the voters to swarm over to the Democratic Party. Their failure to admit that they blew it when it came to the economy - allowing our nation to come within a hair's breathe away from another Great Depression hurt them. Their failure to admit that we indeed have not won the war in Afghanistan and that the war in Iraq was in no way 'over' as they claimed the "surge" caused, also hurt them.
I also happen to think that Americans realized that tax rebates and tax cuts aren't the only solution to making our nation thrive. After all, we were all given at least 5 different tax rebates or cuts over the past 8 years during the Bush administration yet instead of having a booming economy we ended up in the biggest recession since the 30s and 40s.
Commentators on "Meet the Press" also discussed whether President Obama was taking on too much and not spending enough time on the economy and whether that would hurt the Democrats in 2010.
As one of the commentators pointed out, Obama came into office planning on stopping the Iraq war, getting health care for all and getting control of our energy sources. Those were his goals and what he ran on in 2008. He inherited those other things like the "Great Recession", a corrupt Wall Street that was failing, businesses going belly up, car dealers threatening to die and two wars that we were falsely led to believe we were winning, and a world that lost their respect and admiration for the U.S.
Americans know these facts, they aren't blind. Americans also know that jobs are scarce because of all the above. Now the question becomes, what will pull employment back to at least where it was in the early 90's?
Keep in mind, the Bush/Cheney administration and Republican Party, after 8 years in office and 5 tax cuts, still left behind a 7.2% unemployment figure as of January 1, 2009 before leaving office. These facts will and should be repeated during the 2010 election cycle. It was the Bush/Cheney administration and not the Obama administration that originally designed the 750 Billion dollar bailout for large insurance companies like AIG and the car industry, will and should be repeated during the 2010 election cycle. The GOP is trying their level best to change that history in the minds of Americans but they won't succeed.
Let's take a look at what's happened since January 20th of this year. The Democratic Party came into power and immediately wrote the Recovery and Reinvestment package that was passed and signed into law within 30 days in office on February 17, 2009. This bill included a historical tax cut for Americans. Only three republicans voted for this relief (stimulus) package, and those same three Republicans helped to gut what was initially asked for by the Democrats.
President Obama immediately ordered an additional 33,000 troops be sent to Afghanistan to help try and stabilize that war. This decision was made within a couple of months of taking office. The Bush/Cheney administration had been asked by the Generals on the ground for more troops a full year before this yet date --they still hadn't made up their minds when they left office in January of 2009.
President Obama announced in March that he would be sending 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. But in an unannounced move, the White House has also authorized -- and the Pentagon is deploying -- at least 13,000 troops beyond that number, according to defense officials.
Today the President and his administration are trying to produce a new strategy, one that will work in Afghanistan instead of one we were lied to about.
The health care reform bills that the Democrats have been trying to put together is finally coming around, the House passed their final version of their bill last night that would not only cover millions of additional Americans, it is paid for and would cut the deficit by billions over 10 years. They did this with only one vote from a Republican. Now the Senate must do the same and then both bills will be merged into one final bill.
CBO says the GOP provisions would cut the deficit by $68 billion over ten years, less than the Democratic bill, which cuts the deficit $104 billion over the same time frame. That's largely because the Democrats raise taxes and cut Medicare benefits while the GOP doesn't (although the GOP plan does include some small revenue growth of about $27 billion over ten years.)
The CBO also says the Republican plan would leave 52 million people uninsured in 2019, more than the 46 million uninsured today (the percentage of Americans without insurance, about 17 percent, would remain basically unchanged, CBO says.)
CBO earlier said the Democrats' bill would leave about 18 million uninsured.
My point is this, millions of potential voters will finally get the health care they need for their families.
The economy grew 3.5% the last quarter, instead of being in the negative as it was before. Unemployment may still be high, but the numbers each month keeps dropping. Only a third of the economic stimulus package has been used which means thousands of future jobs will become available during the spring and summer of 2010.
The Republican Party was given a warning with a "Tidal Wave" during the November 2008 election. In some ways you could call this the 'drawback' step (first step of a Tsunami - the water along the shoreline recedes dramatically, exposing normally submerged areas - unaware of the danger sometimes people remain) it was a huge warning of sorts.
By becoming the Party of 'No' since January 20, 2009; the Republican Party has put themselves in the position of being the Party that was 'wiped out' by a Tsunami in November of 2010.
When voters see that they will soon have health care coverage and won't lose what they have. When they see that the economy is growing instead of melting and that jobs are finally coming around and the risk of losing their own is less. When they see our roads, bridges, electric grids and infrastructure have all been improved since the Democratic Party took control - I predict there will be the greatest political Tsunami in history. This "Tsunami wave" will wipe out what is left of, what is today known as, the Republican Party.
]]>
Meanwhile -- SHUT UP WHY DON'T YA -- go find some other news to talk about.
Give us a BREAK!
]]>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Barack Obama has done it again. The president's starpower has made the United States the place most people want to visit and do business with, according to an annual survey that ranks nations like retail brands.
The Country Brand Index, compiled by brand consultancy FutureBrand, found the United States had unseated Australia, which held the top spot for the past three years. Australia came in third this year with Canada rising to second place.
New Zealand and France rounded up the top five country brands in this year's index that included 102 countries.
"The Obama effect has seen the United States earn the coveted top spot for the first time in the fifth annual index," FutureBrand, which is part of Interpublic Group of Companies, said in a statement...
Where's the big news about this story? On the back pages of websites and newspapers.
There's only one question to ask. Which makes the U.S. safer, a world that hates her or a world that envy's or loves her? ]]>Pending home sale activity is now 21.2% higher than it was a year ago, NAR said, making it the largest annual increase in pending home sales on record...
DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford, the only Detroit automaker to dodge direct government aid and bankruptcy court, surprised investors with net income of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and forecast a "solidly profitable" 2011...
NEW YORK - A private measure of U.S. manufacturing activity grew in October at the fastest pace in more than three years, helped by government spending and higher demand from overseas. The better-than-expected reading is a positive signal for the fledgling economic recovery....
*********************************************************************************
Well folks, sure looks like things are improving each and every month. Between now and next summer I am predicting jobs will be back as well.
This news must be starting to worry Republicans, as they were praying for the economy to go under and jobs to be lost --- at least till November 2010's election is over.
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is making a last-minute campaign appearance for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election bid.
Obama's scheduled to appear Sunday at a pair of rallies for the only incumbent governor seeking re-election. Just one of two governors' offices on the ballot for Tuesday's elections, the White House is aware Democratic losses would be spun as a referendum on Obama.
The results could also foreshadow next year's elections, when 37 governorships come up for grabs...
Meanwhile, another new poll finds Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie running nearly even in the race.
Excuse me? "The WHITE HOUSE is aware Democratic losses would be spun as a referendum on Obama."
That should read instead as...."The FOX NEWS CHANNEL is aware Democratic losses COULD be spun......"
Fox would love nothing better for the Democrats running for Governor this Tuesday to lose, even if by small margins. They'd have another 6 months at least, to talk/report/gossip about it. "It's a sign the country isn't pleased with Obama", they'd say.
They of course would be ignoring the fact that the country itself is split in half on what is best for our economy, health and environment.
They would also be ignoring the fact that history shows us that all politics is local when it comes to the State elections.
How many times have you voted for a representative, senator or governor simply because of who the President of United States was? If you did, you were wrong in doing so. Your reasoning should have been because that 'person' was best for the job, not just an extension of a Party.
They'd also be ignoring the polls that show that the country is still supportive of President Obama (55% for, 40% against), and very unhappy with the actions of the Republican leadership in Congress (48% for Dems, 36% for Reps).
Larger cities in the country provide these types of clinics, saving the ER's in hospitals for major emergencies instead of those that just can't wait till Monday or the next day.
This would not only provide cheaper service for emergencies, like broken bones, sinus infections, flu, stomach aches, cuts or bruises, etc..., it would create thousands of jobs.
Jobs for realtors, lawyers, lumber companies, electric companies, medical equipment companies, plumbing equipment companies, surveyors, architects, construction workers, plumbers, electricians, concrete layers.
Property must be negotiated for, surveyed and razed. Buildings must be designed and accountants must tally up the costs of building supplies, etc... Equipment and supplies must be purchased and ordered. Builders may need places to live while building the centers. The construction workers, plumbers, electricians and concrete layers are hired to meet the required standards for such a clinic and then to build them.
Each center will require medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, office equipment and furniture. The stores that provide these items may need to hire additional workers to provide this service.
Each clinic will require office personnel, office managers, nurses and doctors to run it and provide much needed service.
Accountants, bookkeepers and computer professionals will be needed to keep tabs of the budget and payrolls of these clinics.
In short folks, millions of sick people could not only get cheaper health care for those minor emergencies, they could get it a little faster. Millions of major emergency patients could get a little faster service as well because the ER's in hospitals would be responsible for only those cases. Thousands of short term jobs would be created to build the clinics and thousands of long term jobs would be created to run those same clinics.
I think this idea could be considered outside the whelm of Health Care Reform bill, and instead written up as a second stimulus plan.
]]>Condi Rice(R) recently said the following:"If you want another terrorist attack in the US, abandon Afghanistan," she said in an interview with Fortune magazine on Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak(D) said the following:We can't keep America safe if we let al-Qaida return
President Hamid Karzai warnedThe world must remain engaged in Afghanistan until the country manages to stand on its own feet or ''terrorists'' will strike again,
American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said:"According to The Washington Post, General Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. and NATO Commander, is warning us that without more forces within the next year, the mission in Afghanistan 'will likely result in failure.' Considering that Afghanistan was the breeding ground for the 9/11 attacks, we cannot allow that to happen,"
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is giving a jolt to the futuristic "smart" electric grid, hoping to more quickly bring America's power transmission system into the digital age.
President Barack Obama, during a visit to a solar energy facility in Arcadia, Florida, is announcing Tuesday that he is making available $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the power grid. The projects include installing "smart" electric meters in homes, automating utility substations, and installing thousands of new digital transformers and grid sensors...
The $3.4 billion in grants from the government's economic stimulus program will be matched by $4.7 billion in private investments, the officials said. The smallest grant will be $400,000 and the largest $200 million...
The push to essentially bring modern computer and communications technology to the electric grid has been under way for some time but has gained momentum with the prospect of billions of dollars in federal support.
Matt Rogers, the Energy Department official involved in the program, said the 100 projects were selected from 400 proposed...
"This will save or create tens of thousands of jobs,"
Not only is this smart and good for the economy, it's the right thing to do for our future generations. When it was mentioned that our electric grids would be upgraded with the Recovery and Reinvestment act (stimulus) money, I knew it would give our economy a boost as well as much needed improvements with our system. ]]>By turning from Afghanistan prematurely to launch an elective, unnecessary and ill-advised invasion of Iraq, Bush and Cheney managed to transform one war we were winning into two that we were in danger of losing....
But the decisions on Afghanistan truly are either-or. Obama can decide to pursue a counterinsurgency strategy or a counterterrorism strategy. He can do one or the other -- not both. If he chooses counterinsurgency, he has to send enough troops to make that strategy work. If he doesn't want to send all those troops, he needs to pursue counterterrorism or do something else...
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan who has devised the counterinsurgency strategy, is asking for 40,000 or more additional troops. Obama is right to examine the general's calculations, but it would make no sense to try a middle path and approve, say, a troop increase of 20,000. That would just put more Americans in harm's way without giving McChrystal the resources he says he needs. This game's been going on for eight years. It's time to raise or fold...
We invaded Afghanistan to ensure that the country could never again be used to launch attacks against the United States. That mission is accomplished, and our only goal should be making sure it stays accomplished -- whether the place is run by Hamid Karzai or the Taliban. The counterinsurgency campaign that Obama is contemplating looks like a step onto the slipperiest slope imaginable. It doesn't matter whether the step is tentative or bold.
Sometimes a "war president" has to decide to start bringing the troops home. That's what Obama must do.
I'm sorry Eugene but I have to disagree. This is not the time to be rushing the troops out of Afghanistan. You are correct, we've spent 8 years there, you are wrong however in thinking we've given it our 'all' and that Afghanistan will never again be used to launch attacks against us.
As you pointed out, the war we 'thought' we were winning was suddenly dropped or forgotten by President Bush and Vice President Cheney for a war they preferred to be fighting --in Iraq.
We haven't given half the attention we gave Iraq to Afghanistan, not in troop strength nor politically. For the past 6 years our troops have been in limbo in Afghanistan, protecting a few major cities like Kabul. This is not fighting a war, it's policing a city. It's kind of like having police in downtown Chicago and not training more police officers to help control the violence across the rest of Chicago
I'm guessing because I don't know the details of what's happening over there (we hear very little from you in the media about the actual war - except for the political side of it); but I think perhaps there needs to be enough troops sent over to help protect the other troops, give them reinforcements, to cover their backs - and possibly spread the security around the nation.
Think about Chicago during the mob days in the 40's and 50's. If the cops had just gone downtown and ignored the suburbs (which they did in the beginning), they would have never gotten control of Chicago. Instead, the cops were sent across the city, showing up on the streets of small neighborhoods, giving at least the sense of 'control' - giving those that lived there a feeling of security and in some cases making them feel a little braver. Because of that feeling, they began squealing on the bad guys to those same cops on the streets.
There needs to be a surge alright Eugene; but not in combat troops, in the training of Afghans to fight for their own country.
Until we have given Afghanistan our 'all', as was done in Iraq, we should not leave.
As for the U.S. political side of the issue; Can't you just hear the Republican Party's accusations toward the Democratic Party and President Barack Obama if he were to come out tomorrow and say, "Enough is enough, we're leaving Afghanistan"?
"Be prepared to be attacked again because Democrats are weak on defense. We warned you", they would say. Ignoring of course that odds are, we'll be attacked whether we stay or not.
No sir, it's not time yet. President Obama and his administration must prove they've given Afghanistan their 'all'; then and only then should he announce our withdrawal of troops from there.