Why did he refuse to wear a flag lapel pin?

Here's what I have been waiting for in response to the "if you sit down with them you give them legitimacy and a propaganda platform" line:
How does sitting across the table and saying "you are wrong, you are dangerously provocative, you are a weak puppet of the mullahs, and the first threatening move you make will bring down consequences on your country that you don't even want to imagine" lend legitimacy and propaganda advantage?
Somebody please explain this to me.
While I'm on imaginary responses, what would be wrong with pointing out that it is not the "surge", but the creation and support of the "Awakening Councils" (that even now seem to be deteriorating into armed gangs) that most accounts for the decreased violence in Iraq.
And, would like to see Obama expand on the theme of making Iran stronger by invading Iraq.  We were much better off when those countries were a couple of scorpions in a bottle.

Sarah Palin responded to Charles Gibson's question about the bridge to nowhere by stating that the t-shirt she was pictured holding up in front of here bore the zip code of the community that would be served by the bridge "and not everybody in that community supported the bridge."
What's she driving at?  That she sided with those that didn't support the bridge?  Then why is she holding up the t-shirt?  I don't get the context we're supposed to put on the fact that not everyone supported the bridge even while she clearly did.

If I understand this correctly, Sarah Palin likes to speak of herself as a pit bull with lipstick.  That is, a dog with a reputation for savagery and unpredictability, for turning on people it is close to and mauling little children without warning.  That is okay; it is better than okay, it is humorous and self-aggrandizing.
But if you ever use the old canard about lipstick on a pig, ever again, well, you've just been insensitive and maybe hurt the pit bull's feelings, and you'd better apologize ASAP.
Who's being sexist here?  Can you say "double standard"?

If I understand this correctly, Sarah Palin likes to speak of herself as a pit bull with lipstick.  That is, a dog with a reputation for savagery and unpredictability, for turning on people it is close to and mauling little children without warning.  That is okay; it is better than okay, it is humorous and self-aggrandizing.
But if you ever use the old canard about lipstick on a pig, ever again, well, you've just been insensitive and maybe hurt the pit bull's feelings, and you'd better apologize ASAP.
Who's being sexist here?  Can you say "double standard"?

If I understand this correctly, Sarah Palin likes to speak of herself as a pit bull with lipstick.  That is, a dog with a reputation for savagery and unpredictability, for turning on people it is close to and mauling little children without warning.  That is okay; it is better than okay, it is humorous and self-aggrandizing.
But if you ever use the old canard about lipstick on a pig, ever again, well, you've just been insensitive and maybe hurt the pit bull's feelings, and you'd better apologize ASAP.
Who's being sexist here?  Can you say "double standard"?