Zakaria: Obama has the wrong campaign theme
April 26th, 2012
10:58 AM ET

Zakaria: Obama has the wrong campaign theme

By Fareed Zakaria

“This pudding lacks a theme,” Winston Churchill once said of his dessert. The same might have been said of Barack Obama’s election campaign, which started strong with his State of the Union address in January and then meandered. It appears finally to have settled on a theme — but it is the wrong one.

Recently the president and his advisers have focused on taxing the rich and tackling inequality. The “Buffett rule” tax on millionaires has become Obama’s bumper sticker. The proposal is reasonable — but does not deserve the attention Obama is showering on it. It raises a trivial sum, $47 billion over the next 10 years, during which period the federal government will spend $45 trillion. It adds one more layer to a tax code that is already the most complex and corrupt in the industrialized world. If the president wants to be bold, he could propose comprehensive tax reform and eliminate the hundreds of deductions, exemptions, credits and loopholes, many of which Congress sells in exchange for campaign contributions.

Read on in The Washington Post.


soundoff (87 Responses)
  1. GOPisGreedOverPeople

    The GOP soution: Turn all the Old, Sick, Poor, Non-white, Non-christian, Unemployed, and Gay people into slaves. Then whip them until they are Young, Healthy, Rich, White, Christian, Employed, and Straight. Or until they are dead. Then turn them into Soylent Green to feed the military.

    April 26, 2012 at 11:03 am | Reply
    • Commojoe

      Please get a life some day and learn to stop spouting tired, useless, worn, and untrue phrases about anyone who disagrees with you.

      May 3, 2012 at 12:03 am | Reply
      • jnpa

        Actually commojoe, you just described a republican!

        May 15, 2012 at 2:08 pm |
    • Chris

      I'm sorry, can you provide me with a link to that portion of Republican Policy? I must have missed it.

      May 3, 2012 at 8:43 pm | Reply
    • Danotto94

      Are you a KKK member? Your way of thinking is one of the reasons people point out that America's going downhill. This world is globalizing, sir, so get used to being open-minded about different people and cultures.

      May 8, 2012 at 11:04 pm | Reply
      • Laulaus

        No he, she, it is not a KKK member.. If anything he is the oposite.. He is being sarcastic in his view of Republicans.. DUH!!

        May 9, 2012 at 3:49 pm |
    • republicans are a joke

      Thats Mildly put. I live in EU and I fear a republican president all they do is start tons of wars and kill people and they are all unintelligent. We laught at republicans in Europe. I can't even remember when a republican president did anything good. Even the republicans are the reason for us having the economic crysis.

      May 9, 2012 at 7:24 pm | Reply
      • answerMan

        Wow, you really are a jerk!

        May 10, 2012 at 1:35 pm |
      • Reagan

        Ronald Reagan. One of the greatest presidents the united states has ever known, was in fact a republican. You fear republicans? We fear socialist, totalitarian, and communist governments.

        May 13, 2012 at 1:20 pm |
      • Blair

        And we laugh at you socialists. How's the economy doing over there, BTW?

        May 13, 2012 at 4:23 pm |
      • James

        @Blair... you laugh at Europe... The US tries to blame their garbage economy on everyone else... NO , it can never the the fault within your own borders. Just wait til China tightens the noose. You'll be the United States of China, you bow to them pretty much already. Chow Mein anyone?

        May 13, 2012 at 5:03 pm |
      • Abraham Foxx

        Well Mr. Joke, please refrain from clumping all Republicans into one category. What you see and hear are the radical element and so called Tea Party that seem to have stolen the Republican Party. There are plenty of moderates that want America to work and want Democracy to work; and we realize that means blending two voices, not ignoring them. The movement is on, we will take the party back, the same way that William F. Buckley kicked out the radicals in the 60's. By the way, Ronald Reagan, while a good president, is far from a "Great President." You can't remember a Republican President that did any good? How about Abraham Lincoln (my namesake) for starters?

        June 19, 2012 at 9:03 pm |
    • bejay

      People are waking up to the study of the ALL in ALL as science have shown. it is found that there had not been a Jesus figure nor a Mohamed personality as the gospels and the Korans proclaim. We, the adults are not repeating what we have been made to listen to to the children. We are questioning our parents and helping our children to learn to think on there own.

      May 10, 2012 at 5:52 pm | Reply
    • GOP hates America

      This is actually pretty true........but you'll have Repugnants start throwing insults and deny it.....you know, cuz the truth hurts

      May 11, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Reply
    • George Edward

      Posted by someone with the mind of a twelve year old.

      May 14, 2012 at 8:13 pm | Reply
    • jasociety

      Wow! couldn't have said it better myself!

      May 18, 2012 at 12:21 pm | Reply
    • jasociety

      Couldn't have said it better myself GOP! These morons need a reality check!

      May 18, 2012 at 12:22 pm | Reply
    • Grady

      What an idiot you are, you said nothing in your comment, plan stupid

      May 21, 2012 at 12:33 pm | Reply
  2. Travis

    Has anyone here besides me noticed that the right-wing news media never talks about Obama's use of those ungodly drones over in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing large numbers of people in the process? Then again, they never brought that up about George W. Bush either!

    April 26, 2012 at 11:24 am | Reply
    • Patrick

      Why do you call the drones "ungodly?"

      April 27, 2012 at 8:31 pm | Reply
      • Jesus

        Because the drones can't be blamed for "Socialism".

        May 21, 2012 at 12:02 pm |
    • Commojoe

      Why would killed the enemy efficiently and silently be "ungodly"? War IS killing people and breaking things, so get over it.

      May 3, 2012 at 12:05 am | Reply
    • In Afghanistan

      Hey, those drones are keeping me safer over here...if it were not for them, then the rockets that hit the base would be hitting their target!!! Most of the time, the drones pick up on these guys running across the desert and take them out before they launch an attack on us or before they set up mines along the road!!! Are you sure they are killing "innocent" civilians like you say they are?

      May 14, 2012 at 9:15 pm | Reply
    • Enjoy your Starbucks

      @Travis
      We use drones so that those of us with a reason to live can do so without the fear of having an IED blow up our kids school bus, while you enjoy your Starbucks and touch-up your nail polish...

      May 17, 2012 at 10:00 am | Reply
  3. Rita Policarpo

    I hope the President and his advisors have read your post!!! Excellent, and tax simplification with elimination of the thousands of pages of credits, etc is long over due. This is true of personal as well as corporate taxes. Silly things should be treated as such and hours of time should not be spent ontrivial pursuits.

    April 26, 2012 at 11:31 am | Reply
  4. Michael D'Angelo

    Theodore Roosevelt framed the issue he had indentified more than 100 years ago: the “unnatural alliance of politics and corporations” to enthrone privilege.

    The White House gets it. The ordinary citizen gets it, too. Experience Life among the Ordinary, a site dedicated to the trials, tribulations & progress of ordinary citizens, and contemplate the opportunity to plan America’s future at

    http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2012/04/opportunity-to-plan-americas-future.html

    April 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm | Reply
    • Scott H

      Yes, but our government has become the world's biggest poorly run corporation because of its size and largesse. Its employees have their own super-benefits and lavish golden parachutes. It dictates the success and failure of real corporations at its whim too.

      May 18, 2012 at 11:23 pm | Reply
  5. Muin

    His opposition Romney is very sharp. Some anchors barked loudly when republican candidate's tried to question the way he made his money. Republican candidates got afraid and gave up. However, those are his weakness. His weakness are tax return and the way he made his money. Those are fair game bankruptcies are sketchy. And also his company specifically lobbied to create 15% tax loophole. His position on any policy issue is not his weakness because he's flexible. He will say he is changing his position because he received new information.

    April 26, 2012 at 3:41 pm | Reply
  6. j. von hettlingen

    If Obama gets re-elected, he has to have the tax-code reformed.

    April 26, 2012 at 4:11 pm | Reply
    • AAAAcccc

      There are 2 major tax reforms, both bipartisan. They are sitting in Congress, getting no press coverage and being literally left to languish and die.

      Congress makes our laws and taxes. Let's get the right people in Congress and stop letting them pass the blame on the Presidents

      May 17, 2012 at 8:50 pm | Reply
    • tdcherry

      is there any reason obama can't work on it WHILE he is trying to get reelected? i guess up until now he has been too busy golfing, vacationing...now he is campaigning again...is he just too BUSY to do his job?

      May 18, 2012 at 1:14 pm | Reply
  7. JAL

    The general election debates will be as good as any Super Bowl. I think Romeny will make Obama look like a hot head. Not an easy task.

    April 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm | Reply
    • JAL

      Domestically, Obama is nothing more than a glorified prison warden. Napolitano is about to get thrown under the bus, but it is Obama’s culture that should be in question.

      April 26, 2012 at 7:15 pm | Reply
      • JAL

        By culture, I mean the work environment which he created. Throwing up debilitating regulations into the private sector, then preaching about how we need to act. It is a prison warden mentaility and culture.

        April 26, 2012 at 7:39 pm |
      • Patrick

        Name the "debiilitating regulations into the private sector" you are mentioning.

        April 27, 2012 at 8:39 pm |
      • Oakspar77777

        Frank-Dodd, new EPA standards / enforcement, and the responsibilities of every one of his czars.

        May 11, 2012 at 12:39 pm |
  8. Rosetta O'Neill

    I agree with your post. The tax code touches almost everyone from cradle to grave. If we understand it , it takes way too much of our time and if we don't we will pay for our ignorance sometime.

    April 26, 2012 at 6:58 pm | Reply
  9. ✠ RZ ✠

    Fareed, you, as a globally renowned and trusted journalist, stating openly in an internationally recognized and watched news syndicate, that the Congress of The United States of America "sells hundreds of deductions, exemptions, credits and loopholes in exchange for campaign contributions" ?!?!  Well now, if you were to ask me, that is just...just...just...unbelievably old news

    April 26, 2012 at 9:04 pm | Reply
    • Alec

      Normally, I would try to argue with your opinion. However, saying that tax law loopholes are old news makes me wonder just how old they really are. If Congress has a history with corporate bailouts and the works that extends over several years, could it be possible to withdraw those bailouts without repercussions? It is not impossible.

      April 27, 2012 at 9:38 am | Reply
      • ✠ RZ ✠

        Yes Alec, the repercussions would have been interesting, to say the least. Giving the AIG traders, and others of course, a couple of million dollar "walk back bonus" to get back to their desks and push the markets back up with about a trillion dollars in capital to play with, courtesy of the taxpayers of course,.....well, now that was something else. Hard to even imagine.

        April 28, 2012 at 12:21 pm |
  10. ✠ RZ ✠

    The tax code is one of the most "corrupt" in the world, and the influential can bribe Congress with "campaign contributions". Fareed, you must finally be listening to Paul Craig Roberts.

    April 26, 2012 at 9:22 pm | Reply
    • Patrick

      for example?

      April 27, 2012 at 8:46 pm | Reply
      • ✠ RZ ✠

        Good grief Patrick, a couple of minor items (which even you might understand) that I had previously submitted to the President on derivatives after the 2008 disaster, concerned the short sale of equities as an investment and the role of convertible hedges on taxation. As for citing examples on Zak's behalf, I suggest you ask him yourself. And whether he is actually listening or paying attention to Dr. Roberts, once again, that"s something you'll have to ask yourself.

        On a personal note, you should be so lucky that I do not have so much "class" (or unbridled arrogance for some) as to deem you entirely unworthy of any response whatsoever given your previous shenanigans. Anyhow, my new RM#056 says it's time for you to go find your real Moniker Jacking Doosh Bag harceleurs (and yes, that's plural by the way).

        Later.

        April 28, 2012 at 10:41 am |
      • Patrick

        RZ – You called it–YOU do not have any class.

        April 28, 2012 at 11:27 am |
      • Patrick

        RZ – keep talking.

        April 28, 2012 at 11:28 am |
  11. ellect mccain for vice president

    IF ROMENY TO WIN THE ELLECTION HE SHOULD PICK MCCAIN FOR A VICE PRESIDENT

    April 27, 2012 at 2:28 pm | Reply
  12. IRAN=BASHAR AL KALB= HIZBOALLAH= HAMAS=IRAQI SHIIA=NORI AL HALEKI

    FK THE SHIIA

    April 27, 2012 at 2:29 pm | Reply
  13. IRAN=BASHAR AL KALB= HIZBOALLAH= HAMAS=IRAQI SHIIA=NORI AL HALEKI

    FK IRAN
    HELP ISRAEL TO GET RED OF THOSE EVIL HIZBOALLAH , IRAN BASHAR AL KALB AND IRAQI SHIIA, NORI AL HALEKI

    April 27, 2012 at 2:30 pm | Reply
    • Jane

      I am against Shia and Hizbollah, but Israel is getting rid of women, childen and many others who have nothing to do with this conflict. And by the way, the hate relationship between Israel and Hizbollah is not more than a theatre play.

      May 6, 2012 at 10:07 am | Reply
    • Persason

      lol.... You know what? Israel are the bad guys they are slaugtering tons of innocent people while the rest of the world is just watching so no not FK Iran but FK Israel.

      Oh yes and as Jane said its all just a theatre play...

      May 9, 2012 at 7:19 pm | Reply
  14. mikeharkey

    It is not about whether the 47 billion over the next decade is enough or not. It is about making the 99% to vote for another CHANGE!!!

    May 4, 2012 at 8:10 pm | Reply
  15. drewsco

    As a matter of strategy, I think Team Obama could do a bettter job of exposing Romney and the GOP's weaknesses including their hypocrisy. Unfortunately for Obama, this election will turn into a battle between him and both Romney and the GOP.

    The GOP and Karl Rove have already started their offensive attack with release of an ad criticizing Obama for "spiking the football after UBL was captured and killed". This is the perfect opportunity for Obama to go on a strong offense and rebut this attack by illustrating how they openly praised and allowed GWB to exploit the killing of Saddam Hussein as a political football.

    May 5, 2012 at 8:42 am | Reply
  16. Jane

    This is hilarious, I wasn't sure of Obama from the start. I knew it was all a joke when he won the nobel peace prize a couple of months after his election. Voting for a president and expecting him to bring change just because he is colored is racism in itself.

    May 6, 2012 at 10:13 am | Reply
  17. 2020

    President Obama, stay on! people are with you. Keep reminding people 4 yrs ago businesses were pinned down under the bank ruins, and now, they are alive! from 700k+ job loss to 100k+ job gain, Bin Laden is DEAD, and GM ( Chrysler) ALIVE! No matter how GOP spins it, fact is fact, people see them as facts present themselves. Romney, you are right this time, PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID AS YOU THINK.

    May 6, 2012 at 2:02 pm | Reply
  18. crosswave

    OBAMA IS A LEFT LEANING SOCIALIST IN A COUNTRY BUILT BY CAPITALISM & FREEDOM. HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS. BUT HE MUST BE DEFEATED BEFORE HIS COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS + HE DESTROY OUR NATION. WHEN THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OCCURRED – - IT WAS THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN SPENDING LIKE DRUNKEN SAILORS .. DEMOCRATS HAVE DOMINATED CONGRESS SINCE WWII. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NATIONAL DEBTS.

    May 6, 2012 at 2:59 pm | Reply
    • noel

      EXACTLY!!!
      OBAMANOS!!!

      May 8, 2012 at 3:38 pm | Reply
      • Charles

        Obama has not been a liberal yet, trust me I am a liberal.

        May 9, 2012 at 4:42 pm |
  19. Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

    Fareed, you said Obama has the wrong campaign theme for proposing a tax hike on millionaires and billionaires? Really? More often than not I find myself agreeing with you on the issues but I'm afraid this time I have to disagree with you! In a time when we are dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and Americans are struggling to make end meet and support their families, is asking millionaires and billionaires to do just a little more a crime? Let's face it Fareed, every penny this government could allocate to stabile and re-grow the economy is significant if we are going to forge ahead! That is every penny Fareed! Each and every day we ask our brave men and women in uniform to defend and preserve our freedoms and sometimes they make the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms! With that being said Fareed, is it too much to ask the rich to pay a few dollars more? No Fareed, Obama has the correct campaign theme! Tax the rich and let them do more! Finally, asking the rich to pay a little more in the middle of an economic crisis is not a means of retribution or punishment but rather a means of asking them to help their own country!

    May 7, 2012 at 7:32 am | Reply
    • badcafe

      No, Fareed is right. He's not saying that Obama's stance is wrong.. but that it is the wrong battle to pick in the face of many other important wars. It will polarize people, perhaps rightly so, but with very few actual dividends because the economic payoff is too little. In other words, it may be the morally right thing to do, but definitely not intelligent politics.

      May 7, 2012 at 3:04 pm | Reply
  20. noel

    our campaigner in chief is still the empty suit, lying, chicago thug he he always has been. our dollar buys less, our gas costs more, our economy is in shambles, and yet our country is teetering on whether or not to reelect OBOZO!!! what a joke this guy has turned out to be. safe to say, his new forward theme is an old commie theme. I WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE!!!
    OBAMANOS!!!

    May 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm | Reply
  21. noel

    obamanos!!!

    May 8, 2012 at 4:11 pm | Reply
  22. Abdullah

    You right the theme is wrong, but what you suggest is wrong also. Keep it simple stupid. It should be the GOP got us in this mess first by encouraging the the excesses and now when we are trying to fix that, which by the way needs sometime to fix, they bring out somebody who wants to do it again

    May 8, 2012 at 6:42 pm | Reply
  23. White supremacists accused of planning for 'race war' in Florida

    White supremacists accused of planning for 'race war' in Florida

    LOOK AT THEIR STUPID FACES THOSE RED NECKS FROM ireland, scot and UK back round are losers and jelous from those who are latinos and others who make good life here , while those thugs busy with the drugs, stealing and killing go back to uk you village idiots you are not americans to start with, you hate the jews like your father hitler did before , you are the gabage of hsitory KKK. FK U all

    May 9, 2012 at 12:20 pm | Reply
  24. DONT VOTE FOR A MORAN

    DONT VOTE FOR A MORMEN THOSE CULT ARE RACISTS, MIT ROMENY IS A MORAN

    May 9, 2012 at 12:21 pm | Reply
    • Mikle

      Yeee. Vote for this small communist agitator who make life of mill... American on welfare.

      May 12, 2012 at 12:40 pm | Reply
  25. Interesting

    Farheed apparently is not in touch with the news as one might think. Obama has said a few times that he is working toward closing loopholes. Repeating what the president said is sort of... rediculous?

    May 10, 2012 at 3:33 pm | Reply
    • Blair

      Learn how to read between the policies.

      Obama has also changed his tune and now supports gay marriage. Get a clue!

      May 13, 2012 at 4:30 pm | Reply
  26. James

    4 more years of Obama and we will be completely Socialistic and in a Welfare State–

    May 10, 2012 at 8:57 pm | Reply
    • John

      James, haven't you see latterly that welfare is disappearing already in various states...? Google it.

      May 11, 2012 at 1:41 pm | Reply
  27. Eric Goodale

    An Obama victory without a strongly Democratic congress is useless. Obama needs to run against Congress. He should be pelting Congress with proposed legislation which could have a positive effect on job growth, and as they ignore it or vote it down, publicize their lack of action through press conferences, rousing public speeches and social media. The obvious rallying cry in this election should be "Give me a Congress I can work with" He should be challenging directly, in their home districts, people like Boehner, Kantor, and other Republican obstructionists. Make them feel the heat. In some ways, Romney is almost irrelevant except in the way in which he relates to the current Republican establishment. Attack Romney via attacks on the Republican obstructionists.

    May 11, 2012 at 12:08 am | Reply
    • Matt

      Your right about congress, but if Obama wins again it is all irrelevant. We will be ruined as a nation. We need a moderate in the White House, not a leftist.

      May 12, 2012 at 6:56 pm | Reply
  28. Lost

    HE'S SO HANDSOME♥

    May 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm | Reply
  29. John

    America has been an evil nation for so long.

    May 12, 2012 at 10:01 am | Reply
    • Scott H

      Please move.

      May 18, 2012 at 11:26 pm | Reply
  30. PuzzleQuiz

    Zakaria
    Last time I checked you were not an adviser to the president, so lighten up... you're still working.

    May 12, 2012 at 11:24 pm | Reply
  31. Blair

    Great piece, Zakaria. Refreshing to see this on CNN. Unfortunately, the majority of readers here appear to be uneducated, mindless sheep.

    May 13, 2012 at 4:25 pm | Reply
  32. m.s.mohamed ansari

    RUSH SAVE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TSUNAMI

    M.S.Mohamed Ansari 13 April 2009

    All press and Media Arabs leader and G20 leader at. Headquarters of All association
    AND ELECTRONIC VOTE. CONTROLL BY CONGRESS.
    A TO Z + 8. QUEEN + 8
    Royal wedding. And royal security force 10 generation total cost $ 57 trillion
    Each every politician rolling 8 years only just like chess board Game.
    But queen family rolling 10 generation y

    GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE REASON WAR. Improve Economy only 6 points. Peace, prayer
    Liberty, Unity, friendly And simplicity.

    I am also Happy to kill osma bin laden
    Turing point of global Economy. Islam not allowed to be Terrorist and Terrorist people are not a Muslim
    1. Please avoid war. Day by Day war cost increase $ 3.5 trillion
    2. Global economy and food price every Day increase
    3. International job less unemployment Y. All businessmen effected business.
    4. Global financial crisis every CNC manufacture. New technology energy product Effected FDI investors.
    5. Every Day OPEC Oil Price Increase
    6. World poverty problem. Bankrupt 170 Bank overalls 87000 Branch
    7. Each every single man Effected
    8. Ignore future Death million of already Death
    9. Million of People Wounded
    10. Global environment climate will be change this will lead Global Agriculture problem

    Copy.
    A. International criminal court. B. white house. global human right association .C.IMF
    D. euro union. E. united nation F.ALL international famous press and media

    JUSTICE IS IN PERIL. SAVIOUR OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE ALONE CAN PROTECT HUMANITY

    From. Mr.M.S.Mohamed Ansari,
    154, Angappa Naicken Street,
    Chennai – 600 001.
    Tamil Nadu,
    INDIA..
    To , The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
    The Supreme Court,
    United States of America,
    Washington, D.C.
    Fax no: 213.547.8080
    Dear Sir,
    Sub: Prosecution of previous President Mr. George W.Bush, for violation of International Code of Conduct.
    Mr. George W.Bush, the previous President of United States of America, initiated a war against IRAQ, without obtaining the previous sanction of United Nations Organization (UNO) on the pretext of having nuclear weapons, even though the then IRAQ government openly exhibited to the whole world that it has no nuclear weapons.
    According to the CNN WORLD report, in the war 6, 75,000 civilians killed, 7500 troops of USA and its allied forces killed 3 25 000 people wounded and $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar spent for the war. This spending of $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar is the main cause of action for the present economic crises prevailing all over the world.
    After winning the war against IRAQ, the United States of America’s President Mr. George W.Bush, also admitted the same fact, and he openly stated that the Intelligence agency misguided him.
    Later on, even the United Nations Organization (UNO) also certified that the IRAQ has no nuclear weapons.
    Then it is the bounded duty of the United States of America and its allied forces to withdraw from IRAQ.
    But instead of withdrawing from IRAQ, the United States of America and its allied forces formed a government in IRAQ, under their control and administered the entire IRAQ, and its peoples.
    This indicates a clear violation of duty by the President of United States of America Mr. George W.Bush and also a clear case of violation of the International Code of Conduct for UNO members.
    Thus Mr. George W.Bush attracts prosecution for the above said offence.
    Thus I hereby pray this Hon’ble Court initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. George W. Bush, and give him maximum punishment for
    a) initiating the war against the IRAQ
    b) killing its innocent IRAQI peoples civilian 6, 75 000
    c) Killing troops of USA and allied forces and 7 500
    d) The present economic crises.
    e) 3 25 000 civilian and coalition 39 000 wounded
    Dated on this day of 13th day of April, 2009.
    Yours truly, (M.S.MOHAMED ANSARI)
    COPY TO
    The Chief Justice, the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands.
    The Secretary General United Nations Organization
    The Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, IRAQ.
    His Excellency Mr.Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, White House, Washington D.C.

    May 14, 2012 at 1:11 am | Reply
  33. gpforreal

    Hey, and it just got worse. Now his main theme seems to be convincing the rest of the USA that the very confused 'family' values of "Washington / East Coast / big city" MUST be accepted by the heartland of the USA. The economic recovery is not strong enough for the President to risk alienating so much of the electorate. Those of us with more traditional values, or God forbid, belief in a higher authority, are not going to be easily convinced. The Culture Wars are not good politics, whether waged from right or left. And the fact that these are 'celebrity' values, and the fact that Obama seems to relish his celebrity status, turn me and others off even more. I am a former Obama supporter but this approach is not working for me.

    May 15, 2012 at 11:47 am | Reply
  34. brownpride14

    What is romney going to do to us. Were going to jump over that wall and steal your jobs and collect food stamps on top of that. VIVA LA MEXICO

    May 15, 2012 at 2:34 pm | Reply
  35. TBONE

    As each day passes, this is reminding me how George HW Bush's campaign was unfolding 20 years ago around this time. He is well on his way to becoming a one term president. Instead of going out there and going out to the businesses and talking with them about trying to hire more people and get America back to work, ever since his correspondents dinner, he is on the talk show circuit and hanging out with Celebrities, and talking social issues, instead of economic and job issues and this will come back to haunt him in November. I hear on Market sites, that there is bad economic data out there suggesting another recession is on its way. Being a supporter of Obama's in 2008, after the nonsense that Obama has been doing, the social issues should of been the last thing he should focus on in his second term, but since he has chose to go the same path as Bush 1, he will be the next One Term President. I bet McCain now is smiling and getting the last laugh, not that we would be any better off. It was good while it lasted, but 2 years too late Mr.President. Time to make room for some new leadership. I think Obama and his wife can still do some good after the presidency starting in 2013 and still help people out with their influence. Look at the Carters, after they left, they got even bigger respect now than ever with them doing good for the common person.

    May 16, 2012 at 3:38 am | Reply
    • Scott H

      Yes, look at Carter. Please. He helped broker the "Agreed Framework" where we sent nuke tech to North Korea in exchange for Kim Jon Ill's "promise" to not weaponize. Yeah, there's a fatal brainfart on parade. Carter should return his Nobel Peace price for that debacle and go off into that "worst President in 100 years" sunset.

      May 18, 2012 at 11:29 pm | Reply
  36. tdcherry

    any president worth a flip should not have to CAMPAIGN for RE ELECTION...

    May 18, 2012 at 1:17 pm | Reply
  37. paul martin

    Obama is a good NOT great President. He's had 4 years to straighten America's REAL , URGENT problems out and that should be bring the troops home where they belong, eliminate mass unemployment by whatever, which way it takes and stop rambling about gay marriages becasue that's the least thing on most American's minds as the vast majority are NOT gay !

    May 19, 2012 at 6:50 pm | Reply
  38. Kevin

    I am trying to figure out why our press, which is how the majority of people try to get informed, is not covering the money that is being given to so many causes by George Soros. It seems that others are being identified and criticized but they have not given near as much as Soros. I think whatever is given should be identified but do it equally on both sides. Thanks. That includes Fareed!! Please don't roll over when you have Soros on TV, but ask these hard questions.

    June 8, 2012 at 1:01 am | Reply
  39. iran is evil and must be detsroyed

    ( وصلنا خبر من داخل جهاز المخابرات تم تجميد ( سمير حداد ) التنكجي عن عمله في امانة سر الجهاز وحاليا يمارس عمله فقط في ( م 99 ) وذلك بسبب خلاف شديد مع الفريق قاسم عطا المكصوصي الملقب " كذاب بغداد " .

    تشير المصادر المطلعه ان سبب الخلاف الحاد بين ازلام المالكي جاء على خلفية الصراع على سرقة الاموال المخصصه من قبل المالكي للجهاز وتقدر بالمليارات اضافة الى الممارسات التي يقوم بها المتخاصمين ومعهم في هذا الطريق وكيل جهاز المخابرات زهير الغرباوي وهي اقامة الليالي الملاح وهز ارداف الصبايا في حفلات ليليه ماجنه في الدور التي يشغلها هؤلاء ( القاده ) في منطقة الحارثيه .. وزهير الغرباوي له باع طويل في الماضي والحاضر في اقامة هذه الحفلات .

    في هذا السباق المحموم على السرقات والسهرات الماجنه وهز ارداف الصبايا المخموره ودماء العراقيين تسيل انهار يوميا والمالكي يجلس على سدة الحكم منذ ستة سنوات ويمسك بالملف الامني منفردا فهو القائد العام للقوات المسلحه وانشأ الويه عسكريه مرتبطه به حصرا وانشأ مليشيات مسلحه .. يدير وزارة الدفاع والداخليه والامن الوطني وجهاز المخابرات وبيده كل الامكانيات الماديه بحيث تجاوزت عائدات النفط للسنين الماضيه ( ستمائة مليار ) دولار وفشل فشلا ذريعا في تحقيق الامن للعراقيين .

    واذا ما فتشنا عن اسباب هذا الفشل الذي يؤدي على مدار الساعه وليس اليوم موتا جماعيا للعراقيين وعلى امتداد مساحة العراق نجد في مقدمة الاسباب
    1 – استبداده وانفراده بالملف الامني وعدم فسح المجال للقوى الوطنيه للاشتراك في ادارة هذا الملف وان احترق الشجر والصخر والبشر .

    2 – تحويله القوى الامنيه اداة لحمايته وحماية عرشه وهذه القوى مدربه على ابشع وسائل التعذيب التي تفضي الى الموت فهي مجاميع من العصابات التي تتقاضى اعلى الرواتب من اجل هذه المهمه .

    3 – الغالبيه من العراقيين تصيبهم الدهشه من كثرة التفجيرات والقتل اليومي ولم يخطر ببالهم ان وراء هذه التفجيرات تخطيطا وتنفيذ نوري المالكي وبطانة حزب الدعوه بتواطأه مع قوى الارهاب لانه يعتقد ان استمرار مثل هذه العمليات ستؤدي الى التفاف المواطنين حوله وبالتالي تصب في مصلحة بقاءه على كرسي الحكم وتشترك معه جارة السوء ايران وفيلق قدسها وحرسها الثوري في تنفيذ مثل هذه العمليات .

    4 – تخريب هيكلية الاجهزه الامنيه ذات الاختصاص والحرفيه في الجوانب الامنيه والاتيان بعناصر اميه ومن ( العربنجيه ) مع احترامنا الشديد لكل المهن التي يؤمن العراقي من خلالها لقمة عيشه وتعيين قاده لا يملكون الف باء العمل الاستخباري ولنأخذ مثالا ما جاء بعنوان الخبر المكصوصي وسمير حداد .

    القاصي والداني يعلم ويفهم ان اجهزة المخابرات في دول العالم ليست مهمتها الحفاض على الامن القومي لدولها فحسب بل تعتمد عليها الدول في رسم سياستها الخارجيه والامنيه واتخاذ القرارات الحساسه والمهمه فمن يا ترى يدير جهاز مخابرات المالكي وما هي خلفياتهم وخلفيات منتسبيه .

    بعد تصفية وابعاد العناصر الكفوءه والتي لها باع طويل في العمل المخابراتي حل محلهم وباوامر مالكيه كقاده لهذ الجهاز

    آ – قاسم عطا المكصوصي من لا يعرف كذاب بغداد الذي تحول بكل جداره الى مسليمه الكذاب بل فاق عليه .. هل يمتلك قاسم المكصوصي خلفيه استخباريه ليكون مديرا عاما للعمليات في جهاز المخابرات بعد ان منحه المالكي رتبة فريق من السله التي يحملها المالكي الخاصه بتوزيع الرتب وخط خدمة المكصوصي في الجيش السابق قبل الاحتلال تشير ان منصبه كان امينا عاما لمكتبة جامعة البكر للدراسات العسكريه وعضو فرقه في حزب البعث بعد احتلال العراق جاء به ابن عمه وهو ضابط في الحرس الثوري ومسؤول عن افواج الزائرين الايرانيين للعتبات المقدسه وبتوصيه من قاسم سليماني ليكون ناطقا باسم عمليات بغداد ثم مسؤول العمليات في جهاز المخابرات .

    ب – سمير حداد تم تعينه في جهاز المخابرات بدرجة مدير عام واصبح مسؤلا عن ( م 99 ) الاداره والماليه ثم اصبح في ما بعد يشغل منصب امانة سر الجهاز بالاضافه الى منصبه الاول ولو اطلع الشعب العراقي على خلفية سمير حداد لما تسائل هذا الشعب عن سبب تدهور الوضع الامني .

    سمير حداد " كردي فيلي " من اصول ايرانيه كان يقيم في لندن ويعمل مع صاحب محل لسمكرة السيارات ( تنكجي ) في لندن ثم ترك العمل بعد ان انتسب للحرس الثوري واصبح عميلهم رقم واحد في لندن تم تعينه في السفاره الايرانيه بصفة " سائق " وبتوصيه من الحرس الثوري اصبح احد افراد طاقم الامن في مكتب ضابط الاطلاعات الجنرال ( محمدي ) الذي يدير عمل حكومة المنطقه الخضراء ومقره داخل بناية مجلس الوزراء ثم اصبح مسؤول اللجنه الامنيه في مجلس الوزراء وانتقل الى جهاز المخابرات بقرار من المالكي ومنح رتبة لواء وطيلة فترة وجوده في الجهاز كان هو المسؤول الاول عن الجهاز امام المالكي والقائمه طويله لا مجال لذكر بقية قادة جهاز المخابرات .

    اما المدعو الفريق زهيرالغرباوي رئيس الجهاز وكالة لا يهش ولا ينش ملتهي ( باللغف ) وشرب الخمار والنساء الملاح ولا يستطيع قول كلمة لا لان ملفه بين ادراج مكتب المالكي كطيار شارك في قمع الغوغاء في قاطع العماره وتشير مصادر من داخل الجهاز انه بعد خروج الشهواني اراد الهروب ولكن مكتب المالكي طمأنه لغرض في نفس يعقوب حيث اكمل جميع المعلومات الخاصه بضباط المخابرات السابقين وعناوينهم والمناصب التي شغلوها وسلمها لمكتب المالكي وجرت تصفيات كبيره لهؤلاء الضباط والان ينتظر متى يخرج ملفه من ادراج مكتب المالكي .

    اما منتسبي الجهاز فالغالبيه منهم مرشحين من قبل حزب الدعوه ومن اهالي طوريج ويكفي القاريء ان يطلع على هذه القصه الحقيقيه التي يعرفها كل اهالي طوريج ليحكم بنفسه عن ضحالة هذا الجهاز والقصه هي :

    توجد ساحه في اطراف مدينة طوريج مخصصه للعربات التي تجرها الحمير تقوم هذه العربات بنقل مخلفات بناء الدور ( الانقاض ) وترميها خارج المدينه في احد الايام جاء احد المقاولين الى الساحه لاستئجار عربات لنقل انقاض احد البيوت المشيده حديثا وجد الساحه فارغه صاح باعلى صوته ( وين راحوا العربنجيه ) تصدى له احد المتواجدين قرب الساحه قائلا له عمي لا تصيح انت ما تخاف على روحك استفسر المقاول عن السبب قال له المواطن ( عمي يا عربنجيه ذوله صاروا حمايات للمالكي في المنطقه الخضراء وضباط في جهاز المخابرات والاستخبارات والامن الوطني روح لا تنكتل ) هذه العصابه من العربنجيه هم من يحمون امن العراق الداخلي والخارجي يالها من مهزله مالكيه بامتياز اليس هذا دليلا واضحا على اشتراك المالكي مع قوى الارهاب كقاتل للشعب العراقي وقضية اجهزة السونار دليلا قاطعا على عدم اكتراث المالكي بارواح العراقيين وظلت المفخخات تحصد ارواح العراقيين واجهزة كشف المتفجرات لا تكشف الا عطر النساء ولم يحرك المالكي ساكنا لانه شريك في سرقة لحاف مله نصر وهناك معلومات ستنشر تبين دعم قيادات حزب الدعوه لوجستيا لعناصر القاعده القادمين من ايران .

    ان الايام القادمه ستكشف للشعب العراقي اكثر من قاسم المكصوصي وسمير حداد واكثر من مجرم مهمته ابتكار ابشع وسائل التعذيب لقتل الابرياء في المعتقلات والسجون المالكيه .

    September 20, 2012 at 8:12 pm | Reply
  40. SHAME ON USA

    after syria IRAQ WILL BE NEXT AND THE ARAB SPRING WILL SHOW THOSE IRAQI SHIIA FK IRANIANS TERRORISTS THUGS WHERE TO HIDE................SHIIE3A IN IRAQ AND SYRIA ARE PUPPETS FOR IRAN AND KILLERS THUGS AND THIEFS IT IS A SHAME THAT USA HELPED THOSE KILLERS AND TERRORISTS WHO ARE HELPING HIZBOALLAH...............................

    September 20, 2012 at 8:15 pm | Reply
  41. Katherin

    Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.http://forums.
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    October 19, 2012 at 2:40 am | Reply

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