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London Spectator: Petraeus planning 2010 visit to Iowa
Spectator ^ | 14th March 2009 | James Forsyth

Posted on 03/14/2009 10:47:48 PM PDT by GOPGuide

“THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned that General Petraeus is planning on delivering the commencement address at the University of Iowa in 2010.”

So reports Michael Goldfarb, late of the McCain campaign, on the magazine’s blog.

Petraeus going to Iowa, a state he doesn’t have previous ties to, is going to create a huge amount of buzz about his presidential ambitions because the Iowa Caucuses kick off the whole presidential nomination process. If he does, deliver the address—and Petraeus must know this—it will be seen as a sign that he is thinking about running in 2012.

Previously, it has been thought that Petraeus would not run against a president who had been his Commander in Chief. But there are reports of tension between Petraeus and Obama over both Iraq and Afghan strategy.

Very little is known about Petraues’s politics and no one knows how he would make the transition from soldier to politician. But if he did enter the race, it would shake things up dramatically. He would instantly become a top tier candidate and the most serious threat to Obama's chances of winning a second term.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; davidpetraeus; ia2012; petraeus
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To: Tarheel
After rummaging around a bit found out that he graduated from West Point in 1974. Graduated in the top 5% of his class. He married the Commandant's daughter post graduation.

The guy has his PhD in international relations from Princeton. He w/b giving the commencement speech at Princeton this spring. He will also be giving the commencement address at VMI this May.

21 posted on 03/14/2009 11:30:40 PM PDT by Tarheel (From the Old North State)
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To: jjotto

What if he was a VP for Palin?

Talk about a bombshell!


22 posted on 03/14/2009 11:38:45 PM PDT by Aroostook25
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To: US_MilitaryRules

That’s what the conservatives need. A real honest to goodness War Hero. A general at that. Lots of Generals have made excellent presidents—Think George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ike Eisenhower, etc...


23 posted on 03/15/2009 12:06:11 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: Aroostook25

Palin his vp. Unbeatable.


24 posted on 03/15/2009 12:07:04 AM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade
"...That’s what the conservatives need. A real honest to goodness War Hero..."

About the time ACORN got jazzed-up, we had war heroes GHW Bush, Bob Dole, and John McCain.

ACORN is the problem.

:-(

25 posted on 03/15/2009 1:08:40 AM PDT by Does so (White House uncomfortable? Sleeplessness? The 0bama will quit before 6 months are up.)
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To: GOPGuide

Does anyone know what his stand on the issues are? Is he pro-life? I have not heard a word about it. He is a military hero which is great but what are his beliefs?


26 posted on 03/15/2009 1:22:56 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: Lancey Howard
My guess is he’s a conservative and if that’s the case, I hope he goes for it because he’ll have my enthusiastic vote.

Is it true that he's a Democrat?

27 posted on 03/15/2009 4:01:17 AM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Chgogal

Considering the whopper mistakes made by Gen. Petraeus in Iraq, that’s good. The good sign is that Gen. Petraeus learned from his mistakes.


28 posted on 03/15/2009 4:03:15 AM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: GOPGuide
Petraeus going to Iowa

By 2010 he may be compelled to lead liberation forces to free them from the obamanation.

29 posted on 03/15/2009 4:10:47 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: GOPGuide

Interesting. I really hope for someone who understands economics. I think that will be the crisis the next president will need to manage. I’m not sure his background would support a small government, low tax, free market system, but I’m open to being persuaded.


30 posted on 03/15/2009 4:22:58 AM PDT by TN4Liberty (The first amendment doesn't end with "...as long as nobody is offended.")
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To: Gondring
Considering the whopper mistakes made by Gen. Petraeus in Iraq, that’s good.

Are you sure you're not confusing him with someone else? Granted, my memory is bad, but I don't recall any 'whopper mistakes' made by Gen. Petraeus.

31 posted on 03/15/2009 5:33:00 AM PDT by tsmith130 (If I had wanted him to succeed, I would have voted for him. I didn't...so I don't.)
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To: Lancey Howard

Even if he’s a democrat, I hope he runs.


32 posted on 03/15/2009 5:37:21 AM PDT by zeebee
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To: Liberty Valance

Is that the Joker next to Petraeus?

All Petraeus has to do is support Capitalism, the 2nd Amendment, and Life and he has my money and vote.

33 posted on 03/15/2009 5:42:38 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: molette67; Bag

PING!!!


34 posted on 03/15/2009 5:48:06 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue

Wait and see what he believes in, we do not need another Colin Powell


35 posted on 03/15/2009 6:02:28 AM PDT by omega4179 (Look out below! Thanks Obamanomics.)
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To: omega4179
Relax, I said that if he supports Capitalism, Life, and the 2nd Amendment I will support him. These are three important issue to me and I want to see where he sits. I am pretty darn sure that he will support funding our military and future weapons development. The rest we need to see what he says.
36 posted on 03/15/2009 6:05:59 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: VanDeKoik

For those who might want to see Petraeus speaking, go to CSpan’s website, go into their video library, search on Petraeus and watch his speech at the AUSA convention in early October. It is extremely impressive. He speaks for nearly an hour and a half without a teleprompter and with none of the annoying verbal ticks of the current incumbent. Of course it is full of military detail about the situation in Iraq, which may bore many, but as an example of his speaking ability and his presence it is, as I said, extremely impressive. Apologies for not putting in a link, but my techie skills are pretty limited.


37 posted on 03/15/2009 7:26:12 AM PDT by russellkirkconservative
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To: GOPGuide

Not to question The Weekly Standard, but somebody has to. I will believe General Petraeus speaking at the University of Iowa when I see it. I can’t imagine the Iowa City leftists ever inviting a General to speak to their graduating little commies. They might hear the truth.


38 posted on 03/15/2009 8:01:38 AM PDT by Lets Roll NOW
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To: GOPGuide
IMHO, General Patraeus is much too intelligent to become involved in a run for the Presidency.
39 posted on 03/15/2009 8:10:34 AM PDT by verity ("Lord, what fools we mortals be!")
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To: Big_Monkey

He has leadership skills in the army based on chain of command and respect for his intelligence and the depth of his studying of situations.

Whether he has political leadership skills remains to be seen. That’s a whole ‘nother skill set.


40 posted on 03/15/2009 4:19:17 PM PDT by patriciaruth (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993905/posts)
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