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[Charles Krauthammer] The three envelopes
Jewish World Review ^ | Oct. 30, 2009 | Charles Krauthammer

Posted on 10/30/2009 6:31:02 AM PDT by rhema

Old Soviet joke:

Moscow, 1953. Stalin calls in Khrushchev.

"Niki, I'm dying. Don't have much to leave you. Just three envelopes. Open them, one at a time, when you get into big trouble."

A few years later, first crisis. Khrushchev opens envelope 1: "Blame everything on me. Uncle Joe."

A few years later, a really big crisis. Opens envelope 2: "Blame everything on me. Again. Good luck, Uncle Joe."

Third crisis. Opens envelope 3: "Prepare three envelopes."

In the Barack Obama version, there are 50 or so such blame-Bush free passes before the gig is up. By my calculation, Obama has already burned through a good 49. Is there anything he hasn't blamed George W. Bush for? The economy, global warming, the credit crisis, Middle East stalemate, the deficit, anti-Americanism abroad -- everything but swine flu.

It's as if Obama's presidency hasn't really started. He's still taking inventory of the Bush years. Just this Monday, he referred to "long years of drift" in Afghanistan in order to, I suppose, explain away his own, well, yearlong drift on Afghanistan.

This compulsion to attack his predecessor is as stale as it is unseemly. Obama was elected a year ago. He became commander in chief two months later. He then solemnly announced his own "comprehensive new strategy" for Afghanistan seven months ago. And it was not an off-the-cuff decision. "My administration has heard from our military commanders, as well as our diplomats," the president assured us. "We've consulted with the Afghan and Pakistani governments, with our partners and our NATO allies, and with other donors and international organizations" and "with members of Congress."

Obama is obviously unhappy with the path he himself chose in March. Fine. He has every right -- indeed, duty -- to reconsider. But what Obama is reacting to is

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bho44; bushsfault; democrats; krauthammer; obama; thehammer
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1 posted on 10/30/2009 6:31:03 AM PDT by rhema
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To: rhema

Good post!


2 posted on 10/30/2009 6:32:16 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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To: rhema

Good post!


3 posted on 10/30/2009 6:32:21 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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To: rhema

“In the Barack Obama version, there are 50 or so such blame-Bush free passes before the gig is up.”

Wrong! He gets 57 envelopes, one for each state!


4 posted on 10/30/2009 6:37:24 AM PDT by saganite (What happens to taglines? Is there a termination date?)
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To: rhema

Nothing is EVER a narcissist’s fault, at least in their own mind.


5 posted on 10/30/2009 6:37:28 AM PDT by piytar (This tag deleted by the Ministry of Truth. Love Big Brother. Or else!)
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To: rhema

Obama doesn’t have the fortitude to take responsibility for the Afghan war.


6 posted on 10/30/2009 6:37:50 AM PDT by NotSoModerate (Obama's spin isn't ordinary, it's roller coaster ride after a few beers spin.)
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To: rhema

Hopefully, his last words in office, sooner rather than later, will be...”It’s all Bush’s fault!”.


7 posted on 10/30/2009 6:40:03 AM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: rhema

Talk about hitting the nail on the head!!! The HAMMER bringing the truth.


8 posted on 10/30/2009 6:42:54 AM PDT by mattdono (The platform I want: Stop spending my money. Stop sending my money. Stop taking my money.)
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To: rhema

Krauthammer nails it again.

I wonder why this erudite and brilliant man chose the term “the gig is up” over the traditional “the jig is up”.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/590347.html


9 posted on 10/30/2009 6:43:19 AM PDT by Mobties
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To: Republic of Texas

I’ve read that Neville Chamberlain’s last words, on his deathbed, were “If only Herr Hitler had kept his word”.

0bama’s last words will be “It’s all Bush’s fault!”.


10 posted on 10/30/2009 6:45:43 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: rhema
(fantasy NYT headline)
Michelle Obama Goes Into Alcohol Rehab
President Obama says: "It's All Bush's Fault!"
On second thought, its not much of a fantasy.
The first lady tips a few too many 'on occasion' (1)

(1) 'on occasion' = any day that ends with a 'y'

11 posted on 10/30/2009 6:49:14 AM PDT by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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To: rhema

“Is there anything he hasn’t blamed George W. Bush for?”
***

And the sheeple are still buying it, and repeating that mantra.

We are dealing with real morons who have been programmed by the treasonous MSM.


12 posted on 10/30/2009 6:50:44 AM PDT by Canedawg (Sometimes we live no particular way but our own)
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To: Condor51
The first lady tips a few too many 'on occasion' (1) (1) 'on occasion' = any day that ends with a 'y'

Might her husbands election caused her problem?

Damn sure caused mine!

13 posted on 10/30/2009 6:56:38 AM PDT by tsomer
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To: Mobties
I wonder why this erudite and brilliant man chose the term “the gig is up” over the traditional “the jig is up”.

Probably for the same reason that Bill Maher called out Drudge for shortening "negatives" to "negs." "Jig" is short for a derogatory term ascribed to African-Americans.

In other words, Dat's Rassist!

/sarc

14 posted on 10/30/2009 7:01:59 AM PDT by thecraw (God allows evil...God allowed Hussein...Lord willing he'll give us Sarah to clean up the huge mess.)
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To: Mobties

There are certain words that would end all consideration of what else he is trying to say.

Gig can’t be conflated into a racist slur quite as easily as jig can.

PC creep hits everyone at some point or other.


15 posted on 10/30/2009 7:02:51 AM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg (Warning: Sarcasm/humor is always engaged. Failure to recognize this may lead to misunderstandings.)
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To: NotSoModerate

It’s too early yet. We’ve only been at war over there for eight years. The real questions is...”How many more years will it take the President to come to a decision?”


16 posted on 10/30/2009 7:04:28 AM PDT by RC2
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To: rhema
free passes before the gig is up

Brilliant man. But he can't spell a three-letter word. Or would prefer not to, he said enigmatically. :)

17 posted on 10/30/2009 7:05:09 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( If you have kids, you have no right of privacy that the govt can't flick off your shoulder.)
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To: saganite

LOL!!


18 posted on 10/30/2009 7:06:46 AM PDT by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: rhema

Good thing I’m not president, because I’ve no grasp of “light footprints” in war. War’s for stomping an enemy. Utterly and quickly. That’s the most merciful way for all involved, in a war. No? The lightest scar, not the lightest footprint.


19 posted on 10/30/2009 7:16:10 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( If you have kids, you have no right of privacy that the govt can't flick off your shoulder.)
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To: rhema

One thing I have used against my libtard friends to tell them to go over to a calendar and point to the day, month, and year when democrats are accountable. The looks on their faces is priceless.

It is getting very old to blame everything on someone else. That is not leadership.....it is pandering cowardice.


20 posted on 10/30/2009 7:16:57 AM PDT by TMA62 (TMA62)
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To: rhema
Krauthammer has been on target better than anybody in the last several months. He's just killin’ ‘em!

These guys aint bad either:

Thomas Sowell
VDH
Rush
Beck
Levin
Palin

21 posted on 10/30/2009 7:19:44 AM PDT by ryan71 (Smells like a revolution)
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To: tsomer
*** Might her husbands election caused her problem? ... Damn sure caused mine! ***

LOL. I don't drink any more so I can't do that.
So now I take my frustrations out on my guitars - I play a LOT of, 'The Blues' :-)

22 posted on 10/30/2009 7:23:09 AM PDT by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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To: rhema
Rule 1 for this administration: Barry takes responsibility for nothing and credit for everything. I first noticed this with the Somali pirates. He dithered and waited, it was embarrassing seeing a US navy ship waiting in front of a few Boston Whalers while Barry considered the political fallout. Finally he let the special forces take out the pirates and all you heard was how the president boldly took action. All I thought was I wouldn't want to be that special forces guy if it hadn't gone perfectly because you know pres Soetoro would have hung him out to dry.

Fast forward to Afghanistan, we're getting the McChrystal-lite strategy. My prediction is that if anything happens it'll be McChrystal's fault and the MSM will forget how Barry dithered until after the NJ election.

23 posted on 10/30/2009 7:23:18 AM PDT by YankeeReb
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Here is the deal with war. Wars end when one party to the conflict cannot take it a minute longer. Ask the Japanese and the Germans what brought about their enlightenment. No whimpering combatant, no end to the war, simple.

When a President commits citizen soldiers to lethal combat in the name of the country, if that President is not prepared to leave the other side whimpering in a smoking crater, and begging for it to stop, he has no moral right to commit citizen soldiers. By the way the finalization of the war due to a clear winner and a clear loser saves the losing side too; ask Germany and Japan.


24 posted on 10/30/2009 7:25:02 AM PDT by nj patriot (Gore is beyond help.... Snakes in the head.)
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To: ryan71

>> Krauthammer has been on target better than anybody in the last several months. <<

Yeah, but never say anything like that within earshot of the Krauthammer-bashers here on FR. I’ll bet they climb out of the woodwork and invade this thread soon!


25 posted on 10/30/2009 7:30:15 AM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: Mobties

>> I wonder why this erudite and brilliant man chose the term “the gig is up” <<

Maybe because he was educated in Canada?


26 posted on 10/30/2009 7:31:32 AM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: rhema
it is time he acted like a president and decided. Afghanistan is his.

Past time. He's never been in the Military. He has proved he is anti-military by supporting Zelaya in Honduras [who is also anti-military, with good reason].

Is this what 0bama is in his heart of hearts? Did Zelaya know "the Chicago Way" in Honduras?
27 posted on 10/30/2009 8:04:49 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (Abortion-Euthanasia kills the very people for whom Social Justice is needed.)
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To: nj patriot
if that President is not prepared to leave the other side whimpering in a smoking crater, and begging for it to stop, he has no moral right to commit citizen soldiers

Yes. That's basically what my elders told me about Viet Nam, and it seems reasonable to me. After WWI, war was too terrible to contemplate, so they stalled their way into WWII; after WWII, nuclear weapons were too terrible to contemplate, so they didn't risk making any smoking craters. One good nuke would have settled things.

28 posted on 10/30/2009 8:08:11 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( If you have kids, you have no right of privacy that the govt can't flick off your shoulder.)
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To: Mobties
I wonder why this erudite and brilliant man chose the term “the gig is up” over the traditional “the jig is up”.

I'm assuming he uses a voice to print arrangement, so the computer may have spelled it incorrectly but read it back as 'jig.'

On the other hand, we 'gig' frogs. Maybe he is a prophet foretelling the future of 0bama [and his Czars].

29 posted on 10/30/2009 8:09:07 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (Abortion-Euthanasia kills the very people for whom Social Justice is needed.)
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To: HighlyOpinionated

Looks like Borat.


30 posted on 10/30/2009 8:32:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin (Brave amateurs....they do their part.)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
One good nuke would have settled things.

Two good nukes sure settled things with Japan in 1945.

31 posted on 10/30/2009 10:02:03 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
Good thing I’m not president, because I’ve no grasp of “light footprints” in war. War’s for stomping an enemy. Utterly and quickly. That’s the most merciful way for all involved, in a war. No? The lightest scar, not the lightest footprint.

Agreed. Let's say that Obama votes "present" on troop additions for Afghanistan, i.e. send 20,000 more instead of the 40K asked by McChrystal.

If I'm McChrystal, I know I've got 12 months max, to turn the tide. I split those additional troops in half, creating two-10K attack elements with the mission to decimate the Taliban.

No mercy...no quarter...just dead Taliban. As part of those operations, unleash as many drones as possible, max out use of spy satellites to track fleeing Taliban.

Take the battle to them, and don't take the foot off their effin' necks.

For the villages that are destroyed, send the residents on a month long vacation to EPCOT/Disney World, and bring in the engineers to rebuild the villages.

32 posted on 10/30/2009 10:12:23 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
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To: ryan71
Krauthammer has been on target better than anybody in the last several months. He's just killin’ ‘em!

I remain convinced that Krauthammer, and others, lurk here at FR. From nearly the day that McChrystal delivered his assessment to the Pentagon, we've been saying "WTF? Obama decided on his strategy back in March!"

33 posted on 10/30/2009 10:15:22 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
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To: Night Hides Not

I nominate you for Secretary of Defense :)


34 posted on 10/30/2009 10:24:38 AM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/01...NEVER FORGET.)
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To: Mobties

Just a typo maybe?


35 posted on 10/30/2009 10:35:55 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!)
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To: HighlyOpinionated

Uh, oh, now you’ve gone and done it. The PETA freaks will getcha on that!


36 posted on 10/30/2009 10:39:31 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!)
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To: Churchillspirit
I nominate you for Secretary of Defense :)

LOL! I've got too many skeletons in my closet.

Fortunately for me, I served from 76-84, a time of no hot conflicts. Still, there was a supreme lesson learned from my first tactical evaluation (which I flunked, btw): TAKE THE INITIATIVE!

A second lesson drilled home was "it's your ass on the line, so you might as well have fun doing it."

From that point on, I was, shall we say, "difficult" to deal with. LOL! Passed every succeeding tac eval with flying colors. Best yet, my battalion went from a C-3 to C-1 my last 18 months in Germany...by then, I'd been kicked up to Battalion HQ, serving as BN Supply Officer (S-4). The concept remained the same: take the initiative, be imaginative, have fun (yes, even though it was during the Carter years).

My relationship with that Bn Cdr strengthened to the point that I worked for him at Fort Bliss when we returned to the States. Although I was a mere Captain, he installed me as his Operations Officer, a Lt. Col's slot.

37 posted on 10/30/2009 10:48:40 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
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To: Night Hides Not

I knew you had The Right Stuff!!


38 posted on 10/30/2009 11:43:22 AM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/01...NEVER FORGET.)
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To: rhema

“In both Iraq and Afghanistan, we initially chose the light footprint. For obvious reasons: less risk and fewer losses for our troops, while reducing the intrusiveness of the occupation and thus the chances of creating an anti-foreigner backlash that would fan an insurgency.”

Glad to see Krauthammer make this point. Most Americans, consciously or not, have responded to the conflict of the Middle East over the past decades as if it were a kind of ‘third rail’ in world politics. It is not surprising that we ‘all’ were (and still are) resistant to the idea of intrusion in that part of the world, and that that has, in fact, been the tenor of US policy in that area for many decades, in spite of the only too obvious need for greater stability there. It is to the credit of the citizens of Iraq that they took risks to resist al Qeada and it can be hoped that the Afghanis also can find common security enough to join and reject the Taliban.


39 posted on 10/30/2009 12:16:25 PM PDT by corvus
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To: rhema
Khrushchev also had the sense not to play the "blame Stalin" card every five minutes. So it actually had a little more effect when he did play it.

BO Plenty doesn't seem to have any other card in his deck given the frequency with which he plays it.

40 posted on 10/30/2009 12:50:54 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: ryan71

I like Charles a lot, but I think he’d object to being on the same list as Sarah Palin.


41 posted on 10/30/2009 1:04:46 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Ram "Health Care Reform" down our throats in '09, and we'll ram it up your @ss in '10.)
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To: rhema

I see McCrystal’s entire stellar career going down in flames at the hands of NObama and John Kerry.

I really feel sorry for him. He seems like he is a very intelligent guy who was caught in the crosshairs of the NObama machine.


42 posted on 10/30/2009 1:12:09 PM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: TMA62

One thing I have used against my libtard friends to tell them to go over to a calendar and point to the day, month, and year when democrats are accountable. The looks on their faces is priceless.’

Great idea!

But I recommend new friends. Don’t waste your breath trying to change them.


43 posted on 10/30/2009 1:15:11 PM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Cyber Liberty

>> I like Charles a lot, but I think he’d object to being on the same list as Sarah Palin. <<

If Sarah bones up on world affairs and comes across as a serious person who is articulate and well-informed on national security affairs and international relations, then Kraut will like her just fine.

But if Sarah allows Oprah and other future interviewers to take the offense and basically box her into a corner, as she did during the Katy Couric and Chuck Gibson interviews, then Kraut will be singing prominently in the Critical Chorus.


44 posted on 10/30/2009 2:05:38 PM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: Hawthorn

Maybe. Charles will never give her the benefit of the doubt, though. He’d have hated Reagan in 1977.


45 posted on 10/30/2009 2:10:23 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Ram "Health Care Reform" down our throats in '09, and we'll ram it up your @ss in '10.)
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To: Hawthorn
being pro-abortion is kinda at odds with what Palin stands for IMO. Who knows, maybe he'll come around to like her if she "learns" to talk about "the world" like he does...

from one of his articles "I hope for the day when Roe is overturned, not because I want to see abortion criminalized -- I once voted in a Maryland referendum to keep abortion legal if Roe is ever repealed --"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051001806.html

there's always been something about Godless-Conservatives that puzzles me...

46 posted on 10/30/2009 4:28:04 PM PDT by xhrist ("You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. " - C.S. Lewis)
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To: xhrist

that position is just slimy......sometimes Krauthammer just creeps me out.


47 posted on 10/30/2009 4:31:03 PM PDT by tioga
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To: Marysecretary

I think it’s PC, either Krauthammer or his editor.


48 posted on 10/30/2009 5:35:56 PM PDT by Mobties
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To: Cyber Liberty

>> Charles will never give her the benefit of the doubt <<

Why should he? He and other conservative pundits should hold ALL presidental candidates’ feet to the metaphorical fire. And if there’s a candidate who can’t handle the heat, and who can’t persuade most of the “friendly” journalists to give him/her a pass, then that candidate has no business being the GOP nominee for POTUS.


49 posted on 10/30/2009 6:46:54 PM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: Mobties

Could be. I just don’t know.


50 posted on 10/30/2009 6:57:43 PM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!)
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