Yes, we can.

[wendybeth]

First, he's going to commit treason. Next, he's going to be overzealous in his persecution of Islamic persons and countries to try and hide his sympathies.Then, he's naive. You guys aren't getting any younger- take care you don't throw your backs out.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Sleepyjeff - She didn't say anything was off-limits; she said your conclusion was silly ... and it is. Dialog doesn't necessarily embolden enemies, no matter how much the right blogosphere keeps repeating it.

Oh, and according to this article, Roosevelt did engage in dialog with both Hitler and Mussolini.

From Time - Oct 10th, 1938

Reagan met with Gorbachev, Bush met with Putin- hell, his dad threw up on the Japanese Prime Minister, and at a time when we weren't getting along real well with them. Every president has met with world leaders and many of these were not close buddies of ours.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

Huh? What is he talking about here? Roosevelt didn't talk to Hitler, Mussolini, or Tojo. Truman didn't talk to Kim Sun either. Kennedy did talk to Khrushchev but that only emboldened the Soviet dictator.

Is that what Obama wants to do....embolden our enemies

Point #1: I would read that quote as a reference to his administration and not just him personally. All the presidents you cite held talks and negotiations with the enemies of the day.

Roosevelt:

The negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese war

President Roosevelt to the Chancellor of Germany (Hitler)

Truman:

The Kaesong talks

etc....

[Kevy Baby]

Hey you guys: you are confusing the rhetoric with unnecessary and misleading facts: stop it at once!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Reagan met with Gorbachev, Bush met with Putin- hell, his dad threw up on the Japanese Prime Minister, and at a time when we weren't getting along real well with them. Every president has met with world leaders and many of these were not close buddies of ours.

Oh, I know. I'm just constantly amused that those on the right don't seem to get that anyone with even elementary Google skills can quickly disprove these silly talking points.

[Strangler Lewis]

I think the issues are a little different than talking vs. not talking. At least where the Middle East is concerned, I think we know what the issues are. The larger question is whether there is a willingness to consider actually doing anything differently (not that we necessarily should).

[Alex]

And many of those can be questioned for being when there weren't actual overt conflicts in progress.

But in March 1940, after the invasion of Poland and Britain's declaration of war on Germany, Undersecretary of State Sumner Wells was sent by FDR and met with Mussolini in Rome and then Adolf Hitler in Berlin in an attempt to negotiate a halt to any expansion of the conflict.



You can see these meetings dramatized in the mini-series version of Herman Wouk's Winds of War. Pug Henry wasn't really there but the meetings really happened.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

First, he's going to commit treason. Next, he's going to be overzealous in his persecution of Islamic persons and countries to try and hide his sympathies.Then, he's naive. You guys aren't getting any younger- take care you don't throw your backs out.

In regards to the treason...No, I never said nor do I believe that.

In regards to being overzealous....Yes, I think he might be....but that's actually a plus in my book.

Naive?........Well, I don't think he's a Daladeir but of the examples he gave for former Presidents the one who actually did personally meet with an enemy did embolden that enemy to put missiles in Cuba. Thankfully Kennedy stood tall in that crisis(but there wouldn't have even been a crisis if he didn't meet with the Premier)......but Kennedy, although considered by many to be too inexperienced for the Presidency with his mere 14 years in congress had much more experience than this Obama fellow

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Reagan met with Gorbachev, Bush met with Putin- hell, his dad threw up on the Japanese Prime Minister, and at a time when we weren't getting along real well with them. Every president has met with world leaders and many of these were not close buddies of ours.

Reagan met with Gorbachev.....thus spelling the end to the Soviet empire(well, that worked out real well for Gorbachev )

Bush met with Putin..........Allies, hello

Bush met with the Japanese Prime Minister..........in 91' not 41'

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Your accusation was ludicrous. You were postulating that a candidate for President willfully wants to help our enemies.

No I wasn't. I was pointing out that Obama doesn't know what he's talking about. My bad for not making that more clear.

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Sleepyjeff - She didn't say anything was off-limits; she said your conclusion was silly ... and it is. Dialog doesn't necessarily embolden enemies, no matter how much the right blogosphere keeps repeating it.

Yes it does....maybe not always but it does.

Oh, and according to this article, Roosevelt did engage in dialog with both Hitler and Mussolini.

From Time - Oct 10th, 1938

Good thing too otherwise Hitler and Mussolini might have really done some damage.


I wonder why he did not meet with them personally.....clearly he might have stopped the war had he gone the extra mile