Can someone explain this 'preconditions' dig that McCain has been throwing around?

This debate had no foreign policy component to it at all, but McCain couldn't resist bringing it up yet again.

I usually understand the points that the Republicans are trying to get across, even in cases where they are just going for the raw-emotional-appeal-check-your-logic-at-the-door, but this just mystifies me. So:

Obama is put into a room (WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS OH NOES!) with Kim Jong Il. Are they worried that he will use his Communist Mind Control Rays to get Obama to leave S. Korea undefended, and cede California in the bargain? Clearly, he is trying to appeal to fear here (it's DANGEROUS!), but I don't really get what we are supposed to be worried about. And exactly what preconditions will allay these fears?

... that we are supposed to act like we are better than everyone else, "You are not WORTHY of speaking directly to the POTUS, how dare you even look his direction you dog!"

or something

When Obama's approach is (and this is obviously not an official campaign statement, just my take on it) "I'm gonna stop acting like a bully and give you the respect you deserve as a soverign state and maybe then we can get something accomplished."

That's what I think his original point was when he said WAY back in the primaries but of course he's had to come off of that a bit to keep the right wing frady cats from wigging out.

But the "no preconditions" = dangerous mantra is just surreal.

"Mushroom cloud over NYC" was scary, even if it was a complete fabrication. High-level diplomacy, not so much.

I think it's like real estate- the two parties aren't supposed to deal directly with one another. There are probably entrenched modes of operating in the political and diplomatic world. \

The funny thing is, in all of my years of buying and selling real estate, I have personally had to bypass realtors in order to rescue derailed transactions. Not to mention my first sale, where I was simply talking to someone and a woman overheard us. She bought my house. We simply signed papers and it was done. No diplomacy.


I think this is what Obama will bring to the White House. A new methodology. It just terrifies the existing power holders. I think the reality is, we're all human. But what we've done is try to twist arms, steal, grab, coerce. And the result is we can't just go running around the world like a loose cannon, talking with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.


And another thing. I know Obama is far more trustworthy than those who've held office before him. Watch the documentary, Senator Obama goes to Africa. Actually, you don't even need to see it. He's the same wherever he goes. Diplomatic.


It's meaningless. They've got nothing. All they can do is try to scare Americans into thinking he'd be bad for the country.

I'm sure there's more to it than I can possibly know. Like the thousands of letters that FDR wrote to Churchill. But that was then. I just don't see how Obama talking with anyone, no matter how small or evil, is going to be a problem.

... and have just watched this Youtube excerpt of it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrdhwcxj92k

So his and Michelle's first experience with MASSIVE crowds ..... to which they have now become accustomed ...... was in Kenya. Gotta love the irony there.

It's unfortunate that the question of his citizenship is such a murky issue politically. How awesome would it be to for CNN to show live footage of Kenyans dancing in the streets on election night if he wins. Will be a thing of beauty no doubt.

Breaks my heart that one of the things that most endears him to me ..... his cosmopolitanism .... is the one thing that cause so many closed minded people to distrust him. So many of us dont realize how his different way of looking at the world would be such a valueable thing to have right now.

I'm so glad you found that bit of video.

But too many of the supposedly sophisticated Americans are actually bigoted, racist slobs, while the poor Kenyans know the truth when they see it. How many racist Kenyans are there. Not many, I would wager. I think conservative agendas have clouded the judgment of the modern societies.

It's so good to see someone REAL actually winning here. Not that we didn't win before. But even republicans can see through the hype.


Well, that was rushed. I'm running out the door. But let's hope for the good of mankind that things continue to go in the direction of ________. Some word. Reality? Goodness? Obama?

I have faith that goodness will win. I want the very image of things Leo Strauss, Grover Norquist, Ronald Reagan, to just simply die.

That's a big part of what we have the State Department for. Obama's not going to just leave a note on the Camp David tarmac saying "gone to Iran - B back next week." (Hmm - McCain might - maybe this is just more Republican projection.)

It's specifically the DANGEROUS part I don't get. That and exactly what sort of preconditions they are looking for.

Thank you for saying what was in the back of my empty head.

And this also goes to the idea that it's not just the candidate we're voting for. It's their appointments.
Their judgment rolls over into all of the other areas. Man,, we've been through hell.

apparently high level discussions even bizarrely with Spain can't be counted on until they grovel before The Seal and Flag.

He's nuts.