Ukraine

[Conan71]

Well, there's certainly precedence for such a situation.  KAL 007 was shot down while Reagan was at his ranch in Santa Barbara.  He headed back to Washington the next day as more details emerged, eager to learn more and to be at the hub of government rather than hiding out at his retreat.  Reagan appeared engaged and enraged.  Even Obama's media sycophants have called Obama's remarks concerning MH17 as "sophomoric".

Chris Matthews, Yes Matthews, Admiringly Recalls Reagan's Response to KAL-007 Shootdown

Brent Baker's picture
Amazingly, Chris Matthews concluded Thursday's Hardball by playing clips of how President Ronald Reagan reacted the Soviet shootdown of a Korean Air Lines 747 passenger jet in 1983 – even conceding, after a clip of Reagan charging the Soviets with terrorism and a "flagrant lie," that "he was speaking for the American people."

Matthews – probably inadvertently – illustrated how Reagan, unlike the current occupant of the White House, understood his role as leader of the free world under threat from evil forces.

Audio: MP3 clip

At Point Mugu Naval Air Station, on Friday, September 2, 1983 (MSNBC misdated the soundbite as from Sept. 1), Reagan asserted:

What can we think of a regime that so broadly trumpets its vision of peace and global disarmament and yet so callously and quickly commits a terrorist act to sacrifice the lives of innocent human beings? What can be said about Soviet credibility when they so flagrantly lie about such a heinous act?

Incredibly, Matthews acknowledged: "I can tell you, he was speaking for the American people back then who were absolutely furious at what the Soviets had done. Their cold-blooded killing of so many innocent people, their brutal destruction of so many human lives, their utter lack of compassion for the people aboard that plane."

Setting up a clip from Reagan's Oval Office address four days later, Matthews related: "And here's the way our President and we, the American people, felt."

From the end of the Thursday, July 17 Hardball on MSNBC:

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me finish tonight with a flashback. From the moment I heard about today's shooting down of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, I remember that 1983 shooting down of a Korean airliner over Soviet airspace. Back then, the Soviets, still in a Cold War mindset, refused to admit responsibility for the deliberate murder of 269 passengers, including U.S. Congressman Lawrence McDonald of Georgia who was aboard. Here's how President Reagan reacted.

PRESIDENT REAGAN, SEPTEMBER 2, 1983 (at Point Mugu Naval Air Station): What can we think of a regime that so broadly trumpets its vision of peace and global disarmament and yet so callously and quickly commits a terrorist act to sacrifice the lives of innocent human beings? What can be said about Soviet credibility when they so flagrantly lie about such a heinous act?
MATTHEWS: I can tell you, he was speaking for the American people back then who were absolutely furious at what the Soviets had done. Their cold-blooded killing of so many innocent people, their brutal destruction of so many human lives, their utter lack of compassion for the people aboard that plane. And here's the way our President and we, the American people, felt.

Reagan-Oval-MSNBC-1983-09-06.jpgPRESIDENT REAGAN, SEPTEMBER 6, 1983 (at the White House): We know it will be hard to make a nation that rules its own people through force to cease using force against the rest of the world. But we must try. This is not a role we sought. We preach no manifest destiny. But like Americans who began this country and brought forth this last best hope of mankind, history has asked much of the Americans of our own time, much we have already given, much more we must be prepared to give.               
MATTHEWS: There are events like this today that no one forgets. Especially not today.

[Hoss]

I'm glad you guys think he appears 'sophomoric'.

Let's remember, he was also part of the Annual Press Dinner and had got in some golf all the while green-lighting Operation Neptune Spear.  You know, the operation that killed OSB...

I think it's safe to say that most modern Presidents can multi task.

But hey, anything that sates the right and their craving to disrepect this President at every turn.  If this President came out in favor of puppies, you can be sure Republicans would find a way to put them down.

[Conan71]

I'm glad you guys think he appears 'sophomoric'.

Let's remember, he was also part of the Annual Press Dinner and had got in some golf all the while green-lighting Operation Neptune Spear.  You know, the operation that killed OSB...

I think it's safe to say that most modern Presidents can multi task.

But hey, anything that sates the right and their craving to disrepect this President at every turn.  If this President came out in favor of puppies, you can be sure Republicans would find a way to put them down.

Damn it, I'm sorry, I forgot how respecting everyone was of "W".

Might be a good message there to be careful what you foment.

[Red Arrow]

I mean there was very little if any criticism from the right to the delayed response to Katrina, which happened in this country.  

There was more than enough criticism from the left to make up for it.  The left was acting like an atomic bomb was intentionally dropped on New Orleans by W himself.

[Hoss]

There was more than enough criticism from the left to make up for it.  The left was acting like an atomic bomb was intentionally dropped on New Orleans by W himself.

Last time I checked, however, New Orleans was in the US...not in Crimea or Ukraine.

The right is making it sound like the President dropped a bomb on Alabama.

[AquaMan]

Remember, this is what the Gas Tool wanted Obama to act on immediately. Though he had no idea what the response should be and tied it in with golf and politics.-

Airliner shot down. 295 dead including 23 Americans. President paused to speak on the matter:
"looks like it may be a terrible tragedy, right now we're working to determine whether there were American citizens on board. That is our first priority and I've directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government," Mr. Obama said.   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-says-malaysia-airlines-flight-17-may-be-a-terrible-tragedy/

He then hopped on Marine One to fly to NYC and attend two DNC fundraisers (this will make 396 total since 2009).  Both are to be held at the private mansions of donors and closed to the public and press.

In retrospect the tool should be apologizing since there was 1 American, it was on foreign soil, the rest of the world knows who is at fault and isn't waiting with bated breath for our response, and his response appears to be intelligent, deliberative and correct. But no, Gas has a reality problem.

[Gaspar]

Remember, this is what the Gas Tool wanted Obama to act on immediately. Though he had no idea what the response should be and tied it in with golf and politics.-

Airliner shot down. 295 dead including 23 Americans. President paused to speak on the matter:
"looks like it may be a terrible tragedy, right now we're working to determine whether there were American citizens on board. That is our first priority and I've directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government," Mr. Obama said.   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-says-malaysia-airlines-flight-17-may-be-a-terrible-tragedy/

He then hopped on Marine One to fly to NYC and attend two DNC fundraisers (this will make 396 total since 2009).  Both are to be held at the private mansions of donors and closed to the public and press.

In retrospect the tool should be apologizing since there was 1 American, it was on foreign soil, the rest of the world knows who is at fault and isn't waiting with bated breath for our response, and his response appears to be intelligent, deliberative and correct. But no, Gas has a reality problem.

Yes. He deliberately shot an 86.  I should probably stop being so critical since CNN and MSNBC are now both carrying that mantel now.  Next week, Obama vacation time again! 

Ok, I'm done.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Now there's a guy who finds silver linings. Cup half full.

Here is the cup for the realist.....

http://www.despair.com/drinkware.html

[heironymouspasparagus]

If the plane being shot done wasn't enough, certainly Israel getting into a ground war might have pushed me over the edge to appear like I was the leader of the free world or something.

Don't be too critical...you know he had to be involved in this one - he had to tell them, "sic 'em"....

[Red Arrow]

Last time I checked, however, New Orleans was in the US...not in Crimea or Ukraine.

The right is making it sound like the President dropped a bomb on Alabama.

I believe there is probably little Prez Obama can do about the airliner in Ukraine.  I also believe your memory of the Katrina situation is somewhat one-sided.  My opinion, nothing to try to disprove.

[Red Arrow]

Yes. He deliberately shot an 86.  

I went golfing on an official golf course one time.  I shot a 296 for 18 holes and decided I ought to try something else.

I almost forgot, I lost 12 golf balls.   

[RecycleMichael]

Katrina was much more complex for Bush.

FEMA had really strong leadership that had performed well for many Presidents. They were truly a standout agency for the Federal government.

Bush created Homeland Security and decided to put FEMA under it's umbrella which downgraded the status of FEMA officials. Almost all of the top people immediately quit. Bush then assigned people who had no clue as to handling a disaster. "Heck of a job, Brownie" (Mark Brown) came from being the executive director of a horse breed association to being in charge of FEMA. His only government experience was working as Assistant to the City Manager for Edmond, Oklahoma.

Bush screwed it up so many ways before the disaster happened, then was criticized heavily for a lack of action or empathy afterward, that I believe the criticism was justified.

[AquaMan]

Yes. He deliberately shot an 86.  I should probably stop being so critical since CNN and MSNBC are now both carrying that mantel now.  Next week, Obama vacation time again! 

Ok, I'm done.

You're never done. Its your life. What you are is beaten.

The job of the press is to build up celebrity (in all categories) then destroy it. Its hope, progress, praise, then as they tire and the ratings peak, its scandal, character assassination, drama, intrigue. Its a business plan for them. The idea of a liberal press has always been a fraudulent but necessary construct for conservatives and faux libertarians. You need look no further than its ownership.

[Red Arrow]

Katrina was much more complex for Bush.

FEMA had really strong leadership that had performed well for many Presidents. They were truly a standout agency for the Federal government.

Bush created Homeland Security and decided to put FEMA under it's umbrella which downgraded the status of FEMA officials. Almost all of the top people immediately quit. Bush then assigned people who had no clue as to handling a disaster. "Heck of a job, Brownie" (Mark Brown) came from being the executive director of a horse breed association to being in charge of FEMA. His only government experience was working as Assistant to the City Manager for Edmond, Oklahoma.

Bush screwed it up so many ways before the disaster happened, then was criticized heavily for a lack of action or empathy afterward, that I believe the criticism was justified.

I seem to remember that the authorities in New Orleans didn't even follow their own storm policies.  Bush probably deserved some criticism, Obama deserves some too.  It's humorous(?) to see the left forget how much they criticized Bush while they bemoan how much the right criticizes Prez Obama.  It goes with the territory.

[guido911]

G, if you want people to have respect for your job, your posts, what you know ,what you do, and how you do it you must show respect for others positions in life. I'm sure you do that for other lawyers. Neither you nor Gas have ever served in public office, much less at the presidential level. You make assumptions based on limited experience and information about those jobs. That makes you guys' posts pretty meaningless and mostly smug political sniping.

In short it makes you tools for those with political agendas who couldn't care less about what is appropriate or good for our country, just what is good for their narrow, shallow goals.

Got it. A person who has never served in public office does not get to complain about public servants. Now, I am sure your experience as an Oklahoma governor gives you the right to post this about Fallin: "Biggest freakin' loser governor we have ever had."

And I assume you have never criticized W, or any other republican because you "show respect for others positions in life."  

Keep them coming...



edited because I cannot believe what you posted.