NEWPORT NEWS
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois is the presidential candidate who can lead the United States, work with other nations and restore the world's confidence in democracy, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told more than 400 people Saturday at Christopher Newport University's Ferguson Center for the Arts.
"I think he has a 21st-century vision for these 21st-century problems," Albright said. "I am so admiring of the way he thinks."
Albright, who became the country's first female secretary of state under President Bill Clinton, was in Newport News for the first of three stops Saturday in Virginia, supporting Obama in a state she believes will be crucial in the November election.
Audience members said the 71-year-old was charming and down-to-earth as she made the case for Obama, took humorous swipes at the Bush administration, and stayed completely away from criticizing Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
"She tried to be realistic, and she didn't pull any punches," said Taylor Sharp, a Christopher Newport University junior.
In a 20-minute speech followed by questions from the audience, Albright outlined the big "umbrella issues" that will be facing America's next president as he takes on an increasingly unstable global situation. A new president will have to fight terrorists without creating more of them, forge new nuclear weapons agreements, and "restore the good name of democracy," she said.
"I don't think I've ever seen the world in such a mess," said Albright, who served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001.
Albright said the war in Iraq "will go down in history as the greatest disaster in American foreign policy."
She said the next president will have to find a way to manage the instability in Pakistan, where a truck bomb at the entrance to a Marriott hotel killed at least 40 people this weekend. That will be a difficult task, Albright said.
"Pakistan has everything that gives you an international migraine," she said.
Albright described the situation in Iran as scary. American leaders know little of what's brewing in Iran, which has emerged from the war in Iraq as a regional power, she said. "We do not know what they're doing," she said.
Albright repeatedly took crowd-pleasing jabs at the Bush administration while promoting Obama as a more thoughtful, better listener than Bush.
"I want a president who's confident and not certain," she said. "I don't want a certain president who doesn't even know what he doesn't know."
She also urged new efforts to discuss matters with Russia and Iran, once again pumping up Obama while taking a subtle swipe at Bush. "Barack Obama believes you should actually talk to the people you don't like," she said to cheers from the crowd.
Even in later interviews with local media, Albright stayed away from slamming McCain or Palin. She also made it clear that she had no intention of reclaiming her old job under Obama.
"I'm not doing this in order to be a part of the administration," she said. "I'm doing this because he is the best candidate."
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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PWC_GAL
Six days after GWB took office, the FBI determined Cole responsibility and informed the admin that Al Qaeda was responsible. After being informed, the Bush admin did not retaliate.
On Bush's watch, 5 trillion has been added to the natty debt.
Bush informed by departing Clinton admin that QA would be the most pressing issue. Bush was warned by the CIA in person during his month-long vacation that OBL was determined to strike in the US. He couldnt bring himself to end his vacation. Cheney never convened his task force. 911 occured 9 months after Bush took office. He fought against the formation of the 911 commission. Refused to testify under oath. Refused to testify unless Cheney held his hand.
Under Bush, we've had seven years of 2 wars. The positive bridges being built in Iraq are between Iraq and Iran and between Iraq and China.
Actually...
Obama has not voted on an issue 229 times, McCain during the same time frame has not voted 301 times.
MAPatty
Apples and oranges, my dear! The Wasilla bridge is part of a federal system running from Anchorage to one of the other Alaskan cities. They *would* get federal funding for that. We would have to build an Interstate ending at the Jordan bridge to claim federal dollars to repair it. Cheers, MGM (the Pilot editorial writer knew that when he wrote that editorial, but lots of people won't ask where the sources of funding are)
Comparing voting records
Senator McCain voted with Bush Junior 95% of the time.
I prefer Republican Senators Hagel, Coburn, and Lugar. Senator Obama volunteered for the VA Committee from the day he arrived at Washington where he worked with Hagel and Webb. Obama sponsored the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act to improve quality at military hospitals like Walter Reed, co-sponsored legislation to increase veterans health care funding, proposed better care for PTSD. Senators Obama and Coburn (R) introduced the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, signed into law in Sept. 2006. Obama sponsored four ethics lobbying reform bills. Obama and Lugar (R) introduced legislation to establish the next generation of the Nunn-Lugar initiative. Just to name a few.
What has Obama actually done?
He became a first-time Senator in 2005 and started running fulltime for President in 2007 which makes him a junior Senator with a huge ego and only two years experience as a fulltime lawmaker. What has he really done? In his extremely brief time on Capitol Hill, he has missed 295 votes which equal about 46% of all the ones cast in the current congress. When he did bother to vote, it was with the Democrats 96% of the time – so where is the Change? Barack Obama is NOT the man he claims to be!
Read This
An interesting article in the editorial section of the Virginian Pilot,9-19-08.Its entitled "$600 Mil for Wasilla; Jordan Bridge", Zero. It is an article that should be read all over the country and in congress.
Blind leading the gullible
The more one examines Obama, the more ridiculous his rise to fame becomes.
How much money do you think he will have to print up to support his socialist agenda? I say reward those who work instead of passing out free money to those who blame others for their inability to succeed.
Obama is a bad joke. Sorry.
Bill Clinton 8 yrs of peace and prosperity -- IN YOUR DREAMS
War in Somalia 1992-1993, 31 US dead, Somalia is still lawless and a base for terrorism; New York World Trade Center bombing 1993 six dead, 1000+ injured--prosecuted as a crime by Clinton instead of an act of terror, which it was; Wars in Bosnia (1992-1995)/Kosovo (1996-1999), tens of thousands of Europeans killed and US Forces are STILL THERE 16 years later; Khobar Towers terrorist bombing 1996, 19 US dead, 370+ people wounded; US Embassy terrorist bombings 1998, Tanzania & Kenya, hundreds killed; USS Cole terrorist bombing 2000, 17 US killed, 32 wounded. Osama bin Laden--In the sights of the Clinton administration at least twice and they DID NOTHING to stop him. Madeleine actually was so crazy and so partisan in 2003 she claimed Bush was hiding bin Laden to produce him at some later opportune time. Peace under Bill Clinton--not hardly. Clinton's inaction led to further terrorist attacks on the US and our allies.
No flip-flop McCain
No flip-flop, copy-cat mcCain & No failing pailin!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2008! The only LOGICAL choice!!!
No Bama-No Biden
No Bama-No Biden
It never ceases to amaze me ....
How the Obamatrons can never post on topic. I don't know why off-topic posts are not deleted. If you have something relevant to say about Albright and her visit, please say so. Otherwise, you just look foolish.
Regarding the war/prosperity meme:
-Clinton and Albright looked the other way and allowed the situation that led to 9-11 development. Both Clinton and Albright were silent when the Cole was attacked. Nov 9, 2000. Clinton was president. Where was the condemnation, the outrage? Crickets.
-Under Bush, we have had 7 years of peace. There have been no further attacks on US soil. Iraq is on its way to becoming a partner. There have been many positive bridges built between our military and Iraq's. My husband was a senior advisor and still keeps in touch with the general he advised.
-Under Bush, the tax cuts led to a 20% rise in overall revenue and receipts collected by the federal govt. However, if we are not safe, and fear of sidewalk suicide bombs, then any tax cuts, etc are irrelevant.
Clinton failed at the most important job a President could do-- keeping this country safe from harm. And Albright was right by his side. I'm sorry, I don't want to vo
"Bill Clinton....eight years
"Bill Clinton....eight years of peace and prosperity."
Well, he got off to that rousing start with the debacle in Mogadishu. Followed up with inaction in Rwanda (the UN asked for a few Bradleys, he wanted rental fees for them, so refused). Followed with the invasion of Haiti, which made it a peaceful country for the next 20 years....wait, nevermind. Followed by the operations in Bosnia, where US troops were only supposed to be for a year. Ten years later, they finally left. The first WTC bombing. The barracks bombing in Saudi Arabia. The African embassy bombings. Bombing the Chinese embassy in Kosovo. Being on the brink of war with the Russians in Kosovo. Firing Wes Clark because he screwed up in Kosovo. Oh, then the grand finale, the USS Cole.
Clinton did a splendid job, now didn't he?
We're all Georgians now
Neither Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, or Colin Powell agreed with McCain's statement "we're all Georgians now" during the forum this week. As Kissinger said, the United States needs Russia for resolution of the Iranian problem and we may need Russia if Pakistan evolves in some of the directions that it might. All five former secretaries of State called for negotiations with Iran. As Baker said, the US used to have a standing policy with the Iranians but that the Bush Jr administration has refused to sit down with Iran.
As Colin Powell said, only one candidate said "we're all Georgians now" and he will have to explain this for himself. I'm afraid voters will not get an explanation from Senator McCain or from Governor Palin who as Hagel said got her passport for the first time last year. Another reason for me to vote Obama/Biden instead of Palin/McCain.
please...someone...tell me again...
just WHO is this Albright person and why does her opinion mean anything or matter to anyone?
During Slick Willy's tenure, SHE had the chance to kill Bin Laden which would have prevented the COLE bombing AND the 9/11 attacks, but she did NOTHING!
So, again, would someone please tell me who this Albright (should be ALL-DIM) person is?
No she didn't
Bill Clinton & Co. buried their heads in the sand for eight years.
We reap the rewards of that.
Madeleine Albright is a lobbyist.
Not so Bright
To say that this woman did a great job has to be a joke, she did no such thing.
Madeline Albright did a great job
Bill Clinton....eight years of peace and prosperity.
George Bush.....eight years of war and debt.
Madeline Albright did a great job.
"RIGHT" Stuff?
If the McCain/Palin/Republicans TAX OUR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS as part of our income as proposed by the lobbyist close to them, this will take an additional chunk out of my already dwindling salary.
My secondary concern is that now that this proposal has become a campaign issue - McSame is going to TALK and LIE about his position on this IMPORTANT matter also.
This vital issue has but one COLOR - GREEN!!
The welfare benefits needed to pay for the McSame/Palin WARS and the Bush/Republican Wall Street BAILOUT money has to come from somewhere.
With that I can NOW understand why paying (MY FAIR share of) TAXES is a patriotic duty.
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_healthcare.cfm
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/mccains_health_care_tax_increa.html
Albright was probably the worse Sec State ever...
Her tenure was a disaster. She had her chance to advise when the storm was brewing with respect to Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda and she sat on her hands. Her capstone achievement? she got the military involved in the quagmire of Kosovo.
Albright's arrival on the scene as an advisor to Obama is frightening. Is it any wonder that she praises him....they share the same vision to exploit the military and project American power, not to secure strategic national interests, but to "fix" what they see as humanitarian issues...aka Somalia. (BlackHawk down). Albright bought into the petty power plays at the UN, rather than defending the US interests. Stand by for more "meddling" and "fixing" and "intervention" in places we have no business being, with no clear plan or exit strategy, if Obama wins.
I hope that the military people can see through this.
And don't forget
her "sudden" knowledge of her Jewish heritage that basically dissolved any Jewish - Palestine agreement.
not so bright
this has got to be the most dimm witted women in politics,thanks for the botched job in kosovo,your great negotiation,with the north koreans,with the there nuclear weapons program,yea i did'nt forget,in exchange for them not going ahead with there developement,we the clinton admin.will look the other way,and place blind faith in there promise not to proceed with the developement,and still provide your nation with oil and,food.lets see is there anything else i forgot?if anyone would like to add please feel free.