Where is Spain, again?

[billvon 3,133]

From Time:

============================
The Pain in Spain Falls Mainly on McCain
By Lisa Abend Thursday, Sep. 18, 2008

You gotta feel for José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Here the Spanish Prime Minister is only four months from an end to his government's strained relations with that of President George W. Bush and blam! — along comes John McCain to suggest that the next four years might not be any better. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."

Ouch. The question about Zapatero came after a series of questions on how McCain sees relations with Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba. He said he would not speak to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez "without any sort of preconditions, as Senator Obama has said he would," and said Chávez was "depriving his people of their democratic rights." He judged Bolivia's Evo Morales as "very similar" and also condemned Cuba's Raúl Castro. When the questioner said, "Now let's talk of Spain" and asked whether he'd invite Zapatero, McCain responded with a vague statement that he would meet "with those leaders who are our friends" and then cited Mexican President Felipe Calderón as an example. The questioner tried several more times to steer the Senator back to a clear answer on Spain, but McCain never directly addressed the nation, saying, "What I would say is that my record is that of someone who has worked in a friendly atmosphere with those who are our friends and faced up to those who aren't."

From this, much of the Spanish press has concluded that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain — a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism — with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El País put it, "In the best-case scenario, [his answer] demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."
======================================

[shropshire 0]

!

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[quade 4]

Not that I'm cutting him slack on this, but . . .

Hey, they know Alaska is next to Russia. That's more than most students in Geography 101 these days.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[virgin-burner 1]

“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”
-Hunter S. Thompson
"No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda

[rhys 0]

would you expect anything lees from the republicans?

If those fucktards get voted in (more than likely)

this world is in some trouble indeed.

It kinda sux that the stability of the plannet rides on such idiots!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[MikeForsythe 0]

Quote

If those fucktard get voted in

WOW, that statement just gives your post so much credibility................NOT

Time and pressure will always show you who a person really is!

[shropshire 0]

Quote

You don't have to be stupid, to be in politics...... but it helps

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[rhys 0]

In case you didn't notice, I couldn't care less what you think of my credability.

6-7 years ago I was trying to tell you all that GWB was an idiot, murderer and your countries economy was going to go down the toilet, in fact the whole world was trying to say so...

no no no. we got the bombs, you can't spell or write grammticaly correctly so you can't be right because we are the world power... this is what you all said.

Now your country is falling to bits, your war is nowhere near a resolution, you are more interested in who might be running your country in the future than the assholes that are doing it presently, and while they are out of the spotlight they get away with murder and basicaly flip you the bird while you all rub your chins and wonder who is going to get you out of the shit.

I hate to say I told you so but I did, Not in a polite, politically correcet way, but in an 'in your face' straight up un grammatically correct way.

I told you your economy will fail, I told you GWB was a crook, I told youall these things.

Do I claim to be smart? No

Do/did I claim to have some sort of insight into the future?

NO

It was plainly obvious, but america failed to see.

Now if McCain and Palin get into power next month, I will be dissapointed but I will laugh at how absolutely stupid america can be.

If Obama gets in, I will be releived and will wish you all the best of luck for a prosperous future.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[likearock 2]

Quote

From this, much of the Spanish press has concluded that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain — a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism — with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El País put it, "In the best-case scenario, [his answer] demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."

Actually, I don't think that's fair. His reluctance to be more forthcoming with Zapatero and Spain may have had to do with real conflicts with Spain. Zapatero did withdraw all Spanish troops from Iraq in 2004, partly in response to the Madrid bombing. Now you may object to that line of reasoning, but it is different than simply portraying McCain as a boob.

[shropshire 0]

I wish we'd followed Madrid's lead... or better yet not been suckered into the GWBs idiotic action.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Gawain 0]

I see this as some of the wake of 3/11.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!