As another person with a degree in international affairs I certainly felt an affinity to you, but in the end it was your policies that won me over.

Since January you have driven te debate on iraq with a responsible and achievable way to leave iraq. There are few, however that would have the necessary skills to push the buttons necessary to achieve the islamic peacekeeping force you desired. I knew you could but honestly I am not surethere is another with the willingness to push those buttons as well as the ability. It was ironic that your solution was so similar to one I had suggested on hotsoup prior to the ISG report release. Arab boots on the ground there are a must, you knew that.

Still it was your more conservative econmic policies and your willingness to treat business in the battle on climate change as part of the solution which was also critical to my support of your campaign. You clearly recognize the scope of the problem and were willing to push beyond simply villifying business, not that some don't deserve it but many don't.

Likewise your education policies would have worked to secure america's competitive future.

Honestly other candidates are mouthing words but their specifics are sorely lacking as is any evidence of a unified solution or vision in their policies.

In the end I suppose a policy wonk wasn't what the nation wanted although I strongly believe you specifically were what was needed.

I look forward to continuing to monitor your career. You are one of a few politcians that truly gets policy and not just politics.

Your voice will be missed and I am at a loss for who truly deserves my vote on february 5th now.

Adam in Sacramento

I saw a very frightening story in the news today. Our current president, who got us into this misguided war in Iraq, in an agreement with the Maliki government has set December 2008 as the last date for the US occupation of Iraq under the US resolution authorizing the US presence there.

At first blush this may sound like great news, however, this president is also negotiating a treaty with the Maliki government to be completed by next summer which will govern the continued US troop presence. This is an enormously important development.

The structure of that treaty could control any future US presidents freedom to make independent decisions in Iraq. It could delay the ability to make independent decisions through timelines for withdrawl from the treaty or it could effectively commit the United States to a permanent presence in Iraq through unmet benchmarks. This president if we are not careful could write into treaty law the continuation of his disastrous policies in Iraq.   Read More »