Obama in Afghanistan (((PICS)))

[blogslut]

U.S. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, second from left, with Gul Agha Shirzai, left, the governor of Nangarhar province, and other unidentified officials during a meeting , in Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday, July 19, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential contender Obama started a campaign-season tour of combat zones and foreign capitals, visiting with U.S. forces in Kuwait and then Afghanistan — the scene of a war he says deserves more attention and more troops. (AP Photo)

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (3rd R) poses for a photo at a military base in Afghanistan July 19, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met the commander of U.S. troops in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday to talk about the war he says is not getting enough attention from the Bush administration. REUTERS/U.S. Army/Handout (AFGHANISTAN)

U.S. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, left, posses with an unidentified afghan official in Nangarhar province, in Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday, July 19, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential contender Obama started a campaign-season tour of combat zones and foreign capitals, visiting with U.S. forces in Kuwait and then Afghanistan, the scene of a war he says deserves more attention and more troops. (AP Photo)

U.S. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, is seen being photographed during a meeting with Gul Agha Shirzai, the governor of Nangarhar province, center rear, and US military personel in Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday, July 19, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential contender Obama started a campaign-season tour of combat zones and foreign capitals, visiting with U.S. forces in Kuwait and then Afghanistan — the scene of a war he says deserves more attention and more troops. (AP Photo)

[Inuca]

1. Hint to Reed

don't stand next to Barack in photo ops :-).

[Captain Hilts]

2. Why not?

And Reed has been to Afghanistan several times. Iraq too.

[Inuca]

3. Too short :-)

Obviously I was only joking, I like Reed a lot and do not really care about his height.

[Captain Hilts]

6. I like Reed a lot too and am glad you don't care about his height...

but people usually DO prefer taller candidates, especially at the presidential level.

For all the complaints about racism and sexism, heightism is still the biggest hurdle....

[SOS]

32. OT - re height

Remember all the teasing about height in regard to Dennis Kucinich?
McCain is 5'7" - same as Kucinich.

Seems if you're a short Republican height is not an issue.

[Captain Hilts]

41. It ticks me off when folks deride Kucinich too...

[rebel with a cause]

60. try being fat and then we will talk about what is looked down on the most.

As far as standing next to Obama in a photo. I have and it was not a pretty picture as far as I was concerned. I looked like a big white blob next to him. I have lost considerable weight since the picture was taken but I doubt if it is enough to make a difference. He is tall and thin, which is the preferred these days, and those that stand next him can look short and dumpy if they are not the same. That is just the way it is. Nothing to get upset about.

[jkshaw]

7. I think the poster was pointing out

that standing next to Obama emphasizes Reed's lack of height. (Never saw him before myself.)

[Captain Hilts]

11. ...And why does it matter?

Because we associate leaders with being tall, that's why it matters.

[VeraAgnes]

9. How tall is Obama?

Comparing to also asking; How tall is mccain? Anyone know?

[blogslut]

12. According to IMDB

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1682433/bio">Barack Obama is 6'1½"

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564587/bio">John McCain is 5'7"

[Captain Hilts]

15. IMDB says Katharine Hepburn wore a size "B" bra too.

It also said a single friend of mine is married with THREE kids!

[blogslut]

21. Maybe your friend has the same name as someone else

It happens.

I'm not defending the accuracy of IMDB - just posting what it says about the height(s) of the candidates. I'm guessing it's pretty accurate. John McCain is most absolutely below average height for a man. Barack Obama is above average height for a male.

[gateley]

17. Ooh - that would be a good photo - the two of them side by side.

Maybe Obama could even pat him on the head.

[VeraAgnes]

19. So, that would be like Reed and Obama

as pictured today. I sense michelle Obama is also taller than McCain!:rofl:

It should not be an issue but I just can't help it. It's kind of like spinach caught between ones top teeth.

[Inuca]

31. I remember reading that Michelle

is 5'11". I am 5'10" and had complexes much of life that I am too tall :blush:, so I really appreciate when I come across (not often) a woman that is taller than me.

[Captain Hilts]

34. Try being a six foot tall debutante...

in 1903. In her later years she admitted to shrinking down to 5'10":

[Inuca]

35. I had no idea she was so tall

unusual, especially for that time.

[Captain Hilts]

40. Hence, photographs like this one...

and being referred to by some conservative senators as "that Amazon." She got her height from her mother's side of the family, that's why the social pages noted that when Theodore "gave her away" at her wedding "the head of the bride was a head taller than the head of the Head of State." TR was 5'8", above average for that day.

[Phx_Dem]

62. Tall woman are beautiful

and statueque. My 11-year old neice is tall and will be a tall woman. I keep telling her she's lucky. It's much better than being short. Short woman have to watch every morsel that goes into their mouth for feat of looking like a short, fat toad.

:7

[Captain Hilts]

63. I wish you had worded this comment differently....nt

[Phx_Dem]

66. Why?

For using the term "fat toad" in a general sense, directed at no one in particular? Or because I said tall women were beautiful and statuesque?

[Captain Hilts]

68. Yes, the "fat toad" comment is uncalled for.

And it sounds like something a 4th grader would say.

[Phx_Dem]

69. Oh please.

That's a bit ridiculous overly sensitive.

[Tutonic]

22. Yeah 5'7" with two inch lifts. I've previously read that he is between

5'5" or 5'6".

[Captain Hilts]

13. McCain is 5'9" - the national average for men. Though he is consistently referred to as "short." nt

[gateley]

20. And probably shrinking and standing less straight at his age. Good. nt

[blogslut]

27. Link please, to McCain's height?

Meanwhile, Barack Obama is above average height. Nya, nya nya.

EDIT ADD: A photo of Jon Stewart & John McCain - Jon Stewart is (reportedly) five foot six inches tall:

[Captain Hilts]

30. The navy prefers their aviators NOT be tall, that's why Ted Williams...

didn't punch out of his jet when it was on fire in Korea - he knew his knees would stay in the plane.

The original astronauts - most were average or below average in height.

[blogslut]

33. I'm still waiting for the link to Senator McCain's height

:)

[Cha]

45. Here's a google search for mccain's 5'7''

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mccain+is+5%277%27%27+tall

Not that it matters except he's even shorter in brains.

[Tutonic]

37. Yup. Thanks. This is correct. He's under 5'7"

[Phx_Dem]

61. LOL. I was thinking the same thing.

Poor guy.

[IndianaGreen]

4. That's Chuck Hagel next to Obama, and Reed next to Hagel

How can the idiotic AP refer to them as unidentified officials?

[Muttocracy]

49. replied below and then saw yours - I can't believe it either! nt

[Lena inRI]

5. Caption #3 for"an unidentified afghan official in Nangarhar province"

. . . .

PLEASE, AMERICANS! VOTE FOR THIS MAN!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Marrah_G]

8. Now that is what I want to see

We need someone focused on diplomacy and not solely military might.

Nice pictures. Thank you!

I just hope he is kept safe on this trip.

[propel]

10. he'll have a 10 point lead after trip

He's gonna look good after this trip and have a 10 point lead. Subconscious impressions in voters minds of our next President traveling the world.

[Captain Hilts]

16. Indeed. It's all good.

Though I have to admit I'm surprised Obama hasn't been to either Afghanistan or Iraq by now.

Reed - former Army officer - had a son stationed there and has made many trips. I remember he and Hclinton did a long tour of Northern Iraq at one point.

[ellacott]

24. He's been to Iraq

[Captain Hilts]

25. I was reading today that he had not. I was misled. nt

[ellacott]

26. No, he's been there but it's been some time ago

The RNC has a countdown clock on their site counting down since his last trip. It's now at 923 days.

[Captain Hilts]

29. Wow, I hate to agree with the RNC, but that IS a long time...nt

[Tutonic]

38. Not when a war is occuring. two and one/half years is reasonable.

Many in congress have not been there at all. Others once.

[babylonsister]

42. Or an excruciatingly long primary. nt

[Captain Hilts]

43. If he thinks that was excruciatingly long, then how's he going to hold up as president?

Oh, it's another attempt to blame Hillary Clinton for his actions.

[babylonsister]

53. Mookie, get over it; the primary is over. nt

[Captain Hilts]

55. I am over it. I'm excited about Obama's overseas trip. You're just a poor sport...

who spends FAR too much on Democratic Underground!

[babylonsister]

56. Now you're criticizing me for

spending too much time here, like you should talk? And why should you care what I do.

And this is over it? :eyes:

Wow, I hate to agree with the RNC, but that IS a long time...nt

[my3boyz]

54. Yeah, it was long trying to beat someone that would not accept that she lost! He could have

traveled to Iraq much earlier if he hadn't been campaigning when there was no mathematical way she could win.

[my3boyz]

52. Voters probably aren't paying attention to this trip. nt

[Adelante]

14. Thank you, blogslut

This is so exciting :woohoo:

[flpoljunkie]

18. Obama looks very comfortable with Hagel and the Afghans seem pleased to be photographed with him.

Reed has ruled out VP slot--says he could be much more helpful to Obama serving in the leadership of the Armed Services Committee.

Hagel, although conservative, is the one Republican in the Senate I like and admire for his speaking out about the mess in Iraq.

[gateley]

23. I'm looking forward to pics of him with the troops.

I keep saying, I'm guessing the looks on their faces will be amazing -- hopeful and happy, as opposed to the looks on their faces when they had to gather 'round McCain.

[goclark]

28. Now that is a President nt

[Hope And Change]

36. K & R!

[Forkboy]

39. It's nice to see pics of an American politican overseas that don't make me cringe.

[Captain Hilts]

44. Ain't it, grand?

[Muttocracy]

50. yes! nt

[VADem11]

46. Great video of Obama in Kuwait

It looks like he got a very good reception from the troops in Kuwait:

http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream1

[VADem11]

47. Whoops

Look like the stream ended. Sorry.

[Muttocracy]

48. The AP can't identify Hagel and Reed?? nt

[goodgd_yall]

51. Man, no time to recover from jet lag.

Nice to see all the folks wanting their pic taken with the future President of the United States.:-)

[otohara]

57. That Smile

makes me smile.

[vaberella]

58. This is so rad. Hagel is there...woohoo!!! ^_^

:kick:

[quakerboy]

59. ??????

[Phoonzang]

64. I think you people better start preparing yourselves for

Hagel as the vice presidential candidate.

[democraticjohn]

67. Do we know Chuck wants to be VP?

Just wondering if that's true. Obama and he have a lot of differences on issues other than Iraq and economy.

[barack the house]

65. Very powerful photos the way the world should be. With us than against us.