I agree. But, judging from comments on other blogs, most of the Clinton haters are not happy about it.

Someone should tell 'em to put a sock in it.

You know, I have to wonder whether Clinton and Bush came up with the idea to visit these countries separately,or whether one came up with the idea and word somehow leaked to the other who realized he had better (in the case of Bush) do something similar (or could score major points by doing so, as Clinton has), or whether they actually informally collaborated on it, which is a stretch but could have happened.

They both did the right thing.

President Bush is the Commander in Chief.

Senator Clinton is a member of the Armed Services Committee. (BTW, why no other members of that committee have been there is a mystery to me.)

Hat's off to both of them.

I don't have a problem with her doing this, and I can charitably be called a Clinton Hater. [Although that's a mild term for my distaste for the two of them.]

Good for her, and even better for her to remember the Afghani's. Kudos.

My respect for some of her actions when she gets it right is seperate from my distaste for her politics.

While it's fun to speculate that one or the others' visit was timed as a reaction and/or coordinated move, the logistical nightmare of moving a President into and out of a war zone where planes have recently been shot at makes it seem rather unlikely that it would have been done for light or trivial reasons.

Well, I don't /hate/ her, but I'm not overly fond of her, either, and when I blogged on it, I got a generally positive reaction on it from people who I'm pretty sure /are/ Clinton haters. Guess it depends on the haters in question. :)

Ara's got it just right -- hats off to both Bush and Clinton for their trips. It was almost as dismaying to see the negative blogospheric commentary on Clinton's trip as it was thrilling to hear the Bush news (almost). Whatever one thinks of her other activities, going to Afghanistan was a good and laudable thing to do, and not without its risks, either.

Given the secrecy of the Bush trip, though, I doubt there's much chance of the two trips having been coordinated in any way.

I was hoping Dubya would do something just like this -- and I hope he, his nat. security cabinet, and more senators and congressmen make the effort to be with the troops this coming holiday season.

Well, the thing is that I don't trust hillary at all. I think that for me she was tainted

(1) by association with Bill, one of the apparently most fake human beings ever

(2) by the fact that she moved to NY just to run for senator there

However, I was pleasantly surprised that she went to Afghanistan, and regardless of her motives, it certainly was a good deed on her part. It actually makes me despise her for #2 less. :-)

(To explain, NY is my home state and I dislike carpet baggers (speaking very loosely) as much as everyone else does. To me, being a Clinton is secondary.)

And yes, regardless of her motive, this is a good deed. I think more highly of her for it.

ctl,

Well there are some of us who think differently that both operate with sincerity. Clinton-haters will never get over their anger, and in a sick twisted way, I enjoy that. It goes to show that Bill and Hillary remain the most talked about political figures in the last 25 years. Fast forward 25 years from now - Bush who?

Ah, Timmy, Timmy, timmy. Ever the solipsist... :)

Weak, wretched, and self-obsessed creatures suffer terrible pangs about how the world sees them, while the self-confident, empowered souls march forth to glory.

25 years from now, Clinton will be right up there with Hoover and Buchanan...

25 years from now, Clinton will be right up there with Hoover and Buchanan...

Wrong. He'll be right up there with Nixon.

I have been very surprised this Thanksgiving. I thought work going smoothly was the biggest shocker so far, but seeing Senator Clinton on the news with the troops impressed me. Then I read about President Bush's little surprise visit. And to top it off, there was a column in the paper from Ted Rall that had nothing anti-American in it, merely a request for more attention to be paid to Afghanistan.

I never voted for Clinton, and I have close friends who (insanely) insist on ascribing bad motives to every single move either one of them ever make. But...

Both Clintons are head and shoulders above any of the current crop of leading Democrats for 3 reasons.

1) They are in touch with and share some of the values of the great middle of American body politic.

2) They act out of an instinct to do what is right as much as what is politic.

3) They each have the ability to connect with the American people.

I would say that Gephardt, Lieberman, and perhaps Edwards share the first two, but miss on number 3. I admire both Clintons. And I think both of them still have much to offer America. I am glad they are part of the leadership of our country because I really do believe they care about doing what is right for America - even if I disagree with them, and am ashamed of his personal failings.

I think this is a good test of how wild-eyed and irrational someone is in their political beliefs. If someone praises one of the pair (Hillary or George) for supporting the troops, but criticizes the other for cynically seeking a photo-op -- that's somebody you can't have a rational discussion with.

Obviously, both went to support the troops *and* to get a photo op.

My only observation is that the troops in Iraq were probably a little more excited to see the President. But that doesn't trivialize Hillary's action. I still don't like her, but I agree that it was a good move on her part. The idiots running for the Democratic nomination could take a lesson.

Kudos to both Bush and Clinton.

The only reason Hillary's trip isn't getting much attention is Bush's trip. If Bush had not stole her thunder she would have been all over the news and rightly so.
I am not saying that the reason of the tripwas to upstage Hillary, it just did.
Hillary did the right thing but I have to say I am not a fan of hers and think when she does the right thing it is not about the troops, it is about Hillary. It is always about Hillary. that is just the way she and Bill are, it always about them.

if nobody can see that the hildabeast only went there as a political point they have to be blind. she is a piece of garbage who thinks she should be queen, no king of not only the us but of the world, after all isn't she the smartest person to have ever lived.

if nobody can see that the hildabeast only went there as a political point they have to be blind. she is a piece of garbage who thinks she should be queen, no king of not only the us but of the world, after all isn't she the smartest person to have ever lived.

I have to hand it to Hillary, too. Her discomfort was so apparent in all the shots I saw of her. The strain was really showing but she - er - soldiered on. I respect that. Yes, W's easy way with his group made for a much better photo op, but doing the right thing should count for something too.

jmiller,

Ah, on second thought, forget it - too easy.
Ara put it best, hats off to both of them.

Mighty white of you, Tim, old boy! :)

I think jmiller illustrated quite nicely Patterico's point, don't you?

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

Casey,

Thanks. Up yours, I mean, I hope you too had a good Thanksgiving. I'm trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to restrain myself when faced with goading posts. I know your tricks well by now my friend, and I will not be suckered in. (Pssst, that is not a challenge.)

If "hildebeast" posts were clothes they would have the same fashion sense as acid-washed pleated jeans, which is why I no longer find it necessary to respond to them, friggin amateurs.

That's good, since I'm working on "teasing," or "yanking your(someone's) chain" instead. Unless you count that as the same thing. :)

Agreed: if we can just get rid of all the hildebeast/chickenhawk muckadoos out there and have a sane conversation...