Marie Claire

Try: Fashion Trends Lunch Ideas Acne Products

Home » World Reports » Articles » Reports

How to Talk About Politics You Don't Really Understand

A shamelessly oversimplified cocktail-party guide to where the candidates stand on the big questions.

By Yael Kohen and Lauren Iannotti

1 of 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The War on Terror

Photo Credit: J. Moore/Getty Images

Special Offer

ISSUE
The War on Terror: Do we pull troops out of Iraq? Send more to Afghanistan?

MCCAIN'S TAKE
Wants to stay the course in Iraq, with no firm withdrawal date, and add at least 10,000 more troops (some from NATO) in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.

OBAMA'S TAKE
Wants most troops out of Iraq by the end of 2010. Would take the fight (and at least 7000 more troops) back to Afghanistan.

YOUR SMARTY-PANTS SOUND BITE
"Well, Iraq isn't the first time we've overestimated an enemy. Hello, NSC-68? The intelligence report that grossly misrepresented Russia's capabilities, jump-started the Cold War, and pushed us into a decades-long arms race? Duh."

>>NEXT PAGE: The Economy: Recession? What recession?

1 of 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TODAY'S FEATURED VIDEO

Giveaway-a-day

Travel Blush Brush

Enter Now

See all giveaways

Latest blog entries

Music Playlist: Sounds of Silverlake, California
A play list that is oozing with originality and independence. 11/20/09
A Tasty Way to Boost Your Memory
Give yourself an easy brain boost with this food. 11/20/09
How to Find Your Signature Scent
I never thought I had a signature scent until I took the fragrance finder quiz! Learn how to choose yours. 11/20/09
Should Women Over 30 (Like Me) Swear Off Younger Dudes?
A commenter writes in to tell me I'm wasting my time with younger dudes--that the vast majority of them will not give me the kind of long-term relationship I'm after. (Which begs the question: What kind of relaitonship am I after?) Peeps: What do you... 11/20/09
Myths About Your Period
Sex when your friend's in town? Sure, say Susan Kim and Elissa Stein, the authors of Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation. 11/19/09
See all blogs

Marie Claire On The Go

Start receiving the day's headlines from topics you choose and get the latest posts from our bloggers. Sign up for RSS feeds now.
Take Marie Claire with you everywhere you go. Our mobile site has the latest 'it' items of the season. Including: Blogs, Hair & Beauty, Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Horoscopes and so much more!

Here's how:
1. Start a mobile session on your phone
2. type m.marieclaire.com into your browser
3. that's it!
In Every Issue:
The one-stop shop
for the very best in
fashion & beauty

Give a Gift
Customer Service