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State of Dis-Union
So that was it, then: President Bush giving his sixth annual pep talk to the Congress, his minions, and the American people. And yes, this time it really was addressed to the people, not to the sheeple. He might not have wanted it that way, but that's how it turned out.
Even when he started going into his too-familiar stock talking points in the latter parts of the speech, it was clear to everyone in the room and at home that he wasn't able to pull the tired and tattered wool over the nation's collective eyes again this time.
Mr. Bush's poll ratings are in the tank and still sinking. His credibility at home and abroad is at an all-time low. Even key members of his own party are turning against him now, and he still has two long years left to go before he's off the hook.
The self-styled Decider might still somehow believe that his failure-plagued presidency leadership will not falter and it will not fail; but it was clear from the tepid reaction his remarks received that an awakened America is no longer willing to listen to his same old spiel.
The president may have jumped the shark in his SOTU speech last night -- in fact, that seemed to be the common reaction in the post-speech hours -- but the post-speech rebuttal by newly-minted Senator James Webb was a calm and collected minor masterpiece of public speaking.
Mr. Webb is certainly no bleeding-heart left-wing liberal; he was, after all, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Navy back before the scales fell from his eyes. He comes from a long line of military men, and unlike the service-dodging politicians who dragged our country into an immoral and unnecessary war of adventure, he has a son who is standing directly in the line of fire today.
So Mr. Webb's credibility when it comes to the conflicts in the Middle East far outranks that of the men who have been charged with keeping America safe in the world. He didn't hammer too hard on the issue of Iraq in his reply to the president's worn-out words of war, but he said the right things and he said them well.
The text transcript and video of Mr. Webb's rebuttal to the SOTU speech are available online. And many others have responded to the president's remarks by now, including editorial pundits, the new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and a number of other politicians as well. But it is worth taking a moment to quote some of the high points of Mr. Webb's remarks for us here at the DCP to consider:
It would not be possible in this short amount of time to actually rebut the President's message, nor would it be useful. Let me simply say that we in the Democratic Party hope that this administration is serious about improving education and healthcare for all Americans, and addressing such domestic priorities as restoring the vitality of New Orleans.
[snip]
Like so many other Americans, today and throughout our history, we serve and have served, not for political reasons, but because we love our country. On the political issues -- those matters of war and peace, and in some cases of life and death -- we trusted the judgment of our national leaders. We hoped that they would be right, that they would measure with accuracy the value of our lives against the enormity of the national interest that might call upon us to go into harm's way.
We owed them our loyalty, as Americans, and we gave it. But they owed us -- sound judgment, clear thinking, concern for our welfare, a guarantee that the threat to our country was equal to the price we might be called upon to pay in defending it.
[snip]
We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable -- and predicted -- disarray that has followed. The war's costs to our nation have been staggering: Financially. The damage to our reputation around the world. The lost opportunities to defeat the forces of international terrorism. And especially the precious blood of our citizens who have stepped forward to serve.
The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally-based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq's cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.
On both of these vital issues, our economy and our national security, it falls upon those of us in elected office to take action.
The key points that Mr. Webb made in his remarks can be summed up in that final phrase -- it does fall upon those of us in elected office to take action, just as it falls upon those of us in the voting booths and the chambers of commerce and the streets of our cities to take action as well.
Our duly-elected representatives like Senator Webb, Madame Speaker Pelosi, and others can wave the flags and show us the way. But in the final analysis, it is still up to us -- up to all of us, you and I and our fellow Americans as well -- to follow their lead and to act, not just react.
Mr. Bush's statements in his SOTU speech merely underscored where we as a country have ended up, and reminded us of how we ended up here. But Mr. Webb's words, Ms. Pelosi's words, and the words of the many others who have spoken up in reply to the president's recursive remarks help to show us where we need to go from here instead.
They spoke. We listened. And now it is up to each of us to heed the call -- to climb out of this handbasket and to steer our country upwards, not downwards, again.
See Dick Durbin's live blogging with his reaction & honest responses to Kossacks comments/questions here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/23/134559/233
Blogging my SOTU response
by Dick Durbin
From your link Karen:
The latest CBS News poll, released Monday, shows that the war is by far seen as the most important issue facing the country — and strong majorities are pessimistic about it. Just 29 percent of respondents support the president's plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, while 50 percent support blocking funding for the surge. Add to that the 75 percent who say the war is going badly for the United States and the 62 percent who don't believe there will ever be peace in that country and it adds up to a pretty bleak outlook for the president.
~~
Missing from the articles were the "increase in troops" portion from Bush's speach. (Because how will he do that without a draft?) And missing as well was the plan to add "Mercenaries", the same private corporations that brought us torture and rendition.
I agree with most of the editorials I've seen out there. Bush's speech was full of catchphrases and 'democratic-like' sounding plans but were well short of the real plans the Democrats have presented.
And as far as Bush's immediate jump to the 'ethics' (and earmarks) bandwagon, one only has to wonder how he managed to not choke on his words and giggle through that portion of his speech.
Bush said the catch-phrases that he sees is earning the support of Americans for the First 100 Days Plan, yet his generalities and his hypocracy (in light of the last 5 years and his election cycle smears and politicking) will still prevent him from being able to attach those lofty goals to his record!
Reviews from various news sources from around the country (including Faux News) are documented in this diary:
Reviews Roll In
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/24/74721/2043
I have to admit the use of the word "review" upsets me.
A review is about a stage production or a movie! A review isn't about live's at stake government decisions.
I suppose there is no other word, but it still rests uneasily with me.
John Aravosis from AMERICAblog:
Man, that sucked
Boring. I was bored. The audience was bored. Hell, even Bush looked bored. There were only two exciting moments the entire night - first, when they did they camera zoom in on Condi that was simply frightening, and second, Jim Webb. He was amazing. And damn good speech too. But Bush... I really think his speech got re-written at the last minute after they'd gotten so much heat for their announced plans to pretty much ignore Iraq tonight.
Speaking of ignoring, what the hell happened to family values and the social conservatives. Did they get ANYTHING in the entire speech? Abortion, gone. Activist judges, gone. Gay marriage, gone. That's the sleeper shocker of this speech, the utter cleansing of anything that would appeal to the family values crowd. They have truly become the crazy aunt in the attic, to be hidden at all costs.
http://americablog.blogspot.com/
... and yet, you get a headline like this today from good ol' CNN.com...
"The Ticker: Poll: Bush speech received favorably"
... yet their own CNN QuackVote shows this...
What was your overall impression of the president's State of the Union address?
Positive 37% 12131 votes
Negative 63% 20785 votes
Total: 32916 votes
World Wart XLI
NYTimes editorial is worth reading...
The State of the Union
The White House spin ahead of George W. Bush’s seventh State of the Union address was that the president would make a bipartisan call to revive his domestic agenda with “bold and innovative concepts.” The problem with that was obvious last night — in six years, Mr. Bush has shown no interest in bipartisanship, and his domestic agenda was set years ago, with huge tax cuts for wealthy Americans and crippling debt for the country.
Combined with the mounting cost of the war in Iraq, that makes boldness and innovation impossible unless Mr. Bush truly changes course. And he gave no hint of that last night. Instead, he offered up a tepid menu of ideas that would change little: a health insurance notion that would make only a tiny dent in a huge problem. More promises about cutting oil consumption with barely a word about global warming. And the same lip service about immigration reform on which he has failed to deliver.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/opinion/24wed1.html
Posted by: monkey at January 24, 2007 09:21 AM
CNN's news coverage: State of Denial
Posted by: madame defarge at January 24, 2007 09:14 AM
OMG..Condi! That woman would have frightened small children and sent animals running!
My bad... World Wart XLI is married to World Wart XLIII's mother.
When in roam...
Kos caught a good one on CNN last night. Click to see the photo...
Understandable mistake
by kos
Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 09:32:49 PM PST
Psst, CNN -- I know Iraq seems like Vietnam, so I understand how this mistake can be made. But nonetheless, it's still a mistake.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/24/02923/6095
Greg Palast also did some body language analysis...
Off the Rails: Big Oil, Big Brother Win Big in the State of the Union
by Greg Palast
There was that tongue again. When the President lies he’s got this weird nervous tick: He sticks the tip of his tongue out between his lips. Like a little boy who knows he’s fibbing. Like a snake licking a rat.
In his State of the Union tonight the President did his tongue thing 124 times — my kids kept count.
http://www.gregpalast.com/off-the-rails-big-oil-big-brother-win-big-in-the-state-of-the-union/#more-1570
Read the rest...it's good.
Posted by Rick Albertson at January 24, 2007 06:43 AM
Posted by: sparrow at January 24, 2007 08:09 AM
Oops Rick...I forgot to open my eyes this morning when it came to the sig line.
Sorry!
Great thread header though. I'd say that even if I hadn't changed your name, sex, and hair color this morning!
This NY Times analysis article isn't the same as the one linked to in the threader, but it's still a good read anyway:
"A Shift in Power, Starting With ‘Madam Speaker’
"But all the courtesies and flourishes of the evening could not paper over the reminders of how power has flowed away from the president in the new Washington."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/washington/24scene.html
all the king's horses and all the king's men,
Otter
http://www.charlierose.com/
DimWit is "irrelevant." Interesting perspectives about the SOTU, wondering if Bush is "involved with reality." In the spirit of bipartisanship, 'everybody is against Bush.'
56-minute video online:
LIVE ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS WITH JON MEACHAM
Editor, Newsweek
KEN DUBERSTEIN
Former Chief of Staff for President Reagan
PATRICIA J. WILLIAMS
Columnist, The Nation / Professor, Columbia University
MARTHA RADDATZ
Chief White House Correspondent, ABC News
MARK HALPERIN
Political Director, ABC News
THOMAS DeFRANK
Washington Bureau Chief, New York Daily News
CHARLIE COOK
Editor, Cook Political Report
I did a quick search on the Civilian Reserve concept (i.e. special-skills draft)...was actually one of Gen. Clark's ideas back in his presidential campaign, and Rep. Rangel introduced a bill in the House in 2005 that was substantially the same.
Since when do you volunteer for a draft???
Sorry to go offtopic here and get heavy on ya, but if you could, just take a moment to read below, and fwd to anyone who might want to help... no pressure whatsoever, we're just trying to get the word out about one of our own in need in conjunction with promoting the upcoming Monkeyball in South Florida. Thanks friends...
For the Love of Julia
In mid-December Julia Macmillan, a 43-year old freelance photographer in South Florida, music-lover and friend to many, was diagnosed with a serious disease (Stage 4 malignant melanoma).
Although she is facing this challenge with the courage of a great warrior, her Monkeykrewe friends are asking for support in helping Julia carry her heavy armor during her battle. She is fighting for her life without health insurance and the treatments she needs are expensive.
If you would like to help Julia and be a part of her miracle, please consider contributing towards a trust fund that has been set up for her medical expenses.
Also, a portion of the proceeds of all Monkeykrewe merchandise sales will go to our dear friend. Her Monkeykrewe friends are asking for your support.
more...
http://www.monkeykrewe.org/juliafund.html
You gotta love it when even Fox News comes up with this headline:
"Democrats Blister Bush On Iraq in Lightning Focused Rebuttal"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246106,00.html
============================================
Blister? Lightning focused? A Democrat?
Oh, that my ancestors were alive to see this...
heh heh heh....
WTF IS THIS??
Even for Rush "I Never Met A Painkiller I Din't Like" Limbaugh, this is WAY over the top.
When he spews this kind of vitriolic bullspit all over the airwaves, Rush Limbaugh does more to undermine this country's image overseas and to sabotage respect for our military at home than any of the loathsome terrorists that he claims to hate.
Please write to him, to your local stations who carry his show, and to the editors of your local newspapers strongly decrying this egregious defamation of character, this cowardly below-the-belt attack on all Democrats in general and on a sitting senator in particular who has always shown more patriotism on behalf of his country in his little finger than Limbaugh has in his entire over-fed, over-bloviating body.
---------------
www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_012307/content/stop_the_tape.guest.html
Zawahiri Prebuttal Echoes John Kerry
January 23, 2007
RUSH: Let's go to the audio sound bites here. I want you to hear Ayman al-Zawahiri -- you'll hear him in the background. It's actually a CNN report. Nic Robertson -- and I guess we could say this is Zawahiri's prebuttal to President Bush's State of the Union address tonight.
ROBERTSON: In many ways this is vintage Ayman al-Zawahiri, criticizing President Bush in Iraq saying, “Why send 20,000 troops? Why not send another 50,000 or a hundred thousand--” he said, “--they'll be defeated anyway.”
RUSH: Yeah, taunting Bush, “Come on, what do you mean 20,000? Give us 50, give us a hundred thousand to kill, you're going to lose 'em anyway.” And of course the Drive-By Media was just salivating and excited as they could be over this. Who does this sound like, by the way? Ayman al-Zawahiri, “Send us 20,000, give us 50, why not another hundred? They'll be defeated anyway.” We have heard this somewhere before.
KERRY: You can put a hundred thousand troops in, and you can up the casualties, up the stakes, increase the violence, and not get a resolution.
RUSH: Yes! It was John Kerry, ladies and gentlemen, who served in Vietnam. This was a little over a month ago in December 2006 on the Today Show. David Gregory was interviewing Lurch, who was in Damascus, Syria, negotiating with terrorists, i.e., Bashar Assad. Gregory's question was, “More troops would not do enough in your estimation to shore up Baghdad, at least give the Maliki government a fighting chance?” “You could put a hundred thousand troops in there. All you're going to do is up the casualties.” So he, once again, on the same page with Al-Qaeda. John Kerry and the Democrats, whether they know it or not, their instincts lead them to say things that end up being parroted and repeated by Al-Qaeda as though Al-Qaeda are Democrat allies. Of course, Al-Qaeda was pushing for Democrats last November in the elections.
----------------
because Al Franken was right about that big fat idiot,
Otter
Well, I say it shows they are still worried about JK.
That's a GOOD thing.
OMG, Victoria, what did they do to Fox News and who/what has taken over its body?
That Fox News article that you linked us to a couple of posts upthread is proof positive that the Chimpander-In-Thief has finally alienated his own core base to the point where even they are ready & willing to throw him under the bus.
and gee it couldn't happen to a nicer guy,
Otter
Two Words: Rush Limbaugh
I think that says it all.
Pee Ewe
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/olbermann-a-look-back-at-bushs-sotu-credibility/
Olbermann: A Look Back at Bush’s SoTU Credibility
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/us-diplomat-warns-iran-to-back-off/
U.S. Diplomat Warns Iran to Back Off
Keith Olbermann asks the question that we should all be asking right now: Where's the evidence on Iran?
U.S. conducts first overt strikes in Somalia since 1994
January 24, 2007
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military carried out an airstrike against an al Qaeda operative in southern Somalia this week, the second strike this month, U.S. military officials said Wednesday.
The strikes are the first overt U.S. military actions in Somalia since the U.S. military pulled out of Mogadishu in 1994, months after militia fighters loyal to a Somali warlord shot down two Black Hawk helicopters, killing 18 U.S. special operation troops.
In this most recent strike, a U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship attacked Monday overnight into Tuesday along Somalia's southern border with Kenya.
The airstrike was aimed at a "midlevel al Qaeda operative," according to a U.S. official.The operative survived the attack and was taken into custody by Ethiopian forces, according to the official.
About half a dozen other people were killed, but there was no information on their identities, an official said.
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/24/somalia.us.strike/index.html
Kerry to bow out of '08 presidential race
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | January 24, 2007
WASHINGTON --Senator John F. Kerry plans to announce today that he is bowing out of the 2008 presidential race, and will instead remain in Congress and seek reelection to his Senate seat next year, according to senior Democratic officials.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/01/24/kerry_to_bow_out_of_08_presidential_race/
say it aint so. Just heard that story on Ed Schultz, another sad day.What a loss for the country
Otter --
The Dem leadership needs to go after Limbaugh en masse. That fat, drug-addled, draft dodging piece of garbage needs to start getting called "a fat, drug-addled, draft dodging piece of garbage" regularly. In press conferences, just in conversation, every time a democrat talks. They're in control of Congress now, and this guy needs to get a good a** whuppin so he'll watch his mouth. Now's a good time to start.
I also think that John Kerry needs to bi*ch slap him personally. Maybe go on his show and call him, say, "a fat, drug-addled, draft dodging piece of garbage" on the air. Then listen to him sputter for a while, threaten to take him outside and beat the sh** out of him... stuff like that...
You know, just an example...
Well, it's official. JK's not running. What a sad country this has become.
I think we should skip the election. Virtually all media has decided that Hillary's the Dem nominee, so let's just let Chris Matthews pick a Republican and the media can vote on it.
Truly. Time to fire the media and start over.
Well I am officially with Linda Enterkin and John Edwards, unless Bill Richardson gains some traction soon. It will take me a while to get over this and take my Kerry '08 sticker off my car. We can't just bend over and let the media tell us that Hillary is our nominee, I just won't do that.Every official I have spoken with down here has told me that Hillary will be a disaster in down ballot races for judges, state legislators etc that we have worked so hard to restore.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/01/24/kerry_to_bow_out_of_08_presidential_race/
If Senator Kerry has decided that he can be more effective speaking his mind and standing up for his beliefs as a strong force within the Senate than as one of a host of Democrats jockeying for position in the '08 presidential sweepstakes, then so be it.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: whatever Senator Kerry's decisions might be, I will continue to back him up on them to the best of my ability.
A man of his integrity and experience will not be allowed to go to waste in any coming Democratic administration, I'm sure. He has been and will continue to be a powerful advocate for reason and reflection in Washington no matter what.
and we've still got your back sir,
Otter
For what it's worth...
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a nonbinding measure saying President Bush's plan to increase troops in Iraq is "not in the national interest of the United States."
Hillary doesn't stand a prayer of a chance, and the media needs to stop pushing her. Their perspective comes straight from the White House, which wants her to run cuz she'll get waxed. Period.
But I haven't heard a single mention of ANY Dem candidate other than Hillary or Obama for I don't know how long.
Richardson is running a bit of a stealth campaign early. I'm not sure that's such a bad idea. I love John Edwards, but I'm a little concerned that at this juncture of perfect disaster in our national history, JE might not have quite the experience necessary to fix the huge problems we face...
No matter who the Dem nominee ends up being, bottom line is that I'll work like a dog for them.
Posted by: Victoria Ellen at January 24, 2007 01:13 PM
Wasn't it going to be Hillary vs. McCain?
And here's a private beef. Why do we refer to male politicians by their last names but female politicians by their first names?
I would like to see JK as Secretary of State.
Or maybe Giuliani as the Rep nominee.
We need to keep building our farm team. Nothing like a dearth of choices.
Links to a blog over the Times on John's decision not to run:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/2008-kerry-not-running/
As someone who volunteered for John's campaign, and served as an online activist and blog moderator in 2003 and 2004, I feel that John made the right decision here. I doubt that any candidate who lost the popular vote in a general election will ever again get the nomination in the next election cycle. The days of a Stevenson winning a second nomination in spite of losing a general election are simply over.
I didn't always agree with the decisions that the campaign made, but I never regretted working for John, and never felt prouder as an American than when telling his story. In an age where bluster and bravado have come to define what it means to be a patriot, John’s story struck me as a reminder of the stuff that America was made of. That so many Americans in the Red States preferred an irrational, militaristic buffoon to a man who understood all too well what it was like to watch your buddies die in the name of a mistake, shall be to their eternal shame, and especially if this President is allowed to attack Iran, our enduring peril.
I am with you Matthew. I feel sad, and proud, and concerned.
John Kerry is the finest public servant we have had in some time and this is a loss to the country. But I understand fully the cost of running, in ways I could not have understood before 2003. And I hope JK uses his role to the betterment of the Senate. At any rate, I am still a fan, and on his team.
v and matthew I had the same though of JK as Secy of Defense and your perspective that it was unlikely he would be given a second chance. By that theory Al Gore will likely reach the same decision. At least my prediction here that the day after the SOU would be the perfect time for his announcement, it just felt like a kick in the stomach.Your suggestion that it is Red Stater's fault I disagree with, no it was the nation's fault.Hopefully the DNC has learned that there are some dispicable business folks down here in Texas who need to be closely watched. And let us not be so naive as to believe that these same wealthy nutjobs won't be back even stronger with a Clinton nomination. I just hope the story will be written of JK bravery in battle, no war hero should ever be smeared. I was telling locals here a year ahead of time that JK would be the nominee and attended JK's kickoff announcement at Fenuill Hall even dragging reluctant family members to see it while on a Boston vacation. Bottom line, my political prognosticating days are over and my judgment of nominees leaves a lot to be desired. The memebers here at dcp should be proud of all they have done to stand by JK and have his backs the last 2 years, mighty proud.
The members here at dcp should be proud of all they have done to stand by JK and have his back (typo) the last 2 years, mighty proud.
Bubba, notice that I said "so many", not all. Events have been set in motion by a 2nd Bush term that our best intentions, and maybe even the United States Congress, will not be able to halt.
As for Al Gore, he won the popular vote. He could have run again in '04. I'd argue that he even won Florida - and George W. Bush has to know in his heart of hearts that more Floridians went to polls attempting to vote for Gore than for him. It was only his brother's and Mrs. Harris' cheating that made him President. Some disciple of Jesus...
So Kerry's out. This could put him in a better position than ever to help us get out of Iraq, further the casuse of renewable, clean fuels,a nd really protecting our country. John Forbes Kerry is in a wonderful position to be a senior statesman who leads us out of this hell-hole W put us in.
Keryy is now one of the few leading Democrats who the media won't think is just pandering to voters for a campaign.
Bubba --
You bet your heinie I'm proud of supporting JK, like so many of us here at the DCP. And whether he's running for President or not, he'll always have my support.
The American public was spoon fed continuously negative press about JK, and they were lazy enough to buy it. It's their and our loss.
I've no doubt that if we can elect a Democratic President, JK will have an important role. We need him terribly now that things have been bungled so badly.
Well, we'll all just have to see what comes next.
So Kerry's out. This could put him in a better position than ever to help us get out of Iraq, further the cause of renewable, clean fuels, and for really protecting our country. John Forbes Kerry is in a wonderful position to be a senior statesman who leads us out of this hell-hole W put us in.
Keryy is now one of the few leading Democrats who the media won't think is just pandering to voters for a campaign.
My .02.
The DNC has major problems on their hand if they're going to continue to let the media call the shots. Each of our candidates will run the gauntlet of being pushed out and taken down.
And proof of this is that McCain has hired a Republican THUG, an absolute THUG, and yet not one peep from them about that!!!
So today John Kerry has decided to withhold his candidacy for the betterment of our country. Just like in 04, it was country before self.
I'm not going to claim to be happy about this. Our country lost a guy with tremendous integrity and compassion and selflessness. And I have no clue if any of the other candidates will be able to unite the country and repair the mess it's in.
All I know is that our work must continue. The media sucks and all of us know it. Elections are unfair and blatently crooked and we all know that too.
As Victoria said, "The media has annoited Hillary and Mccain so let's just vote..." Well, we can't even do that, because Diebold and ES&S has already annoited McCain.
Frankly, as upset as I am about Kerry, I'm even more upset about Monkey's post upthread (Posted by: monkey at January 24, 2007 10:23 AM) THIS is what we're fighting for!! This goes beyond Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Dodd or whoever the next favorite personality becomes. It boils down to fighting for our very lives and the compassion we need to promote towards our fellow man.
Monkey...I'm pretty broke, but count on it. I will donate for your friend. And I just want to state for the record...We need REAL REFORM not just people who play at reform.
http://www.monkeykrewe.org/juliafund.html
Senate panel repudiates Bush plan for troop buildup
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday dismissed President Bush's plans to increase troop strength in Iraq as "not in the national interest," an unusual wartime repudiation of the commander in chief.
The vote on the nonbinding measure was 12-9 and largely along party lines.
"We better be damn sure we know what we're doing, all of us, before we put 22,000 more Americans into that grinder," said Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, the sole Republican to join 11 Democrats in support of the measure.
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, the panel's chairman, said the legislation is "not an attempt to embarrass the president. ... It's an attempt to save the president from making a significant mistake with regard to our policy in Iraq."
The full Senate is scheduled to begin debate on the measure next week, and Biden has said he is willing to negotiate changes in hopes of attracting support from more Republicans.
House Democrats intend to hold a vote shortly after the Senate acts.
Even Republicans opposed to the legislation expressed unease with the revised policy involving a war that has lasted nearly four years, claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. troops and helped Democrats win control of Congress in last fall's elections.
"I am not confident that President Bush's plan will succeed," said Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, senior Republican on the committee.
But he said in advance he would vote against the measure. "It is unclear to me how passing a nonbinding resolution that the president has already said he will ignore will contribute to any improvement or modification of our Iraq policy."
"The president is deeply invested in this plan, and the deployments ... have already begun," Lugar added.
He suggested a more forceful role for Congress, and said lawmakers must ensure the administration is "planning for contingencies, including the failure of the Iraqi government to reach compromises and the persistence of violence despite U.S. and Iraqi government efforts."
Hagel: 'This is a pingpong game with American lives'
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/24/us.iraq.ap/index.html
Matthew, Dems just don't seem forgiving of their candidates of JK and even Gore for losing. For Kerry it was the Swiftboats and blaming JK for not forcefully responding not the dispicable Perry from creating that dispicable message. For Gore it was his conceeding and now memories of Lieberman on his ticket. Many of us are hoping Gore will ride in on a white horse and save of us from Ms. Clinton, but your theory above about the Stevenson phenomena is right on the mark, and unfortunately would apply to Gore as well.
Posted by: sparrow at January 24, 2007 02:38 PM
Right on, General, right on.
Bless us all...
Watching C-Span right now, and let me tell you folks...
BIG JOHN'S GOT NOTHIN TO LOSE NOW, AND HE'S KICKING SOME SERIOUS A**
WooHoo!
I'm kind of glad Kerry's not running, because I didn't feel many people bothered to learn what he was about or to appreciate him - too much of a gentleman, too brave and courageous and too intelligent for many. He's got it all. Would love to see him stay in the Senate with Kennedy for a long long time and would consider donating, helping with their campaigns even though it's not my state. Admire both greatly and their voting records are similar and stellar. Glad for John & Teresa not to have to go through the wringer for this country again. As for who to support? I feel like working on issues and then supporting the candidate who wins the Democratic nomination, as I did in during the Clinton era.
That's the Democratic party, Bush - not Democrat party, you know - as in Democracy? Your draft was written properly - why did you change it when you read it - you appeaser
Sparrow --
Don't get me wrong: It saddens me terribly that JK isn't going to run. God knows we need him more than ever now. But I understand why he made the choice. And frankly, for as much support as he got from the Democratic establishment and party faithful, I don't blame him.
I've said it before and I'll say it again:
It's not that John Kerry wasn't worthy of the Democratic party. It's that the party wasn't worthy of him.
And don't think for a minute that doesn't make me mad.
Transcript of and link to special video message from Senator Kerry on his website at:
http://blog.johnkerry.com/2007/01/still_fighting.html
"It's not that John Kerry wasn't worthy of the Democratic party. It's that the party wasn't worthy of him.
And don't think for a minute that doesn't make me mad."
Well said. The party is disloyal to folks like JK who was willing to mortgage his home for the campaign. And that was the thanks he got from folks like Terri McCullough who was brash enough to slam him.McCullough better not put my name on any fundraising solicitation.
Bubba --
I wouldn't tinkle on Terry M. if he was on fire. I truly and deeply hope his career is over.
May his marinara not cling to his pasta!
I am deeply saddened by Senator Kerry's decision not to run for President, but like many of you, I think it was a wise decision as many of the people in this country don't know how to appreciate him. They can't see beyond the media hype that he is an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, courageous, and decent man. Even though I am not from his home state, I will always do what I can for him and hope that one day the Democratic Party will learn to truly value him.
To my old bunkmates, sigh.
Changing the world never does look like we want it to, does it?
Cheney: Talk of blunders in Iraq is 'hogwash'
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday dismissed as "hogwash" the suggestion that blunders may have hurt the administration's credibility on Iraq and led members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to question President Bush's plan to send more troops to Baghdad.
In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, carried out a day after President Bush delivered his State of the Union address, the vice president was told that some Republicans in Congress "are now seriously questioning your credibility, because of the blunders and the failures."
To that Cheney responded: "Wolf, Wolf, I simply don't accept the premise of your question. I just think it's hogwash."
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee defied President Bush on Wednesday and approved a resolution declaring that sending more troops to Iraq is "not in the national interest."
-snip-
Cheney said the administration is committed to moving ahead with its plan to send more troops to secure Baghdad, even if Congress passes a resolution in opposition.
"It won't stop us," he said. "And it would be, I think, detrimental from the standpoint of the troops."
If U.S. forces were to pull out of Iraq, "We would simply validate the terrorists' strategy that says the Americans will not stay to complete the task ... that we don't have the stomach for the fight. That's the biggest threat."
Cheney added, "The notion that somehow the effort hasn't been worth it or that we shouldn't go ahead and complete the task is just dead wrong."
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/24/cheney/index.html
Posted by: monkey at January 24, 2007 05:25 PM
That's as close as we're likely to see a dog-paddling-drowning-rat!
Cheney...
"I simply don't accept the premise of your question."
"It won't stop us"
Bad Will Hunting
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/indecision-08-clusterfk-to-the-whitehouse/
Indecision 08: Clusterf@#k to the WhiteHouse
Jon Stewart....
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/a-tale-of-two-pictures/
A Tale of Two Pictures
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/do-the-democrats-need-the-south-in-2008/
Do the Democrats Need the South in 2008?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/senate-rejects-minimum-wage-hike/
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2007-01-24T171723Z_01_WBT006480_RTRIDST_0_USA-CONGRESS-WAGES-VOTE-URGENT.XML
US Senate Republicans block minimum wage hike
"It won't stop us," he said. "And it would be, I think, detrimental from the standpoint of the troops."
Cheney added, "The notion that somehow the effort hasn't been worth it or that we shouldn't go ahead and complete the task is just dead wrong."
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/24/cheney/index.html
Posted by: monkey at January 24, 2007 05:25 PM
Er... How is saving American lives by getting the heck out of someone else's civil war (a civil war that likely would not have happened without Bu$hCo's illegal invasion) "detrimental from the standpoint of the troops.".....??? "Completing the task" (of securing the Iraqi oil fields for Halliburton and US oil corporations) will only get more Americans killed.
How does that benefit this country if more people get killed for lies and oil...?
Posted by: monkey at January 24, 2007 05:33 PM
Monkey--please email me about the monkeycrewe merchandise.
http://www.americanprogress.org/cartoons
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_re_us/murders_cold_case
Ex-deputy arrested in 1964 race case
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_go_ot/iraq_protest
Anti-war groups plan Washington rally
CNN QuickVote
Do you believe that perceived blunders have hurt the Bush administration's credibility on Iraq?
Yes 90% 4316 votes
No 10% 495 votes
Total: 4811 votes
Ball is in your court, Dick.
Re: Hiring mercenaries...
Contractors shot execution style, officials say
4 of 5 Blackwater employees shot after crash; fighting flares in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Four of the five Americans killed when a U.S. security company’s helicopter crashed in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad were shot execution style in the back of the head, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.
A senior Iraqi military official said a machine gunner downed the helicopter, but a U.S. military official in Washington said there were no indications that the aircraft, owned by Blackwater USA, had been shot out of the sky. Two Sunni insurgent groups, separately, claimed responsibility for the crash.
In Washington, a U.S. defense official said four of the five killed were shot in the back of the head but did not know whether they were still alive when they were shot. The defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16783885/
I came home after work this evening and sat down and turned on the NBC newscast (they have been giving it hell (moreso than ever before) and heard the news about John Kerry announcing today that he will not be running for President in '08.
I was stunned, shocked. My balloon popped. I am so very deeply saddened.....I feel like I have just been to a funeral.
God bless you Senator Kerry, fight for the lives of all those who will lose their lives in the war in Iraq and future wars if we don't stop the murdering war machine.
You will always be President to me.
monkey...I emailed you. Hopefully you got it and it's not in the wrong email.
Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at January 24, 2007 07:20 PM
Truth Shall Prevail: My feelings exactly. I know that he will still be fighting for everything that matters, and that helps to know that. But, right now, I am devastated. Frankly, there is no other presidential candidate out there who comes even close to his caliber.
They always say that leaders arise in time of need. But for this principle to work, at least in a democracy, citizens have to do their job and recognize those leaders when they are right there in their midst. Frankly, I've been as disappointed in my fellow Dems the last 2 years as I 've been angry at Republicans.
It helps to look at it this way: we're not losing a potential president, we're gaining an outstanding senator.
As a candidate, Mr. Kerry's time would be tied up for the next couple of years chasing the dragon on the campaign trail. As a senator, he's free to spend his considerable energies chasing warmongers and war profiteers instead.
As a candidate, Mr. Kerry's hands would be at least partly tied by the very nature of the role. As a senator, he doesn't have to pull his punches and he's free to smack down corrupt officials and dishonest politicians instead.
As a candidate, Mr. Kerry's voice would have to be tempered by the conflicting demands of pandering pundits and political hacks. As a senator, he is free to boldly speak truth to power in public from a position of strength.
As a candidate, Mr. Kerry would have to constantly be defending himself and his family from unfair attacks. As a senator, he will be free to take the battle to the bad guys on their own shaky ground instead.
As a candidate, Mr. Kerry would have my trust, my respect, and my admiration. As a senator, he already has those things from me as well. And he will continue to have them as long as he is in public office and standing up for the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
and we thank you for your service sir,
Otter
I'm glad Kerry's not running because without campaign finance reform and transparent voting systems, our system is so corrupt and he was cheated out of it the first time.
I'm glad he and Teresa don't have to be put through the wringer again. Will be glad to help with his Senate campaign or Kennedy's with volunteer labor and contributions whenever they run, even though it's not my state.
As for the general election, know that I will vote for the Democrat that wins the nomination and be working on issues I believe in. During the Clinton races, I was involved with issues like the nuclear freeze. I will do it again - peace, alternative energy, nonproliferation.
The candidate I think most qualified is Bill Richardson. I doubt people will recognize that any more than they did Kerry - foreign policy experience, a diplomat, a Western state, Hispanic. Come on people .. we need a President, not an American Idol.
And as I said earlier, it's DEMOCRATIC not DEMOCRAT. Correct every Republican who purposely makes that mistake. I don't know what Rush Limbaugh said but the fact that he's on the air and has millions of listeners doesn't speak very highly for the quality of much of the electorate.
Posted by: DiAnne at January 24, 2007 08:58 PM
Just start calling them the "Publican" party.
Because there's nothing like a self-righteous rich tax collector.
V:
:0)
V
Right!!
Speaking of Terry McCauliffe, he has a book out about his experiences in the Democratic party, which should be interesting.
The fact that Democrats insult and eat their own frequently and that the different wings infight is why I can't stomach getting as involved in the primaries this time & will be going back moreso to issues I care about.
Last time, Karl Rove got plenty of his ideas for attack on Kerry from Democrats from other campaigns. The primaries are going to be competitive and competition is good, I guess - the general election is certainly competitive and maybe it's good preparation. After watching the 2004 election a lot closer than I had for a long time, just really soured on how it's so much more about politics and personality than policy. It's hard to even find out where the candidates really stand on the issues. No one seems to care. It's more about "how they part their hair," as my dad used to say.
Literally. John Kerry has nice hair and Republicans always attack people's strengths so one of the first things a moron like Limbaugh did was to go on about how much his haircuts cost. & the stuff about being French, and catsup. Never mind that Bush's suits are made by a French guy and he has a box in the back of his suit for cues when speaking. & the person who tried to start a rumor about the intern worked for another Democrat, so not too surprising to already hear same sort of crap about Obama this early in the campaign.
It will be a relief to try to remain oblivious to some of that crap. To me, it's right up there in importance with Lindsay Lohan's rehab, Paris Hilton's DWI etc etc.
Monkey
Heard about mercenaries on the drive home - almost 800 have been killed since the inception of the invasion and a great many more wounded - the proportion seemed roughly a third or at least a quarter of the number of enlisted military. There are well over 100,000 mercenaries there (they call them contractors, of course) and they work much more in a military-like capacity than ever before. It's a way to stretch the military and popular because of that. Over 25,000 are in military-like jobs r/t "kinetic" aspects of the war, the rest deal with logistics etc. So let's call a spade a spade and say that there are about a quarter of a million over there with targets on their back - whether public or private. & if you add 3300 some military to 780 or so contractors dead that's well over 4000. I'm sorry I'm not using exact numbers but I heard this stuff like 1/2 hour ago. It's all at http://www.npr.org for tonight.
Could our resident body linguist please give her professional opinion?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP_Congresswoman_repeatedly_grabs_Bush_following_0124.html
The two vote riggers in Ohio found guilty
http://rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chron.com%2Fdisp%2Fstory.mpl%2Fap%2Fnation%2F4496735.html
(Others have pointed this out to the folks in the trenches in other venues already... but I just wanted to add my kudos to the pile here at the DCP as well.)
FWIW, it is truly amazing how well a lot of the core Kerry supporters on Daily Kos and Democratic Underground are holding back their sadness tonight and kicking ass on the many threads there and elsewhere in the blogosphere instead.
Obviously, when they kept saying "we've got your back" to Kerry, they meant what they said. And I'm sure he's proud to have so many people standing up on his behalf all across the internets tonight.
and we've still got a lot of work to do from here on out,
Otter
Posted by: Otter at January 24, 2007 01:37 PM
Posted by: Matthew Carnicelli at January 24, 2007 01:54 PM
Posted by: karen at January 24, 2007 02:08 PM
Posted by: Bubba at January 24, 2007 02:11 PM
Posted by: Victoria Ellen at January 24, 2007 02:37 PM
Posted by: beth at January 24, 2007 02:38 PM
Posted by: sparrow at January 24, 2007 02:38 PM
Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at January 24, 2007 07:20 PM
And DiAnne, I hope I don't have to post a reference!
With you all 100%
Chuck in Houston
And my boy Jim from the Old Commonwealth put some rubber on the road last night in my humble opinion.
Chuck in Houston
Old Dominion I suppose that should be
Chuck in Houston
Otter:
"We've got your back" means we're all in this together. That's why the real JK supporters slog on when the going gets tough, regardless of leaders, or fed parking meters.
Chuck in Houston
:)
Andy Griffith vs. Patriot Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CvoC551i2E
Little birdie, little birdie
What makes you fly so high?
It's because I
Have a true little heart
And I don't care to die
Yeah I'd rather drink
Muddy water
Rather live in a hollow log
Than to live here
On this old river
Be treated like a dirty dog
Not sure why that song popped into my head....
Chuck in Houston
Johnny's in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I'm out on the sidewalk
Thinking 'bout the government....
Chuck in Houston
Feeling a bit "dirty doggish" anyway tonight, Chuck. But feeling pretty good about this community and the support for a good man that emanates from here as well.
We will still need to be truthtellers and light-shiners; perhaps even more than we thought before today's announcement.
This weekend we will be marching and engaging with freedom of speech, on behalf of the criminal war foisted upon us and the Iraqi people. We will be moving with Code Pink to music that inspires and reminds us of what is important, and on Monday, I will be helping the Backbone Campaign to move a giant spine through Congress, reminding them to have a spine. Well, we know one guy who has one, don't we? And there are others, and they need our encouragement as well.
Monday is a day to call into Congress and speak to them about your concerns. We know a certain Senator will cheer us on. He stands for democracy, and so do we all.
Karen:
Not to be discouraged! It's the message not the messenger! As me and Fe always said, we can be heros, if just for one day....
Chuck in Houston
PS: Go Ducks Basketball!
Bah, Chuck. "Go Cats!!" is the only basketball cheer that counts.
Otter:
We're like 18-1!
Chuck in Houston (ex-SE Portland, OR)
from Shaun Dale at http://www.upper-left.blogspot.com
That Kerry fella?
He's running in '08.
For his Senate seat.
"I've concluded this isn't the time for me to mount a presidential campaign," Kerry said in a speech on the Senate floor.
"It is the time to put my energy to work as part of the majority in the Senate to do all I can to end this war," he said. "What happens here in the next two years may irrevocably shape or terribly distort the administration of whichever candidate is elected president."
Speculation about the motivations for Kerry's decision can be found most anywhere, but I suspect is has as much to do with the phrase "part of the majority in the Senate" as anything. It's a fragile majority now, but one that's expected to get even stronger with the class of '08. Kerry's certainly been a more aggressive legislator since his presidential run, but much of his effort has been written off as posturing for another race.
With those considerations set aside, a meaningful committee chairmanship to work with and a record as one of the best investigators in the body, he's well positioned to assume a well-earned role as a senior statesman on the Senate floor, a role that may prove more rewarding, both personally and for the nation as a whole, than a Presidency consumed by recovering from the debacle of Iraq and the ever-expanding Bush deficits might be.
Of course, the fact that so many Democrats have chosen to become a hallelujah chorus every time Republican operatives have set out to smear him had to be a factor in Kerry's mind, and it was one of the principle reasons I haven't been leading the cheers for another run. While I still believe he's more qualified in a number of respects than any of the names currently in play, asking John Kerry to make another run for the White House is akin to asking a GI to undertake another tour of Iraq, especially since primary season promises to be as much a meat grinder as the general election campaign. For instance, the Clinton camp, deprived of Dick Morris's guidance in the realm of triangulation, seems to be taking a page from the Karl Rove's politics of attack and insinuation early on with an opening salvo from her campaign aimed at Edwards and Obama.
Although we're already getting horse race coverage, I don't really see the field as either sorted or solid at this point. We're probably six months out, at least, from a clear view of the true front-runners and also-rans. I'm intrigued by a couple folks already in, and interested in at least a couple more who aren't. And relieved, in an admittedly bittersweet way, that they won't have that Kerry fella to kick around anymore.
I apologize if this has been posted. But it's a somewhate biased and unfactual article about why the Justices selected Bush in 04.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_recalling_the_recount
Sounds to me they just wanted to penalize the Florida courts for intervening in a Federal vote. And they didn't like the whole chad mix-up. Well, despite the article's claim that Bush would have won, all of us know otherwise. Regardless, they've ditched the unfair chad and instead have gone for the let's just not waste any electrical circuitry on actually letting Democrats vote or let those that do actually be registered properly or even given a chance to be counted.
If I don't make sense, it's because I wasn't meant to make sense at 3:21 am