A.J.Strata has something to say about Democrats avoiding briefings on Iraq. Read it all.
This is nothing new. Earlier this month Senator Levin was the lone Democrat to attend a briefing by Gen. Petraeus. Why should they attend briefings? They have already decided the war is lost. Better not to complicate that belief with current information from the field. But then Nancy Pelosi is getting her own information from the region -- from Syria anyway. It is one thing to decide the war is a lost cause, but at least give the appearance that this is more than just politics by getting all available information about the situation. Even those who have declared the war lost still have a duty to do their jobs.
Update: If Democrats can't manage to fit Iraq briefings into their busy schedules, then maybe they could just take a few minutes to read some milblogs. Pat Dollard has a message from Ramadi for Harry Reid.
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Iraq
Comments (125)
Well, at least they have co... (Below threshold)1. Posted by pa | April 23, 2007 11:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, at least they have consistent standards of behavior. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee did the same thing during the Alito hearing when his supporters were given time to speak in his behalf. Teddy Kennedy walked out rather than listen to someone who had worked with his brother JFK say something fully supportive of Alito. And Democrats fled the state of Texas rather than engage in debate on an issue they didn't like and couldn't win. ALWAYS the cut-and-run party, no matter how big or small the stakes.
1. Posted by pa | April 23, 2007 11:53 AM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 11:53
2. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 12:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If they avoid televised debates, why not military briefings.
2. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 12:02 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:02
3. Posted by horse | April 23, 2007 12:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They are traitors who should be forced out of office, convicted and delivered their due justice.
3. Posted by horse | April 23, 2007 12:02 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:02
4. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 12:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
That may be going a bit far.
4. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 12:04 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:04
5. Posted by metprof | April 23, 2007 12:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
When you live in an alternate universe you needn't be here all the times. The Kos mothership (or "wheel" if you're a Farakan devotee) often requires you to report in for new instructions.
5. Posted by metprof | April 23, 2007 12:07 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:07
6. Posted by Mitchell | April 23, 2007 12:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Braying cowards.
6. Posted by Mitchell | April 23, 2007 12:13 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:13
7. Posted by Scrapiron | April 23, 2007 12:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Even those who have declared the war lost still have a duty to do their jobs".
Duty, Honor, Country, Truth. All lost in the democrat party.
7. Posted by Scrapiron | April 23, 2007 12:13 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:13
8. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 12:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, the Democrats should take time out from their busy schedules to listen to the administration's latest rosy lies about Iraq.
8. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 12:27 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:27
9. Posted by DaveD | April 23, 2007 12:30 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Publicus, you are saying that Petraeus is a (rosy) liar?
9. Posted by DaveD | April 23, 2007 12:30 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:30
10. Posted by hermie | April 23, 2007 12:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is just a way to claim that they were never briefed on the situation in Iraq.
or that they have no 'special knowledge' of what General Petraeus had to say.
Nobody in the MSM will ever bring up this version of 'cut and run'. But it will be 'reported' that the Dems were 'never briefed'.
10. Posted by hermie | April 23, 2007 12:38 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:38
11. Posted by Jo | April 23, 2007 12:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Democrats have some sort of disease that never lets you fully mature past the age of around 10.
11. Posted by Jo | April 23, 2007 12:48 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 12:48
12. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 1:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It's a briefing, not a propaganda meet. The Democrats are busy trying to establish their own little parallel government by opting out of pretty much anything they don't politically like. That attitude should certainly free up their schedules.
I realize Pelosi may not have the spare time though...she's too busy trying to restructure our existing foreign policy in the middle east.
12. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 1:02 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:02
13. Posted by wavemaker | April 23, 2007 1:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Looks like Publicus is aiming become the Lie Alleger In Chief.
13. Posted by wavemaker | April 23, 2007 1:07 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:07
14. Posted by Peter F. | April 23, 2007 1:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Now, now, everyone, be fair. You're asking them to listen and even (gasp!) read actual reports from the field and THEN form an opinion without spouting off something willy nilly that's good for a few soundbites and some TV face time. Because, afterall, that's what this war is really all about: facetime, baby!
(I still don't like Levin, he's an opportunistic, back-stabbing, about face weasel. But bully for him for listening to the General.)
14. Posted by Peter F. | April 23, 2007 1:20 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:20
15. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 1:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So what, the Dems realize they're being spoon-fed the latest in a long list of worn platitiudes and misguided optimism. Hang in there folks, we're almost there! If this surge doesn't do it, the next one will. War is Peace! Stay the course! We're winning! Wait until we build that wall!, no, wait a minute, scratch that one.
Bush and Co have yet to come up with anything resembling accurate predictions, estimates or assesments of the Iraq mess yet. What are the chances they're going to start now?
15. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 1:27 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:27
16. Posted by Jo | April 23, 2007 1:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
BTW, Harry Reid was reamed in his hometown paper editorial for his "war is lost" statements. Ouch.
People are waking up to these traitors. About time.
16. Posted by Jo | April 23, 2007 1:31 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:31
17. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 1:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
groucho,
Wrong. The fact is that the Democrats have decided that they do not want any ownership of this war, so they have avoided participating in it. They are being political cowards.
Apparently only the Republicans care about the war and the troops. The Democrats just can't be bothered.
17. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 1:39 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:39
18. Posted by Who's John Galt? | April 23, 2007 1:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Come on, Publicus. What lies has Petraeus presented? Let's hear what you've got.
18. Posted by Who's John Galt? | April 23, 2007 1:41 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:41
19. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 1:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm saying that as soon as one of Bush's commanders tells the not so rosy truth about Iraq, he's removed ("resigns") from command. And that to serve in the Bush administration, the cup is always half-full...even if it's full of our soldier's blood.
19. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 1:56 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:56
20. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 1:58 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ummm...a newspaper is media, NOT the people. Polls show that the majority of Americans agree with Reid.
20. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 1:58 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 13:58
21. Posted by bryanD | April 23, 2007 2:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Petraeus will say what he's told to say. It's his part of The Bargain:
http://www.mega.nu:8080/ampp/roundtable/CFRL-Rlist.html
21. Posted by bryanD | April 23, 2007 2:01 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:01
22. Posted by _Mike_ | April 23, 2007 2:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Publicus:
Polls show that the majority of Americans agree with Reid.
What do they agree with Reid about ? Links ?
22. Posted by _Mike_ | April 23, 2007 2:07 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:07
23. Posted by Kat | April 23, 2007 2:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Publicuss- When the polls shift back and favor the war, will you shut up or will you "speak truth to power".
Liberals make me sick.
23. Posted by Kat | April 23, 2007 2:08 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:08
24. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
>Apparently only the Republicans care about the war and the troops.>
That's not apparent to me. It's not apparent to those at Walter Reed. And it's not apparent to those of us watching our young people sent to their deaths in a losing, and unnecessary "cause."
24. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:10 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:10
25. Posted by Zelsdorf Ragshaft III | April 23, 2007 2:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And I suppose that is the truth according to Publicus. I guess Publicus is saying the majority of Americans think the war is lost. I have to ask ole pub which battle is it that we have lost? What territory have we ceeded to the enemy? Where is it that our troops have been so damaged that they retreated from? Publicus, does there not have to be a military component to the loss of a war? Or can it just be accomplished by the idiotic proclaimation of a dedicatedly coward of a bias Senator from a small, population wise, western state?
25. Posted by Zelsdorf Ragshaft III | April 23, 2007 2:12 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:12
26. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I was correcting a post that confused a newspaper editorial with "the people." The facts are as I stated----more Americans agree with Reid than with that editorial.
BTW -- I hope you don't get sick just because many Americans have opinions that differ from yours. That's just a part of being an American.
I disagree with you. I try to get policies that I think are bad changed. But I understand that you (and others) believe that the war in Iraq is just and necessary. But, I believe you are wrong.
I can live with the fact that we disagree----I don't have to call you names or anything...
26. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:14 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:14
27. Posted by nogo postal | April 23, 2007 2:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
How many folks are pissed of at this troop who wonders why flags at his Afghan base were ordered to fly at half mast for VT..but Not(even for one day) when one of our troops are killed in the line of duty
Don't know if this guy is Dem or Repub..only that he is more at risk than any of us exchanging words here.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/ap_on_re_mi_ea/afghanistan_flag_complaint
27. Posted by nogo postal | April 23, 2007 2:15 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:15
28. Posted by Lee | April 23, 2007 2:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The MSM loves to play up the battles between conservatives and liberals, and in reporting Reid' s "The War is Lost" statement they neglected to report on the context, and the other things Reid said about the war it's "win-ability".
Kinda shoots holes in the arguments that the media is left-leaning etc... here they are skewering Reid, and if it was a conservative instead the little conservo-piggies around here would be squealing loudly about media bias, etc...
28. Posted by Lee | April 23, 2007 2:17 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:17
29. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 2:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Publicus,
How is not listening participating?
How is not listening supporting?
How is not listening going to find a solution?
The answer to all three is 'its not'...hence my opinion.
Walter Reed is not indicative of anything.
Are only Democrats watching this? Have only Democratic mothers lost sons and husbands? And whether or not it's necessary greatly depends on the person you ask. I'm sure many Iraqis would disagree with you on that.
29. Posted by Heralder | April 23, 2007 2:19 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:19
30. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm
For those who are interested, there's plenty of information that American's don't like Bush's handling of the war, don't think we're winning, and want us to set timetables and get out.
30. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:20 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:20
31. Posted by Gayle Miller | April 23, 2007 2:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
These people (Democratic members of the U.S. Congress) took an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution of the United States. They are being PAID by the taxpayers of their various States to perform their duties - and I might add, they are being WELL PAID.
They should be pilloried in every newspaper and on every radio or television station in this nation for the dereliction of duty and this is how the MSM displays without equivocation its total bias because they don't REPORT this behavior.
Every single one of them should be ashamed of themselves!
31. Posted by Gayle Miller | April 23, 2007 2:20 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:20
32. Posted by jp2 | April 23, 2007 2:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"They have already decided the war is lost."
It's not a war.
32. Posted by jp2 | April 23, 2007 2:22 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:22
33. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It clearly indicates the level of concern the Bush administration has for our wounded soldiers. Apparently, you share their level of concern.
33. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:22 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:22
34. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
When is the President going to listen to Congress and the American people? [ Answer: NEVER. ]
34. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:23 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:23
35. Posted by Steve Crickmore | April 23, 2007 2:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think the Democrats are putting themselves in a unnecessary corner if the Iraqi war could somehow be pulled out of what looked like an inexorable defeat, a few months ago ..Bush has finally made better appointments i.e. Petraneus, who also seems to genuinely interest in what is happening to the Iraqis, and not just as central front on terrorism, as Bush is alwys keen to emphasize, but is any slight progress in the surge, too little too late to overcome Democratic scepticism and perhaps not entirely studious opposition to the war? Only a remarkarkably different situation in Baghdad will change that.
35. Posted by Steve Crickmore | April 23, 2007 2:29 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:29
36. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Gayle Miller --
OMG! The CONGRESS should be attacked for not protecting the Constitution?! This administration has violated the Constitution at every turn; using "signing statements" to violate laws; invading privacy at will; setting up secret prisons; torturing people.
How about this memorable lie by our commander-in-chief?
"Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so."
It's pretty nervy to accuse the Democrats of violating the Constitution. I am amazed!
36. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:31 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:31
37. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Steve Crickmore...
Victory has been around the corner since 2003. That "argument" won't wash anymore.
37. Posted by Publicus | April 23, 2007 2:32 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:32
38. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 2:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Kat: "When the polls shift back in favor of the war..."
When do you think that will be? When we uncover WMDs and Saddam's nucuylar arsenal? Or when the Sunnis and Shiites finally recognize US for the liberators we are and shower us with rose petals? Or when all the "turrists" lay down their bombs and say "you win"?
38. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 2:41 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:41
39. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 2:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think most Americans, Democrats and Republicans, want no ownership of this trumped-up, mismanaged and failed war. I guess that makes us a nation of "political cowards". How un-American!
39. Posted by groucho | April 23, 2007 2:44 PM |
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Posted on April 23, 2007 14:44