As typical of the media for the last few election cycles, in the days after an election they run all sorts of stories they suppressed because they might have helped Republicans. The media ran thousands of stories about Iraq... all of them focusing on the negatives. But none looked at what might happen if the Dems won.
Suddenly -after the election- they look at the other side.
Democrats' victory unnerves Baghdad
BAGHDAD -- Across the capital Wednesday, Iraqis balanced their hopes against fears about how U.S. policy will change on the ground in the wake of the Democrats' overwhelming victory in congressional elections and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's sudden resignation.
Rasha Tariq, 23, a college student, said she found herself near tears when she awoke Wednesday morning to the news that the Democrats had won the House and were on the cusp of taking the Senate.
Tariq said she worries the Democrats' victory will mark the beginning of a gradual U.S. pullout from Iraq and the disintegration of what little order is left on the dangerous streets of Baghdad.
"If it was up to the Democrats, we would still be living under Saddam's tyranny," Tariq said in an interview Wednesday in the Sadoun Street shopping district. "I'm afraid that this change is going to affect the American presence in Iraq. I don't want them to leave."
While understanding that U.S. involvement in Iraq will not be altered overnight, both politicians and pedestrians in Baghdad said Wednesday that they were sure the U.S. has reached a turning point in the war.
In other words, they know the Dems want to hang them out to dry.
Comments (51)
I believe a lot of people t... (Below threshold)1. Posted by jpm100 | November 10, 2006 5:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I believe a lot of people that voted Dem were deceived about what "Not staying the course!" meant. A few probably believed it just meant changing up the strategy and tactics or even adding more troops.
Others were sweet talked into believing a orchistrated fancy 'phased redeployment' would have consequences other than 'cut & running'.
This isn't a "Used Car" its a "Previously Owned Vehicle".
1. Posted by jpm100 | November 10, 2006 5:04 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:04
2. Posted by waddayknow | November 10, 2006 5:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yep, lets build consensis around the opinion of a 23yo Iraqi student who is postulating political outcomes based on a system of democracy that her nation only briefly had in the early 1900's. Since then, nada in the way of comparative political systems. You will have to install hand grips to the this to spin...
2. Posted by waddayknow | November 10, 2006 5:09 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:09
3. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 5:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
But, but how can this be? I was told the Iraqis were not capable of living in a Democracy, nor did they really want one in the first place. And a majority of Iraqis want us out NOW.
This is another high-octane "truth to power" lecture I have been given from the left. (Oh, and with links)
Which is it?
3. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 5:13 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:13
4. Posted by John S | November 10, 2006 5:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Yep, lets build consensis around the opinion of a 23yo Iraqi student"
We built a national consensus around a 20-something shit-for-brains named Kos. I'd go with the Iraqi who's likely to die. But what's 10 million dead Iraqi's to the Democrats if it'll give them a one seat majority in the Senate?
4. Posted by John S | November 10, 2006 5:31 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:31
5. Posted by Peter F. | November 10, 2006 5:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Where Were These Stories Before the Election?
Oh, oh! I know!
Answer: Sat on by the NYT, WaPo and other MSM outlets for, oh, I'm just guessing here, over a year! A la Foley, etc....
5. Posted by Peter F. | November 10, 2006 5:33 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:33
6. Posted by seamus | November 10, 2006 5:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sure you would Johnny Boy. But not enough to actually join up and fight, right?
6. Posted by seamus | November 10, 2006 5:38 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:38
7. Posted by Derrick | November 10, 2006 5:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hey Seamus, I agree with John AND am enlisted... are you?
7. Posted by Derrick | November 10, 2006 5:44 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:44
8. Posted by Chris | November 10, 2006 5:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
That sneaky MSM. This girl was interviewed on Wednesday. How dare they not report it before the election! You have got to be the most paranoid group on the face of the earth.
8. Posted by Chris | November 10, 2006 5:54 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:54
9. Posted by BarneyG2000 | November 10, 2006 5:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yea, where were those stories? All I saw in the liberal MSM were the reports about how a vote for the democrats was a vote for the terrorists.
9. Posted by BarneyG2000 | November 10, 2006 5:57 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:57
10. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 5:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Focus Chris, the article says "these" stories, not "this" story.
WHERE WERE THESE STORIES BEFORE THE ELECTION?
10. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 5:59 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 17:59
11. Posted by Heralder | November 10, 2006 6:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
For the sake of fairness, we can't say this young girl represents the opinion of a majority.
If you asked me my opinion on the election, and asked my girlfriend her opinion on the election you would get two totally different answers, and we live less than a mile apart.
11. Posted by Heralder | November 10, 2006 6:04 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:04
12. Posted by Marc | November 10, 2006 6:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So Seamus what you're saying is you side with a 20-something shit-for-brains named Kos. Doesn't say much for your choice in "friends" and "associates" or your ability to judge anything much less anything related to fighting the jihadist-cut-throats.
12. Posted by Marc | November 10, 2006 6:04 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:04
13. Posted by jdavenport | November 10, 2006 6:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm seeing this another way. Perhaps just wishful thinking, but we'll see.
Regardless of what one thinks of the decision to topple Saddam, once its happened, you really need to finish the job.
I think a lot of smart Dems know that. They yell and holler, and whatever else is necessary to get power, but now that they have it, they know the job needs finished.
The good part is they know it needs finished. The bad part is that they were able to run a serious manipulation - Not to say the Republicans didn't deserve to lose. Just that the Dems didn't deserve to win that way. I think its dangerous.
This Michael Moore marxist lite framework. A dangerous beast to call on as an ally.
Of course, I could be wrong. And even if I'm correct, can the unleashed beast be controlled?
13. Posted by jdavenport | November 10, 2006 6:12 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:12
14. Posted by JC | November 10, 2006 6:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Where were these stories before the election?"
U.S. storeis were either on the election
Or about the 4th highest total of American deaths in Iraq, and the violence happening in Iraq.
This has been another installment of simple answers to simple questions.
14. Posted by JC | November 10, 2006 6:16 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:16
15. Posted by muirgeo | November 10, 2006 6:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Rasha Tariq, 23, a college student...."
Well gosh if 23 year old Rasha says we dems want to hang them out to dry then it must be so......dam how'd they get our play book?
And of course the BIG BAD MEDIA is out to get all Republicans....and when the Republicans loose an election they don't cry like babies and blame it on everyone and everything else but themselves....Talk about whiney ass cry babies.
15. Posted by muirgeo | November 10, 2006 6:27 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:27
16. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 6:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
People have such short memories or is it selective memories. I remember the slaughter of millions in southeast Asia. They're blood is on the hands of the cut and run dim's and specifically Hanoi John Kerry and his lies to congress.
I remember American Marines being dragged through the streets because the dim's put them in a combat situation and then abandoned them.
I remember hundreds of Americans killed in a Marine barracks and the dim's demanded we run instead of hunting the murderers down.
I remember the first attack on the WTC and the maximum that was done was put a blind man in jail. No effective search and attack on Usama. Hell they didn't have to search, he was being offered up on a platter but the leadership of the dim's couldn't find the zipper on his pants, and couldn't be bothered.
I've got a list of 'cut and runs' by them dim's filed somewhere. You can locate them on the web with a little searching.
Seamus can KMA, and I served 22 Years with a 'full' tour in Vietnam, unlike the coward Hanoi John's less than four months before he cut and ran on his crew. I also volunteered for the first Gulf war but had been out of the service 30 days too long. All Americans aren't cowards and a fair part of us believe in helping others gain they're freedon. Can't say that for many left wing democrats.
I don't blame the Iraqi's for being worried. They've now experienced a couple of years of freedom of choice, and they can rightly see it going down the tube, and the slaughter of millions that will follow the cut and run.
That (cut and run) is the history of today's democrats.
I see the wholesellers are wasting no time in raising prices to cover the announced tax increases. Prices are rising already, just go shopping.
16. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 6:28 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:28
17. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 6:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"we can't say this young girl represents the opinion of a majority". But the dim's can take the word of an army deserter or someone claiming to be a vet of Iraq (never in the military) as the gospel as to what the real members of the military say of think. RIGHT
The failure of a general Clark sure dumped one of them in a hurry. Guess all of the phony soldiers that the dim's paraded around are now back at work, and with enough coaching they'll learn to say 'want fried with that'.
17. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 6:34 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:34
18. Posted by John S | November 10, 2006 6:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sorry seamus,
Too old for Iraq. My generation went to 'Nam.
18. Posted by John S | November 10, 2006 6:37 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:37
19. Posted by jhow66 | November 10, 2006 6:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Uhh mun-go have you been listening to your "friend" overseas jumping for joy that the cut and run cowards got elected? And the asskissing has already begun.
19. Posted by jhow66 | November 10, 2006 6:38 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:38
20. Posted by jhow66 | November 10, 2006 6:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Gas already up .10 a gal one day after the tax raisers won.
20. Posted by jhow66 | November 10, 2006 6:43 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:43
21. Posted by kaz | November 10, 2006 6:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The polls show that a majority of Iraqis want US troops to leave. And they also APPROVE of attacks on our troops.
Now, where were those stories before the election?
21. Posted by kaz | November 10, 2006 6:48 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 18:48
22. Posted by P. Bunyan | November 10, 2006 7:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I actually find this story very encouraging. This was in "da Trib" which is an instrument of the propaganda wing of the "democrat" party.
Many of the "democrats" who were elected Tuesday ran as conservatives. If they were actually being honest that means that the house, while not being Republican controlled anymore is still conservative controlled. If they were actually being honest. My fear is they will vote in lock step with the secular regressive socialist wing of the party. I've prayed since last Tuesday that that is not the case even though in my gut I doubt it.
But then this story comes along and gives me hope. The plea of a 23 girl-- it's just so touchy-feely, so left wingy--A victim, a face to the unintended consequences of the Murtha-Kos-Dean-etc. crowd.
Maybe at least on this one issue the "democrats" will do the right thing at least enough of them to matter- it'll only take a handful.
Tuesday was still sad in that we've added years to the genocide the secular regressives like to call "choice" and I'm sure will see many new taxes on the poor and middle class, but at least they might not turn this into another Vietnam-like "democrat victory".
22. Posted by P. Bunyan | November 10, 2006 7:16 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:16
23. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
All polls show 100% of all terrorists wanted Democrats to win.
Not one endorsement for President Bush.
I wonder why?
Just kidding, I do know why.
23. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:29 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:29
24. Posted by Kaz | November 10, 2006 7:36 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Notice how a majority of both the Iraqi and the American people want us out of Iraq. The only ones who want us to stay in Iraq are Al Qaeda and the Republicans.
Think about it for a minute. They both need each other to justify their existence.
24. Posted by Kaz | November 10, 2006 7:36 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:36
25. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Al Qaeda wants us to stay in Iraq? Huh?
Give me a link or please stop making things up as you go.
25. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:42 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:42
26. Posted by Kaz | November 10, 2006 7:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jesus Jumpinjoe, the Al Qaeda in Iraq head terrorist statements are only everywhere you look today. This is from the BBC:
Of course, Al Qaeda wants us to stay in Iraq. Because they have suckered us into the kind of urban battlefield where they can bleed us indefinitely. They are dictating the terms of the engagment in Iraq now. They've got us right where they want us.
26. Posted by Kaz | November 10, 2006 7:47 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:47
27. Posted by P. Bunyan | November 10, 2006 7:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I know it's hard to resist Jumping Joe, but it's really pretty senseless to argue with a member of the fabricated reality based community.
Take heart in this article. It was in a "democrat" propaganda rag. It appears, at least to me, that the lefties might just be preparing Average Joe for the U.S. doing the right thing and finishing what we started.
It's a brilliant plan when you think about it. Get just enough "conservative democrats" elected so that they can vote with the Republicans and do the right thing in Iraq. They can still raise taxes and still continue the genocide and statutory rape, opps I meant "choice", but Average Joe will perceive them as doing the right thing and will vote for Saint Hillary in '08. They will have complete power and then all the "conservative democrats" suddenly realize that they were actually secular regressive socialists all along.
Would anyone be shocked if the lefies decided to set aside their core values for a little while in exchange for total power?
It will get a lot darker before dawn, but 2010 will hopefully be a revisit of 1994.
27. Posted by P. Bunyan | November 10, 2006 7:57 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:57
28. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And the next sentence is:
Why leave that out? My guess it changes the entire premise of your Al Qaeda wants us in Iraq argument.
28. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 7:59 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 19:59
29. Posted by kaz | November 10, 2006 8:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Richg, it really gets tiring having to prove these basic facts to people like you.
This is from Fox News (or do you consider that a left-wing rag too)?
That pretty much sounds like he wants us to stay for the reason I said in my previous message. Because in urban warfare they can bleed us idenfinitely with snipers and IEDs.
29. Posted by kaz | November 10, 2006 8:09 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:09
30. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
waddayknow sarcastically wrote:
How old do you have to be to know that you want to live in freedom?
30. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:15 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:15
31. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 8:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
We will no longer have to worry about the NYT publishing National Security Secrets, there won't be any. Peloshi will order them to be faxed to the terrorists before the ink dries from the top secret stamp. That way the dim's can get more Americans killed faster.
I'm still waiting for the day to come, and it will come, that the public will rise up and have a mass hanging at several of the antique MSM outlets, congress, and the DNC. I sure hope i'm able to participate. I'll have to practice a little on the thirteen knot noose but still remember enough from rescue rope classes to get er done.
31. Posted by Scrapiron | November 10, 2006 8:21 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:21
32. Posted by mantis | November 10, 2006 8:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hmmm. Interesting which parts Paul decides not to highlight:
Jassim Saed, who owns a small novelty shop on bustling Sadoun Street, said he listened closely to the rhetoric from the Democratic and Republican candidates through campaign coverage on Arabic-language satellite television.
He said the Democrats echoed many Iraqis' frustration with how the U.S. planners of the war have operated on the ground. But Saed believes the Democrats have yet to articulate what should be done differently to improve the situation for Iraqis.
...
Dr. Sami Ismael, 58, said he hopes the Democrats' victory will push the Republicans to make necessary changes in tactics.
With the national police infiltrated by militia and the Iraqi army having often proved itself ineffective, many Iraqis have grown to see the U.S. troops as the only forces they trust. Last month, Gen. George Casey, the top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, said increasing the number of troops on the ground remains an option.
"Whatever they do, it can't get any worse," Ismael said.
My prediction is that the Democrats will not push for immediate withdrawal. If they are smart they will push for negotiations with Iran and Syria so that we can work with them in ensuring security in Iraq. They will not cease funding for the war, in fact they should push for more reconstruction funding, which has ceased, as well as much better oversight on contracts.
Personally I think the best thing for Iraq, if not necessarily the US, would be a doubling of troops in Iraq (actually a tripling would be ideal, but pretty much impossible without a draft). This of course would be enormously unpopular, extremely costly, and would result in many more US casualties, and thus will not happen, but I believe it is the only way we could secure the country, and if done right would be short-lived.
32. Posted by mantis | November 10, 2006 8:29 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:29
33. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:36 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The logic is contradictory. If AQ wanted the US to stay in Iraq, why would they cheer the victory of the "cut and run" party?
The fact is that 10 AQ terrorists die for each American killed. This is a rate that AQ cannot sustain. Life is miserable for the terrorists that have managed to stay alive. When the Democrats pull the troops out, they will have a celebration bigger than a Super Bowl party, a New Year's Eve party and the Mardi Gras all put together. After they sleep it off, the beheading will resume, mass graves will resume, attacks on the US will resume. The lefties will retreat to their cocoon where they can watch CNN and MTV while they selfishly enjoy their freedom that was paid for with the blood of brave men that went before them.
33. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:36 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:36
34. Posted by robert the first | November 10, 2006 8:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I have to agree with Scrapiron here.
The memory of the abandoned clinging to helicopter rails and swimming out to disappearing ships will haunt me forever. The result was millions killed and millions more trapped in Stalinist regimes for a long time. I regard this as a low point in US history.
For too many Democrats these were formative events and times; and for whom Vietnam stands as a high victory that ushered in a period of Democratic election wins, and Carter.
I have learned that it is useless to argue this with those of the left who align with Clinton and Carter about this period. They have their opinion and I have mine.
But it is not altogether inappropriate to remember this when it comes to judging the likely course that so many on the left have promised. I, for one, will not be too surprised if the troops end up closer to Okinawa than Tehran.
Yes, one can forget about these comments by this one girl from Baghdad as not representative, and yes we can claim that the Cubans are fine and ignore those Miami hotheads, and dismiss those in the US Vietnamese community as collaborators, and forget about those troublesome Jews who have "unjustified" fears, and celebrate this great victory of the anti-war forces with all our hearts.
But once again a call for help will come from the powerless and oppressed, and that call will come to us. It might be a girl from Afghanistan who just wants to go to school, or one from Africa who's entire tribe has been murdered by the government... or a Kurd from Iraq.
It is what we do when this call comes in that will define us, not the press and not the Europeans.
And some of us remember the feeble Carter Administration and the majority of Democrats who voted against stopping Saddam in the invasion of Kuwait.
Dismiss it though we try, this one young girl can see clearly what we cannot: that if the Democrats had been in charge, Saddam would still be in Iraq, and Kuwait. Her life and millions like her would be far different.
34. Posted by robert the first | November 10, 2006 8:37 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:37
35. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Just like they negotiated at the Paris Peace Accords with the North Vietnamese to guarantee the safety and democracy of South Vietnam. The end result: one million men, women and children slaughtered and still no elections after 30 years.
When will Democrats ever learn? How many have to die?
35. Posted by George | November 10, 2006 8:40 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:40
36. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 8:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Kaz,
Chest thumping is part of their culture. That's why they wanted Democrats to win. Because the "cut and run" rhetoric hands them a victory.
Leaving Iraq hands them a victory.
What, you never heard someone in a fight say, "that's right, you want some more of this".
You are reading waaaaay to deep in those statements.
36. Posted by Jumpinjoe | November 10, 2006 8:49 PM |
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Posted on November 10, 2006 20:49