Saturday, July 14, 2007

WHAT ARE LUGAR AND WARNER TALKING ABOUT? ARE THEY TRYING TO GET US OUT OF IRAQ OR JUST SENDING A LIFE PRESERVER TO THE HAPLESS, CLUELESS BUSH?

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The news media was buzzing yesterday-- and, for a Saturday, today-- over this "whole change of strategy" meme being pushed by senior Republican senators, Richard Lugar and John Warner, both mainstream conservatives. I'm not as certain as the Associated Press is that this is a blow against the Empire.
Two top Republicans cast aside President Bush's pleas for patience on Iraq Friday and proposed legislation demanding a new strategy by mid-October to restrict the mission of U.S. troops.

The proposal, by veteran GOP Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Richard Lugar of Indiana, came as the Pentagon conceded a decreasing number of Iraqi battalions are able to operate on their own.

"American military and diplomatic strategy in Iraq must adjust to the reality that sectarian factionalism is not likely to abate anytime soon and probably cannot be controlled from the top," the Warner-Lugar proposal states.

Democrats and the White House were dismissive of the proposal. However, it could attract significant support from GOP colleagues who are frustrated by Iraq but reluctant to break ranks with their party or force the hand of a wartime president.

Bush is the biggest national security failure in the history of America. 9/11 happened not just under his watch but because of his gross and indefensible incompetence. His pathetic (and profits-driven) responses have made the United States far less secure on every front and in every conceivable way. Two days ago his incredibly annoying, proto-fascistic, costly and mostly useless homeland security policies were shown to be a complete farce.

Undercover Congressional investigators set up a bogus company and obtained a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March that would have allowed them to buy the radioactive materials needed for a so-called dirty bomb.

The investigators, from the Government Accountability Office, demonstrated once again that the security measures put in place since the 2001 terrorist attacks to prevent radioactive materials from getting into the wrong hands are insufficient, according to a G.A.O. report, which is scheduled to be released at a Senate hearing Thursday.

Nevertheless Lugar and Warner think a non-binding resolution is just what the doctor ordered. Maybe 3 or 4 years ago. Impeachment, trial and sentencing are what's called for now. Instead their weak and toothless sop to angry voters is a "requirement" that Bush submit a plan by Oct 16 that would be ready in a year to "transition U.S. combat forces from policing the civil strife or sectarian violence in Iraq" to a narrow set of missions: protecting Iraqi borders, targeting terrorists, protecting U.S. assets and training Iraqi forces. Too little, too late-- way too late-- and it entirely depends on good faith from Bush and Cheney and the tooth fairy.

Still this morning's Washington Post calls it an acceleration of a "Republican revolt against President Bush's war strategy." Acceleration? Neither of these peaceniks voted to end the occupation when they had a chance a few days ago. They may have some credibility with a few conservative-- as opposed to fascist-- Republicans and with the reactionary Democrats like the Nelsons and Landrieu, but each is fast becoming, along with George Voinovich, a joke.
Despite the irrefutable sour public opinion on the war, there remains deep discord in Congress over the politics-- and substance-- of proposals presented during a protracted six-month Iraq debate in Congress. Lawmakers say the fact that Iraq has become a central issue in a spirited presidential campaign has also emerged as an obstacle to the kind of bipartisan accord that Mr. Warner and Mr. Lugar say they are seeking.

While Mr. Bush almost certainly commands less loyalty than at any other time of his presidency, the White House has kept enough Republicans from siding with Democrats to keep legislation from reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to pass legislation in the Senate-- not to mention the 67 votes needed to override a veto. At the same time, Democrats have often produced legislation that is viewed as hard for some Republicans to endorse.

I think the American people are understanding that the only way to end this war is to elect a Democratic president with a Senate and House that cannot be obstructed by partisan Republican tricks. Can it be done? Even assuming Lieberman officially joins the GOP or that the Democrats ever find the spine to toss him out, the Democrats would need to hold onto every seat (including Landrieu's, their most vulnerable one) and then take 11 more. Which 11 Republican senate seats are possible? Colorado, New Hampshire, Maine, Minnesota, Kentucky and New Mexico look like good shots. Oregon, Virginia, Alaska look possible. Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Mississippi could happen, although it might take some Divine Intervention. But aren't we due some of that after bearing all this Bush crap for so long-- and under the guise of Who exactly?


UPDATE: ALMOST FORGOT... LUGAR AND WARNER HAVE RECORDS

The two born-again peaceniks have long voting records on Iraq and, as a matter of fact, a great deal of responsibility for the catastrophic situation the Bush Regime has created there. Including the 5 roll calls on October 10, 2002-- the Resolution Authorizing the Use of Force-- the Senate has voted on Iraq 32 times (including last week's this past Wednesday's vote on the Webb Amendment to give troops a respite from battle before being sent back to the front). Both Lugar and Warner were enthusiastic supporters of all 5 of the Oct 10 roll calls of course and they both voted against Webb's amendment to support the troops. There is no way to describe Dick Lugar's voting record or John Warner's voting record as anything but gross derelictions of the trust and duty their constituents placed in them. The media may call them "respected" or "wise" or whatever bullshit they want to invent to describe these two partisan hacks but no one can look at their records and claim they are not rubber stamp Republicans unfit to hold public office.

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4 Comments:

At 9:37 AM, Blogger Libby Spencer said...

I think Liz Dole's seat if vulnerable. Lot of us Northern Liberals have moved into the state since 2002 and she didn't win by all that many votes back in 02 when the GOP was riding high on 9/11.

 
At 3:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Read Dahr Jamail's latest. I think you'll like it. I think it's at Tom's Dispatch.

 
At 6:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Warner and Lugar are partisans. While their bill may sound good, I don't trust them to do anything in opposition to Bush.

 
At 12:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Bush is the biggest national security failure in the history of America. 9/11 happened not just under his watch but because of his gross and indefensible incompetence."

HA HA HA! Another dirty despicable and miserable democrat is trying to "CLINTONIZE" President Bush.

YOU ARE PATHETIC!

The "TRUTH" is that Democrats don't even have a national security plan which is why we were hit time and time again. BJ Clinton refused to take Osama Bin Laden when offered for a measly million dollars twice and refused to give the order to take his ass out on several occasions when they had him in their crosshairs.

The fact is the last two democratic Presidents in our History hands down own the titles "worst President ever" as well as "Most Immoral and Corrupt".

"biggest national security failure"

Sorry that award is shared by Both your latest democratic President to disgrace the White House.

Boy and girls , this is precisely how the Criminal Democrat party of perpetual fraud has been able to deceive their way into power. The only way. They are liars , frauds and gutless criminals. Shysters and Hucksters who will buy your vote with your own money and then lie to your face to keep your vote.

But don't take my word for it even if I was so ignorant to have voted democratic nearly 20 years. "KNOW" who you are voting for. Trust me , after over a thousand hours logged in research on the internet it didn't take but the first hour to confirm the fact that I had been voting for the party of criminal frauds, Democrats.

Do I feel shame for being ignorant? Not at all. Shame belongs to those who know the truth and yet still support their lying Masters.

Here's a million dollar question about BJ Clinton and Osama Bin Laden that leaves BJ smiling all the way to the bank. A million dollars and we will give you OBL. BJ Clinton , "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?"

So what did Mr. BJ Clinton choose?

NATIONAL SECURITY? or 43 million dollars a year speaking tour?

There is only one truth and fact and it can be found in Slick Willie's finacial statements.The spoils going to the traitor at the cost of National Security.

Umm..who was it again that you were calling the....

"biggest national security failure in the history of America?"

RobLACal.

 

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