Baker-Hamilton Gives the Left a Place to Stand

FrontPageMagazine ^ | Dec. 15, 2006 | Dick Morris and Eileen McGann

[FairOpinion]

During the 2004 election, it was painfully apparent that the Democratic presidential candidate had no credible response when President Bush and the Republicans asked him the ultimate question about the war in Iraq: “What exactly would you do?” Unable to advocate immediate withdrawal, unwilling to suggest a specific timetable, John Kerry and his party were stuck, able only to grouse about the failure to find WMDs or to criticize inadequate troop levels.

But now the Left has been given a built-in response to the question of what should be done. All they now have to say is: “Implement the Baker Report.” With the latest USA Today/Gallup Poll (taken December 8-10, 2006) suggesting that support for the Baker Report now tops 70 percent, the Left finally has the answer that has so long eluded it.

But the Baker Report has clearly empowered the Left by giving it a place to stand. During the Vietnam War, nobody urged unilateral withdrawal. So, the Left had to invent halfway positions – like a bombing pause or entering into serious negotiations – to give it an alternative policy to the administration’s escalation. The Baker Report serves much the same function.

But from the Baker crowd we can only expect appeasement. One can only hope that Bush remains Bush and that Israel shows the courage that Defense Secretary Gates seems to lack and attacks Iranian facilities and eliminates its nuclear capabilities.

[FairOpinion]

Yes, indeed -- I can't imagine what Baker was thinking.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1747324/posts?page=739#739
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1747324/posts?page=446#446
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1747324/posts?page=447#447

[rmlew]

Yes, indeed -- I can't imagine what Baker was thinking.
The lielong Arabist no works for a law firm defending Saudi political interests. He is a paid agent of the Wahabbis.
I can't imagine why the man with obvious dual loyalties was allowed to be on the commission or anywhere near classified documents.

[sgtbono2002]

If they stand on the Baker plan they are standing in quicksand.

[DakotaRed]

The ISG and Kerry just don't get it.

Right in a Left World: Message to John Kerry: “We Are Winning”

[potlatch]

[devolve]

Oh yeah!

That's an attractive image!

[potlatch]

That was a real costume! They are all dressed up with nowhere to go!

[devolve]

I'm sure that is much appreciated at DU

[potlatch]

Hope so, they can spiel out their cuss words like the 14 year olds they seem to be!

[melancholy]

Yes, indeed -- I can't imagine what Baker was thinking.

It's no different than a Baker uses a Hamilton Beech to cook up something tasty for everybody!

That's what happens when one tries to satisfy everybody including terrorist regimes, the MSM and Western Europe, in that order.

Bush will spit that one out; otherwise, it's nothing but an outright surrender.

[upchuck]

With the latest USA Today/Gallup Poll (taken December 8-10, 2006) suggesting that support for the Baker Report now tops 70 percent...

That 70% is ONLY due to the way this "report" was hyped by the media. And they're still hyping it.

IMHO, if the media had fairly played the report, the percentage would be 45-55 percent.

[PhilDragoo]

[potlatch]

Good post Phil, lol.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Baker and Hamilton have not only given the left a place to stand, but as long as Baker and Hamilton have faces, the left also has places to sit.

[devolve]

[potlatch]

Very cute!

[devolve]

A little variation there

[potlatch]

A different Snoopy, I noticed.

[goldstategop]

The American people are born idiots. But that's the meaning of a moderate - someone who has no backbone to stand up to evil.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus