An Intelligent Democrat . . .

The Weekly Standard ^ | From the December 15, 2003 issue | by Stephen F. Hayes

[.cnI redruM]

A LEADING DEMOCRAT on the Senate Intelligence Committee has reiterated his support for the war in Iraq and encouraged the Bush administration to be more aggressive in its preemptive measures to protect Americans. Evan Bayh, a Democrat from Indiana and a leader of moderates in the Senate, responded to questions last week on the war in Iraq and a memo detailing links between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden sent to the committee in late October by Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith and later excerpted in these pages.

"Even if there's only a 10 percent chance that Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden would cooperate, the question is whether that's an acceptable level of risk," Bayh told me. "My answer to that would be an unequivocal 'no.' We need to be much more pro-active on eliminating threats before they're imminent."

Asked about the growing evidence of a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda, Bayh said: "The relationship seemed to have its roots in mutual exploitation. Saddam Hussein used terrorism for his own ends, and Osama bin Laden used a nation-state for the things that only a nation-state can provide. Some of the intelligence is strong, and some of it is murky. But that's the nature of intelligence on a relationship like this--lots of it is going to be speculation and conjecture. Following 9/11, we await certainty at our peril."

[.cnI redruM]

There are still Democrats I'd be willing to listen to if they could get the nomination. It's a shame the Dems are bent on sending us such mediocrities. I'd enjoy Bayh vs. Bush and would listen to it with an open mind...

[.cnI redruM]

BTW - I excerpted due to the article's length.

[Southack]

Bayh gets it...

[The Coopster]

.

[Bogey78O]

He sees the writing on the wall.

He should be credited for being intelligent enough to move off the tracks when a train is coming. For this the Dems will punish him after bloody November.

[labard1]

And there's not a chance in hell the Dims would nominate him.

[doug from upland]

Does Bayh know he's in the wrong party?

[Lando Lincoln]

Bayh definitely "gets it". I always see him as a rational, thinking American. With a little more seasoning, he could be the next Zell Miller type voice. I could even see him switching parties if the frustration level gets too high for him.

Lando

[Lancey Howard]

Evan Bayh, a Democrat from Indiana and a leader of moderates in the Senate,

This "leader of moderates in the Senate" has a lifetime ACU rating of 21. He's a liberal and he's a scumbag.

[zencat]

Bayh, Miller and a few others definitely "get it". Unfortunately, they have been sidelined and are almost considered black sheep by their own party. Luckily, there are a few that aren't total off the deep end. . . .

[RobbyS]

He's on the right side of THIS issue.

[Gothmog]

It's going to be an interesting 2008 Dem primary w/ Bayh running against Hillary. If Bayh won, it would make it tougher for the eventual 2008 GOP candidate.

[CyberAnt]

OMG .. catch me .. I'm falling ........!!

Please .. tell me I read this correctly ..??

[CyberAnt]

Bayh and Zell Miller! A party of 2.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I agree with you. Bayh and Miller appear to be "stand up guys". It is so easy to demonize one side or the other, and ignore what is said. But sometimes, I find myself pleasantly surprised to hear that the "other side" actually has a vision for America, instead of partisan hatred.

[arasina]

When it comes to Judicial nominees, Bayh is definitely a Democrat. At least he is a reasonable voice in the Senate when it comes to issues like this one.

[vaudine]

Party of three--Bayh, Miller, and John Breaux of LA
vaudine

[logician2u]

"Even if there's only a 10 percent chance that Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden would cooperate . ."

About the same chance, in general, that Democrats and the Bush Administration would cooperate, it would seem.

[highlander_UW]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bayh a Democrat on the same Senate Intelligence committee that circulated memos about misappropriating the committee to string along the Republican leadership until they decided it was time to do a fishing expedition to undermine Bush?

[Indie]

That's the nature of intelligence on a relationship like this--lots of it is going to be speculation and conjecture. Following 9/11, we await certainty at our peril."
--- Evan Bayh, Senate Intelligence Committee

This one stays in my list of all time good quotes. Thanks for the post.