Candidate-veteran attacks Bush on Iraq (Duckworth)

Yahoo News ^ | September 30, 2006 | DENNIS CONRAD, Associated Press Writer

[Chi-townChief]

An Illinois congressional candidate who lost both her legs during combat in Iraq said Saturday that President Bush has no real strategy for securing the war-ravaged nation, just political talk designed to appeal to voters.

"Instead of a plan or a strategy, we get shallow slogans like 'mission accomplished' and 'stay the course,'" former Army Capt. Tammy Duckworth said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "Those slogans are calculated to win an election. But they won't help us accomplish our mission in Iraq."

Duckworth's address served as a response to the president's weekly radio talk and gave the Democratic Party a chance to showcase one of its strongest candidates as it seeks to regain control of the House in November's elections.

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished.'"

At a GOP fundraiser Thursday in Alabama, Bush said, "The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut and run."

Duckworth is seeking the suburban Chicago seat being vacated by conservative Republican Rep. Henry Hyde (news, bio, voting record). She is running against Illinois state Sen. Peter Roskam, the man Hyde has endorsed.

In her address, Duckworth, now a major in the Illinois National Guard, also lashed out at the GOP-led Congress for refusing to do its job of holding the Bush administration accountable for its flawed Iraq policy.

"We need a Congress that will ask the tough questions and work together for solutions rather than attacking the patriotism of those who disagree," she said. "It is time to encourage Iraqi leaders to take control of their own county and make the tough choices that will stop the civil war and stabilize the country."

She offered no proposal for an immediate withdrawal or a timetable for withdrawal.

____

Associated Press Writer Deanna Bellandi contributed to this story from Illinois.

[Chi-townChief]

It appears that Ms. Duckworth's only qualification is getting wounded in Iraq. Her campaign has consisted mainly of attacking President Bush and ducking debates with her opponent. Flame away.

[Chi-townChief]

CHICAGOLAND PING

[SAMS]

As much as I admire and respect anybody that has fought in any war. And I firmly believe that everyone is entitled to express his/her opinion. However, just the fact that she is a vet, (and a wouned one at that) does not mean every word out of her mouth should be taken as gospel.

[jess35]

So, she wants to be a politician...the very group of people who have held back the military and who view attacks on troops as being preferable to offending Muslims and terrorists.

And she's going to "fix" the problem for us.

[Kuksool]

Don't forget masquerading as a moderate Republican. One of her mailings claimed that she received the endorsement of Bob Dole.

[Chi-townChief]

The last line tells most of the story: "She offered no proposal for an immediate withdrawal or a timetable for withdrawal." I would add that Ms. Duckworth has offered no proposals to speak of on any issue.

[operation clinton cleanup]

"Instead of a plan or a strategy, we get shallow slogans like 'mission accomplished' and 'stay the course,'"

Thanks to Capt. Duckworth for her sacrifices for our country. With that said, what is the Democrats plan and or strategy for Iraq? How is "change the course" any different than "stay the course"?

[Names Ash Housewares]

Im sorry, she served and sacrificed more then I can ever fathom, but screw her politics! She should no damn better especially because of her expereiences.

Bush never claimed "mission accomplished" for the war in Iraq for God sake.

The banner was for the crew of the USS Lincoln.

In addition he said that tough work remains to be done.

Bush said that very day on the flightdeck...........


"Yet we also have dangerous work to complete. As I speak, a special
operations task force lead by the 82nd Airborne is on the trail of the
terrorists and those who seek to undermine the free government of
Afghanistan."


"We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts
of that country that remain dangerous. We're pursuing and finding
leaders of the old regime who will be held to account for their
crimes. "


"The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it
is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done
and then we will leave and we will leave behind a free Iraq."





But I dont suppose Duckworth is interested in the facts. She owes the President and the crew of the Lincoln an apology if you ask me.

[stylin19a]

I wonder if she ever moved into the district she wants to represent ?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Pretty sad. She's being used by the Dims just like Cleland was used.

[OldFriend]

This candidate has betrayed her fellow soldiers and I have less than NO respect for her candidacy.

She was recruited by Rahm Emanuel and deserves to lose big time.

[Kuksool]

Nope. She claims that Du Page doesn't have the facilities to help wounded vets. Also, Duckwroth is willing to debate Roskam, but only if its in a neutral setting like outside the district.

[Chode]

duckworth or Dykeworth???

[Eagles Talon IV]

"However, just the fact that she is a vet, (and a wounded one at that) does not mean every word out of her mouth should be taken as gospel."

Sure it does if you're a hand wringing, bed wetting moonbat.As evidence i enter the name of Cindy Sheehan who rode her sons casket to fame and fortune, not to mention a grope or two from Venezuela's head goon, Chavez.

[Stepan12]

It appears that Ms. Duckworth's only qualification is getting wounded in Iraq. Her campaign has consisted mainly of attacking President Bush and ducking debates with her opponent. Flame away.

Ann Coulter warned about this with the Jersey Girls. One's candidate should have some ideas for solutions or acceptable tradeoffs to handle the pressing issues in this country -- not just be able to make us cry because of their suffering.

Maybe the Democrats should clone Tiny Tim of Charles Dickens fame and have him run in all their elections. They'll get the sympathy vote then.

[Eagles Talon IV]

"Duckwroth is willing to debate Roskam, but only if its in a neutral setting like outside the district."

Yeah, outside the district, no cameras, no microphones, no press. No one in the room except her and her opponent.

[Steel Wolf]

This candidate has betrayed her fellow soldiers and I have less than NO respect for her candidacy.

I don't care for the politics of the party she joined, but I don't really see how doing so betrays her fellow soldiers. I served with lots of guys who were dyed in the wool Democrats, and some of them are still over there in the sandbox. If your point is that becoming a Democrat or voting Democrat makes you a bad soldier, we'll just have to disagree.

(It may make you an idiot, of course, but it's no ding on your honor.)

[Steel Wolf]

"It" being "voting for a Democrat", I mean.

[Miss Marple]

"Outside the district" means at a neutral site with a neutral moderator, like Tim Russert on Meet the Press. (Sarcasm, in case someone doesn't recognize it.)

[rabidralph]

When I was in the Navy, anyone with a helpful suggestion for accomplishing the mission would pass it up the chain of command. Ms. Duckworth would rather criticize than explain how she'd solve Iraq.