Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Awaiting the Dishonor Roll (Congress "supports the troops" while emboldening the enemy)
Opinion Journal- from The Wall Street Journal editorial page ^ | 2-15-07 | Editorial

Posted on 02/14/2007 9:43:17 PM PST by smoothsailing

Awaiting the Dishonor Roll

Congress "supports the troops" while emboldening the enemy.

Thursday, February 15, 2007 12:01 a.m.

Congress has rarely been distinguished by its moral courage. But even grading on a curve, we can only describe this week's House debate on a vote of no-confidence in the mission in Iraq as one of the most shameful moments in the institution's history. On present course, the Members will vote on Friday to approve a resolution that does nothing to remove American troops from harm's way in Iraq but that will do substantial damage to their morale and that of their Iraqi allies while emboldening the enemy. The only real question is how many Republicans will also participate in this disgrace in the mistaken belief that their votes will put some distance between themselves and the war most of them voted to authorize in 2002....

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: copperhead; copperheads; dhimmicrats
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

1 posted on 02/14/2007 9:43:22 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: bray
The WSJ has a good editorial...
2 posted on 02/14/2007 9:45:35 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing
Explain to me what's worse. A politician who votes to go to war because he believes it is the right thing to do, or a politician who votes to go to war to protect his perceived political future? Of course the second politician,(the Democrat), knows he will be protected by the media when he uses some lame excuse to reverse his previous position.
3 posted on 02/14/2007 9:58:23 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue - Hitlery Clinton, Commie In Chief.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing
What an excellent editorial.

Every slimy politician that votes in favor of this will be remembered, in both parties.

4 posted on 02/14/2007 10:00:58 PM PST by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative
The second of course unless you include a third.

That would be the politician who votes to go to war, and later claims they thought they were voting for something else, like a farm bill or the naming of a court house.

That's pretty much what Rodham Bottom is doing.

5 posted on 02/14/2007 10:05:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing
How do these folks feel about those soldiers who personally support the mission?

Here's another question that occurs to me:

US service personnel have long been forbidden to engage in expressions of political opinion.

In light of this rule, and in light of the fact that one political party has aligned itself squarely with the goals of the enemy in this conflict, what would become of an American soldier who publicly stated his personal enthusiasm for the mission?

6 posted on 02/14/2007 10:07:42 PM PST by Steely Tom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing
Use the Kerry model. I thought I was voting for the resolution to have a resolution to talk about a resolution to start debate on maybe having a resolution.
7 posted on 02/14/2007 10:08:24 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue - Hitlery Clinton, Commie In Chief.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Agreed. It's a disgusting piece of garbage.


8 posted on 02/14/2007 10:08:37 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom
Funny how there has never been a 'vote of no-confidence ' for the 'War on Poverty' which has been a monumental failure ???
9 posted on 02/14/2007 10:10:10 PM PST by wodinoneeye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

the last two days i've been running it through my head the letter to fire off to my representative in the ny 4th congressional after the vote ( i don't want to mention any names).


10 posted on 02/14/2007 10:12:40 PM PST by JohnLongIsland
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom
That's a terrible thing to contemplate, ST, and it just makes me detest the dems for bringing this resolution up at all.
11 posted on 02/14/2007 10:13:32 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wodinoneeye

casualties from 9/11: about 3000
casualties from iran: about 3000
casualties from the war on poverty for the libs: priceless.


12 posted on 02/14/2007 10:16:09 PM PST by JohnLongIsland
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: JohnLongIsland
I wont say her name either, but I hope your letter is a scorcher!
13 posted on 02/14/2007 10:19:15 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative

"....the second politician,(the Democrat), knows he will be protected by the media when he uses some lame excuse...."

Oh, how right you are!!!! and the following is what the DBM will forget. Read what they all said 3-4 years before and 6 months after September 11, 2001

http://www.glennbeck.com/news/01302004.shtml


"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998 | Source

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
- President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998 | Source

"We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction."
- Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998 | Source

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998 | Source

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton.
- (D) Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, others, Oct. 9, 1998 | Source

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998 | Source

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999 | Source

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002 | Source

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them."
- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002 | Source

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 | Source

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 | Source

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002 | Source

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002 | Source

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002 | Source

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002 | Source

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002 | Source

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003 | Source


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec98/albright_11-12.html


http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/16/clinton.iraq.speech/

http://www.glennbeck.com/news/01302004.shtml

on clinton

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/21/iraq.hillary/

Hillary Clinton: No regret on Iraq vote

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Posted: 10:10 AM EDT (1410 GMT)


14 posted on 02/14/2007 10:33:06 PM PST by malia (President Bush: I won't change my principals to be popular.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

Excellent and true.


15 posted on 02/14/2007 10:34:23 PM PST by Eagles6 (Dig deeper, more ammo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

Another GOP Leader Who Doesn't Get It
Posted by Hugh Hewitt | 6:52 PM

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/g/398e544f-fd98-4a20-ac29-f6fffad6da13

Congressman Tom Cole is a very smart and able guy from Oklahoma, who is now the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. He was my guest in the first hour and I will replay the interview in the second and third hours. The NRCC he leads doesn't want to recruit specific candidates with experience in the war if that means taking sides in a primary. He also is candid that the NRCC will be supporting the GOP Congressmen in tough races, even if they vote with the Democrats on the resolution that will, in Cole's own words, embolden the enemy and deplete the morale of the troops.

The NRCC will undoubtedly see support dwindle as a result of the refusal of leadership to condemn the round-heeled Republicans.

If the NRCC took a different approach --identifying and announcing their support for new faces with crucial experience in war and solid victory candidates-- those candidates would raise enormous money and grassroot support overnight.

But it doesn't sound like the NRCC understands the passion in the grassroots that will strongly support victory candidates and those who recruit and support them.

The Victory Caucus has listed the contact information for Congressman Cole. Please message him about the absolute need for a victory agenda and victory candidates. Please also take the time to contact those Republicans the Caucus learns are on the fence.

(Click on link for more)




Note I'll probably be posting this in the morning.


16 posted on 02/14/2007 10:41:48 PM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Valin

Thanks for the info, Valin. If you remember, could you ping me when you post it?


17 posted on 02/14/2007 10:46:37 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

The junior from NY is not the only one doing this.




Congressman Keller's Speech on the Iraq Resolution
http://keller.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=58238

Click on link for more.


18 posted on 02/14/2007 10:47:00 PM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JohnLongIsland

casualties from 9/11: about 3000
casualties from iran: about 3000

America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html

World War II (1940–1945)3
Total servicemembers 16,112,566
Battle deaths 291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842
Nonmortal woundings 671,846


19 posted on 02/14/2007 10:50:06 PM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

Ok. You're lucky I'm a sucker for a pretty face. :-)


20 posted on 02/14/2007 10:51:43 PM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson