Posted on 09/07/2007 12:57:29 PM PDT by SJackson
In looking at the Republican presidential candidates, one must ask, "Where is the A team?"
Undeclared Fred Thompson is about as attractive as our Tommy; John McCain has embarrassed himself by kissing up to the demagogues on the Christian right and in so doing has traded his integrity and wide appeal for support from the lunatic fringe. (I once worried that I might vote for him. What was I thinking?)
Mitt Romney? C'mon. This plane just won't fly, and serious people can't take Rudy Giuliani seriously. He won't get to second base. You can fake a resume for only so long.
The rest of the field is not very exciting. So the Democrats should relax, do nothing on the occupation, support the troops, and get ready for the inaugural balls. Right? Wrong!
The neocons are not throwing in the towel and opening the gates to people who just might try them as war criminals. No sireee! Imagine a conversation between Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz: "Well, Paul, hell of a run, but now it is transition time. Let them investigate all they want. Our time is up. Let them open the secret files, call in the FBI, hire special prosecutors. What the hell -- have at it." (And the spotted cow jumped over the moon.)
I think the money boys and the neocons have a candidate, and it isn't Fred Thompson, Rudy, John McCain or Ron Paul. In their view, it is time for a president in uniform. It is time for the modern-day Douglas MacArthur. When MacArthur clashed with President Truman over war policy in 1951, with the general wanting to run the risk of engaging China, President Truman did what he had to do. He asserted that under our Constitution, men in suits controlled men in uniforms. He fired the war hero, and the conservatives of that day wanted MacArthur to run for president in 1952. Cooler heads prevailed, and MacArthur faded away.
Fast forward to 2007. The president, vice president and the neocons in the Senate, led by Lindsey Graham, appear to have ceded all civilian control of the war in Iraq to Gen. David Petraeus. (See Frank Rich's superb column in last Sunday's New York Times, regarding the coup that he believes has taken place.) Rich may be right that a coup has taken place and Petraeus is now in charge, but I think it is not so much a coup as a clever campaign to elect the general president of the United States in November of 2008 on the theme that, however bad things are in Iraq, better to have a military man in place as the conflagration grows than a weak civilian.
Here is how I see the danger. The Congress will do nothing to punish the administration for lying us into war, taping our phones, humiliating us by use of secret prisons and torture and on and on. There won't be an impeachment or censure because the leaders don't have time both to argue over bridges and highways and to deal with those who have stolen our democracy. The Democrats won't cut the funding for this outrageous occupation, and voters will blame the Democrats for the mess. Millions won't vote, and, with a couple of billion to spend, the neocons will help establish another third party effort, and they win!
Why is this nightmare scenario possible? First, the Democrats are convinced it will be President John Edwards, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden and then they can pull out gracefully. In the meanwhile, take no chances.
Second, they will yield to Petraeus, who is going to call for more money, more troops, and more time. More, more, more. And guess what? They will give all three, and before they know it, they will be smack dab in the middle of the presidential race.
Third, Democrats are listening to political consultants like Bob Shrum that they must not appear weak on the war on terror. That means wimping out on a real end to the occupation.
Once committed to more troops, and more time, the neocons figure just enough voters will be sucked in again and turn to Petraeus to lead them to victory.
Can this be stopped? Only if people raise the roof over the Petraeus report and demand an end to this suicidal episode. Only if Democrats in Congress take the lead, discard the Petraeus report, and end the funding of the occupation.
For me? I'll be at Fighting Bob Fest on Saturday, Sept. 8, in Baraboo to join Cindy Sheehan, Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Laura Flanders, Matt Rothschild, Jeremy Scahill, Jim Hightower, Mike McCabe, Barbara Lawton, Tammy Baldwin, Dave Obey, Gwen Moore, Bob McChesney, John Nichols and thousands of progressives in saying "no and hell no" to more of this nonsense. It is time to bring our troops home. Now.
Of course some Republicans hold similar opinions.
A few people advising this administration, a small number of people called the neoconservative hijacked our foreign policy
Ron Paul
Too much something in the water.
In like spirit, we should call them "neoprogs."
“Neocon” is code for “Jewish Conservative Republican”.
Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. They can change your life Ed!
Is this guy a Ron Paul spokesweenie?
I represent that remark.
“John McCain has embarrassed himself by kissing up to the demagogues on the Christian right...”
No, he embarrassed himself by being a RINO with anger management issues.
I don’t think any amount of drugs or shock therapy will cure this idiot...straight to the pillow lined dungeon is the gentlest treatment I can think of.
Wow. What is this guy doing? — Running for King of the Moonbats?
I hate it when this happens. It's hard to get the adhesive off the handset. It's all part of the humiliation and torture.
(Did I miss the "Projectile Vomit Alert"?)
Might as well be - he makes as much sense as one!
Huh? What John McCain is he talking about? I stopped right there....
This guy is a nut.
The Congress will do nothing to punish the administration for lying us into war, taping our phones, humiliating us by use of secret prisons and torture
Ed Garvey
My opponents called for more war, more torture, more secret prisons.
Ron Paul
The first day that I’m president I will close Guantanamo which I think is a national embarrassment. I will stop the practice of the illegal spying on the American people, which the President engaged in. No more secret prisons, no more torture or condoning torture
John Edwards
“Undeclared Fred Thompson is about as attractive as our Tommy”
WTH?
Well, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. =)
Fred Thompson ‘08!
>But they’re afraid to even mention the candidate who was once in uniform and more recently serving as Chairman of the House Armed Serices Committee.<
Yup. Twenty six years of selfless service to his country; righting the wrongs of the Clinton regime; supplying the armed services with what they need to keep us free and strong; consistent Conservative with a sterling record to prove it, Duncan Hunter.
The man they are trying to keep a secret because he is the antithesis of the globalist one worlder commies taking over the country; the man with more qualifications in his quiver for CIC than any other candidate running, DUNCAN HUNTER. :)
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