Sen. Hagel has lost all support from me after his despicable display. I will not lift a damn finger to support him in any endeavor he chooses to push forth from this moment on:
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday passed a nonbinding resolution that concludes "it is not in the national interest of the United States" to deepen U.S. military involvement in Iraq.
The measure, passed on a 12-9 vote, goes to the Senate floor for a vote before the full chamber, which is expected sometime next week.
The resolution is the first attempt by the new Democratic-controlled Congress to check President Bush’s authority to send more troops to Iraq. The measure was opposed by all the panel’s Republicans except co-sponsor Sen. Chuck Hagel.
"We better be damn sure we know what we’re doing, all of us, before we put 22,000 more Americans into that grinder," said Hagel, of Nebraska, before the vote.
Retardation and idiocy is to be expected from the Democrats but these Republicans see nothing but election votes when they pass these kind of things. Damn the troops, damn the war. Doesn’t matter if it only emboldens the enemy as General Petraeus said:
"No matter how well-intentioned, a resolution being opposed to this new strategy is a vote of no confidence in you. No matter how well-intentioned, the enemy will see it as a weakened resolve."
Did they listen? Hell no. Hagel gets his bill while Warner and Collins get theirs:
A separate nonbinding resolution did not get a vote in the panel, but clearly drove conversation.
That resolution, co-sponsored by Coleman and Sens. John Warner, R-Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., is seen as a softer criticism of the president. It states "the Senate disagrees with the plan to augment our forces by 21,500, and urges the president instead to consider all options and alternatives for achieving the strategic goals set forth below with reduced force levels than proposed."
And don’t forget these yahoo’s:
But the list of Republicans supporting some sort of measure disagreeing with the president’s war policy continues to grow and now includes Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon, George Voinovich of Ohio and Sam Brownback of Kansas.
A few get it tho:
"I oppose this nonbinding resolution on the basis that it’s the wrong tool" for Congress to use to get the president to change his policy, said Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., ranking member on the panel. Lugar admitted he is "not confident that President Bush’s plan will succeed."
"It is unclear to me how passing a nonbinding resolution that the president has already said he will ignore will contribute to any improvement or modification of our Iraq policy," Lugar continued. "The president is deeply invested in this plan, and the deployments … have already begun."
Republican Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he didn’t support the resolution because he didn’t believe it would affect administration policy, and he believed it wouldn’t give troops the right message.
"So, in essence, what I’ll be doing the next time if I see them, if I vote for this resolution, is to say: I’m opposed to you being there, but thank you for what you’re doing," Corker said.
So lets run down the Republicans who want to send the message to the enemy that we give up:
Washington, D.C. Office
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 224-5213
Senator Warner
Washington Office
225 Russell Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Telephone:
(202) 224-2023
(202) 224-6295 FAX
DC Office:
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2693
Washington, DC Office
404 Russell Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.3753
Fax: 202.228.3997
Washington, D.C.
303 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6521
Fax: (202) 228-1265
All support sending a message to our troops that they don’t want to win. They would rather take half measures and run. The kicker is this doesn’t come from Democrats but from Republicans! Those listed above need to be bombarded with email, phone calls, and the like. Hugh Hewitt:
please call Senator McConnell’s office and urge a filibuster of Senator Biden’s and Senator Warner’s resolutions.
Senator McConnell’s office number is (202) 224-2541. The capitol switchboard is 202-225-3121. Senator McConnell’s e-mail is here.
And finally, please take this pledge:
If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.
Sign it here.
All we can hope is that 39 Republicans and Sen. Lieberman stand for what is right and good. Stand to support this President during a time of war and to deny any morale booster to the enemy.
UPDATE
Skye from Midnight Blue wrote the perfect letter to her Senators. One in which we should all emulate:
Dear Senators,
I am writing this letter to express my deep concern over the forthcoming non-binding resolution proposed by Democrat Senators in opposition to President Bush’s strategy to protect the fledgling Iraqi government and to secure a victory against Islamofascists bent on eviscerating Iraq and Western society.
In the past, the House and Senate expressed their intent for victory in Iraq by overwhelmingly voting in favor of non-binding resolutions supporting victory in Iraq and the war on terror. This year, the new Senate is poised at reversing this course by acquiescing to the demands of terrorists and approving a resolution dictating the terms of our surrender.
Eight Arab nations have publicly declared their support of President Bush’s strategy. What message are we signaling to the world with this resolution; that more Arab citizens support America’s desire for victory in Iraq than US Senators? A vote in support of this resolution sends a clear message to the Iraqis that the US does not support their version of a ‘noble experiment in democracy’. Has the new Senate deemed itself arbiter over which struggling third world nations are capable of democracy and which are not?
A brief review of the resolution reveals the narrow focus on one aspect of the President’s plan, ignoring the other fundamental elements crucial to its success. By rejecting one component, you undercut the success of the other components of this plan.
I need not remind you that rooting out terrorists wherever they may hide in this world is not just work…it is THE work of this government. It is the responsibility of our elected representatives to work with and not merely in opposition of the Executive branch. Thus far, the only thing resembling a “plan” from the Legislative branch is nothing short of surrender. This is absolutely unacceptable – the American people expect better from our elected representatives. I urge you to support a democratic Iraq and the strong desire of the American people for victory by voting against this non-binding resolution.
Sincerely,
Skye
Philadelphia, Pa
Perfect!
See author page
An email along with a copy of the pledge was sent to McConnel and the dummie republican senator from Va. Actually it was a waste of time to contact Warner. He has lost all respect for this state and the country. Now just a sniveling shell of a man with no backbone.
Curt,
First let me thank you for all the work you do with this site.
secondly, I have signed the pledge and I have emailed all of these bozos. I can not understand what is wrong with these people. Anyway, I am passing this info, emails and pledge etc., along to other people as well.
Mark
This war was lost three years ago and until the Sunnis and Shiites are sick of killing each other, the blood shed will continue. Bush is trapped with his own failure and has no idea what to do. Adding a short surge of 20k troops is the classic case of too little too late. Meanwhile his other failure in Afghanistan needs more troops.
The only real hope is that things escalate to the point that regional stability and oil production become so threatened that NATO and other countries set aside their animus toward the U.S. and help provide the overwhelming forces necessary to create long-term stability in both countries.
It’s a nightmarish and nearly impossible outcome but Bush has pulled off the impossible before. After all, he managed to alienate the entire world after the outpouring of solidarity in the 9/11 aftermath.
Phew! Done.
I tried to be as civil as I possibly could. But I tell you…I am shaking with anger and disgust.
Ditto Wordsmith,
Hands are still shaking with the utter disqust of our “leaders” who are turning their backs on the security of this nation.
History may very well show that the political ambitions of this democrat party, (and now these RINO’s), were put ahead of the priorities of the long term safety of this nation—- –And for providing breeding grounds for a fanatical ideology that will be allowed to fester.
Linked this post and “THE PLEDGE” at my site:
http://rovinsworld.blogspot.com/2007/01/little-hope-seen-for-people-of-iraq.html
And many thanks for all your work Curt.
Go ahead. Sign the pledge.
I remember being told in 2002-2003 that one shouldn’t question the President when he’s about to bring the country to war. Look how good that worked out for us.
Plus after the outstanding job of the past 6 years, who wouldn’t trust the Bush Administration?
After all, they almost got something right once.
Two last questions.
1) How long will you give them for the surge?
2) If it doesn’t work out, can we not hear how we can’t change horses during a presidential election period?
I wonder, Curt, what it will take to convince you that this is a losing effort? Can you imagine how popular Bush would’ve been if he’d invaded Iraq, discovered Saddam was full of hot air and left in triumph – and then went on to really fight the bad guys in Afghanastan? Now we’re embroiled in Iraq, Iran is on a slow boil, bin Laden runs free, there’s no abatement of violence in Baghdad and some “conservatives” draw a line in the sand that says, “if you agree with numerous military experts, the Iraqi people, numerous pundits and politicians, you OBVIOUSLY want al-queda to win,” as if disagreeing with George Bush – who had no military experience, no business experience and a governership he won on his daddy’s last name, is somehow akin to hating America! That’s the fight you throw your dog into: that wanting out of a bad war is akin to hating America? And you wonder why Republicans are jumping off THAT sinking ship? Bush is no Reagan, my friend – and history will never record him as such!
I’m pretty sure you’re reading Hagel wrong. Guess that’s what happens when you get your info from FOX. Here’s the entire quote from Hagel:
Seems to me that Hagel is being the “courageous” one here. The senators seeing their chances for re-election dissapearing in their redder than red states if that actually speak their mind about the so-called surge, they’re the despicable ones, sacrificing more soldiers every minute they think about it. I understand that this is one of those 28% sites (as in Bush’s approval rating) and I’m quite sure I’m not changing anyone’s mind today – but I just couldn’t let that truncated quote stand as is.
Good day, everyone.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!
LIKE BIG FAT GREASY RATS OFF A SINKING SHIP!
Fillibuster? FILLIBUSTER!! I don’t understand; that’s positively undemocratic. Don’t you remember? Democracy demands a straight up-and-down vote; we don’t want to frustrate the will of the people’s elected representatives with slimy procedural meneuvers, now do we?
So, you guys are fine with demonstrably incompetent fools and cowards (Bush, Cheney & Co) calling the shots and dumping 22,000 kids into harm’s way WITH NO PLAN WHATSOEVER that might succeed? Even if they pacify Baghdad this deal is going south – and the sooner we’re out the better.
We allowed the Moron to lie us into invading Iraq – and its been downhill ever since. And he suffers no consequences. It’s like riding with a drunk driver who slides into a ditch adjoining an abyss – and now you want to argue we should continue to let the drunk do the driving to get us out of the ditch!! One more slip and we’re toally f***ed! The next time he wants to send more troops he will use the 22,000 extra troops already in harm’s way to justify the next SURGE. It’s pointless.
Yeah, yeah, Petraeus has got his brand-spanking new Insurgency Handbook – but if he thinks a little tinkering with the gears and cogs is going to turn Baghdad into the arabian Athens . . . then he’s already swilling the Kool-Ade. Keep in mind that every commander that goes in there toes the line and spouts the rhetoric – and then leaves shaking his head.
Tell you what – if a year from now there is something approaching rapprochement between Sunni and Shia in Iraq, I’ll publicly post my apologies and admit I was wrong.
If a year from now all we have is more dead troops and a stinking mess in Iraq – you’ll reciprocate. Any takers?
Look ma, the stoners from Salon have joined us!
In fours years we have dismantled a tyrant and a dictator, have brought democracy to a country and a region that has known no such thing in lifetimes, with only 3000 lives lost. That is not a failure. The only people who think so are so braindead they voted for Kerry in ’04
Oh give me a break. Your side was calling for Saddam to be dealt with for years but Bush finally had the balls to do what should of been done when your hero was in office. See my answer above for how well its worked out.
Only a leftist and a Democrat thinks like you do. Thank god your kind were no where to be found in the early 40’s or we would have surrendered Europe to Hitler. What a disgusting and pathetic outlook.
Just left the Iraqi people to fend for themselves huh? We take over the country and just leave. Sounds quite like those who cared little about those million plus Vietnamese….again, disgusting.
Oh btw, we have been in Afghanistan since before Iraq. Just because your precious MSM doesn’t report on it doesnt mean we are not there.
Wrong. He is being cowardly and treasonous. Tell the Generals who are carrying out the plan that there is no plan. When one tactic doesn’t work you adapt, as Bush is doing.
You mean the tactic that your side used to deny judges their benches? The funny thing is I’m not complaining about the Democrats who side with this retarded resolution. It’s to be expected from the likes of your kind, coward is the lefts middle name. But when a supposed Conservative hears from the leading General that going forth with this resolution would embolden the enemy, and then he proceeds to go forward the resolution then you better believe I will call him on it.
Man, you guys from Salon are some winners aren’t ya? Bush, Cheney & Co. are the best thing to happen to this country since Reagan, especially after having to deal with the cowardly, reprehensible and ignorant Clinton administration.
There IS a plan, if you would have listened to the General who is leading the plan you would know that but instead you tune everything out except “Bush is bad, Bush is bad, Bush is bad…blah blah blah.”
It’s a wonder you lefties remember even to breath.
I know from experience that will never happen. You guys have been proven wrong over and over and over again and your kind just makes excuses for why you are NOT wrong. It’s quite sad really.
This makes the second weekend in a row that I’m faxing/emailing the 110th Congress. Yes, all of them.
Is anyone having a problem logging on to Truthlaidbare website?
The Pledge link is working fine for me:
http://truthlaidbear.com/thenrscpledge/index.php
Note: Skye wrote a brilliant letter which she has already faxed or emailed to every member of the Senate. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if others used it as a model when considering what to say when contacting their representatives:
http://midnightbluesays.blogspot.com/2007/01/open-letter-to-us-senators.html
In the wake of President Bush’s excellent State of the Union Address, you may wish to use some variation of Bush’s statment that Congress should not “vote for failure” in Iraq by voting for a resolution that warms the heart of our enemies and undermines the moral of our troops!
Tsk, tsk, tsk; that Clinton Derangement Syndrome is really so sad. I wonder how many decades need to pass before the rightwing fanatics can finally get over their sick obssession. Personally, Hillary isn’t my first choice, but it might be fun to support her for the spectacle of the Republican squealing and crying.
As for the Simpering Imbecile, here’s a number to keep in mind: TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT. That’s right, you heard it right; TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT. Now admittedly, that’s still marginally more popular than the North American Man-Boy Love Association, but I wouldn’t count on the S.I. holding that lead for long.
Yea, what a great deal!! Especially for the gutless Republican chickenhawks who aren’t among the 3,000 dead. And, gee, I wonder why the Iraqis aren’t grateful for the great gift of democracy the Simpering Imbecile gave them. Just because they had 35,000 dead civilians last year? Well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, now can you? But that’s really ok, as long as there are no Republican chickenhawk eggs among them. Besides, the Iraqi’s probably are grateful for their shiny new Democracy; it’s just the liberal media who aren’t reporting what a glorious success story Iraq is. Why don’t you go over next time with Bubblehead Malkin, and give the Iraqis a nice big kiss. Just tell them you’re one of the true-believing Republicans who brough them democracy.
Like anyone else reads this dreck. Be thankful; as the whining followers of Republicanism always point out, we are the elite. Which means that the racists and religious fanatics who constitute the vile base of Republicanism are The Dregs. So enjoy the attention from someone other than the dregs while you can; you can always return to your mediocrity and complete irrelevance tomorrow.
Oh, I forgot, you guys believe in those biased polls where the Democrats are oversampled by 22 points. I guess you will believe anything when you high.
Hmmm, I wonder just how many of the troops are Conservative? Care to take a guess? Thought so. I’m sure you have talked yourself into believing that the Iraqi’s want Saddam back, so you can justify you ignorant outlook on this world, but just because you read it at DummiesU doesn’t make it true. Quite the opposite. Your silly liberal talking points carry no weight here, go back to KOS and DummiesU where you be reunited with the mothership.
Now thats a rich one. Elite! Man, that must be some potent weed your smoking.
puddintain wrote:
Translation: “puddintain has been rooting for defeat since day one”
Yes…because we all know how much the world loved us then. Anti-Americanism began when George Bush took office. We’re so hated in the world! *sob*
bobdevo wrote:
How old are you, gramps? They aren’t kids; but they are among America’s bravest and finest.
So is your little rant. Thanks for wasting our time here.
And you are….? Do I care? No.
legaleagle wrote:
Not so sorry and sad as the Clinton sycophancy.
And I don’t even have to beg? By all means, support away.
Clinton’s biggest problem: handwringing about his popularity and listening to poll numbers. The thing about President Bush? He could give a rat’s ass about poll numbers and what you, legaleagle, thinks. He’s too busy doing the right thing, even when it’s not the popular thing. It’s what leaders like Churchill and Bush do.
Those who served:
Military Service in the US House of Representatives by Party
Republicans with military service: 15.2%
Democrats with military service: 9%
Independants with military service: 0%
Military Service in the United States Senate by Party
Republicans with military service: 17%
Democrats with military service: 12%
Independants with military service: 1%
And the chickenhawk argument? How lame are you?
Wow Curt! I’m glad I came back for a second look at the comments.
Unbelieveable your post tapped into such a putrid vein of defeatism laced with bile.
Considering the volume of excrement the peace fascists threw up against the wall, I could not even begin to parse through the mess.
So let me just respond on a macro level and say that like presidential candidate John Edwards, there are two kinds of Americans. First, Americans who wish their country to find every success down the long, painful, costly and dangerous road to peace with justice and the second group, who are so blind to the lessons of history and the sacrifice which made this nation great that they would subject us all once again to the horror their ignorance and arrogance enables.
I’m glad to stand with Flopping Aces in that first group of Americans.
And to hell with the second group. What a bunch of sad, moronic clowns.
“Putrid Vein Of Defeatism Laced With Bile”
LOL Mike, that sounds like a new menu item at the Liberal Lunatic Bar-N-Grill.
P.S. Anna’s Clue Tank had this to say about a vote FOR this resolution:
I always find it humorous the types that get sent here from Salon. Some real brainless twits who could give a rats ass about this country as long as they can say to their buddies “see, I was right, Bush was wrong all along!”
That’s it. This makes up their entire existence.
It’s sad really. Just sad.
Oh, btw, I loved Skye’s email to the senators…gonna use it.
Marie: Liberal Lunatic Bar and Grill? I swear that’s Senator Kennedy’s favorite bar on Capitol Hill.
Curt: I hope you do post Skye’s letter. She put alot of effort into it.
http://midnightbluesays.blogspot.com/2007/01/open-letter-to-us-senators.html
I think she might fax and email it to every member of the House of Representatives next.
She’s become a one woman crusader for VICTORY!
skye’s letter is excellent, and I linked it in my own post on signing the pledge (which centered on Curt’s post here).
Mike’s America wrote:
You know…can someone please ask Mr. ambulance chaser and self-annointed messiah for the poor and downtrodden, which America he belongs to?
Awesome, awesome post Curt!! I linked to it on my own blog and in my post over at The Astute Bloggers.
Mike wrote:
I think skye has the right idea…that it’s important not only to write to the weak-kneed Republican Senators handwringing for defeat; but also encourage the other Congressmen to stand with the President and show courage and resolve. Do the right thing, even when it may not seem like the politically popular thing to do. History books will savage any Senator who proves to have abandoned the President in the darkest hour.
I liked this passage from Dean Barnett’s piece:
I understand the need to stay in office, to stay in a position to keep doing important work; but I also think there’s also a powerful statement in showing resolve and do what is morally right, even if it means political suicide.
Those who lead by wetting their fingers and sticking it in the air to go with whichever way the wind is blowing are not fit to lead.
Since im getting the lefties riled up I’m happy, PLUS I can highlight Skye’s great letter which I have just added as an update. Gonna use lots of it for a letter I will fax to every Senator on my list. If you know of a Republican Senator who is supporting these resolutions let me know so I can add them.
The Senate Resolution we should be making: “We win. They lose.”
wordsmith? — only in your own wetdreams, nancyboy
I signed the petition Penis Penis Penis
Wow, this is high praise indeed, especially from bloggers that I profoundly respect and admire.
I also appreciate the high humor, with representatives of the Salon club for libs making an appearance on this comment thread.
I’m all kinds of happy now!!!
:)))
Question: Among all those lefty fools sputtering their toothless, but putrescent rage has there been ONE lefty commenter who had any rational, mature contribution to make to the much needed discussion on this issue which is so central to our nation during a time of war?
First of all, scrapiron is correct; John Warner is a waste of two perfectly good kidneys; he deserted his party and conservatives when he actively opposed the Senate candidacy of Oliver North, who would have won had Warner not put Marshall Coleman, RINO extrordinaire, into a third party bid. His resolution is a shameful, cowardly act. I fully expect Biden et.al. to root for defeat in Iraq, but Warner has crossed the line. If that mass of Elizabeth Taylor-humping wrinkles runs again, I will do all I can to oppose him.
bobdevo ejaculated:
Why don’t go back to Salon and masturbate your peanut-sized intellect over there?
18-23 years old qualifies as a young man who has made adult decisions to join an all-volunteer army, dickwipe. Don’t insult them by thinking of them as children.
What is pointless is your inability to formulate a rational argument. Hurling invectives won’t win hearts and minds…wussboy.
Did that come with ‘imported Iraqi Acinetobacter baumannii?
———————————
I signed the petition Penis Penis Penis
Perfect. Any Republican senator breaking with the orthodoxy that this war still makes sense will be punished. Let’s see where this logic leads. A majority of Republicans still somehow, believe that the war makes sense. They represent about 22% of the country. (68% of Republicans still support the President on this war, 34% of the country is Republican, so do the math) Let’s just pretend they have enough chops to turn out their moderate senators from Congress via primaries.
Excellent. So you’ll have candidates which appeal to a majority of Republicans, but to no one else (independents are even more fiercely against the war than Democrats are these days). You’ll run them.
We Democrats win.
Go for it. I’m all for it. You go enforce your orthodoxy and see how popular your increasingly minority opinion will hold. It was fun thumping your rear ends in 2006. 2008 will be for real.
Peter, I believe Dean Barnett says it pretty well:
And the best line:
Majorities can be wrong. So you go keep patting yourself on the back, in the comfort of knowing that your majority is on the wrong side of history.
When democrats win, Iraqis and US soldiers die.
———————————–
We Democrats win.