Bush: 'Get rid of all the politics'

Maybe Bush should talk about troop extensions in Iraq from 12 to 15 months. No, wait. Politically, that's not a good idea.

The democrats should just stop funding the war and bring our troops home,then we can have a replay of the 90's,like during the Clinton years,when we were attacked at home and abroad.
You remember,don't you? When the rest of the world loved us because we did nothing to defend ourselves.
Ahhhh,the good old days.

Paulo

This dope should be the last person to accuse others of politicizing the military and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, given his consistent record of misjudging the situation in Iraq and his penchant for misleading the American people when it comes to the war in Iraq, any pronouncement he makes concerning the issue should not only be taken with a grain of salt, but ignored entirely.

Bush: 'Get rid of all the politics'

“We should not legislate defeat in this vital war,’’ said Bush.

All this chickenhawk has to do is put pen to paper and the funding is there. This psycho needs to be held accountable for hamstringing the troops. Mr Bush do the honorable thing and resign. Ladies and gentleman we now have a monarchy!!!

"George Walker Bush has repeatedly and unapologetically misled the American people and has sought to undermine the system of checks and balances established by the Founding Fathers. Wherefore George Walker Bush, by such conduct, and in the interest of saving our Constitution and our democracy from the threat of arbitrary government, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office."

Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | Apr 15, 2007 12:36:53 PM

Iraq has been in a civil war for some time now, yet the complicit media refuses to call it that, thus perpetuating the Bush fantasy that more money and more troops will be able to "fix" the disaster that we created. While Bush accuses the Democrats of playing politics with this issue, the fact is, that it is Bush who has been playing politics with it, surrounding himself with the families of military members and wrapping the flag around himself in an effort to make his misadventure in Iraq appear to be a noble cause. We need to get out of Iraq now.

I would just give him the funding.He and the other whacked out Republics seem intent on getting as many American soldiers killed and maimed as possible.

Another year of this guarantees Democratic wins in 08.

He is the Commander in Chief,so for him and the 20% of idiots that want to keep our soldiers dying in a civil war,have at it.

"needs to get rid of all the politics right now"

What worthless BS, coming from him and his Administration!

Dangerously shameless insults to democracy, they are!

So Bush is finally being held accountable in an appropriate way by a Congress who is enacting the wishes of its constituents. I believe Bush is right that is the definition of politics. What Bush wants is free license to continue being "The Decider" without being held accountable to the people who overwhelmingly disagree with him.

If congress gives in and passes a spending bill without restrictions on ending the war it will make a further mockery of the democratic process in America. I am so tired of this inept baboon and his league of moron advisers ruining our respectability around the world. We cannot put up with this anymore!!!

This is more fantasy from the Bush administration. There is no war. The war was over the day that the U.S. troops walked into Baghdad. After that, it became a police action. There is no enemy, other than the ones that Bush himself has created. Al-Qaida wasn't even in Iraq until we deposed their government. Bush is fighting the enemies in his own head, as are we all, but he has 140,000 troops and 300 billion dollars to do it. 300 billion dollars that could have solved illiteracy in this country, or made us independent of the oil that he's trying to occupy Iraq to get, or repaired our entire interstate highway system and bridges which keep collapsing. Ultimately, we have ourselves to blame: why do we support Don Quixhote tilting at windmills instead of finding the will to rebuild America?

I absolutely agree with Devin--Bush cannot recognize democracy at work when it works against his spoiled, delusional wishes. After he rejects a compromise to end the war, Democrats should simply not fund this war. Bush is responsible for a safe withdrawal of U.S. troops, not everyone else except the "Decider."

I say let's just completely quit playing politics and invade Iran. After that, it's on to Syria and Lebanon!

Who needs a Congress? With no checks or balances, George W. Bush will soon be King of the World!!!

Get real. Congress is doing its job by holding Bush and the Iraqi government responsible. Set timelines and bring the troops home.

The Congress has approved the funding, he simply refuses to accept it. He believes that it is wrong for Congress to exercise its Constitutional powers of the purse and war-making.

Additionally, the President, along with his henchman/sidekick, Dick Cheney, insist that they must have the money immediately, or the troops will suffer. This is directly in conflict with their actions in 2006, when the GOP controlled Congress authorized a similar "emergency funding" bill in early spring, only to have the President delay signing it until summer.

Finally, the fact that they continue to require "emergency" funding is solely a result of their adamant refusal to include the Iraq war costs in the annual budget.

In short, all of the delay in getting the troops the resources they need lies with the Bush administration and their failure to adequately plan this mission in the first place, to continue to mismanagement our engagement to the point we are still there 4+ years after declaring "victory" and their refusal to honestly account for the costs through the budget process.

I feel sorry for the poor families. First, because they are treated as nothing more than "poster children" for GWB's agenda. Second, because they were in the same area as the person who, by results of his shortsighted, ill-defined and inconsistant recogning of this "war", caused or is causing the pain and heartache they must endure. Third, because these families are pinning their hopes on, or taking some sort of comfort in, GWB's supposed "wisdom and leadership".
The whole thing kind of reminds me of when Saddam H was still in power and was being friendly in a photo op, sitting with the British child showing how compasionate he was to the "deainee's" needs and care. Who's holding who hostage now?

It's funny watching Bush claim the "surge is working," yet go nuts when the Democrats say "OK. You got a year."

A year doesn't seem like a very strict timeline, if the surge is working as well as Bush claims it is.

(And, I believe, that deadline would be just for "combat troops." Advisors to train the Iraqis would still be there.)

Why not let the majority party set forth a withdrawal plan (if they have the guts and the brains) and then add on a funding plan and a date certain to be out of this mistaken mess for which
all parties are now responsible. All the morons in the white house and congress are responsible for the body bags. It is the "tit for tat" that is getting people killed. Another thought would be to fund every man woman and child with a weapon and let them slaughter them selves. Or bring back Harry Truman: he certainly had the guts to end a war! Did congress have to ok the two "A" bombs.

Reading this is just shameful, really. As Mr. Bentley posted before me, he is one to talk about politicizing the issue.

It's almost akin to looking a gift horse in the mouth. I say "almost" because I'm happy that the previous pork-ridden bill was not passed, and I find it shameful that another 20% of the bill's budget was added on for that reason.

The President won't budge on this issue, and neither will the democrat-controlled Congress. They're both trying to make the other the bad guy. It's a testament to American politics, and the only folks who are going to suffer are my fellow troops overseas.

Hmm so far only one pro-Bush comment in this article. Well, I'll say it's the will of the people. Mr. President please do us all a favor and resign, and please take Cheney and the rest of your incompetent troop with you. And yes, this comes from a card carrying fed up Republican.

OK, he wants funding- FINE! He wants troops FINE! One condition. He needs to lead the way just like the good ole days.. blow the horn sounding charge and lead the calvary into battle. He got outta one Vietnam. It simply isn't fair to let him get away with this twice. So, BUSH, we will give you anything you want- but you're going in there with them, and staying as long as they stay.... in the front of the line. How's that sound? Still want to do it this way? Didn't think so. Now get out of our White House, WE THE PEOPLE here by FIRE YOU!!!!

"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator" - George Bush

After six years with no Congressional oversight, I can understand why George is now pouting about not getting the legislation he wanted from Congress. But he's going to have to get used to compromise. Bush should sign the bill if he wants the money. Otherwise, I'm sure Congress can arrange funding for an immediate withdrawal.

Why does the press not point out the craziness of yet another soundbite:"We should not legislate defeat in this vital war" What????
and his willingness 'to discuss', does that mean he is somewhat flexible? noooo!--they may talk, make noise and then go home. He is NOT listening nor discussing. His idea of democracy! because he is the "decider". The whole show is crazymaking.

Is very sad to read all the dems,commi,lefties, pinks, pro-aboortion,pro anysex,anything that stands against God morals are against the war againt our anemies. read more and learn more of what is really happening in that word that hates US and burn our flag and wishes death to america and our allies every single day. those are the islamofacist, Sadr, Nasrallah, Almadinejah, all the turban cynics, putin, Syria, etc, etc,

It is unfortunate that we don't have time to go through the process of impeachment and removal from office that this dangerous nutcake and his evil puppetmaster vice president so richly deserve. For those of us who lived through the whole Nixon fiasco, this administration makes Nixon look like a high school prom. What the Republican congressional leaders need to do is march themselves down the Mall to the White House and tell the idiots to resign. The only bright spot these days is watching the cracks develop in the administration's facade now that congress is no longer controllable.

Here's what I'd like to see:

1. Set a timetable and bring the troops home.
2. Do whatever we can to throw Bush and Cheney out before the next election.

The war in Afghanistan may have been necessary considering three buildings collapsed in N.Y.C. and of course that was where Al Quaida based themselves. There was never any reason the President or members of his administration told Congress, the U.N., or the American people to uphold going into Iraq. It was all a sham to get revenge for his (George W. Bush's) father.
Despite this, I feel we did a good thing ridding the Iraqui people of their dictator, but that is long past, Saddam is dead, and we are only there trying to stop a Civil War that will end in the slaughter of many Sunni Arabs. That is what happens in Civil Wars. We had one ourselves and it cost countless lives. Brother against brother, friend versus friend. If that is what the Iraquis have to go through to achieve thier own inner bit of peace then they are stupid, but so were we.
We now need to stay in the region because we will soon be bombing Iranian nuclear facilities and Air Force, Navy, concentrations of their Revolutionary Guards, etc. This could be done from Afghanistan, or simply from ships in the Gulf Region, but thier will be reprisal.
Israel will probably take some missile hits as in the first Gulf War. Iran will attack Iraq. This could well bring them together....having a common enemy, but we will continue to aid them with a major force no matter what Congress says, does, or does not do.
Five years from now you may well be able to wallpaper your house with paper bills issued by the U.S. Government, for they will be worth little unless we repeal this tax cut and actually then proceed to raise taxes. Congress had no problem voting themselves a $35,000.00 a year pay raise, but cannot seem to get a Federal minimum wage of $7.50 per hour over a two and 1/2 year period.
Illegal Mexicans are eating tortillas in front of the White House knowing no one really wants them kicked out of the country....poor folks just want a decent living.
If it is not too late I sincerely hope the next President can make some radically necessary changes or we will be a third world country.

What George really means to say is that only the Demoncrats act in a manner that is political. What he does is for the good of the people and totally unrelated to politics. God love the man who is so full of it that even he can't see his own smoke screen. George is a liar, an incompetent leader (have any of his investments prior to election led to success? - no), and immoral. The blood of many Iraqi's and Americans is on his hands and also on the hands of anyone who supports the continuation of this insane war.

"Remove all politics that are not to the advantage of Bush and the sheeple's party" is what he meant to say. You know how bad he is at forming English sentences.

"Winning" means to Cheney and his pet W, getting Halliburton money to build as many of our military bases (at extremely inflated costs, of course) in the middle east as possible to protect the Bush family oil holdings, and keep the “war” going until they get their war checks and can blame the democrats for “losing” the real war.

If you look at W's record on executing over 120 Texans while Gonzo rigged the clemency hearings, you'd see these guys do not consider non-wealthy lives to have any value. Why would anyone think he values our solders lives any more? After all, if you didn’t exercise your “personal responsibility” by being born rich like he was, then you can be replaced for a fraction of the price using illegal Mexicans. How many of the 3200+ funerals has Bush or vise attended? How many times have they visited Walter Reed to see what they have done to our loyal solders that survived?

Sure Americans, stop using politics AGAINST W. Politics are only for his people to use against the rest of us. (Repub’s can visit Syria, but Dems are playing politics).

The fact that this moronic halfwit walks around saluting everyone and playing Little Miss Dress-up Soldier while talking about military matters and "what will happen if we leave" is beyond sickening, and causing both Americans and the innocent people of Iraq to die in vain! Why are adults still listening to this mentally-stunted man-child give his "thoughts" as if he has either credibility or knowledge in what he's talking about? He should be either laughed at, ignored, or punched in the face when he dares to talk - but listened to? He's a farce of a human being!

At what point will Republicans admit they've been fatally wrong from the beginning on Iraq and stop supporting the killing of Americans so they don't have to admit to their stupidty and naivete?

When this war is written down in history, one of the the #1 questions will be why didn't someone stop these obviously incompetent idiots? Bush and Cheney have no more credibility than their predecessor in Iraq, Baghdad Bob. Just shove these shitheads off the stage, end the US occupation, and bring the troops home! As in Viet Nam, the situation will only get worse the longer the US is there, and will be rectified the sooner the malevolence of the Imperialists is removed!

One persons politics is another persons checks and balances.

I know which is which.

You?

Now that's my President!

Do I believe that "Congress needs to put partisanship on hold, needs to get rid of all the politics right now" is a non politcal request? Of course not. The President is performing just what our founding fathers meant him to do by using the "bully pulpit" to sway our and Congress's views. And the Speaker of the House is using her position's star power to grab headlines and airline tickets.

But just for a moment it would be good to ratchet down the rivalry to get our party elected and concentrate on letting our team (the US) win. None of us want another soldier or Iraqi to die. None of us wants to let a radical religion launch things that make big bangs in the night over our cities. So we do agree.

My worry is that our elected and appointed officials are concentrating too much on gaining a majority for their team with incendiary rhetoric and putting less emphasis on common sense. If both parties would declare a moratorium on using "the war" as a political issue, maybe we would have a chance of thwarting a terminally dangerous element from gaining the territory and technology to turn us folks into hot atoms.

True, the Democrats would lose a key advantage, and we would be back to judging individual candidates rather than letting them ride into office on the back of an emotional issue. I guess I am advocating going back to our normal way of educating ourselves on who would be our better leaders -- Who can raise the most money to tell us lies combined with an intense investigation into how they related to their classmates in the third grade!

It's called OVERSIGHT !

Something that W didn't have to deal with in his previous 6 years with the lockstep Republican Congress.

Sign the bill you moron,our wounded troops at Walter Reed hospital are depending on that funding, sir.

So basically this "war" needs to continue so the "decider" can choose which Iraqis die, instead of them killing each other without his input?

Yet alone our brave military, how many Iraqis do we have to kill to save them? I thought all we needed to do was remove the Bush family nemesis and all would be right in the world. Why are we still killing Iraqis, and getting our people killed or maimed doing it. As much as I care about my friends and neighbors (heroes all), as a human being, I am appalled at the carnage these crooks who control our government are causing. I thought the most basic “human right” was the right TO LIVE!

“W” needs to keep this "war" going because of HIS political necessity of not admitting he screwed up and the need to blame the next administration. Besides, war is always good cover for domestic theft of public money and incompetent screw-ups.

The Democrats are right, we do need the draft. Then we can sit back and watch these left wingers flee the country they hate so much. Go Democrats!!!!

Most of you were so racked with the fear generated by this gang of charlatons,you voted them into power TWICE.

Oh, sorry! Changed your mind?

Too late folks. You get the politicians you deserve. Live with it.

(Sadly, some of you will even die with it)

It is sad that so many of the liberal and obviously democrat contributors to this blog find it nessesary to demonstrate their utter lack of understanding of world politics. They relegate themselves to name calling rather than discussing the issues.
Lest we forget, President Bush was elected by the people of the United States and continually defaming and downgrading him will only serve to weaken the domocratic process that you hold so dear. You are like spoiled children who enjoy all the benefits of Freedom and Security but still want to call those who are giving that to you a "POO POO HEAD". Grow up.
It doesn't take a genious to realize that if we set a pull out date that the enemy will simply mark that date on their calendar "US quit day". I can't beleive that we have all forgotten Mogadishu and the tragedy that occured there when President Clinton unilaterally pulled out of the country. Can the world, us included, afford that type of event? The insurgents in Iraq have made no secret of the fact that they will bring the country back into bondage if no one will stop them.

Disagreeing with our government doesn't make us bad americans.....in fact, diagreeing with our government made us, and continues to make us, good americans. I honestly thought the shallow end of the gene pool, that used to have "America - Love It or Leave It" bumperstickers, died out.

America HAS spoken W - NO MORE RUBBER STAMP! Bush telling Dems to stop playing politics is like Cheney telling Americans that he is not making $$$ off of this war. Has anyone thought of auditing the amount of cash Haliburton has paid him since this war began? There is a story idea that you can run with Chicago Tribune.

Jeff Carpenter,

I never voted for W,not even once,I knew the guy was a knownothing drunk before he even stole his first election.

Yeah youre right,all of us Democrats should do what your Republican President did during Vietnam,hide out in a homebound National Guard unit in Texas, or we can do what your Republican Vice-President did during Vietnam,"have better things to do" and get 5-6 diferrments to avoid the action.

"Mission Accomplished"

If Shrub doesn't want to hamstring our troops, how about he agree to send them after they have had proper rest and training, send them with the equipment they need, and not send injured soldiers back into battle? Our troops have been caught in the middle of a war predicated on lies and led by incompetent political hacks whose only qualifications have been fealty to George W. Bush. This is no way to run a war, and George W. Bush's term has been no way to run a country.

I say draft all College Republicans. Let them fight in the war they so bravely support with their words whilst driving their daddys' BMWs.

IMPEACH, you gutless wonders.

Jeff Carpenter,

"I can't beleive that we have all forgotten Mogadishu and the tragedy that occured there when President Clinton unilaterally pulled out of the country. Can the world, us included, afford that type of event?

Unilaterally? Har dee har har. Don't let "facts" get in the way of a good story, right? And by the way, who put the troops IN Somalia in the first place? George HW Bush, who left the mess to Clinton to clean up.

Sen. John McCain - October 19,1993

"There is no reason for the United States of America to remain in Somalia. The American people want them home, I believe the majority of Congress wants them home, and to set an artificial date of March 31 or even February 1, in my view, is not acceptable. The criteria should be to bring them home as rapidly and safely as possible, an evolution which I think could be completed in a matter of weeks.

Our continued military presence in Somalia allows another situation to arise which could then lead to the wounding, killing or capture of American fighting men and women. We should do all in our power to avoid that.

I listened carefully to the President's remarks at a news conference that he held earlier today. I heard nothing in his discussion of the issue that would persuade me that further U.S. military involvement in the area is necessary. In fact, his remarks have persuaded me more profoundly that we should leave and leave soon.

Dates certain, Mr. President, are not the criteria here. What is the criteria and what should be the criteria is our immediate, orderly withdrawal from Somalia. And if we do not do that and other Americans die, other Americans are wounded, other Americans are captured because we stay too long--longer than necessary--then I would say that the responsibilities for that lie with the Congress of the United States who did not exercise their authority under the Constitution of the United States and mandate that they be brought home quickly and safely as possible. . . .

I know that this debate is going to go on this afternoon and I have a lot more to say, but the argument that somehow the United States would suffer a loss to our prestige and our viability, as far as the No. 1 superpower in the world, I think is baloney. The fact is, we won the cold war. The fact is, we won the Persian Gulf conflict. And the fact is that the United States is still the only major world superpower.

I can tell you what will erode our prestige. I can tell you what will hurt our viability as the world's superpower, and that is if we enmesh ourselves in a drawn-out situation which entails the loss of American lives, more debacles like the one we saw with the failed mission to capture Aideed's lieutenants, using American forces, and that then will be what hurts our prestige.

We suffered a terrible tragedy in Beirut, Mr. President; 240 young marines lost their lives, but we got out [(and then turned around and invaded Grenada THE VERY NEXT DAY)]. Now is the time for us to get out of Somalia as rapidly and as promptly and as safely as possible.

I, along with many others, will have an amendment that says exactly that. It does not give any date certain. It does not say anything about any other missions that the United States may need or feels it needs to carry out. It will say that we should get out as rapidly and orderly as possible."

From Factcheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org/article444.html

Black Hawk Down

Clinton: They were all trying to get me to withdraw from Somalia in 1993 the next day after we were involved in 'Black Hawk down,' and I refused to do it and stayed six months and had an orderly transfer to the United Nations...There is not a living soul in the world who thought that Osama bin Laden had anything to do with Black Hawk down or was paying any attention to it or even knew Al Qaeda was a growing concern in October of '93.

True: Clinton is correct that there was a Republican effort to bring U.S. forces home immediately after a US helicopter was shot down in Mogadishu. His view prevailed, with the withdrawal date set for March 31, 1994.

According to the 9/11 Report, the intelligence community didn't learn that bin Laden's organization was linked to the Black Hawk shoot-down until 1996-97 (p. 341).

John E

Once again my point was made and thank you very much. For you to call him "my president" and even for you to call me a "Republican" is rediculous. I never stated that either was the case. I respect the fact that you did not vote for him, I even respect the fact that you have the right to voice your disapproval with his job. But the fact of the matter is that the majority of the citizens of the United States did vote him into office not once but twice and we should respect the office if not the man.
John, we would all be better off if you would stop making incorrect assumptions and simply have an adult discussion based on the facts.

To JC:
Firstly, "W" did not win both elections, his people appointed him.

Who are these "enemies" that we need to defeat? The Iraqi people themselves? The Germans and the Japanese are no longer the bad guys, and Cheney can't get them to wear black cowboy hats.

I'm glad you brought Mogadishu up, since it proves how we should have acted in Iraq. We tried to help in Mogadishu. Clinton, unlike your hero, had the GUTS to admit he was wrong and we couldn't help those people with our military, HE PROTECTED OUR TROOPS BY REMOVING THEM FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S CIVIL WAR! So how many of our people died before he corrected the situation; how many in Iraq? It takes a bigger man to admit he was wrong and try to correct your mistakes than it does to allow thousands of our brave solders to die just so yo can pass the blame to someone else ( sounds like playing politics to me).

So how is the current situation in Iraq better than Mogadishu? If we were still there, would all their factions be buddies now? Would less than 3000 brave Americans have died in Iraq now? Would that have stopped a handfull of zealots from hijacking planes and fly them into the biggest building they could find?

If you are an expert on "world politics" tell me the number of factions at war in Iraq? (Try at least 10). Would you please tell us which nine of those sects we need kill to "win".

This simplistic "world view" is the kind of thinking that got us into this mess in the first place. Everything is sooo simple, like a WWII movie or a Ronny Regan cowboy movie.

Self correction:

Sorry, I was thinking that Clinton was the one who involved us in Mogadishu. I forgot it was another Bush.

Jeff Carpenter,if you can't back up your own words then that's your problem.

Jeff Carpenter,

Man, you play fast and loose with the facts.
"But the fact of the matter is that the majority of the citizens of the United States did vote him into office not once but twice and we should respect the office if not the man."

The majority of Americans voted for George W Bush once, in 2004. In 2000, he lost the popular vote to Al Gore by 500,000 votes. Furthermore, were you screaming from the rooftops between the years 1992-2000 that Republicans should just lay off the president because even though they may not have voted for him, a plurality did and he won the election fair and square? Did you show the deference to Mr. Clinton that you would like shown to Mr. Bush?

Jeff Carpenter,

Man, you play fast and loose with the facts.
"But the fact of the matter is that the majority of the citizens of the United States did vote him into office not once but twice and we should respect the office if not the man."

The majority of Americans voted for George W Bush once, in 2004. In 2000, he lost the popular vote to Al Gore by 500,000 votes. Furthermore, were you screaming from the rooftops between the years 1992-2000 that Republicans should just lay off the president because even though they may not have voted for him, a plurality did and he won the election fair and square? Did you show the deference to Mr. Clinton that you would like shown to Mr. Bush?

Time for everyone in Washington to put away their toys and
give the troops what they need.

Time for everyone in Washington to put away their toys and
give the troops what they need.

Time for everyone in Washington to put away their toys and
give the troops what they need.

Posted by: Kasha | Apr 16, 2007 2:21:41 PM

Kasha- I would never think of debate on the US involvement in a war as being so insignificant as to refer to it as "toys".

What more important issue is there?

Brian

I assure you that I did support President Clinton just as I have President Bush. I beleive as Americans that that is our duty. I can't imagine how our enemies as well as our allies laugh at us silly Americans. We have all this Freedom and we spend it showing how ignorant we can be.

John E.

????? are we even in the same conversation???
I support this President because he is our leagally elected Commander and Chief. I supported the last C&C for the same reason. If you don't like the due process, in the case of the 2004 election the judiciary process, then you are welcome to change it or move to another country that will allow you to choose who runs it. Americans look like idiots to the world when we have the Freedom of a democratically elected government and then we whine about it to anyone who will listen.

Jeff,
If the president wants to walk off the edge of a cliff, it is NOT our responsibility to follow him.
Don't blindly follow. Call it whining if you want, but it's better than bleating like sheep.

Jeff Carpenter,

OK, we all now know you inhale. It was the 2000 election that required the Supreme Court to install Bush as president. And the only people that the international community are laughing at are those who continue to wag their tales and say that dumbo in the White House should be supported simply because he raised enough money and had enough liars (Swift Boat) to get him enough purchased votes to be "elected." What you, Mr. Carpenter, don't seem to grasp is that we have a democracy based on the concept that all people share a responsibility to speak their minds and challenge wrongful thinking. Sticking a tail between one's legs is something the Republicans (and apparently you if you aren't one) want done when they can't walk all over the people.

The people have spoken and Bushboy needs to withdraw the troops. Of course, if you want to sign up to go over and get shot - have at it.

To Jeff Carpenter:

If you believe in blind obedience to a leader, you are in the wrong country. Here, we believe that the Government works for us and is therefore answerable to us.

What bin Laden is laughing about is how his one simple act, USING OBEDIANT FOLLOWERS, caused the Americans to turn on themselves. We allowed a (faux) religious leader and his minions to cancel the freedoms that bin Laden hated us for, and to turn any dissent into a crime of disloyalty. (See "free speech zones").

Cheney and the "current occupant" are doing EXACTLY what bin Laden wanted them to, trying to destroy our Democratic form of Government. Osama bin Laden hated our freedoms, and people like you are the support he needs to bring down our form of government.

He was praying that we would go out and get revenge on the wrong people so the non-Muslim western powers would turn on itself, or at least lose our credibility which in turn diminishes our power in the world. He won again.

HE'S LAUGHING AT US; BECAUSE HE'S STILL ALIVE AND NO ONE IS SERIOUSLY LOOKING FOR HIM! WE'RE TIED UP DESTROYING A COUNTRY HE WANTED DESTROYED, IRAQ, WHILE ALLOWING HIS COUNTRY OF CHOICE TO RETURN TO THE HANDS OF OUR ENIMIES. ALL WHILE DISMANTILING OUR OWN FREEDOMS.

I guess when you are no good at making your own decisions, you just defer to someone else and call it patriotism.

Damon

If you will make the effort to go back and actually read my posts you will see that am all for freedom of speech and your right to promote your beleif system. My biggest cause of consternation is the rediculous name calling a defaming that goes on instead of actual discussion. You know something like "OK, we all now know you inhale." Grow up. If you want to act like a high school punk go play some where else the adults are talking.

John J and others

Ok I'm not sure that anyone actually reads these things. I am all for you stating your beleifs and questioning government but calling the President of the United States a "moron" or any other stupid name is not what our forefathers and the young men and women of the armed forces have fought for. I am simply asking for the childish defamation to stop. Just so that we all know, I am not happy that we are at war, I would rather we not have gone but we are there so we have a responsibility to see it through. I don't think that the President made the decision based on actual intelegence and I do beleive that he should be made to answer for that. But not in the media and certainly not as a public spectacle that has the world laughing at us. By the way the only decision that I had to make that actually means anything was to accept Christ as my savior, I pray that each of you will do the same if you haven't befor now. I am signing off for the day. Be blessed.

That's the way to do it Jeff Carpenter, lose an argument and then tell people to move to another country if they don't support the President.
Real sharp buddy.

Jeff,

By referencing name calling, would you include the concept of claiming that "democrats are politicizing the war" in your definition? Or do you have another definition that supports your political view on this phrase?

As for your interest in our being able to speak to our convictions, while you may believe that - it is not what you convey.

Regarding the "punk and high school" ---- grow up? Yawn, the reference was clearly to suggest - through literary technique - that you are not "all there" with your facts. Sorry to have confused you with literary tools meant to liven a discussion.

And by the way - "adults" brought us this war...perhaps you'd encourage the "adults" to take it away - or go fight the damn thing themselves and let the youth of America take the lead in improving the lives of peace loving people like me.

Jeff Carpenter,

"We have all this Freedom and we spend it showing how ignorant we can be."

Whether or not your assertion regarding America's "silliness" in exercising our Constitutional right to free speech to protest injustice is accurate, that's the beauty of freedom: even the most ignorant among us are free to speak our minds. I was under the impression that "freedom" is what we are fighting for overseas, so it is indeed ironic to listen to so many Bush-apologists (whether or not you are one) bemoan these freedoms internally as they seek to spread them abroad (supposedly).

"If you will make the effort to go back and actually read my posts you will see that am all for freedom of speech and your right to promote your beleif system."
Posted by: Jeff Carpenter | Apr 16, 2007 3:47:11 PM

On this we agree, but facts are facts. Are you planning on responding to your inaccurate use of the Somalia analogy? Each of your posts have been replete with falsehoods and misanalysis; just wondering if you have the courage to admit the error in your ways or if you will ignore the ample evidence that contradicts your assertion and go on repeating the same falsehoods. If so, that would make it a lie.

Congressional Republicans were the group most opposed to America's continued intervention in Somalia (note, not Clinton's involvement as he was simply dealing with a mess created by his predecessor and placed in his lap) as illustrated by John McCain's eloquent statements (that stand in polar opposition to his position on the Iraq War) supporting a precipitous withdrawal from Somalia.

Would you like to amend your previous statement concerning Somalia and its historical background?

Jeff Carpenter,

"We have all this Freedom and we spend it showing how ignorant we can be."

Whether or not your assertion regarding America's "silliness" in exercising our Constitutional right to free speech to protest injustice is accurate, that's the beauty of freedom: even the most ignorant among us are free to speak our minds. I was under the impression that "freedom" is what we are fighting for overseas, so it is indeed ironic to listen to so many Bush-apologists (whether or not you are one) bemoan these freedoms internally as they seek to spread them abroad (supposedly).

"If you will make the effort to go back and actually read my posts you will see that am all for freedom of speech and your right to promote your beleif system."
Posted by: Jeff Carpenter | Apr 16, 2007 3:47:11 PM

On this we agree, but facts are facts. Are you planning on responding to your inaccurate use of the Somalia analogy? Each of your posts have been replete with falsehoods and misanalysis; just wondering if you have the courage to admit the error in your ways or if you will ignore the ample evidence that contradicts your assertion and go on repeating the same falsehoods. If so, that would make it a lie.

Congressional Republicans were the group most opposed to American intervention in Somalia (note, not Clinton's involvement as he was simply dealing with a mess created by his predecessor and placed in his lap) as illustrated by John McCain's eloquent statements (that stand in polar opposition to his position on the Iraq War) supporting a precipitous withdrawal from Somalia.

Would you like to amend your previous statement concerning Somalia and its historical background?

I want bin Laden. On their way out of Iraq, send every soldier through Afghani/Pakistan and take care of business, then give every troop a hero's welcome. Why did we get sidetracked?

I feel so sorry for the props Bush continues to abuse. And that ain't playing politics? I do understand how families feel the need to support their troops. I just wish they would wake up to being used by Bush et al.,and realize that the way to support their loved ones in Iraq is to bring them home. Now.

I can't beleive that we have all forgotten Mogadishu and the tragedy that occured there when President Clinton unilaterally pulled out of the country. Can the world, us included, afford that type of event?

Posted by: Jeff Carpenter | Apr 16, 2007 1:03:57 PM

The world can afford 10 Mogadishus (and counting) before it can afford another Iraq.

Thank God the White House occupant at that time understood risk/reward and had a personal understanding of international politics that was more comprehensive than a b-western plot, or Somalia could've easily become what Iraq is today (it probably would have if the current occupant were in power at the time).

Jesus didn't say "blindly follow your leaders". (Assuming the stories are true) Jesus was one of the loudest advocates of civil disobediance! His whole history was of disagreeing with and undermining the ruling religous leaders for what they had done to their religion. I think I remember something about "turning the other cheek" as opposed to "kill as many as needed until they stop fighting back so they won't laugh at us".

Politicizing every portion of Government is what this gang is all about. Bush has installed a political head of virtually every agency of the U.S. Government, Rove even has held meetings of the supposedly neutral Civil Service heads to brainstorm as to how to keep the Pube's in power after the next election!

The pot calling the kettle black is a weak analogy, because it assume the the kettle is also black. It's more like the pot calling the bed sheet black.

What's this "emergency" GW keeps talking about. Surely, as part of his "Plan for Success", he and his experienced "drawn from the efficient corporate world" foreign policy team had a financing strategy in place, had contingency plans in place and had adequate resources in place to prosecute this so-called "War on Terror". I thought the emergency was the "any second" WMDs that IRAQ had, the impending mushroom cloud. That was six years ago?? Most of those years Bush had a rubber stamp Republican congress who did nothing but approve everything Bush asked for and never looked behind the curtain as our rights were being taken away. Emergency Funding?? The only emergency is that Bush has to find a scapegoat for this mess and he'll try every sleazy trick Rove can think of to try and blame the Democrat Party. Watch. The REAL emergency is how to remove these clowns from office as quickly as possible.

Amazing, the comments on this board.

The Right pretends that `victory' is possible in Iraq without neutralizing the nation states that fund, arm and support jihad against us and the Left still thinks we're fighting al-Qaeda!

Granted, Bush has horribly mismanaged this war.
So I expect the Left to have the courage of their convictions...defund the war immediately, force an immediate pull-out AND TAKE THE POLITICAL FLACK for the consequences, instead of trying to have it both ways.

Oddly enough, no matter which way this goes, events will catch up to us. our enemies will not allow us the luxury of a vacation from history.

Its not that I loathe the Republican party...Lord knows I dont.
I am at a loss for words on why the boot-licking sycophants still insist on backing Bush despite his blunders when his own party is leaving him in droves. Honestly, was he the best man for the job? Had they been nominated in 2000,wouldnt any other Republican candidate have easily outclassed his "strategegies"?

I say let bush keep the troops over there. In fact, double the amount. we have 165000 now? Will 330000 cut it? Fine with me. The troops don't care about coming home alive or at all, so why am I going to call for their return?

I like Bush. What I find disgusting is how the Modern Liberals are out to tear down everything.

The normal and expected course of action is for Congrtess to support the troops. Period. We can do what we did in Vietnam, but the effects were covered up. By ignoring SE Asia, the Democrats allowed Pol Pot to rise to power and not be stopped. Millions died because the Modern Liberals of the time ignored the consequences.

The Modern Liberals have no ideas and are are just against everything. If you want to know what a Modern Liberal is, please see this phenominal talk by Evan Sayet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c
youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c

Why do we want more our tax dollars funded into killing more people. Let there be vitory in diplomacy. Not by funding more money and not by sending more precious american lives.

To read all this liberal (stuff), they believe their agenda is the majority when it is not. However, I figure if we let the terrorists win, these effeminate elitists supporting abortion and gayness will be the first ones with their heads cut off. I for one, after all this moaning and anti-American thought while lying about supporting tradition or even the troops say let at them. Although abortion is slowly making the libs the minority there are ways to speed this up.

Hey Big Al,5 more US soldiers killed in Iraq today,pop another Old Milwaukee and celebrate.

60+ for the month and looks like we're heading for a record.I know you tough Republics never get tired of young service members dying for a lost cause.

To read all this liberal (stuff), they believe their agenda is the majority when it is not. However, I figure if we let the terrorists win, these effeminate elitists supporting abortion and gayness will be the first ones with their heads cut off. I for one, after all this moaning and anti-American thought while lying about supporting tradition or even the troops say let at them. Although abortion is slowly making the libs the minority there are ways to speed this up.

Posted by: dickdee | Apr 16, 2007 8:49:05 PM

That sounds more like a wishlist than a political statement.

The ONLY solution is to put Bubble-Boy Bush and Chicken-Hawk Cheney on an airplane and immediately fly them to Iraq and drop them in the middle of the desert.

There was never any reason the President or members of his administration told Congress, the U.N., or the American people to uphold going into Iraq. It was all a sham to get revenge for his (George W. Bush's) father.
Posted by: DGAlley | Apr 16, 2007 12:09:22 PM

Ah... the lefts' revisionist history never stops..Do you really think people with a normal functioning brain believe your crap ? Anybody with a modicum of intelligence knows fully well that congress looked at the same information that Mr. Bush had and voted to give him the power to wage war. Like it or not DGAlley that is now a fact of history.There were many Dems' who voted for the war, including a few who now want to be president. Unfortunately, they are now running from their votes, cowards that they are.

(have any of his investments prior to election led to success? - no), Posted by: Damon | Apr 16, 2007 12:10:35 PM

Actually Damon when he was part owner of the Texas Rangers it was his initiative to get a new stadium in Arlington, it proved to be a savior for the ball club. He also sold his stake of the team for a $10 million dollar profit. Would that be a successful investment in your mind Damon?

Oh, I get it..."lets get rid of all the politics" says Bush, as he surrounds himself with servicemen and women for another full court photo-op. Talk about taking advantage of the brave military and their families. This president doesn't know how low he will stoop in order to persue a completely tone-deaf foreign "policy". And all the righties riff on the same old chicken hawk stuff, "oh, if we pull out, the entire region will fall, they will come to our doorsteps, etc..." Sorry, it didn't happen in Vietnam, it won't happen in Iraq, either. You can only scream "fire" so many times before people stop believing you. Hey Righties, all we are asking for is "what is YOUR plan for Iraq?" Victory? What does that mean? The present? You've had 6 years to create this mess, why should be be patient with the mess your president has created, especially when he ignores any bipartisan advice that comes his way. Enough, bring the troops home, I think this misguided terrorist membership drive has run its course and this president has needlessly damaged our fine military enough. not to mention alienating the rest of the world. But you righties really don't care about that. It's all about you.

"Vital war" ??? The last 4 years of it as well as the $500 billion invested borders on total insanity. 3300 U.S. lives lost "serving our Country? Iraq is a "mantel of slaughter"......
The American people voted for a change. Congress needs to do their job and honor the wishes of the people who elected them.
If he continues to get support from the unconscious right the GOP will lose all 50 states
and be set back 20 years. Six years in office and we have this huge mess to show for it and he still doesn't get it.
All on your watch Dubya, all on your watch!

Thank heavens for George W.

you're my man - ridding the world of evil - while sacrificing $300 billion - rather less evil than more education.

Can I put in a request that you crack on and invade the rest of Asia and then give up health care. Those folks with slanty eyes - don't trust them. Lets invade now and ask questions later.

Actually while you're at it - what about we sort out the black folks at the some time - lots of those in Africa, but I also think there are some at home (which idiot let those in) - hmm lets stop building roads for 10 years to pay for that war.

Hell - lets get rid of the Gays & Lesbians at the same time - what the heck do they provide America. Reckon we can squash public housing for a few years to fund that one.

Or even better - lets provide every one in the country with a gun - if they see someone they don't like or think that someone else won't like them - shoot asap. We'll ask questions later. Fill up the gun at the George Bush refill depo. Carry on.

I'm gutted he can't run another 4 years. How can anyone step in and fill these big shoes?

As in Viet Nam, the situation will only get worse the longer the US is there, and will be rectified the sooner the malevolence of the Imperialists is removed!

Posted by: Doc Hickory | Apr 16, 2007 12:16:54 PM

Doc.... You must be referring to those good old days when the North Vietnamese annihilated about a half million South Viets. and Pol Pot only killed about 1.5 million Cambodians. You sure sound like you know what your talking about Doc. By the way, I believe Doc. B.S. would be a much more appropriate monicker for you.

I find it amazing that the bloggers on this site show very little intellectual competency when discussing this issue and resort to emotional name calling... my goodness, you sound like the Republicans when Clinton was in office (Amazing how the same themes are being used)...

Keep these facts in mind before you go to your rampage of ignorance:

1) The Congress (including nearly all the Democrats) authorized this war with Iraq... Blame Bush - Blame Congress!

2) The pre-war intelligence the Bush Administration used as justification for the war was from multiple sources including our European allies (Germany, France & Great Britain)

3) President Clinton and his Administration had never backed down from the claim that Saddam had WMDs... In other words, this was the same intelligence information President Clinton used to bomb Iraq (Remember the Republicans who were claiming "Wag the dog" over Monica???)

4) Remember - there were WMDs that Saddam never verified he destroyed after the first Gulf War (Remember - he kicked out UN inspectors numerous times)... Do you really think he just destroyed everything on good faith? Fact of the matter is we don't really know for sure whether there were or were not WMDs in Iraq. Just because we didn't find them, doesn't mean they are not there... We can't find Bin Laden, does that mean he doesn't exist?

5) President Clinton supported the invasion of Iraq (Just not the approach with the UN) - remember so did Hillary until she found out it was in her favor to now say she is against the war.

Stop the emotional name calling and your hatred for President Bush... Keep in mind who the true enemy is - it is not President Bush, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats; it is Islamic Fundamentalist who have a vision of the world that does NOT include democracy of any kind.

Let’s get on the same page....

Heavens, dickdee, don't let the terrorists win! Whatever shall we do then?

When? The blind refusal to acknowledge that the goal of terrorism has never been to invade, but rather to feign power through fear, is what led to this war in the first place. Face the fact: our government played us, using the very fear that terrorists hoped to instill in us to pass such things as USA PATRIOT act. Or did you already forget the loss of your freedoms so quickly, being so altruistic as to hand it out to the rest of the world?

And in re Vietnam. Vietnam is now the second most heavily invested in country in South Eastern Asia; this is not by any benign acts of generosity for which the US is so well known. Conservatives surely took into consideration all the consequences when they decided to support the invasion of Iraq, didn't they?

Harry S. Truman said "The Buck Stops Here", but for Bush, the Buck stops at the opposition. The sheer immorality of this administration must stink up the high heavens, choking the Jesus you say you're so fond of.

With all due respect to the veterans and families of servicemen the president welcomes to the White House, tax-paying citizens who seek a withdrawal of our troops and an end the U.S. involvement in Iraq ought to be equally important guests, and not, as is implied in his statement, any less American or patriotic.

Al wrote:

"By ignoring SE Asia, the Democrats allowed Pol Pot to rise to power and not be stopped. Millions died because the Modern Liberals of the time ignored the consequences"

Actually, Pol Pot came into power just the other way around. The Nixon/Kissinger bombing campaigns of Cambodia caused the population to flee the country side leaving the rural areas to the then rising Khmer Rouge who them had the opportunity to become a power. Without this campaign Pol Pot would never have taken power. It was in other words the Vietnam policies of the Nixon adminiastration that created the environment that allowed Pol Pot to claim power and kill millions. Once again a Bushie with a less-than-stellar relation to the truth

Then there is Dickdee. I find the argument that support for the troops involve keeping them in harms way fascinating. And then of course the typical sentiment expressed by Dickdee that being
critical is anti-american. That is not only a stupid statement, but one 100 pct contradictory to the truth. I am sure even he can agree that America is not about accepting everythibng done by teh government and sit idle by while corruption and lies at the highest level takes place.

Then there is the "if we let the terrorists win" statement. Now, first of all, that is of course a hopeless simplification of the current situation. How is it exactly that we "let them win"? Aside from the fact that there were no terrorists in Iraq prior to the invasion (thus making the invasion a victory on their part), does anybody really believe that staying in Iraq will solve anything on that account? Does a troop surge fight a war the generals admit cannot be solved through military means? And who is it exactly that we let win? Since there are so many factions in Iraq, which one is "the terrorists" and which one is it that we let win?

Last, what exactly does abortion have to do with any of this? I am left amazed at how this argument enters the fray, but I guess that is closely tied to this apparent alliance between religion (you used the word tradition but I assume that i where you are going), and the desire to see a certain portion of the population have their heads cut off. I guess you agree with the terrorists regarding what means are required in your interpersonal dealings. You might want to actually read the bibel and find out what the core of the christian religion is - and then maybe even practice some. I believe both tolerance and questioning the powers that be take up significant portions of the teachings of jesus. On the other hand, he is not big on cuttnig off heads, intolerance or anything else that you seem to cherish. Read and learn.

The spewing of hate from Liberals is alive and well. They have attacked their own military, they have made a frontal assault on freedom of speech, comforted and aided the Islamic extremists. With blithering idiot liberals speaking up who needs muslim extremists? I guess we will all be speaking Farsi and praying to Allah by 2008!

Hey Jeff,
Since you have accepted Christ as your savior
can you answer a question for me?
WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?

Why wasnt Cindy Shean invited to help him with his plea? And if he wants a war, why not collect funds from those who have it?

As for readers comments about protecting Americans, and the "good old times" with Clinton. More Americans are dying now then before...

Read Farsi and pray to Allah? Sure, you can do that if you like. It's still a free country pal. But I hadn't heard any of