Republican Senator Chuck Hagel is on ABC’s “This Week” saying that there’s been a “low-grade civil war” going on in Iraq for the past six months. He also asked the rhetorical question, are we better off, is the Middle East more stable, because we invaded Iraq? And he answered himself — no.
Channel flipping to NBC, I caught Andrew Sulivan telling Chris Matthews that Bush resists making any changes to his policies because he can’t admit he is wrong.
Update: The “This Week” roundtable, I kid you not — George Will, Cokie Robert, Sam Donaldson. Danger! Danger! Change channel! Change channel!
Ooo, on Meet the Press — Jack Murtha. Could be good.
Update: While we’re waiting for Murtha to come on, get this — Fred Barnes tells us which issues GOP candidates will run on for the midterm elections:
Party strategists, led by chairman Ken Mehlman, want to rejigger the debate so it’s about a choice between candidates, putting Democratic candidates on the defensive as well. In short, they want it to be a choice election, not a referendum election. …
… House Republicans, for their part, intend to seek votes on measures such as the Bush-backed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a bill allowing more public expression of religion, another requiring parental consent for women under 18 to get an abortion, legislation to bar all federal courts except the Supreme Court from ruling on the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance, a bill to outlaw human cloning, and another that would require doctors to consider fetal pain before performing an abortion.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything in there about ending the war in Iraq, bringing down the federal defecit, creating good jobs, extending health care coverage, providing better education, protecting the environment, or cleaning up the corruption in Washington. All I see is an agenda pulled straight out of James Dobson’s playbook.
This midterm election won’t be a referendum. I’ll be an intelligence test, for voters.
Murtha says, What they [the Bushies] are trying to do is paint Iraq as if there were progress so that we can get out. … We’re caught in a civil war. … There’s less than a thousand al Qaeda; the Iraqis will get rid of al Qaeda as soon as we get out of there.
The Bushies are trying to blame the military for their mistakes, Murtha says.
The troops themselves don’t know what our mission is.
Murtha says his vote for the war in 2002 was a mistake. Why can’t the rest of the Dems who voted for the war say this?
“You know who wants us in Iraq, Tim? Iran wants us in Iraq, China wants us in Iraq, al Qaeda wants us in Iraq.”
“The public doesn’t want rhetoric.”
Murtha predicts the Dems will re-take the House of Representatives in November.
http://www.boston-legal.org/19-stickit/BL-2×19-StickIt-ClosingArguments.asx
This URL?
http://www.boston-legal.org/19-stickit/ep19-stickit.shtml
Scroll down to “closing arguments.”
VAINGLORY
Anointed with an avaricious spirit the leaders of the religious-right along with many deluded preachers and politicians have become little more than pimps, whoring out congregations and selling out constituencies in order to fill their own pockets with lucre and accomplish their religious extremist, anti- Christian agenda. In their own words the religious right seeks to take over the republican party, America. and the world. Part one has been accomplished as the religious right and the republican party appear as one and the same. Having bowed their knees at the alter of unbridled capitalism and worshipped the god of mammon, they have made merchandise out of public office, public lands, and the Holy things of GOD. ” you have made my FATHERS HOUSE an house of merchandise.”
Due to right-wing lust for world dominance, America is now in captivity marred in innocent Middle East blood. Consumed by the so called “war on terrorism” this nation is being milked of its financial resources, denied civil liberties, and most importantly robbed of human life.The right-wingers rant ” culture of life” but demonstrate such only as it pertains to abortions and perhaps a high profile” vegetative state ” case. They say” life is precious” however,due to their addiction to the spiritual drugs of self righteousness, greed and patriotism, many beguiled “people of faith” follow in the footsteps of their forefathers the pharisees. The same religious spirit that cried “crucify Him” now leads the right-wingers to use their money and their votes to sanction torture, destruction and the murder of innocent Iraqi non combatants, women and children. “blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be called the children of God”.
They; the right-wingers, whos own party controls government, boast of mega churchs,24-7 religious television,radio,books and other evangelical vehicles. With their ” damn right I am a christian and if you don’t like it I will kick your ass” attitude they shun biblical commands and trample under foot the blood of the Son of God.”These six things doeth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him; a proud look, a lying tounge, and hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift to run to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies,and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
They; the right-wingers,love to herald their religion, pray long prayers in the public square and in the streets.They seek to have loud forced prayers in public schools and teachers that will indoctrinate thereto. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
They; the right wingers, rant about the sanctity of marriage while many have adulterous affairs, bastard children, and have signed multiple bills of divorcement. Eager to stone those deemed unworthy, they seek to deny civil rights, equal rights and human rights. “he who is among you without sin, let him cast the first stone”.
They; the right wingers, vote against a living wage. As their wealth increases they build themselves bigger barns while withholding a living wage to the working poor. Their budgets and bills rob from the poor, the sick, the elderly and the powerless and give to the rich and powerful. Time after time after time Bible history records Gods anger when a living wage was withheld and the poor and needy oppressed. ” But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth”.
“Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord”….., Some have said that the wrath of God is aimed at America because of sin. If so, perhaps the right wing is the culprit
Consider the following:.
“But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand” (Isaiah 32-8)
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I think the Dems should go further on the comment on their vote for the war. They should say emphatically it was a mistake. The mistake was made because they trusted what the President told them not contemplating a President of the United States would lie to the Congress on such a vitally important topic of sending troops to war. Then, they add, I was wrong to trust the President and take him at his word. The lesson I have learned is that the word of President Bush is worth nothing. I apologize to all the families who have suffered by this ill-fated vote. And, the President and the Republicans are now on notice that if they want my vote, they need to provide me with irrefutable proof that what they are telling me is the honest to God truth. I wonder if . . . let’s say about 20 Dems who voted for the war said that now, how the MSM would cover it.
Bonnie, I second.
Given how hard (appears iimpossible, actually) for Democrats in Congress to endorse a simple resolution that George W. Bush should be censured for his own admitted law breaking, it’s entering the realm of sci fi or fantasy to think that any more than say, one or two Congressmen from Pennsylvania, will admit that their war votes were mistakes.
It really does come down to that awful sentiment of Grover Norquist that Digby keeps citing that the Congressional Dems are like neutered animals: they no lonter have any interest in an agenda, or heaven help us causing trouble…
From the war itself to bankruptcy reform to Sam Alito… the shoe seems to fit a little too well.
Hard to say what the answer is. Maybe we just need Murtha himself to run for President, and lead by acclimation.
Tell me again: why are we still listening to Fred Barnes?
Well Charles, with a little luck, all their asses will be “raptured” outta here in the near future, and people of good character can get on with the rebuilding.
(sorry, I got lost in my own fantasy)
“This midterm election won’t be a referendum. It’ll be an intelligence test, for voters.”
Yes! But I fear they won’t pass.
Bonnie – From your lips to God’s ears
Charles – From God’s lips to Republicans’ ears
I can’t stand Ken Mehlmann. Have you looked at his liver lips? He is one weird dude.
He is such a bitch!
I’m watching BookTV on C-SPAN2 – The New York Society for Ethical Culture (originally televised 3/2/06). It’s a panel of 3–Norman Mailer and John Buffalo are two of the panel.
As Norman Mailer states, 9/11 is the greatest gift that George W. Bush received in his presidency.
“This mid-term election won’t be a referendum. It’ll be an intelligence test, for voters.”
Then I guess we’re fucked.