Sorry I’ve been out of action for a bit, but I’m back – and I’m mad as hell. The congressional hearings on Iraq featuring the report by Ambassdor Crocker and General Petraeus has turned into a circus of clowns. Democrats, especially those seeking the 2008 presidential nod, have displayed their duplicity, deceitfulness, arrogance and ignorance throughout the hearings thus far.
Considering that the Senate confirmed Petraeus unanimously, I fail to understand what the issue is. Now those same Democrats who lauded Petraeus as an intelligent, honorable, qualified leader are here to slander him. Why? Because he brings them a message that they don’t want to hear – namely, that the surge is working in Iraq. Here are a few of their comments and some associated articles.
Hillary Clinton
Hillary gets into the game. The last person on the face of the planet who should question anybody’s credibility is this despicable “human being.” Rudy seized the day by pointing out her “venom.” Here is what Her Highness said to the General:
“Despite what I view is your rather extraordinary efforts in your testimony both yesterday and today,” said Clinton, “I think that the reports that you provide to us really require a willing suspension of disbelief.”
For anybody to believe anything that Hillary says requires a major suspension of belief.
John Kerry
Kerry got in on the action too and questioned the General’s credibility in the press before Petraeus even delivered his assessment.
“I think the general will present the facts with respect to the statistics and the tactical successes or situations as he sees them,” Kerry said. “But none of us should be fooled _ not the American people, not you in the media, not us in Congress _ we should not be fooled into this tactical success debate.”
He doesn’t want to debate tactical successes? Why are you even there, Senator? What is the point? Isn’t tactical success, as you term it, a major factor in winning the war? What a dope.
Tom Lantos
The California Representative took his turn at calling the administration liars and implying that Crocker and Petraeus were there to deliver the administration’s message.
Well, General Petraeus, you saw it coming. Those unguarded ammo dumps became the arsenals of insurgency. Those weapons have been turned against us. How very typical of this war. The Administration’s myopic policies in Iraq have created a fiasco. Is it any wonder that on the subject of Iraq, more and more Americans have little confidence in this Administration? We can not take ANY of this Administration’s assertions on Iraq at face value anymore, and no amount of charts or statistics will improve its credibility. This is not a knock on you, General Petraeus, or on you, Ambassador Crocker. But the fact remains, gentlemen, that the Administration has sent you here today to convince the members of these two Committees and the Congress that victory is at hand. With all due respect to you, I must say … I don’t buy it.
We don’t care what you buy, Mr. Lantos. You were openly stating in the press (weeks before this hearing) that you were closing your mind to the General’s report without even considering the testimony. You are even more indication of the arrogance that pervades your side of the aisle in regards to this and almost any other issue.
Robert Wexler
Perhaps the biggest joke in the House is Rep. Wexler from Florida. This two-faced slimeball managed to call the General a liar and a patriot in the same sentence.
With all respect General, among unbiased nonpartisan expert consensus is far. The surge has failed based on most parameters. In truth, war related deaths have doubled in Iraq in 2007 compared to last year. Tragically, it is my understanding that seven more American troops have died while we’ve been talking today. Cherry picking statistics or selectively massaging information will not change the basic truth.And please understand Gen. P., I do not question your credibility. You are a true patriot. I admire your service to our nation, but I do question your facts……….I am skeptical General, more importantly the American people are skeptical because four years ago very credible people while in uniform and not in uniform came before this Congress and sold us a bill of goods that turned out to be false. And that’s why we went to war based on false pretense to begin with.This testimony today is eerily similar to the testimony the American people heard on April twenty eighth nineteen sixty seven from General William Westmoreland, when he told the American people–America was making progress in Vietnam.
Right, Congressman. You know the facts better than our commanders. You have all the answers. And you have a real gift for trying to make someone feel good about themselves while spitting in their face. What a miserable human being.
And it just gets worse folks. If anything, the Dems have used these hearings to make fools of themselves. The tone may become decidedly more civil over the next few days after the outrage that came from their first day of bashing an honorable, decorated General. They’ll just have to count on MoveOn.org to pick up their slack further. Or maybe they can sneak more Code Pink protestors into the hearings.
What has happened here is reprehensible. Regardless of how the Democrats feel about the war, their bellicose and personal tone is unwarranted. The real tragedy here, though, is that their opposition to the war is not a principled matter of disagreement. It is a matter of political expediency. They are kowtowing to their leftist fringe base and attempting to score some political points against an administration that they have always detested.
Don’t look for things to get much better, and don’t look to this circus to answer questions. The Dems were decided before they ever walked into the chambers. They knew what their leftist masters expected, and they will deliver – one way or another. It doesn’t matter if the surge is working or not. As they have clearly shown – the facts are irrelevant.
steveflesher
Philip
Mel Maguire
Mark Ciavola
Comments
There is soooo much fodder to use for the general election debates it will be amazing if the Dems have a leg to stand on after Rudy or Fred is done with Queen Hillary.
Quite frankly, I came to the conclusion long ago that the only military people the Dems and the Left trust in an Iraq analysis are the ones that already agree with them.
Petraeus could say that sand is gritty and fish swim in the ocean, and they would question his integrity because they White House admitted those things to be true also.
When I see a person in uniform – even here in Boston – I make a point of saying, “Thank you for serving.” I’m not only thanking that person, but every man and woman serving up and down the ranks.
How, then, should we reflect upon members of Congress who demonstrate transparent hostility to one whose uniform has four stars as opposed to one stripe?
To even suggest that someone is lying in hearings as held this week is termed “Contempt of Congress”, and such is subject to prosecution.
But what do we do when honorable people, executing the very laws of this body, are scourned and maligned?
I call it Contempt by Congress.
The voters, if they remember it, might prosecute it at the polling places. In the meantime what of the rest of those that this officer’s uniform represent?
Never thought of that Shawmut. If Petraeus is lying as the Dems seem to suggest, then I dare them to do their duty and hold the General in “Contempt of Congress.”
Of course they won’t do that just like they won’t cut off funding for the war. They talk like a bunch of demagogues, but they won’t put their money where their mouths are. They are a miserable lot of intellectually dishonest cowards.
Yes, a man who has served almost 30 years.
He has numerous degrees, including a PhD. He could be making many more dollars outside of the military. What is his motivation to lie? So his son could go to Iraq? So he could be further vilified by the press?
With the Dems, again, it is only about the 2000 election – that is it!
Kangaroo Koort – with pouches filled by MoveOn.Org.
What’s a terrorist threat compared to Congressional hearing, especially for a person in uniform who fills it out?
On the radio today, I heard a clip of Lanny Davis getting irritated and high and mighty over the fact that the MoveOn ad was being denounced, but that no one ever denounced Rush Limbaugh for calling Lanny Davis names. Davis asked how that was any different.
Well, I don’t see Lanny Davis having been awarded the Legion of Merit or the Bronze Star with V. And I do think that counts for some respect from all of us. More so than Lanny Davis’s service as a lobbyist for Pakistan.
Moreover, I don’t see Lanny Davis spending year after year away from his family and then still have the integrity, focus and coolness as General David Patreaus.
Hey, Lanny, protect that Starbucks!
There is no relevance connecting a bitchy little squeeker to a man such as General Petreaus and those who serve with him. Why should a guy, the likes of Lanny Davis, be anything but happy when Rush Limbaugh, or you and I even notice him.
A likely appendage to MoveOn.Org, he might find that MOO has hit a soft-shoulder, and he is treading backward as the vehicle is careening out of control.
But, Hell, who’s listening or reading, when a country is ‘feeling’ its arguments.
Streisand’s husband is wishing people “Happy September 11th”; AFW’s “Hubby” is serving;
Some arms are being tatooed; some are being cleaned and oiled; while cuisines are being discussed…..a guy or gal is cutting open a ready meal. As to haircuts………
Remember, these people who are lined up to take us down, ironically, are still our beneficiaries. And if you think they hate us; think of how they they’d treat Lanny Davis.
Yes, Lanny, try to melt hatred, not breed contempt.
Not only did the Democrats slander an honorable general leading our troops in time of war, they high-fived each other for doing it.
The left hates this country.