George Bush: Coward in Chief

What I've been saying for a looooooooong time (check the sidebar):

[T]he president will never call for the draft. He knows the country would never support the level of sacrifice for this war that implementing a draft would demand. But this is one of the very reasons why the all-volunteer Army was designed the way it was — to prevent a commander in chief from fighting a war that lacks the support of the public.

The same applies to every winger who says we don't support the troops, but who don't join the #rd ACR and get in there and back these guys up. They are all cowards, from the highest General who doesn't get the equipment his troops require, to the lowest high school grad who thinks he can do more with his empty words.

Word to the wise

Dems vs. Bush on Iraq

Senate Democrats have surrendered to President Bush by continuing to fund the occupation of Iraq, supporting a spending bill with Republican Sen. John Warner's amendment that eliminates any meaningful oversight or accountability.

In the House, however, Democrats have the opportunity to stand up to Bush's failed policy, deceit and corruption in Iraq by sending him a piece of legislation that demands U.S. forces begin to plan withdrawal. True accountability could be created complete with a withdrawal plan which includes deadlines for implementation, as well as full accountability for the missing billions in the Iraq reconstruction programs. Senate Democrats could redeem themselves in the conference committee by approving the House version.

If Bush chooses to veto such legislation, it will be he who is failing to "support our troops." It would also demonstrate to Senate Democrats what the role of an opposition party is.

Nancy Pelosi, like Harry Reid, has pledged to hold George Bush accountable. She also claims she wants to end the occupation of Iraq. It is difficult to understand how Pelosi could hold Bush accountable without impeachment on the table. Far more difficult to understand would be Pelosi's supporting a Senate-like spending bill, capitulating like Reid has done.

Mark Benner, Anton

...

Before everyone starts calling the Democrats weak-kneed non-deciders and soft on terror, let's remember who got us in this situation: the Republicans. This is their war. A Republican Congress rubber-stamped a Republican president for six years. Now a slight majority of Democrats in Congress is supposed to put a stop to it. The American people gave them the mandate but not the power. It takes a two-thirds vote to override the veto. Which party vetoed the original spending bill? The Republicans. Which party won't get out of lockstep long enough to override the veto? The Republicans.

If the Democrats stick to their guns and cut off funding, they are not being patriotic and are not supporting the troops. If they give in, they are weak- kneed. They are damned either way. The only way to get out of this war is for Republican senators and representatives to vote with the Democrats for a bill that sets a timetable for withdrawal. Stop blaming the Democrats and call your Republican representatives and tell them what you want.

Delana Maynes, Littleton

...

I'm appalled that Rep. Mark Udall voted to throw away more money on the Iraq war. More funding will greatly increase the numbers of our soldiers and of Iraqi civilians who die. It will not do anything to clean up the mess or end the war.

Republicans voted 194-2 for this bill. Democrats voted 140-86 against it. Udall sided with the Republicans to make sure this war continues.

Rep. Udall must think he needs to become more Republican to win a Senate seat. But Colorado citizens are not stupid. They know he is just caving in so that he does not make waves.

Please, Mr. Udall, place a higher value on people's lives than on your political ambitions.

Nancy Sullo, Boulder

...

Rep. Ed Perlmutter was the only sane and decent person from the Colorado delegation to vote against giving the Bush administration another blank check on Iraq. Thank you, Rep. Perlmutter, for having the courage to vote against funding further bloodshed and destruction.

The majority of people in the U.S. want the U.S. out of Iraq, as does the majority of Iraqis, but those facts don't matter to spineless politicians more concerned with their political futures than ending this humanitarian catastrophe. Shame on Ken Salazar, Wayne Allard, John Salazar, Mark Udall, Marilyn Musgrave, Tom Tancredo and Doug Lamborn.

I'm proud to call Ed Perlmutter my representative. His vote yesterday was the one glimmer of hope in what was a very dark day for this country and Iraq.

Tracy Abell, Lakewood

Thanks, folks. I thought it was just me.

Angie's ready to fight in 2008!

Colorado's Fourth, Home of Marilyn "Mad Cow" Musgrave (hey, I didn't coin it, I just use it!), is going to make way for Angie Paccione in 2008.

The third time is going to be a charm against Marilyn Manson Musgrave:

My life has been a story of overcoming the odds, while seizing opportunities to make a difference. I've lived the American Dream, and right now the Fourth District is hurting. Every day there are fewer and fewer opportunities for our neighbors to achieve their own American Dream. Powerful special interests have slammed the doors on average Coloradans. I am determined to open these doors of opportunity for education and health care in this district.

We went the distance and proved that Colorado's Fourth Congressional District is winnable. Our unity and hard work in 2006 blazed a trail, and now the Fourth District has one of the most vulnerable incumbents in America. Thousands of people have made an investment in bringing real leadership to the Fourth District. It's time to finish the job.

Colorado pols feeling the heat on Iraq

The CDP newsletter doesn't usually bring up these issues. I hope Pat Waak has brought up the issue. Looks like our elected representatives are feeling some heat:

Rep. John Salazar Will Keep Fighting To Change Course In Iraq

More votes in July and September

U.S. Rep. John Salazar declared his support of the 2007 Iraq war spending measure H.R. 2206, which funds American soldiers fighting on the front lines. It also increases and improves the quality of health care services received by military families and veterans. Finally, H.R. 2206 requires the Iraqi people to take responsibility for the future of their country by establishing certain benchmarks that their government must meet to continue receiving non-military U.S. aid. Rep. Salazar made the following statement about the bill: "I will vote in support of this measure because it provides funding for our soldiers fighting in Iraq and provides better health care for our veterans and military families. However, I believe that we must begin to bring our troops home as soon as it is realistically possible.

The American people have spoken and they want change. We cannot continue to stay the course of a failed policy. "As Congress prepares to vote again on this issue, once in July when we consider the 2008 Defense Appropriations bill, and again in September on the 2008 Iraq Supplemental bill, I look forward to working on behalf of the American people who want to see real progress made in the Iraq war. I will continue to hold the Iraqi government and the President accountable, and move our country in a new direction."

Statement of Representative Mark Udall on House Amendments to Senate Amendments to H.R. 2206, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Hurricane and Disaster Relief

May 24, 2007

"Madam Speaker, I will vote for this supplemental appropriations bill today, but like many Americans who want to see an end to the war in Iraq, I am not happy about it.
In fact, I am deeply frustrated and saddened by the prospect, but I also am compelled by my conscience to this vote.

On Monday, Memorial Day ceremonies throughout Colorado and across the country will honor the men and women in uniform who have paid the full measure of devotion to duty in all of America's wars.

But as long as the war in Iraq goes on, every day will be Memorial Day.

Already, more than 3,400 of our servicemen and servicewomen have died in Iraq, and more will die before we withdraw our troops. Just last Friday, for example, 33-year old Sgt. First Class Scott Brown of Windsor, Colorado, and 27-year old Sgt. Ryan Baum of Aurora, Colorado were among them.

A friend of Ryan's family told reporters, "Ryan never wanted to be known as a hero, he just did his job." In fact, he did his job - and he is a hero.

This is not a heroic day in Congress, but as his comrades are faithful to their responsibilities, we must be faithful to ours.

And one of those responsibilities - even for those of us who have opposed this war -- is to support those brave comrades as they continue to do what the president has ordered them to do.

And now, today, all of us in the Congress face a dilemma that I foresaw four years ago - when President Bush first sent our forces into Iraq: having to choose either to take the guns out of the hands of our soldiers in the field or to let the President move forward with a misguided and reckless policy.

Cutting off funds for supplies and equipment for our troops is one way, of course, to bring this war to an end, and I understand why many Americans believe Congress should do so. But the more responsible way to end this war, in my opinion, is to change our policy, and to avoid making an already bad situation worse.

I opposed the Bush administration's decision to launch a pre-emptive war in Iraq because I believed it would be a diversion from our larger post 9-11 strategic objectives and I was not convinced that the President had an adequate plan and enough international support to secure and stabilize Iraq after overthrowing its regime.

More here.

Denver Post: 4 more join Salazar on Iraq plan

Washington - Four more senators on Thursday joined a bipartisan group urging a diplomatic effort to stabilize Iraq by making the Iraq Study Group's recommendations official U.S. policy.

Sens. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, Bob Casey, D-Pa., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Judd Gregg, R-N.H., joined Ken Salazar, D-Colo., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., arguing the plan is the way to end debate over the costly and unpopular war.

The senators plan to introduce a bill next month that would set a series of benchmarks the Iraqis must meet in exchange for continued U.S. support.

"The administration is working with the Iraqi government and engaging its neighbors to determine the next steps toward a peaceful resolution, and this bipartisan legislation will only help to augment their efforts," Bennett said in a statement.

The senators' plan is based on the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan group of politicians and policy experts, which called in December for an urgent diplomatic attempt to stabilize Iraq.

Salazar and Alexander launched the effort earlier this month as the Democratic-controlled Congress was locked in a standoff with President Bush over an emergency spending bill for the war.

Democrats insisted in a deadline for withdrawal, and Bush refused.

....snip....

"The Iraq Study Group's recommendations offer a bipartisan way forward for our nation in Iraq," Salazar said. "The fact that we have been joined by senators from both sides of the aisle shows that there is growing support in the Senate to provide a new and responsible approach that emphasizes diplomacy and transitions our military mission in Iraq from combat to support."

more....

If Ken Salazar hadn't signaled his intention to cave on this issue in a fit of phony bipartisanship, I might believe him now. Here's what he said immediately after the Democratic senate prevailed in round one of this fight:

"We need to end the polarization with respect to Iraq and need to find a way forward that unites the country," Salazar said. The Iraq Study Group's plan, he said, "may be the touchstone that allows us to bring together Republicans and Democrats on a path forward."

He should have know God-damned well -- I do, and I'm just a schmuck with a keyboard -- that Bush had/s no intention to change course, no intention to take accountability for the failures, and no intention to do anything other than prolong this war until January 20, 2009.

Put the war "On budget"

How is it that besides allowing the President his unfettered, deadly-incompetent war disaster, Democrats still allow him to run this war off the books, with no impact on the budget, while still calling it an "Emergency supplemental" five years after he started the war?

Of course, our Democratic leaders probably can't answer this question since they can't even explain how allowing Bush a free hand as commander -- when none of his projections are correct -- is somehow "supporting" our troops.

Marines waited 1 year to provide IED-proof vehicles

How many of our guys died due to IED explosions waiting for this bullcrap?

The Marine Corps waited over a year before acting on an "priority 1 urgent" request to send blast-resistant vehicles to Iraq, DANGER ROOM has learned.

According to a Marine Corps document provided to DANGER ROOM, the request for over 1,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles came in February, 2005. A formal call to fulfill that order did not emerge until November, 2006. "There is an immediate need for an MRAP vehicle capability to increase survivability and mobility of Marines operating in a hazardous fire area against known threats," the 2005 "universal need statement" notes.

Like a commenter there said: maybe the Administration needed these guys to die so they could blame Iran and expand their quest for middle east targets.

Impeach AG Alberto Gonzales

Now that we have Ken Salazar thinking straight and Democratic leadership requesting a vote of no confidence, it's time to IMPEACH ALBERTO GONZALES for failing his job, trampling our rights and playing politics with the Constitution and playing members of the United State Senate for fools....

Senator Salazar: Gonzo must go

Finally:

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., finally made the call Friday afternoon to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, telling his friend it was time to resign, that Gonzales had tarnished the reputation of the Justice Department and that Salazar no longer had any confidence in his leadership.

"It was a short conversation and essentially he told me he appreciated the call," Salazar told reporters Friday, saying Gonzales' management of the Justice Department had become a "great disappointment."

Salazar, who has been friends with Gonzales since both were state attorneys general, introduced him to the Senate Judiciary Committee when he was nominated to head the Justice Department.

While Salazar has been critical of Gonzales over the past months, he had stopped short of calling for his departure- unlike other Democratic and even Republican senators.

The final affront came Tuesday when former Deputy Attorney General James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Gonzales, while he was White House counsel, had gone to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft's hospital room in March 2004 to coerce the seriously ill Ashcroft into authorizing a warrantless wiretapping program.

Of course Gonzo won't resign - he knows way too much to be punished by Bush. John Dean says congress might need to arrest him. That'll get one more felon out of our government, but it won't stop the supply.