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- Insightful, on 10/12/2007, -4/+71 In an interview, Pelosi also said she was puzzled by what she considered the president's minimalist explanation for his confidence in the new surge of 21,500 U.S. troops that he has presented as the crux of a new "way forward" for U.S. forces in Iraq.
As recounted by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to Americablog.blogspot.com:
PELOSI: He's tried this two times — it's failed twice. I asked him at the White House, 'Mr. President, why do you think this time it's going to work?'
BUSH: Because I told them it had to.
PELOSI: Why didn't you tell them that the other two times? - baalzebub, on 10/12/2007, -3/+42king george...
what a walking contradiction, he has become the tyrant this nation once fought to become independent from... - otheruser, on 10/12/2007, -12/+48damn, i thought that in a democracy, the public decided...
wrong again otheruser, wrong again. - Alfdog, on 10/12/2007, -5/+37he "hears" what the other people are saying... the problem is that he's not "listening"
- Groovemaster, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24Iraq and the rest of the world were a ***** less chaotic before PNAC put their sick plan into action.
- nebrfan, on 10/12/2007, -16/+38Otheruser: The public did decide. Bush was elected.
The US Contitution, Article II, Section 2: "The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States"
The public also voted in their congressmen that approved the Join Resolution to Authorize the United States Armed Forces Against Iraq:
"AUTHORIZATION. The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to
(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq. "
I invite rabid Bush-bashers to digg me down; but we live in a Republic - NOT a direct democracy. This is how it works. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20This is the reason why Bush Sr. didn't Invade Iraq after the Gulf War. I believe his Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney said it best "invading the country would get the United States bogged down in the quagmire inside Iraq." Bush Sr. later explained that he did not give the order to overthrow the Iraqi government because it would have "incurred incalculable human and political costs... We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq".
- jstohler, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23Thanks our George -- stubborn and wrong at the same time.
- jetsetgo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17@rayandgun
Would you look 5 year old in the eye and tell her her father had to die so America wouldn't be embarrassed?
Maybe I'm selfish, but quite honestly I could care less how America is viewed on a national stage. I fail to see how it affects anything other our leaders and their reputations. They aren't me, so I really don't care very much about their problems. Especially the ones the cause for themselves. - jetsetgo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17I want those days back. When a leader wanted to go to war, he picked up his sword, got on his horse and stood in the front of the line.
- Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -6/+20"This is non-news. Right or wrong, he has the power, according to the constitution, to do this. All congress can do is criticize until 90 days are up and THEN they have to power to affect change."
No, it is news because it demonstrates the sheer arrogance of this jackass. Yes, he has the power; he's the CIC. That doesn't mean he's not a knobgobbler for exercising it even though he's about the only person left in the United States who thinks it's going to work. - Oldschoolhack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14When did our members of congress become a bunch of pussies?! Tell that damn president NO! Thats what your there for damn it!! He does not have ultimate power! When he says ***** like this, he is not representing the American people and thus should be thrown out of office!
Phew, there is my rant. Digg me down if you must, I know it was extreme. - jetsetgo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Well duh. If you can't get the screw into the board, the obvious solution is to use a bigger hammer and hit it harder until it goes it.
Who *can't* figure that out.
/sarcasm - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16We've always been a democratic republic.
- CraigB12, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13He is right to a degree becuase if we leave Al-Qaeda will basically have its own country. On the other hand, we shouldn't have been there in the first place, and we don't want to be there now. Its like a catch-22 on a level that nobody could have imagined, and an idiot that got us there that doesn't seem to be able to make any sort of intelligent decision.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Because waging an illegal war that nobody wants and getting a hummer from a fat chick are equally as bad.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11He's the decider.
- Jiffylush, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11I guess he is a flip-flopper
- Muzz27, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Time to impeach the bastard.
- spartanfox, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I suppose when you have approval ratings rivaling the Nixon administration and a Congress that said they would oppose you on Iraq, you tend not to give a damn if you sound like a complete fool.
In other news, the "5th Annual Mission Accomplished" tour is coming to a city near you!
Edit:
@nebrfan: I'm digging you up just to spite you. - krazz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9What an *****.
- thecolor11, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Who keeps telling people our form of government is a democracy? It's a Republic ... if you can keep it.
- Dumbledorito, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I get my news from a number of sources, and yet the Daily Show seems to be the only program out there who will call a politician on their own ***** by actually playing tapes of them saying things that completely contradict previous statements and/or reality.
Plus, Lewis Black is effing hilarious. - catullus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9yeah, kind of in the same sense that "you're retarded" sounds familiar
- Judge373, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9No Mr. Bush, you're not a decision-maker. You're a tyrant. Sic Semper Tyrannis!
- olegk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9but he is "the decider"
- jetsetgo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Yea, what happened to "The Decider"?
- carve, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8There are checks and balances. Congress has the power of the purse, and can stop the war by cutting off funding. It'd be nice if they had a more elegant option, but after they approved his war powers in September 2002, this is their remaining option.
- uberdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Thinkprogress is annoyingly biased but at least their ammo is video, rather than windbag conjecture a la Fox.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10@ otheruser
In a 'true' Democracy the people make the decisions on everything. America is a democratically run Republic, the public elects people (presidents included) to make decisions on our behalf.
True Democracy doesnt work in practice (though it sounds nice), we would have to have public votes on every decision made, dozens per day probably. Our system protects us from ourselves and from the tyrrany of the majority. The electoral college is another good example of this. - Run4ny, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10I voted for Bush in '04 because I was a *****' retard. Please forgive me, America....
- Netwatcher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Beats the Fox Noise Network
- shagz7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Bush Countdown clock!
http://www.backwardsbush.com/ - NipGrip, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Is that a step away from being a Dictator?
- Rodalli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6How did this guy make it this far in politics? He has absolutely no regard for our system, so my question is why is he a part of it? If he can't follow the rules, what's he doing in public office? And the big question, why isn't anyone in our government doing something about it?
How did this ***** get elected??? - gwolf, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Kewalter
“We're not in a democracy, we're in a republic”
What’s your point, are you saying that means the President isn’t answerable for anything.
Are you talking about the Peoples Republic of China or The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?
Just what kind of a Republic are you advocating? What organizational form a government takes has very little to do with it’s essential character. Stop stating the obvious and say what your really thinking; that you want a King you can serve, rather than one who serves you. - Dumbledorito, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Good lord, Zap Brannigan's ancestor is in the White House.
"Stop exploding you cowards!" - goldfenix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I may have driven 21,500 troops into a brick wall, but I didn't blink.
Though, they may have blinked right before they hit the wall... - farblestans, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5There is only one answer to the dilemma in Iraq. It can be applied now or it can be applied later after more people have died.
Leave Iraq. Leave it now. The people of Iraq will have to pick up the pieces and sort it out.
Until the occupation troops leave there is zero chance of peace. Not a small chance, no chance at all.
Every day the country is occupied, more American troops will die, more Iraqi civilians will die and more of the locals will become "terrorists" and kill others, Iraqi and American alike.
If your country was invaded, would you stop fighting the invaders? Or would you try to sabotage anything they did?
Staying in Iraq will only mean more death. There is no victory to be had in making more and more "terrorists".
/doesn't anyone read history books any more? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Runandgun, the Terrorists won when we started giving up our rights for security. Every time someone says "Things have changed since 9/11" the terrorists win just a little bit more.
- mttrvn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Actually the US is a representative democracy. It has nothing to do with Plato's Republic.
- Drewboy64, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@ Alfdog
Sure he hears everyone. . . When I mean everyone, I'm talking about his schizophrenic friends who tell him that the best thing to do is send 22,500 more troops. - carve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This is just too little too late. I have no confidence in this mans ability to lead us anywhere- let alone to victory. He says he listens to his generals rather than politicians, this is the most important fight ever and critical to our security, yet at the start of the war he...
1) Sent half as many troops as Gen Shinseki recommended, and then canned him, and then said in his state of the union that year that we'd use the full, unrestrained might of our military
2) Had a postwar plan that consisted of parades and flowers, followed by the Iraqis paying for their own reconstruction
3) Said things were going just fine and we need to stay the course until THREE MONTHS AGO
4) Has a "new strategy" that consists of staying the course, but now with 15% more troops (again, against the wishes of many generals)
If he really thought this war were so critical, he would've had postwar plans, went in with full force, and now that things are so screwed up, set up a draft so we can send a million troops over there. By his actions of not doing these things, he shows the war is not as important as he makes it out to be. Half-assing this war just doesn't make sense. We aren't even treading water- we're slowly drowning. Lets either WWII this thing and FINISH IT, or cut our losses and get the hell out of there!
I'll finish by a quote from Sun Tzu, from 400 B.C.
“When the army engages in protracted campaigns, the resources of the state will not suffice. When your army is exhausted, your morale sinks and your treasure is spent, rulers of other states will take advantage of your distress and act. Then even though you have wise counsellors, none will be able to make good plans for the future. Thus, though we have heard of excessive haste in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged”. Sun Tzu
If only Sun Tzu could've given us this dead-on advice a little sooner! - 4degrees, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I think he meant to say "I'm the doom-maker".
- WhiteLush, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Welcome to the follies of the patriot act. A piece of legislature passed with the threat of our freedoms and a seemingly unlimited amount of presidential power tacked on to it.
- nuclearpenguins, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Members of the Legislative branch are also in the pockets of PNAC/big oil/defense contractors. War is good for business.
- plato1123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Is he the "Decision maker" or the "Decider"? Pick a side, we're at war!!
lol - johnlandes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
- Sun Tzu
Bush doesn't know where Iraq is.
Hell, I don't think that he knows where he is half of the time - nukem996, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I completely agree with you. I don't see how in this day and age we need one person to rule an entire country. The congress should have all the power, these days presidents act like 4-8 year dictators.
- omaryak, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9"The US Contitution, Article II, Section 2: 'The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States'"
Yes, "when called into the actual service of the United States." And who do you think does that calling? May I direct you to Article I, Section 8, which grants *Congress* the power to declare war. There's a reason Congressional power was placed in Article I, above Article II defining the presidency (and Article III the judiciary). The executive branch is so named because it is supposed to execute the laws as defined by Congress, not the other way around. More crucial than the debate over whether we live in a republic or democracy is whether we are going to entrust the entire warmaking and foreign policy capability of this country to one man in the form of an increasingly imperial executive power. -
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