Sunday, October 15, 2006

A Message to my fellow voters (Nov. 7th)

Throw the Deck Furniture Overboard!!!
With permission from Juan Cole's Informed Comment.
Confessions of a 'Defeatocrat'

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) is the ranking member on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.
Democrats recognize that we're headed for a far greater disaster in Iraq if we don't change course -- and soon. This is not defeatism. This is realism.

Our troops who are putting their lives on the line deserve a plan that matches our military prowess with diplomatic and political skill. They deserve a clear and achievable mission and they deserve to know precisely what it will take to accomplish it. They deserve answers, not spin.

. . . .We Democrats are determined to restore our nation's military strength, refocus on the real terrorist threat, bolster security safeguards at home and reestablish the credible standing we once had in the world. That is not defeatist. It is a call to formulate and execute a winning game plan for the War on Terror

. . . . The administration's "stay-the-course" strategy is not a plan for victory. It's not even a plan. All we have is a new military blueprint to keep 140,000 troops in Iraq through 2010.

The United States is about to begin its fifth year of occupation and fighting in Iraq. That makes this war longer than U.S. participation in World Wars I and II, and longer than the Korean War and our own Civil War. With every year of occupation, our efforts to fight global terrorism and our military's readiness to fight future wars have further deteriorated, along with our standing in the world. Meanwhile, the radical Islamic cause wins more and more recruits.

. . . but can anyone living in the real world deny that these statistics are heading in the wrong direction? Yet despite this bleak record of performance, the president continues to stand by his team of failed architects, preferring to prop them up instead of demanding accountability.

. . . . We are seeing an astonishing and unprecedented parade of retired U.S. generals calling for a new direction in Iraq. These are voices of bravery, experience, conscience and loyalty. These are men who have been taught to look coldly and objectively at the facts of bloodshed. Can they all be wrong? How about the 15 intelligence agencies that recently offered the opinion that this war has not made us safer? Are they all defeatists? Are they to be ignored?

. . . . Democrats are fighting a war on two fronts: One is combating the spin and intimidation that defines this administration. The other is fighting to change course, to do things better, to substitute smart, disciplined strategy for dogma and denial in Iraq.

That's not defeatism. That's our duty.

17 Moderated Comments:

Blogger DB Cooper said...

Can anyone tell me what's unique about Saddam's judge postponing Hussein's verdict back to November 5th? What's so special about that date?

10/16/2006 06:53:00 AM  
Blogger Indicted Plagiarist said...

Iraqi tribal leaders hold talks in Kirkuk. Iraqi nationalist insurgents have told AFP they have begun talks with US forces, and after a weekend meeting of Sunni tribal sheikhs called for the restoration of ousted leader Saddam Hussein!

10/16/2006 07:28:00 AM  
Blogger Emily said...

Anne Garrels on NPR This morning: Deadliest time -- 6 Americans killed this weekend. 400 wounded in the last two weeks! @#$%^&!

10/16/2006 07:39:00 AM  
Blogger J.C. said...

Al Franken is one of phoniest people on the planet. He has dreams of being a crooked politician also. I consider him a hate monger. He is a divided and conquer type for the corrupt aspects of the system. Not creative. Plus he plays up the religious crap. Just like Rush Limbaugh, he is a rabble rouser.

Why listen to that jerk when you can listen to a remnant of what America used to be, John Murtha is a real smart American who cares about the American people. Here is a guy that may play a interesting role soon. That role may be to protect us from this money grubbing bunch of politicos from both sides. Franken included.

10/16/2006 05:14:00 PM  
Blogger Blogging4Food said...

I can get more from five minutes listening to Al Franken, Skip, than I can reading your crap for five hours.

I'm talking about I-N-F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N

10/16/2006 06:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've thought for a while that bringing Saddam back might not be such a bad idea.

Sending Al Franken over there and making him Prime Minister might even be a better idea.

...the Wizard posting with tongue firmly in cheek, during a storm and power outage from a cell phone...

10/16/2006 07:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dude (dudette?), nice blog you've got here and great discussions. Prayer is useful mate. At least it brings comfort. I need that now since I'm way too depressed. To see solid and real solutions, you should check previous posts on my blog. I've discussed and continue to discuss Darfur there on an almost daily basis. I'll be dropping by more often. Cheers!

10/16/2006 09:26:00 PM  
Blogger GetaLife-ReadUrNews said...

From Newsweek
Clint Eastwood, the former Republican mayor of Carmel
is no dove, but he does question the premise behind the American undertaking in the Middle East.

"I'm not one of those idealistic people who think democracy has to be for everyone. That's naive on our part. I don't know if they want democracy."

10/17/2006 06:23:00 AM  
Blogger J.C. said...

Al Franken will give you plenty of information Blogger. All tailored to make you hate the other side. This is how the system keeps people divided.

In that aspect you are much more like a Rush listener than some one that cares to get at the transcendent truth of what is actually occurring in our present political system.

10/17/2006 07:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Should Saddam be brought back.?

Why not. He was better than us.

Lets let him go , and apologize. Smile nervously and leave.

10/17/2006 07:04:00 AM  
Blogger Vigilante said...

Yes, Anon. Let's leave. There's a story in the New York Times that the Iraqis are complaining that our troops are just standing by (we call it bystanders) while the free-4-all slaughter ensues. It's time for us to go.

10/17/2006 07:35:00 AM  
Blogger Indicted Plagiarist said...

The US military confirmed that nine troops had been killed in fighting and bombings in Iraq yesterday, raising this month's death toll for American forces to 67.

If the rate of US fatalities continues at the same level throughout this month, it would make October the deadliest for coalition forces since January 2005, when 107 US troops died.

10/18/2006 06:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm gonna have to disagree with the image for the post, and agree with Colbert - the Bush Administration is not sinking like the Titanic... it soared like the Hindenburg (until of course, the inevitable spontaneous combustion of all their support and hot air, which we're seeing currently).

Oh, and new address!!! ^_^

10/18/2006 07:24:00 AM  
Blogger Vigilante said...

Wizard, what can I say? You are a determined, resourceful, honest guy. (Who's mistaken often, but honestly mistaken.) We love you because you're such an impossibly nice guy.

10/18/2006 09:31:00 AM  
Blogger Vigilante said...

Thanks for the new addy, Za!

10/18/2006 09:32:00 AM  
Blogger Kentucky Rain said...

Sighhhh.....I find myself agreeing with Skip once again. I admire Al Franken for his courage in speaking out and for his skills as a comedian. He has no business in politics. I have listened to his many ramblings and find his convictions to be less than committed. Once again, Al, if you hear us at all: Please don't give up your day job!

10/19/2006 10:59:00 AM  
Blogger Kentucky Rain said...

P.S. In keeping with your "message to fellow voters..." I should point out that I had 146 visitors in 24 hours, an unusually low number I will admit, but what really concerned me was only ten people voted in the poll. If so few don't take the time to click a radio button I have to wonder what percentage of the population will actually vote November 7th. I suspect there is a lot of apathy, despite what the media will have us believe.

10/19/2006 11:04:00 AM  

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