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Video: Ted Kennedy says Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam

posted at 3:27 pm on January 9, 2007 by Ian
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Sen. Ted Kennedy handed an irresistible sound bite to the media in his speech to the National Press Club this afternoon, some 32 hours before the president announces his new strategy for Iraq. Christopher Hitchens, an ardent opponent of the Vietnam War, has addressed this subject several times, most memorably in 2004:

A war fought with weapons of indiscriminate slaughter, and accompanied by racist rhetoric, with a conscript Army deployed against a highly evolved revolutionary movement is as different as could possibly be from a campaign of precision-guided munitions, with an all-volunteer Army, directed at the overthrow of a hideous and dangerous tyranny, and then taking the form of a drive for free elections and a constitution. If people say that it’s “reminiscent” of Vietnam, it means they don’t remember Vietnam…

There’s something creepy about the Democratic decision to hail the heroes of Vietnam, from Kerry to Clark, and to denigrate the extraordinary effort being made to salvage Iraq and to pursue and kill people who really are, unlike the Viet Cong, the common enemies of humanity. It’s trying too hard, and it’s inauthentic and hypocritical as well as point-missing. It would be as if the Republicans suddenly started talking, as that great veteran Robert Dole once did, about all the conflicts in American history as “Democrat wars.” That didn’t fly, if you recall, though it would have been a fair description of Vietnam.

Kennedy is promising to introduce a bill that would block funding for a force above the current numbers unless Congress approves Bush’s plan.

Update (AP): Fox says the first wave of new troops will be in country by the end of the month. If Teddy wants to defund them, he’d better do it before they get there.

Update (AP): Anti-war Republican Sen. Gordon Smith digs Teddy’s demand for a vote to block funding. Alas, Harry Reid prefers the timid, non-binding resolution approach instead.


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Comment pages: 1 2

No prizes for predicting THIS one correctly.

mikeomatic on January 9, 2007 at 3:31 PM

Where’s that photo of topless Teddy?

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on January 9, 2007 at 3:34 PM

So, we will lose Iraq like we did Vietnam, in the halls of Congress and the Capitol.

Mazztek on January 9, 2007 at 3:38 PM

Bah… that blow hard should take a long walk off a short………..

What? he already did that?

Well then.

Where’s Sir. Osis of Liver when you need him?

Jones Zemkophill on January 9, 2007 at 3:53 PM

That man angers me more that Chavez, Ahmadinejad, and Jong Il combined. I am more afraid of liberals than terrorists. IN fact, they are working towards the same goal; the destruction of America. The difference is that the liberals a doing it from the inside and that scares me.

x95b10 on January 9, 2007 at 4:05 PM

Mary Jo Kopechne still unavailable for comment.

Iblis on January 9, 2007 at 4:07 PM

“Senator Kennedy … Jack Daniels on line two”

darwin on January 9, 2007 at 4:09 PM

A war fought with weapons of indiscriminate slaughter, and accompanied by racist rhetoric, with a conscript Army deployed against a highly evolved revolutionary movement is as different as could possibly be from a campaign of precision-guided munitions, with an all-volunteer Army, directed at the overthrow of a hideous and dangerous tyranny, and then taking the form of a drive for free elections and a constitution. If people say that it’s “reminiscent” of Vietnam, it means they don’t remember Vietnam…

…I recall the story of a man. A drunk, over-priveleged, beligerent man. A man who went to a party. A man who wanted to score some top-shelf tail. A man who would have his tail.

I recall the story of this man driving his top-shelf tail away from the party. A horny, drunk, and souless man. A man who couldn’t drive a “stiff d!ck up a pig’s ass” from all the high-end scotch he had consumed at the party. A man who drove his car into a lake.

I recall the story of this man desparate to leave the scene. Desparate to call a lawyer. Desparate to leave the watered corpse of that top-shelf piece of tail.

President Bush, ….IRAQ IS YOUR CHAPPAQUIDDICK!

natesnake on January 9, 2007 at 4:15 PM

Mere bluster, he is giving lip service to the Sheehan/Kos goup ,knowing full well that the surge will be over before the de-funding can occur.

bbz123 on January 9, 2007 at 4:15 PM

Mr. Blowhard, take another drink and sit down you doofuss.

Golfer_75093 on January 9, 2007 at 4:18 PM

When asked how he likes his Scotch, Senator Kennedy replied, “By the gallon.”

This is all par for the course for the least of the Kennedys. I swear, at this point you could replace him with one of those dolls that has a string that you pull to play recorded messages: “Iraq is like Vietnam!” “We need to raise taxes and cut defense!” “Has anyone seen my pants?”

ReubenJCogburn on January 9, 2007 at 4:22 PM

Ted Kennedy says Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam

Ted Kennedy is the disgrace of America

jman on January 9, 2007 at 4:24 PM

Senator Bloviate was in contact with the Kremlin in the mid-80s to help them counter Ronald Reagan’s stratgies and plans. Do you suppose he is working with the jihadists in Iraq to help undermine President Bush?

My apologies to the people of Massachussetts, but the fact that you keep reelecting this treasonous blowhard to the Senate (Along with Waffles) is why I would not want to live in your state. What are you thinking? I would explode within a week of residency.

Mallard T. Drake on January 9, 2007 at 4:25 PM

So now he is dissing his brother?

And like Vietnam, if the politicians force us out, many more thousands or millions will be killed? Good call Senator. The defender of the downtrodden.

right2bright on January 9, 2007 at 4:29 PM

Dear Lord, when will this bloviating sack of flesh expire?
His efforts costs more lives, inflict more misery and sow more seeds of hatred than most external enemies of this nation.

MCPO Airdale on January 9, 2007 at 4:29 PM

If people say that it’s “reminiscent” of Vietnam, it means they don’t remember Vietnam…

Or remember what worm ridden, piece of human fecal matter lead the charge in the Senate that resulted in the uncounted number of deaths, rapes, torture, human suffering and mysery.

I wonder what demons haunt you in your sleep Mr. Kennedy? How much damage have you really done to this country and the planet by your never ending grasp for political power?

And after you defund the troops, what’s next? That’s right, citizenship for 20 million illegals and no border fence!

PinkyBigglesworth on January 9, 2007 at 4:36 PM

What teddy should say is…’I hope for America’s defeat…I hate GW’…that’s what teddy is all about…he has no plan to win the war on terror…he’ll politicize, obstruct, and mislead…whatever it takes for America to lose…

The wrong person died in kennedy’s car…damn shame…

Good point…he’s nothing but a drunken, bloviating sack of flesh…

areseaoh on January 9, 2007 at 4:39 PM

I wonder what demons haunt you in your sleep Mr. Kennedy

No Demons because…

When asked how he likes his Scotch, Senator Kennedy replied, “By the gallon.”

No brain function. What. So. Ever.

KelliD on January 9, 2007 at 4:39 PM

Wow, so I guess the blood of 2 million from his last “quagmire” hasn’t taught him not to defund the military and pull out during a war. No wonder he’s such a drunkard-it must be hard to drown out the voices of all the people his actions caused to die.

NTWR on January 9, 2007 at 4:39 PM

“There! The white whale! HE RISES!!”
– Moby Dick

mojo on January 9, 2007 at 4:47 PM

Mary Jo Kopechne had bigger balls than Ted Kennedy. God rest her soul.

E L Frederick (Sniper One) on January 9, 2007 at 4:49 PM

WTF? I heard him saying, “George Butcher’s Vietnam”.

The man scubadriver suffers from pickled brain and tongue, with no connection between the two.

fogw on January 9, 2007 at 4:57 PM

Looks like Teddy wants to drive the Iraq War off the bridge just like he did the Vietnam War. If you’ll remember, he’s the one that led the successful effort to reneg on our agreement to provide air support should the North invade the South. He pulled the plug on our South Vietnamese allies when the North invaded, who were well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

Tantor on January 9, 2007 at 5:07 PM

55,195 more Americans died in Vietnam than in Iraq, meanwhile 3013 less people died at Chappequiddick than in Iraq. Which is a better analogy?

BohicaTwentyTwo on January 9, 2007 at 5:11 PM

I’ve been noticing the incorrect use of a few words and the English major in me wanted to help you guys clear a few things up. All definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster.

Treason- the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign’s family

Sedition- incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Subversion- a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within

Hope that helps…happy ranting!

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 5:16 PM

Ted Kennedy says Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam

Not at all.

Bush has been to Iraq.

honora on January 9, 2007 at 5:21 PM

“One bourbon, one scotch and one beer” George Thorogood.

Okay Ted. Here’s your brain without alcohol. Here’s your brain that’s been abused by alcohol.

Ted, this ain’t nothing like Vietnam, my good Senator Phinius T. Blowhard.

USN6872 on January 9, 2007 at 5:24 PM

This in no way parallels Vietnam.

Kini on January 9, 2007 at 5:25 PM

Okay, is it correct to say that Teddy Kennedy is a treasonous and seditious subversive?

Mallard T. Drake on January 9, 2007 at 5:26 PM

Can you imagine what we would be hearing if Ted had died instead of Mary Jo?

The wailing and knashing of teeth over the martyerdom of another promising Kennedy. Makes you wonder just what would have been wrought by JFK and Bobby had they lived. Were they REALLY any different than Teddy?

csdeven on January 9, 2007 at 5:33 PM

Okay, is it correct to say that Teddy Kennedy is a treasonous and seditious subversive?

Nice Mallard.

And for Christmas this year Jaherer got a dictionary and a ………

Fill in the rest, bloggers.

fogw on January 9, 2007 at 5:44 PM

Okay, is it correct to say that Teddy Kennedy is a treasonous and seditious subversive?

Mallard T. Drake on January 9, 2007 at 5:26 PM

Actually, no. Did you even read the definitions? If you are committing treasonous acts you working overtly; if you are committing subversive acts you are working secretly from within. Can’t have it both ways Mallard, you’ll have to pick just one. What would you do without me? Contradict yourself and look silly, that’s what.

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM

Come on fogw, you know us liberals don’t celebrate Christmas, we’re at war with it for God’s sake! If I accepted Christmas presents while I was at war with Christmas that would mean I was guilty of…

Fill in the blank and we’ll see if my English lesson did you any good…

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:06 PM

Actually, no. Did you even read the definitions? …What would you do without me? Contradict yourself and look silly, that’s what.

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM

Frank Zappa was right; sarcasm doesn’t translate in the written form.

Mallard T. Drake on January 9, 2007 at 6:14 PM

Big fat blowhard creep………….why couldn’t that lightning bolt have brought down his plane??

Mellen on January 9, 2007 at 6:16 PM

Come on fogw, you know us liberals don’t celebrate Christmas, we’re at war with it for God’s sake! If I accepted Christmas presents while I was at war with Christmas that would mean I was guilty of … willing to wage war on Christmas but unwilling to wage war on terrorism.

Fill in the blank and we’ll see if my English lesson did you any good…

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:06 PM

That was easy.

fogw on January 9, 2007 at 6:27 PM

That was easy.

fogw on January 9, 2007 at 6:27 PM

Fish in a barrel…

Mallard T. Drake on January 9, 2007 at 6:35 PM

Frank Zappa, God bless his soul, was right about a lot of things, including:

Republicans is fine if you’re a multi-millionaire.
Democrats is fair if all you own is what you wear.
Neither of ‘em’s really right
’cause neither of ‘em care
’bout that Hotplate Heaven,
’cause they ain’t been there!

Parley on January 9, 2007 at 6:39 PM

Yeah, Teddy.

And the democrats’ Viet Nam was . . . Viet Nam.

Labamigo on January 9, 2007 at 6:53 PM

Looks like Teddy wants to drive the Iraq War off the bridge just like he did the Vietnam War. If you’ll remember, he’s the one that led the successful effort to reneg on our agreement to provide air support should the North invade the South. He pulled the plug on our South Vietnamese allies when the North invaded, who were well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

Tantor on January 9, 2007 at 5:07 PM

Yep, and wasn’t that breaking our treaty with the South? So Kennedy has the blood of 2 million murdered South Vietnamese on his hands and he wants to cause the SAME destruction in Iraq. What a sick, twisted, slimy bastard. And notice the liberals are all foaming to be part of the massacre of millions of Iraqis. They all want their names to go down in “her”story as being part of another bloodbath. Talk about fomenting terrorism…

NTWR on January 9, 2007 at 6:57 PM

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM

Working with the Russians secretly.
Openly undermining the office of the President and its foreign operations.

There is 2 out of 3 for you. Want to go for 3 for 3?

right2bright on January 9, 2007 at 7:09 PM

I curse the people who vote for him :p
Oh and Attila (Pillage Idiot) you asked

Where’s that photo of topless Teddy?

just go here to get an eye full, then gouge it out.

Laura02420 on January 9, 2007 at 7:10 PM

I love this – it clarifies all parties’ stands, for now, for 2008 and forever! No waffling, because there are no elections coming up in the next weeks!

The one who has cramps over this is…Mrs. Clinton. Must make a decision! She’s got the facts.

Entelechy on January 9, 2007 at 7:14 PM

This Fat Bastard hasn’t had a sober thought in twenty years. Just keep voting him in Mass. and the rest of the country will be gratefull to you for ever!

NEMETI IN SYRACUSE on January 9, 2007 at 7:34 PM

JaHerer22 gave dictionary definitions for “treason,”
“sedition” and “subversion.” What matter here, however, is the legal definition of “treason” in the United States Code title for crimes. The legal definition is different. The Rosenbergs were not executed for attempting to overthrow the U.S. Government or to kill President Truman.

Phil Byler on January 9, 2007 at 7:54 PM

Vince Foster is Bill Clinton’s Chappaquiddick.

HerrMorgenholz on January 9, 2007 at 7:59 PM

Ted Kennedy says Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam

That’s interesting since if we do lose in Iraq that it’ll be more Edward Morrow Kennedy’s fault than George Bush’s.
Were it not for undermining, low life liberals Iraq would be one helluva lot closer to seeing Americans leave for home.

Speakup on January 9, 2007 at 8:29 PM

We need to remember history. South Vietnam only fell in 1975 after the Democrats cut off funding to South Vietnam and North Vietnam launched a massive land invasion. In March 1972, when we had withdrawn almost all our troops and North Vietnam had launched a large scale land invasion of South Vietnam, North Vietnam’s land invasion was beaten back by the South Vietnamese with American support in air bombing, naval gun fire and advisors. The Democrats insisted on defeat in Vietnam.

Phil Byler on January 9, 2007 at 8:47 PM

when kennedy recites lbj quotes which called for more troops in vietnam as a prop to support his proposal to remove u.s. troops altogether, the thing that he is in fact arguing for is to short-circuit to the outcome he had a part in achieving in vietnam.

ted kennedy wants the killing fields to begin sooner this time.

progressives are monsters.

jummy on January 9, 2007 at 10:01 PM

Ted Kennedy is Americas Vietnam, Americas Nightmare (actually, horses patoot), Al Frankenberry Michael Moore and Pizza(Jaba) the Hut all rolled into one.

He can’t get pass his own ego. Or see over his gut.

I worry about his passion for this country, that he’ll gladly sell out everyone just because he think he knows best.

I didn’t vote for Ted to be Cmdr in Chief. So, sit down and SHUT UP you publicity seeking hound.

Kini on January 9, 2007 at 10:51 PM

Ted Kennedy belongs at the bottom of a lake. It boggles my mind how the Commonwealth of MA sends this blow hard back to the Senate every six years.

Catie96706 on January 9, 2007 at 11:37 PM

And Chappaquiddick was Teddy Kennedy’s Rubicon.

(Emphasis on con.)

Actually Iraq is Bush’s potential Battle of Lepanto.

If we take off the p.c. gloves and crush the terrorists -and all who support them- while we have the overwhelming strength.

Only the will is lacking.

Because the Media and fools like TK work like termites to undermine our national instinct to resist a global theocratic tyranny on the resrugence.

A coalescing despotism far more dangerous than the Nazis, Communists and fascists rolled into one malignant ball.

I hear the trumpet of Roland in the distance…

(Which Teddy would mistake for Last Call in his pixillated state.)

profitsbeard on January 9, 2007 at 11:46 PM

There’s something creepy about the Democratic decision to hail the heroes of Vietnam, from Kerry to Clark, and to denigrate the extraordinary effort being made to salvage Iraq and to pursue and kill people who really are, unlike the Viet Cong, the common enemies of humanity.

Absolutely true. It’s hypocrisy like this from the left that really shows what they stand for – say whatever needs to be said to get in power.

Jaherer, thank you for informing us that you were an English major – it explains a lot.

Rick on January 10, 2007 at 12:12 AM

Not sedition because he’s not secret about it.

Senator, your pie hole is leaking.

htom on January 10, 2007 at 12:58 AM

First of all, does any Kennedy go by their given name?
Second, Edward, STFU Blowfish!

R D on January 10, 2007 at 1:27 AM

Why doesn’t Ted go jump in a lake?

Oh wait…

Black Adam on January 10, 2007 at 1:45 AM

Hopefully, the Dems will now be more open about their undeniable compulsion to hand victory to al-Qaeda, or any US enemy. The difficulty in dealing with them since 9/11 has always been their slick rhetoric and duplicity, but “coming out” for American defeat a la Vietnam at least makes the domestic battleground easier to see for what it actually is: the American Left is collaborating with the enemy. Instead of their ridiculous denials, let them say it, and let’s at least respect their honesty when they do.

Halley on January 10, 2007 at 2:14 AM

Ted is wrong. (Are you shocked?) The war in Vietnam was not resolved diplomatically; it was resolved militarily, when the north invaded the south in 1975.

We need to remember history. South Vietnam only fell in 1975 after the Democrats cut off funding to South Vietnam and North Vietnam launched a massive land invasion. In March 1972, when we had withdrawn almost all our troops and North Vietnam had launched a large scale land invasion of South Vietnam, North Vietnam’s land invasion was beaten back by the South Vietnamese with American support in air bombing, naval gun fire and advisors. The Democrats insisted on defeat in Vietnam.
Phil Byler on January 9, 2007 at 8:47 PM

I couldn’t have said it better myself, except to add that Americans had not been in battle in Vietnam for at least 1/2 a year before the democrats took the money away. This opened the door for the commies to take over and millions died. The left likes to say that the feared domino effect never came about… but in fact it did, had we not held the north in check for 10 years it would have been far worse.

Gwillie on January 10, 2007 at 2:26 AM

What would you do without me? Contradict yourself and look silly, that’s what.

JaHerer22 on January 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM

You are such a femme-troll: a useless, dishonest, ignorant nit-picking little twit who NEVER offers an original thought on this blog, never agrees with a conservative idea or Republican policy, and never adds anything to any discussion.

I appeal to Higher Powers that you be banned, in the name of felicity and comity and Common Sense, as you are a Complete Tool–and whatever entertainment value you might have temporarily had disappeared a long time ago…..

at the very least, I propose a Trial Period, where you have a week to come up with one original, intelligent thought that contributes anything to any worthwhile debate–no snarking, juvelile, prissy Cheap Shots allowed

Janos Hunyadi on January 10, 2007 at 2:59 AM

JaHerer22 wrote:

Treason- the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign’s family

Sedition- incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

As usual, this leftist fool and troll is wrong. He, like all his breed, have no idea what treason and sedition actually are. Perhaps if they did, they would cease committing these two crimes as often as they do.

Treason (Article 3, Section 3, US Constitution):

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open Court.

It is MUCH, MUCH more than a “Putsch” or attempting to assassinate the President or his family. It is EMBRACING THE CAUSE OF, AND GIVING AID AND COMFORT TO, our enemies.

Congress has enacted into the US Code (as permitted under Article 3, Section 3, Paragraph 2) the following statutes dealing with treason and sedition:

18 USC 2381:

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

You will note that it is not “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance…” as this fool claims! It includes the offense of AIDING AND ABETTING an enemy of the United States.

By the definition in the Constitution, Ramsey Clark, John Kerry, and Ted Kennedy are TRAITORS because all three have given aid and comfort to an enemy. Clark was on Saddam’s payroll before, during and after the invasion. Kerry went to Paris to coordinate the activities of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War with the North Vietnamese government. Ted Kennedy offered help to the Soviet Union to counter Ronald Reagan’s policies.

Sedition (”seditious conspiracy”) is defined in 18 USC 2384 as:

If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

John Kerry’s vote at a meeting of the national directors of the VVAW that considered a plot to murder 6 United States Senators in 1971 was an ACT OF SEDITION.

georgej on January 10, 2007 at 7:07 AM

…. yeah, this doesn’t embolden the terrorists in any way.

I know people hate when I say this because they think I’m taking all responsibility away from President Bush, but seriously, what can he do when the Dems have insisted on dividing us ever since 2003 when they smelled the 2004 elections coming? The terrorists play to Kennedy and friends, and it’s working. Let’s see, terrorist groups endorsed the Dems in the last 2 elections, attacks were oddly stepped up 3.5 years in to the war when they saw a victory for themselves/Dems on the horizon, AQ took credit for the 2006 Dem victory, etc. etc.

Don’t dismiss this so quickly. I don’t think anyone is stupid enough to claim that anyone can match us in a fight… but they can defeat us in Washington, and the Dems are all to happy to speed up the process, and again have been since late 2003. If the Dems could keep with the tradition of ONE foreign policy and standing behind the Commander in Chief in a time of war, I maintain that we wouldn’t be looking at the same Iraq today. I think it’s almost certain we wouldn’t have nearly the amount of people there, and I believe it’s even possible that we’d be virtually gone, or at least not leading operations… but I don’t think “operations” would even be a necessary regular event the way they are now.

Sickening. Fu** you and all your shameful friends Ted Kennedy.

“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
– Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

In closing, and someone unrelated I just want to post something I had wanted to find for a while, but hadn’t run across it until this week.

I think we can agree that Edwards became anti-war the day he agreed to jump on the John “Bush is a liar” Kerry ticket in 2004, and has lately bashed McCain for troop increase ideas, and has essentially tried to make a name for himself as THE anti-war 2008 candidate.

Here’s what this POS said on October 13, 2003 on Hardball:

MATTHEWS: Let me ask but the war, because I know these are all students and a lot of guys the age of these students are fighting over there and cleaning up over there, and they’re doing the occupation.

Were we right to go to this war alone, basically without the Europeans behind us? Was that something we had to do?

EDWARDS: I think that we were right to go. I think we were right to go to the United Nations. I think we couldn’t let those who could veto in the Security Council hold us hostage.

And I think Saddam Hussein, being gone is good. Good for the American people, good for the security of that region of the world, and good for the Iraqi people.

MATTHEWS: If you think the decision, which was made by the president, when basically he saw the French weren’t with us and the Germans and the Russians weren’t with us, was he right to say, “We’re going anyway”?

EDWARDS: I stand behind my support of that, yes.

MATTHEWS: You believe in that?

EDWARDS: Yes.

MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about-Since you did support the resolution and you did support that ultimate solution to go into combat and to take over that government and occupy that country. Do you think that you, as a United States Senator, got the straight story from the Bush administration on this war? On the need for the war? Did you get the straight story?

EDWARDS: Well, the first thing I should say is I take responsibility for my vote. Period. And I did what I did based upon a belief, Chris, that Saddam Hussein’s potential for getting nuclear capability was what created the threat. That was always the focus of my concern. Still is the focus of my concern.

So did I get misled? No. I didn’t get misled.

MATTHEWS: Did you get an honest reading on the intelligence?

EDWRADS: But now we’re getting to the second part of your question.

I think we have to get to the bottom of this. I think there’s clear inconsistency between what’s been found in Iraq and what we were told.

And as you know, I serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee. So it wasn’t just the Bush administration. I sat in meeting after meeting after meeting where we were told about the presence of weapons of mass destruction. There is clearly a disconnect between what we were told and what, in fact, we found there.

MATTHEWS: If you knew last October when you had to cast an aye or nay vote for this war, that we would be unable to find weapons of mass destruction after all these months there, would you still have supported the war?

EDWARDS: It wouldn’t change my views. I said before, I think that the threat here was a unique threat. It was Saddam Hussein, the potential for Saddam getting nuclear weapons, given his history and the fact that he started the war before.

MATTHEWS: Do you feel now that you have evidence in your hands that he was on the verge of getting nuclear weapons?

EDWARDS: No, I wouldn’t go that far.

MATTHES: What would you say?

EDWARDS: What I would say is there’s a decade long pattern of an effort to get nuclear capability, from the former Soviet Union, trying to get access to scientists…

Why does anyone still bother being civil with Democrats? I’m tired of this sh** being allowed to stand.

RightWinged on January 10, 2007 at 7:43 AM

They shot JFK, they shot RFK, why the heck did they stop?!?

E L Frederick (Sniper One) on January 10, 2007 at 7:49 AM

RW writes: “Why does anyone still bother being civil with Democrats?”

Good question.

The answer is a non-violent “Chicago Way.” Look it up.

The Democrats destroyed comity over a decade ago. They have mounted shrill attacks against Republicans then and continue today. The last 6 years have been nothing but unremitting, shrill, personal attacks against President Bush by the Democrats. They have insulted him, his daughters, and his wife. They have made up lies, used forged documents in a concerted attempt to destroy his presidency.

And, as I have pointed out, the Democratic leadership, their allies in the media, and the left fringe have been OPENLY aiding and abetting Al Qaeda, and the Iraqi Sunnis (Ba’athists and insurgents) and Shiites. They have deliberately disclosed national security secrets to the press. They have disclosed sources and methods used in intelligence gathering. They have LIED about what Saddam did prior to the war, and that have deliberately sabotaged the war for political advantage, as a discovered memo from Sen Jay Rockefeller proved.

Other than daily or social pleasantries, I’ve long since dropped any attempt at civility in my dealings with them. They *ARE* *WITH* the enemies of this country during a time of war. The party, under control of America’s leftwing, has transformed from strong defenders of America’s national security as under Wilson, FDR, Truman, and Kennedy, into a party that openly and deliberately sabotages national security.

If America is to survive the war against Islamofascism, the Democrats, the media, and the leftwing must cease and desist in its attempts to sabotage the war. Or the Democratic Party, as a viable political institution, along with it’s influence and allies in the media, must be neutralized.

georgej on January 10, 2007 at 8:07 AM

TERM LIMITS ANYONE?

budorob on January 10, 2007 at 8:46 AM

I guess Jaherd is trying to defend Kennedy in an oh, so weak way. . . however. . .he’s being silly. Of course one can be subversive and treasonous at the same time. One can act in a subversive manner, and in doing so, create (or attempt to create) a chain of events that constitutes treason; thereby being both subversive and treasonous at the same time. Kennedy is a perfect example of such (that should more accurately read that Kennedy offers multiple examples).

The assertion that the two are mutually exclusive is incorrect.

Jason Coleman on January 10, 2007 at 8:52 AM

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment

Wade on January 10, 2007 at 9:03 AM

Enough, Enough of that bloated old drunk.

rplat on January 10, 2007 at 9:12 AM

In Vietnam, we lost 58,000 men; that is nearly twenty times the dead we have in Iraq. Great comparison Teddy… go crawl back into your bottle of Scotch.

E L Frederick (Sniper One) on January 10, 2007 at 9:32 AM

Take a close look at teddy’s nose…It’s a hanging piece of wrinkled flesh…years of drinking and coke have taken their toll…

I quit drinking scotch a long time ago when I found out that the kennedy’s get their money from royalties from scotch imports…

areseaoh on January 10, 2007 at 9:47 AM

As I seem to recall (being about 6 or 7 at the time) The Democrats are the ones who got us into the Vietnam war.

Ted only wants this to be another Vietnam war. The Democrats yearn for another Vietnam war. They (and the MSM) are trying their upmost to make this another vietnam war. Gerogej’s post above makes all this clear.

Seems Ted misses the ‘Re-education Centers’ of Vietnam and ‘Killing Fields’ of Cambodia.

And like Vietnam Ted and his cronies want to cut the funding and leave them to their fate. However he forgets that our brave soldiers are still over there and it won’t be just Iraqis who will die after he abandons them but Americans.

CrazyFool on January 10, 2007 at 10:26 AM

georgej on January 10, 2007 at 8:07 AM

Thanks for confirming that I’m not totally crazy. I’m really sick and tired of tolerating Democrats… but if we don’t, we look like the loons because the media has done a good job at hiding just how evil the left is and that they ARE WITH THE ENEMY as long as it assists them politically and in taking down Bush.

RightWinged on January 10, 2007 at 10:35 AM

I know people hate when I say this because they think I’m taking all responsibility away from President Bush, but seriously, what can he do when the Dems have insisted on dividing us ever since 2003 when they smelled the 2004 elections coming?

Why does anyone still bother being civil with Democrats? I’m tired of this sh** being allowed to stand.

RightWinged on January 10, 2007 at 7:43 AM

You’re tired???? Hey Sparky, is he or is he not CIC? Every decision re Iraq has been his. You want to loathe liberals/Dems whatever, have at it.

But let’s have a tad of intellectual honesty, shall we? I have repeatedly asked for any examples of how Dems have in any way adversely affected the conduct of the war in Iraq and all I get is either silence or some Unibomberesque reply.

This is not a constant sum game, you can throw blame on both Bush and the Dems if that makes you feel better, but remember where the buck stops.

honora on January 10, 2007 at 11:01 AM

You may not accept it honora, but I just explained it at 7:43, and many times before… there’s no point in repeating it in an indepth manner (as has been done constantly) because you’ll only take the liberal route of diverting and changing the subject by taking out single sentence fragments of larger points and trying to argue over them… We’ve all wasted our times with liberals doing this too many times.

This “buck stops” is crap, when these people made the WMD case and voted for the war, and within months were opposing it and essentially promising defeat… Does that not embolden terrorists? If we are united and we maintain our ONE FOREIGN POLICY no one would think for a second that they stand a chance. It is politics that is losing this war, and there is NOTHING Bush can do to overcome it. And that’s not even getting in to the fact that you can’t beat a lying mass media that is clearly even further left than the elected Dems. You may not accept that there is a liberal media, etc… but there’s your explanation I didn’t think I was going to bother reiterating. You may dishonestly insist that daily creation of bogus “scandals” and dividing the country over the war (which has been ALL DEMS) doesn’t help the enemy, and enemy that would have been crushed if we were together and didn’t have the Dems and media lying day in and day out… you can dishonestly insist that all day long if you’d like… but I’ve given you your answer (which I wasn’t intending to spell out for you child). Perhaps if you consider what would have happened if we had the media and left today back in WWII, etc. and you’ll understand.

And if you need proof that the media is far more powerful than any branch of government, consider what I always point out… An EXTREME majority of Americans rank their own financial situation positively, yet a vast majority rank the economy negatively… how can that be?! Would you agree that 99.99% of the public aren’t economists and outside of their own finances, rely on the media to tell them about the economy (jobs, unemployment, housing, etc. etc.) If you have an honest bone in your body, you’ll admit that the negative view of the economy is from MEDIA PORTRAYAL because as I said, they are happy with their own finances… these people are lead to believe that they are a fluke and one of the “lucky” few, even though in reality the numbers show they are an extreme majority.

That’s just the economy, but the same holds true across all topics, ESPECIALLY THE WAR… Which is why the troops hate the media’s coverage of what they’re doing and consistently tell visitors that the media isn’t telling the true story….

RightWinged on January 10, 2007 at 11:16 AM

spam filter?

RightWinged on January 10, 2007 at 11:17 AM

But let’s have a tad of intellectual honesty, shall we? I have repeatedly asked for any examples of how Dems have in any way adversely affected the conduct of the war in Iraq and all I get is either silence or some Unibomberesque reply.

Dems adversely affect the outcome of the war in Iraq, endangering our troops and enabling our enemies by their constant drumbeat of criticism on how Bush conducts the war, how Bush lied, how we lacked enough troops, how we can’t win, how it’s an all out civil war, how we can’t control the insurgency, how we torture, how we mistreat prisoners at Abu Guraib and Guitmo, how it’s taking to long, how too many American troops have been killed or injured, and on and on.

For Christ’s sake honora, wake up. The Dems want us to lose the war, so they can say Bush lost the war. They are about defeating Bush, when they should be about defeating the enemy.

fogw on January 10, 2007 at 11:23 AM

And if you need proof that the media is far more powerful than any branch of government, consider what I always point out… An EXTREME majority of Americans rank their own financial situation positively, yet a vast majority rank the economy negatively… how can that be?! Would you agree that 99.99% of the public aren’t economists and outside of their own finances, rely on the media to tell them about the economy (jobs, unemployment, housing, etc. etc.) If you have an honest bone in your body, you’ll admit that the negative view of the economy is from MEDIA PORTRAYAL because as I said, they are happy with their own finances… these people are lead to believe that they are a fluke and one of the “lucky” few, even though in reality the numbers show they are an extreme majority.

Well explain then how most people rated their own and the country’s economy positively in the 80s? Where RR was president?

honora on January 10, 2007 at 11:28 AM

But let’s have a tad of intellectual honesty, shall we? I have repeatedly asked for any examples of how Dems have in any way adversely affected the conduct of the war in Iraq and all I get is either silence or some Unibomberesque reply.

honora on January 10, 2007 at 11:01 AM

You’re joking, right?? I sure hope so, because if not, you just haven’t been paying attention to about 99% of what people comment on here at HA.

Rick on January 10, 2007 at 11:29 AM

Dems adversely affect the outcome of the war in Iraq, endangering our troops and enabling our enemies by their constant drumbeat of criticism on how Bush conducts the war, how Bush lied, how we lacked enough troops, how we can’t win, how it’s an all out civil war, how we can’t control the insurgency, how we torture, how we mistreat prisoners at Abu Guraib and Guitmo, how it’s taking to long, how too many American troops have been killed or injured, and on and on.

For Christ’s sake honora, wake up. The Dems want us to lose the war, so they can say Bush lost the war. They are about defeating Bush, when they should be about defeating the enemy.

fogw on January 10, 2007 at 11:23 AM

Well your last paragraph is bunk, but let me address the first: say everything you say is true. The conclusion then is the Dems are loathesome creeps and Bush is a sniveling little coward.

What if Lincoln or FDR reacted to their critics by vacillating and completely abdicating their responsibility as leader? We would all be in a fine mess.

Sorry. He’s the CIC, his watch, his decisions. To quote Harry again, If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

honora on January 10, 2007 at 11:32 AM

You’re joking, right?? I sure hope so, because if not, you just haven’t been paying attention to about 99% of what people comment on here at HA.

Rick on January 10, 2007 at 11:29 AM

Not at all. Take a look at at fogw’s response to my question. Lots of words, but what it comes down to is: the Democrats have criticized the President. Too damned bad. You make stupid mistakes, this is what happens. Are people who see this train wreck supposed to just grin and bear it?

That’s patriotic?

Hardly.

BTW, do you pick anyone this weekend not a home team? Me neither….

honora on January 10, 2007 at 11:36 AM

Well your last paragraph is bunk,

Righhhhhhhht. Dems love Bush and wish him nothing but the best. HAHAHAHAHA Missed Kennedy’s speech yesterday did ya?

The conclusion then is the Dems are loathesome creeps and Bush is a sniveling little coward.

The former is my conclusion, the latter is yours. I submit BJ Clinton was the sniveling little coward when it came to combatting terrorism. “Subpoena Obama will ya Reno.” HAHAHAHAHA

What if Lincoln or FDR reacted to their critics by vacillating and completely abdicating their responsibility as leader?

WTF? When did Bush abdicate his responsibility? You liberal whackjobs are the ones bitching about his every move on the conduct of the war. If he abdicated his responsibilities, what’s there to complain about?

fogw on January 10, 2007 at 11:47 AM

But let’s have a tad of intellectual honesty, shall we? I have repeatedly asked for any examples of how Dems have in any way adversely affected the conduct of the war in Iraq and all I get is either silence or some Unibomberesque reply.

Honora

Unibomberesque – I like that description. Hope the following doesn’t drift too much – bottom line is I don’t think there are specific examples.

I do think that finding specific examples is less the point than the manner in which the debate has been framed. Rather than mature dialogue, constant use of the words failure and losing the war have been used. Neither is really accurate in any real context of the meanings.
In private discussions with the president it is appropriate if that is what they really feel. There is some value in having a united face the world sees, otherwise it gives the terrorists/insurgents more motive to blow up our men and women over there and that is where I think it does have an adverse affect.
There used to be a time where the public face of congress supported war efforts while the private conversations brought up the concerns. This approach always helps in making sure the pres doesn’t isolate themselves.
Personally I think the Dems will only huff and puff and the Repubs will largely sit off on the sidelines. No one of either party is too eager to stand with the Pres or to withhold funds to influence the outcome. In 2008 he is old news and only when it seems that we have turned the corner on either pulling out and leaving chaos or establishing stability will any pols of note take a side.

But you are correct about where the buck stops. Truman left office with a 22% approval rating – I think Bush will go out similarly – heck you can see the diehard righties in this forum already criticizing him as not doing enough or too much, depending on the issue.
He has staked his presidency on Iraq and won’t relent at this point.

Bradky on January 10, 2007 at 11:49 AM

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