Keep hope alive: The surge didn’t work, says Reid
posted at 9:49 pm on December 3, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Lesser men may cut and run but the only way Battlin’ Harry’s leaving the field of defeat is if he’s carried off. Victory — in next year’s Senate races — is within reach.
This is no time to quit.
Democrats are increasingly bailing on their previously held view that the troop surge in Iraq has been a “failure,” but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon with other Democrats who say the surge has worked.
The Senate re-opened for business on Monday after a two-week Thanksgiving break, during which key Democrats traveled to Iraq and declared that the surge is working, at least from a security and military perspective. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), one the top war critics, stunned fellow Democrats late last week with his statement that “the surge is working,” even though he added that political reconciliation has been lagging. Murtha’s view was backed by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), who also said the surge worked after he returned from Iraq.
But Reid, in a Monday press conference, ceded no ground.
“The surge hasn’t accomplished its goals,” Reid said. “… We’re involved, still, in an intractable civil war.”
He vowed in April not to believe any reports of progress, and darned if he hasn’t been as good as gold in keeping that promise.
I ask you: Is a man’s word worth nothing anymore?
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Reality based.
Good Lt on December 3, 2007 at 9:53 PM
An utter disgrace . When the Karma train comes bearing down on this weasel it won’t be pretty.
bbz123 on December 3, 2007 at 9:54 PM
He’s pretty much trapped. What else can he say when the “we lost” quotes are just waiting to be played?
May as well keep the nutroots happy.
Dash on December 3, 2007 at 9:55 PM
How could be still be involved in a war if we already lost it this past Summer, according to this world-class asshat?
Even his tapdancing sucks.
profitsbeard on December 3, 2007 at 9:56 PM
Harry’s nuttier than squirrel pooh…
d1carter on December 3, 2007 at 9:56 PM
I really hope he keeps on talking like this.
nailinmyeye on December 3, 2007 at 9:56 PM
What did not work was Reid’s defeatism. My older son, a U.S. Army First Lieutenant (with Ranger tab), in October finished his first extended tour of duty in Iraq as an infantry plstoon leader, and so I say with pride I know what he and his fellow soldiers were doing in implementing a successful strategy. To me, Reid is a disgrace to the country. Nevada needs to retire him.
Phil Byler on December 3, 2007 at 9:56 PM
“Congressmen who willfully take action during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged.” – Abraham Lincoln.
ticticboom on December 3, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Really though, what can he say. He is beyond committed with the previous comments he has made. Not like he can backtrack now.
muyoso on December 3, 2007 at 9:57 PM
He’s heavily invested in an al Qaeda victory. Even Murtha can see the writing on the wall but ole Dingy Harry’s still pullin for bin Laden.
Buzzy on December 3, 2007 at 9:58 PM
And when it does finally run him down, I hope it stops, backs up, and runs him down again.
Guardian on December 3, 2007 at 10:02 PM
democrat first. american second. nice job.
lorien1973 on December 3, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Me too.
Zorro on December 3, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Can someone tell me again how you can describe his behavior (and that of all the Democrats) as anything less than evil?
RightWinged on December 3, 2007 at 10:05 PM
He can say, I was wrong. That builds credibility with people. When you deny the obvious, it’s like the black death.
Besides Perot splitting the vote, one major reason Clinton won against GW I was because GW kept denying the economy was in recession. Fair minded American people hate being played for fools and that’s what they think you’re doing when you lie to their face.
TheBigOldDog on December 3, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Who are ya gonna believe Reid or your lyin’ eyes?
TheSitRep on December 3, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Baghdad Bob was more convincing.
What a turd.
danking70 on December 3, 2007 at 10:11 PM
I can understand the sentiment as a Republican-voter. But as Americans, none of us should want this kind of talk from our elected leaders. Someone said earlier that these words from Harry Reid are an example of being a Democrat first, American second. I agree. However, cheering this on is an example of being a Republican first, American second.
We should all be hoping that the Democrat party comes to its senses for the sake of America, not going insane for the sake of the Republican party.
This war is not about partisanship. We need a strong, bi-partisan unity here to defeat this threat we face. This is not called The Long War for nothing.
It is absolutely necessary that the Democrats come back to their senses for the sake of this country.
I sincerely believe that if the Left and the Democrat Party had not gone insane with BDS the last 4-5 years, we would be much, much further along in progressing in this Long War.
Michael in MI on December 3, 2007 at 10:12 PM
SORE LOSER
SouthernGent on December 3, 2007 at 10:13 PM
We should encourage Nevada to succeed from the union…
DwnSouthJukin on December 3, 2007 at 10:14 PM
RightWinged, they’re beyond evil. Nothing, but nothing matters, except votes/winnings. They stand for absolutely nothing beyond that. Imus, Mr. Reich, Mr. Rich, not your paragons of conservatism, all said/wrote about it, Hillary in specific, in the last day.
Good people of Nevada, recall this disgrace.
p.s. that picture of him is priceless.
Entelechy on December 3, 2007 at 10:16 PM
The turd suffers from Dementia with dry mouth.
Ever notice how he smacks when he lies? Which is ALL THE FRIGGIN’ TIME!
He makes me puke.
SouthernPride on December 3, 2007 at 10:17 PM
The only way I can say that his actions are evil is if he really does realize the threat we face from Islam in this Long War. If he completely understands the threat and is willing to allow this country to be destroyed from within for the sake of trying to have the Democrat Party gain power in this country, then, yes, I would say he is acting in an evil manner.
However, I believe that many people on the Left and in the Democrat Party are simply completely ignorant or completely naive to the threat we face. Part of it is that they are so infected with BDS and so power-hungry that it clouds their judgement to be reasonable.
Honestly, the Republicans are not any better at understanding the threat we face. Most of them are simply acting in a partisan manner in supporting the war effort and supporting the military. But I seriously doubt very many politicians/elected leaders in this country have any clue as to the history of Islam, its goals for the world and the true threat we face as a civilization.
Think about it. Have any elected leaders come forward to help explain to the American people the threat of Islam and the seriousness of The Long War? No. None of them have. Because they know that is not “politically correct”. Or they are simply completely ignorant about the issue. But if anyone in a leadership position in government actually understands the seriousness of this Long War and is not coming forth to press the issue (a la the leaders who stepped forward to warn the world of the Nazi threat), they are as guilty as the Democrats.
While I wholeheartedly condemn Harry Reid for either acting deliberately evil or ignorantly partisan, there is blame to go around. The Republicans have done absolutely nothing to advance the necessary debate that needs to happen in the West in the face of the threat from totalitarian Islam.
Michael in MI on December 3, 2007 at 10:21 PM
Surely you mean secede :)
Entelechy on December 3, 2007 at 10:21 PM
MSNBC was saying this same thing today… they must have gotten the talking points memo from the traitor’s desk…
these people are aiding enemy…
Kaptain Amerika on December 3, 2007 at 10:22 PM
I’m at a loss of words that are foul enough to describe this (ug), man.
I don’t understand why he stays here and doesn’t just go and enlist with al-quaida,… oh except he can do more damage doing exactly what he’s doing now.
4shoes on December 3, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Case in point… The Saudi Arabian government punishes women for being in the car with a man not her partner with 90 lashes. Yet when the First Lady of the USA goes there, all she does is sit with some ladies with bags covering their entire bodies, dons a hijab to honor their “culture” and only talks about breast cancer awareness. Nevermind the fact that this same “culture” that we are told to respect also has citizens punish the woman for her “crime” with gang rape. After which, the government sentences her to 120 more lashes, because she committed adultery by getting raped.
Yet, what are Republicans saying about this? What is the President saying about this? What is First Lady Laura Bush saying about this? What is N.O.W. saying about this? What is the Left saying about this.
NOTHING.
That is just as much a problem as Harry Reid.
Michael in MI on December 3, 2007 at 10:27 PM
Rightwinged,they’er beyond evil.
Entelechy on December 3,2007 at 10:16PM.
Entelechy:How’d your sub party shindig go;Hey,it’s the
media that’s going to elect the lib’s,I wish people could
see the all the faces of the Liberal newscasters the night
or days after Al Gore lost,a montage on video would be
perfect,because it literally looked like a funeral,add
in the song,it is the end by the Door’s I think!
canopfor on December 3, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Didn’t Harry Reid stop being relevant a few months ago…?
eanax on December 3, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Reids a jack-ass
malkinmania on December 3, 2007 at 10:41 PM
What color exactly is the sky in Reid’s world?
ZK on December 3, 2007 at 10:41 PM
We know that but the MSM purposely suffers from Reid-dementia as well.
SouthernPride on December 3, 2007 at 10:42 PM
A weak, pathetic loser firmly in the pocket of the far left.
WisCon on December 3, 2007 at 10:45 PM
And it looks like the dead squirrel he wears on his head in the clip needs to be adjusted.
Mallard T. Drake on December 3, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Denial … it’s not just a river in Eqypt anymore.
Closer your eyes, plugs your ears and scream “LALALALA! I CAN’T HEAR YOU! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!”
Tony737 on December 3, 2007 at 10:57 PM
“The war is lost.”
“The surge didn’t work”
~Harry Reid.
Defeat at all costs.
BKennedy on December 3, 2007 at 10:58 PM
Agreed. I just hope that they regain their senses when there is a conservative Republican in the White House, a solid Republican majority in the House and 61 dependable Republican votes in the Senate. (Two or three liberal Supreme Court Justices circling the drain wouldn’t be bad, either.) Until then, as far as the Dim’s concern me, and, like the song says, “I love you just the way you are”.
trigon on December 3, 2007 at 11:00 PM
He enrolled in the Jimmy Carter school for Dumbass Dhimicrats. What a piece of work. There should be a penalty for dissing the USA during war time. Doh!
R D on December 3, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Mike, I only skimmed most of your comment because I think you were looking at this at a completely different angle. You made all good points as far as I could tell, but I’ll explain why I have been forced to call them “evil”…
It could have started and ended with them (Reid, both Clintons, Gore, Rockefeller, Ted Kennedy, etc.) making the WMD case, more forcefully than Bush ever did, for 13 years leading up to the war… then 6 months in to the battle, calling our president (and Commander in Chief) a “liar”. The fact that this was acceptable politics, proves how evil they are. How many deaths of American troops are on the hands of Democrats deliberately emboldening the enemy? Then we have the Senate Dem leader saying “the war is lost”, we have their house whip admitting that it would be bad news for their party if we see progress in Iraq, etc. etc. etc.
Again, that’s only the beginning. But that enough, as far as I’m concerned, is quite enough to call them evil.
RightWinged on December 3, 2007 at 11:04 PM
The problem is the current Democratic party never had it’s “senses” to begin with. We’re a few generations away from them having any sense.
And of course we’d have been further along in the war. The enemy didn’t even have to put a “divide and conquer” strategy in to play, because the Dems have been doing the dividing for them (as mentioned above, the whole flip on WMDs to calling Bush a liar 6 months in to the war. That was to create a wedge for the 2004 elections).
RightWinged on December 3, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Thank you. Well said.
R D on December 3, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Well let’s hope they succeed in seceding.
Patrick S on December 3, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Can we send harry to Iraq to see for himself and forget to bring him back .
Im sure their are more then a few men and women over there that might see things a different way then good old dingy
Mojack420 on December 3, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Harry Reid is the Emmett Kelly of assclowns–an absolute disgrace to this nation. The Democrats bet against America, and Reid’s just doubling down.
ReubenJCogburn on December 3, 2007 at 11:20 PM
canopfor on December 3, 2007 at 10:28 PM
The party is coming up soon – it’s a Christmas party, but ahead of.
My favorite face was Larry King’s forlorn one in Nov. 2004 “…how could this be?” CNN, while I was surfing channels, was scrambling to change math and logic that night. So were my European buddies, and many others in the world. Much can happen btw. now and Nov. ‘08. They are simply too certain, too early. Americans don’t like that.
How’s my San Marcos buddy? I work close from there. Noticed it in your letter to some moron.
On the “seceding” – hoping that the good people of Nevada see the light and just get rid of him, without the union losing the state. Though, I love word-smithing :) Regards,
Entelechy on December 3, 2007 at 11:22 PM
RightWinged – At first glance, this could be taken as just a smear of the Democrats, but I believe you made some excellent points. If we go back to the 1990s, the Democrats may not have even been sane as far as understanding this Long War back then either and may have just been playing a real life game of “Risk” with their “warmongering”. Their talk back then of WMD of Iraq, etc, could have just been them playing politics.
If that is the case, then there is no going back to being sane for them, since they never had an understanding of this Long War to begin with.
Good posts. Thanks for getting me to see it another way.
I still stand by my assessment that even the Republicans are at fault for not being leaders.
Michael in MI on December 3, 2007 at 11:29 PM
Reid certainly keep blowing sunshine up where the sun don’t shine.
Kini on December 3, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Wormtongue
BL@KBIRD on December 3, 2007 at 11:48 PM
Doing great, dear, thanks for asking. And your kind self?
And yes, I include my So Cal town in e-mails when I pester morons so they know there ARE conservatives down here.
Patrick S on December 3, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Allah,
I’m just wild about the picture of Harry. It tells me that A Christmas Carol should be remade again–because we’ve found a wonderful Scrooge.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on December 4, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Patrick S, doing fine professionally, enjoying what I do. It’s been hard emotionally of late. It’s great to have escaped the fires, but the devastation is all around. I feel so sorry for the people who’ve lost homes, so close to the holidays, the wild animals, roaming in the day time for food. I see it all around, even driving to/from work. It will take time to overcome.
Yes, we live in the conservative part of California, fortunately. I work in the other part, often, and have stories to tell. Have to remain composed, often. Be well,
Entelechy on December 4, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Isn’t Harry entertaining? That’s why he was elected. Nevada is an entertainment state. He has shown that a brainless goofball can be elected by other brainless goofballs consistently over time to entertain the American public. Any Senator can be rational, reasonable and prudent for the people of his state. Harry has shown that one can be irrational, unreasonable and imprudent and still be a U.S. Senator. And do his very best to bring the country to it’s knees if it kills him, which, unfortunately, it probably won’t.
countywolf on December 4, 2007 at 12:30 AM
I’m from Nevada but don’t blame me. I voted for Ziser (his opponent last time out).
Dingy Harry is a disgrace.
Mojave Mark on December 4, 2007 at 12:53 AM
Baghdad Harry
Mojack420 on December 4, 2007 at 1:00 AM
I am glad they won they won the last election in 06 because now anybody with a brain can see what dolts they are. What have they accomplished? I will answer that,nothing and they never will.
pjf626 on December 4, 2007 at 1:01 AM
Cruel an unusual.
can I block quote myself?
I feel sad again and again
taterblade on December 4, 2007 at 1:54 AM
Reid told a gathering at BYU that he believes Iraq is “the worst foreign policy blunder in US history.” He’s too invested in our failure to accept any Truthiness but his own.
sulla on December 4, 2007 at 2:36 AM
I’m not going to disagree with you there. I’m not cheer leading a lot of what the GOP has done lately either… But they certainly aren’t “evil”, as I believe I’ve shown the Democrats are.
RightWinged on December 4, 2007 at 5:02 AM
I hope the people hand Baghdad Harry his butt for this and all the other comments.
Lincoln actually did arrest people including congressmen that acted this way. They were called copperheads.
dogsoldier on December 4, 2007 at 7:00 AM
You are both right on this one. The way I see it the Republicans are major league wussies that tremble in their loafers at the thought of the MSM targeting them. Thought control, i.e. Political Correctness and the thought police i.e. the MSM dominate every waking moment of our lives. The democrats are evil because they are nothing more than sociopaths in it for the power and accolades from the MSM. The Republicans are cowards when faced with the MSM and as such are worthless but do you know who really is at fault? Us, the general public that continues to vote these worthless people in. We all use the excuses of the better of two evils or voting for the party not the man but in reality most of the sane liberals, reasonable conservatives and those in the middle stay home though disgust rather than vote. We the people are our own worst enemy and we are to dumb to realize it.
jmarcure on December 4, 2007 at 7:32 AM
I love Nevada though it’s been a few years since I have been there. It is indeed a beautiful place to visit.
But I have also been to Searchlight, Nevada where Dingy Harry hails from. It’s a dirty little town out in the middle of nowhere.
The same attributes that describes Dingy Harry’s personality, dirty little man out in the middle of nowhere.
leanright on December 4, 2007 at 7:34 AM
Sorry, should have read (lack of attributes)
leanright on December 4, 2007 at 7:58 AM
Suck as he does, he’s still better than Daschle.
Kevin M on December 4, 2007 at 8:18 AM
Harry Reid is America’s version of the Iraqi Foreign Minister. Remember that lovable fuzzball of denial? Awesome!
Sir Loin on December 4, 2007 at 8:36 AM
…’scuse me, make that Information Minister. Where’s my coffee…
Sir Loin on December 4, 2007 at 8:37 AM
Good ol’ dingy harry. Nevada, you own the Sombrero of asshats.
thebookkeeper on December 4, 2007 at 9:32 AM
Reid is a worthless, despicable turd but is also, unfortunately, quite representative of the leftist Democrats in congress.
rplat on December 4, 2007 at 9:55 AM
There aren’t too many people who cause me to have such a visceral reaction to them when I see them… but this chump does.
Daschle is another POS… but I’m not sure who is worse.
Nineball on December 4, 2007 at 9:56 AM
Does anyone know if this sort of rhetoric was allowed and/or encouraged during any wars prior to Vietnam?
The democrats always say dissent is “patriotic”. Shouldn’t there be “guidelines” on what is acceptable dissent during a time of war?
I mean, really… what would have happened to a Senator who talked like this during WWII or any war prior to WWII?
How did we get to a point in history where our citizens, let alone our elected officials, can trash our country during a time of war?
Tokyo Rose ain’t got nothing on Dingy Harry…
Nineball on December 4, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Well-reasoned and legitimate dissent is patriotic. If a public official truly believes that the course of action is wrong, he/she needs to live up to their oath by taking a principled stand in opposition.
That isn’t what it going on here. Harry Reid and the “rats” are not dissenting from any profound disagreement with the best course of action in furthering the national interest. Democrat leaders are dissenting because they think they can parlay it into political gain for their pathetic out-of-touch party. That isn’t dissent, it’s treason.
highhopes on December 4, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Far be it for me to question God’s wisdom, but I think He wasted the flesh he used to make this man.
otcconan on December 4, 2007 at 10:28 AM
This is perhaps my single biggest reason for supporting Fred Thompson for President, he has been to all of the middle east countries where Islam is gathering it’s strength and he does understand and recognize the threat that radical militant Islam posses to America. I think you are exactly correct that the vast majority of democrats and republicans alike do not understand or recognize the threat that radical militant Islam posses to America. What we need is a POTUS that understand and recognize that threat.
doriangrey on December 4, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Uhh, problem with the premise of that question. What man?
conservnut on December 4, 2007 at 10:43 AM
While I sympathize (emotionally, at any rate) with the sentiment, Abraham Lincoln did not utter those words. This “quote” is a well-established fabrication that’s somehow managed to survive via the power of the internet.
Blacklake on December 4, 2007 at 11:10 AM
You mean something factually incorrect managed to get on the internet? How’d that happen and what is George Bush doing to make sure it doesn’t happen again! Henry Waxman should be holding hearings to find the guilty parties! This should have been a YouTube question during that last GOP debate! This is serious- If you can’t trust the internet, what can you trust????? ;-0
highhopes on December 4, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Heh. Good point–the word “saboteur”, for instance, wasn’t coined until the French railway strike of 1910, so it’s fairly unlikely that a guy killed in 1865 ever used it. But yes, an excellent sentiment nonetheless.
ReubenJCogburn on December 4, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Allahpundit, you crack me up.
Jens on December 4, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Face it: we lost. That’s why we don’t need IED-proof vehicles anymore. Or something.
Cuffy Meigs on December 4, 2007 at 12:34 PM
And to think that damn fool represents the senior leadership of the US Senate. What a disgrace.
saiga on December 4, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Too bad ‘defeat’ isn’t a dingy land deal…his investment would’ve paid off for sure.
James on December 4, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Too bad for him, I mean.
James on December 4, 2007 at 12:45 PM
asshat is too kind for this MORON…
areseaoh on December 4, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Harry:
The subject is the TROOP SURGE: a new military strategy in Iraq!!!
We were NOT talking about your suit: the serge still doesn’t work for you!! And you could find a new tie, too.
Have you taken your pills this week? They can help with your mental acuity problem.
landlines on December 4, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Was: Even though the river tells no lies, the dishonest man still hears them.
Is: Even though the surge doesn’t fail, the loser still sees it as that.
- The Cat
MirCat on December 4, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Is this guy delusional or what?
Ryan Gandy on December 5, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Hairy Reed Message to UStroops: There can be no victory! YOU have lost the war! Even your own precious General says it, that’s right, YOUR commander in the field even knows what losers YOU are, so give up now!
Hairy Reed Message to terrorists: Hang in there guys, just a while longer, you can do it, don’t make a fool of me!
Is that Al Qaeda cheerleader from NEVADA smiling or smirking there(?), at the idea of our troops doing well? As if to say “what, our troops succeeding, what a joke”.
Does news of a IED detonating and killing make him giddy for a press conference (”OK self, try to remember not to smile when citing the truck bomb killing a dozen USsoldiers) ?
His whole message (body lang.&BS talking points), gives you the feeling he sits around wondering how the terrorists could be so successful on 911, but now they can barely kill one USsoldier a day. This disgraceful DEMOCRAT senator would love to be able to have a higher casualty number to bolster his “American Troops have lost” mentality.
That half smile/smirk thing he did, just absolutely made my effing skin crawl. Does he have any friends or family in the military, how can he not understand the position he is putting himself in and that position seems to be behind the enemies side.
Our brave military is doing an amazing job of winning, that is a heart warming relief to my soul. What is it to the left whiners, an effing setback?
christophercube on December 5, 2007 at 12:36 PM
hey Senator…how are your numbers looking for re-election in Nevada?
Black Adam on December 5, 2007 at 6:04 PM
Keep the surge alive, it is Reid’s brain that doesn’t work.
The False Dervish on December 5, 2007 at 9:08 PM
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