Lieberman: Time for defeatists to stop trying to pull the plug on Iraq
posted at 4:03 pm on February 26, 2008 by Allahpundit
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The latest in Joementum’s continuing campaign to see how high he can spike the nutroots’ rage-o-meter. He’s overstating the significance of some of the political progress cited here, but then the left is understating the significance of the security gains so it all evens out. Is it too much to ask for a rethinking of the Democratic position on the war? Well, yeah, insofar as their base is comprised of people for whom victory would be tantamount to admitting the essential correctness of neoconservatism (it wouldn’t). But it’s not too much to ask them to run away from the issue, which they’re now happily doing save for a few bien pensants who won’t be denied a defeat when they’ve gotten this close.
Two parts here then, the first a restatement of progress on the ground and an indictment of “reality-based” anti-war denialism and the second a futile plea for the Democrats to return to the Kennedy/Truman/Jackson model that they’re never, ever going to return to. Lieberman ended up losing on this measure, incidentally. Except he didn’t really.
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Joe Lieberman: The last fighting Democrat. Sad what that party has become.
Exurban Jon on February 26, 2008 at 4:05 PM
I’m sure this will get a lot of attention on the Evening News.
But there may not be time for it, due to breaking news from the lunar eclipse a few days back.
NoDonkey on February 26, 2008 at 4:07 PM
That cloture vote is a nice little maneuver.
DaveS on February 26, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I just read that Moveon is spending $50 million to remove “Pro War” republicans in the next election.
Where is the effort on the GOP to remove democrats ?
William Amos on February 26, 2008 at 4:09 PM
“…insofar as their base
is comprised ofcomprises people”sorry. it’s one of my biggest grammar pet peeves.
John the Libertarian on February 26, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I’ll say. Harry, who filed it, is now complaining the republicans voted for it.
Beautiful.
Topsecretk9 on February 26, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Lieberman is an independent, remember? The Democrats kicked him out last election.
highhopes on February 26, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Allah -
This is a bit off-topic, but I was wondering why you folks are using RedLasso now. Are they free of the censorship problems you were having at YouTube?
Thanks.
P.S.
If more Dems were like Lieberman, I would not have such a visceral dislike for them. One can dissent and still be honorable, as so few Dems are these days.
Alalazoo on February 26, 2008 at 4:11 PM
The party leadership has been too busy getting back at the social conservatives and “Jesus freaks” who chose GWB over John McCain to bother with strategizing on how to win in November.
highhopes on February 26, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Hey he is the other half of the “stolen” election of 2000 right? Maybe he could get the VP position he “DESERVES”
TroubledMonkey on February 26, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Yes, but not fundamentally. So …
… I’d argue that it does not even out. By a long shot.
BillINDC on February 26, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Do we even HAVE any leadership ? Bush isnt leading much other than stopping the dems from making things worse and his political moves towards republicans have been complete failure.
Then we have Mel Martinez and Elizabeth Dole as RNC leaders who have led us to great defeats.
We need someone at the national level who KNOWS his politics in the drivers seat and we need to get rid of the politcally stoogies we have there now.
William Amos on February 26, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Joe is the only lib that tells the truth. And the truth hurts….
Travis1 on February 26, 2008 at 4:22 PM
I think understating is a bit generous for the likes of Nancy “IT WAS A FAILURE! IT WAS A FAILURE!” Pelosi.
BohicaTwentyTwo on February 26, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Sen. Bob Menendez is spewing defeatist lib points in the senate right now. C-span
Travis1 on February 26, 2008 at 4:31 PM
This strikes me as being a particularly dumb move on the Dems part. If they were smart they’d stop mentioning Iraq since all their prognostications of doom and gloom failed to materialize.
This just gives our side a chance to tout the progress, and contrast the 2 sides - One has the audacity to hope for victory, the other has the audacity to hope for surrender.
Buy Danish on February 26, 2008 at 4:32 PM
“This strikes me as being a particularly dumb move on the Dems part. If they were smart they’d stop mentioning Iraq since all their prognostications of doom and gloom failed to materialize.”
Not according to their lunatic left base who is at least two years behind the times.
And these idiots are the ones who vote in the primaries.
If they don’t hear “Iraq=Failure” once a day, they start to go into withdraw and start huffing furniture polish more often than usual. Could hurt on election day.
NoDonkey on February 26, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Go get ‘em Joe. If there were more Dems like Joe, I would have a tougher time deciding for which party to vote.
hburns on February 26, 2008 at 4:39 PM
BTW there is Leadership I just sent this in to Hotair
http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com/
William Amos on February 26, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Anyone notice the use of “just words”. Definitely an allusion to Senator Obama…
Verbal Abuse on February 26, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Any guy that can get the Kos kid to appear in a commercial against him has got my vote.
On another note, I don’t see any difference between Lieberman and McCain except that Lieberman is honest with his party affiliation. Independent Democrat. That’s what John McCain is. Votes with GOP on national security, Dems on most everything else. We’ve given the Republican nomination to an Independent Democrat. And while I’ll probably vote for him in November (so B. Hussein Obama doesn’t give part of the country away to the Iranians), I’m disappointed in the Republican electorate for nominating John McShamnesty.
malan89 on February 26, 2008 at 4:46 PM
We need the reincarnation of Lee Atwater!
highhopes on February 26, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Defeatocrats…ship them to Pakistan so they can talk to the virgin arrangers.
Snooper on February 26, 2008 at 4:55 PM
According to Rollingston Magazine, present issue, the Surge is a Myth.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge
Dr Evil on February 26, 2008 at 4:57 PM
When will they ever get over the so-called surge ‘myth’. I guess they feel that if they tell a lie often enough, it will ultimately be seen as a truth.
rtsidedragon on February 26, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Sen. Lieberman’s full speech available HERE. Shame, bloody shame, how the old Korean concept of Yin & Yang is currently in progress.
HotAirJosef on February 26, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Dont I know it. It would be nice to talk to someone from the RNC that isnt a complete idiot I know I have been trying for almost 15 years
William Amos on February 26, 2008 at 5:06 PM
I watched Lieberman in front of a panel of abortion zombies try to out do Howard Dean and John Kerry with efficient ideas regarding the killing of children for liberty.
As far as I know, McCain is pro-life.
Hening on February 26, 2008 at 5:13 PM
This is a WAR we are talking about. A matter of life and death on a huge scale.
So…where are three particular Senators/wannabe-command-in-chiefs? Oh yeah.
It’s Presidential politics before war.
scottm on February 26, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Bite your tongue! Lee Atwater was the Devil incarnate! He drove a lot of us out of the Republican party as a result of his divisive message. I hated that man and did NOT shed a tear when he kicked.
ihasurnominashun on February 26, 2008 at 5:44 PM
according to the rolling stone, George W. Bush is the “worst president EVER” and the last congress was the “Worst Ever” as well.
jp on February 26, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Ten bucks says Lieberman continues making a stink over this, getting increasingly “belligerent”/”staunch,” eventually leaving the Democrat party in a flurry of chaotic press coverage and joining the McCain ticket.
spmat on February 26, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Joe’s wrong.
Once Obama is president, Operations Enduring Cuddle, Infinite Hug and Kitten Storm will finish off any problems we still have over there.
Chuck Schick on February 26, 2008 at 6:28 PM
When liberals came up with that “reality based” shtick a few years back … do you think they were being ironic on purpose?
Professor Blather on February 26, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Hyperbole. It’s the greatest thing ever.
Professor Blather on February 26, 2008 at 6:41 PM
At least there is one patriotic Democrat in the U.S. Congress.
The rest of them are either actively pushing for our defeat or sitting on their hands and not saying much of anything.
SimplyKimberly on February 26, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Well said Senator. Thank you for getting up there and saying what had to be said.
Yakko77 on February 26, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Who really cares about what Rolling Stone thinks? All of their editors are hard-core leftist whackos that think rock stars are more important than the rest of society. I’ve never ever read anything positive about Conservatism or republicans in that rag. It’s as if Che Guevara is the model of political nirvana.
kyarnes on February 26, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Sigh. A man can dream, can’t he?
SouthernDem on February 26, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Does P.J. O’Rourke not write for Rolling Stone anymore? Bummer.
Buy Danish on February 26, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Lieberman seems to be very much at odds with McCain on how well the Iraq war is going.
To hear Lieberman one would think that “Victory”, obligatory sis, boom, bah, is just around the corner.
Yet McCain doesn’t seem to think so at all. On McCain’s own web site -
“A greater military commitment now is necessary if we are to achieve long-term success in Iraq. John McCain agrees with retired Army General Jack Keane that there are simply not enough American forces in Iraq. More troops are necessary to clear and hold insurgent strongholds; to provide security for rebuilding local institutions and economies; to halt sectarian violence in Baghdad and disarm Sunni and Shia militias to dismantle al Qaeda; to train the Iraqi Army; and to embed American personnel in Iraqi police units. Accomplishing each of these goals will require more troops and is a crucial prerequisite for needed economic and political development in the country. America’s ultimate strategy is to give Iraqis the capabilities to govern and secure their own country.”
MB4 on February 26, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Gee you mean the way the Rudy/McCain folks are telling people like me to f**k off in 2008? I won’t shed a tear when those who are currently driving out social conservatives and “Jesus freaks” kick including the triceratops who is the apparent GOP nominee for the presidency. I don’t wish them a premature “kicking” but they are evil for the party.
highhopes on February 26, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Hey Verbal -
Yeah, I noticed the “Just Words” theme. No question he was borrowing from Obama (or, actually, Gov. Patrick!). But the point is well made: there are core truths behind those words. And the abandoning of those truths are why the Democrat party is so hollow today.
As Reagan said decades ago: he didn’t leave the Democratic party, the Democratic party left him.
pavruch on February 27, 2008 at 12:02 AM
The last Democrat that does what is RIGHT for the USA first. And, his party booted him for putting his country first. Don’t ever forget that.
Conservative_SAHM on February 27, 2008 at 11:22 AM