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Bush tones down rhetoric of Iraq war debate
Star Ledger ^ | November 21, 2005 | KEVIN G. HALL

Posted on 11/21/2005 8:06:01 AM PST by ZULU

WASHINGTON -- President Bush softened attacks on war critics yesterday and his defense secretary signaled a coming troop drawdown, as the lawmaker at the center of a growing national debate on the Iraq war called for complete withdrawal by next November. Speaking to reporters in Beijing during a state visit to China, Bush stepped back from his administration's tough criticism of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) The White House and some GOP lawmakers engaged in personal attacks on the decorated Marine Corps veteran after his call Thursday to bring the troops home.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: 109th; asiavisit; bush43; murtha; war
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1 posted on 11/21/2005 8:06:02 AM PST by ZULU
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To: ZULU

Excellent. The retreat strategy always works.


2 posted on 11/21/2005 8:06:42 AM PST by libertarianPA
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To: ZULU
That doesn't mean we can't continue to use "harsh rhetoric" does it?

For example, if I were to say that Murtha is a coward who consistently puts political opportunity before duty, honor, and country, would that be out of bounds?

3 posted on 11/21/2005 8:09:40 AM PST by cicero's_son
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Don't surrender now! You had 'em on the run. Blast these traitors and cowards every chance you get. Go get 'em Dubya!


4 posted on 11/21/2005 8:10:57 AM PST by SmoothTalker
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To: libertarianPA
Excellent. The retreat strategy always works.

Precisely the point. I suggest that just as the Dem's weakness encourages the Islamists, the Administraions failure to hammer the Dems at every opportunity has encouraged them to spout about cut and run.

5 posted on 11/21/2005 8:12:00 AM PST by Dark Skies ("Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...")
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To: cicero's_son

Probably.

The Bush administration has consistently adhered to the policy of waving olive branches at ravening tigers on the left in a vain attempt to appease them. Or perhaps McClown called Bush up and told him to tone it down.

Or maybe Rove called Bush and said "Take the high ground George - don't defend yourself or attack your enemies."


Personally, I LOVE Jean Schmidt. She has more cojones than all the male Republican castrati in Congress and in the White House.


6 posted on 11/21/2005 8:12:32 AM PST by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
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To: libertarianPA

I hope he doesn't start trying to "make nice" with these politicians who clearly fall into the category of "domestic enemies" after the Congress went to the wall to shut them the hell up. Here's a clue, George: Those people hate you and want you and your supporters destroyed. If you refuse to fight them, how the hell are we supposed to?


7 posted on 11/21/2005 8:13:53 AM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: cicero's_son
Just which White House person issued harsh, personal attacks against the coward Murtha? I wish it were so but I sure didn't hear any personal attacks against Murtha. This is such a tried and true tactic of the LSM, let the demo/socalists attack at will and the minute the Pubbies defend themselves with reasoned, fact based responses, they falsly report that "the administration is launching personal attacks."

Can they site just one example of an administration official personally attacking Murtha? I doubt it.

But hey I will, he's a cut and run no good two faced bast..!

8 posted on 11/21/2005 8:14:27 AM PST by marlon
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To: ZULU

Nah, Keep the President "above it all" is a good plan.


9 posted on 11/21/2005 8:16:08 AM PST by Pikamax
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To: ZULU
The White House and some GOP lawmakers engaged in personal attacks on the decorated Marine Corps veteran after his call Thursday to bring the troops home.

Hmmmmmm... looks like their knee-jerk talking point "strategery" didn't work.
Serves 'em right for trying to smear an honorable, decorated combat vet.

10 posted on 11/21/2005 8:16:52 AM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: Emmett McCarthy

"Those people hate you and want you and your supporters destroyed. If you refuse to fight them, how the hell are we supposed to?"

Exactly. I get so tired of defending this guy when he won't defend himself. And the worst part is that he has PLENTY of ammo with which to combat these hypocrites.


11 posted on 11/21/2005 8:16:53 AM PST by libertarianPA
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To: ZULU
This is MSM spin. The President has said all along that it's OK to criticize the Iraq policy. He understands the first amendment, even if they don't understand most of the Constitution.

What he has been tearing the Dims and RINOs new ones over is their distortion of events and attempt to rewrite history. That critique of them he hasn't backed down on.

12 posted on 11/21/2005 8:18:17 AM PST by El Gato
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To: ZULU

Yada, yada, yada.

Bush was about to announce that he was cutting down on the number of troops in Iraq because things were going so well. So the Dems got in first and made it seem that it was their idea, and that pulling out troops was a sign of cutting and running.

As someone pointed out yesterday, Ralph Nader regularly used this technique. He would get word of some government action about to be announced, would take the podium and demand that they do exactly that, and then would take credit for forcing the government to do it.

The whole thing is spin, and don't think the media don't know it. They are in on every stage of the planning.


13 posted on 11/21/2005 8:22:56 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: El Gato
This is MSM spin.

Agreed. Take this story apart point by point and it dismantles. Those do a disservice who are using the story to launch into customary criticism of the "don't fight back" tendency.

14 posted on 11/21/2005 8:25:03 AM PST by NutCrackerBoy
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To: Willie Green

Ummm-hummm, John Kerry is an "honorable, decorated vet" too, ditto double-minded McCain. No man is above criticism when they further endanger our troops by giving encouragement to the enemy. We've also seen some brain-dead "decorated vets" still voting Democrat and running for various Democrat offices, I rest my case...


15 posted on 11/21/2005 8:28:29 AM PST by brushcop (We lift up our military serving in harm's way and pray for total victory and a safe return.)
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To: ZULU

Outrageous. Bush wasn't saying a damn thing for months. he and the House finally turned around and called the dems out. Now supposedly he's been beating up on the poor dems and has to "tone it down". And I've been reading about the drawdown plans for months as well. Liberals are sick and dishonest creatures.


16 posted on 11/21/2005 8:33:18 AM PST by Williams
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To: Willie Green

I'm a bit confused here; maybe I missed soemthing but I didn't here anyone attack Murtha personally....casn you provide a link where the White House or GOP leadership attacked his service to our country?


17 posted on 11/21/2005 8:37:04 AM PST by PigRigger (Send donations to http://www.AdoptAPlatoon.org)
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To: ZULU
The White House and some GOP lawmakers engaged in personal attacks on the decorated Marine Corps veteran after his call Thursday to bring the troops home.

No bias here.

18 posted on 11/21/2005 8:38:48 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: libertarianPA

Obviously spin by the press - did you see the speech Cheney just wrapped up?


19 posted on 11/21/2005 8:39:38 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: Willie Green
Serves 'em right for trying to smear an honorable, decorated combat vet.

Since when is refuting a pack of lies smearing somebody? Oh, that's right; since Joe Wilson said it was!

BTW, can you name a military conflict that Murtha hasn't called for retreat from?

What's honorable about that?

20 posted on 11/21/2005 8:40:47 AM PST by Howlin ("Victory is not an exit strategy." ``Jack Murtha 11/18/05)
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