The Guild 11-30-2003 The Dems' Changing Tune on Iraq; Past Quotes Reveal Hypocrisy

ChronWatch ^ | 11-30-2003 | Jean Shaw

[BigWaveBetty]

It’s no secret that Democrats’ opposition to the war in Iraq has more to do with politics than principle, but the following collection of quotes (which has been making its way around the Internet) provide further proof.

''One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.'' -- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

''If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program.'' -- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

''Iraq is a long way from [here] but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.'' -- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Feb 18, 1998

''He [Saddam Hussein] will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.'' -- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

''[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.'' -- Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D, MI), Tom Daschle (D), John Kerry (D, MA) and others Oct. 9, 1998

''Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.'' -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

''Hussein has . . . chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.'' -- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

''There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.'' -- Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001

''We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.'' -- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

''We know that he [Saddam Hussein] has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.'' -- Vice President Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

''Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.'' -- Vice President Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

''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

''The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons. . . .'' -- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

''I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.'' -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

''There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . . . We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.'' -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

''He [Saddam Hussein] has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do'' -- Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

''In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. . . . It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.'' -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

''We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.'' -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

''Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime . . . He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. . . . And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction. . . . So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real. . . .'' -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

You are funny. When I got the coat my friend wanted to know what I don't get naked and roll around in it!

Trust me, the president does not want to see me in Paris Hilton's party clothes tomorrow. I think my black Victor Costa will be fine.

[lodwick]

Support puppage - wear foundation raiment.

Are your painters busy?

Do they travel?

[Iowa Granny]

My sister in law and I did my painting. I did the trim and she weilded the roller. We started at 10:00 am, took an hour off for lunch and were finished at 6:00pm

I still don't have the border up. Haven't had time to go look for it. I'll try to get that done this week.

I can't believe you're still messin' around with that house. Why didn't you just build a new one? You wouldn't have had to live in the mess that way.

[lodwick]

It's the curse of perfectionism...I still say that we will be completed in time for Christmas, with luck.

Back to it.

[Iowa Granny]

No wonder my husband smiles and brags about my "Make Do" attitude to his friends. I cannot imagine living thru such a thing. Let me say, I absolutely WOULD NOT put myself thru it.

I'll live with what I've got, rather than endure such torture.

The search for the Chrystal Trees goes on. They're missing and I need them badly. There are close to 2 dozen of them and I won't give up until I locate them.

[mountaineer]

I think with the Palistinian flower girl motif, Clinton was harkening back to his anti-Vietnam War days, daisies in the barrel of a National Guardsman's gun and all that. Give peace a chance. Groovy.

With regard to my novelistic activities, how about an historic mystery/bodice-ripper? For our critics who think we're all a bunch of "dessicated" [sic] old biddies, it might be just the ticket. Of course, if HLL were to make a cameo appearance in my book decked out in post #15's ensemble, all the better!

[mountaineer]

Kudos on your home improvement progress. I have a little carpentry yet to do in my spare bedroom project (fashioning a baseboard moulding where once there was none), and then I'll be painting the whole kit and kaboodle (window trim, baseboard and walls). It definitely will be done by Christmas, woo hoo.

[mountaineer]

From NewsMax:

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Lieberman defended Sen. Hillary Clinton on Sunday, after she made politically toxic comments predicting possible U.S. failure in Iraq during what was supposed to be a morale-boosting visit to the troops on Friday.

Asked if Sen. Clinton was wrong to voice such a pessimistic sentiment from the war zone, Sen. Lieberman told "Fox News Sunday," "In the most technical sense that we're in a war now in which, in the last month, we have lost more American soldiers than we have in any other month since the actual war began . . . in a technical sense, victory is not assured."

However, the Connecticut Democrat was quick to add, "But I will say this, there is no substitute for victory here. We must pull together across party lines here in the United States and we have to pull together with the rest of the world in a way President Bush has not been able to accomplish."

During a radio interview in Kuwait on Friday, broadcast just miles from the Iraq war front lines, Sen. Clinton warned, "We have to exert all of our efforts militarily, but the outcome is not assured."

She also admitted to telling U.S. troops directly earlier in the day that support for the war was starting to erode, explaining that Americans were raising "many questions at home about the (Bush) administration's policies."

While Sen. Lieberman was not asked about Mrs. Clinton's decision to criticize the Commander-in-Chief to troops stationed in a war zone, MSNBC commentator Bill Press said Hillary was right to blast Bush to G.I.s in Iraq.

"She said, 'Well, everybody supports the troops, but there's still a lot of questions about the policy.' And there are," Press told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg on Sunday.

"I mean, you can't hide it," the former "Buchanan & Press" host added. "Bush's trip, great as it was, didn't change anything in the sense that there are still a lot of serious questions about this war."

[lodwick]

Remodeling - it's not for sissies.

The best advice I've heard, belatedly, was to do only ONE room at a time...not 75% of the entire house.

[lodwick]

Nice.

The new baseboards and crown moldings are a definite high point of this project, and Mrs.L really likes the new two-panel doors.

We may as well spend it while we have it: the interest rates are approaching zero, the stock market scares me to death, and there's no heirs to worry about providing for.

A wonderful Sunday evening to one and all visiting here.

[anniegetyourgun]

That's it! It's the latest - all the rage in, where else....FRANCE!

[Iowa Granny]

I am ready to admit defeat. The Chrystal Christmas trees are not to be found. I 'did' find 2 of the Chrystal Angels,, one appears to be missing.

Only the bathroom cupboard and the entire basement remain. Tomorrow I will go thru the storage cupboard in the bathroom, if it isn't there, I'll give up.

Absolutely NO WAY I will search every box in the basement.

[ladyinred]

Then ask a young Palestinian girl, alone, to wait for Sharon with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She should give him the flowers, and add one sentence: “You are most welcome to come here every day when there is peace.”

Well just gag with a daisy petal! Didn't he steal that idea from that famous political ad from years ago with the child and the daisy and the bomb? I am trying to recall the exact ad, but it is infamous! What a freaking idiot!

[ladyinred]

Oh I love, love, love this!!! This is a keeper. Is this the first time you have posted a picture? Good for you!

[ladyinred]

"I mean, you can't hide it," the former "Buchanan & Press" host added. "Bush's trip, great as it was, didn't change anything in the sense that there are still a lot of serious questions about this war."

Notice how the only one's asking the questions are you stupid "journalists" and democrat candidates? MORON!

[Iowa Granny]

Yes to stoopit morans in the press.

Yes to my first pic posted.

If I hadn't been so busy today looking for those d@mned crystal trees, I'd have practiced some more.

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning! 28 degrees here,, headed into the 40's today.

[lodwick]

Buck up, friend, you'll find those trees today.

I'm no Heloise, but have you considered storing all the Christmas gear in its own place and labeling the boxes? It works for Mr.Mess here...

Cheers, and happy hunting up there.

[lodwick]

From The American Spectator:

LEFTOVERS
While President George W. Bush was embraced warmly by the more than 600 troops he served dinner to in Baghdad on Thanksgiving, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't get the same treatment.

In fact so few U.S. military personnel volunteered to meet and sit with her, that military leaders in Baghdad had to designate enlisted personnel and junior officers to spend time with the New York senator.

"The meetings with [Iraqi administrator Paul] Bremer went fine, but we weren't finding a lot of takers on meeting with Clinton and [Rhode Island Democratic senator Jack] Reed," says an American staffer in Baghdad. "Maybe there weren't a lot of New Yorkers in the area."

If Clinton was aware of her seemingly unpopularity, she didn't seem to care. Almost immediately after landing in Iraq, she began bad-mouthing the Bush administration to the military personnel she met, telling them that while America supported the troops, there were questions about the Bush administration's approach.

"To these men and women over here, it is the same thing," says the U.S. official. "Her husband didn't get it and she obviously hasn't learned. These men and women over here are America. They are the policy. For her to say what she said was just misguided."


SICK LEAVE
It wasn't just the military having troubles rounding up cooperative folks for Democrats. Leading up to the final votes on the Medicare reform legislation, Democrats weren't able to draw on the natural pool of vocal protesters to Republicans attempts to change the program. That's because the AARP had signed off on the bill and was running ads supporting it.

So the Democrats had to use organized labor for the protests, even though many of those union members who appeared at rallies with such Democrats as Sen. Tom Daschle and Sen. Ted Kennedy weren't old enough or hadn't qualified for Medicare yet -- no Gray Panthers here! According to one Democratic leadership aide, some protesters were being paid by the unions they belonged to to make up for lost wages because they took time off from work to help out their Democratic friends.

[Iowa Granny]

All of my Christmas Decorations I store in the basement are labeled

The truely 'fine' pieces were stored upstairs because I always worry about flooding in the spring. Sump pumps have been known to fail and nobody ever goes down there to check things when I am AWOL.