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Kristol: Pathetic (The me-too Republicans wimp out on Iraq)
The Weekly Standard ^ | November 15, 2005 | William Kristol

Posted on 11/15/2005 5:30:28 PM PST by RWR8189

Pathetic.

One expected no better of the Senate Democrats, who want to get out of Iraq as soon as possible, or sooner than possible--most of them don't really care--and who want to embarrass president Bush. But couldn't the Senate Republicans have stood and fought against passing an irresponsible resolution suggesting that Americans want to get out of Iraq more than we want to win?

The Republican leadership may have figured they didn't have the votes to defeat the Democratic proposal without giving their members a weaker alternative to vote for. But better to lose such a vote by a small margin than to go on record voting for a resolution that sends a signal of irresolution and weakness at precisely the time when a message of strength is most needed. After all, in precisely a month, the Iraqis will vote for their first government under the new constitution, and one thing they must weigh in their calculations is whether they can count on U.S. staying power in the fight against the terrorists. With today's vote in the Senate, the Republican leadership, apparently working hand in glove with White House staff, showed itself today to be tactically myopic and politically timid.

One hopes Republicans in the House will show more spine. One trusts that President Bush will not bend in any way to these winds of worry. One hopes that a year from now this vote is simply remembered as a minor hiccup on the way to success and victory in Iraq. But one doesn't win a war by showing weakness. And one doesn't win a political fight by half capitulating to one's opponents, and, in effect, accepting the premises of their critique.

All honor to the 13 Republican senators who stood up against the me-too, we-want-to-get-out-as-well-but-not-quite-as-quickly, Republican leadership: Bunning, Burr, Chambliss, Coburn, DeMint, Graham, Inhofe, Isakson, Kyl, McCain, Sessions, Thune, and Vitter. Let's hope their colleagues reconsider and join their ranks in the near future.

--William Kristol


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; 109thcongress; 1firstkeyword; bunning; burr; chambliss; coburn; demint; foxnews; frist; graham; inhofe; iraq; iraqwar; isakson; kristol; kyl; mccain; pinktutu; rino; rinos; senateleadership; sessions; thune; timetable; vitter; wariniraq
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To: okie01

I had thought that Graham was standing up against the appeals process for terrorists too.

But this is what USA Today (Tuesday) had to say about that matter and then they quoted Graham as it relates to the appeal of rulings of military tribunals to the federal courts.

Detainees who receive punishments ranging from 10 years in prison to death would receive an automatic appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Graham said: "Instead of unlimited lawsuits, the courts now will be looking at whether you're properly determined to be an enemy combatant and, if you're tried, whether or not your conviction followed the military commission procedures in place."

Why is Graham thinking that terrorists should get a hearing in higher courts and any appeals whatsoever?


81 posted on 11/15/2005 6:26:32 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: RWR8189
But couldn't the Senate Republicans have stood and fought against passing an irresponsible resolution suggesting that Americans want to get out of Iraq more than we want to win?

Can Kristol back up this statement with the part of the resolution that suggests the above?

I doubt it. Because if he could have, he would have.

82 posted on 11/15/2005 6:27:07 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: Soul Seeker

Delay will be back..(wink) and then it will be HAMMER TIME!!


83 posted on 11/15/2005 6:27:36 PM PST by penelopesire
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To: Flightdeck

UHHHH, MR. KRISTOL...GIMME A BREAK, YOU NEED TO BE BACKING BUSH UP, TOO.


84 posted on 11/15/2005 6:27:48 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat (I am SO glad to no longer be associated with the party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: Cboldt

This is what USA Today had to say today:

In addition, the 500 or so detainees would be allowed to challenge in federal court the procedure under which they were labeled enemy combatants. The compromise proposal would allow the federal court reviews in place of the tool the Supreme Court gave detainees in 2004 to fight the legality of their detentions: The right to file habeas corpus petitions in federal courts.


85 posted on 11/15/2005 6:28:24 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: ClaireSolt
These guys are just trying to jump on the bandwagon. If you have been paying attention, there have been lots of signals that this is already in the works. It is in the smaller supplemental, in the reduced troop rotation plans, in blair and the pres of Iraq's comments. The Senate is just trying to take credit for it.

Exactly.

86 posted on 11/15/2005 6:29:03 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: Soul Seeker
I would quote your whole post as I agree 1000%.

" The Iraqis aren’t a burden on this country, they are a godsend, they are our allies, they passed the ‘global test’ they are the emerging third world we all hope to help, and you COWARDS cant wait to beat feet out of their at the earliest opportunity. "

I particularly liked your "...Money Changers" tag. Insulting them is a surefire way to get them to hate us and what is happening here is the only issue this war has with the Vietnam war.

87 posted on 11/15/2005 6:29:16 PM PST by libill (Socialism is Communism with a happy face)
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To: FreeReign
Can Kristol back up this statement with the part of the resolution that suggests the above?

If you think this was anything less than a sellout, you are cdompletely clueless.

88 posted on 11/15/2005 6:29:51 PM PST by Zechariah11
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To: Soul Seeker
This was grandstanding on behalf of the Senators to claim credit for the administration's actions and successes.

Yes, this was a grandstanding resolution.

Imagine that. Useless senators, grandstanding. What else is new?

89 posted on 11/15/2005 6:30:52 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: demkicker
Democrat Lookalitis may indeed be more dangerous and contagious than Bird Flu. I hear there's a vaccine we can get at the ballot box. Spread the word...

Oh, my best laugh today!

Somehow I think Republicans are going to see that vaccine in action in '06 and '08 unless something drastically changes their behavior.

90 posted on 11/15/2005 6:31:19 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: FreeReign

LOL

Defending the Congress by excusing it as a common occurrence? best you've got? Weak.


91 posted on 11/15/2005 6:33:53 PM PST by Soul Seeker (Mr. President: It is now time to turn over the money changers' tables.)
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To: Zechariah11
...resolution suggesting that Americans want to get out of Iraq more than we want to win?

If you think this was anything less than a sellout, you are cdompletely clueless.

Yeah, sure. The media wants you to think this resolution suggests the above. So does Crystal and McCain.

Either backup Kristol's above statement with wording from the resolution, or you are a dupe.

92 posted on 11/15/2005 6:34:45 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: libill

Can't take credit for either. Very nice poster came up with the tag, I asked for permission to use as I loved it too. :-) Ditto the blogger that wrote that piece. thought it deserved wider attention. says it all, doesn't it?


93 posted on 11/15/2005 6:35:02 PM PST by Soul Seeker (Mr. President: It is now time to turn over the money changers' tables.)
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To: Peach
Lindsey Graham may have stood up to this amendment, but he is trying to get access to the appeals courts for the terrorists.

The compromise proposal would allow the federal court reviews in place of ... The right to file habeas corpus petitions in federal courts.
So did Graham's amendment get the detainees more? or less? access than they already had?
94 posted on 11/15/2005 6:36:13 PM PST by Cboldt
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To: Peach
Why is Graham thinking that terrorists should get a hearing in higher courts and any appeals whatsoever?

I can imagine only one role for a higher court in this case: to make a determination as to whether the detainee has been properly classified as an "illegal combatant" and thereby subject to military law.

Once that determination has been made, the detainee is beyond the reach of American constitutional law.

One appeal to the court, based on status, is appropriate. But that is also quite enough.

95 posted on 11/15/2005 6:36:55 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: FreeReign

Republicans and Democrats are reading it the same way. Republicans -- except RINOS which now include George Allen and Bill Frist.


96 posted on 11/15/2005 6:37:12 PM PST by Zechariah11
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To: Soul Seeker
Yes, this was a grandstanding resolution. Imagine that. Useless senators, grandstanding. What else is new?

LOL Defending the Congress by excusing it as a common occurrence? best you've got? Weak.

I didn't defend congress. I didn't excuse congress. I said that the congress is grandstanding. I said that they do this all the time.

That's defending congress?

Your response is weak.

97 posted on 11/15/2005 6:37:31 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: Zechariah11
et tu, George Allen? Stabbed Bush in the back?

Sorry for this painful question....but, who, exactly, is doing the stabbing ?

Have I missed a prime time speech by GWB refuting the lies he seems so proud and willing to absorb? (And, I love the guy)

98 posted on 11/15/2005 6:38:02 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: slowhand520
Who is left to vote for in 2008? Gingrich? I hope Mike Pence considers a run because he is all we have

Who is this DeMint Guy ? He voted No on both amendments.

Then blistered Dirtbag Durbin for his lying diatribe after the votes were complete.

99 posted on 11/15/2005 6:38:27 PM PST by oldbrowser (A living, breathing constitution is a usurpation of the people's sovereignty.)
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To: dynachrome

Using your post to post address to write our representatives if you don't mind.

House- http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Senate- http://www.senate.gov/


100 posted on 11/15/2005 6:38:40 PM PST by Soul Seeker (Mr. President: It is now time to turn over the money changers' tables.)
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