Bush at the Tipping Point

msnbc.msn.com - Newsweek ^ | Nov. 28, 2005 issue | Howard Fineman

[Mo1]

A hawkish Democrat calls for an Iraq withdrawal, setting off a bitter fight in Washington over how, and when, the troops should come home.

As friends describe it, Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania had been searching his soul for months, seeking guidance on what to do in Congress about Iraq. "I think he was going through what we Catholics call a 'long night of the soul'," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.

(snip)

Which was precisely what the Democratic leadership wanted Murtha to do. A close ally, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, was anxious to open a second axis of attack on Iraq—and was aware of his growing antagonism toward the war. The two met and agreed that he would make his case in private to the party conference. After that, on his own, he would introduce a resolution calling for withdrawal of troops from Iraq "at the earliest practicable date." Pelosi and the other liberals would keep their distance, while their own Marine charged up the Hill. Framed by long rows of American flags at a press conference, he denounced the Iraq war as a "flawed policy wrapped in an illusion."

[redhead]

""I think he was going through what we Catholics call a 'long night of the soul'," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.""I think he was going through what we Catholics call a 'long night of the soul'," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.

It's the "DARK Night of the Soul," Congresswoman. Guess you haven't read much of St. John of the Cross' work, huh?

[Dilbert56]

Fineman is falling prey to the Washington conventional wisdom. He thinks that because the media portray Murtha as a "hawk" that he really is one. He thinks the President is afraid of the Murtha sound bites. Realities like Murtha's steadfast opposition and the 403-3 vote don't matter. It's just the nightly news. Well no one who believes the nightly news supports GWB. He has no friends left to lose there.

The reality is that 403 representatives calculated that supporting the mission was the right side of history to be on. The tearful whinings of Murtha don't change that.

Beyond what's known, I would speculate Murtha was innoculating himself against ethics charges. He's going to do a Joe Wilson. "I didn't do anything wrong, they're bringing these charges because I spoke out against the Administration. They're trying to intimidate me. They attack....question my patriotism....personal attack...." SOS - different scoundrel hiding behind it.

[penowa]

"73% want pullout..."

What would you expect from a poll that appears on PMSNBC? If some Freeper hadn't put it on here, it would likely be 100% for pullout and nobody would ever know it except the brainwashed DUmmies.

"As Congress fled the capital for Thanksgiving, and Bush made his way back from a trip to Asia, White House aides were studying the political videotapes to see where they had lost control of events."

Another symptom of how braindead and out of touch the Republican party and the White House is with what is happening outside the Beltway. Maybe President Bush should start reading the newspapers (at least ones outside D.C.) or watching TV news so events would not escape his notice along with the rest of the party hierarchy and he would at least understand what bad advice he's getting from the hired help as far as PR is concerned. Why are these people still employed to re-open a warroom after the disservice they have done to the President?

[nopardons]

Pelosi set up Murtha, but Murtha appears to have lost his mind and soul a long time ago. The "NAM MENTALITY", that some of the ex military types ( Colin Powell is another ) have, is NOT understandable, to me, but it's there. Damned cowards all of 'em!

[Sally Golightly]

Wasn't that Churchill speaking about Russia?

[speed_addiction]

Murtha is baldfaced liar and has lied to our wounded troop's face. I mean this literally. I was talking with the mother of a Marine today. Last month Lance Corporal Jeffery Hubin was seriously injured in terrible IED attack that killed very other member of his squad. Save for the grace of God and a huge stroke of good luck, Lance Corporal Hubin survived, but with horrible injuries.

Murtha visited with Lance Corporal Hubin and his mother at Bethesda, told him to his face that while he wanted the troops home, the only option was victory. Now he turns around and wants these brave men to cut and run. Apparently his word is not worth keeping even when given to other Marines.


What We Are About To Do Here Is What The Good Lord Would Call A Cleansing of the Wicked. I Call It A Good Old Fashioned Texas Ass Kicking.

[nopardons]

Fineman has always been a Dem cheerleader. His columns are pure propaganda and nothing else.

[eleni121]

Murtha's a crook. Just follow the money. Jean Schmidt was too gentle with this creep.


http://euphoria.jarkolicious.com/journal/2005/11/18/1313/

[nopardons]

At least Arnold was a TRUE hero, before he jumped. None of these guys ( Murtha, Kerry, McCain, etc. ) were EVER a real war hero.

[armydawg1]

Murtha is the Mr November for "Defeatist" magazine, like Cindy Sheehan was in August.

[nopardons]

GOPers don't have a "war room"; that's a Clinton thing.

The MSM only helps Dems.

You may be frustrated, but don't assume that the president is "out of touch", just because he and his team don't act the way YOU want them to.

[Mo1]

So he was used?

Willingly used ... Murtha was in on it from what Fineman is reporting

[Mo1]

Pelosi set up Murtha, but Murtha appears to have lost his mind and soul a long time ago.

It sounds like from Fineman that Murtha was in on it

[Mo1]

Thanks for the link

[penowa]

You may be frustrated, but don't assume that the president is "out of touch", just because he and his team don't act the way YOU want them to

Why are they fretting over his job approval in the 30's if "he and his team" are so effective? Where have they been for the past year? Celebrating his reelection? Obviously not paying much attention to the polling until it reached the Jimmy Carter range.

[Verginius Rufus]

I wonder if Congresswoman DeLauro, the House's resident expert on Carmelite mystics, could tell us off-hand what country St. John of the Cross lived in, or which century.

(He was Spanish and lived from 1542 to 1591.)

[Big Horn]

Murtha is ia dem first and foremost. nuff said

[Verginius Rufus]

Hmmm...it says "dark night of the soul" on the Newsqueak site...did they correct it or did the excerptor make a slip?

[devolve]

403 - 3

[HardStarboard]

Just what in hell is Murtha trying to say in this quote?:

REP. JOHN MURTHA: I hope this is a watershed. I hope a lot of people think about what I've said and we can begin to withdraw our troops immediately from that area and put them on the horizon, or over the horizon, so if they have to they can go back in.

Pull the troops out immediately, "so if they have to they can go back in".?

Maybe he was a Marine, but he sure as hell wasn't a strategist! Its called giving the enemy a breather. Holy Pete - and he's touted as a Democrat hawk?