I saw that.
Posted on 08/03/2006 4:15:37 PM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON Aug 3, 2006 (AP)— Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called Thursday for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she said was a "failed policy" in Iraq.
"I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around before it's too late," the New York Democrat told the Associated Press. "I think the president should choose to accept Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation."
Clinton confronted Rumsfeld directly on Iraq and Afghanistan earlier in the day, and said his answers left her convinced he should go.
"The secretary has lost credibility with the Congress and with the people. It's time for him to step down and be replaced by someone who can develop an effective strategy and communicate it effectively to the American people and to the world."
For months, Clinton has resisted joining the chorus of other Democrats demanding Rumsfeld's ouster. Her remarks Thursday were the harshest assessment yet from the woman considered her party's early front-runner for the 2008 presidential nomination.
The former first lady has come under attack from some in her own party for her 2002 vote for the war and her current opposition to a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal.
"I am frankly tired of hearing the same stories from the administration's national security team," Clinton told the AP. "The president changed his economic team, he changed his White House team I think it's time for him to change his security and defense team."
Clinton said her own view of the war has not changed.
"What's been clear is that despite my being a constant and persistent critic of how the president has conducted the war, it has not achieved the goals that he has set," she said.
Earlier in the day, the senator wasted no time going after Rumsfeld when he testified in a morning hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Under your leadership there have been numerous errors in judgment that have led us to where we are," the New York Democrat said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. "We have a full-fledged insurgency and full-blown sectarian conflict in Iraq."
The defense secretary seemed briefly stunned by the intensity of her attack, exclaiming, "My goodness," before launching into a point-by-point defense.
He rejected some of her specific criticisms as simply wrong and said the war against terror will be a drawn-out process.
"Are there setbacks? Yes," said Rumsfeld. "Is this problem going to get solved in the near term? I think it's going to take some time."
The testy exchange between Clinton and Rumsfeld came after a top general told the panel violence in Iraq is probably as bad as he's ever seen it and the country may be descending into civil war.
"We hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios, but because of the administration's strategic blunders and frankly the record of incompetence in executing you are presiding over a failed policy," she said. "Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?"
Rumsfeld vehemently denied he'd ever glossed over the difficulties of the fighting in Iraq or elsewhere.
"There's a track record here," countered Clinton. "This is not 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, when you appeared before this committee and made many comments and presented many assurances that have frankly proven to be unfulfilled."
"Senator, I don't think that's true," Rumsfeld fired back. "I have never painted a rosy picture. I've been very measured in my words and you'd have a dickens of a time trying to find instances where I've been excessively optimistic. I understand this is tough stuff."
At that point, the Republican chairman of the committee, Sen. John Warner of Virginia, came to Rumsfeld's defense, saying his past comments had been balanced.
Clinton still shied away from a demand made by a growing number of Democrats: a deadline for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
The disagreement between the two extended to Afghanistan. The senator specifically faulted Rumsfeld for saying in 2002 that the Taliban was gone, noting that the extremist faction has grown stronger in recent months.
He conceded violence has escalated in Afghanistan, but added, "Does that represent failed policy? I don't know. I would say not."
The defense secretary said he expected the violence there to follow a seasonal pattern and decline as winter approaches.
You first, Hillary.
I hope so. 42% of the country's voters say that there is absolutely no way they'd vote for her, under any circumstances. And that number has been constant for 18 months.
She is such a lifeless, dull, droning speaker! I don't think she has her heart in this Senate thing anymore, if she ever did.
Her sleezy pimp of a husband should have resigned the presidency, but of course she no longer would have been the first "lady."
The interesting thing is watching the Media's reaction to Hillary's potential candidacy. Her former cheerleaders seem genuinely underwelmed by her prospects and seem reluctant to get onboard. Probably because the real heavy-duty campaign bucks are going to the whackos on the fringe Left. The MSM knows which side their bread is buttered on.
"Sen. Clinton Says Rumsfeld Should Resign"-Hillary FAILED in HER attempt to reform health care.
I saw that.
I think that Hillary's move to the Senate was both offensive (a setup for the presidential run) and defensive (gain a sort of immunity for past actions). If any prosecution had resulted from her days in the WH, she could portray them as 'political attacks'.
I call on her to go suck an egg. So what?
She has a heart??
Seriously, she never did have her heart in being a United States Senator. This was just a stepping-stone designed to give her credentials so she can run for the real prize - first women president of the U.S.
She's one of the most dangerous animals in the world.
No once again Hillary should resign , she got it wrong again!
Yep, McCain and Hillary are tv together more these days than Hillary and Bill.
I hate watching the Republicans in public hearings like this one... They are SO polite, SO understanding and respectful of their Democratic collegues as the latter throw those values to the winds and attack virtually anything and anybody that does any good for the United States.
There's no "Howard Dean" wing of the party--- his wing is the Democratic Party; he and Democratic "moderates" agree on everything except, at times, political strategy.
I understand Joe Lieberman is liberal even for a Democrat, but he's still not a moonbat like this harpy. Perhaps when he's crushed in the primary he'll finally get his head out of his ass and realize that.
Can you guys just imagine what Rummy wanted to say, to DO to that piece of Senatwhorial GARBAGE!?!?!
You just KNOW he wanted a Louisville Slugger moment, just on swack!
Given the aid and comfort provided to the insurgency by the DemocRATic Party, it is Hillary that should resign, not Donald Rumsfeld. Strike that ... substitute be impeached and charged with treason in place of resign.
Her husband should have RESIGNED in SHAME. He had a few chances to get osama and he didn't...he gave North Korea the nuke deal they wanted....the Clintons are TRAITORS.
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