Posted on 01/17/2007 7:00:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge
It would be helpful, I believe, if reflexive Bush bashers took a time out, caught their collective breath and considered the consequences of some of their actions and positions. Sure, I know that they are exercising their constitutional right as Americans to criticize their president and any other elected official with whom they disagree whether their criticism is based upon fact and logic, blind emotion or, as is commonly the case today, just visceral hatred of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and all who support them.
It’s time for us as a nation to decide whether or not we are really a nation at war or just a nation at war with itself. By war, I mean the real kind, fought by real soldiers who are dedicated to achieving a mission, not the make-believe, civilian kind such as the war on drugs or the war on poverty.
If we really are at war, then we should endeavor to rally behind the troops who are fighting it and the wartime president who is their commander-in-chief. That’s the American way, isn’t it? It doesn’t mean you have to agree with the war or love the president. Feel free to vote against his party whenever you get the chance but meanwhile, at the very least, refrain from saying or doing things that weaken the nation’s image, harm morale of the troops or provide comfort and encouragement to the enemy.
Egregious examples of the latter include demonstrations demanding return of the troops now and threats by Congressional Democrats to deny funding for military operations deemed necessary by the wartime commander-in-chief. Lesser examples include the unremitting condemnation of the president’s plan for a last ditch military effort to salvage something out of the Iraq fiasco without offering an alternative plan which the president has said time and again he would consider. By alternate plan, though, I mean something more substantive than recommending that we consult with our enemies in the region, Iran and Syria, both of whom are sponsors of terrorism which we are supposed to be at war against. Why on earth would we do that, knowing how they feel about us?
The anti-war protests are starting up again and nothing good for America will come from them. Protestors may truly feel that they are acting in America’s best interests but here’s a reality check. Ask any active duty soldier or marine who has seen combat in Iraq or Afghanistan how the anti-war demonstrations back home affect troops in combat. They are at best disturbing and unsettling to the troops and at worse, downright harmful to morale. The troops are, for the most part, too dedicated and disciplined to complain or to let it affect their performance but everyone I’ve asked has told me that it is important to know that the folks back home support them. Supporting them, however, entails more than just saying the words. It includes supporting the mission that they are putting their lives on the line for.
I’m certainly not going to bet the farm on the prospects for the president’s latest plan to succeed. Our troops will, of course, do everything in their power to achieve some manner of success in this so far mismanaged war. They deserve solid support from the home front and restraint from the Bush bashers while their lives are on the line. In the final analysis, though, success depends on the Iraqis themselves and their performance to date gives little cause for optimism. I personally have little confidence in their ability to put aside religious and tribal hatreds long enough to salvage their country.
Given the low regard that large numbers of Iraqis seem to have for Americans, it has become a matter some indifference to me and probably to most Americans whether Iraqis live happier ever after or whether they go on killing one another after we leave. I am far more concerned with the safety of our troops and with American interests in the area. A precipitous withdrawal, such as advocated by some, including Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. John Murtha, would be inimical to both concerns and any attempt to deny funding for wartime military operations would be an outrageous infringement of a wartime president’s authority.
I know getting those already in back out is a near impossible task, but not securing the border so more illegals can't continue to come in is a real mind blower for me.
I guess way above my pay grade.
I would really be willing to listen if he would just explain it so "we" could understand.
Other than the WOT, he hasn't used his Bully Pulpit much to "lead" us along, putting more than just a label on "Compassionate Conservatism". The two years after 2004 he sure had a chance, with a much more meaningful mandate.
I really believe he is an honorable man. I really do, but I think he got led down the lane by some poor advice somewhere along the line.
Anyway thanks again and good night.
Oh, I concur.
Mindless cult worship.
Who led our armed forces into this fiasco?
Mindless stupid post...lol.
Big words for a baby faced kid who looks like he's barely out of diapers.
You may be the last person in this country to support him.. Did you see Dana Rohrbacher and the two other Republicans on TV last night saying Bush ought to be ashamed of himself for not pardoning the border agents.
To be honest, that really is a really lousy situation. They take the word of the drug runners and put the good guys in jail. Pretty bad.
Now the drugger is suing just to put the icing on the cake.
Sweet.
I applaud your loyalty.
But, one very bad thing that may be coming is that with each passing month that goes by toward the next election, I can see more and more of these Congresscritters falling/running away from the President.
And to top it off, now we are to be treated with this pathetic charade of a trial of Scooter Libby for months on end. This is not a pleasant picture.
By the way, people who say that the old media has no power and is weak and dying are not at all correct.
Well said. (jmo)
Whether he agrees with the President or not, I find it repulsive that a big, blowhard, thrice-married jerk who never served in the military calls the President of the United States a "wuss" on national radio during wartime.
I sure am glad to know he's distancing himself from people like me, because I don't want to be associated with him!
Wearing you out is one of the tactics, both by the media and the FR Bush-bashers. Don't let them.
Of the latter, most of them that post here are no more conservative than Hillary.
Of the former, they are out and out communists.
IOW, worth little time or bandwidth.
How many hours did you spend looking for that cartoon?
The author has good insight. The bashers and peaceers don't give a rip about troop morale or the effect of their words and actions on it. It's all about themselves.
Their narcissistic selves. I include several FR basher-posters in that category.
As far as that ty[pe of grandstanding, the question is this: if you feel like the President has made a mistake, do you schedule a meeting or do you go before the TV cameras. If you choose TV, perhaps it is because you want to show your constituents you are "doing something."
As I said, I might be the last one, but I will support him until the end.
I agree with you about the media, by the way. If we don't figure out a way to get around them, we are simply going to watch whoever is the next Republican president get trashed as well (that is if there ever IS another Republican president).
ABsolutely right, prairie. They often work in teams, too, so as to gang up on people and wear them out quicker.
Sandy Berger may love his "Compassionate Conservatism".
So Bush is not a true conservative......now you have the dems in charge and you feel vindicated?????????????????
I swear that if we could somehow get Mark Steyn to take over for Rush Limbaugh it would be a great start to a correction of the media problem. He took over for Rush one day and was perfect. He was brilliant, witty, informative, and had a wonderful easy-going way about him. He was a perfect gentleman but was able to be stern when needed. He is the kind of host we need! He made Rush look like the sanctimonious, self-aggrandizing, insecure guy that he is.
Funny thing ......... Mark Steyn has never been asked back to substitute.
I wonder why.
;-)
P.S. By the way, I gave up on Rush when he lead his Thanksgiving Day Show with a story about a guy who dragged a lamb into a barn and raped it. It was disgusting.
It took about 3 minutes of searching. And about ten minutes of editing.
I think it applies to a lot of people on this thread.
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