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(Clinton's senior advisor Leon)Panetta dismayed by party's war debate
The Washington Times ^ | March 2, 2007 | Donald Lambro

Posted on 03/03/2007 9:49:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

A senior Democratic adviser said yesterday he is disappointed and dismayed by the efforts of House and Senate Democrats to change administration policies in Iraq, predicting they would lead to further division and stalemate in Congress on the war.

"If you stand back, the whole debate has been pretty frustrating. The bigger problem is that [Democratic leaders'] proposals are not going anywhere, such as some revised authority for the war," said Leon Panetta, a key Democratic member of the Iraq Study Group whose proposals to stabilize Iraq were largely dismissed by President Bush.

"But those efforts are doomed. Either they are going to be blocked in Congress or vetoed by the president, or both. The end result is that it will make us more divided and impotent on war policy," President Clinton's former White House chief of staff said in an interview with The Washington Times.

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: billclinton; congress; defeatocrats; democrats; election2008; georgewbush; gop; hillaryclinton; iraq; iraqstaudygroup; isg; jackmurtha; leonpanetta; nancypelosi; presidentbush; puetta; punetta; republican; rinos; senate; usefulidiots; whitehouse
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The democrats once again taking the wrong lessons from public opinion polls. They couldn't care less how their misguided Iraq policies affect the United States, but only what it will do to their chances for the White House and keeping control of Congress.
1 posted on 03/03/2007 9:49:37 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

"---said Leon Panetta, a key Democratic member of the Iraq Study Group whose proposals to stabilize Iraq were largely dismissed by President Bush."

I don't remember Panetta being a member of an "Iraq Study Group".

Not that I pay much attention to Leon Panetta's doings.


2 posted on 03/03/2007 9:59:51 PM PST by malia (President Bush: I won't change my principals to be popular.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Leon, get back to your local sun-drenched golf course and STFU.


3 posted on 03/03/2007 10:01:54 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: malia

I didn't know it, had to look it up.

The other members of the study group included: Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Edwin Meese III , Sandra Day O'Connor, Leon E. Panetta, William J. Perry, Charles S. Robb, and Alan K. Simpson.


4 posted on 03/03/2007 10:04:45 PM PST by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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Last I checked, the President was responsible for America's "war policy", not Congress. Other than that, let the Democrats eat each other with all due haste.


5 posted on 03/03/2007 10:12:42 PM PST by Quick or Dead (Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms - Aristotle)
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To: jazusamo

Now I remember reading about that last week - didn't pay much attention to what they said. There was something about o'Connor.....

Guess I will look up Eagleburger comments. thanks


6 posted on 03/03/2007 10:32:32 PM PST by malia (President Bush: I won't change my principals to be popular.)
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To: jazusamo

"But other Democratic advisers aren't willing to give up on the possibility that Mr. Bush's troop surge may be able to reduce the violence in Baghdad and stabilize the country".

And that is what this is all about!

Democrats hate President Bush so much they are willing to let our soldiers be killed. They are willing to let children grow up without daddys or mommys if it means President Bush will fail!!!

What more can be said!!!




7 posted on 03/03/2007 10:40:58 PM PST by malia (President Bush: I won't change my principals to be popular.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"A lot of [the Democrats'] efforts have been pointless," said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution who advises Democrats on national security issues.

Finally, one sane person on the left....Well, Pelosi's and Reid's intelligence only goes to the extent of "pointless proposals". Can't blame them for how God created them dumb.
8 posted on 03/03/2007 10:58:48 PM PST by indianrightwinger
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I once met Leon in an elevator where I work. Four slow floors of chatting up small talk about his lecture series. It ended with me telling him that, although I thought he was a decent man, I didn't like his politics, or his former boss.

That said, he is not the raving lunatic that so many Dems really are today. He's a realist, he does more listening than talking, and his party would be wise to listen to him on this topic.

They won't, of course. They'll just keep on pushing for non-binding BS time after time, until even thier own constiuents figure out that their all talk, no wisdom, and simply incapable of leading National Security.


9 posted on 03/03/2007 10:59:32 PM PST by Greenpees (Coulda Shoulda Woulda)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I believe your assessment is exactly correct!!


10 posted on 03/03/2007 11:25:04 PM PST by CyberAnt (Drive-By Media: Fake news, fake documents, fake polls)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats in Congress who have been trying to come up with legislation that can unite anti-war liberals who want to force a pullout and more moderate members who want other alternatives

Instead of trying to pander to their looney fringe lefties while not completely alienating their moderates, the dems could spend a little time thinking about what's best for the country.

11 posted on 03/04/2007 12:15:21 AM PST by hsalaw
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Sounds like he's realized that all the dems are proving is that they're not qualified to be in power.
12 posted on 03/04/2007 2:44:48 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
My most vivid memory of Leon Panetta was an interview where he was describing his efforts as Billie Clintooon's Chief of Staff.

Panetta stated in that interview that he took great precautions to ensure that Billie never rode alone in the back of the Presidential Limo!
13 posted on 03/04/2007 2:52:28 AM PST by leprechaun9
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To: malia

Demonrats feel they can say the most outrageous things with regard to the war on terror, the president and his administration......knowing the MSM will back their lies and misrepresentations without hesitation.

Not only swear to their lies but add some more of their own in the attempt to defeat republicans......destroying national security as well means nothing to the antiAmeican crowd.


14 posted on 03/04/2007 4:38:49 AM PST by OldFriend (Swiftboating - Sinking a politician's Ship of Fools by Torpedoes of Truth)
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To: highlander_UW

Too bad so many on this thread are bashing Panetta, obviously without reading his commentary....simple kneejerking. It's a new pastime around here lately.


15 posted on 03/04/2007 4:40:39 AM PST by OldFriend (Swiftboating - Sinking a politician's Ship of Fools by Torpedoes of Truth)
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To: OldFriend
Too bad so many on this thread are bashing Panetta, obviously without reading his commentary....simple kneejerking. It's a new pastime around here lately.

Panetta is a black hat guy, but it seems to me that he's had a moment of illumination if he sees where the internal struggles in the dem party are heading. More insight and foresight than is typically of dems.

16 posted on 03/04/2007 5:12:26 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: Greenpees

The RATS are in a serious bind, which they placed themselves in. On the one hand, they have the realists like Panetta who knows that we can't fail in Iraq, because that opens the door for Iran to simply swoop in and take over. On the other hand, you have the far-left, Michael Moore, MoveOn nutjobs who could care less about any of the real world. Right now, they're playing to the loony left, which is driving moderates back into the GOP camp. Next year won't be pretty for them Congressionally or Presidentially, if they keep it up.


17 posted on 03/04/2007 5:43:49 AM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("We're Living In A Twilight World..."- Swingout Sister)
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To: ABG(anybody but Gore)

The only people giving the RATS any money are the crazies, the anti-Americans, and the hollyweirdos. They have no choice but to tout their positions, no matter how much they harm the country or even themselves in the long run.


18 posted on 03/04/2007 5:45:19 AM PST by OldFriend (Swiftboating - Sinking a politician's Ship of Fools by Torpedoes of Truth)
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To: OldFriend

Personally, I hope they keep it up. Everytime Pelosi or Reid is yapping on the evening news shows, making a fool of themselves, the GOP gets a few more votes...


19 posted on 03/04/2007 6:16:06 AM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("We're Living In A Twilight World..."- Swingout Sister)
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To: ABG(anybody but Gore)
Pelosi has not had a single success since she took over.

No ethics

No work week

Demanding the BIG plane

Appointing Jefferson of freezer cash fame to Homeland Security

Calling President Bush to whine about Cheney's statement about the left helping our enemies....

This is a woman with NO gravitas, no intelligence, and not a shred of common sense.

Even the media cannot ignore her shenanigans.
20 posted on 03/04/2007 7:21:43 AM PST by OldFriend (Swiftboating - Sinking a politician's Ship of Fools by Torpedoes of Truth)
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