Posted on 08/25/2007 2:47:57 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
INDIANAPOLIS -- As hundreds of Republican activists from a dozen Midwestern states gathered Friday to talk about the 2008 election, one of the more divisive topics amid the vendor booths and candidate tables was a senior GOP senator's call for President Bush to bring some troops home from Iraq by Christmas.
Many delegates were angry with Sen. John Warner of Virginia, a former Navy secretary and one of Congress' most respected military voices. They said he seemed to be undercutting Bush, selling short recent reports of military successes and pre-empting a mid-September report to Congress from top military and diplomatic officials.
"I assume he's sincere, but so what? He's a politician. He's not a general," said James Bopp, 59, a Republican National Committee member from Indiana. "It's apparent that the change in strategy that Bush has initiated through the surge is being successful," Bopp said. "So we should pursue it to victory."
Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who visited the biennial Midwest Republican Leadership Conference, called Warner's stance disappointing and "premature."
"It's almost as if the food critic has judged the dish and written his column before the chef's brought it out of the kitchen," Huckabee said.
Warner made his recommendation Thursday after returning from a trip to Iraq, where he met with U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian leaders. He also was informed by a new National Intelligence Estimate that identified some improvements in securing parts of Iraq but projected worsening prospects for governance.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
fyi
“Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who visited the biennial Midwest Republican Leadership Conference, called Warner’s stance disappointing and “premature.””
I agre with Gov. Huckabee. My Brothers and Sisters are ACCOMPLISHING the MISSION.
“Sen. John Warner of Virginia, a former Navy secretary and one of Congress’ most respected military voices.”
Respected by whom?
Soon to be former Senator Warner won’t be facing reelection in 2008. How does this divide the party? It’s the Democrats in the Senate that are seriously divided.
Where’s the border fence?
There are a number of RINOs who need to pullout of the GOP.
Yes, but it would feel so much better to KICK THEM OUT! :o)
What a lame response. And I'm supposed to take seriously FReepers' claims that Huckabee is some great conservative?
Am sick of these 'bigger than thou' egos; who think they need not support their President; and whom cannot grasp the portents of an American defeat.
Right on. I haven’t respected that RINO in a long time.
Nowadays everyone thinks they have presidental insight..
Warner’s wrong about pulling out. The guy hasn’t thought out the repercussions of running away. I expect dangerous suggestions like this from D’crap politicians but not Republicans !!!
Huckabee has the down home country intelligence to make a great President. He's precisely right here.
What about the Dems being divided when Leiberman bucked the party? I guess maybe they aren’t divided after all since they threw him out of the party! That’s how they the tolerant ones deal with those who disagree with them.
That’s true. I’ve advocated Warner take a trip back home too though.
What you’re probably addressing is the media that fails to mention the Lieberman dynamic while capitalizing on the Warner sutuation. You’re right on target.
The desperation of the Left Wing Press has blown it into Warner marching on the White House and challenging the President to a duel.
Who cares what John Warner says? The guy is always on the leftist side when a vote counts - media allows him to posture as a conservative as they know he is reliable part of liberal establishment.
Wonder what he found out that the MSM is not reporting.
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