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Unenlightened selfish interest: Hewitt slams Sen. Dems for dissing America at time of greatest need
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, October 30, 2001 | Hugh Hewitt

Posted on 10/29/2001 11:52:10 PM PST by JohnHuang2

WND Exclusive Commentary
Unenlightened self interest


© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

I am in Washington, D.C., for the 26th running of the Marine Corps Marathon. It's been 15 years since I ran this race and, when media demands following the attacks of Sept. 11 disrupted my training, I thought about skipping it. The Marines, however, refused to cancel the race even though the security issues went through the roof. If they can put it on, I decided I could finish it.

Coming to Washington from the West Coast brings you to a different world. The anthrax attacks are just disturbing headlines in California, but here it is very much a real problem on the minds of almost every Washingtonian I have chatted with. The Pentagon, having recently taken a direct hit, is now ringed with camouflaged biohazard monitoring stations. The Supreme Court was added to the target list on Friday, and more surprises are believed to be in the mail. There is no panic. Just seriousness.

Which is why I find the conduct of Senate Democrats so surprising. The country is undergoing its most significant challenge in decades, and the leadership of the opposition has returned to an almost maddening partisanship less than two months after thousands of Americans died in a surprise assault. They have chosen the opposite of seriousness. They have chosen self-interest.

Tom Daschle has buried the energy bill that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because he knows the votes from both sides of the aisle are there to pass it.

Patrick Leahy has imposed a near boycott on Bush judicial nominees even though we are in the middle of the largest manhunt in history and a full federal bench is a pressing necessity. Bill Clinton had 28 judges confirmed in his first year in office – a 57 percent confirmation rate even though he did not start nominating judges until August of 1993. George Bush has had only 12 of his 60 nominees voted on – a tiny 20 percent – even though he began sending up his judicial picks in May. Leahy is unapologetic. The Democrats are running things, and they are committed to running out the clock.

And now we have Joe Biden droning on about "high-tech bullying" and the need to go mano a mano with the Taliban. When I played the entire Biden answer on my radio program last Thursday, an outraged and teary caller from Colorado explained how her father had died at the Chosin Reservoir going mano a mano with the Chinese when she was 1-year old, and perhaps the Biden Doctrine that conflict is unacceptable unless a lot of American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines die is not the view of the American voters. Biden complains he is the victim of a political drive-by. Biden is a victim of his need to pose as a player. He deserves every bit of the withering criticism that has come his way.

It is too bad we do not have a three-strikes-and-you're-out policy for the Senate Democrats. Such a policy would oblige Jim Jeffords to look at the real and lasting damage his dance with self-absorption has cost the country, and perhaps it would even move Georgia Senator Zell Miller to act on what must be his increasing discomfort with the fecklessness of his national party.

Tests of leadership capability come along rarely. We are in the midst of one now, and its subject matter is nothing less than protection of the lives of millions of Americans living in target areas. The recent reports of bin Laden's potential nuclear capability underscore the threat at the same time that they underscore the need for candor, honor and purpose among the political leadership. The Senate Democrats have failed on all counts, and no amount of prattle about "bipartisanship" from their allies – like Michael Kinsley and Al Hunt – will cover their collapse under pressure. They know nothing except hyper-partisanship, and they have returned to it in record time.

This partisanship is a tragedy for the party of FDR and JFK, but it is simply dangerous for the country. The only answers are attention and political revulsion. The elections of 2002 are a year away, but disgust should be funneled into contributions to the coffers of those who would restore responsible people to power in the Senate. I listed some of the individual candidates in last week's column, and the general effort is guided by – and can be studied and supported at – the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

There is still time in this session for Daschle – and the Democrat Party he leads – to turn around and come back to the political conduct required by these times. That does not mean agreement with the president. It does mean votes on the key bills, the judicial nominees, and a public rebuke of Biden.

In a city consumed with seriousness, it is a shame that the only place that quality is in short supply is the United States Senate.


Related offers:

In 'The Embarrassed Believer', Hugh Hewitt is reviving Christian witness in an age of unbelief and is available in WND's online store.

For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.



TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
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To: shorty
bttt--In case TD is a 'lurker'. {;~)
61 posted on 10/30/2001 10:16:18 AM PST by d14truth
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To: JohnHuang2
Another Hugh bump. The democratic party is a party of pure selfishness and conceite. Puff and friends only demonstrate these characteristics by blocking judges, oil reserve exploration etc for their own self grandising. They have contributed to the down fall of this country with the clintoons leading the pack. How sad...!
62 posted on 10/30/2001 10:18:04 AM PST by Lucky2
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To: ImpBill
LOL...you are the 3rd Good FReeper to correct my mistake on-Forum, with 2 more via FReepMail...I can't get away with SQUAT around here, can I?!

Good to know folks are still payin' attention, though...LOL!!

FReegards, my FRiend...MUD

63 posted on 10/30/2001 10:18:51 AM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: DLfromthedesert; M. Thatcher; dwbh
"...time to get your fellow GOPers in the state to put pressure on Miller."

FReepers shall lead the way...who wants to take point on this project?!

"We must stop being dependent on Mideast Oil. That will drastically change our politics in the Gulf."

With the Saudis arrogantly displaying their anti-Americanism, I was thrilled to hear a suggestion from Roger Hedgecock when he substituted for Rush Limbaugh on Friday's show. Mr. Hedgecock recommended that we open up drilling in ANWR and other areas in the US, negotiate some long-term Oil Acquisition Contracts with our newfound Allies such as Russia and others, and then announce--without any warning--that America will no longer purchase a single drop of oil from the Saudis and other problematic MidEast Countries!!

Then watch the Shieks squirm, whine, and moan...LOL!!!

FReegards...MUD

BTW...in Richmond, VA, I just filled up my tank at the local (Jahnke Road) Exxon for $.99.9/gallon!! Has anybody else out there heard a SINGLE STORY from the Vast, LeftWing Medyuh Whore'd about Dubyuh's success in bringing down the Cost of Gasoline in this Country?! I sure as Hell haven't!!

Sam...yet another example of Medyuh Bias, IMHO.

64 posted on 10/30/2001 10:29:52 AM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: d14truth
"1997 picture of next SD Senator 'Big John' Thune(center), and current SD Senators 'Tiny Tom' Daschle and 'yes-man', not quite so 'tiny' Tim JOHNSON"

Betcha Big John could whup both their DemocRAT A$$es with one arm tied behind his back!! Once Big John makes mincemeat of Johnson, who do we have in the wings to take out Daschle?!

I WANT DASCHLE...WANT HIM BAD!!!! Do I have to move to South Dakota to do the honors?!

LOL and FReegards...MUD

65 posted on 10/30/2001 10:36:13 AM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: JohnHuang2; RonDog; Victoria Delsoul; Snow Bunny; *Hugh Hewitt
It is too bad we do not have a three-strikes-and-you're-out policy for the Senate Democrats. Such a policy would oblige Jim Jeffords to look at the real and lasting damage his dance with self-absorption has cost the country, and perhaps it would even move Georgia Senator Zell Miller to act on what must be his increasing discomfort with the fecklessness of his national party. "

The Senate Democrats failed us in our last hour of national crisis, the Impeachment of William Clinton. Even as Clinton was staging "Wag the Dog" bombings of Iraq to stave off his shame at the hands of the House.

And by wagging just that dog at just that time, Clinton succeed in giving Sadaam Hussein the political cover to kick out the UNSCOM weapons investigators, allowing the build-up of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

And now, Washington, New York, Florida, and Baltimore are under attack by those very same weapons.

For this, America can thank the Democrats.

Excuse me while I grab a bite.

66 posted on 10/30/2001 10:45:58 AM PST by Sabertooth
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To: JohnHuang2
Bump for Hugh. Take back the Senate in 2002!
67 posted on 10/30/2001 10:48:18 AM PST by colorado tanker
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To: Mudboy Slim
I hope you don't have to move.--

South Dakota Republicans

68 posted on 10/30/2001 10:50:04 AM PST by d14truth
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To: Sabertooth
Here's one with a little more meat,

it appears you've 'hurt its feelings'. {;~)

69 posted on 10/30/2001 10:56:26 AM PST by d14truth
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To: Republic
Tom Daschle, Pat Leahy and Joe Biden are very, very small men. In every way. I don't have the adequate adjectives to describe how very much each of them disgust me but I will NEVER listen to what they have to say because I only get an earful of hatred and smallness and mean spiritedness every time their voices manage to reach my ears.

Biden has been getting a "pass" from many in the media - AND from many in politics (who should KNOW better) - about his remarks having been taken "taken out of context."

That, as Rush says, is Barbara Steisand.

The FULL TEXT of his remarks is posted at the Council on Foreign Relations website.

Here is the relevent excerpt:

RP: Roland Paul(?), Senator, I concur with everybody else in commending you on your comments, and anyone who's heard you before would certainly not be surprised at how good they were. I would return to a question you answered earlier, and you said as long ... the bombing, every day it goes on, the harder it may be for us to do something in the past(?). What do you see as the situation if we don't defeat the Taliban in the next four weeks, and winter sets in in Afghanistan?

JB: Again, I'm not a military man. I think the American public and the Islamic world is fully prepared for us to take as long as we need to take, if it is action that is a-mano-a-mano. If it's us on the ground going against other forces on the ground. The part that I think flies in the face of and plays into every stereotypical criticism of us is we're this high tech bully that thinks from the air we can do whatever we want to do, and it builds the case for those who want to make the case against us that all we're doing is indiscriminately bombing innocents, which is not the truth. Some innocents are indiscriminately bombed, but that is not the truth. I think the American public is prepared for a long siege. I think the American public is prepared for America losses. I think the American public is prepared, and the President must continue to remind them to be prepared, for American body bags coming home. There is no way that you can in fact go after and root out Olkaida and/or Bin Laden without folks on the ground, in caves, risking and losing their lives. And I believe that the tolerance for that in the Islamic world is significant ... exponentially higher than it is for us bombing.
That's a generic point I wish to make. I am not qualified enough to tell you, although I can tell you what the military guys have said to me, this is not 1948. This is 2001, I'm not at all they're correct, and our ability to wage conflict in the winter, in parts of this region, is within our control, I don't know enough to vouch for that or not, but I do think it clearly makes it more difficulty, and the weather window is closing, as opposed to the tolerance window for our behavior, in my view. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause)

M: Thank you. That was wonderful.

Hugh has been hammering these bozos BIG TIME - for several days now, on his radio program. You can LISTEN LIVE over the Internet via the Hugh's "mothership station" KRLA 870-AM in Los Angeles at his NEW TIME:

3pm to 6pm - WEST coast time
6pm to 9pm - EAST coast time.

70 posted on 10/30/2001 10:59:33 AM PST by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Another smack outta da park for Hugh...thanks Ron.I listened to his broadcast that night when that woman called in about Joe Bidet..and that's what he is, not Biden, but Bidet...and the Dems aren't ready for primetime, and never will be.They lack moral seriousness.
71 posted on 10/30/2001 11:05:27 AM PST by habs4ever
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To: RonDog
Oh gish!!!! Thanks for posting that transcript. What a DOLT! What a PIG!! Geeeeeeeez, again!
72 posted on 10/30/2001 11:14:29 AM PST by Republic
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To: RonDog
Bump for Hugh
73 posted on 10/30/2001 3:47:10 PM PST by eureka!
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To: d14truth; RonDog; generalissimoduane
...Enter.. RESCORLA ..in -Search- of.. www.WashingtonPost.com ..to read a terrific article about one Lifetime of Heroism from the Battle of IA DRANG-1965 to the Airstrikes on the World Trade Center-2001 titled:

..'A Tower of Courage'..

74 posted on 10/30/2001 4:14:50 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: Mudboy Slim
Time for a change......
75 posted on 10/30/2001 4:18:36 PM PST by prognostigaator
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
...Enter.. RESCORLA ..in -Search- of.. www.WashingtonPost.com ..to read a terrific article about one Lifetime of Heroism from the Battle of IA DRANG-1965 to the Airstrikes on the World Trade Center-2001 titled:

..'A Tower of Courage'..

A Tower of Courage
On September 11, Rick Rescorla Died as He Lived: Like a Hero
By Michael Grunwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2001; Page F01

Please go THERE, and read this article.
(To all FReepers, remember that we are under court order NOT to post full text articles from that rag.)

76 posted on 10/30/2001 4:21:31 PM PST by RonDog
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To: eureka!
Bump for Hugh

He is promoting US as well. Posted today on www.HughHewitt.com, there is a link to THIS THREAD:

To order Victor Davis Hanson’s book Carnage and Culture, click here.

The hottest new CD to hit the charts featuring Celine Dion's "God Bless America" can be ordered here by clicking on the link.

My latest WorldNetDaily column, can be read here and the click here to the corresponding thread at FreeRepublic.com


77 posted on 10/30/2001 4:29:34 PM PST by RonDog
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To: RonDog
...As Lt. Col. HAL G. MOORE...

...Commanding at IA DRANG-1965...

...would say...

.."OUTSTANDING".. Post there RD,

...Over.

78 posted on 10/30/2001 4:37:41 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: RonDog; ALOHA RONNIE
Did you hear Aloha Ronnie tonight on Hugh's show? He was AWESOME!!! Defined the enemy in NO uncertain terms.
79 posted on 10/30/2001 5:00:18 PM PST by DLfromthedesert
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To: RonDog
...For More on American Hero Life Saver RICK RESCORLA...

...see my Bookmarked Freerepublic.com Article titled:

'The Bravest Man I Ever Knew'

...by simply touching the ALOHA RONNIE on this Post.

80 posted on 10/30/2001 5:02:26 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE
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