Comments on: The Republican Calculus on Iraq http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:42:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79837 kritter Thu, 10 May 2007 03:21:18 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79837 I hope I'm wrong, too Rambie. But in January that group threatened to mount primary challenges for the 17 Republicans who voted for the first non-binding resolution expressing no-confidence in Bush 's ability to prosecute the war. This is what the Democrats are up against. But, I did hear that 11 GOP House members met with the president to let him know that they will only believe Petraeus' opinion on the war; Bush's credibility is shot. Can you imagine having to go to the WH with that kind of message? Its basically saying you've lied so much that we no longer believe anything you have to say on this subject. I really hope the tide is turning, because Bush has gotten more support than he deserves. The same people who are the most supportive were the ones who wanted to leave Bosnia before the mission was accomplished- so its all politics. I hope I’m wrong, too Rambie. But in January that group threatened to mount primary challenges for the 17 Republicans who voted for the first non-binding resolution expressing no-confidence in Bush ’s ability to prosecute the war. This is what the Democrats are up against.

But, I did hear that 11 GOP House members met with the president to let him know that they will only believe Petraeus’ opinion on the war; Bush’s credibility is shot. Can you imagine having to go to the WH with that kind of message? Its basically saying you’ve lied so much that we no longer believe anything you have to say on this subject. I really hope the tide is turning, because Bush has gotten more support than he deserves. The same people who are the most supportive were the ones who wanted to leave Bosnia before the mission was accomplished- so its all politics.

]]> By: Rambie http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79805 Rambie Wed, 09 May 2007 23:37:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79805 <i>Kritter: ...Hugh Hewitt and his Victory Caucus vowed to go after and defeat any GOPer who voted with the Democrats. The next president is going to get saddled with this. The GOP candidates seem to know it as most are opting for a continuation of the Bush policy in Iraq. </i> Kim, I hope you're wrong. But if not, come 2012 the GOP will be completely sunk (unless by some miracle the "surge" works by then, and the general public will see the GOPers for what they really are. Kritter: …Hugh Hewitt and his Victory Caucus vowed to go after and defeat any GOPer who voted with the Democrats. The next president is going to get saddled with this. The GOP candidates seem to know it as most are opting for a continuation of the Bush policy in Iraq.

Kim, I hope you’re wrong. But if not, come 2012 the GOP will be completely sunk (unless by some miracle the “surge” works by then, and the general public will see the GOPers for what they really are.

]]> By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79760 kritter Wed, 09 May 2007 20:14:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79760 David Broder just wrote a piece in WaPo claiming that Bush plans to keep the troops there until '08. There was a press release today saying that the military leaders in Iraq are calling for this. Cheney is going to Saudi Arabia after Iraq, and will pass this news along to King Abdullah. It is going to be very hard to get Bush to budge on this issue. He still wields a lot of power with his own party and with conservatives who still support the war. That is why they have stayed with him so far. Remember after one of the war votes in the House, Hugh Hewitt and his Victory Caucus vowed to go after and defeat any GOPer who voted with the Democrats. The next president is going to get saddled with this. The GOP candidates seem to know it as most are opting for a continuation of the Bush policy in Iraq. David Broder just wrote a piece in WaPo claiming that Bush plans to keep the troops there until ‘08. There was a press release today saying that the military leaders in Iraq are calling for this. Cheney is going to Saudi Arabia after Iraq, and will pass this news along to King Abdullah. It is going to be very hard to get Bush to budge on this issue. He still wields a lot of power with his own party and with conservatives who still support the war. That is why they have stayed with him so far. Remember after one of the war votes in the House, Hugh Hewitt and his Victory Caucus vowed to go after and defeat any GOPer who voted with the Democrats. The next president is going to get saddled with this. The GOP candidates seem to know it as most are opting for a continuation of the Bush policy in Iraq.

]]> By: Sam http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79734 Sam Wed, 09 May 2007 19:32:46 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79734 Ok, just thought of a Plan B for the president. In order to save face, he keeps vetoing any bill the Dems send to him with any constraints whatsoever. Eventually the funding runs out as a result, and when forced to withdraw he can then blame the democrats for losing us the war and endangering our troops. Either the Democrats give up writing bills to force Bush's hand and looks like the president won, or they force the president to retreat and look like civilians who ruined a military operation. In fact, I'd put real money on this option. Ok, just thought of a Plan B for the president. In order to save face, he keeps vetoing any bill the Dems send to him with any constraints whatsoever. Eventually the funding runs out as a result, and when forced to withdraw he can then blame the democrats for losing us the war and endangering our troops. Either the Democrats give up writing bills to force Bush’s hand and looks like the president won, or they force the president to retreat and look like civilians who ruined a military operation. In fact, I’d put real money on this option.

]]> By: Sam http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79707 Sam Wed, 09 May 2007 18:55:28 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79707 I think this article is way off. For starters, "Republican Calculus" isn't going to have a say in when we pull troops back. Bush will not pull out troops because in his Black and White world that is a defeat. He does not understand that this war will never have an outcome in line with his view of what Iraq should be. He will spin this country's tires forever until Iraq magically turns into a Democracy friendly to the US. With that in mind there are only two options for Congress, neither of which will happen. First is to defund the troops forcing Bush to withdraw them, which they can' t do. Literally not supporting our troops with money suddenly makes all those stupid bumperstickers have actual meaning instead of being hollow catchphrases for Bush supporters display their paper thin patriotism. Its political suicide and rightly so. Second is to impeach Bush, which they don't have the votes for and would also have to do the same to Cheney. Also not going to happen. "Republican Calculus" is powerless in the face of Presidential Arithmetic. This entire affair is going to be dumped in the next administrations lap. It is they who will have to make the really tough decisions. This one can't do that because they don't even understand the situation. I think this article is way off. For starters, “Republican Calculus” isn’t going to have a say in when we pull troops back. Bush will not pull out troops because in his Black and White world that is a defeat. He does not understand that this war will never have an outcome in line with his view of what Iraq should be. He will spin this country’s tires forever until Iraq magically turns into a Democracy friendly to the US.

With that in mind there are only two options for Congress, neither of which will happen. First is to defund the troops forcing Bush to withdraw them, which they can’ t do. Literally not supporting our troops with money suddenly makes all those stupid bumperstickers have actual meaning instead of being hollow catchphrases for Bush supporters display their paper thin patriotism. Its political suicide and rightly so.

Second is to impeach Bush, which they don’t have the votes for and would also have to do the same to Cheney. Also not going to happen.

“Republican Calculus” is powerless in the face of Presidential Arithmetic. This entire affair is going to be dumped in the next administrations lap. It is they who will have to make the really tough decisions. This one can’t do that because they don’t even understand the situation.

]]> By: casualobserver http://themoderatevoice.com/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-79694 casualobserver Wed, 09 May 2007 18:27:51 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/congress/12722/the-republican-calculus-on-iraq/#comment-79694 And so it should be. This reader does not buy into "Bush knew it was a lie" nor find fault with his following his beliefs/convictions. I do find fault with his ability to lead America, to talk to America, to convince America. For whatever their faults, Roosevelt, Churchill and Reagan knew how to do that. For whatever their strengths, Johnson, Nixon and Bush did not. He was not, regrettably, the man for the times. It will be interesting to see what type of "persona" ultimately appeals to Americans in '08 in light of this. And so it should be.

This reader does not buy into “Bush knew it was a lie” nor find fault with his following his beliefs/convictions.

I do find fault with his ability to lead America, to talk to America, to convince America.

For whatever their faults, Roosevelt, Churchill and Reagan knew how to do that. For whatever their strengths, Johnson, Nixon and Bush did not.

He was not, regrettably, the man for the times.

It will be interesting to see what type of “persona” ultimately appeals to Americans in ‘08 in light of this.

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