From The Indepundit:
At some point in the past few weeks, a shift occured. Maybe it started back in November, when Congressman Jack Murtha lost his bid to be House Majority Leader.
Or perhaps it was on January 27, when Jane Fonda staged a defeatist demonstration on the hallowed grounds of the U.S. Navy Memorial. On that same day, some of her fellow defeatists vandalized the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol, while others spit at the foot of Iraq veteran Joshua Sparling (that's not a typo, Sparling lost his right leg in Iraq).
Maybe it all came to a head last Friday, when the House of Representatives expressed their institutional preference for defeat over victory in Iraq.
Whenever the shift began, it was evident by Saturday afternoon that something had changed. That was when a motion in the Senate to take up the House's anti-war resolution failed to win enough votes to move forward. And that was for the mildest, most watered-down rebuke that could possibly satisfy the defeatists. On that same day, the Washington Post slammed Congressman Murtha for advocating a "slow bleed" strategy to end the war in Iraq.
He goes on to note how A Gathering of Eagles and Victory Caucus are starting to re-energise patriots in this nation. I do think the anti-war left has overplayed its hand, and the Democrats are sinking themselves by slouching ever further left...with the really funny thing being that the Democrats are doing this in order to keep the left on board for 2008 - as if the kook left will (a) be palatable to a majority of Americans and (b) will help carry a single State President Bush carried twice (a vital necessity for Democrats winning the White House in 2008).
Stout hearts! There will never be another Saigon in our history - as long as we keep doing the right thing, no matter what the critics say.
HAT TIP: Dean's World
Posted by Mark Noonan at February 21, 2007 01:04 AM
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How is it that the "kook" left is comprised of almpst 70% of Americans who want our troops home and Bush's fumbled fiasco ended?
The British who are the latest coalition member to "cut and run" are also now part of the "kook" left.
The real question is when the kooky left wing America hating cut and run terrorist sympathizers became most of the American public.
Wade
Wade
Posted by: Wade at February 21, 2007 02:23 AM
I'll go with the day the WaPo "reported" the facts on Murtha. The first time I can remember the facts being reported! No distortions or out and out lying! Imagine the WaPo reporting facts!
Is that a newspaper?
Posted by: SEW at February 21, 2007 06:48 AM
According to Fox Network the Brits are cut and runners. O'Reilly will soon call for all tea to be thrown in your nearest harbor.
Posted by: Josh keaton at February 21, 2007 08:17 AM
Mark,
After your horrendous predictions the day before last November's elections, shouldn't you just not make anymore predictions about how the American people feel? Clearly, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, and about elections: like 2000 and 2004, PA, OH, and FL are the three states that matter. Republicans lost PA years ago, they lost OH in 2006. That leaves Florida: how do you think you'll fair down there, without a Bush as governor?
Posted by: steveGA at February 21, 2007 08:40 AM
Would you please finally point out that not a single Democratic leader has used the word "slow bleed" as you have been implying, but it is in fact the something The Politico came up with itself to express its interpretation of the Democrats plan?
It isn't the left, Democrats, or the MSM which has made the Iraq War what it is today; it is - plain and simple - the commander-in-chief and his circle of advisors who poorly executed the post-invasion logistics and security.
No one on the left is putting blame on the soldiers, sailors, and Marines. Even Murtha's assertion about the "cold blooded killers" was in the context of how being over-extended, undersupplied, and on multiple consecutive deployments does horrific things to human beings, no matter how well-trained and brave they are. Of course, you make it out to sound as if he is likening them to Jeffrey Dahmer, but those who actually listen to the whole speech know better.
So stop trying to make it seem as if our criticism of how the war is a disaster is what is making it a disaster. Pointing out flaws doesn't retroactively make them so, nor does ignoring mistakes make them go away.
Bush had his chance to do this war right and he has systematically proven he doesn't have the knowledge or courage to take real responsibility for turning Iraq into what it is today. It is the neo-Cons at the PFNAC which have overplayed their hand and now, unfortunately, young Americans and Iraqis of every stripe are paying for their arrogance in thinking American democracy could be exported through the end of a rifle.
Posted by: Anillo at February 21, 2007 09:36 AM
I do think the anti-war left has overplayed its hand, and the Democrats are sinking themselves by slouching ever further left...
I've seen this observation on several other blogs in the last day or two. For a group that has achieved so much of its agenda through patience and incrementalism, the Left is certainly getting impatient. Pass the popcorn; it's gonna be an interesting next two years.
Posted by: Retired Spook at February 21, 2007 09:58 AM
Also notable is GW's approval rating. Seems it's creeping up a tick or three and as long as the donks continue to implode, as Spook said, the next two years will be a kick in the ars to watch...politically at least.
Posted by: navydad at February 21, 2007 10:07 AM
The left is busy screaming a reverse Paul Revere, "The British are leaving, the British are leaving!" without bothering to acknowledge that its only a quarter of their force and consists mainly of support units rather than combat troops.
Wade? Please link to that 70% you are touting. I would like to know who they polled, how they described themselves, at what time did the poll take place and who conducted the poll. Then Ill show you a few polls which contradict you, which will of course be derided as right-wing propaganda.
Posted by: Bacon-I Will Miss Thee at February 21, 2007 04:41 PM
Bacon,
According to Media Matters, "Though Murtha's resolution does not indicate the source of the cited poll numbers; it appears that the data originated from a private poll of Iraqi opinion commissioned by Great Britain's Ministry of Defense (MOD) in August." The poll doesn’t indicate when these “Iraqis” want the Americans to leave.
The salient point is that the "Poll" was contracted to an Arab Opinion Poll company that refuses to identify itself nor will they publish their methodology. I could just as easily state that 90% of the Iraqis that I polled don’t want Americans to leave Iraq ever!
Posted by: Dasein Libsbane at February 21, 2007 05:20 PM
Sorry Bacon, I read too fast; I thought you were asking about Murtha's claim that 70-80% of Iraqis want US troops out. I should have seen that "Wade" part.
Do carry on ...
Posted by: Dasein Libsbane at February 21, 2007 05:49 PM
I just viewed Mr. Cheney stating the British "slow bleed", is actually very positive.
More spin, twist, and utter crap. Period.
Why don't you guys write all your hero's and ask them to put pressure on the Brits (who are LEAVING) to support us in Bagdad? We could use them in support roles, combat roles, just aiding and assisting the SURGE. Why are they LEAVING, in small numbers at first, but projected to "cut and run" with the majority by 2008?
Come on, there's got to be some role to play in the great SURGE.
Or are we going to spin it saying, "hey we have all the armed forces we need, go on home, it's all under control".
Come on Brit's, come on Aussie's, come on and help out the SURGE in Bagdad.
More rhetoric, more crap. Spare me.
Posted by: raker13 at February 21, 2007 08:21 PM
I must add, Cheney's shtick is getting old, isn't it fellas?
Posted by: raker13 at February 21, 2007 08:45 PM
Awww Raker. You just need to get to know him. Hey, you ought to go hunting with him some time.
Posted by: Kahn at February 22, 2007 01:10 AM
Order Matt and Mark's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
How is it that the "kook" left is comprised of almpst 70% of Americans who want our troops home and Bush's fumbled fiasco ended?
The British who are the latest coalition member to "cut and run" are also now part of the "kook" left.
The real question is when the kooky left wing America hating cut and run terrorist sympathizers became most of the American public.
Wade
Wade
I'll go with the day the WaPo "reported" the facts on Murtha. The first time I can remember the facts being reported! No distortions or out and out lying! Imagine the WaPo reporting facts!
Is that a newspaper?
According to Fox Network the Brits are cut and runners. O'Reilly will soon call for all tea to be thrown in your nearest harbor.
Mark,
After your horrendous predictions the day before last November's elections, shouldn't you just not make anymore predictions about how the American people feel? Clearly, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, and about elections: like 2000 and 2004, PA, OH, and FL are the three states that matter. Republicans lost PA years ago, they lost OH in 2006. That leaves Florida: how do you think you'll fair down there, without a Bush as governor?
Would you please finally point out that not a single Democratic leader has used the word "slow bleed" as you have been implying, but it is in fact the something The Politico came up with itself to express its interpretation of the Democrats plan?
It isn't the left, Democrats, or the MSM which has made the Iraq War what it is today; it is - plain and simple - the commander-in-chief and his circle of advisors who poorly executed the post-invasion logistics and security.
No one on the left is putting blame on the soldiers, sailors, and Marines. Even Murtha's assertion about the "cold blooded killers" was in the context of how being over-extended, undersupplied, and on multiple consecutive deployments does horrific things to human beings, no matter how well-trained and brave they are. Of course, you make it out to sound as if he is likening them to Jeffrey Dahmer, but those who actually listen to the whole speech know better.
So stop trying to make it seem as if our criticism of how the war is a disaster is what is making it a disaster. Pointing out flaws doesn't retroactively make them so, nor does ignoring mistakes make them go away.
Bush had his chance to do this war right and he has systematically proven he doesn't have the knowledge or courage to take real responsibility for turning Iraq into what it is today. It is the neo-Cons at the PFNAC which have overplayed their hand and now, unfortunately, young Americans and Iraqis of every stripe are paying for their arrogance in thinking American democracy could be exported through the end of a rifle.
I do think the anti-war left has overplayed its hand, and the Democrats are sinking themselves by slouching ever further left...
I've seen this observation on several other blogs in the last day or two. For a group that has achieved so much of its agenda through patience and incrementalism, the Left is certainly getting impatient. Pass the popcorn; it's gonna be an interesting next two years.
Also notable is GW's approval rating. Seems it's creeping up a tick or three and as long as the donks continue to implode, as Spook said, the next two years will be a kick in the ars to watch...politically at least.
The left is busy screaming a reverse Paul Revere, "The British are leaving, the British are leaving!" without bothering to acknowledge that its only a quarter of their force and consists mainly of support units rather than combat troops.
Wade? Please link to that 70% you are touting. I would like to know who they polled, how they described themselves, at what time did the poll take place and who conducted the poll. Then Ill show you a few polls which contradict you, which will of course be derided as right-wing propaganda.
Bacon,
According to Media Matters, "Though Murtha's resolution does not indicate the source of the cited poll numbers; it appears that the data originated from a private poll of Iraqi opinion commissioned by Great Britain's Ministry of Defense (MOD) in August." The poll doesn’t indicate when these “Iraqis” want the Americans to leave.
The salient point is that the "Poll" was contracted to an Arab Opinion Poll company that refuses to identify itself nor will they publish their methodology. I could just as easily state that 90% of the Iraqis that I polled don’t want Americans to leave Iraq ever!
Sorry Bacon, I read too fast; I thought you were asking about Murtha's claim that 70-80% of Iraqis want US troops out. I should have seen that "Wade" part.
Do carry on ...
I just viewed Mr. Cheney stating the British "slow bleed", is actually very positive.
More spin, twist, and utter crap. Period.
Why don't you guys write all your hero's and ask them to put pressure on the Brits (who are LEAVING) to support us in Bagdad? We could use them in support roles, combat roles, just aiding and assisting the SURGE. Why are they LEAVING, in small numbers at first, but projected to "cut and run" with the majority by 2008?
Come on, there's got to be some role to play in the great SURGE.
Or are we going to spin it saying, "hey we have all the armed forces we need, go on home, it's all under control".
Come on Brit's, come on Aussie's, come on and help out the SURGE in Bagdad.
More rhetoric, more crap. Spare me.
I must add, Cheney's shtick is getting old, isn't it fellas?
Awww Raker. You just need to get to know him. Hey, you ought to go hunting with him some time.