Last week, Harry Reid was widely criticized for saying that the Iraq war "is lost." On
Power Line, I explained why I thought Reid's comment was both incorrect and politically misguided. Today, Reid
backed off his claim, and, almost as though he were taking my advice, couched his criticisms in terms of a "failed policy" rather than a "lost war:"
The Senate majority leader drew criticism from Bush and others last week when he said the war in Iraq had been lost. He did not repeat the assertion in his prepared speech, saying that "The military mission has long since been accomplished. The failure has been political. It has been policy. It has been presidential."
There is an irony here; Reid is echoing the "mission accomplished" banner for which President Bush has long been abused. But news accounts haven't focused on this point, instead, they have emphasized Reid's claim that the President is in "denial" on Iraq:
Reid noted disapprovingly that in a speech last week, Bush repeatedly said there were signs of progress in Iraq in the wake of a troop increase he ordered last winter. "The White House transcript says the president made those remarks in the state of Michigan. I believe he made them in the state of denial," said Reid.
In fact, though, there are signs of progress in Iraq, both as
measured statistically and as reported by many observers. It is Reid, not Bush, who doesn't want to address the evidence, but rather seeks to achieve his objective by bullying. There is an interesting parallel here to the Democrats' tactic on global warming. There, too, they refuse to engage the evidence offered by skeptics, and instead insist that the debate is over and anyone who disagrees with them is "in denial." This is, in general, not an approach that is followed by people who have strong arguments and evidence on their side. So it shouldn't be surprising that many people conclude that what Reid fears in Iraq is not failure but success, as suggested eloquently by
Chip Bok:
Reader Comments ( Page 15 of 16)
211. It amazes me, how anyone could condone what H.Reid has done but I see he has some stray dogs following him to the barn yard. Those who condone Reid and can't see the wrong Reid has done are only to be pittied as they are merely puppets and loyalist to the Democrats and can't step outside that ream long enough to think clear or do what is right. Let me tell you Democrats something that will shock you....this congress is doing nothing for YOU, or anyone else in this country. Your Party could care less about YOU.They are consummed with their needs, not yours and thats pretty obvious. Seems to me your loyalty is for those who could care less about you and only using you for what they themselves want and need. I think its time to be more concerned for our interest then giving to these Democrats who are self serving people. Reid has literally done our Military wrong for his own political reasons and that is just no acceptable. Wake up Democrats and start thinking about the people in this country and even yourself, because your Party isn't thinking about you.They are after things for themselves. How obvious can you get.
Evan at 5:56AM on Apr 25th 2007
212. Just observing this board demonstrates the lack of being united which is a key element to winning this war. But, just in case anyone here has forgotten the facts; here they are to serve as a reminder. The death toll of American soldiers is the highest it has been since the inception of the war. This war is nothing more than a direct result of a President with unbrideled power informing the American people that there were WMD'S in that country. To date, none have been found and worse, there has been no established link between this supposed portion of the axis and Al-Queda as the President proclaimed. The only exception is that the only ones proclaiming these falsehoods are those affiliated with King George. Third, there has been and never will be a much needed exit strategy from this war. Fourth, the President clearly informed the American people on an Aircraft Carrier approximately 1480 days ago that "Mission was accomplished." Finally, and perhaps the most important thus far: This Administration as time goes by has more dirt and skeletons in their closet than is to my personal liking. Let me provide a refresher list to all reading this post: Mission Accomplished, Iraq declared portion of the axis of evil, Alberto Gonzalez's unprecedented position and the President's support of the abandoned Geneva Convention, the Katrina response, Alberto Gonzalez informing the Congress 71 times, I say again 71 times that he could not recall major elements of his accounting of the firing of several United States Federal Judges while the President recalled a meeting Gonzalez had with himself, and odd support of this testimony by the President after Albie testified before Congress. Folks, the list could go on and on however the point I am attempting to make here is once again, the Democrats are being "spun" as a Party that is unpatriotic, unsupportive of the war effort, left-wing caterers only, all the while holding this man accountable for his actions by reminding him gently that he is not our King and not God. Several states have now passed unprecedented resolutions indicating their support for an Impeachment and so now, here we are. And by the way, since when did it become unpatriotic to disagree with our President's position to a War or question his authority? The reality is the Democrats are not going down as they are gaining the swift approval of the American people for the work of this Democratically controlled Congress. I say again: Democratically controlled Congress because it just makes right-wingers crazy when they see and know this to be truth. In conclusion, the rein of King George is coming to an end, and all of the King's horses and all of the Kings men cannot put George Bush together again!
Dr. Mark Bear at 6:21AM on Apr 25th 2007
213. AT THIS POINT WHAT HARRY REID DOES NOW IS REDUNDANT AND NOT CORRECTABLE. HE HAS DONE THE DAMAGE AND ITS NOT REVERSEABLE. REIED NEEDS TO RESIGN AND I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN HIM SAVING FACE, OR TRYING TO NOW SAVE HIS OWN SKIN, SINCE HE DID THE INEXCUSABLE.
HE SIMPLY NEEDS TO RESIGN.
I ALSO FEEL THAT PELOSI SHOULD DEFINITELY RESIGN FOR VIOLATING THE LOGAN ACT. THAT IS AM IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE AND SHE HAS NO BUSINESS REMAINING AND SHOULD RESIGN ALSO.
I HAVE HAD MY FILL OF THESE DEMOCRATS WE ELECTED TO THIS CONGRESS....THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING AGAINST US AND NOT ONE THING IN OUR FAVOR. THEY ARE SELF OBSORBED PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY ONLY WANT THE ELECTION AT ANY COST......AND WE ARE ALL PAYING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR WANTS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Edward at 2:53PM on Apr 25th 2007
214. Evan #210,
You're as wrong about funding of the troops as most Republicans are about Saddam Hussein and 9-11. If the Republicans are so supportive of the troops, then why did they let Walter Reed become awash in cockroaches and mold when they controlled Congress? Oh, I know ... because the Defeatocrats were breeding them in the walls because they hate the troops! I'm beginning to see your point!
And for the many, many deluded (R)'s, Bush has already said that Saddam had "nothing" to do with 9-11. The video is here: http://thinkprogress.org/2006/08/21/bush-on-911/
It's time to base your perceptions of politics on something other than fantasy.
MWR,
lil_turk at 7:09AM on Apr 25th 2007
215. Senator Harry Reid should address his own problems such as the "shady land deals, illegal contributions, and other acts of outright fraud," before addressing this nation's problems. Seems like Senator Reid loves to criticize both President Bush's policies and the Iraq war when his illegal activities make it in the spotlight. Shame on you Senator Reid, you are a total fraud.
Glenn at 8:15AM on Apr 25th 2007
216. Poorly planned War based terrible intelligence. Lives lost..BILLIONS wasted. Reid was right.
Elisa at 8:18AM on Apr 25th 2007
217. REID IS A DEMOCRATIC DEFEATIST WHO DOES NOT BELONG IN THE SENATE, MUCH LESS AS ITS MAJORITY LEADER.
PHYLLIS KUNZ
Phyllis Kunz at 8:22AM on Apr 25th 2007
218. Harry Reid is an Idiot! He is also a typical, lunatic, liberal, Socialist, Coward DemoRAT! If He is indeed, the "Leader" in the Senate, Our Country is in 'dire' straights. The only reason the DemoRATS are back in power is not that the American people gave them a "mandate" but we all voted against the "spineless" Repukes. If the Republicans can find some members with a backbone, they will sweep power back from the Socialist DummyRATS in 2008. Then we can put the Reids and Pelosi's back in the shadows where this trash belongs.
Steve at 8:27AM on Apr 25th 2007
219. I believe that a refusal to pass a specific budget funding the military, without all of the baggage having nothing to do with the military, without a withdrawal date, which the liberals already know is only going to result in presidential veto & further delay in funding, is directly supportive of terrorism, is a direct attack on our military effort from within congress, & should be more than grounds for both impeachment of congressional leadership supporting such action, both liberal & so-called conservative, as well as criminal prosecution of those people. You do not attack your country from within, based on PERSONAL BELIEFS, under the guise of constituency support. the constituencies of these people do not want our military members put at risk by the actions of the people they voted into office. That was the last intention of electing these people. The voters elected these people under the hopeful, if tentative, belief in the lies these people told as their campaign platforms that they were supportive of our military, they were patriots first, politicians second, & that they would not put our warriors at risk for the sake of bipartisan bickering or leftist advancement....Well...that's just Bullsh-- with a capital 'B'! Stop living in a liberal dream world and come into the socialist reality that is taking place within the ranks of YOUR elected left! I am so sick of this farce! Turn coat 'conservatives' such as John Warner of VA, and NASTY socialists like Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi, & Jim Webb, also of VA...what a mess!
A. F. at 8:27AM on Apr 25th 2007
220. Global warming is a fact and that is not under dispute. Global warming being a result of carbon emissions by man is the dispute. Gore's ice sample data that is the crux of his inconvenient "truth" was used to show there was a direct correlation between carbon dioxide and temperature and proved to the world that man was responsible for global warming. Well, there is a correlation and that correlation is when temperature increases the carbon dioxide levels rise hundreds of years later, not the other way around like Gore and his fellow alarmists like the eminently qualified Sheryl Crow's of the world would have you believe. Why the lag? Because the oceans of the world, our greatest CO2 absorbers/emitters take a long while to heat up and when they do, they emit CO2. On top of that, weather balloon and satellite data show the troposphere is not heating up like the global warming models say it must to support their "theory" the current warming trend is due to greenhouse gas emissions by man. So, if the evidence shows decreasing our carbon footprints won't have a measureable impact on warming, why is everyone (especially the politicians) interested now in decreasing our carbon footprint (actually your carbon footprint as they seem happy to keep living the inefficient life)? Because the West can't afford another emerging industrial powerhouse like China... there just isn't enough raw material to keep the our economies rolling and support another big energy user at the same time. Guess the poor and hungry in Africa will just have to wait their turn a while longer.
As for Mr. Reid, he needs to go. His statements amounted to treason and surely have and will cost more lives. Regardless how one feels about the Iraq war, Mr. Reid was nor being courageous in his views... he was just being stupid and we have enough stupid people in the House, Senate, and surely the White House.
Mike at 9:07AM on Apr 25th 2007
221. Mike
Not only is man caused Global warming still in dispute; not only some, but many of the scientists that were originally part of the United Nations panel on climate change resigned from the panel when they saw it move from science to religion. One of the cheif scientist is Dr. Richard Lendzen.
The report that the U. N. put out was not scientific fact, as disputed by those scientists that resigned, but a 'concensus' of several backslidden scietists and politicians. The problem is that humans don't get a vote on scientific fact!
Hopefully every American is working toward cleaning and preserving the environment, but protecting the environment and promoting man caused global warming as fact and undisputed science are two different things. The global warming faithful now want to ignore the disputes of top scientists or have them declared not so 'top' anymore since they have denied the faith!
It's the same mentality of those who don't believe that the bible is true and still want to quote from any part of it that they believe proves their point, even though they believe that the book and its message are false!
Dr. Lendzen was clearly disputing global warming on the Larry King show and represents the position of many. The faithful of that religion keep chanting that there is no dispute like some people chant 'Om'. I understand that big media is not reporting the dispute and are discrediting those that do, because it has become political with the push from Al Gore, but their intimidation will not make the world flat again.
I would encourage people to be reasonable in caring for the planet that we all share and to learn methods of conservation and preservation, but to reject concensus as science falsely so called.
dalosophy at 1:34PM on Apr 25th 2007
222. DID REID RUN PELOSI'S PANTIES UP ON THE FLAG POLE AND THAT'S THE REASON SHE IS A NO SHOW THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE VOTE.
PHYLLIS KUNZ
Phyllis Kunz at 3:07PM on Apr 25th 2007
223. Ignorance runs rampid! No matter who the president is, the world is headed for the end. God fortold this ending in the last book of the Bible. We will hear of "wars and rumors of wars" anyone remember 911? would you want a president that lets manic's just keep attacting us without us fighting back??? HELLO, ANYBODY HOME? anyway the Bible tells in the end times natural disasters will greatly increase, GLOBAL WARMING HELLO! earthquaks, floods etc. This is God's plan not a result of the President. No matter who is in that seat the past and the things to come, will occur. The Bible also says that we will not be able to tell one season from the other. Global warming HELLO people get a grip, on your soul. Study the Bible of Jesus, not the ones that worship cement status. There so called God is dead. My lives, and he has shown himself to me many times. He has answered my prayers. All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for your sins and then go to a good church that teaches the "word" study the NIV Bible or one like it. Do the research yourself. and do it fast! May you be saved and caught up in the rapture to take place before the final war, the tribulation. It is written and alot of what is written has already taken place. I beg of you! Please save your soul and everyone that you know and meet. I don't want anyone to go to hell, Hell is real and Heaven is real. Even the devil believes in God, he knows God exists. and he's not "saved" We were put on this earth to worship a good and loving and mercifull God. And we were given the chance to choose, choose LIFE! My God lives! does your's? Or is your God money and material things. When you die your soul will immediately be released to eirther Heaven or hell, it's your choose. Choose wisely
sandy lewis at 9:33PM on Apr 25th 2007
224. I didn't hear Jay say this, so even if it wasn't him, it was a great American with a super message for us all.
Jay Leno tells the truth...
Amen! Finally someone whom we all admire has put things into perspective. Way to go Jay!
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This is all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents and neighborhoods, where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brat s the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to getus out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
JAY LENO...
Jim at 10:54AM on Apr 29th 2007
225. read reader comment 224, think it may near end of blog,,,forward to all medial outlets and liberals, while ok to disagree perhaps in results of performance, etc...these comments cut to the bone or reality,,,the liberals will benefit most, a must read for all though
jim at 11:06AM on Apr 29th 2007