EXCLUSIVE: Majority Leader Boehner’s Confidential Strategy Memo For Thursday’s Iraq Debate
EXCLUSIVE: Majority Leader Boehner’s Confidential Strategy Memo For Thursday’s Iraq Debate
On Thursday, the House of Representatives will hold a debate on the Iraq war. Media reports say Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) “hopes to match the serious, dignified tone of deliberation that preceded the Gulf war, in 1991.”
ThinkProgress has obtained a “Confidential Messaging Memo” from Boehner instructing his caucus to conduct a very different kind of deliberation. Here’s a quick summary:
1. Exploit 9/11. The two page memo mentions 9/11 seven times. It describes debating Iraq in the context of 9/11 as “imperative.”
2. Attack opponents ad hominem. The memo describes those who opposes President Bush’s policies in Iraq as “sheepish,” “weak,” and “prone to waver endlessly.”
3. Create a false choice. The memo says the decision is between supporting President Bush’s policies and hoping terrorist threats will “fade away on their own.”
You can read the confidential memo for yourself HERE.
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Well, isn’t this nice? Is it too much to hope that a member of the press corps will print it out and ask him about it when the camersa are rolling? Or maybe the next time he’s on a talk show?
Probably.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:45 amGreat catch! I’ve always wondered what these things look like. I’m ready to go on Press the Meet after reading it. It’ll be fun to see how many of them are used word for word during the debate. I can do a shorter summary for you. Pathetic.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:53 amI always say turnabout is fair play…
Dems should portray repulsivescum Bushites as:
war profiteers
cowards and deserters>…(how many among their ranks are distinguished veterans of ANY conflict, and didn’t Bushiva and L’il Dick shirk their duty?)
TRAITORS…supporting domestic spying w/out warrants
war profiteers
Halliburton shills
mass murderers…Haditha and Hamandiya are the tip of the iceberg…
TRAITORS…shirking their oversight duties by REFUSING to investigate domestic spying, Plamegate, and other Bushite WH breaches of constitutional authority in good faith…
If you ask me Boehner has FLUNG the door wide open for Democrats with balls to CLEARLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY EXPOSE them (Bushites) for the criminal TRAITORS they are…
…so what’s the fuss?
June 14th, 2006 at 9:55 amKarl Rove is back in the saddle I see.
Why is red state America so freaking dumb?
June 14th, 2006 at 9:55 amJust called Mr. Boehner’s Washington office to tell them how disgusted and ashamed I was by his conduct.
He and his staff might be interested in hearing from others also. If you agree with Boehner, so be it, call and say so.
Or, if you think it’s disgusting to exploit 9/11 this way, call and say so.
phone (202) 225-6205
fax(202) 225-0704
June 14th, 2006 at 9:56 amGreat, we want government, we get talking points. What if we ran our lives this way? “Sorry, dear, but if I had bought you a birthday present it would mean the terrorists had won.”
June 14th, 2006 at 9:56 amWhy does everything have to be discussed in the context of 9/11? There was no connection between 9/11 and Iraq before the war, the strongest connection between Iraq and 9/11 now is Bush himself…
And if 9/11 can be brought up in any debate from now on as the “or else the terrorists will kill us all” card, let’s not stop at nation-building. Let’s use it for health care. Education. The environment.
“Senator, maybe during the 80’s you chose not to sponsor a billion dollar study of cow flatulence, but 9/11 has changed everything. To pass on this opportunity leaves bovine gasses at the mercy of those who seek to destroy our way of life.”
June 14th, 2006 at 10:01 amBig Papa, I am with you.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:10 amFight fire with fire.
Give ‘em more of the same.
No more Mr. Nice Guy - fight as dirty as they do.
Lying bastards deserve to be called out for what they are.
Boehner’s “strategery” is disgusting! The Dems had better be rhetorically armed to do serious battle with these manipulating, lying, facist-bastards! If I don’t see some outrage, some “fire,” some passion from the House Democrats during this debate, I will be sorely disappointed! Do Dems ever get angry (besides Murtha, I mean)? Murtha, Kerry, and every other Democrat ought to be railing against Chickens**t, er, ChickenhawKarl Rove for his remarks about two actual war heroes, as he has never served one millisecond in the armed services during Vietnam or at any other time when he was “draft-eligible.” PLEASE, DEMS, GET A SPINE, STRAIGHTEN UP AND LET THEM HAVE IT - RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES!
June 14th, 2006 at 10:11 amHow dare this fool quote JFK!!!
June 14th, 2006 at 10:12 amI will bring Dick Cheney to his knees with the help and cooperation of Karl Rove.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:15 amBoehner Jams ‘06
June 14th, 2006 at 10:17 amWow…that isn’t even creating a false choie I don’t think. It’s like tricking people into following an expensive and painful lie that never ends. Isn’t that basically the “choice” they have set up here? Either follow Bush’s plan without question or “hope terrorism fades away on its own”.
Is there even a distinction for the middle east or Iraq in that braod statement about terrorism? Is BUsh going to invade China and Ireland next in his plan to end all terrorism all over the world?
This is all manipulation in order to forget that Bush HAS NO PLAN and has no idea what it means to win this was. He has no idea what he is doing. So following him is a fool’s errand because his war is never going to end. Bush’s mission has no end and will result in nothing but more chaos and more hatred towards the US and create more terrorists than they started off with.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:18 amit all looks good on paper
it’s the war, stupid
George Bush was in the National Guard, he can stay in Iraq for a year along with the rest of National Guard from all fifty states. Air Force One can be mothballed for a year while he’s there. It would save on jet fuel.
What’s the matter, George? Chicken?
One good thing: The price of gas is twice as much as it once was.
So that means your dollar is worth half as much as it was before George Bush. Who do we thank for that? God?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:21 amI’m using Mozilla FireFox browser, WindowsXP and get a blank page for the memo.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:21 amOf course our cowardly leaders will once again go belly-up instead of offering a cogent response.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:22 amWhen are our leaders going to listen to us instead of their obviously brain dead democratic strategists?
it’s their creed” the new american century~! read it and weep for democracy. constant wars, a more powerful prison system ~ for those who won’t fight in their wars, suppression of individual voices, cohesion for the military industrial complex. it’s becoming their reality. i think the dumbocrats should get up and walk out of congress and the house, until there is a credible investigation of the many laws these whack-jobs in the white house have created! stop the insanity!
June 14th, 2006 at 10:25 amWhy is red state America so freaking dumb?
Red staters aren’t dumb - just misinformed. And frankly, imho, Dems are equally to blame for that. If you don’t respond quickly and forcefully to lies, then the lies become harder to refute later.
The Dems in office and any who appear on talk shows should discuss this memo. And they should do that now. That way Thursday when any Repubs try to use this strategy the Dems can when replying say “I see Representative X got Rep. Boehner’s talking points.” I wonder how many preplanned speaches it could ruin.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:25 am#19
All House Republicans or a select few?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:25 amI’d like to raise one issue that seems not to have had a lot of attention in the last little while and that this memo brings to mind
How is it that we got to a point that the unquestioned way to deal with Mr. al-Zarqawi is by killing him, which is then uncritically celebrated afterward. I don’t condone his acts, but really I shouldn’t even have to say that. What one does with a criminal, if one is civilized, is arrest him and try him and, if his guilt is proven, impose a lawful sentence. Even in the case of Eichmann, the Israelis didn’t just shoot the bastard when they found him, they put him on trial.
The last few neocon administrations (I would begin with Reagan in assigning blame on this) have so pushed the political debate to the right that Democrats and even the left have — at least as far as I’ve seen — failed to challenge the administration on this point. The only person who’s called them on it to my knowledge is Fidel Castro. (And for those of you who don’t like Mr. Castro, consider the fact that our failure to confront Bush & Co. with their prediliction for assassination rather than the rule of law has resulted in a situation where we have abandoned the moral high ground to Cuba.)
Hell, at least in the old days when the U.S. government assassinated someone they felt they had to pretend they didn’t do it. Now even the Democrats would be hooted down if they argued that zl-Zarqawi should have been captured and tried rather than killed. We really have to reclaim the terms of debate.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:26 amThis is a dangerous document.
First, 9/11 is nothing new, but in terms of Iran, I guess it is.
Second, attacks are nothing new. We are used to them and their labeling and I think it’s about time we just ignored them. We have no control over that because they have the media to tell everyone what they are supposed to think.
Finally, the really dangerous part. Item 3 you mention has as much to do with elections as anything. You are only fooling yourself if you think there won’t be a war in Iran. They will claim public support even if it’s not there and then will say, by extension, that the public supports bush.
That would certainly be a nice turn around for the republicans just before mid-terms. It would also be a lie.
Nowhere in the document do they admit that they know they are lying.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:28 amNot that I really put it past the necons but this looks like it could very easily have been made in word by anyone. Is there a bit more evidence that this is authentic?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:29 amOh, I see Zookeeper was already onto the ‘06 angle.
It’s all about the elections, even more than Iran.
I think it’s safe to say that from this point onward, the elections will be in the fore of every republican action.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:30 amWow, I misread this and thought we were talking about Iran.
How can they even HOPE to link 9/11 to Iraq? AGAIN?
Yowsah.
I guess it plays to their base. Base is the correct description. It takes really base thought to get to the point where you make up lies about links that didn’t exist to justify war crimes.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:32 amI am so increasingly often ashamed by our elected leadership.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:32 amI’m using Mozilla FireFox browser, WindowsXP and get a blank page for the memo.
Comment by Patriot
Me too, I’ll have to read it at work.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:33 amThis is so worth that $3000 raise they just took (I say took intentionally becuase they sure haven’t earned it)…
June 14th, 2006 at 10:36 amMore useless drivel from the right. You’d think it was enough they had a convention about 9/11 (i think it was called the republican national convention or something like that ;)) now they continue to harp on the 9/11 attacks and some how “blur” the lines between 9/11 - Iraq, even though there are no lines to begin with. The republican strategy is to throw enough mud at the wall that their south red state base holds strong with them.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:36 amOh, I see Zookeeper was already onto the ‘06 angle.
Comment by Ken Daves
You give me more credit than I deserve, Ken. I was making a snarky reference to the 40 Year Old Virgin.
Off topic: TP, GWB is making me sick with his news conference this morning. Same shit, different day. Please cover this, if you’re not alreayd planning to do so. He’s being so aggressive…
June 14th, 2006 at 10:37 amMe too, I’ll have to read it at work.
Comment by Zookeeper — June 14, 2006 @ 10:33 am
Do it after lunch - it’s nauseating…
June 14th, 2006 at 10:37 amI’m using Mozilla FireFox browser, WindowsXP and get a blank page for the memo.
It worked for me and I have the same setup as you. Is your adobe reader up to date?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:37 amI think I heard this morning that our president will take another photo op with the Japanese Prime Minister at Graceland mansion. An attempt to secure the “Elvis-is-will-never-die” votes?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:41 amWhen Donald Rumsfeld was shaking Saddam’s hand, everybody was happy. George shows up in Baghdad to shake the hand of the new Saddam, and everybody is happy all over again.
George should take a walk up to R, S, and T streets in Warshington and shake the hands of his neighbors. He doesn’t need to fly twelve thousand miles to look somebody in the eye. Good Lord
You got to look at the war room situation.
George? George? GEORGE! Pay attention Wake up George? Come on, George
It’s hopeless.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:41 amI heard Fox commentators saying that when Maliki shook hands with our fuhrer, he then put his right hand to his heart as a show of love and respect.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:44 amI saw it as Maliki wiping his hand on his clothing after touching Bush.
Sorry #36 should have been on Think Fast.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:45 amNice catch, TP. We might want to deluge NYT and WaPo search engines with searches for “Boehner memo” and the date.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:46 amAs far as strategy documents go, this memo is pretty vanilla - definately nothing new revealed.
I would love to see the Dem talking points issued prior to the debate. Considered how many opposing stances taken by House Dems, it’s bound to be a study in self-contradiction and “endless wavering”.
I’m curious what specific points made in the memo people here consider false. What 9/11 didnt change the world? Do Congressional Dems have a unified strategy on Iraq? Under Dem leadership, would the spread of Democracy be an easier, less contested process?
Good luck.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:49 amI’m guessing this barely registers a blip on the MSM.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:52 amThey have a lot of nerve quoting JFK in that email. But if they can quote Jesus and drop bombs on children, they can do any disgusting horrifying thing in this world and make a SACRAMENT of it.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:53 amThe GOP has hit rock bottom and they don’t care. Now it’s all rape and pillage before they get thrown out on their ears.
Suggestion: Why don’t the Democrats decide not to participate in this GOP side show debate. The cards are stacked and the outcome pre-ordained. So, don’t play the game. Don’t attend the debate. Or walk out. Don’t offer a speech. Don’t participate at all. Give it the attention it deserves. None.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:53 amSweet. No one is taking the threadjackers bait.
Lovin’ life.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:00 ambig papa - #3 - All of your points are demonstrable, as opposed to the Republican accusations. Great post. He says Dems are “wavering”? How about “changing their approach in light of the ongoing disaster and irrefutably failed policy?”
#40 suggests the opposite approach. That’s what they do now, just stand by and watch? I agree that the Republican points don’t merit discussion, but I think that it would do a world of good to accuse them of war profiteering and betrayal (Wilson case). The only people who will be offended are those whose minds will never be changed, even if we lose 120,000 troops.
At some point, the Democrats have to stand up and do their jobs. Kerry seems to be taking a step in that direction with today’s call for troop withdrawal.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:03 amI called Boehner’s office and they said they don’t know which memo I was talking about. These staff members are either so dumb or so unhuman that they just simply have no response to such exploitation.
Where are Dems. political operatives?
June 14th, 2006 at 11:06 amI totally agree that at some point the Democrats must stand up and do their jobs. Unfortunately, they do not seem up to the task. At this fact, I am furious at their lack of backbone in defending us.
I’m not advocating standing by and watching. I don’t even want them in the House chambers. I’m advcating a silent protest of sorts. Silence, when the other side is itching for a fight they believe they can ‘win’ because this week’s press favors them, is a statement. It’s all in the timing and I’m afraid the timing is not right at the moment. Just sit back and listen to the sound bites you know will be coming. Participation on this issue will just play into Rove’s hands.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:11 amI’m willing to bet that future history textbooks in the public education system will refflect the lie that the Iraq War as a result of the 9/11 attacks…
June 14th, 2006 at 11:13 am“Attack opponents ad hominem” has been a standard weapon in the political debate arsenal for an awfully long while.
Lyndon Johnson and the Dems used it against Barry Goldwater (R) during the 1964 Prez election with great success. Johnson also used it against Vietnam War protests.
This government, both Demos and Republicans, along with the media, view the US citizenry as a spoiled, frightened by shadows, stupid, manipulable population.
Mostly they are correct. Mail and calls to members of the US Congress will fall flat, as they’ve done for generations.
Letters didn’t get us out of Vietnam, and they won’t get us out of this one. If US citizens want to influence US foreign policy they’re going to have to grow some testicles and brain cells.
They’re going to have to use stern, sensible methods to exercise their rights:
Notes for future war protest gatherings:
A lot was learned through hard experience by war protests 35-40 years ago, but it’s mostly been lost with time. Those who were there doing the learning will probably be out of the picture this time around, or only in the background.
But the other side’s had that same 40 years to study how it all worked, prepare, and train.
You won’t be able to afford the mistakes we made. There’d been no 9/11. There was no Homeland Security to label dissenters “potential terroristsâ€, and no option of hauling them off to detention camps.
Here are some thoughts derived from hard lessons learned a long time ago in another war:
Organization:
Keep them small, close-knit, organized around churches, civic groups and other existing groups whenever possible. Make certain every member knows every other member by sight. Make certain every group has a recognized leader and a cadre of middle-level leaders accepted by the group.
When a hundred, or a thousand such groups gather you’ll find it’s a lot easier to maintain order and discipline if a majority of the people present are familiar with one another within their groups.
Goals:
Keep your eye on the ball.
You aren’t there to protest abortion, minority rights, anything but the war. Diluting the purpose of the gathering will cause friction within the groups and reduce the number of participants.
Bringing in other causes will also detract from the overall goal.
Conduct:
Keep it peaceful.
Every group leader needs to recognize a responsibility for the conduct of everyone in the group.
Any misconduct will bring the iron heel down onto the necks of the entire gathering. The media can be expected to dramatize every minute act of destruction or violence and use it as a weapon to discourage future activities.
Dress Code:
The other side will have surveillance equipment never dreamed of 40 years ago.
For that reason, it’s important for everyone to look as nearly alike as possible to make it as difficult as possible for anyone giving instructions by radio to describe individuals. When they’re studying the photos and videos later, make it difficult for them.
One good option would be everyone wearing white tee-shirts without logos, blue jeans, athletic shoes, and unmarked ball-caps of a designated color. Every group should also carry handkerchiefs, scarves, or armbands of a designated color to be donned a few moments before the rally or march to help make it easier for group leaders to remain aware of their member locations.
Surveillance and agents provocateurs:
The other side will have cameras everywhere and every group they can identify will be infiltrated by provocateurs. Be aware of this and watch what you say and how you conduct yourselves.
A joking remark might well be enough to get you into a courtroom, even such remarks made only within small groups of acquaintances.
During rallies and marches, agents provocateurs will attempt to incite those around them to illegal acts.
Whenever anyone becomes rowdy, noisy, the people around him/her need to move away from them. Keep as much distance between yourself and those attempting to change the nature of the gathering, as possible.
Make them an island alone on the pavement.
Equipment:
Take advantage of technology.
If possible, every member of every group should have a cell-phone with the numbers of every member recorded in a call down list. This will allow fast, easy communications within the groups and allow anyone who becomes separated to rejoin.
It will also allow minute-by-minute updates if things go sour and police begin beating heads in somewhere a mile ahead of you, allowing you to disperse in a timely, orderly manner.
As many video cameras, digital cameras and disposable cameras as possible should be present in every group.
Use them to take pictures of agents provocateurs, police misconduct, trouble-makers and every incident that might later erupt as a news item.
Study the route of the march, or the location of the rally ahead of time.
Plan ahead for avenues of dispersal if things should go sour.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:13 amKnow where you are at all times and where the nearest bolt-hole is in relation to you.
1. If you liberals want to ignore 911, go rigtht ahead.
2. Reid and Kerry are sheep and you liberals know it.
3. Bush vs. Terrorism isn’t a false choice because the Democrats haven’t offered any solutions to the threat other than “This is a Republican mess to clean up”.
My words anger you because they are true.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:16 amAre the Democrats spineless or just loyal opposition?
As a Citizen, I want my representatives to be vigorous and passionate advocates of the people, failing that, they should resign.
The tyranny that has overtaken the three branches of government require a level of outrage that i’ve not seen as yet from the opposition party.
I am angry. I don’t see myself represented in congress. I see the Democrats as weak and ineffectual. Whether this is by design or a condition of the party, I cannot say.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:21 amHey Karl: Your words don’t anger us because they’re true any more than a lie told often enough becomes the truth. I believe the record shows that Bush ignored the warnings of 9/11 while on vacation (what was the name of that historical memo?). Reid and Kerry may be sheep, but I prefer sheep to pigs like Frist, Hassert et al. And Bush v. Terrorism is the most false of all choices. Iraq is a Republican mess to clean up (or just leave it for the next guy). Terrorism is an act by a group with little leverage to protest a condition they find egregious. The Democrats have offered many choices to fighting terrorism, they just don’t involve invading other countries, secret rendition, an imperial executive (or is it vice-executive here) who sits as law giver, law enforcer, judge and jury. Defecation on the Constitution is not how to win the hearts and minds of anyone.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:22 amI fixed it for you:
My words amuse you because they are egocentric and assinine.
Comment by Karl Rove — June 14, 2006 @ 11:16 am
June 14th, 2006 at 11:26 amYour words make me laugh. Wait until they all find out about your total utter complete incompetence regarding how you failed the nation to the point of criminal negligence Karl.
It is with great interest I listen as republicans tell me how the evidence isn’t adding up, these years later.
They blame your Dubya, they know a cover up when they see it. Conservative doesn’t always mean stupid.
How many kinds of treason can you commit? Or should we say “How many times can you roll over?”
June 14th, 2006 at 11:28 amYour words make me laugh. Wait until they all find out about your total utter complete incompetence regarding how you failed the nation to the point of criminal negligence Karl.
It is with great interest I listen as republicans tell me how the evidence isn’t adding up, these years later.
They blame your Dubya, they know a cover up when they see it. Conservative doesn’t always mean stupid.
How many kinds of treason can you commit? Or should we say “How many times can you roll over?”
PS- That better not be a government computer you are using
June 14th, 2006 at 11:29 amI see they are still using the “oceans no longer protect us” line. Of course, anyone who thought oceans protected us from terrorists either have poor memories or are dumber than a box of rocks. Does anyone remember Timothy McVeigh? Eric Rudolph? Did oceans protect us from them?
June 14th, 2006 at 11:30 amDem’s Talking Points in Response
The republican party has been playing a shell game with the american people for six years.
You voted for a tax cut. You got tax cuts for the wealthiest that your children and grandchildren will be left with the bill. How many yachts have you bought with your big tax cuts that you were promised?
You voted to fight terrorism. You got a war in Iraq that has increased terrorism, cost the U.S. billions that you will have to pay for, and the deaths of 2500 precious american’s sons and daughters. Do you feel safer today than you did last year?
You voted for bringing back integrity and accountability to our government. You got corruption from the white house all the way down. And then they have the nerve to try to scare you into voting for them by using the tragic deaths of those on 9/11 to create their own terror campaign against those who wish to clean up their mess — the democrats. They have no shame and no guilt as long as they stay in office and stay on the lobyists payroll.
You voted for someone to represent your interests in Washington. You got the oil lobby writing the energy bill, you got corporate polluters writing environmental laws, you got the health insurance lobby writing the medicare reform bill, and you got corrupt lobyists writing the loby reform laws. Have any of these laws made life better or easier for you or your family?
The “shell game” republicans, haven’t you had enough of them yet?
June 14th, 2006 at 11:31 amComment by ddh — June 14, 2006 @ 11:27 am
Matches the information in the thread heading above.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:32 amI have given up on the federal govt. It is a self-serving bunch that have lost touch with real people and real issues. I am now looking at a local level to make a difference. If it wasn’t for ordinary, extremely motivated people in nation, we would curl up and die. I am an optimist, but very jaded with the movement of this country on a national level. If we have to live through another 4 to 8 years of this kind of leadership and incompetence we are in BIG TROUBLE. Don’t forget Katrina….a stain on this country. That’s when I wrote this bunch off. SELF-SERVING GOVT. plain and simple.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:34 amSuggestion: Why don’t the Democrats decide not to participate in this GOP side show debate. The cards are stacked and the outcome pre-ordained. So, don’t play the game. Don’t attend the debate. Or walk out. Don’t offer a speech. Don’t participate at all. Give it the attention it deserves. None.
Comment by po — June 14, 2006 @ 10:53 am
I think if they did that, they should then at least go to another room (rent a conference hall or whatever) and have a real debate about what should be done. Invite knowledgable people and really talk through the alternatives. You know, do what the Repubs aren’t willing to do because they prefer to stick to their talking points and think of this as just an election ploy.
Now for my part. I think the sham meeting the Repubs are planning should be treated with all the respect it deserves - a drinking game. Gotta work on the rules.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:35 am[Moderated by admin.]
June 14th, 2006 at 11:36 amAfter reading the full text of the memo, I think TP’s synopsis is accurate. Please note, how Saddam Hussien, was explicitly linked to terrorism, and the 9/11 attacks
June 14th, 2006 at 11:38 amHGere is what the Dems should do; Attack the Republican strategy.
“Mr Boehner, you have in this document called for Republicans to exploit 9/11, use Ad-Hominem attacks, and create a false choice as well as using the other usual logical fallacies. Yes, it is a powerful tactic as your repeated success at leading this country deeper into debt with nations hostile to us, and international disrepute amongst those that once weren’t has demonstrated this, and indeed your success at using this tactic to put American soldiers in harms way for no apparent gain is incredible, but surely you must be getting bored of using the same tactic over, and over, and over again?”
June 14th, 2006 at 11:42 am#52 - Interesting. The version you post is exactly what the post describes:
1. Exploit 9/11. The two page memo mentions 9/11 seven times. It describes debating Iraq in the context of 9/11 as “imperative.†Yup! That’s what the Republicans have done in your version!
2. Attack opponents ad hominem. The memo describes those who opposes President Bush’s policies in Iraq as “sheepish,†“weak,†and “prone to waver endlessly.†Again, hat’s what the Republicans have done in your version!
3. Create a false choice. The memo says the decision is between supporting President Bush’s policies and hoping terrorist threats will “fade away on their own.†Once again, hat’s what the Republicans have done in your version!
It must really be painful to get the red-a$$ from liberal/progressive posters when you attempt to spread calumny. You must be a masochist. Next time, READ the memo and THEN argue your issues. It really helps to not have a foot in your mouth when you talk.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:42 am#55. Comment by Dr. Van Nostrand — June 14, 2006 @ 11:30 am
It’s really funny to hear them use that line. Roosevelt used it 65 years ago, on September 11, 1941 (what a coincidence).
http://www.usmm.org/fdr/rattlesnake.html
Trolls who want to equate Roosevelt’s call to action with Bush’s pre-emption policy, take note: Several American ships - warships - had been attacked by German warships at the time of Roosevelt’s statement. There is still no evidence of Iraq’s involvement in attacks against us.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:46 amIs your adobe reader up to date?
Comment by Step Beyond
That was the problem, thanks.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:47 amI would love to see one of our “fearless” dems step up to the microphone and read this memo to the House. Then say, “is this what you consider a debate”. These are talking points! I agree with a previous poster. If the dems don’t show some fire over this, they are useless and they will lose in 06.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:48 am“The attacks we witnessed that day serve as a reminder of the dangers we face as a nation in a post-9/11 world”
How did we live in a post-9/11 world on 9/11?
June 14th, 2006 at 11:49 am#40:
What I think they should do is to hold their own debate and let the Repugs have their own love-fest. The problem is that the press would undoubtedly ignore any Democratic debate and they would most likely be given the coat closet in the basement as their meeting room. That’s the way the Repugs deal with desent by the Democrats.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:51 amThey are doing it again! But, opportunity is here for the Dems to not do what they did before the Iraq War. I do not want to hear, “I was for it and then I was against it”. Don’t let the Republicans portray this anymore as than what it is-Repucblicans have no plan. The Dems just need a plan.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:54 am[Moderated by admin.]
June 14th, 2006 at 11:58 amHi to the anti bushites,
What does Iraq have to do with 9/11?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:06 pmNothing!
Afgahnistan was & is the country that is harboring the terrorists,
& letting them train in their country.
Then why are we in Iraq?
Only because George Sr. did not go after Hussein after the Kuwaiti war,
& little George wanted to get him, but the only way he could, would be to
claim that Hussein was harboring the terrorists, which is completely false.
I don’t agree with what Hussein was doing, but I definitely don’t agree with
little George even more.
As far as I’m concerned, Little George is the biggest terrorist in the world today!
Rove: BushvsTerorism is a myth of galactic proportions. The dolt was asleep prior to and during the attack in New York after receiving in advance warnings of the fact. Impeachment should have followed immediately. He was against the formation of the 9/11 Commission and was reluctant to appear before its deliberations. If it was not for the work or the “Jersey Girls” in demanding a commission and monitoring its work it would still be a figment of one’s imagination. Bush ignored the recommedations of the Commission to close the ports and borders. In fact he offered deals to countries that harbored and supported terrorists and championed amnesty for illegal immigrants crossing our borders without regard for the possibility of terrorist coming in. Terrorism has increased around the world and the Taliban is back to full strength. Bush can’t tell the difference between an insurgency and terrorism and speaks in tongues when he talks of “terrorism” to cloud our minds. Osama bin Laden was the real culprit on 9/11 and should have been destroyed. Check the misery index. Are we be led by a rational man with common sense or the biggest buffoon ever visited upon the American people?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:07 pmStop the propaganda already. 9/11 does NOT equal the War in Iraq. The House Majority leader is still in 9/11 = War in Iraq mode. He mentions it 7 times in a 2 page memo. Stop the propaganda.
Most Americans want to win in Iraq. Doesn’t matter what party you’re aligned with. Mistake after mistake in Iraq is costing American lives and dollars. Not just Republican or Democrat. Everybody’s losing here.
The issues are and have always been that the Bush administration made a huge err in judgement and continues to make huge mistakes in the Iraq War.
~ Started without a clear and immediate threat (viable WMDs, forget viable, how about any WMDs?).
~ Started without UN Security Council support.
~ Started without an exit strategy.
~ Started without a full budget assessment.
~ Not finding nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Iraq following the invasion. President George W. Bush has since admitted that “much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong”. Colin Powell later expressed regret about his presentation at the UN Security Council.
~ Inability to quell insurgent activity.
~ Inability to establish a stable government.
~ Drawing the ire of neighboring countries instead of creating useful alliances for Iraq.
~ US is paying for almost all of war-related costs in Iraq.
~ Estimated cost of war, 2.6 TRILLION dollars. http://www.theage.com.au/ news/ world/ iraq-war-could-cost-26-trillion/ 2006/ 01/ 10/ 1136851198921.html
He indicates that it was solely Republicans that somehow killed Zarqawi and are responsible for the appointment of Iraqi defense, security and interior ministers. Wow…again, f’in mind blowing. Not only is it a silly, blanket statement but the facts are 1 major terrorist was killed and 3 guys got jobs in Iraq. Good news but the war is far, far away from being over. I don’t care how many pre-election photo ops you throw out there. I’m still waiting for a video of Bush actually waving his cowboy hat while riding the bomb that hit Zarqawi’s safehouse (see Dr. Strangelove).
When is the Republican theatre going to end?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:11 pmDon’t taxpayers get some credit for any progress made in the war, after all, we are paying the bill.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:17 pm[…] In an exclusive over at the fantastic Think Progress the writers have received a leaked copy of a confidential memo sent out by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) which lays out the Republican’s strategy for the debate on Iraq that is scheduled to take place tomorrow in the House. […]
June 14th, 2006 at 12:18 pmHow did TP get a hold of this memo considering it was confidential? Is it authentic?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:24 pmAlong with Post #2, say something like, “and all of this has transpired through the Republican House because of what Ken Mehlman called ‘greed and cynicism’.”
June 14th, 2006 at 12:25 pmI meant post 3#.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:26 pm#75 Tracy,
I would have thought you would have learned your lesson on that issue after the memo about Terry Schiavo was proven to have been writtin by the republicans as was originally claimed.
On a more original note, please try to post something on topic, argue that this memo is not a shrill call to keep the false meme going.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:27 pmMany of you seem to be laboring under the misapprehension that the democrats and republicans are on different sides. They are both corporate shills. This is easy to verify: when democrats replace republicans in any given office, nothing substantial ever changes. In fact they both collaborate quite intensely to silence and thwart any and all third party candidates. They are on the same side: the one where the money is.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:28 pm#75 Tracy,
You gave the memo to TP, while sleepwalking, and you don’t remember it.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:28 pmI agree James,
we need to dump both parties in favor of those who will serve the people not the corporate masters.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:30 pm” or do we instead abandon our efforts against these threats in the hopes that they will just fade away on their own?”
Wait.. Is he talking about Iraq or New Orleans? (scratches head)
June 14th, 2006 at 12:33 pmso uh errrrrhhhhhh is Mz coulter readin this?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:34 pmDid Boner pass out free cigarettes with each copy of that memo?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:34 pmAny democrats capable of copying and sending this memo to their colleages?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:41 pmExploit 9-11? The Republicans? Who would have thought, huh? I think they’re praying for a new attack (hence the security budget cuts in NY and DC) so they have some fresh material.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:41 pmHas anyone asking how and where they got this memo? Is this authentic? Im not apologists for the right but at the same time if this memo turns out to be a fake it just makes the whole point mute.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:45 pmGee, I’ve never seen an administration so happy about the deaths of 3000 of their citizens. They’ve played politics with 911 from day one, yet send out one of their shrillest shills to smear the 911 widows for playing politics with 911. Could the hypocricy be more glaringly repugnant?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:46 pmI don’t think you morons are smart enough to know how powerful the Democrats really are, and how powerless you are to do anything about it.
June 14th, 2006 at 12:48 pmI don’t think you morons are smart enough to know how powerful the Democrats really are, and how powerless you are to do anything about it.
Comment by Ravel Kor
Has anyone else pointed out that your nickname is an anagram for Karl Rove?
June 14th, 2006 at 12:59 pmWow you people are really twisted. How do you get all that from the Memo I just read? Or is it that you’re so unfamiliar with having a plan of your own that you view putting things in historical context as “exploiting 9/11″?
June 14th, 2006 at 1:13 pmNot that I think Republicans are worth a damn, because they’re not.
If you left-wing wack-jobs wanted to go after the Bush administration, why aren’t you pulling out your hair and gnashing your teeth over McCain-Feingold and its assault on your First Amendment rights?
Fact is you liberals only fall back on the Constitution when it’s convenient. Case in point: Dennis Hastert (R-IL, yeah he’s one of you.) a while back claimed the Constitution was archaic. Yet just last week he screams bloody murder about Constitutional violations by the FBI (violations that don’t exist, no less). So which is it? Does the Constitution matter or not? You can’t have it both ways.
You folks are so blinded by ideology that you can’t see straight. If Bush had a “D†after his name you would be drooling over the man. Why? He makes Slick Willy look like a Ronald Reagan. Let’s face it, on domestic policy, Bush is a liberal. Bush is a traitor for violating his oath of office (“support and defend the Constitution of the United States agains all enemies foreign and domestic†(see McCain-Feingold)). But if you kick him out of office, you have to kick out at 534 Congressmen for the same thing. We’d be left with Ron Paul which, come to think of it, wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
I wonder how many of you just read the synopsis of the memo as opposed to reading the actual document. Judging by the responses, not many.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:15 pmSince the synopsis is merely a partisan interpretation of the memo, it is easy to judge it quickly and dismiss it.
Try reading it. It takes a little effort to make the real memo live up to the hype of the synopsis.
The 9-11 references were not references to the specific event, but time-markers. The phrase “in a post-9-11 world”, is totally justified. Those who ignore that fact are merely looking at the event and it’s place in time, not the new reality it left behind. To call it “exploiting 9-11″ is dangerous and irresponsible.
I think people (and especially Think Progress and other left-leaning blogs) need to keep an eye on the media to see if they will follow these speaking points in their reporting.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:24 pmMabo,
I did read the whole memo. I think that the synopsis Think Progress provided is accurate. I realize this makes the republican party looks like a bunch of greedy sociapathic opportunists, but sometimes the truth hurts.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:38 pmI’ve been thinking . . . why does the GOP never speak of a post February 26, 1993 world? You know, the date on which those who hate freedom first attacked the WTC. Oh yeah, because they weren’t paying attention until after September 11, 2001. Too distracted with trying to take down Clinton, and ignoring his advice, to focus on the real threat to America. Yes, the GOP: they create the enemy and leave others to pick up the pieces.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:39 pmwe could no longer allow despots and dictators like the Taliban and Saddam Hussein to ignore international sanctions and resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council.
What about the USA and Israel? They have a bad habit of ignoring these as well.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:48 pmNope, nothing new here…
June 14th, 2006 at 1:50 pmIf you look at the document properties, it appears that a “kmadden” created this document on a Mac at 10:44 pm 6/13/06.
A simple Google search reveals that “kmadden” might be Kevin Madden, Boehner’s press secretary, who also used to work for Tom DeLay.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:59 pmI just sent a link to the PDF to WTOP, a news radio station in DC. Now let’s see whose side they’re on.
June 14th, 2006 at 2:03 pm#88
Even if it is fake, you still have to give people something here to comment on or this blog is useless.
June 14th, 2006 at 2:05 pmNeo-McCarthyism reigns supreme in the GOP. Thanks for exposing these dishonest demagogues in all their “glory”!
June 14th, 2006 at 2:21 pm[…] It is good to occasionally get an insider’s peek at the inner cogs of government clanking away. One such peek is being offered by ThinkProgress, an impressive site that has obtained a “Confidential Messaging Memo†from Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), to his caucus on how to deal with Iraq. Here is the bottom line, our new Iraq strategy: 1. Exploit 9/11. The two page memo mentions 9/11 seven times. It describes debating Iraq in the context of 9/11 as “imperative.†[…]
June 14th, 2006 at 2:43 pmEyes wide shut. You people and your memos. Who cares???? You are losing your country and these 2 parties have you focused and outraged about details that don’t matter. You wanted Marxism? Socialism? You got it! You are arguing about the minute differences between the two parties while they both conspire to rob you of your freedom. What is the difference between the Dems and the Republicans? Republicans will at least buy you a drink before they ask you to grab your ankles. But in the end (pun intended) you’re still grabbing your ankles…
June 14th, 2006 at 2:51 pmI like how the memo quotes John F. Kennedy, even as they are currently dragging two of his family through the mud!
June 14th, 2006 at 2:54 pmOne more item to add to big papa’s list:
SWORN ENEMIES OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS!
June 14th, 2006 at 2:56 pmIf the media were even remotely liberal, the GOP never would’ve survived their first month back in power in 2001. The ONLY reason they are still in power is because they control EVERYTHING. The mainstream media is small potatoes now. They control the judges, courts, all three branches of government, the U.N., etc etc etc. You name it, the GOP controls it. Why do you think Bush thinks he can simply do whatever he wants without worrying about getting impeached?
People, you need to WAKE THE HELL UP! We live in a BONA-FIDE DICTATORSHIP!!!!!
June 14th, 2006 at 3:02 pmi swear old shitass karl rove up to his tricks again.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:06 pmjust another bunch of crap to go down the hole.
Members are only going to have a minute or (maybe) two on the floor to speak. It’s impossible to have a true debate with only a minute of time per person, and it’s a farce when they are not allowing any amendments to the resolution.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:07 pmCalled the guy’s office and asked if the memo was legit. After dancing around a bit, I was told that the memo was no longer on the Congressman’s website as it was “confidential.” I kept asking the girl who answered the phone if this was the memo that was sent by his office. She kept telling me it was confidential. Changed tactics and asked why he was exploiting 9/11 and she told me he was not. Quoted some passages from the memo–silence and then a cheery, “good-bye” from the person on the other end.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:12 pmYou good Americans might want to be careful since this is “confidential.” Don’t want you to be called in front of the Special Prosecutor
Boehner sent to the National Review (see the Corner) some Pelosi quotes - likely taken out of context - to make it look like she is a flip-flopper. Some of these cherry picked quotes are from a Nov. 17, 2002 interview on Meet the Press. Alas, MTP has transcripts only back through 2003. Google does show some rightwing bloggers attacking Pelosi for not more forcefully backing Bush on his quest for war. If you have the time - maybe you can go after the National Review and Boehner’s obvious smear of Congresswoman Pelosi.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:13 pm” The phrase “in a post-9-11 worldâ€, is totally justified.”
-Comment by Mabo — June 14, 2006-
I’m sorry I disagree. Don’t get me wrong. I was in New York City on that day, and it was bad, but I’m not ready to reset the calendar to zero.
We were attacked in a big way by terrorists. True. Unfortunately, nobody has ever been safe from terrorists, and we never will be, because it is civilians vs. civilians. The only real defense at home is to become a police state because freedom is what the terrorists use to move around. The LAST thing you want abroad is to make a big production of your response, because that breeds more angry civilians.
The term “post 9/11 world” deliberately creates the illusion that things are now different, but they aren’t. This is the same as it’s always been. A catastrophic event scares the citizens into letting the government become their daddy and do things they wouldn’t normally want to do. The leaders then see that “it’s good to be daddy” and they position themselves as the only ones interested keeping the public safe.
The only lesson from history is that we never learn the lessons of history. The only people who think the calendar should be reset by 9/11 are the ones who were not in touch with the “pre 9/11″ world in the first place. Now they would march us all into a nice strong “9/11 proof” cell because “the world has changed”.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:28 pmEven creation of a complete police state would not stop terrorist attacks. Isreal has some pretty heavy security, but they are not able to stop100% of the suicide bombers.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:40 pmwe’re also in a “post-9/10 world” and a “post-9/12 world.” why not use those terms?
June 14th, 2006 at 3:40 pmJust out of curiosity, did any you liberals make an attempt to read the memo itself, or did you just take the “talking points” provided for face value?
Please.
I challenge anyone who blogs on here to an open debate on any issue. Bring it!
http://www.jacewalden.com
June 14th, 2006 at 3:50 pmJace,
had you read the posts associated with this thread you would have answered your own question. I realize that the posts exceed over 100, so you might have to take some time 10 or 15 minutes to get caught up.
As for a debate how about this issue
President Bush; bad president or worst president ever? Who do you think outranks bush in incompetance?
June 14th, 2006 at 4:02 pmThere is a free website which makes it easy to communication with Congress. Register you discontent with an e-mail to your representative, senators and all medias through, http://www.congress.org
June 14th, 2006 at 4:03 pmThere is a free website which makes it easy to communication with Congress. Register your discontent with an e-mail to your representative, senators and all medias through, http://www.congress.org
June 14th, 2006 at 4:04 pmJace - yes, I did read the memo. It was demogogery, dishonest, and basically disgusting. Par for the course for the Neo-McCartyites. Speaking of which - Boehner is standing behind KLo’s skirt to smear Nancy Pelosi. Go check out the details over at Angrybear.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:05 pmEvidently the Repubs think their total failure in Iraq is a good opportunity to attack the Democrats.
They just don’t understand the reason they are in a deep hole of defeat is because of Iraq! They lied us into war and then lost the war, and the vast majority of the American public knows it.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:08 pmboehners office is getting its rear end kicked over this right now. His rude female staffer tries real hard to cut off calls and refuses to listen to public comment she doesn’t like. Love what he’s done, as in Boehner screwed up just like Frist
June 14th, 2006 at 4:20 pmFox News, yesterday, while bragging about how dangerous it was for President Bush to have made his “surprise” visit to the Iraqi leader (was he really there? were there any photos of him actually against an outdoor background?) talked about “making the trains run on time.” Someone else pointed out this was a phrase often used by the Nazis while bragging about how great they were for the country. Chilling.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:23 pmLook, I’ve read it, I’m not going to retype the whole thing, but here are my impressions. Global War on Terror, should herby be known as GW Terror.
Now its all very well, though I would argue that al-Zarqawi was more a result of infighting in Al-Qaeada then the result of anything Bush has done and the effects of his death still have to be seen, right up until he gets to the bit where he talks about “The Importance of Our Actions” and starts blatantly waving the corpses of 9/11 about like its going out of fashion. That was just objectionable jingoism.
A Portrait of contrasts, not only fulfills everthing Judd is saying about ad-hominem attacks, but also goes on further to prove an excellent example of a Straw Man. Here he is defining the Democrat’s position, not allowing the Democrats to actually define their own position, and then tearing it down. This is also where he calls the democrats “Prone to waver” and their approach “Weak” before the debate starts. In short, he doesn’t even know what the Democrats propose, and he is calling there proposal weak, now that’s one great straw man you got there Boehner. Go Team Republican!
Resolve Will Triumph over Retreat, is furthermore, precisely the false choice Judd was talking about. The choices are much broader then kill everything that moves, or surrender. Maybe it is time to actually think before acting and figure out where things are going wrong rather then just acting like everything will sort itself out in the end.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:25 pmI had the same thought. Did Bush really go to Baghdad? The Fox News people practically had tears in their eyes over the surprised look on the Iraqi leader’s face. They stumbled when claiming a wing in the frame was Air Force One - was it really or do they just make shit up?
Most of all, there was never a shot of Bush against a Baghdad background. He could have been shaking the Iraqi’s hand against a marble wall in the White House. No shot of him on that helicopter, nada, nothing.
I say if he went, Big Deal. But I don’t even think he did.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:26 pmOnce again here we are with the whining show. Will all the hate written on this blog change anything? NOOOO! Call everybody names that disagree with you. Sounds like my 4 year old daughter. Grow up. I though liberals were suposed to be tolerant. NOT! You know what makes me throw up since there seems to be alot of that going on on this blog, is suicide bombings. You all seem to think it is okay to let the terrorist off for the human rights crimes they commit. I have not heard one word about holding them accountable. Oh and by the way the head asshole in Iraq is no more. You would think if you really cared about the Iraqis like you pretend you would at least be happy about that.. You didn’t give two shits about Iraqis that were mass murdered before the war, now all of a sudden because it suits your political views you care. Give me a break. You really think that if the USA was not in Iraq the terrorist would not be bombing, you must be watching too much TV. Try the real world for a change. Whine whinje whine that all the dems have anymore. I don’t like Bush anymore than any of you. As lame as Bush is the dems can’t even get a coherent platform. The dems are so sorry they couldn;t even beat Bush in the middle of this mess. Until the Dems quit whining and actually come up with something other that hope for the best, it is going to be more of the same. If you dems aren’t smart enough to figure that out there is no way you can convince a majority of americans you should be in power. It like a bad B movie every time I hear you all spout the same old lame shit every time. get a barf bag cause you got 3 more years. Hey maybe you will lose some weight over the deal and the rest of us wont have to pay your medical bills.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:30 pmcome on KS a little paroniod? you got quite smoking crack you are becoming one of those conspiracy theorist. Like Bush blew TWC so he could attack Iraq. You got to give me your stash it has got to be really good.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:36 pmWow, nice rant Critical thinker.
Care to join reality? or you going to just continue spewing hate and vitriol. I especially love the line where you tell us to “grow up” then in the next sentence you say “NOT”. been taking lessons from your four year old? I don’t know where you get the idea we support terrorists suicide bombers, (most likely from your pal Limbaugh) but I don’t. I don’t like the killing at all. Dems have come up with a solid platform, and everytime they do they are branded as traitors etc…
Please pay attention, it makes for a better debate.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:37 pmokay all you brilliant scholars explain to me how we lost the war in Iraq.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:42 pmHand over of power Iraq went forward
Elections went forward 3 times
A new IRaq government has been formed
What exactly has the terrorist actually accomplished with all the dead civilians they killed.
If your family was killed by a suicide bomber you would bve singing a different tune.
Can you spell hypocrite!
Der Leader convinces more republicans daily of his ineptitude at anything leadership related. Imagine joking with a blind reporter about his shades? and he wants respect? GW Terror and the PNAC Reich will lose power because Americans aren’t entirely brainless CT.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:43 pmUncritical thinker….
Having Zarquawi dead doesn’t make this thing a success.
Did you read about the violence in Iraq today, three years after we were supposed to be greeted as liberators? Go to hell along with the rest of the Bush apologists. Iraq is a disaster. Someday it will get fixed. But that won’t exonerate Bush from being a supreme screw up.
Worst president ever.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:44 pm“Lobotomy in a can” my friends, “Lobotomy in a can”.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:52 pmIf we take this trash and do nothing we too have become addicted to the lobotomy in a can that the other side has chosen to chase reality with.
krazny
June 14th, 2006 at 4:57 pmI just have drop down to your level so you can understnd me. Tell what is the dems platform. I heard a lot of talk but no substance. It all sounds like they just don’t have the stomach to stand up to the terroist. Ask Canda who supposedly were against the war and just uncovered a plot to behead the PM. You want tom talk about reality, ask the families of 911 what their reality is, ask the families of the mass murdered in Iraq what their reality is, ask the families of murdered victims in Afganistan before that war what their reality is. Ask the victims of Kuwait what their reality is. Your reality is as long as it doesn’t happen to me it doesn;t exist. That is not reality that’s denial. The reality is we have not had an attack on US soil, and less soliders have died in Iraq than civilians died in 911. You can’t link Saddam to 911, but neither could they link OJ to Nicoles murder. Ever hear UN resolution 1441, or the gulf war 91. Iraq was shooting at our pilots every day. That’s okay with you? Your reality is you can’t see from your house. Don’t even start that reality bullshit. You believe what ever reality you want in your cozy life, and I will look at the brave soliders who have a lot more conviction than a bunch of blow hards on some lame blog. The day you actually put your own life on the line for what you believe instead whine from your comfy life then maybe someone might take you serious.
[…] Think Progress […]
June 14th, 2006 at 5:04 pmoh Dave you are so brilliant why don’t you run for president. Dems platform “blame everybody else” How’s that working for you? You want to know what a surpreme screw up is? Bill CLinton spending time with Monica instead of taking out OBL. That my friend is a supreme screw up. Blame Bush for your lack of balls, now that’s a good one. The only disaster here is you are clueless. I don’t apoligize to you or anybody else for actually don’t something instead of hoping the terrorist will play nice. Oh and by the way Oh Dave I won’t be going to hell, I actually have faith.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:07 pmWorked for the republicans dickhead so when you signing up there big boy? the army could use you, or you too old, fat , stupid to go?
June 14th, 2006 at 5:09 pmI already served asshole. What have you done for your country other than blow it out your ass.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:11 pmYou should pull your head out of your ass before you try to do any critical thinking, the republicans have done nothing but screw up this country since Bush took office.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:12 pmenjoying those 9/11 deaths, ar they?
June 14th, 2006 at 5:12 pmKrazny there are two kinds of people in this world. People talk about doing something, and people who actually have the balls to do it. You seem to do a lot of talking, but no action sound familiar. If Bush is some lame, and dems can’t beat him twice, that does say much for the dems. I just can’t wait to hear all the whining when you get your ass handed to youm AGAIN in November. I will be voting (anybody but dems)
June 14th, 2006 at 5:14 pmJust as Robert Redford said, Republicans are all about strategy, not substance.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:18 pmBelieve what you want. I am far more a man then you will ever be.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:19 pmBush was only elected once, his first term was an appointment (as well as a disappointment).
June 14th, 2006 at 5:21 pmI love to sit hear and discuss this with you but I actually have a job and a life. Hey TY if call keeping the terroist from bombing us again a screw up I will take that. Whine whine whine, it is really getting old. Why don’t you try and come up with something more creative. Maybe watch TV alittle more maybe you can come up with somethi9ng other than whining. Next time you feel like whining think about all the mass graves found in Iraq that should cure it. Oh right you don;t care!
For evil to succeed only requires decent men to do nothing. Are you a do nothing?
Oh and I can think for myself very well thank you, I don’t need you or Michael Morre to tell me what reality is.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:21 pmFunny the only evil the republicans seem to care about is in oil rich countries. Funny that when Clinton decided to use troops in the balkans the republicans said they could support the troops but not the mission.
CR you are what Rush calls a dittohead. Unthinking obedience to a line of bullshit because your pecker is so small you have to make up for it in other ways. I sincerely doubt you served and if you did it was garbage brigade for the TAN with the dear Decider.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:28 pmI fail to see what the big deal here is except more of the same dumbassness from the elementary school-brained left. They can’t win elections so they have to resort to mental retardation. It’s hilarious to watch them nutshit all over themselves. Thanks for the laugh.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:34 pmI fail to see what the big deal
Comment by tounces — June 14, 2006 @ 5:34 p
If you don’t see it then you are part of the problem. Why don’t you and Bush and the rest of the idiots move to Iraq, so we can get the country back together and on track.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:54 pmGuess our trolls had to check in with Rove for further instructions.
June 14th, 2006 at 6:18 pmMaybe they’re not getting good reception on thier tinfoil hats?
June 14th, 2006 at 6:26 pmgood one!
June 14th, 2006 at 6:33 pmThat’s right, schmuch… Quote JFK. See what that gets you!
June 14th, 2006 at 6:34 pmThe GOP’s confidential Iraq memo…
From Think Progress:On Thursday, the House of Representatives will hold a debate on the Iraq war. Media reports say Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) “hopes to match the serious, dignified tone of deliberation that preceded the Gulf war, in 1991.”…
June 14th, 2006 at 6:38 pmIs that a real memo. If so that really pisses me off. Why is this not on the news? Why doesnt ABC or NBC or any of the other networks cover this? It seems to me like it would get the rates. Maybe not the same kind of rate’s (AC) would get you. And if it is true and that is the attack plan why hasn’t someone figured out a way to shut it down. It is certainly not a new plan used by the GOP and it’s not the first time we have heard it.
June 14th, 2006 at 6:47 pmIs that a real memo. If so that really pisses me off. Why is this not on the news? Why doesnt ABC or NBC or any of the other networks cover this? It seems to me like it would get the rates. Maybe not the same kind of rate’s (AC) would get you. And if it is true and that is the attack plan why hasn’t someone figured out a way to shut it down. It is certainly not a new plan used by the GOP and it’s not the first time we have heard it.
June 14th, 2006 at 6:47 pmIs that a real memo. If so that really pisses me off. Why is this not on the news? Why doesnt ABC or NBC or any of the other networks cover this?