Ken Mehlman Falsely Claims Conservatives Aren’t Advocating ‘Stay The Course’ In Iraq
Ken Mehlman Falsely Claims Conservatives Aren’t Advocating ‘Stay The Course’ In Iraq
Yesterday on Meet the Press, former Rove deputy Ken Mehlman tried to claim that conservatives are “not coming in and saying ‘Stay the course’” in Iraq, but rather are advocating “Win by adapting.” Watch it:
But despite Mehlman’s statement, plenty of conservatives are saying “stay the course”:
President Bush:
“We’re not going to lose in Iraq. As a matter of fact, we will win in Iraq so long as we stay the course.” [7/11/06]
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow:
“The second thing you do [to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis] is you stay the course. And you allow the government of Prime Minister Maliki to create a functioning and successful democracy.” [7/10/06]
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN):
“We’re for staying the course in Iraq and the war on terror.” [7/27/06]
Sen. John Thune (R-SD):
“And a believe that a free, democratic Iraq is quickly becoming an inevitable fact, and that now more than ever we need to stay the course there.” [2/17/05]
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA):
“On behalf of our men and women in harm’s way, the children they protect, and the dreams and aspirations of Americans for a bright future, I will stay the course as a member of the Senate to support them in the war on terror.” [11/8/05]
Full transcript below:
DAVID GREGORY: This is something that he also said last Sunday during a campaign speech. “The fact isâ€â€”this is Senator Lieberman speaking—“I have openly and clearly disagreed with and criticized the president for, among other things: not winning the support of our allies in the run-up to the war; not having a plan to win the peace; not putting enough troops on the ground; putting an American in charge of the Iraqi oil supply. And I said that if I were president, I would ask Secretary Rumsfeld to resign.†Given your respect for the credibility of his views, do you acknowledge that he’s right on these points?
MR. MEHLMAN: Look, the fact is that our mission in the war in Iraq is critical. We agree on that; we agree it’s wrong to cut and run. But look, we’re not coming in and saying “Stay the course.” The choice in this election is not between “Stay the course” and “Cut and run,” it’s between “Win by adapting” and “Cut and run.”
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Yeah I saw this crap yesterday, I couldn’t believe that he is now trying to re-write the republican position on the Iraq war. Of course when your position is a losing one, then I guess you shouldn’t “stay the course” but “win by adapting”. Funny, I seem to remember several democrats suggesting this exact idea.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:39 pmStaying the course, means of course, win by adapting the words stay the course to mean stay, verb, to stay, not go anywhere, be in the same place… The, article, meaning that thing, course, a track, a way of doing things, a curriculum, a load of BS…
August 14th, 2006 at 1:42 pmKen Mehlman: Worst self-loathing closet queen ever. Looks like a troll. Vile.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:44 pmAl Franken did a really good job today of summarizing Iraq from the misinformation perpective today. Worth a listen.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:45 pmI like ThinkProgress, and agree with a lot of what you guys publish. But this post is a bit off the mark. To support your claim that conservatives are advocating staying the course in Iraq, you use a quote from Bush from more than two years ago, a Thune quote from a year and a half ago, and Isakson’s quote from almost a year ago. The Frist quote is pretty fresh, but the rest are a little old, to say the least.
I say this in all respect because some will point to this post and say you are dragging up old quotes and using them out of context with Mehlman’s latest absurd notion that conservatives are not advocating staying the course. Aren’t there newer quotes you could have found? You’re just opening yourself up to criticism when your main point is true.
Keep up the good work and thanks for everything.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:45 pmKen Mehlman is the perfect example of the current GOP.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:47 pmKen Mehlman has no credibilty and has been a proven liar
The GOP has no credibility and are liars.
This is outstanding, since it indicates that they now understand that “stay the course” is a bad slogan to have associated with their name. The irony, of course, is that in contrast to “cut and run”, this slogan is one of their own choosing.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:48 pmHa!
Now that is some funny shit.
April 13 2004
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2004/ 04/ 20040413-20.html
January 23, 2004
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2004/ 01/ 20040123-2.html
September 23, 2004
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2004/ 09/ 20040923-8.html
January 1, 2002
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2002/ 01/ 20020131-5.html
October 8, 2003
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2003/ 10/ 20031008-9.html
July 2, 2003
George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2003/ 07/ 20030702-3.html
You could litteraly go on all day long with stay the course quotes. I didn’t do anybody but Bush.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:49 pmI agree with Publius’s post in #5. ThinkProgress needs to strengthen the piece by finding more recent comments - which I’m sure exist - or actions that demonstrate the administration’s “stay the course” policy. Providing comments from prior years does not adequately show what the administration is doing right now.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:51 pmWhat about he recent vote in the house and senate to win the war on terror? How many stay the course references were made?
August 14th, 2006 at 1:51 pmOkay, a more recent quote from a republican that uses stay the coourse in it.
April 19, 2006
August 14th, 2006 at 1:53 pmJeb Bush talking to George W Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2006/ 04/ 20060419.html
Hey just because they said it doesn’t mean they said it.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:54 pmBut look, we’re not coming in and saying “Stay the course.â€
This guy is such a pathetic liar. “Staying the course” has been such a staple in all speeches, conferences, interviews, etc. by almost everyone in the Bush administration all these years. There has never been talk about “changing” -quite the contrary: Anybody who dares say such a thing is quickly dismissed as a “terrorist sympathiser”.
Here are more recent quotes by Pres Bush himself on “staying the course”:
If we don’t lose our nerve, if we stay the course, someday down the road, an American President will be working with democratically-elected leaders in the broader Middle East at the table to keep the peace.
President’s Remarks at Mike Sodrel for Congress and Indiana Victory 2006 Reception
You know I just recently went to Baghdad […] And I saw people wondering whether the United States would have the nerve to stay the course and help them succeed.
Remarks by the President at the 2006 President’s Dinner
we have, indeed, liberated 50 million people […] a very, very significant achievement. But we have to stay the course.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pmInterview of the Vice President by John King, CNN
#8
Google “stay the course” and you will find a whole lot.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pmThis has been the gop mantra since the Iraq War started, tell me when you believe the Bushco admin changed this mantra?
“Cut and Run” Mehlman
August 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pm“These are not the droids you’re looking for.”
August 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pmI find another part of the quote even more interesting:
MR. MEHLMAN: Look, the fact is that our mission in the war in Iraq is critical. We agree on that;
What’s the “mission” he’s talking about? Is it really a “fact” that it’s “critical”? And do we (who’s “we”?) really agree on that?
It’s really easy to argue that one’s right, when one takes a false premise and accords it the status of an axiom.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pmyeah, they lie
like they breathe
August 14th, 2006 at 1:56 pmOops… I forgot to say “and VP Cheney”…
August 14th, 2006 at 1:57 pmof course. It’s time for republicans to distance themselves from Chimpy, so he can’t drag them down with him
August 14th, 2006 at 1:58 pmComment by Publius
Sooooooo… what has all the demonizing of all non Bush ass kissers with this “cut and run” big mouth talking point been all about? “Cut and Run” is the phrase they use against ANYONE that doesnt toe the line of “Stay the course” … For them to NOW deny they have been attacking everyone for not wanting to “Stay the course” is like them looking you straight in the eye and swearing up and down that it was the democrats that lied about WMDs to get America into the Iraq war….
I hope they keep denying that they ever said this… because NO ONE is that dumb in America… even the rightwing crazies know they have been defending that deadend idea to the most illogical extreme all the way up until about YESTERDAY….
August 14th, 2006 at 1:59 pmStaying the course means what Repubs say it means. Who are the dems to decide the meanings of such phrases of national importance?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:00 pmThis war has already lasted longer than the Spanish-American War, the Mexican-American War, the Korean War, and US participation in World War I. How in the world is beginning a year-long process of troop removal “cutting and running?” Anything short of permanent war and occupation of Iraq is “cutting and running” to these bloodthirty imbiciles.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:02 pmI heard that yesterday and recognized it for what it was, seeding the campaign clouds with their newest slogan.
Thing is “adapt and win” is reactive, which is all this reactionary crew knows. They reacted to 9/11 will Afghanistan, then switched to Iraq and for 3 years they’ve been reacting to that.
Some serious misunderstanding of Darwinian adaptation is going on here . . .
August 14th, 2006 at 2:03 pmHere are some more 2006 “stay the course” quotes:
But it is not a reason for walking away. It’s a reason for staying the course, and staying it no matter how tough it is, because the alternative is actually letting this ideology grip a larger and larger number of people.
President Bush and Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom Participate in Press Availability
I think the thing you do, number one is, you bring to justice those who are guilty of breaking laws. And certainly this is not a government that condones rape, murder, or the abuse of human rights. The second thing you do is you stay the course.
Press Briefing by Tony Snow
We’re not going to lose in Iraq. As a matter of fact, we will win in Iraq so long as we stay the course.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:03 pmRemarks by the President at “Green for Wisconsin” Reception
Might some argue that Mehlman is the chairman of the al Qaeda party.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:04 pmWhy do the transcripts hate America?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:05 pmKen Mehlman rountinely mischaracterizes the key issues. He says that democrats want to prevent NSA spying, a blatant lie.
as this site noted a few days ago (and linked to a larger question here) , he completely misstated what Murtha said, knowingly, in a way that completely mislead America voters.
he has a persistent pattern of simply not engaing in reality when he communicates to the American people.
in specific instances, the media simply have to be repeatedly contacted to turn this into a story, and the larger pattern has to be shown over and over and over, and that it is part of a larger pattern that, along with rhetoric, has become the right and far right’s defining M.O.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:05 pmNice research everyone –
August 14th, 2006 at 2:06 pmWhy do 64% of the American people hate America?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:08 pmFour legs good,
August 14th, 2006 at 2:10 pmTwo legs better.
How did Russert respond to Mehlmen’s latest bunk? Did he give a “Hold on a second, for 3 years you have been saying . . . .” or was it I love you Ken and your right? Or something in between?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:11 pmCan you say “FLIP FLOP”
August 14th, 2006 at 2:11 pmI don’t know what you dirty hippy libruhls are on about.
The US is at war with Eastasia. The US has always been at war with Eastasia.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:13 pmComment by cs, art is bread
August 14th, 2006 at 2:13 pmRight there. This is a new “branding” or sloganeering at work
It needs to immediately be called out as tap dancing to win… or spin to win, or adapt-a-spin to win. We should sponsor a contest to come up with the most ludicrous version…
Mehlman needs to resign from his position for gross ineptitude and he is one ugly dude > lol.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:14 pmComment by Willy: Might some argue that Mehlman is the chairman of the al Qaeda party.
my husband refused to watch mehlman yesterday, shouting: i refuse to watch this nazi propaganda anymore!
then he turned it off. click…
August 14th, 2006 at 2:14 pmIf they’ve done nothing wrong, and Rumsfeld et al are doing a good job, what kind of “adjustments” are the GOP going to make?
Can they produce one example of something they have done in Iraq that isn’t stay the course and hope something positive happens?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:16 pmSome of the quotes have been updated.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:16 pmMehlman: It seems to me that you havent paid attention to what exley, Mighty Aphrodite, Jason M. Hendler and Chase have been posting here.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:18 pmTry harder.
melon-head again?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:18 pmHow did Russert respond to Mehlmen’s latest bunk? Did he give a “Hold on a second, for 3 years you have been saying . . . .†or was it I love you Ken and your right? Or something in between?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:23 pm“Some serious misunderstanding of Darwinian adaptation is going on here”
Well the intelligent design of the war didn’t pan out as well as hoped, so we’re going to see if we can evolve it into something a bit more successful. Yeah, it’s slower. Yeah, there’s trial and error involved. Yeah, there’s primally savage behaviors which are typical for feral jungle cats and (usually) illegal for United States’ citizens. But ultimately, if we stay the… almost got me… adapt to win, we’ll have a Middle East full of freely brutalized corpses.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:23 pmI hope they stay the course through the 2008 election. It can only help the progressive democratic run for seats in the house and senate.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:24 pmDoes moving to the periphery and intervening only when asked count as an adaptation?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:24 pmI knew there were fresher “stay the course” quotes out there, and I’m glad that the post has been updated.
Everyone with half a brain knows the right has been advocating stay the course for a long time. Mehlman is an idiot. Who actually takes this guy seriously? This is the same guy connected to the phone-jamming scheme and attacking Murtha with a discredited story. He’s just pathetic.
Thanks to everyone who pulled up the fresh quotes to refute this idiot.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:25 pmDidn’t that Witch Rep. Jean Schmidt from Ohio say we don’t cut and run we stay the course?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:26 pm#46, look at # 21.
-GSD
August 14th, 2006 at 2:28 pmTo support your claim that conservatives are advocating staying the course in Iraq, you use a quote from Bush from more than two years ago, a Thune quote from a year and a half ago, and Isakson’s quote from almost a year ago. The Frist quote is pretty fresh, but the rest are a little old, to say the least . . . . Aren’t there newer quotes you could have found?
Comment by Publius — August 14, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
Publius: the quotes from Bush and Tony Snow in the original post aren’t “from more than two years ago” — they’re from barely over a month ago, and are on the WH’s own website! Can’t get much “newer” than that — although as others have pointed out here, there are plenty of others showing that “stay the course” has been the republicrap mantra for years, up to and including now.
Kenny-boy’s statements that they aren’t saying “stay the course” is so easily shown to be utterly false that one can only conclude that the republicraps and their supporters don’t care about telling the truth, and think that they can just continue to lie, cheat and steal their way into retaining power. It’s a very sad day when those in power decide to trample the truth in order to retain that power — that just reeks of dictatorship and totalitarianism.
Why do Ken Mehlman and the republicraps hate the truth? Why do they hate America? Is it because of our freedom???
August 14th, 2006 at 2:29 pm#30 and #40
Russert was out. David Gregory was sitting in for him.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:30 pmComment by Publius — August 14, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Sorry, Publius — obviously the original post was updated before I saw it! Makes a very compelling case for the total absurdity of Mehlman’s statements when you string years of quotes together, don’t it?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:31 pmHere is why “stay the course” is stupid.
The rightwing has been using the “as they stand-up, we stand-down”.
Look at what just happened in Fallujah. The 2,000 member police force has been reduced to 100 after a campaign of fear and intimidation by insurgent groups.
We’ll be standing them up until 2050 if it keeps going this way.
(Snip)
“Fallujah Police Lt. Mohammed Alwan said that the force, which he estimated had increased to more than 2,000, has now shrunk to only 100. Alwan said that insurgents have killed dozens of policemen in their homes and also attacked family members in a weekslong intimidation campaign.”
http://www.registerguard.com/ news/ 2006/ 08/ 14/ a2.int.fallujah.0814.p1.php?section=nation_world
-GSD
August 14th, 2006 at 2:31 pmThat’s easy. The people quoted (Bush, Frist, et.) aren’t Republicans. Republicans believe in balanced budgets, small government, personal responsibility, and democracy.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:31 pmIf I remember correctly, Russert barely batted an eye at “adapt and win”. I turned to my wife and said, “that’s new, whatever happened to stay-the-course?”. Of course, when Mehlman went on Daily Show and called Afganistan a “failed state”. nobody took him seriously on that one either.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:32 pmrepublicrapsn new, more fitting name: republiCONS
August 14th, 2006 at 2:32 pmThe secret to winning Iraq is ……………………….(drum roll)…………………………Debbie Cakes, no one could lose a country with little debbie cakes.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:34 pm#45
#
Didn’t that Witch Rep. Jean Schmidt from Ohio say we don’t cut and run we stay the course?
Comment by Mary Poplins — August 14, 2006 @ 2:26 pm
Right you are:
From AP:
The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.
“He asked me to send Congress a message - stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message - that cowards cut and run, Marines never do,” Schmidt said.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:35 pmZippy - no problem. I knew for sure I heard “stay the course” so many times in the last three years that there were fresh quotes out there, as many people have pointed out. Mehlman is such a liar that he discredits any conservative out there who is willing to acknowledge fact. Years of quotes makes a pretty devastating point that Mehlman is beyond hope, if there ever was any. What a joke.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:37 pmHmmm. I thought “stay the course” meant staying in Iraq until we win.
Does this new “objective” give them a little wiggle room for the near term? Who wants to bet that when the administration decides to draw down the troops as the Nov. election nears, it will be tagged as “adapting” by the rightwingers?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:38 pmWTF is the “course” in Iraq?? Does that mean that our soldiers are going to continue getting blown up by IED’s?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:38 pmTranslation: We’re not for staying the course and we’re not for cut and run. We’re for adapting the minds of americans to stay the course.
The B.S. never stops spewing out of his mouth.
THE GOP MISSION IS THIS: Getting the majority of American people to believe the LIE.
“Once you get people to blieve in something that they know in their heart isn’t true, you gott’em by the balls”. That quote is from a movie. Not mine, but I believe it.
That’s why we’re in this mess now.
They don’t hate us for our freedom. They hate us because we’ve been killing their way of life, killing their people and raping their Countries since 1908 for oil.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:41 pmMehlman has been placed in the uneviable position of having to defend the failed GOP/Neocon/Bush policies. All his BS and talking points and word games are going to make Bush any smarter or his policies any more successful. 70% of America disagrees with Bush. He is scared shitless because he knows full well the GOP has NOTHING to offer voters in 2006 and 2008. Fear ain’t gonna cut it any more.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:42 pmDoes this new “objective†give them a little wiggle room for the near term? Who wants to bet that when the administration decides to draw down the troops as the Nov. election nears, it will be tagged as “adapting†by the rightwingers?
dems should start using this phrase in conjunction with redeployment so that repubs will be “stealing’ the dems solution for themselves
August 14th, 2006 at 2:42 pmOf course the republofascists aren’t saying “stay the course”, that was last week. This week they’re saying “Don’t change the course”, see totally different.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:43 pmIncredible. Clearly these people have lost whatever vestige of respect they had for the American people. They really think you guys are dumber than the proverbial bag of hammers …. we’ll find out in November if they are right:-)
August 14th, 2006 at 2:44 pmBlair Plans to `Stay the Course’ in Iraq as Violence Builds
Bloomberg - Aug 3, 2006
http://www.bloomberg.com/ apps/ news?pid=20601085&sid=aELETv6paPC0&refer=europe
In Crawford this week, Mr. Snow told reporters there were two approaches to fighting terrorism: “And in the Connecticut race, one of the approaches is to ignore the difficulties and walk away.†He added, “Now, when the United States walked away, in the opinion of Osama bin Laden in 1991, bin Laden drew from that the conclusion that Americans were weak and wouldn’t stay the course, and that led to Sept. 11.â€
August 14th, 2006 at 2:45 pmAugust 13, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2006/ 08/ 13/ washington/ 13bush.html?_r=1&ref=europe&oref=slogin
Widow tells Bush to stay the course in Iraq war
June 30, 2005
http://www.washtimes.com/ national/ 20050630-124908-7077r.htm
95% say stay the course in Iraq: New survey
August 14th, 2006 at 2:45 pmSunday, July 23, 2006
http://www.wisopinion.com/ blogs/ 2006/ 07/ 95-say-stay-course-in-iraq-new-survey.html
Mehlman’s only “adaptation” is in rhetoric. As long as those troops get home NOW, I don’t give a damn what assholes like Mehlman call it.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pm.
House Rejects Timetable for Troop Withdrawal From Iraq
Friday, June 16, 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199775,00.html
America Must Stay the Course in Iraq
August 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pm06 Aug 2006
http://www.echolist.com/ world/ 2006/ august/ news151942.html
Frist gives the GOP their message: We’re staying the course
7/28/2006 01:24:00 PM
http://americablog.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 07/ frist-gives-gop-their-message-were.html
Bush urges Americans to stay course
August 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pmAug 23, 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9039395/
WTF is the “course†in Iraq?? Does that mean that our soldiers are going to continue getting blown up by IED’s?
Comment by johnjacobjingleheimershmitt — August 14, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
Well, among other things…yes. But remember, it’s a worthy cause (so says Bush).
Our troops there are making history and it’s worth it (so said a local boy who recently returned after multiple operations and wearing special head protecton gear due to shrapnel imbedded in his skull after his group was attacked).
We are spreading democracy in the Middle East. (Again, Bush).
We are fighting terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them over here. (Bush.)
We are creating stability in the Middle East. (Bush.)
We have freed the Iraqi people. (Bush.)
We are protecting Iraq’s neighbors. (Bush).
And on and on and on…
August 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pmU.S. House votes to stay the course in Iraq
16 Jun 2006 13:07:27 EDT
http://www.cbc.ca/ story/ world/ national/ 2006/ 06/ 16/ iraq-vote.html
Stay the Course in Iraq
by Michael Gregory Steele
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
http://cfav.blogspot.com/ 2005/ 08/ stay-course-in-iraq.html
Newsweek, Sullivan continue to present “stay the course” as a winner for the GOP
August 14th, 2006 at 2:47 pmSun, Jun 25, 2006 3:06pm EST
http://mediamatters.org/items/200606250001
don’t worry Mehlman, we’re so stupid we can’t remember what went on during the last two months.Who does your hair btw? Very nice job of tring to hide the thinning area that covers your whole head. Nice tie, it matches that jacket perfectly sweetie. So you were an aid to Mr Rove huh? That had to bring you to your knees with excitement. He’s such a powerful man! Do you have your nails done? They really look shiny. Well tata gotta run little man.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:47 pmToday’s special: A baldfaced, outright, blatant, steaming pile of lies with a side dish of misleading comments in a delicate, subtle prevarication sauce.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:49 pmSo much for the GOP keeping Americans safe. It must have been awful for Republitards in CT with that Al Qaeda Candidate and all those terrorist Running around voting!
August 14th, 2006 at 2:51 pmThis is lame. You’re going after the phrase he used instead of what it clearly means in the context. When Bush says we will stay the course, he clearly means we will stay in Iraq until the job is done. When Mehlman says we’re not staying the course, he clearly means that *within the context of staying in Iraq until the job is done,* that we won’t keep doing the same things that don’t work.
That is, Mehlman is in *no way* disagreeing with the notion that we will stay until the job is done, which is all Bush etc. mean when they say we will “stay the course.” Listing people using the same phrase to mean something different from how Mehlman clearly meant it is not enlightening, it’s being ignorant or dishonest.
There is no story here, because when you look at the actual substance of what is said, it’s clear there is no disagreement, and that nothing Mehlman said is false (unless you think they are NOT adapting, which is a separate subject).
August 14th, 2006 at 2:51 pmGerald, et al: Good references to “stay the course.”
August 14th, 2006 at 2:55 pmPudge sorry but you are exacly wrong.. He clearly says “we are not saying stay the course, we are say win by adapting.” And No they have had many long years to adapt and have not done so. Why would i believe they can do it now?
August 14th, 2006 at 2:56 pmCoulter Derides Call For New Iraq Strategy, Endorses Lieberman Approach
Think Progress June 22, 2006
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/22/coulter-lieberman/
My favorite… the republicans Bush, Coulter, Leiberman … they should all be soo proud…
August 14th, 2006 at 2:58 pmBullpuckeys pudge. Mehlman clearly says that the stay the course rhetoric is dead twice. then switches to the new slogan. He didn’t use the term with a different meaning. It is pure pigheaded blindness, that you would even post, such an illogical statement.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:58 pmWhat? Mehlman is a liar? Stop it!
August 14th, 2006 at 2:59 pmThere is no story here, because when you look at the actual substance of what is said[…]
Comment by pudge — August 14, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
I knew it wouldn’t be long before some Bush cultists crawled out to say that “stay the course” does not mean to “stay the course” but something different altogether, and that “liberals” are dishonest by “taking things out of context”.
And for all their mental contortions, the trolls will have a tough time explaining away the phrase “we’re not coming in and saying ‘Stay the course.’ ” Pray tell, under what context that sentence does not mean what it says?
When it’s not Clinton’s fault -it’s the context’s fault.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:02 pmWell, Pudge, if “stay the course” means what Bush said it meant, then Ken had no reason to run away from it. And yes, he was running. “Adapt and win” is nothing more than the new spin on things. Stay the Course apparently isn’t working with a majority of the American public any longer.
This is more of the “I didn’t say that” sh*t that we heard from Rumsfeld and Frist, among others. Only now, the “I” has been replaced with “we.”
August 14th, 2006 at 3:03 pmAnd from Darth Cheney, last Wednesday (emphasis added:
Cheney suggested Wednesday that Lamont’s victory might encourage “the al Qaeda types” who want to “break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task.”
Sounds like “stay the course” to me.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:08 pmClearly we’re not stayin on one course. Obviously when you chase after terrrrisstsss you can only go so far before you have to turn back and get some gas Heh, Heh…See hummerrs are addicted to gas. Soo.. Uhh hah, you change course in order to get gas. uhhh?… and thats part of our strategy, ya see.. I mean… I have a plan fer that. So we don’t run out…. So… Huh ieha We change courses all the time. I know that cuz i’m a war president an i think about war and huhh… It’s hard werk!
August 14th, 2006 at 3:11 pmSo, shouldn’t “adapting” include replacement of failed leadership - i.e. Rumsfeld
August 14th, 2006 at 3:15 pm“Staying the course” is stupid and insane when you’re headed down a dead end road.
“Staying the course” is stuped and insane when you’re on a washed out bridge over raging waters.
The war in Iraq is over. We won.
Pres. George W. Bush told us so three years ago while posing for a photo-op on the deck of the USS Lincoln in front of the “Mission Accomplished†banner.
We now have an occupation of Iraq. Occupations of foreign countries cannot be won. Who is going to sign the peace treaty? The only question is: When are we going to leave Iraq?
Our occupation of Iraq is a dead-end road.
When is the best time to turn around or get off a dead-end road?
It seem to me that the answer is, as soon as possible - no matter how far we have traveled down the dead-end road.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:20 pmKen Mehlman:
“Evasion accomplished”.
-GSD
August 14th, 2006 at 3:21 pmA co-worker of mine was called last year to serve a year in Iraq as a platoon leader.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:23 pmHe had a few stories for us when he got back, (very glad he made it back), and stated the BS that is going on over there. He did his job and did it well without complaint until he got back. One story was of how the insurgents would walk up to a police station and state to them that they have 15 minutes to get out as there buddies were coming in to blow the place up. The police, without argument, dropped everything they had and left. The insurgents were then equipped with police uniforms and weapons. My co-worker’s point to the stories he had for us were that we are not wanted there. The reds have to come up with a weekly catch phrase to justify there actions which is total horse shit. I’m totally fed up with the ignorance in this country and how the mass morons believe the shit coming from this administration. The war on terror will never end but the reds are trying to make us believe that victory on terror will come out of Iraq. Terrorists can come from any nation. Bush is trying to keep us in Iraq until his bases there are built, he can then go for Iran. (No other way to get into Iran other than through Iraq right now). Bushco has his agenda (oil) and cares not for you or me. Vote Blue this November!! (just venting)
And David Gregory’s follow-up question was…..
(Sorry guys, I can’t watch the video on dial-up)
August 14th, 2006 at 3:24 pm“There is NO substitute for VICTORY” - - unless you’re a prog-wack Dem…..
August 14th, 2006 at 3:31 pm#87 lucky for us the “pro-wack dem” does not exist, except in the fevered imagination of Bush supporters desperate to believe he hasn’t been wrong on every decision and prediction he made as President.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:33 pmComment by wethepeople — August 14, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
Outstanding, WTP! I could even hear that phony accent coming out as I read yer post…
“See, folks, I’m the decider, and I’m deciderin’ that we’re gonna stay the course!”
August 14th, 2006 at 3:34 pm87- Ma, instead of making insane statements that make no sense, why don’t you try to defend your right wing buddy Ken.
Oh, because you can’t. He was caught in a lie.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:35 pmCheck your talking points Mighty Pinhead, the stay the course on isn’t in use anymore, now it is adapt and wine, or in your case stay the course and snivel.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:36 pmThere is NO substitute for WINNING BY ADAPTING — unless you’re a bedwetting neo-con.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:41 pmWe never said stay the course. Now we have a new and improved focus group tested slogan that we’ve been using all along!
August 14th, 2006 at 3:41 pmThe only follow up that matters: “You say that the administration is advocating winning by adapting, so please tell the American people what strategies have been adapted and what strategies are being considered for adaptation.” And then, Mehlman (who allows himself to be in this position and is not a victim “put in an inenviable position”, BTW) will say he cannot reveal that for national security purposes, etc.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:42 pmIt’s very simple Mighty,
August 14th, 2006 at 3:42 pmDems are thinkers and have the right answers. Reds are threatened by it and this is why you are here…
Adapt & win? Is that the new RNC campaign strategy, replacing “Lie, cheat & steal”? I think somebody forgot to send Ken Mealymouth this week’s talking points, which I think are “Just keep saying ‘Stay the course.’” and “The extreme left of the Democrat party is encouraging ‘al Quaeda types’.”
August 14th, 2006 at 3:46 pmWednesday, August 9, 2006
Press Briefing by Tony Snow
Crawford Middle School
Crawford, Texas
1:18 P.M. CDT
“MR. SNOW: Now, when the United States walked away, in the opinion of Osama bin Laden in 1991, bin Laden drew from that the conclusion that Americans were weak and wouldn’t stay the course, and that led to September 11th. And it’s important to realize that terrorists are not simply inspired by American engagement in the world, but they have their own agenda and it is an agenda that if we turn around and look the other way, they’re not going to ignore — they will continue to build strength and they will continue to build adherence. And it is a vitally important debate to have.
And it’s really up to Democratic candidates and the Democratic Party to figure out how they want to stand in the war on terror: do they want to have the sort of timetable approach, leave by a date-certain; do they not want to have something constructive to say about gathering threats from Iran and elsewhere. Or do they want to acknowledge that fact that in a dangerous world it takes commitment, it take persistence.”
August 14th, 2006 at 3:49 pmI see MA is here making more fatuous statements.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:51 pmHe falsely claims to be straight too. If he lies about something so basic as his sexuality, what else can we expect from him. That is one very sad shell of a human being.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:53 pm#73 - I agree with ckerst, krazny & WC—you’re just not being honest. We all know what the administration meant by “stay the course”, i.e. “We’re still right and you’re wrong.” Now, they have new poll numbers suggesting that nobody wants to stay the course, so he used the phrase to set up his new buzzphrase, “Adapt & win.”, which means the same thing (”We’re still right…..”), and it helps get better poll numbers to be read on the news.Like WC says,
if “stay the course†means what Bush said it meant, then Ken had no reason to run away from it.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:53 pmKen Mehlman is a sack of lying Republican shit. So what’s the news portion of this?
August 14th, 2006 at 3:58 pmRemarks by the President at “Green for Wisconsin” Reception
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July 11, 2006
“We’re not going to lose in Iraq. As a matter of fact, we will win in Iraq so long as we stay the course.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2006/ 07/ 20060711-11.html
August 14th, 2006 at 4:01 pmPress Briefing
July 10, 2006
James Brady Press Room
“MR. SNOW: The Arab media are all over it. I think the thing you do, number one is, you bring to justice those who are guilty of breaking laws. And certainly this is not a government that condones rape, murder, or the abuse of human rights. The second thing you do is you stay the course.”
August 14th, 2006 at 4:04 pmif “stay the course†means what Bush said it meant, then Ken had no reason to run away from it.
Comment by Massachusetts Liberal
Further, BushCo never bothered to define “the course” from the very beginning and the only “adapting” they have done is to change the rhetoric.
August 14th, 2006 at 4:11 pm[comment deleted by admin]
August 14th, 2006 at 4:24 pmThey simply lie with impunity.
August 14th, 2006 at 4:27 pmThey deny that you heard what you heard, saw what you saw.
It’s like that old question -who are you going to believe, me, or your lying eyes?
PLC,
I always equate MA to the monkey at the zoo who throws it turds around. Not really useful but amusing.
August 14th, 2006 at 4:56 pmKrazny,
August 14th, 2006 at 5:08 pmSo “MA” = “Monkey Antics”. Thanks for the enlightenment.
THE GOP MISSION IS THIS: Getting the majority of American people to believe the LIE.
“Once you get people to believe in something that they know in their heart isn’t true, you gott’em by the ballsâ€.
Sorry I’m late to this game, but I think the train has left the station and the repugs don’t know it. That’s why they are “staying the course” in everything they do, from campaigning the same ole’ way to Iraq. They haven’t changed.one.iota.
August 14th, 2006 at 5:18 pmNBC, and its affiliated networks, should refuse to let Ken Mehlman on any of their channels until he apoligizes for lying to David Gregory. This wasn’t an innocent slip; Mehlman was lying through his teeth. He knew perfectly well that what he said wasn’t true, but he said it anyway in order to make people believe something that wasn’t trrue. NBC should never allow his face on their networks again until he admits he lied and aplogiozes for it. (And just because he’s the current chairman of the RNC does not in any way obligate NBC to talk to him. And why should they bother? He’s only going to lie again.)
August 14th, 2006 at 5:20 pmYou’re right, Wayne #114, but it won’t happen.
August 14th, 2006 at 5:27 pmDavid Gregory is not favored by Bush&Co. And that makes it even more unlikely that there will be any fall out from Melonhead’s lies.
I agree, however, that NBC should call on him to retract what he said because blatantly false statements affects the credibility of MTP.
The latest neo-con talking points:
Pres Bush never linked Hussein to 9/11.
Pres Bush never said the US should “stay the course”.
August 14th, 2006 at 5:27 pm#5 and #8:
I agree with Publius’s post in #5. ThinkProgress needs to strengthen the piece by finding more recent comments - which I’m sure exist - or actions that demonstrate the administration’s “stay the course†policy.
Tell you what: See if you can dredge up any quotes by the maladministration from the interim where they advocate changing course. Until they do that, isn’t the fairest course to take them at their own words? To the tilt, my noble Dons…..
Cheers,
August 14th, 2006 at 5:44 pm#116 Cheney said he never linked Saddam to 9/11 in the 2004 VP debate, and he was never called on it.
August 14th, 2006 at 5:49 pm[…] ThinkProgress points to yesterday’s MTP appearance by one Ken Mehlman re:Lieberman vs. Lamont. Of particular interest to them was this exchange between ringer David Gregory and the Chairman. DAVID GREGORY: This is something that he also said last Sunday during a campaign speech. “The fact isâ€â€”this is Senator Lieberman speaking—“I have openly and clearly disagreed with and criticized the president for, among other things: not winning the support of our allies in the run-up to the war; not having a plan to win the peace; not putting enough troops on the ground; putting an American in charge of the Iraqi oil supply. And I said that if I were president, I would ask Secretary Rumsfeld to resign.†Given your respect for the credibility of his views, do you acknowledge that he’s right on these points? […]
August 14th, 2006 at 6:12 pmMy bet is that we’ll be hearing lots more of “adapt to win” crapola in the very near future…
August 14th, 2006 at 6:17 pm#117, maybe my eyes are shot, but isn’t the first quote in the piece from President Bush on JULY 11, 2006? Only a month ago? And the Tony Snow quote is also July of this year. That’s not fresh enough?
August 14th, 2006 at 6:36 pm#85; Sounds like the American-trained security forces are just like the American-trained ARVN(South Vietnamese forces). The original cut and run cowards.
August 14th, 2006 at 6:48 pm“Thank goodness our friends and allies did not desert us during our civil war”-comment by Mighty Aphrodite-August 3, 2006 @ 3:22 pm
August 14th, 2006 at 6:53 pmCheney said he never linked Saddam to 9/11 in the 2004 VP debate
Comment by Kermit the Freedom Frog — August 14, 2006 @ 5:49 pm
Right, I forgot. It’s tough to keep up with the constant stream of truthiness coming out of the White house nowadays.
The “win by adapting” meme has been thrown out there. See how long it takes for the loyal base to pick it up and run with it, forgetting all that was said previously.
August 14th, 2006 at 7:11 pmYou kow that little smirk people get when they know they have been caught lying? Mehlman has that look on his face all the time. Coincidence?
August 14th, 2006 at 7:52 pmI am confused. Does this mean the course they have been plotting for the last three years has been an abject failure? Thanks for the clarification Mealy.
August 14th, 2006 at 8:23 pm[…] Ken Mehlman, GOP bigwig, lying his ass off. (Hilarious in the sad, pathetic way.) […]
August 14th, 2006 at 8:50 pmhope ken gets paid the big bucks, he shouldn’t lowball himself when he pimps out his ethics to traitorous, revisionist asswipes
August 14th, 2006 at 9:58 pmWHAT!? “Win by adapting?”…
Doublespeak translation: win by adapting = stay the course
August 14th, 2006 at 11:01 pmJon Stewart (Comedy Central) mocked Melonhead’s “win by adapting” pretty good tonight.
August 14th, 2006 at 11:25 pmnote to #87
August 15th, 2006 at 7:47 amHow in the heck could anything about this horrid debacle known as Iraq ever be viewed as any kind of victory in any way shape or form? Are you really that thick that your ignorance makes you hallucinate scenes of BIG V for victory out of the soot of murdered Iraqi citizens by the brain damaged mafioso and his criminal henchmen who are and have been hellbent on doing and saying anything they damn well please and will continue to lose on our backs (they dont stand to lose jack shit personally) all the while squeezing dipshits like you’s little heads to get them to whack anyone who says I dont want to be viewed globally as a seething toturing viscious unconscionable slithering MURDERER. 230,000 people who lived within the sovereign borders of their country and for no good reason have been murdered by the united states of america. Dont let reality get in your way while you dream of the day we can proclaim that wonderous Victory.
Comment by Jane E. Schneider — August 14, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
Jane,
Your eyes are fine. #5 and #8 were posted before TP updated the thread with more recent quotes.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:11 am[…] Ken Mehlman rolled out the GOP’s newest tagline, ditching “stay the course” in favor of “adapt and win”. Prepare to be bludgeoned to death with this phrase. As always, The Daily Show clears it all up for us. […]
August 15th, 2006 at 10:19 am“Stay the Course” must not be doing as well in sound-bite poll testing as it had previously.
Expect “Win by Adapting” to come out of every Republican mouth in DC this week. Oh, it’s got “Win” in there — way more positive! Poll trends are sure to rise!
August 15th, 2006 at 10:43 amAfter reading the posts on this site for several months there seems to be some consistency as to the feelings of the “bloggers …..let me summarize……because somewhere in my following list you (yes, you the wacko “progressiveâ€) will find an answer to ALL of the problems that America faces today….or at least the person/persons that are responsible for such a miserable existence that we must trudge through in America…..America the damned!!! Each of the items below are just a snippet of what “think progress†stands for….so…in your words….
Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate…
Fox News is Hitler’s SS version of propaganda…
The Democrats are waayyy too conservative and right-leaning….
The Republicans (gulp…I said the word Republicans) work for the Devil…
Lieberman is a Bush crony that never accomplished anything for the state of Connecticut…
Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
The War in Iraq was certainly for the oil and making rich people richer!!!
Halliburton? Planning the war(s) for years before 9/11…
9/11? Bush not only knew exactly what/where/when/how…..he helped to plan it…..
9/11? The towers were not taken down by airplanes…American C-4 explosives were strategically placed to “take ‘em downâ€â€¦.
Bush planted the C4…along with the help of Cheney and Rumsfield…
The War in Iraq was certainly a follow-up to papa Bush….and his “failure†in removing Saddam…..
Terrorism is not that big of a deal…it should be monitored and controlled by our police agencies….not the government….
OBL is not that bad….hell, America created him!!
Saddam is not the bad…hell, America created him!!
Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not that bad….he does not want nukes for weapons…its all about the fuel baby!!!
Problems in the Middle East…Americas fault…
Darfur? Bush and Cheney are not fully responsible for the genocide—but at least 78%….
Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
Try to resolve the problems in the Middle East??—Why does America feel it should stick its nose in others business…
Israel…America’s puppet….
Israel is the cause of most of the problems in the Middle East….Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization—they were “elected†into a position of power in a democratic government!!!
America did the worse job of evacuating its citizens from Lebanon…Denmark did the best…Denmark is #1!!! Denmark is #1!!!….
Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
American flags are made for one purpose….to burn!!!!!!!!
The primary run off in Ct proves that the American people want an immediate withdrawal from Iraq….
AIDS in Africa killing scores? Bush’s Fault….well, maybe 82% responsible…
Socialism #1…Communism #2….Dictatorship #3…Democracy #4…as ranked by the bloggers on “Think Progress†as best form of govt….
Global Warming is a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
The short-comings of American schools…a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
The short-comings of Health-care….a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
Oil?….ever since man has been able to process it into a usable fuel….all the problems have been…..a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
Wal-mart=Capitalism=Bush cronies=Conservatives=devil
Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
Mexican Immigration problem? No problemo…
Katrina?….a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……not the response—the actual cause of the hurricane…a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive
Katrina…response to it?….Bush hates blacks…..it’s that simple……did I mention Bush hates Mexicans, Canadians, French, Italians, Spaniards, Russians, Irish, Germans, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Aussies, Swedes, New Zealanders, anybody that might be of south American persuasion, anybody that might be a mix bred, anybody from Africa-even if they “look†white, and of course…all Muslims….
Did I mention that according to this site that Bush hates gays? And wants them dead?
The economy—-the worse it’s been in the history of America—-….is a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
International relations? well—before Bush we were loved from china to south America…but now—America is hated all around the world and we need to kowtow to the Europeans and Islam so they like us…..we want other people to like us…we really want other people to like us………please like us…..please?
Homeless problem in a city/town near you?…a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive…
Abortion is good (million+ innocents a year)…Death penalty is Bad (handful of convicted criminals a year)….
(Did I mention that Bush and the Republicans are the devil reincarnate?
Lines at the super-market….. a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive…
Howard Stern being fined for foul behavior/language…. a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive….
Katrina “evacuees†in Houston or other cities committing hideous crimes?… a direct cause of Bush being the Chief-executive……
Christian groups are bigots and things such as “faith day†(at a ball park after the game) are nothing more than the radical rights attempt at “christian-izing†us….
America’s military is weak and the Draft is right around the corner…
“God†should not be in the Pledge….
“God†should not be on our currency…
“God†should not be……….
Cindy Sheehan should not be questioned nor debated…..her son died for her right to hang out in Crawford dam it!!!
America went to war unprepared….look at the hummers!! They have absolutely no armor….and its Bush’s fault…
Democrats and Republicans are all the same…evil…out for themselves…slave-masters (its in their family history)…sex addicts…and of course out to kill Americans in a fake war that was based on purposely fraudulent intelligence…
The (mass) media is covering up everything!!!
Good policing and investigative work is called—racial profiling!!!
“Minimum Wage should be at least $18.00 a hourâ€
“Progressive†reporters get kick out of all the neo-cons news briefings…
“My phones have been taped because I went to an anti-war rally!â€
“My cable has been on the blink and my phone has been making weird noises since I went to a anti-war Rallyâ€
Anybody that makes money and lives a successful life MUST be doing something that hurts the poor or crippled….
Taxes and more taxes are good for the economy…tax cuts/breaks only help the millionaires…
SUV’s were created by conservatives that wanted to help out their “oil buddiesâ€â€¦
People should not be expected to take care of themselves!!! That’s the role of government…
People should not be able to invest their social security account as they wish!! That’s the role of the government…
If I forgot a topic or an issue please just fill it in with the following…
“BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- WAA-WAA WAA-WAA WAA-WAA WAA-WAA..BUSH IS THE DEVIL BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA…REPUBLICANS ARE THE DEVIL… WAA-WAA WAA-WAA WAA-WAA WAA-WAA…AMERICA IS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD…-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA- BLAH-DA-DOO-DAA…â€
IN CONLUSION::::::
I have posted this because it addresses nearly all the issues that “think progress†and its bloggers believe/state/dream about….in other words, this post can be placed on any of your blogs and it will make sense……thanks “think progress†bloggers for making this so easy….if you think my post is foolish….please remember—these are your words (with some editing liberties taken…oh I forgot—I should not mention anything about taking liberties)….dam America!!!
August 15th, 2006 at 1:51 pm“Win by adapting” = “Stay the course, just change the rhetoric”
August 15th, 2006 at 5:10 pmKen Mehlman is spinning “stay the course” to “adapt and win?”
If our strategy in now “adapt and win,” that sounds like one that is evolving.
I guess that’s what happens if your original plan in not intelligently designed!
August 16th, 2006 at 11:38 am[…] At this point many of us have lost count of the various rationales for going into Iraq. They’ve all sort have been thrown under one big cover story, that Iraq was part of the global war on terror and was part of our response to 9-11. Its incredibly sad that the official count of those that died on 9-11(2,602) is now about equal to the number of soldiers and marines that have died in Iraq( approx. 2,600), plus about 40,000 Iraqi civilians. The invasion of Iraq began on March 20, 2003, while the invasion of Afghanistan and the search for Osama Bin Laden began in October 2001. During the last five years we’ve been told to stay the course, President Bush: […]
August 17th, 2006 at 4:13 amEither way, Staying the course or attempting to win by adapting is allowing the monster behind 9/11 to remain a free man. The only option we Americans have is to sweep this party out and force change upon this administration.
August 17th, 2006 at 10:51 amGoodbye losers. You had your chance and you BLEW IT!
[…] From last weekend’s Meet the Press (we know this is a bit late but we like to give late-week reminders): MR. MEHLMAN: Look, the fact is that our mission in the war in Iraq is critical. We agree on that; we agree it’s wrong to cut and run. But look, we’re not coming in and saying “Stay the course.” The choice in this election is not between “Stay the course” and “Cut and run,” it’s between “Win by adapting” and “Cut and run.”Any newspaperman who uses the phrase “win by adapting” while “reporting” on the GOP’s election-year Iraq strategy should be strung up by his balls in the town square. For the lady reporters who would undertake such boobery: your nipples will have to do the trick. […]
August 18th, 2006 at 7:26 am[…] To the video tape: Dress Rehearsal (I believe this was the first time the Repubs tested the waters on the “refute stay the course” strategy.) […]
September 1st, 2006 at 6:34 pm[…] In mid-August–no doubt in response to internal polling–Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman began an absurdly disenguous effort to convince Americans that Republicans weren’t saying we should “stay the course” in Iraq. Think Progress was all over it. Here is what Mehlman said on Meet the Press, August 13th: MR. MEHLMAN: Look, the fact is that our mission in the war in Iraq is critical. We agree on that; we agree it’s wrong to cut and run. But look, we’re not coming in and saying “Stay the course.†The choice in this election is not between “Stay the course†and “Cut and run,†it’s between “Win by adapting†and “Cut and run.†[…]
October 19th, 2006 at 1:23 pmLets go to the ‘STAY THE COURSE’ replay…
BUSH: concedes ‘it’s tough’ in Iraq, vows to “stay the course†10/21/06
BUSH: “We will stay the course“ [8/30/06]
SNOW: But on the other hand, you also cannot be a President in a wartime and not realize that you’ve got to “stay the course†[8/17/06]
SNOW: People are going to want more of it, and that’s why the President is determined to “stay the course†April. [8/16/06]
Sen. Bill Frist: “We’re for staying the course in Iraq and the war on terror.†[7/27/06]
President Bush: “We’re not going to lose in Iraq. As a matter of fact, we will win in Iraq so long as we “stay the course†[7/11/06]
Tony Snow: “The second thing you do [to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis] is you “stay the course†And you allow the government of Prime Minister Maliki to create a functioning and successful democracy.†[7/10/06]
Jeb Bush: And I’d just like to reiterate what the other governors have said, that it is very important that we stay the course, that we provide support for these incredible people that are doing such a service for liberty around the world and protecting our freedoms here. Thank you for allowing us to go. 4/19/06
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2006/ 04/ 20060419.html
Sen. Johnny Isakson [R]: “On behalf of our men and women in harm’s way, the children they protect, and the dreams and aspirations of Americans for a bright future, I will stay the course as a member of the Senate to support them in the war on terror.†[11/8/05]
Bush urges Americans to “stay the course†8/23/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9039395
BUSH: “We will stay the course, we will complete the job in Iraq†8/5/05
http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/archives/005019.html
BUSH: We will “stay the courseâ€, we will complete the job in Iraq. [8/4/05]
Sen. John Thune [R]: “And a believe that a free, democratic Iraq is quickly becoming an inevitable fact, and that now more than ever we need to “stay the course†there [2/17/05]
“Stay the course†Bush says 7/21/04
http://www.boston.com/ news/ nation/ articles/ 2004/ 07/ 21/ stay_the_course_bush_says/
Bush, Berlusconi vow to “stay the course†in IRAQ 5/20/04
http://www.boston.com/ news/ world/ middleeast/ articles/ 2004/ 05/ 20/ bush_berlusconi_vow_to_stay_course/
Bush: “Stay the course†on terror war 5/6/04
http://www.cnn.com/ 2004/ ALLPOLITICS/ 03/ 17/ bush.terror/ index.html
BUSH: And that’s why we’re going to “stay the course†in Iraq. And that’s why when we say something in Iraq, we’re going to do it. [4/16/04]
US will “stay the course†in Iraq: Bush 4/14/04
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/apr/14us.htm
BUSH: And my message today to those in Iraq is: “We’ll stay the course†[4/13/04]
BUSH: “And so we’ve got tough action in Iraq. But we will stay the course†[4/5/04]
BUSH: call on Americans to stay the course in IRAQ 10/21/04
http://www.cnn.com/ 2004/ ALLPOLITICS/ 01/ 20/ sotu.speech/ index.html
BUSH: We will stay the course until the job is done, Steve. And the temptation is to try to get the President or somebody to put a timetable on the definition of getting the job done. We’re just going to stay the course. [12/15/03]
Bush: US would “stay the course” in Iraq yesterday as the latest wave of violence raised questions about America’s timetable for withdrawal of its forces 10/28/03
http://www.globalsecurity.org/ org/ news/ 2003/ 031028-iraq-course.htm
Bush: Stay the Course In Iraq 9/07/03
October 23rd,http://www.cbsnews.com/ stories/ 2003/ 09/ 07/ iraq/ main571967.shtml