Boehner promises to ‘beat John Kerry to death’
By on Nov 1st, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Boehner promises to ‘beat John Kerry to death’
if he doesn’t apologize for his comments on Iraq. Watch it:
Note to Boehner: Kerry apologized this morning on MSNBC.
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The Boehner knows all about beating things to death.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:22 pmNote to Boehner: Kerry apologized this morning on MSNBC.
Note to ThinkProgres: No, he didn’t.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:22 pmWaiting for Coulter to talk about how she would kill him.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:23 pmKerry was an idiot for botching the joke, but look at what the botched joke has been bringing out of the Republicans - crap like this.
And it keeps Iraq in the front of the news.
“Beat him to death…”? Whatever happened to the Pro-Life party?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:24 pmKerry ought to walk over from the Senate to the House floor and call this chickenhawk coward out. He’s all boner, one not very big dick.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:24 pmDESPERATION SMELLS LIKE CANDY.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:24 pmLet’s start this discussion with some facts for a change. The IAVA rates Boehner’s record on supporting the troops as a “C.” They give Kerry a “B.”
November 1st, 2006 at 1:25 pmKerry already apologized to Imus on MSNBC this morning. But Kerry and the Democrats ought to use Kerry’s botched joke to turn the discussion to Iraq, something which the Bushies don’t want to talk about.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:26 pmJohn Boehner…chickenhawk, did not serve. http://johnboehner.house.gov/bio.asp
November 1st, 2006 at 1:26 pmThe Republicans are in their last throes, if you will.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:26 pmTaken out of context. Play the whole interview TP.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:28 pmJeezus, they are just so compassionate, aren’t they? They ignore any facts that don’t appeal to their zealotry and use anything and everything to cling to power with a death-grip.
Vote the bastards out on Tuesday!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:28 pmKerry isn’t running for anything this year. How does this help Republican candidates get their message out in this last week? Vote for me because John Kerry said something either stupid or badly! I don’t get it. It might hurt Kerry if he runs again but that’s it. Otherwise it’s a waste of a news cycle for trailing candidates.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:29 pmExley,
Kerry apologized. When are you going to apologize for helping to enable the disastrous misgovernment of the last six years? The blood of nearly 3000 of America’s finest are on your hands.
Boehner would run terrified from any real encounter with Kerry. They’re utterly desperate and are reaching for anything they can use.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:29 pmNote to Think Progress and all of it’s posters.
John Kerry doesn’t need to apologize for telling the truth. The average foot soldier is uneducated, otherwise they would be officers. Anybody that doesn’t know this has not served in the military like me.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:29 pmDennis Hastert’s grade from the IAVA on supporting the troops: “F”
November 1st, 2006 at 1:30 pmOh.. yay.. another story about Kerry’s stupid joke. People are dying in Iraq because of Bush and Bush can’t make anyone (even his own party) believe that Iraq is a good idea anymore… ah.. but gimme more of that Kerry flub.. yay.
What Boehner really meant to say was he would “beat this dead horse until they give Bush another term.” Ooo.. let’s spend hours talking about THAT!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:30 pmhttp://www.drudgereport.com/
November 1st, 2006 at 1:30 pmI’m sure he didn’t really mean to literally beat him to death, but it was just a botched joke on Boehner’s part.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:30 pmHey Paul, I’m sure Boehner’s “C” grade in supporting the troops is “out of context” too, right?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:31 pmOh for christsakes! That’s classic isn’t it? Threatening to ‘beat someone to death.’ Oh….beat him to death - figuratively. Cute.
He’s a career politician; he’s never served in the military, and he - just like the Rovians - is simply looking for a way to change the medium & the message. Kerry apologized for straying from his ‘prerecorded remarks’ and that’s that. It’s over. So - back to the real story - IRAQ!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:32 pmCulture of life, heh.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:32 pmthe sky is falling, the sky is falling, chicken little, bush, is really digging deep on this one. the repugs have run out of ammo, the bank is empty, they are running on fumes, so kerry makes a mistake, compared to the iraq slaughter of women and babies, this “scandal” is miniscule.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:32 pmGuys - come on. This is not intellectual honesty. Boehner is a creep but he didn’t say ‘I will beat Kerry to death if he doesn’t apologize’
He said they would keep ‘beating him to death until he ‘ - a phrase that only makes sense if taken metaphorically, as in, they will keep talking up the issue until Kerry apologizes. Presumably you can only beat someone to death once. So to say you’re going to do it repeatedly until something happens makes it pretty impossible to take literally.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:32 pmTo all the dumbasses who say that Kerry did not apologize: ABC News reports that Kerry apologized. Next dumbass post: Why does ABC News hate our freedom?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:33 pmSpeaking of “beating to death”, let’s talk about Iraq, ‘cons.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:33 pmThis bears repeating from an earlier thread as the “trolls” are avoiding the real issue:
People tend to get angriest when they’re wrong and know it. And they project their anger at anyone who points out where they’re wrong. So, since the Republicans have spun Kerry’s comment into one disparaging the troops because High School Dropouts might find themselves “stuck in Iraq†I thought I’d look for the backstory:
The Dumbing-Down of the U.S. Army
And some modest proposals for countering the trend.
By Fred Kaplan
Posted Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, at 4:41 PM ET
So Kerry’s remarks, as spun by the Republicans, were RIGHT ON TARGET!!!
The downward trend continued:
Army relaxes its standards to fill ranks
Critics say push to meet quotas may let unstable recruits join up
Anna Badkhen, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
And it’s not just deficiencies in schooling that have been relaxed. We’re also training these kinds of kids to become killers:
US lowers standards in army numbers crisis
Jamie Wilson in Washington
Saturday June 4, 2005
The Guardian
Drug addict? no problem. Alcoholic? no problem. Pregnant? join the Army, mommy-to-be and let grandma raise your baby while you serve your country.
There’s more:
Title: Army Recruiting More High School Dropouts to Meet Goals
Source: New York Times
URL Source: http://www.nytimes.com/ 2005/ 06/ 11/ politics/ 11recruit.html?
Published: June 11, 2005
Army Lowers Standards and Increases Bonuses, But Still Falling Short of Recruiting Goal
June 14, 2005 by Knight-Ridder
U.S. is recruiting misfits for army
Felons, racists, gang members fill in the ranks
Nick Turse
Sunday, October 1, 2006
Army Lowers Standards, Meets Recruiting Target
By James Joyner
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
If Kerry’s remarks were indeed a botched joke referring to Bush’s intellectual prowess rather than to the ability of high school dropouts to join the military, it still hits the essential truth behind military recruiting and lowered standards adopted to fill the ranks of Bush’s War Machine.
If the Republicans want to drive this debate about Kerry’s comment into one about the quality of women and men in our military, they had best explain why they were the ones to lower the standards in the first place.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:33 pm#18 Tracy…Amazing (and very funny) photo of some of our troops in Iraq. They know that Kerry insulted them.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:34 pmits so pathetic to watch the conservative reaction to John Kerry’s “botched joke.” Whether or not thats what it is, who cares, just look at how they grasp at the tiniest straw to shift blame on Dems. Just imagine what it must be like, to be inside their heads as the whole world comes crashing down around them, largely of their own doing, to still feel vindicated, because at last they’ve got proof that John Kerry hates the troops. yea yea, just like we all love terrorists and hate freedom. you sad, sad bunch.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:34 pmSo today the Democrats will be talking about Iraq, terrorism, implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations, health care, education, the environment, renewable energy, …
Today the Republicans will be talking about what John Kerry said.
Which is more relevant to Americans? I guess we’ll see next week.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:35 pmmmmmmmm
November 1st, 2006 at 1:38 pmall this talk about beating people to death has got me feelin’ all hot and patriotic.
Note to Boehner: Kerry apologized this morning on MSNBC.
Note to ThinkProgres: No, he didn’t.
Comment by Exley
After reading what Kerry said for myself I see that you are correct… and I am glad he did not. He never once mentioned the soldiers. He never once said anything about the soldiers. He was refering to Bush the whole and it is BUSH that got us stuck in Iraq not the soldiers.
But then again if Kerry cannot articulate that to people then he deserves for them to continue to believe this right wing lie.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:38 pmAnother stupid , double talker , lying , incompetent so called christian , he is such blabber mouth fact twisting bush alike . He wants to run for president in 08 or be vice president , if little Dick is asked to resign after the election . IRAQ , TERRORISM , IMCOMPETENCE ARE THE TALKING POINT TO THE ELECTION AND AFTER
November 1st, 2006 at 1:38 pmKerry had better NOT apologize .. if he does so he is making SURE that this lie becomes reality in the minds of people.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:39 pmShouldn’t it be against the law to make public death threats?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:39 pmSounds about right. Reps are finally understanding that there is only one way to deal with Dems / progs - make them eat carpet.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pmI think Zell Miller will duel Kerry - dentures at ten paces.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pmRepublican Freak Show offering nothing but fear and smear. We know who owes Americans and the world an apology. The clowns who created the fiasco in Iraq that has killed 650,000 plus people on dead-wrong intelligence.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pmMuch better pictures that Drudge has with much less right-whining:
http://fudgereport.net
November 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pmKerry Botched a Joke.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:43 pmBush Botched a War/Occupation.
Big Difference.
Exley: “They know that Kerry insulted them.”
They also trust Paul Reickhoff and his organization, Operation Truth. Reickhoff is recommending to all of them that they check out the IAVA congressional ratings if they want to know which party and which politicians support the troops. Why don’t you check it out, Exley. You may be in for a surprise.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:43 pmBoehner is best known for his eternal tan & golfing outings.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:43 pmQuite a resume, John!
His grade for troops support form the IAVA is a ‘C’.
Now, that’s better than Bush’s grades in college, but really, John,
you guys started this war!
Lastly, those that haven’t served deserve no comment on soldiers.
I served John, what was your story?
Add Cyst?
Too busy?
Hiding until the war was over.
C’mon John, I’m going to beat this to death until you tell the truth.
#35 - The rule-of-law doesn’t apply to right-whiners.
That’s why Pres. Clinton was impeached for a hummer, but Pres. Bush has not been impeached for lying us into a war.
Double-standards are right-whiner tactics.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:43 pmI wonder if he thinks the same of Kissinger?
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye:
November 1st, 2006 at 1:44 pm‘beating him to death’
i guess the ‘beatings’ at abu ghraib, and guantanamo wasn’t enough.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:45 pmMore desperation from scumbag Republicans. If they weren’t so pathetic they’d be funny.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:46 pmSen “Meccaca” Allen - Staff assaulted and wrestled a constituent.
Boehner - Wants to beat up Kerry
Is it me, or is there a lot of pent up anger among the GOP?
Could it be now that Foley and Cunnigham are gone, these guys no longer can turn over a new “page” or get a hookers so that they can get laid and get rid of the anger?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:47 pmI watched Olbermann,he showed the video of Kerry, he was making a joke about bush,
November 1st, 2006 at 1:48 pmcalling him STUPID…it came out unclear the way he said it.
Bohner, you just made a public DEATH THREAT….see you in court.
Shouldn’t BUSH be apologizing to the troops? Who sent to the troops to fight a fictional war on terror? Was it Kerry who sent the troops to Iraq, or was it BUSH. Let’s be clear here: Kerry made a comment, stupid or otherwise, but no one died or had their lives and the lives of their families ruined because of it. BUSH, on the other hand, lied to the citizens of the United States and the world about WMDs in Iraq, and since that calculated lie, the world has been in turmoil, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been slaughtered, and thousands of U.S. troops have been slaughtered or maimed. So who exactly should be apologizing to the troops? I SAY BUSH AND EVERY SINGLE PSEUDO-CHRISTIAN AND REPUBLICAN SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I will give the Republicans one thing, they are great finger pointers, when they ought to instead be looking in the mirror. VOTE THEM OUT NOW.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:49 pmDidn’t you get the Republican talking points? Their issue of the day is calling for John Kerry to apologize. It doesn’t matter that he already did apologize.
The Republicans have nothing else to talk about. Not Iraq, not Katrina, not health care, not education, not the environment, not a renewable energy policy, not a plan for capturing Osama bin Laden and eliminating Al Qaeda, not making our port safer, not how they will pay down the national debt, nothing. They have no workable plans for anything, they are miserable failures, and they have been in control of the Congress for 12 years and the Executive Branch for 6 years. How long’s it gonna take for them to do something constructive?
So all they’ve got is calling for John Kerry to apologize.
Even though he already did.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:49 pmIraq: 105 dead, 700 wounded in Oct.
By: John Amato @ 10:28 AM - PST
Heard it on CNN a few minutes ago. Now:
Gunmen seized two Sunni coaches from a youth club Wednesday in Baghdad, while authorities searched for dozens of Shiites abducted along a dangerous highway north of the capital in another outbreak of Iraq’s relentless tit-for-tat sectarian violence.
More troops will only bring more deaths to our soldiers, but still John Kerry is running their programming.
PRIORITIES, PEOPLE… PRIORITIES !!!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:49 pm.
Just called Bohners office after reading his bio: seems he graduated from High School in ‘68 and College in “77. I asked why so long to graduate from a four year college,he said Bohner also worked to pay for classes. I then asked if he wasn’t in college, how did he escape the Draft? The clown on the other end said he has a bad back and it gave him a medical deferment. I then asked, why does Bohner go around bragging about be such a good golfer,because the older you get the more the back hurts ,he hung up! Another Class A No.1 Chickenhawk!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:50 pmsorry… forgot link
November 1st, 2006 at 1:50 pmhttp://www.crooksandliars.com/ 2006/ 11/ 01/ iraq-105-dead-700-wounded-in-oct/
#15 spudger - while that may be true in today’s military, it wasn’t like that in the Nam era.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:51 pmWe had lots of foot soldiers who had finished college, lost deferments and were drafted. In my unit of fifteen, we had five college grads.
And don’t give officers credit for being smart, even today. I’d love to see some data on IQs in the brass. Somehow, I don’t think I’d be impressed.
I want to know from those who oppose Bush & the Republicans, how we win the game when the game is rigged??? We know that those who our in power lie, cheat, steal, play games….do anything other than play the game fairly. If we continue to play by rules…..that the Republicans ignore, then what is to be done. I mean you can see just in this room that even when confronted by the realities and the truth……the Trolls will take no ownership/responsibility. They must find a way to SPIN the information, even when their conscience should tell them they are wrong, i.e.; saying such awful things about honorably discharged veterans…..but then saying they support the troops as if it is their badge of honor.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:51 pmSounds about right. Reps are finally understanding that there is only one way to deal with Dems / progs - make them eat carpet.
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — November 1, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
Still living in that fantasy world of hated, anger, and violence. Man, you must have one screwed up past.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:51 pmNo wonder you’re a 39 year old virgin!
#47
and protester is filing assault charges today.
violence is the only answer to the reichwing. ask the soldiers they’ll tell ya
November 1st, 2006 at 1:52 pmThis is great. You accuse us of twisting his disparaging comment about our soldiers. Now your headline twists the meaning of this comment. You people must be so furious that Kerry pulled this crap right before the election.
ROTFL
November 1st, 2006 at 1:52 pmGeorge Allen wants to beat up Kerry, huh. Veterans give Allen a “D” for his record in support of the troops. Kerry gets a “B.”
November 1st, 2006 at 1:53 pma Boner beating?, I’m there mmmmm…
November 1st, 2006 at 1:53 pmtake a look on Drudge and see if the troops felt like it was a bad joke.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:53 pmdo ya think this dipshit can fight its way out of a wet paper bag ,,,,i doubt it seems he needs to be slapped around with a wet noodle
November 1st, 2006 at 1:54 pmHa ha. Watch the scroll at the bottom of the video. The last headline is about Kerry’s apology.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:54 pmA beating Boehner. that’s funny.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:55 pmIt’s amazing how this Kerry thing has drawn the right wing trolls like flies on sh*t. Apparently they see this as a big opening for their side in the election campaign. It speaks to their sheer desperation that they would celebrate a minor flap like this, when by far the most significant outcome of it is to highlight the utter disaster that Bush created in Iraq.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:55 pmHappy Guy, you support the troops, right? And, you want to vote for politicians who support the troops, correct? Just go to the Iraq and Afganistan Veterans of America site and you will be able to see their ratings on all of our elected officials with regard to their support of the troops.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:55 pm#52, PRF
Thanks for the background.
Interesting how those who have never served seem to know what is good or right for those who put their life on the line for this nation.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:56 pmHas Fox covered the issue of the missing American soldier in Iraq who was abandoned yesterday by the US through an order from Iraqi president?
I doubt it. They’re not interested in real issues only fostering politics.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:57 pmThis is great. You accuse us of twisting his disparaging comment about our soldiers. Now your headline twists the meaning of this comment. You people must be so furious that Kerry pulled this crap right before the election.
ROTFL
Comment by Happy+Guy
Please qoute where Kerry said the word soldiers? If you can.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:57 pmExley, Paul, Happy Guy, Kevin, if you are really concerned with supporting the troops go here: http://capwiz.com/iava/dbq/officials.
Find out for yourselves and stop the bullshit!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:59 pmComment by Peejay3306
Do you understand the purpose and historical context of the 2nd Amendment?
November 1st, 2006 at 1:59 pmLook In The Mirror For Apologies Mr. Bush
by Steve Soto
Several comments on the GOP’s manufactured outrage over Kerry’s remarks.
First, if you can’t talk about Iraq and your candidates don’t want you to appear in competitive districts because you are a liability to them, then Bush and his Mini-Me John McCain obviously needed something to change the narrative for several news cycles. And if there is one thing this White House is better at than anything else, it is avoiding responsibility for its negligence and attacking others even at the expense of talking up the positive. But if the White House and the GOP agree to nationalize the final week of the campaign onto Democratic turf on Iraq, they are playing into the Democrats’ hands at a time when GOP candidates were trying to walk away from both Iraq and Bush’s record.
Second, there is a lot on teeth-gnashing in the center-left blogosphere today about the distancing that several Democrats and Democratic candidates have done from Kerry over the last 24 hours, with several of these candidates like Harold Ford, Jr. and Jon Tester calling for Kerry to apologize. Stop the disappointment. These candidates are trying to win races against a GOP media and attack machine a week before the election. Let them decide what is necessary and appropriate in their own races without anyone on the outside demanding that these candidates fumble the ball this close to the goal line through adherence to ideological litmus tests. The immediate goal is to elect more Democrats to establish a check and balance on this administration, not to let the other side and the media encourage the Democrats into a party-purity circular firing squad a week before the election.
As long as the White House is demanding apologies, let’s all get in the spirit. Mr. Bush, you should apologize for making a joke about not finding WMDs, as thousands die in Iraq for your lies. But why stop there?
Mr. Bush, apologize to the families of those lost on September 11th for your abdication of responsibility in the summer of 2001, and specifically for your “you’ve covered your ass now” response in ignoring the August 6th, 2001 PDB.
Mr. Bush, apologize for letting Osama Bin Laden escape at Tora Bora in December 2001, and for encouraging the Pakistanis to back away from Al Qaeda and the Taliban in September in Waziristan.
Mr. Bush, apologize to our troops in Afghanistan for abandoning the mission in that country to divert resources to Iraq, and for Donald Rumsfeld specifically refusing to provide resources for a heroin eradication program in that country that has led to a flourishing of financing for the Taliban.
Mr. Bush, apologize to our troops for sending them into harm’s way through a campaign of lies and public disinformation, and then joking about it as the soldiers died for your mendacity.
Mr. Bush, apologize to our troops for using them in a war that had nothing to do with those who attacked us on 9/11, and for knowing you were lying about this at the time.
Mr. Bush, apologize to the troops for not sending enough of them to secure the country, for providing them with inadequate and substandard equipment, food, and logistical support that has endangered them every day they are there. You should apologize to the troops for not having a Plan B to deal with occupying the country after Donald Rumsfeld didn’t get his way by installing Ahmad Chalabi as our toady. While you are at it, apologize to the troops for not securing the weapons caches inside Iraq and for letting thousands of weapons fall into the hands of those who are killing our troops now.
Mr. Bush, apologize to the troops for not changing strategy from “stay the course” when it could have mattered years ago, thereby ensuring that our troops are fighting and dying needlessly for your pigheadedness.
Mr. Bush, apologize to the troops for their inadequate veterans’ benefits, why their families have to go on food stamps, why their families have to send them flak jackets, and why you don’t attend the funerals of those killed in action.
And while you are at it, you should apologize to the troops for being so cavalier with their lives with the “bring them on”, “Mission Accomplished”, and other rhetorical nonsense. It sure seems easy for you to question the commitment and patriotism of others when neither you, your five-deferments vice president, your peacetime flight instructor Defense Secretary, and your combat-avoiding press spokesman have ever served their country in combat.
Mr. Bush, someone like you, who DQ’d from being a stateside pilot after running to Alabama to avoid Vietnam is in no position to ask anyone else to apologize to our troops for anything.
Any apologies begin and end with you.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:59 pmIraq: 105 dead, 700 wounded in Oct.
By: John Amato @ 10:28 AM - PST
Heard it on CNN a few minutes ago. Now:
Gunmen seized two Sunni coaches from a youth club Wednesday in Baghdad, while authorities searched for dozens of Shiites abducted along a dangerous highway north of the capital in another outbreak of Iraq’s relentless tit-for-tat sectarian violence.
More troops will only bring more deaths to our soldiers, but still John Kerry is running their programming.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/ 2006/ 11/ 01/ iraq-105-dead-700-wounded-in-oct/
PRIORITIES, PEOPLE… PRIORITIES !!!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:59 pm.
Happy Guy and Exely, Are you happy with the way our govt’ is run? Is Iraq going as planned. Just curious.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:01 pmHappy Guy,
care to respond to the points raised in #27?
Hendler? Exley? Mighty A? Roger? Anybody?
***crickets chirping***
November 1st, 2006 at 2:01 pmRUCerious,
I don’t confuse smart with educated. George W. Bush is Harvard educated. He is dumb as a rock. I fire MBAs all the time because they are stupid. A degree doesn’t make somebody smart. Neither does going to college. Take the Young Republicans for example. That is a college group. Their pretty stupid.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:01 pm#65 - “going off half-cocked” is the new “decisive and patriotic”, and it’s a lot easier than the old way was - with the new paradigm, the less you know about anything the better.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:02 pmWhat’s the big F’n deal, Kerry was only the”Anything BUT Bush Candidate”. Talk about the failed policy in Iraq,and this failed admin. as a whole. Pathetic, he did nothing wrong.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:03 pmWHAT????
By: Nicole Belle @ 10:55 AM - PST
WaPo :
The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., predicted last week that Iraqi security forces would be able to take control of the country in 12 to 18 months. But several days spent with American units training the Iraqi police illustrated why those soldiers on the ground believe it may take decades longer than Casey’s assessment.
Seventy percent of the Iraqi police force has been infiltrated by militias, primarily the Mahdi Army, according to Shaw and other military police trainers. Police officers are too terrified to patrol enormous swaths of the capital. And while there are some good cops, many have been assassinated or are considering quitting the force.
“None of the Iraqi police are working to make their country better,” said Brig. Gen. Salah al-Ani, chief of police for the western half of Baghdad. “They’re working for the militias or to put money in their pocket.” Read on…
DECADES???? Holy friggin’ cow. What have we wrought?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/11/01/what/
PRIORITIES, PEOPLE… PRIORITIES !!!
November 1st, 2006 at 2:03 pm.
Bluedog, the link didn’t work with the period. Try this:
November 1st, 2006 at 2:03 pmhttp://capwiz.com/iava/dbq/officials
Today’s polls out show a democrat candidate increase in almost every congressional race that RealClearPolitics has listed as a tossup.
CT-2 - Courney(D) + 1 (prev Simmons +5)
CT-4 - Farrell(D) + 7 (prev Farrell + 4)
IL-6 - Duckworth(D) + 14 (prev Duckworth +1)
IN-2 - Donnelly(D) + 13 (prev Donnelly +3)
IN-9 - Hill(D) + 2 (prev Hill +8, yes this one declined)
MN-6 - Bachmann(R) + 10 (prev Bachmann + 1, Rep gain)
NM-1 - Madrid(D) + 9 (prev Madrid +3)
NC-11 Schuler(D) + 5 (prev Schuler +9 how is this a tossup>?)
PA-6 Murphy(D) + 5 (prev Murphy +3)
And these are the tossups! The 10 races rated at leans Dem are pretty solid.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:05 pmUnless the dems are running against another candidate named Diebold, this is not looking bad. If this is the Kerry effect, he should flub jokes every day for the next six days.
My apology on behalf of Mr. Kerry;
November 1st, 2006 at 2:07 pmDear Republicans and Conservative Media;
I am sorry. I misunderestimated my words. It was an error of nukular proportions. I should have practiced my love, like so many OB doctors are kept from doing. We all know that I am the only one to make mistakes while speaking to the public. Please forgive me.
Thank you for your time, and for talking about things that matter,
JK
take a look on Drudge and see if the troops felt like it was a bad joke.
Comment by Kevin
We’ve only got eight guys in Iraq? No wonder the situation is so bad!
Oh, wait . . . you meant that these eight guys were speaking for 140,000 others? Do they know?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:07 pmThank you. I think I added a period on the end of that link which screwed it up. I appreciate your help.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:07 pmSpudgeBoy - AGREED.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:08 pmSpudgeBoy — a rock has more brains than BUSH. Rocks everywhere are now calling for an apology from you.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:10 pm#27 Great points. Won’t be answered because that would require actual thought instead of knee jerk reaction.
#72 BABOOOM!!! I’d love to see any of these crack pipe babies answer those.
C’mon Ex, Happy, Mighty and anyone else. Show us why you stand for the group responsible for what’s being asked in #27 and #72.
I’m sure your more than a one trick pony. Should Bush apologize for making light of WMD’s and OBL’s whereabouts? Why are the republicans continually lowering the standards to enter the military?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:10 pmKaty #79, maybe “what have we rot?”
November 1st, 2006 at 2:11 pmConsidering many Democratic leaders have served in the Armed Forces and most Republican leaders have not, it would be interesting to see Boehner go toe-to-toe with Kerry. Boehner would yelp like a little puppy, then go pee in the corner. Typical blow-hard Republican: all talk and no action.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:12 pmSomeone please get through to Moveon.org and tell them to make an ad with Bush making the joke about not finding any WMDs under the table and then demand an apology from Bush. THAT was offensive!
November 1st, 2006 at 2:13 pmbluedog - I am so proud of my state, both senators get A- and my rep getting a B+, but why didn’t they rate the president?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:14 pmOh, Oh, oooh, I know - Howza bouta F-
Hey Media: Can one of you ask Bush — or any Republican — why they let Al-Sadr stop the US from searching for the missing US soldier?
by Joe in DC - 11/01/2006 01:19:00 PM
Yesterday, the Iraqi government, in an unprecedented power play, shoved aside US troops who are looking for a missing soldier. Bush, who is apparently powerless to do anything positive or proactive in Iraq, let that happen. Think about this — Al Sadr just one-upped the leader of the free world who has 140,000 troops in his country.
Yet, today, the cable networks are agog over John Kerry. Meanwhile, they’re overlooking the entire failed Iraq policy. In just the past 24 hours we learned:
104 troops were killed in October;
the US Central Command thinks Iraq is heading toward chaos; and
we now know that Al-Sadr, who really, really hates us, rules Iraq and won’t even let our forces search for a missing U.S. soldier.
Who is running the US war effort? Saturday, Bush did an hour long conference call with al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister. Tony Snow told us, “There are no strains in the relationship.” Really? This is what Bush gets with no strains?
Why isn’t the media asking about the missing soldier? From what CNN showed of Tony Snow’s today’s briefing, no one there asked. In fact, at 1:05 pm, CNN’s Ed Henry gave report from the White House about the Kerry story. Maybe the Iraq situation is too complicated for some of these talking heads. Iraq really is a quagmire and a lot of people are dying. The situation is getting worse every day. A media frenzy about a stupid comment doesn’t change that.
http://americablog.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 11/ hey-media-can-one-of-you-ask-bush-or.html
PRIORITIES, PEOPLE… PRIORITIES !!!
November 1st, 2006 at 2:16 pm.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:17 pm
This Nazi is going to be the next speaker of the house after they steal the election next week.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:18 pmEWWWWW the George Hamilton of rightwing politics is talking brutality.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:18 pmI don’t get it. Bush screws up EVERY speech and people think its charming how he’s more like “one of us” but Kerry accidently leaves one word out and he suddenly hates the troops. HUH?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:19 pmEven Hillary…
Sen. Clinton visits Kingston, says Kerry should apologize
November 01, 2006
Kingston — Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking at a Kingston campaign stop this morning, joined the chorus of Democrats criticizing Sen. John Kerry for what the former presidential candidate has called a joke gone awry.
“What Sen. Kerry said was inappropriate,†she said.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:21 pmKaty - I read one article yesterday that made a big point out of the fact that the missing soldier had married an Iraqi = violation of policy = swiftboating him to the point where we can’t really be concerned with his safety now.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:22 pmIt has already been determined that Hillary Clinton is a whore. We don’t need additional evidence.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:24 pmI apologize to any rocks that may have been offended by my comments in post #76.
I am truly sorry.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:24 pmHey Exley
November 1st, 2006 at 2:24 pmcan you link to that article in #97?
I’d like to see him try.
Boehner’s such a boner, and Cheney’s such a dick, and Bush is such a woman’s front-bottom…
November 1st, 2006 at 2:25 pmExley, can’t your answer a simple question. Should Bush apologize for making light of WMD’s and OBL? Or you can’t wrap your little mind around that. Have you seen the polls lately. Democrats are taking the lead. Looks like the gains may just get them both the Senate and the House.
Would you like that drink refreshed as you sit on your deck chair on the Titanic?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:26 pmdon’t vote republican.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:28 pmBoner needs to shut the hell up and go back to being Hastert’s boy-toy bitch.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:30 pm# 101 …Here ya go, dlet:
http://www.recordonline.com/ apps/ pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/ 20061101/ NEWS/ 61101021
November 1st, 2006 at 2:32 pmC’mon Ex, you can answer some questions can’t you?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:32 pmI think Kerry is faking his symptoms.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:32 pmChickenhawks are all the same.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:33 pm“Sen. John Kerry apologized for “a botched joke” about President Bush’s Iraq policies”
“Kerry said his remarks about Iraq troops to a college crowd in California were aimed at Bush, not the military”
Looks like the right-whiner spin is just a desperate attempt to distract from their failures.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:33 pm#103 Hellinabucket,
No.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:33 pmI love you all, but really, he didn’t say he was going to beat John Kerry to death. He clearly means that the Republicans are going to beat on him politically.
That’s some shoddy, intentionally taking things out of context journalism I don’t usually see on this site. Leave it to FoxNews, please.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:34 pmI’m demanding an apology from this president for saying that a vote for a Democrat means the Terrorists win and America looses. That is irresponsible and shameful. That is a direct insult to all Democrats currently serving in the US military. This is wreckless. I demand an apology.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:35 pmLook for K. Olbermann to have another “special commentary” tonight.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:36 pmHe is the ONLY one on TV who stands with the Democrats. That’s why the rethugs hate him so - he is the one news anchor with courage (and humor).
#100 Spudge I like your comment and I agree. I use to call my degree expensive wallpaper. It is one thing to obtain a degree, it’s entirely different thing to use the education you have received. Additionally, there is something to be said for plain outright common sense…..something many people in here lack.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:37 pm111. NO to what Exley. No that Bush shouldn’t apologize for making light of WMD’s, not caring where they are after our soldiers have already been killed going after them? Or is it No to not caring where OBL is? After all isn’t he the mastermind of this whole Terror thing?
Unless you expound on it I’ll assume you mean “NO, I can’t think for myself”
November 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pmMJ Fox medicated or not, Lynne Cheney & excerpts from an old Webb book, a supposed flubbed Kerry joke,
November 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pmRightwing politics in the spirit of “The National Enquirer” or “The Star”.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?! rightards
Ouch, can you say ouch Exley?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pmWhat Boner has to say about really couldn’t matter less, as he’ll soon enough be joining the Incarcerated Republican Caucus, along with that ever-growing list of convicted GOP felons.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pm#113 you go hell….I as a veteran DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM PRESIDENT BUSH!!
November 1st, 2006 at 2:39 pm#107 HiB….I did.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:39 pmExley,
Another part of that story you left out.
Asked if Kerry should apologize, President Bush and other members of both parties have said, Clinton said “I heard he said he was sorry.â€
It’s kind of a tough read but I think she is saying that he said he was sorry for the inappropriate comment. All better now. I kow you are not used to heaing apologies since the infallable bushie took the throne but when someone says they are sorry that means they are sorry.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:40 pmIf Mrs Clinton is saying Kerry should apologize, then she’s as much of an idiot as many republicans.. actually worse, because she’s meant to be on our side. how about she, and Kerry (to a lesser extent) and all of the right wing trolls either shut the h*ck up or talk about (or DO) something that matters. Bush has a lot more to apologize for. this is so absurd, it’s not even funny. i’d suggest TP and other places don’t encourage this right wing idiocy with much further discussion. The sad part is, in a day or two this’ll probably go on and he will apologize. Honestly, sometimes supporting the people you know are right deep down is a real d*mn headache.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:41 pm#116, HiB
No, the President shouldn’t apologize for the very humorous “Where are those WMDs” skit. That was poking fun at himself and his administration. It was not — as Kerry said — calling the troops lazy, ignorant and stupid. I am puzzled as to why you would try to relate those two completely separate and distinct incidents.
I am not aware of any jokes he made about Bin Laden. But anything that holds Bin Laden up to ridicule is fine with me.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:43 pm#122 dlet…Senator Clinton heard incorrectly. Kerry has not apologized for insulting our troops.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:44 pmRight now all the republicans have to run on is this mistake by Kerry and their fear campaign. They do not run at all on their record. A record that we have been told for the last few years is nothing but sucessful.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:46 pmHe should apologize to America, he knew damn good and well their was no WMD or yellowcake to be had. He thought LYING to the American people and the troops was funny.
Why do you think that a lying president is a good thing Ex Lax?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:48 pm120. I am serious. That was an outright attempt to spread fear and it’s the same type of Terrorist crap they keep saying they are protecting us from. Here’s an idea, have the parties,the elected officals and candidates talk about the issues and let us decide. For the highest elected official in the land to have such a small minded and fearful statement is an outrage.
MR. PRESIDENT I DEMAND AN APOLOGY. Your office is not to spread fear. Go ahead and support your party, I would expect and appreciate that, but do not be the spreader of fear.
This is the lowest and most distastful act you have committed sir.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:48 pmPredator protector Boehner had better watch his step….he may think that he’s sidestepped the predatorgate dookey by maintaining a low profile; be careful what you ask for! Now that he’s taking center stage in his attempt, albeit futile, attempt to disparage Kerry, the moving finger of guilt will be turning his way soon. He’s knee deep in the dung of Foleygate and everyone knows it. His time is nigh, I’d say….
November 1st, 2006 at 2:48 pmBush needs to apologize for signing the bills that cut $24.7 billion from veterans’ medical care, disability compensation and other benefits, including death benefits to families of soldiers that die from combat.
Just one of the trolls try to defend the cutting of veterans benefits, while they are pouring their blood on the ground in Iraq.
But they ignore facts while harping on the talking points about Kerry
Repugs are not supporting the troops, the cuts prove that.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:48 pm#15, hey spudgie, I have met many an enlisted, smarter than some of “themses college edumacated ociffers”.
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tell me Spudgie, were YOU an officer?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:48 pmAnd I’m sure Boehner served willingly in Vietnam and … oh. Nevermind.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:50 pmAll the elected official and the White House are beating Kerry while they never served in the military. Bush was drunk and his Daddy got him out so he wouldn’t have to protect the country. Cheney the coward got 5 deferments and loves water boarding until it done to him. Now Boehner who join for 8 weeks and said he had a bad back or was it a hang nail what ever he dropped out of serving the military. What a great group to support our troops and you wonder why we’re so must up. But Kerry and Murtha who put their lives on the line for this country are against our troops. Let’s see White House cowards vs Kerry/Murtha who served in the military. Well I guess Americans would rather follow the cowards then the heroes. What will our future look like the cowards running the country as the American Patriots fighting to say America. One blogger on NBC complaint about Kerry not getting the headlines for his comment while fingers Foley had headlines. I guess this blogger thinks it ok to molest kids while being a Congressman but bad to give a bad joke.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:50 pmWell, Exley, here’s something Bush actually said about bin Laden: “I’m just not that interested in him. I don’t think about him very much.” Is that really how you want your president to view the mastermind of the 9-11 attack? Should he apologize to the victims of the attack for his insensitive remarks? Didn’t he promise them he would get bin laden “dead or alive?”
November 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pm#125
November 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pmI know I have brought up this before but just because you have disExleyia (A malfunction of the eyes and brain that render the reader of propaganda and lies to see fact and truth) doesn’t mean you have to try and spread that crap everywhere.
124 Do you think the President should apologize for the remark if the Democrats are elected the terrorists and America looses. Are you really going to stand behind a man that throws that fear around?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pmBut anything that holds Bin Laden up to ridicule is fine with me.
Comment by Exley
As long as he is not caught.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:52 pmSenator John Kerry has apologized. Anyone who says differently is wrong. Get over yourself.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:52 pmThe GOP has absolutely nothing left in their bag of tricks so they attack something John Kerry said and try to spin it. How totally pathetic and soooo obvious to the american public. Won’t work this time Repugs.
Perhaps the american people need to take things “actually said” repeatedly by the members of this administration which were later found to be bold-faced, outright lies which need no “spin” or “twisting” at all to prove guilt?? Since when have we condoned lying by high officials? Since when have we lost our morality to that extent? It’s time to hold their collective feet to the fire of truth. A lie is a lie….is a lie….is a lie…..
Spin is spin….is spin….is spin…..Thank God the intelligent americans know the difference. When you hear something coming out of this GOP, just believe the opposite…..Orwell, anyone?? 1984??? James just missed it by 22 years I’d say.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:52 pmOf course not, Exley and his idiot friends will help Bush cover up this pile of crap and blame Chelsea Clinton or Carter maybe.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:52 pm#123 No offense, but I would not vote for Hillary…..she is very much Republican Lite. I would however vote for her husband, if he could run again. I would vote for John Murtha, if he ran and I voted for John Kerry in the last election. If your candidate does not win an election, it doesn’t mean they are wrong, it just means they didn’t win the election. I mean look at GWB…..he “supposively” won (I still say he cheated both times) and LOOK AT HOW WRONG HE IS!! If GWB was right…..we would be winning or would have won the war in Iraq and our servicemembers would be coming home. The fact of the matter is that winning doesn’t make you right. Being wealthy does make you a good person and it doesn’t mean you worked hard or with integrity to get that place.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:52 pmmy dog ROTF and doesn’t laugh either Douglas
November 1st, 2006 at 2:53 pmBush needs to apologize for weakening 200 years of democracy.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:53 pm#125 “disExleyia”
Heh. That’s pretty good, actually…I gotta admit.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:54 pmHey Exley you still reading the left behind series of books?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:55 pmJjajjajajaaaa!!
I posted these elsewhere and sent them to the DNC. It is fortunate that folks like Chris Matthews and Imus are giving Kerry the chance here. But the issue is not over; however, it can be used to do ju jitsu for the dems. I suggest aggressive action in the media with talking points like these.
About the joke:
John Kerry botched a joke about the President, not the troops. George W. Bush has botched this war, endangered our troops, and allowed nearly three thousand young americans die in this invasion and occupation.
About John Kerry as “party leader”:
John Kerry is one senator out of a hundred, and he is not running for office at this time. If you want to get us unstuck from this war, you need to elect a new democratic majority in the house and senate, because this republican congress is rubber stamping the failed policies of this administration.
About insulting the troops:
John Kerry and his democratic colleagues have consistently stood up for the troops, voting for body armor, veterans benefits, and oversight of this war when the republican congress rubber stamped Bush’s failed policies. You don’t have to believe me–the non-partisan Iraq and Afghan Veterans of America gave consistently higher ratings to democrats than republicans on supporting troops and vets.
Closer:
George W. Bush and his administration are using this distortion of John Kerry’s remarks and record to distract from their failure to lead in this war. Vote for a democratic majority in congress now to reverse the failed war leadership of the Bush Administration and the rubber stamp republican congress.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:55 pmExley, if you think, after years of consideration, that WMDs skit was funny you are clearly f*cked in the head beyond help. A President making a mistake that costs thousands of people their lives is many things but never, to anyone with any heart, funny.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:55 pm2nd, it’s been pointed out again and again that Kerry wasn’t trying to insult to troops. it just doesn’t make any sense, surely even to someone with… less than fantastic reasoning power, that he would want to do that, even if he believed it.. which there’s no evidence he does.
Doesn’t lying over and over ever get you down? Are some of you people working from GOP campaign HQ or something?
One more Dem:
Claire McCaskill’s campaign called on Sen. John Kerry to apologize for a “botched joke” he made on Monday.
“[McCaskill] said it’s a dumb thing to say and he should apologize,” said McCaskill spokeswoman Adrainne Marsh.
ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!
November 1st, 2006 at 2:57 pm#144
November 1st, 2006 at 2:58 pmExley,
I don’t really know what to say….um…thanks.
If you were paying attention, I stated very clearly that I was uneducated when I entered into the military. I got an education after I left the service. But once again, education has nothing to do with how smart somebody is. It just means you have a piece of paper that says you attended some class in a specific building.
So, you are trying to take a swipe at me, that I have already taken at me.
Stupid phouc.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:01 pm#134….The president was seeking to accomplish two things with that statement:
1) His dismissive talk of OBL was to show contempt for OBL and signal to the Muslim world that Bin Laden is an insignificant figure. It was designed to insult Bin Laden and take him down a peg in the eyes of the Islamic world.
2) He was — quite correctly — saying that the war on radical Islamic fundamentalist terrorism is about more than just capturing Bin Laden. If we captured or killed OBL tomorrow, it would not mean the end of terrorism.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:01 pmOh yeah and Douglas, if you are going to try and be hip and cool, which you are not, the acronym is ROTFL.
What yous aid was.
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 1st, 2006 at 3:03 pmRolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rolling On The Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, that backfired like everything else Bush does.
After 9/11 everybody in the world but Bush and you wanted Osama caught and killed. We all still want that, expect for you and Bush.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:05 pmThats the dumbest rationalization I have ever heard.
Bush wants to insult Osama by looking like an idiot during a power point presentation so he figured a good way to do that was by wanderimg around his office looking for easter eggs?
LMAO!!
Your so full of crap Exley your eyes are brown!!
November 1st, 2006 at 3:06 pmMy clothes are on fire!… ROTF
November 1st, 2006 at 3:06 pmI’m choking on a pretzel!… ROTF
I’ve fallen..and I can’t get up!… ROTF
fell off my mountain bike …ROTF
And Ben, i don’t know what you keep rolling on the floor laughing about - all signs are, in a week, your president is going to be neutered and the investigations will begin.
ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!
November 1st, 2006 at 3:06 pmWhy do you think that a lying president is a good thing Ex Lax?
Comment by Dog_named_Boo
Because the people that voted for him are dumb and scared. In the name of US interests they dont care if civilians in other countries die as long it is good for them. Their answer is “Hey, war sucks” or “This is America, we are supposed to lead”. Anyone who supports this kind of actions are doomed to suffer the same. Thats an historical fact.
US citizens are enough dumb to vote actors as presidents or governors. Dumb enough