Sen. Kit Bond: Bush’s Speech Convinced Me Escalation Is The ‘Best Available Option’
Sen. Kit Bond: Bush’s Speech Convinced Me Escalation Is The ‘Best Available Option’
At least one person in America was convinced by President Bush’s recent Iraq speech to support escalation. Prior to Bush’s address, Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Kit Bond (R-MO) said that he was opposed to an escalation of the war: “I have seen nothing so far that would push me to think a surge is a good idea.”
But today on the Senate floor, Bond said that he now supports Bush’s policy, calling it the “best available option.” Watch it:
On Jan. 11 — one day after Bush’s speech — Bond called escalation a “significant plan that is a much more promising way forward,” and said that the option of sending more troops to Iraq “should be on the table.”
Bond, evidently, was one of the only few convinced by Bush’s speech. ABC News noted that “rather than Bush bolstering public confidence, the national survey, conducted after his address to the nation on his new Iraq strategy, finds that a new high — 57 percent — think the United States is losing the war. Just 29 percent think it’s winning.” Just 36 percent of the American public said they support his plan to send more troops to Iraq.
[ThinkProgress is keeping track of where every member of Congress stands on escalation. Check out our full tally HERE.]
Transcript:
BOND: There’s nothing really good in terms of choices. One option has been put forward by President Bush. I happen to believe it is the best available option to support the Iraqis who have committed to end the insurgency, to bring in the Sunnis into a government that would share in the oil revenues and take responsibility for ending the insurgency while our troops go after the external forces–the terrorists coming in from other countries joining the Al Qaeda movement.
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In what may be a major reversal of course, the Bush administration may yet submit to the rule of law regarding its illegal NSA domestic spying program. The AP is reporting that Attorney General Gonzales notified Senate Judiciary Committee leaders Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) that the Justice Department will once again submit wiretap requests to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Courts.
For the breaking details, see:
January 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pm“Gonzales: New FISA Role for Domestic Spying.”
Count me as two that have been convinced. It makes alot more sense to increase our effort to secure Iraq now, than to surrender Iraq to Islamic fundamentalist who oppose the west, harbor terrorists and provide a base to bring terrorism to the U.S.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:28 pm“Bush’s Speech Convinced Me Escalation Is The ‘Best Available Option’”
Hey, Kit. I have some beautiful beachfront property in Montana you might be interested in…
January 17th, 2007 at 2:30 pmHa ha ha! Cuz I can count my IQ with my fingers.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pmpaul sez:
paul, my earlier offer of beachfront property to Kit Bond extends to you as well. Perhaps you can be neighbors.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pmMaybe Karl showed Kit something to convince him. Like pictures of him engaging in his favorite vice. An extramarital affair? Accepting sacks of cash for votes? Buying meth from gay male prostitutes? Who knows?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:36 pm“significant plan that is a much more promising way forward,â€
Senator Bond, we will revisit your insightful comment in six months. Are you prepared to “be responsible” for your support of this bozo president? Also prepare to tell us how you’ll justify the deaths of more young Americans ~ I’m sure their families will be cheered by your explanation.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:37 pmPaul, I’ve got news for you. Escalating won’t work. We’ve already lost Iraq. Many experts believe that the best we can hope for is an Islamic fundamentalist state in the mold of Iran, given how badly your precious President and his band of incompetent war criminals have botched things there. Thanks for supporting Bush, Paul. You’ve done your share to enable this disaster.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:38 pmI guess you weren’t old enough to see this same crap tri4ed during Vietnam.
I guess you aren’t old enough to remember when George H W Bush’s Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney said that 600,000 troops weren’t enough troops to secure Baghdad after Operation Desert Storm.
Is it possible that we could get some trolls that aren’t 15?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:40 pmAnother old, out of touch, plastic-haired moron. How many more are there?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:43 pmPaul,
I thought the conservatives were going to allign with the terrorists to rid the world of the real evil, liberals.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:44 pm“Escalation”??? Oh, come now, TP, you know that’s not the correct, WH-approved Bushism… As Condi Cane pointed out before Congress a few days ago, this isn’t an “escalation” — it’s an “augmentation” in support of the “de-Baathification”…
Or perhaps it’s an “obfuscation”. Or, more likely, “hallucination”. Or an “abomination”. Or how about this — it’s really a “Halliburton-ation”…
January 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pmVerbalKint. I accept your appreciation, regardless of your lack of comprehension that we would be facing a worse situation if Bush had failed to address the threats coming from the Middle East. Bush has done a good job of resisting the pressure to surrender, mostly from the left, I image, due to his understanding that failing to address the threat is not really a rational option. Your welcome.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pmOh, and by the way, Paul, the trite old “we have to fight the terra-rists there, so we don’t have to fight them here” ain’t working even on Red-state America anymore. See, even the koolaid drinkers know that nobody in Iraq before the US invaded had anything to do with the attacks on the US on 9/11.
So you may want to come up with another drug-induced reason why you continue to support Bush’s failed policies — this one ain’t cutting it.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:50 pmCount me as two that have been convinced. It makes alot more sense to increase our effort to secure Iraq now, than to surrender Iraq to Islamic fundamentalist who oppose the west, harbor terrorists and provide a base to bring terrorism to the U.S.
All that you describe in case we leave is already there. Do you think we are making any progress in “securing” Iraq, that the Iraqi’s are embracing the west? You are living in a delusional state. We have done enough damage to incite terrorists
Oh yeah …Iraq will be in utter chaos if we leave…wait a minute…too late.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:53 pmpaul sez:
And we accept your inability to recognize sarcasm.
What threats would those be, paul? Be specific.
Again, enumerate these ‘threats’. What threat did Saddam Hussein pose to us before we invaded?
His welcome what?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:56 pmLMAO …
Bush convinced this guy of something??? Well what do you know… I couldnt quite see who exactly Bush was talking about when he called himself the “educator in chief”… I guess there really are some people that are that dumb.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pmHis name is Bond, Kit Bond (001.5)
committed to end the insurgency
There wouldn’t be an insurgency if we hadn’t butted in where there were no WMDs
to bring in the Sunnis into a government
They are already in government, all-be-it a minority like the GOP here.
would share in the oil revenues
Horse manure. Iraqies get babkus.
According to the proposed legislation, 60% of the revenue will go to the oil companies. The other 40% will be used to pay off the cost of Iraq war, leaving Iraqies a meger 10% of the total revenue which will be paid to Haliburton, Bechtel and others for infrastructure projects.
while our troops go after the external forces–the terrorists coming in from other countries
January 17th, 2007 at 3:04 pmRead as nuclear war on Iran. The money from the 40% oil revenue to off-set the cost of Iraq war will go into fighting the Iran war.
woohoo!!! soon missouri will have 2 democratic senators.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:06 pmComment by paul
So why did the right surrender to Al Qeada and then attack Iraq instead? We cant surrender in Iraq. It is physically impossible. America is not under attack and no one has the power to militarily force us to leave. When you have done something wrong it is not defeat to stop doing it.
There is nothing to be convinced of by the Bush speech all he did was come on TV and say …. “Stay the course II”.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:07 pm…”can I help it if Bush is…
…the GREAT Convincer?”
-Kit Bond-
January 17th, 2007 at 3:09 pmSen Bond’s speech on the Senate Floor convinced me he’s an irretrievable fool.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:13 pmLet me be Blount, Mr. Bond. (BTW, what the hell kind of name is that? Kit-kat? Kitty?)
January 17th, 2007 at 3:19 pmIf you’re bamboozled by the Bush, what qualifies you to even have an opinion? Is your IQ single digits? Christ, Roger_Roger has offered more insight than that comment!
I thought anyone from your State had to be shown. Bush showed us, alright. Now it’s time to show him the door. To a Cell. In Cuba.
Worst. President. Ever.
anyone from Missouri know what they used to blackmail him?
January 17th, 2007 at 3:28 pmsounds like dick and the dog know where the bone is buried
Okay, don’t listen to me. I’m just a kool-aid drinking moron that gets my talking points from Rush Limbaugh. Listen instead to the silence coming from the Democrats that promised you to bring the troops home. If the Democrats that control the Congress (and have the ability to defund the war) are choosing inaction, they must feel that following the President’s leadership makes more sense than implementing a fabricated plan they used to get themselves elected. I believe most Democrats, although they don’t like the war, understand that pulling the troops out, would be a mistake. Leaving Iraq to civil war (and all the atrocities that entails) and Islamic theocracy, in which, terror organizations can operate against America and the west will leave average Americans saying: “Wow!… I thought the situation was screwed up with Bush and the Republicans. Democrat leadership makes the Republican leadership look competent by comparasion.”
Think about it. We are losing 2-3 soldiers a day. Support for the war is down to about 25%. If the Democrats believe that the war is lost and they care so much about the dying troops; why aren’t they defunding the war and bringing the troops home, today. Why are Hillary and most of the other Democrats (that originally supported the war) unable to commit to defunding the war. I believe they used you to gain power, but their smart enough not to commit to a surrender that will eventually leave us more vulnerable to terrorism. Bush’s plan is better than their plan (or lack of a plan), and they know it.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:30 pmpaul sez:
OK.. Thanks for clearing that up, paul.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pm“If the Democrats believe that the war is lost and they care so much about the dying troops; why aren’t they defunding the war and bringing the troops home, today. Comment by paul — January 17, 2007 @ 3:30 pm”
****But dear *naive* paul, it’s because of *us* – you know the *cons*! Without us, they can’t pass filibuster legislation! And they aren’t going to get us – because our *egos* are more important than *winning* anything!
Plus, you missed the *dem* leadership already saying they wouldn’t strand soldiers already deployed, just because Bush isn’t competent. I guess you think *dems* are much *crueler* than Bush is – but the opposite seems to be true.
But thanks for *carrying-water* for us *cons* paul. Without you, and water carriers like you – there’d be no outlet for the kool-aid! You’re such a *sweet* enabler dear boy! Keep up the good work, zion isn’t yet realized, so we can’t have a *rapture* yet!
January 17th, 2007 at 3:48 pmPaul, like Bush and the republicans, you’re wrong. You want democrats to come up with a solution 17 days into the new year? Give them a chance. Bush’s “plan” is nothing new. It hasn’t worked yet, and it’s not going to work. We have no business being in Iraq. We were not attached by Iraq. We are in Iraq for oil and nothing else. Bush doesn’t give a flying fig about democracy; he’s demonstrated that every day of his “presidency” as he and his cohorts trample our Constitution to death. It’s a sorry time for our country. People like yourself have been duped and because you cannot tolerate the fact that you were used and duped by Bush, you continue to follow him and espouse his ideals. Face it, Bush made as big a fool of you as he did the rest of the country, but you have a choice to wake up and take a stand. Please join the rest of thinking Americans and oppose this war that is so wrong for the United States and the world.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:52 pmYo, Kit, these are not the droid you are looking for.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:55 pmI didn’t know that Kit Bond was an idiot, but I do now.
I didn’t know that Kit Bond even existed!
January 17th, 2007 at 3:58 pm#23, Zimzone, “Kit” is a very old English nickname for Christopher.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:59 pm#30, Yeah, I only knew James and Gold…
January 17th, 2007 at 4:02 pm#23, Zimzone, “Kit†is a very old English nickname for Christopher.
Comment by JaneESchneider — January 17, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
And I somehow get the feeling this guy would much rather have a more butch name…
Bond 001.5! Hysterical!
January 17th, 2007 at 4:17 pmPaul ~ #25
January 17th, 2007 at 4:18 pmI don’t post here often but I’m going to take a shot at responding to you. It doesn’t matter whether we stay or leave Iraq. The US has created one hell of a mess and in the end it will be the Iraqis that will bear the burden. If we stay all we do is fuel the anger and get more of our soldiers killed, if we leave there will still be a civil war and chaos for the Iraqis to endure. I don’t think the Dems think that pulling the troops out would be a mistake; it’s the only logical response to what is happening over there. Bush is making it harder for the Dems to work towards redeployment by sending in more troops. There is only one thing left for the Dems to do and that is to start hearings on impeachment. Bush is escalating this war and impeachment is the only thing that will stop him.
Lawmakers draft anti-Bush Iraq resolution
Democrats, leading Republican, say more troops not in ‘national interest’
At least they’re making a “stand”.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pmLeaving Iraq to civil war (and all the atrocities that entails) and Islamic theocracy, in which, terror organizations can operate against America and the west will leave average Americans saying:
Again, which countries are the west? Cuz I haven seen any other than Bush complaining about terrorists. Terror might be a concern, it is true, but I would like to present you what europeans (if thats west enough for you) think which is the bigger threat in this world: Israel.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:37 pmSpain has terrorism issues and do you see people advocating bombing or invasion of vasque regions? No.
Dont drag other countries in your little Im so afraid game.
I agree the chaos will continue whether troops are withdrawn or not. The chaos is result of the ill-conceived war. Nice planning for “victory” nothing was thought out and the insurgency continues…a year-and-a-half after being in it’s “last throes”. That is called lack of planning and arrogance on the part of Rumsfield, Bush, and Cheney. Their arrogance needs to be “unveiled” through the impeachment process. Thanks to them for creating the utter chaos in the region.
Without impeachment hearings, repubs will blame the dems for any future chaos after the troops are withdrawn.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:37 pmWho is John Galt? Thanks for posting. You sound reasonable and should post more often. I understand what you are saying, but what I don’t understand is the absense of any responsibility on the part of anyone outside the U.S. Islamic fundamentalist terrorists attacked us many times before 9/11, on 9/11, and have had multiple attacks on western societies outside the U.S. since 9/11. I believe the war in Iraq is a front on the war on terror. (I assume you do not.) Saddam Hussein disregarded the dozen or so resolutions from the U.N. when the world was concerned that he had WMD. It has been decribed as the worst bluff in history, but Bush believed it, Clinton believed it, Kerry believed it, most in Congress believed it, the Brits believed it, and the U.N. believed it. Saddam was also a despot that alledgedly facilitated terrorists like al-Queda. There is a mess in Iraq. Let us not forget, that the situation evolved from actions from the Middle East. It would be like blaming FDR for Pearl Harbor and WWII. And I believe that in the short run, bringing the troops home seems like a good idea; in the long run, we open ourselves to less control in a volatile region, were fundamentalist Islam remains intent on the demise of our culture.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:41 pmI am shocked that it took so long for the rubber-stamper to agree. Doesn’t Kit Bond usually agree before learning the detail of Bush’s plans.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:47 pmwe open ourselves to less control in a volatile region,
Comment by paul
So it was all about control of the region? mmmm…you are not imperialistic, right? And then you wonder how people around the world hate US so much.
were fundamentalist Islam remains intent on the demise of our culture.
I would call an invasion on Iraq an agression to arab culture.
How do these guys mind work that the criminal becomes the victim?
January 17th, 2007 at 4:59 pmYeah, I only knew James and Gold…
Comment by RUCerious — January 17, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Grooaannn…. :-D
January 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pmTalley sheet is great info. Any webheds need to dispurse that gem. However, what thee holy hello is a vote of on escalation. What kind of bullshit is that!!! Not known!!! Woo doggie that’s some gooood bulldoodoo! A politician basically saying I am unfamiliar with the escalation of our American troops for the purpose of stabilizing something for someone and killing somebody. Yep, good bulldoodoo.
January 17th, 2007 at 5:13 pmPaul ~ No, I don’t believe nor have I ever believed that Iraq is our front on terror; I believe Afghanistan is our front on terror. I’ve had this conversation with friends and they’ve played the devil’s advocate by asking “Don’t you think things will get worse if we leave?†The answer is no, it won’t get any worse than it is now. The Sunnis and Shiites will either continue with the civil war they are fighting or they will come together to fight the terrorists that are now in there country because of us. As for Clinton, Kerry, etc. believing the “intelligence,†I believe Bush knew the intelligence was false and fed that false information to sell the war. With all the information out there, from Cheney and the “aluminum tubes†to the “yellowcake scandal†to Colin Powell’s speech to the UN in ’03… and it doesn’t end there, the list goes on and on. Saddam and bin Laden hated each other, so there was no working together on that front. I probably won’t change your mind but I have two suggestions. One read the book “Out of Iraq†by George McGovern (It’s an easy read and should only take you a couple of hours) and two, take a look at this: http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/17/6653/#comments
January 17th, 2007 at 5:31 pmHis welcome what?
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — January 17, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
His welcome MAT?
January 17th, 2007 at 5:59 pmThe neocons seem to forget:
1. Bush went out of his way to do the opposite of Clinton.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:03 pm2. Clinton had his focus on terrorism, specifically Osama Bin Laden.
3. Therefore, Bush ignored Bin Laden until 9/11 after which he could
lay claim to the dubious title of “War President” in order to consolidate
power.
Caption Contest:
“Just play it cool, boy. Real cool.” (snap fingers)
January 17th, 2007 at 6:06 pmWow.
It’s like his metabolism generates its own Rohypnol.
January 17th, 2007 at 7:01 pmSo if Bond supports the escalation, then why is he shown as “opposed” to it on the official scorecard?
January 17th, 2007 at 7:24 pmWho is John Galt? I will try to find the McGovern book. I looked at your link. It looked to me that the Democrats were against escalation, but not for bringing home the troops. Fair post.
January 17th, 2007 at 7:34 pmWould this be a “Fippity – Flop”, or a Flop Flip???
January 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pmThe idea that Democrats needed to get into office to figure out what to do in Iraq is not genuine. Democrats seemed to know exactly what to do back in November. If it is so obvious that this war is a mistake and the only real answer is to bring home the troops, and considering that we are losing about 3 soldiers a day; wouldn’t it have made sense that the first item on the Democrats agenda would have been defunding? (It has been done before). If they truly believe that is the right course, at the very least they are guilty of inaction that would have led to the deaths of approximately 20 more servicemen (for the past week) and an additional 3 more a day until they act. Leadership is a two edge sword. With leadership comes the priviledge of being able to make decisions, but it also comes with the responsibility of those decisions. If Bush and the republicans are responsible for the first 3,000 war dead, the last 20 (and 3 per day going forward) become a joint responsibility.
January 17th, 2007 at 7:45 pmWhat a moron.
January 17th, 2007 at 9:09 pmComment by trueblue and zooeys ass kicker #53
…I didn’t know TP had become a high school chat room…
January 17th, 2007 at 10:35 pmHand that good ole boy a gun and a vest and send him to Eye Rack. He’s ready.
January 17th, 2007 at 10:53 pm…I didn’t know TP had become a high school chat room…
Comment by big papa
Yeah, thanks for your support, big papa.
January 17th, 2007 at 11:04 pmThis place has degenerated into a free for all. I think they got the schedules mixed up at the office.
Those trolls are so angry and bitter. Logic and reality have finally crushed their facade.
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