Graham: Pace and Gates Showed ‘Lack of Sophistication’ On Escalation Debate
Graham: Pace and Gates Showed ‘Lack of Sophistication’ On Escalation Debate
Earlier this week, both Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Peter Pace and Defense Secretary Robert Gates disputed the argument that a resolution opposing Bush’s escalation strategy would harm the troops and “embolden” our enemies:
PACE: “There’s no doubt in my mind that the dialogue here in Washington strengthens our democracy. Period”
GATES: “Gates said troops understand members of Congress want to find the best way to win the war. ‘I think they’re sophisticated enough to understand that that’s what the debate’s really about,’ he said.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of the Senate’s most ardent escalation supporters, slammed Pace and Gates this morning in the conservative Washington Times:
Sen. Lindsey Graham said he was outraged that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would say U.S. combat forces “understand” politics back home and won’t be disheartened by a symbolic no-confidence vote against the commander in chief.
“It shows a lack of sophistication about how this would play in newspaper headlines throughout the world,” said Mr. Graham, South Carolina Republican.
Instead of concerning himself with newspaper headlines, Sen. Graham should focus on getting the policy in Iraq right.
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February 9th, 2007 at 3:22 pmLindsey,
We need to show the world that…
…we’re not ALL as stupid as you…
…and your right wing inbred TREASONOUS confederate flag loving…
…warmongering KIND!
February 9th, 2007 at 3:22 pmGo Team Terror!
February 9th, 2007 at 3:24 pm“It shows a lack of sophistication about how this would play in newspaper headlines throughout the world,†said Mr. Graham, South Carolina Republican.
I can just see the ‘headlines’ now:
…etc., etc., etc….
But of course we can’t have that…the notion that Americans were becoming rational again might ‘embolden the terrorists’.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:26 pmHAS gRAHAM ever SERVED IN THE MILITARY?
February 9th, 2007 at 3:30 pmSo Graham is just pissed that Gates didn’t follow the “if you don’t vote with Bush you’re not supporting the troops” bullshit?
What a tool.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:30 pmDead Iraqis? Who gives a sh*t about that!
It’s the papers, I tell ya, that’s what we have to worry about. Them damn papers.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:30 pmHAS gRAHAM ever SERVED IN THE MILITARY?
Comment by whiteyfresh — February 9, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
—————————————————————————————-
Graham is a former JAG officer.
It’s interesting that he complains about how this would play out in the NEWSPAPER HEADLINES around the world, not how it will play to our soldiers and marines in the field… Because he KNOWS that Pace and Gates are RIGHT.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:35 pmGraham is an odious prick.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:35 pmWhen one understands Team Terror believes the American polulace is the true enemy that must not be emboldened by a democratic dialogue then it makes sense.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:37 pmAllright, lets just assume that al qaeda actually watches cnn or c span and that our political system is still functioning correctly. If this was so might those who supposedly just hate the idea of freedom not think it over when they see how it worked? This is all null and void since its no longer worth a damn.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:42 pmthx damon. i knew he was SOMETHING(A big bag o’ horsesh– comes to mind), but i couldn’t remember what…..
February 9th, 2007 at 3:42 pmI used to have a lot more respect for Sen Graham.
I’m sure in the coming days, weeks and months, I will have even less.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:42 pmAs a former JAG officer, Graham held more credibility in my estimation when it came to certain military matters, but as time goes on, I have come to believe that he is the worst kind of politician because he has used his perceived credibility in members of the public in order to insidiously further the cause for GWB.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:43 pmGraham is a Republican, first, last and always. I shouldn’t be surprised any more at the number of people in high places who have compromised themselves, sold their souls for the corrupt politics of the repugnican party.
I will not be lectured on sophistication by South Carolina.
Our Republic must be seen to function, otherwise what are our men and women in uniform supposed to be representing?
Idiot.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:46 pm.
Graham is a gross troll
February 9th, 2007 at 3:46 pmBTW – OT
February 9th, 2007 at 3:46 pmAnyone know what happened to Wayne and Jane Schneider who used to post here.
Graham just needs to STFU. Whatever credibility he had went out the window when he decided to support Bush’s NSA warrantless wiretapping program after declaring that it was illegal.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:49 pmI’ll tell you who showed a lack of sophistication: the liberals. Instead of either keeping your mouth shut, or coming up with a better plan that doesn’t involve surrender to the terrorists, they sit there and complain about the President’s victory surge.
Here’s a clue, if you have no better plan than the President’s, stop emboldening the enemy. Shut up. And keep your mouth shut for good.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:53 pmAnyone know what happened to Wayne and Jane Schneider who used to post here.
Comment by Marie
Wayne put up a message on his website that he’d lost internet privileges at work (didn’t say why), and they don’t have internet access at home, so it may be a while before we hear anything from them.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pmShut up. And keep your mouth shut for good.
Comment by firehead
You do understand the whole First Amendment thing, don’t you?
Piss-soaked troll…
February 9th, 2007 at 3:56 pmGraham is an odious prick.
Comment by snewp —
Hmmm, I wonder if there’s a market for an
Whadda-OdiousPrickometer?
February 9th, 2007 at 3:58 pmThe Presidunce’s victory surge ~ Hmm, anything to do with Condi?
February 9th, 2007 at 3:59 pmJesus Christ. You forget what america is supposed to stand for. You sell our ideals for what?? Protection? You dont realize that acting like russia will only create more hate. It was not simple hate that started this, it was our meddling in the middle east in the first place. Now its becoming hate for good reason.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:00 pmWhy do Republicans think the US military is filled with morons?
February 9th, 2007 at 4:02 pmShut up. And keep your mouth shut for good.
Comment by firehead
Congratulations, you’re a perfect terrorist recruit. They hate free speech and debate, don’t they?
February 9th, 2007 at 4:04 pmGraham (and fellow jackoff Demint) represent so much of the attitude here in South Carolina. Being a yankee from Illinois makes listening to these idiots so frustrating. The only redeeming feature here (Charleston) is the warmer weather.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I’ll tell you who showed a lack of sophistication: the liberals. Instead of either keeping your mouth shut, or coming up with a better plan that doesn’t involve surrender to the terrorists, they sit there and complain about the President’s victory surge.
Here’s a clue, if you have no better plan than the President’s, stop emboldening the enemy. Shut up. And keep your mouth shut for good.
Comment by firehead — February 9, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Ooo.. Too much. To be a good troll, you have to disagree with just the right amount of vitriol. Enough to bait people into an argument but not enough to sound like a complete moron. Keep practicing. You’ll get there.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:06 pmLindsey don’t you remember? Democracy is messy. Sometimes the truth will get out from unlikely sources. Outraged at a General for stating that freedom of speech is a good thing.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:17 pmthey sit there and complain about the President’s victory surge.
Comment by finehead — February 9, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
what? did I miss sumthin’? Victory Surge? Is that a new Coca-Cola product?
February 9th, 2007 at 4:19 pmEnough to bait people into an argument but not enough to sound like a complete moron. Keep practicing. You’ll get there.
Comment by swordsbane
LMAO!!
February 9th, 2007 at 4:21 pm“Graham is a former JAG officer.”
Was that before “Don’t ask, don’t tell”? Sorry, but his voice is identical to one of my flamer friends, it’s freaky.
I vote for “Cheney Imprisoned, Bush Resigns, Our Long National Nightmare is Over” for the headlines I’d like to see.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:25 pmEnough to bait people into an argument but not enough to sound like a complete moron. Keep practicing. You’ll get there.
Comment by swordsbane —
BWAHAHAHA~
Good jab swordsbane!
February 9th, 2007 at 4:25 pmIf he keeps practicing being a moron, he’ll never get there!
y – ol’Lin, he’s quite a sophisitaced mo-fo….
fireant thinks there’s such a creature as a “liberal” – bet he believes in unicorns, too. got a news flash for ya fireant, there’s only one kind of us – we’re all Americans, and these Americans is a-gonna make sure that Dubbie’s kind of Americans pay for their mistakes.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:37 pmGraham is a snake.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:38 pmGraham is another one of those Congressmen that first run hot, then cold. You never know which side of the thigh this weiney is gonna rest.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:57 pmHe reminds me of the Church Lady on Saturday Night Live, except he’s the real thing.
Don’t Graham’s comments read as if he thinks the troops are too stupid to get it?
Wasn’t Kerry pilloried for something similar–even though in his case the comment was deliberately twisted by the smear machine?
February 9th, 2007 at 5:01 pmGraham is outraged that he is shown to be a rubber-stamping, Bush ass kisser.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pmIt’s called Democracy, Mr. Graham. Perhaps it’s too sophisticated an idea for you.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:06 pmLindsey Graham is a bigoted misanthrope who personifies “lack of sophistication” so I suppose he’s an authority on it himself.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:07 pm#36 It appears that Lindsey Churchmouse, in fact, either wears a hairnet like his role model (the old bag lady) or plasters it with pure Aqua Net?? Butchwax, maybe?
February 9th, 2007 at 5:09 pm#41- Yeah- He’s the new and improved lez-bone variety of Church Lady. Now, don’t get me wrong- I LIKE lesbians. I just don’t like uptight, homely and morally bankrupt dykes… with BAD HAIR.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:20 pmOf course it will look bad in newspaper headlines. That is because any time the Dems do ANYTHING, the Repbulicans remember they have given billions to tons of PR firms which they can call up to get press releases written and put into papers all across the country making the Dems look bad. The white house also calls up Fox to give them marchining orders which most of the other tv news channels will follow along with once Fox starts talking about something. Finally, if necessary, the White House resorts to creating fake video news stories without telling people and getting their paid news people to write stories and editorials making the Dems look bad.
I disagree that the Republicans spend more time worrying about headlines than IRaq. They spend more time CREATING headlines than SOLUTIONS for Iraq. Then once those headlines are out, Republicans stop work to tour all the talking head pundit shows. Then when they do work they complain about how hard it is and how they should have to work less…or name more libraries and post offices of course.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:22 pmDoesn’t Mr. Graham understand that this debate is good for America’s image across the rest of the world? It shows that democracy is alive and well in the US.
Oh, the next time a right winger tells you that this sort of debate undermines your country, ennobles the enemy etc, point them towards Winston Churchill’s actions in the UK during WWII. He continued to have parliamentary debates on his war policies, putting his neck on the line numerous times during the darkest days of the war. If memory serves me correctly we won that war.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:22 pmI love how these pro-war wanktard senators are so puffed up with their own importance they think:
-soldiers would be disheartened
-terrorists would be emboldened
“…if you say bad things about me!”
Wretched bunch of failures.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:38 pmSen. Graham will be running again in 2008. He’s getting freaked out that his own “base” will turn against him if the the most senior leadership in the military (Gen. Pace-Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) and the Pentagon (Gate-Sec. of Defense) contradict what the Republicans like Graham have been saying about having such a debate.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:58 pmOh yes…and you can expect to be hearing McCain chime in momentarily as well.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:59 pmWouldn’t it be more effective (and accurate) to refer to the “conservative Washington Times” instead as the “Reverend Sun Myung Moon-controlled Washington Times”?
February 9th, 2007 at 6:09 pmDMC – I prefer “that Moonie newspaper”, much the same way as the GOP is the “Moonie Party”
February 9th, 2007 at 6:16 pmGraham seems to like Rumsfeld sophistication instead, which he misses,he can’t see Gates making the same nice media connections.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:53 pmI am Lindsey Graham’s constituent, not by my vote though. He represents President Bush instead of the people of South Carolina. He does not listen, help or otherwise ever say or do anything at all to further SC’s interests. He is purely a Republican agent, incapable of doing the job he was elected to do. I wish his term was over yesterday or the day before, but people … please bear with us. SC understands the error.
February 9th, 2007 at 8:57 pm#20 zooey
February 9th, 2007 at 9:24 pmThanks for the update. Sorry to hear that.
I grew up in Memphis and Atlanta and South Carolina was widely considered a hick backwater. Especially as you moved further away from
February 9th, 2007 at 9:45 pmMississippi.
#5 They don’t allow gays in the military.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:01 pm#21 Good stuff, Zooey. That one (firehead) should wear a diaper. He is kind of a chickenhawk.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:03 pmThat Lindsey could light up the eastern sky he flames so much. Lack of sophistication? Nope, lack of heterosexuality.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:04 pm#53 Wow, are you kidding? We, in the north think of Mississippians are backwater hicks (even Favre lovers). If SC is less gentile that is truly pathetic.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:06 pmQuestion for Graham, et al.
So then, when the Dems take the White House in ‘08, will you promise to shut the hell up and let her do whatever she wants…? or him, whatever.
February 9th, 2007 at 11:18 pmAs a former JAG officer, Graham held more credibility in my estimation when it came to certain military matters, but as time goes on, I have come to believe that he is the worst kind of politician because he has used his perceived credibility in members of the public in order to insidiously further the cause for GWB.
Comment by Marie #14
Marie,
One thing we (good, thinking people) must remember…
…the demons are liars…
…make no mistake…
…these ARE demons…
February 9th, 2007 at 11:33 pmSo, it is all about newspaper headlines. There must be alot of confusion when the liberal press is run by the conservative cabal.
February 11th, 2007 at 9:29 amPoor poor Lindsey. Its clear he is well aware he will be
February 16th, 2007 at 6:56 amup for election soon. Sounds as if he more than a
little concerned what the outcome will be. Now he
lashes out at 2 professionals, that refuse to be willing
pawns in the Neo Con game. Pace and Gates are real
pro’s, and it was a great pleasure to watch them put
the reactionary in his place. It was also a blessing to
watch both Gates and Pace ignore the undignified
response heaped on their heads. ReThuglicans just
love to intimidate anyone that disagrees with their
sheer insanity. The reThugs are going to lose even
more power in the next election. Its clear they are
so addicted to their Willie Horton tactics, it will take
decades to break the habit, and at least appear to be
normal once again. 12 years of raiding the US Treasury
and strutting around like Brown Shirts have ruined
them for life. Just perhaps, we real conservatives will
regain our Party from these reactionaries, with the
help of moderates and liberals. I didn’t leave the
Republican Party, the Party left me.