David Brooks: ‘Majority Just Isn’t There’ For A Withdrawal From Iraq By April 2008
David Brooks: ‘Majority Just Isn’t There’ For A Withdrawal From Iraq By April 2008
Last night on PBS’s NewsHour, New York Times columnist David Brooks argued that Congress acted “reasonably responsibly” in removing timelines from the Iraq supplemental.
Brooks incoherently argued, “The country wants to get out of Iraq, but they don’t want to get out precipitously. They want a managed withdrawal. The majority just isn’t there. So the majority in the Congress had to accede to those two realities.” Watch it:
It’s unclear what point Brooks is trying to make. He either doesn’t understand what the American public wants or he doesn’t understand the timetable legislation.
Brooks’ own paper conducted a poll recently that found “sixty-three percent say the United States should set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq sometime in 2008.” The bill that the Senate and House passed with bipartisan majorities — and Bush vetoed on the fourth anniversary of Mission Accomplished — set a goal for the phased withdrawal to be completed by April 2008.
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Exactly right Brooks. Except, there are many libs who want every little thing precipitous and they do not want to earn it either, they feel entitled, they are demanding and think they are the shit soley because they breath air.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:30 pmDavid Brooks wants the troops to remain in Iraq for the rest of Bush’s term in office, so to kick the ball to the next president to deal with it.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:32 pmSEE DUDE……….
THAT IS EXACTLY HOW THE CORRUPTION HAPPENS DUDE
A LITTLE BIT OF WHEELIN AND DEALIN
THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GET THE FRIGGIN CORRUPTION GOING
DOWN DUDE.
NOW JIMBO DUDE IS ULTIMATE COOLENSS
AND ALL I WISH IS THESE FRIGGIN TOTALLY CORRUPTED
PARASITES WOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE
DUDE
INSTEAD OF WHEELIN AND DEALING
DUDE
May 26th, 2007 at 6:33 pmwe are there for the oil, for the money, and to keep things in a constant state of turmoil, which, of course, makes it easier to keep the money flowing and to maintain control of the oil… we ain’t leavin’, not until the bought-and-paid-for republican, democratic, media, oil, defense and super-rich power structures are brought down and replaced with individuals who are actually dedicated to the common good… as atrios says, na ga ha pen…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
May 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pmWhat he really needed to say was “The Leadership in Congress has no cahones and will bend to the will of the president, They talk a tough fight, but when the rubber meets the road, they just don’t have it”
It is sad to see so many peoples hopes get placed on their shoulders, only to get ripped off like, like a umm……. rippy thingie that ripps and shreads, not nicely either, but bad ripping and shreading.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pm“A majority that wants a withdrawal” refers to a majority of those who count. Whatever gave you the idea that the people count?
This is what you get when the people have a choice between two pro-war parties led by people placed into office by the military-industrial complex.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pm“The majority just isn’t there”. There is a majority of Democrats in the House who can certainly call for the immediate [which means within a two to three month period] of the troops. In the Senate, it takes only one-not twenty, not ten, not five, but one-Democrat to filibuster against a suplemental bill which would call for funds to continue in Iraq.It would then require only 41 Democrats to sustain the filibuster.
The bill that Think Progress seems to be in such favor of does not call for the completion of the troops until April 2008, by which time a thousand more Americans will most likely arrive back in this country in flag draped coffins and thousands more ending up in VA hospitals across the country maimed and crippled.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pmDo you approve or disapprove of the way the president of America, George W. Bush is handling the current situation with Iraq?
May 2007 Jan. 2003 Sept. 2002
Approve 9% 19% 30%
Disapprove 85% 68% 59%
Don’t know 6% 13% 11%
Which, if any, of the following statements comes closest to your own view about the war in Iraq?
I supported the war and I support it now
11%
I supported the war but do not support it now
22%
I did not support the war but I support it now
3%
I did not support the war and I do not support it now
61%
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/15868
May 26th, 2007 at 6:37 pmMilitary announces 8 U.S. deaths in Iraq 3452
May 26th, 2007 at 6:39 pmHow about 51%, on Sept 11,2001!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pmWell, this is what all the “intelligence” told Bush before –the same “intelligence” he claims made him the “Decider”. It said “Do NOT Invade as disaster will follow”. Bush chose to ignore it, because he and his gang wanted to “drain the swamp”. And now they are in a LOSE-LOSE situation.
Most Americans want the troops home. They don’t like this illegal, immoral, and inexcusable war. It had nothing to do with Terror or 9/11 or settling the Palestinian/Israel dispute. It was either about payback or oil or The Geopolitical Game or all of the above, but it wasn’t about US security and national interests.
Unfortunately, a pull-out would make Iran the big player in the Middle East. That’s a given. Personally, I don’t mind that. I know many ex-pat Iranians and they all feel Americans suffer from Islamophobia and can’t tell the difference between rhetoric and genuine threats. It’s not America’s world over there. It has no business being there.
The Six Day War, which has never ended, will have its 40th Anniversary next month. And the UK Independent says a secret memo reveals that Israel has known from the beginning that its West Bank settlements were illegal: see HERE.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:44 pmhttp://movies.aol.com/movie/sicko/26778/trailersicko trailer
Can not wait to see it.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pmComment by Mr. President
Being correct about staying out of Iraq is a little more than breathing air… Being correct about cronyism and religious extremish (in all religions) helps with our belief that we should be listened to also. Warning that giving the government the right to violate the Constitution would lead to abuses turned out be correct as well. No one is 100% correct about anything… but I trust our logic more than yours …thats for sure… at least until you can provide performance showing that you have changed…
May 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pmNow that’s spin!!!!! We want out, but we don’t really want out. Like when a woman tells you no, she really doesn’t mean no. This is republican think.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:49 pmComment by Gerald Gibson Jr — May 26, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
But when it comes to withdrawing troops from an unstable warzone, it is, indeed, no time to be hasty. No one wants war, but simply packing our things and heading out is no answer, and that is what seems to be the solution of many of the folks on this site.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pmbrooks has had it all wrong for years. i mute him whenever i see his face, or i start throwing things at the tv. hasn’t a thought in his head based on fact.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:56 pmWell, it’s like the little Dutchboy with his finger in the dike. He doesn’t like standing there, but he can’t pull his finger out and go home either.
If Bush were only willing to engage Syria and Iran –and stopped encouraging civil war, then perhaps the US could withdraw soon. But Bush keeps up this delusional hope that things will work according to Rumsfeld’s original plan.
Personally, I think we can look to Vietnam. It wasn’t the End of the World when Saigon fell, was it? Indeed, Vietnam may have joined the world community even sooner had America not sulked like a boy who took his ball home when the other boys wouldn’t let him play.
America suffers from a bad case of Puritanism. And it always has. And it’s always been hypocritical about it too. Bush should be forced to read The Scarlet Letter. It’s sometimes better to forget and forgive and to go on as if nothing has happened.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:03 pmBrooks’ inability to see the future is on par with William Kristol’s inability. Yet these two yokels are given air time (assuming you can call an appearance on Faux Noise as air time) to spew their foolishness. Neither of them has been right ONCE on anything involving Iraqnam. Why does anyone even care what Brooks or Kristol or any of the other losers think or say? I’m more interested in the clam dip sitting in my refrigerator right now.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:03 pmit will be when Republicans Jump ship
TRYING TO STEAL IRAQS OIL
Bush’s actions appear to violate the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C 1951 (1982), which prohibits the taking of another’s property when the person’s consent is ‘induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, under color of official right’. The public official (Bush) need not actually have the authority that he allegedly misused, but only that the victim (Iraq) reasonably believed that the official (Bush) had such power.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:05 pmMr President, you wanted war so bad you nearly peed your pants. Did anyone believe you when you paced back and forth like a caged animal and muttered “I’m a patient man, but I want answers in weeks not months.” And now 4 years later we’re supposed to be patient???? Come on.
It’s a Lose-Lose situation. And the US is going to lose BIG TIME if it stays beyond 2008. It needs to involve Syria and Iran NOW. And it needs to shift the political map in the Middle East to include all those countries in solving the political problems of the region. (And that means and end to quoting what certain people said yesteryear and focus on the NOW.) And Rabin said “You make peace with your worst enemy, not your friend.”
May 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pmBrooks is one of the journalist who work for the White House. He has always supported what ever Bush says and when the White House lies he spins the story. I thought he was stupid but then I learned he’s doing the job he’s paid to do that is to lie. It’s much easier now the see the paid GOP Journalist as the investigations show just how the GOP has used the media, journalist and as Monica did who wants a job to do crime.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pmComment by Mr. President
Of coarse we would bring our equipment… other than that what are you saying? Take the time to bring out the Iraqis that dont want to stay for the aftermath? Or are you trying to say we have some business in Iraq? And if so what is that? And if it is Al Qeada then what makes you think we need the military instead of something like the CIA and special forces to take care of that problem?
If the Iraqis want to kill each other that is none of our business.
If the Iraqis pull their heads out and stop killing each other great for them! And we can help them if they ask for it once they make that decision to stop killing each other.
And if your answer has something to do with Iran… well I just dont see them as NEAR a threat as Russia still is now and certainly not as much as the USSR was under say STALIN… And we didnt need to invade Stalins USSR.
How about we just pull ourselves up off of our victim (Iraq) and use our military to keep the oil flowing until we can get all converted off it… Then put all this money we are spending on #1 Defense and covert ops vs Al Qeada-type problems… #2 Building up America… I dont know if you have noticed but we have an economic AND military menace called China looming… And when our economies stablility depends on the will of China … we are in no position to try to use leverage on them to keep them from harming us in non-military ways…
May 26th, 2007 at 7:08 pmFaiz,
Tu parles anglais, oui?
It’s unclear what point Brooks is trying to make. He either doesn’t understand what the American public wants or he doesn’t understand the timetable legislation.
I think this is the point he was trying to make:
“The country wants to get out of Iraq, but they don’t want to get out precipitously.”
Do you know what precipitously means? If not, that may explain why you made a whole waste of a post because you don’t understand the English language and a plain statement of fact.
Or, or, you’re a disingenuous hack that wants to paint Brooks as out of touch with American opinion, and pretend to not understand the simple fact he was pointing out, namely: Americans do not want to immediately withdraw from Iraq.
You want to smear Brooks because he is right, and Think Progress, who would like to immediately withdraw from Iraq, is wrong, when it comes to public opinion on the matter.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:08 pm11 # david I read that article too
Have you read this interesting one – Link Below – Spiegel German Newspaper
Iran’s president is at it again, threatening Israel with destruction should it intervene in Lebanon again. The bellicosity comes as the UN nuclear watchdog warns that Iran may be as little as three years away from a nuclear weapon.
He went on to reference Israeli history. “Sixty years of invasion and assassination are enough. If you do not cease invasion and massacre, soon the hand of power of the nations of the region will rub you criminals with Earth,” he said.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,484958,00.html
May 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pmIt’s sometimes better to forget and forgive and to go on as if nothing has happened.
Comment by david — May 26, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
David… david, david, david… this is not a viable suggestion for any nation, at any time, any where. I believe it is the words of one Lil’ Jon that convey the insight: “If ya ak like a B!tch, you git smack’ like a B!tch!”
May 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pmFaiz,
Tu parles anglais, oui?
Comment by DreamCrusher — May 26, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
HEYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:10 pmBrooks is another crime family enabler…always cooking to books to try to make Dubya look like something other than the totally miserable thug that he and his criminal administration is.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:16 pmComment by DreamCrusher
April of NEXT YEAR is not precipitously…maybe you dont know what precipitously means?
You dont want to avoid leaving precipitously… you want to avoid giving up on whatever excuse you fed yourself to believe that it was ok to wage a war of aggression that YOU would have fought off yourself if it was done to you… You broke the Golden Rule….
May 26th, 2007 at 7:17 pmComment by Mr. President
There is a large grey area between acting like a bnitch and being a dictorial occupier criminal state…
We dont have to be either one…
May 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pmComment by Gerald Gibson Jr — May 26, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
true, true
May 26th, 2007 at 7:22 pmBrooks is well aware of what the opinion of the country is on Iraq.He just chose to make up his BS on the situation.it’s what the repukes do to make a point.The provide their own facts,the lie big time.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:23 pmEight more died today. Eight more. They are just a number–eight. They have no names and because they have no names it makes it easier to view them as simply a “number’
They will continue to die. Day after day, We will continue to be advised of the NUMBER but not the names, because after all, to attach a human deminsion to it all, would be conterproductive. We might actually bond and connect to these unfortunate human beings who are being killed in a so called “COMBAT” situation, But we are not advised exactly who they are fighting or who is the enemy.
And the Democrats just allowed and granted,another blank check to the stupid idiot, strutting and smirking dumbass to continue this slaughter as he sees fit.
Country has gone down the tubes. I cannot vote for a
May 26th, 2007 at 7:26 pmRepublican or a Democrat. Maybe I will not vote at all,.
Gerald,
Removing 160,000 troops by April 2008 would be a bit precipitous, yes, unless you ignore the realities of logistics.
A withdrawal by April 2008 is not what Think Progress wants, they want an immediate withdrawal, and Brooks points out that this isn’t what Americans want. For pointing that out, TP wants to “get” Brooks.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:30 pmComment by DreamCrusher — Enlist now and you go help fight this war that you support.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:39 pmU.S. deaths near grim Memorial Day mark
Americans have opened nearly 1,000 new graves to bury U.S. troops killed in Iraq since Memorial Day a year ago. The figure is telling — and expected to rise in coming months.
http://news.yahoo.com/
Military announces 8 U.S. deaths in Iraq
May 26th, 2007 at 7:40 pmComment by DreamCrusher — Go right now. Enlist and fight this war that YOU support!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:41 pmIn the period from Memorial Day 2006 through Saturday, 980 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq,
May 26th, 2007 at 7:41 pmComment by Mr. President – You as well! Go NOW. Walk, drive, ride your bike and go down to the nearest recruiting office and sign up. You support this war? YOU FIGHT IT!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:43 pmJTitor,
Sure, as long as you go to Iraq upon an immediate withdrawal of US troops.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:45 pmDavid Brooks is a lying, arrogant, sock-puppet/whore for evey courrupt, murdering, criminal NeoCon in the White House, in Congress, in the foriegn board rooms of every war profiteering global conglomerate that has ever had a death grip on our government, and in the Universe (from afar, of course, because they, and Brooks, are all miserable cowards with urine running down their legs at the thought of having to do ANYTHING from PRINCIPLE!)!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:45 pmComment by DreamCrusher — Êtes-vous un lâche ?
May 26th, 2007 at 7:48 pmComment by DreamCrusher — Êtes-vous un garçon de sissy ?
May 26th, 2007 at 7:50 pmJ’enseigne les trolls. Cassez-vous ainsi !
May 26th, 2007 at 7:51 pmIran: Western spy networks discovered
The Intelligence Ministry has “succeeded in identifying and striking blows at several spy networks comprised of infiltrating elements from the Iraqi occupiers in western, southwestern and central Iran,” said the statement, using shorthand for United States and its allies.
The broadcast did not elaborate, saying further details would be published within days.
MEANWHILE
US Disbands Unit Created to Pressure Iran and Syria
May 26th, 2007 at 7:52 pmI have no idea who the people are that Mr. Brooks is talking to. They certainly are not the majority of Americans who want us to get the hell out of Iraq.
gerald .. “A withdrawal by April 2008 is not what Think Progress wants, they want an immediate withdrawal, ”
and you know this how? Have you done a poll on all the posters on Think Progress and every one of them say that they want an immediate withdrawal? You really should stop making things up. It makes you look like an idiot.
I see that Mr. President is the resident troll on this thread. I guess that Jake, michael and the others have gone back into hiding. I wonder what determines which persona of the troll comes out for each thread?
May 26th, 2007 at 7:54 pmDavid Brooks makes stuff up.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:55 pmMOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Goncharov) – Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, thinks that Iran has gone so far in its nuclear program that it is no longer relevant to demand that it should stop uranium enrichment.
Moreover, he believes that since the major world powers have come to terms with a nuclear North Korea, they should do the same towards Iran.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:56 pmIran wants to develop shared oil fields with Iraq
Iran and Iraq have been strengthening ties since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, arousing concern among Iraq’s once dominant Sunni minority and other Arab states as well as in the United States.
Great Idea : America should give up the idea at its ability to control the price of oil
May 26th, 2007 at 8:00 pmI have been watching Brooks for years now and I have seen a marked change in him in the past year – he is less coherent (as described above) and his arguments are lame. He knows he is riding a losing pony and he can’t figure a way to get off.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:27 pmYeah, David Brooks carries water for the neocon republicans — but did you get a load of what Mark Shields said (he always reminds me of Droopy Dog.)
If you’re going to call out Brooks for the putz he is, then you should also point out when Shields spins out of control.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:33 pmIt’s unclear what point Brooks is trying to make. He either doesn’t understand what the American public wants or he doesn’t understand the timetable legislation.
Hmmmmm…I’m gonna throw this out there…have you considered the possibility that Brooks is being dishonest?
May 26th, 2007 at 8:36 pmExactly right Brooks. Except, there are many libs who want every little thing precipitous and they do not want to earn it either, they feel entitled, they are demanding and think they are the shit soley because they breath air.
Comment by Mr. President
What — exactly — have you “earned,” Mr P, in your 24 years on this planet?
It seems to me that you think rather highly of yourself. Tell us what you have done to deserve to breathe the air.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:03 pmAnother pundit gives yet another half truth to cover the congressional republican ineptitude. Fact: Democrats in Congress stood behind, for the most part, Mr. Bush and the Republican Congressional leadership for six years.
However, when Democrats came into the leadership role of Congress, Republicans formed a coup that was aimed at defeating their counterparts in house because they had lost to them in election.
There was no reason, other than political posturing, that Republicans refused to stand with Democrats and over ride Mr. Bush’s veto of may 1st. It is the Republicans that brought on this situation because they did not want the Democratic leadership, especially Speaker Pelosi, to succeed at something that they failed miserably.
Furthermore, and in conclusion, the Republicans showed with their refusal to demand, with the Democrats, time limits for withdrawal, how they truly regard out troops currently serving in Iraq; as political pawns to use to try and save their own political arses.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:56 pmWhen you are a bootlicker for the thugs in the crime family, you have to make shit up and lie.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:00 pmwho cares what this man thinks….. he is not an elected person nor does he represent anyone I know out here in internet/tv land where we all know the deal… we want the troops home, we want criminals put in jail end of story
May 26th, 2007 at 10:02 pmBrooks is yet another big talking cowardly chickenhawk who I’d love to see go for an unescorted walk down McCain’s market street.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:02 pmIt seems to me that you think rather highly of yourself. Tell us what you have done to deserve to breathe the air.
Comment by Zooey — May 26, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
I think you misunderstood.
The point is:
Breathing air does not entitle one to all he or she demands.
Sure, we all know that war is hell, but just because we say so does not mean the govt is going to withdraw. It would be irresponsible to leave Iraq in the condition it is now in, even though we are in fact the cause of that condition. The threat, also, is not alkaida, but it is the potential genocide that might ensue upon our departure (this is in response to GGjr).
May 26th, 2007 at 10:49 pmTobey Tall, interesting article in Der Spiegel, but it looks like Pentagon propaganda to me. There’s no byline and the juxtaposition of comments is too much like an editorial.
Ahmadinejad, of course, didn’t say any of those words. They’re English words. And so we are relying on someone’s translation. Even so, what is the gist of what is said? Don’t attack Lebanon again or the rest of the Middle East will come to its defence. It doesn’t sound quite so Hitler-like, does it?
And that line about Israeli experts debating a 2nd war in Lebanon this summer. Where did that come from? I’ve been reading some of the Israeli newspapers online and I don’t see anyone advocating another war this summer or any other time. No. Instead, I see angry editorials wondering what the idiots were thinking who planned last summer’s war and why were they still in office.
Oh, and ElBaradei seems to think there’s no point in trying to stop Iran’s nuclear program and that, if the West can live with North Korea’s, it should learn to live with Iran’s. That’s not quite how the article wants it understood. But then it reads more like White House scaremongering.
I have to keep reminding my friends that Ahmadinejad is not the Supreme Leader of Iran. He’s NOT the Decider. He’s the elected president and so speaks for a populist viewpoint, but the real power rests with the clerics who are far more pragmatic.
Don’t forget: the MSM is running endless articles trying to prove that Iran is irredeemable and evil and hellbent on destroying the whole wide world. It’s the same baloney they handed us in the lead up to the Iraq invasion. If you look at the article with a more jaded eye, it doesn’t seem any more dangerous than what was said last summer. And who intervened to stop Israel’s attack on Lebanon then? Nobody.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:56 pmthe first part of his statement is correct (that the country wants out), but the second part is correct as well (that the votes aren’t there). he’s just being honest….
the only part where he’s wrong? that the country wants “a managed withdrawal”. whatever, dude!
May 26th, 2007 at 11:03 pmMr President, it is the USA that is engaged in ethnic cleansing. It’s the American military that has been picking sides, willy-nilly, and slaughtering innocents in Iraq and shouting “Ooops!” and “So sorry!” whenever they’ve been caught. Don’t think that Divide & Conquer hasn’t been part of the neo-con strategy from the beginning. The division between Sunni and Shia is not as wide as hyped in the media.
What would happen if the US withdrew? I think you’d find a lot less killing than you imagine. Besides, you are going to have to withdraw at some point and the situation will NOT have improved. You haven’t set up a balanced security force. You’ve deliberately incited sectarian violence. And failed to protect Sunnis under attack. Indeed, your commanders in the field seem to go out of their way to describe Sunnis as thugs, scum, thieves and murderers.
So, frankly, I don’t see that withdrawing now or in two years will make much difference to the Iraqis. Oh, more will be dead if you wait. And the country’s reconstruction will languish. And the attempt of democracy will, with the help of various oil companies, slowly move toward dictatorship, but there will be no improvement by waiting.
BTW, the UN mandate authorizing the occupation by the coalition expires 31 Dec 2007. What are the odds the Iraqis don’t want it renewed? Bush has to come in Sept and beg for more money, Mr Prez. Will he look good with al-Maliki’s government asking the UN not to renew the mandate? Will Republicans be able to hold the line when the liberated don’t want you there?
May 26th, 2007 at 11:11 pmComment by david — May 26, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Excuse me, I have just one quick, little, question…
May 26th, 2007 at 11:19 pmAre you an American citizen?
Comment by Mr. President — May 26, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
You ignored the first part of my response to you. What have you earned? Why are you entitled to say the things you say? Since when are you “the shit” and so much more knowledgable then anyone else around here?
We are part of “the people.” And as such we are entitled to speak our minds, and make certain demands. Not because we are liberals, but because we think it’s the right thing to do. If you don’t like it, too bad. We’ll keep saying it.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:21 pmWe are part of “the people.†And as such we are entitled to speak our minds, and make certain demands. Not because we are liberals, but because we think it’s the right thing to do. If you don’t like it, too bad. We’ll keep saying it.
Comment by Zooey — May 26, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
What — exactly — have you “earned,†Mr P, in your 24 years on this planet?
What are looking for a dollar amount?
Of course, we may all *speak* freely, we may all complain when we feel that the govt has not acted in our best interest as well.
However, the dude that spoke here is merely saying that, according to the recent decisions in Congress, it seems a speedy withdraw is not a responsible or viable course of action.
I concur, and mention that many (not all) who post on this site disagree. Those that do disagree certainly have the right to do so, as do those who agree, that is why this dialogue (TP) is an healthy outlet for discussion of current topics and world events.
So, for whom it may apply (namely, us all), I therefore reiterate, in the words of the legendary Mick Jaggar: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need”.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:33 pm“But when it comes to withdrawing troops from an unstable warzone, it is, indeed, no time to be hasty. No one wants war, but simply packing our things and heading out is no answer, and that is what seems to be the solution of many of the folks on this site”
No, let’s not be hasty. Let’s stay there for 10 or 20 more years…what???
May 26th, 2007 at 11:40 pmWhat are looking for a dollar amount?
Comment by Mr. President
Are you being deliberately dense? Who gives a shit about money?
What have you contributed to society? Do you just blah blah blah here? Or have you left your mark on the world — in a positive way?
I understand Mick Jagger perfectly, I have lived it. Do you understand what he’s saying?
May 26th, 2007 at 11:43 pmI hear the US embassy in Baghdad had to be so big because of the multiple helipads on the roof. The architects were told the State Dept didn’t want a repeat of the chaos at the embassy in Saigon. That’s what I call planning ahead.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:51 pmComment by Zooey — May 26, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
If you really want to know the things I have done which I consider positive, there are not many. But I never claimed that I was civil servant #1. Here are a few that I am proud of though: I am tutoring a friend whose mother has recently died, he is 20 and his only other family lives across the country. I help at a Good-Will drop off, I have made friends with the guy who works there and I help him load heavy furniture and other items on to a truck. Lastly, I try to keep a tranquil attitude no matter what comes my way, this is difficult however, but there have been occasions when I have had the ability to prevent a disasterous situation by speaking to someone reasonably.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:53 pmMr President, when you can’t win, there is no graceful way to exit. Just point yourself at the nearest port and start marching.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:53 pmdavid, marching is very generous. Goose-stepping is the word I would use.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:59 pmDear Mr President, I don’t think Quietism is a viable philosophy, particularly in politics.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:59 pmOkay, for the second time.
I do not claim to be civil servent #1, but here are a few things that I am proud of:
I tutor math students for free, in algrebra 1 and basic geometry. Recently a friend of mine lost his mother, he is all alone since his dad left and moved across the country, I offer him encouragement and help him with his school work.
I help at a local g00d-w!ll drop-off, I have made friends with the guy who works there and I help him load heavy items onto the truck.
I try have prevent friends from acting illegally, by speaking to them calmly and reasonably. Most likely some would be in jail right now if they had not heard a voice of reason.
Like I said, I know I am not up for any awards, but I do my part. I do not feel entitled to anything extra, nor do I feel that anyone here necessarily should have less of a claim to voice their opinion.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:33 amComment by Mr. President — May 27, 2007 @ 12:33 am
Good for you, Mr P. You’re doing good things for your community and friends.
Having said that, I’m confused by your attitude toward liberals, since most of us do the same things you’re doing. We don’t feel entitled to anything extra either.
Your comment at #1 still baffles me, but like you said, you’re entitled to voice your opinion.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:45 amIt seems to me that you think rather highly of yourself. Tell us what you have done to deserve to breathe the air.
Comment by Zooey — May 26, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
His mommy said he could breathe air, so nuf said.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:51 amOh, Tundra is back. Can’t wait to hear more right wing talking points.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:56 amIf the United States is ever going to leave Iraq, this process has to start sometime. Perhaps they are stalling until the oil deal is done, ensuring huge profits for Big Oil (since in Iraq, the cost of production is about $1.50 per barrel). In return, the Repukes would receive generous financial support to provide them with every possible advantage to remain in power for generations to come. In addition, the Bush Administration is most likely committed to “kicking the can down the road”, ensuring that no drawdown in troops begins until the next President begins their term. By doing this, Chimpy can forever tell himself that “we were winning” when he left office and that any “surrender” in the future will be laid squarely on the shoulders of that successor.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:03 amHey I was just answering the question for Zooey,
The question was “Tell us what you have done to deserve to breathe the air.”
It is my understanding that liberals feel that “A woman has sole choice rather a baby is born or not”
OK fair enough
Also it is my understanding that regardless if a person then axe murdered 15 school kids, the liberal agenda says we don’t “Stop them from breathing”
So I guess all he has to do to deserve to breathe is get a permission slip from mom, then noone can take it away.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:04 amTundra, I know. You are all for human life…until birth. You do know your pathetic words can be used against you.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:09 amThe fact that the Democratic Party cratered to the Thug in Chief has more to do with the fact he vetoed the first two attempts and that there is not enough of a majority to overrule the bootlicking, rubbernecked, brownshirts with (R) after their names in the Senate. They decided that they should fund the war for the next four months, and then their will be brownshirts jumping ship. The majority of citizens, 72%, think this occupation was a mistake and now they know it was a lie. Only 13% of Americans strongly believe in this war. They idiots who support the crime family in all their actions. They would defend King George if there was a video of him riding his pink pony up Jeff Gannon’s trail.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:13 amI know one thing, kasinca. I will not give them money for the next 4 months. If they grow a spine by then…maybe.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:15 amComment by JPark — May 27, 2007 @ 1:09 am
Psst find a place where I ever said I give a rats fury behind about abortion. Heck open up shops on the corner, doesn’t break my heart any. Make a morning after, week after, trimester after, during labor pill.
I was simply making the point that for a liberal to ask “Why someone deserves to breathe” is silly. Considering in general nobody ever has to do anything, and regardless of what they do, they deserve a happy life filled with roses and jello.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:17 amI feel your pain. I have turned them down this week. You be frank and I’ll be ernest, I just laid out reality. I don’t like it anymore than the next but the Democratic Party is the only way for us to take this country back from this crime family. We lost if for a few years but they have proven to be so incompetent and so corrupt, we must be able to get involved on the local level, choose good candidates and kick the crime family out. Then we can think about third parties. We cannot allow the crime family and KKKarl Rove to steal another election or our way of life and our country is gone.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:20 amI see, Tundra, so because liberals think a clump of cells without a heart or brain or lungs or nerves can be aborted that means they have no right to object to the killing of people with hearts and brains and lungs and nerves. Great point!!!!
May 27th, 2007 at 1:24 amIt bears repeating:
“David Brooks is a lying, arrogant, sock-puppet/whore for evey courrupt, murdering, criminal NeoCon in the White House, in Congress, in the foriegn board rooms of every war profiteering global conglomerate that has ever had a death grip on our government, and in the Universe (from afar, of course, because they, and Brooks, are all miserable cowards with urine running down their legs at the thought of having to do ANYTHING from PRINCIPLE!)!”
Comment #40, by hterrya — May 26, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
May 27th, 2007 at 1:33 amI see, Tundra, so because liberals think a clump of cells without a heart or brain or lungs or nerves can be aborted that means they have no right to object to the killing of people with hearts and brains and lungs and nerves. Great point!!!!
Ummmmm, try reading a tad, may help kiddo.
I wasn’t saying that not objecting to abortion and being against capitol punishment was counter intuitive. I never said holding those views was wrong.
A liberal said “Why do you deserve to breathe”
I said “His mommy said he could”
Which according to your doctrine is enough of an answer. If you want to debate abortion, I’m not the one that will bother because as I said I could care less.
If you want to debate why the death penalty is wrong that’s fine too. Because quite frankly I can do whatever I want and chowderheads like you will be fighting for me to be more comfortable.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:36 amYeah, Tundra, if Jeff Dahmer had gotten the death sentence and his mommy said he wanted him to breath you would not have imposed a death penalty. And you absolutely know you are a hypocrite because you brought up the possibility of debate over the death penalty. You are ok with being a hypocrite. That is admirable.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:43 amYou obviously sniff glue and have comprehension problems with the english language.
Night cuddlebear
May 27th, 2007 at 1:49 amNo, Tundra, you have a problem with logical thinking. Have a wonderful night.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:53 amCarter COULD have bought the hostages their freedom. Not sure that would be a good idea though. Reagan, on the other hand, thought it was DANDY. What a fraud he was. Tough guy, that Reagan.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:55 amWiped off the Map The Rumor of the Century –
The Actual Quote – So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in Farsi – Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad. Word by word translation – Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from from page of time – all hes asking for is regime change in Isreal
May 27th, 2007 at 8:03 amThe News Hour needs a new war spokeman.
May 27th, 2007 at 9:12 amBush and his defenders set policy as if the World is Black and White but TRY tonuance when explaining what Americans really want regardless if a poll is balck and white.
May 27th, 2007 at 10:14 amYeah, bush needs to withdraw troops back to the US in order to quell the riots in Washington, and other areas, when he declares himself “president for life” because of imminent danger from terrorists and thhe boogyman.
May 27th, 2007 at 10:57 amSo I guess all he has to do to deserve to breathe is get a permission slip from mom, then noone can take it away.
Comment by Tundra
If you read the comments, Tundra, you would know that I was asking Mr P about his comment in #1. I think you did read the comments, but you chose to twist my words into something unrecognizable. I thought you were better than that.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:15 pmI’ve had a conservative tell me that 35% of the public wants out of Iraq, so who knows what’s going on in the minds of these psychopathic-child personalities. Everything is upside down in these mentally challenged fractured minds of conservatives! It all can be explained once everyone understands that all conservatives are suffering from psychopathic personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder, and as a part of these disorders conservatives use psychological projection and LIE like there is no tommorow, they are oblivious to reality because of this.
May 27th, 2007 at 4:39 pmI am just so disgusted by Brooks and Kristol that I unable to write rationally about them. That cretins like these are treated as high priests in Washington just tells how much trouble this so called republic is in.
jon
May 29th, 2007 at 4:21 amConnecting the dots: from human behaviors to ecosystem decline
http://www.StudentsForTheEarth.org
>hijack
May 29th, 2007 at 9:23 amWHY IS THERE NO ARTICLE ON CINDY SHEEHAN’S DEPARTURE. Many House and Senate Democrats are spineless jellyfish and they make me ashamed to be a Liberal & a Dem, I’m starting to believe their the lesser of two evils.
May 29th, 2007 at 9:23 am