In a 22-2 vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday approved the nomination of Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute to become the Bush administration’s new war czar. A vote in the full Senate “could come this week.” (See more on Lute HERE and HERE.)
I’ve been laughed at for suggesting a Department of Peace.
War Czar sounds so Russian / Communistic. Do we need this? When did this become necessary?
Is it because we’ll need the extra manpower when we invade Iran?
Is this person in charge of starting wars?Can’t Cheney or Bush do this themselves?
I know, more questions than answers, but I just don’t get why congress is even considering this. It somehow adds some legitimacy to an abomination of moral intergrity we today call Iraq.
Can someone please tell me way Congress funded a “War Czar?”
from m-w.com:
czar:
Gothic kaisar, from Greek or Latin; Caesar
1 : EMPEROR; specifically : the ruler of Russia until the 1917 revolution
2 : one having great power or authority
We, the taxpayers, are already paying for an “emperor” by the name of George Bush, the Commander in Chief, the War Time President; the Decider.
We also pay for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc., etc., etc. How does adding a “war czar,” a “Kaiser” a “Caesar,” add to the safety of the American People?
Or, perhaps more importantly, what message are we sending to the rest of the world, when we create and fill such posts as the “Department of Homeland Security” followed by “The War Czar?”
It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world has had its fill of American Imperialism.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
FULL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
DEMOCRATS
Carl Levin (Michigan)
Chairman
Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts)
Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)
Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
E. Benjamin Nelson (Nebraska)
Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)
Mark L. Pryor (Arkansas)
Jim Webb (Virginia)
Claire McCaskill (Missouri)
REPUBLICANS
John McCain (Arizona)
Ranking Member
John W. Warner (Virginia)
James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Susan M. Collins (Maine)
John Ensign (Nevada)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey O. Graham (South Carolina)
Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina)
John Cornyn (Texas)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Mel Martinez (Florida)
The story here is the utter incompetence of national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley. Not Lute. I’m willing to give him a chance. It would be next to impossible to for him to do a worse job than Hadley – who is yet again another completely incompetent Administration official that they are not willing to remove for his disasterous performance on his job. The funny thing is that they had to go down to Lute to get someone.
Read this article in the WaPo to see what kind of person they were looking for, then ask yourself if Lute fits the bill…
#1 Absolutamento! If we had a leader who could actually accomplish his job, this position would be repetitive. Unfortunately, even he’s now admitted that he cannot do his job.
#15 yeah, it’s pretty funny. The whole article drips with the fact that they are looking for someone with “gravitas”, name recognition, and prestiege – but who do they get? Lute. Who, on paper, looks like a good guy but in the realm of D.C. he’s a three star general that no one has heard of. I really do hope he is more effective than Hadley, but in any honest assesment things are too far gone for anyone to fix. The time for change was sometime in 2003 when it became obvious that Rummy wasn’t competent to do his job.
WHERE ARE THE TROLLS TODAY? YOUR BOYS ARE LEAVING YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS FAILED WAR! CHUMPS.
I find our use of the word “czar” to be fascinating. I wonder if it’s a longing on our part to infuse some royalty into our republic, or just window-dressing of the job to make it more attractive than “scapegoat”. Or (even more scary) — is this position a truly imperial one, accountable to no one?
But conservatives HATE government so much and desire to reduce to rubble, why expand his cabinet? Stupid little Shrub thinks outsourcing is the answer to ALL his problems.
On its face, the term “war czar” smacks of old Russian rulers.
Having a “war czar” adds another layer of bureaucracy on which Bush can stand as he points the blame elsewhere.
If Bush is not commander-in-chief — what is he? That’s rhetorical, of course, because I can answer that in so many ways.
On the other hand, I suppose there is an outside possibility that Lute can face up to Bush and actually make sound decisions that are beyond the comprehension of the moron; but, especially after this week’s blistering assessment of Cheney’s rule as VP, Darth is actually running the entire government singlehandedly with his coterie of lawyers and sycophants, so it seems highly unlikely that Lute is anything more than my original assertion that Lute is merely a bureaucratic layer.
I’d like to hear why Dems approved this layering – I hope it is not to give further cover to Bush, but to illustrate his complete failure as president.
Faire > the Bible infers that in the End Times many will be blinded to reality. This Senate vote proves it, because only blind fools would vote for a War Czar to help the criminal Bush Regime.
Why didn’t the Senate, especially the democratic senators simply refuse to approve or vote for a war czar. The president of the United States is constitutionally in charge of managing wars. Therefore, it looks like the democratic senators serving the committee agreed with the president on the issue. Preposterous.
As we can see from Katy’s handy little list of Reps. The Dems are just as complient in this mess as anyone else is. Great job for the 2 who voted against, however, it didn’t stop anything.
What a waste of money. It’s never been founded why we actually need a war czar. More money thrown after bad. I mean really,…a war czar??? WTF. Is it America’s preparation for dealing with the Prince of Peace?
Will America always have a war czar now? Seems a 1/3 of the country has just gone off the deep end. At least it wasn’t CEO of the Military Industrial Congressional Complex. (at least not yet)
How long until we hear that Lute’s “doin’ a heckuva job” as War Czar, and Tony Snow saying “General Lute has the full confidence of the president?” even as things continue to deteriorate.
This “czar’s” role is simply to keep the critics at bay, just one step removed from the man who bears full responsibility for this fiasco on Iraq. Lute’s role will be to protect the president, not the troops or our nation.
If we had a strong, competent leader, we wouldn’t need a ‘war czar’.
June 27th, 2007 at 9:57 amSee the Democrats in the Senate have become stupid. War Czar position is un-constitutional.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:06 amOut of the frying pan. Into the fire.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:08 amI’ve been laughed at for suggesting a Department of Peace.
War Czar sounds so Russian / Communistic. Do we need this? When did this become necessary?
Is it because we’ll need the extra manpower when we invade Iran?
Is this person in charge of starting wars?Can’t Cheney or Bush do this themselves?
I know, more questions than answers, but I just don’t get why congress is even considering this. It somehow adds some legitimacy to an abomination of moral intergrity we today call Iraq.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:09 amDUMB!!
Why!?!?!?!?
WASTE OF FREAKIN TIME!!!!
The President now has someone else to blame for his mistakes.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:09 amAnother clown to espouse the “progress” in Iraq and Afghanistan. What a joke. War czar??? Who the hell came up with this?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:10 amWhat a farce. This just continues the lack of accountability this administration is known for.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:11 amCan someone please tell me way Congress funded a “War Czar?”
from m-w.com:
We, the taxpayers, are already paying for an “emperor” by the name of George Bush, the Commander in Chief, the War Time President; the Decider.
We also pay for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc., etc., etc. How does adding a “war czar,” a “Kaiser” a “Caesar,” add to the safety of the American People?
Or, perhaps more importantly, what message are we sending to the rest of the world, when we create and fill such posts as the “Department of Homeland Security” followed by “The War Czar?”
It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world has had its fill of American Imperialism.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:14 amwhich 2???
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
FULL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
DEMOCRATS
Carl Levin (Michigan)
Chairman
Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts)
Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)
Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
E. Benjamin Nelson (Nebraska)
Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)
Mark L. Pryor (Arkansas)
Jim Webb (Virginia)
Claire McCaskill (Missouri)
REPUBLICANS
John McCain (Arizona)
Ranking Member
John W. Warner (Virginia)
June 27th, 2007 at 10:18 amJames M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Susan M. Collins (Maine)
John Ensign (Nevada)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey O. Graham (South Carolina)
Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina)
John Cornyn (Texas)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Mel Martinez (Florida)
Katy,
McCaskill and Webb were the two who voted against Lute.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:19 amand, TP, why post links that require registration?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:19 amMcCaskill and Webb… well good on them!
thanks, amanda…
June 27th, 2007 at 10:21 amThe story here is the utter incompetence of national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley. Not Lute. I’m willing to give him a chance. It would be next to impossible to for him to do a worse job than Hadley – who is yet again another completely incompetent Administration official that they are not willing to remove for his disasterous performance on his job. The funny thing is that they had to go down to Lute to get someone.
Read this article in the WaPo to see what kind of person they were looking for, then ask yourself if Lute fits the bill…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001776.html
Also, if you want to know what a failure Hadley is, watch this and pay special attention to the last couple of chapters…
pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/
The lunatics have truly taken over the asylum.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am#1 Absolutamento! If we had a leader who could actually accomplish his job, this position would be repetitive. Unfortunately, even he’s now admitted that he cannot do his job.
Ach-tun der var czar!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:32 amThanks for the Post article, Rusty! Looks like they’re getting what they’ve been looking for….another “Patsy”.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:33 amI presume the overwhelming approval was a result of the fact that everyone now realizes that “no one is minding our store” at all in this White House.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:34 am#15 yeah, it’s pretty funny. The whole article drips with the fact that they are looking for someone with “gravitas”, name recognition, and prestiege – but who do they get? Lute. Who, on paper, looks like a good guy but in the realm of D.C. he’s a three star general that no one has heard of. I really do hope he is more effective than Hadley, but in any honest assesment things are too far gone for anyone to fix. The time for change was sometime in 2003 when it became obvious that Rummy wasn’t competent to do his job.
WHERE ARE THE TROLLS TODAY? YOUR BOYS ARE LEAVING YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS FAILED WAR! CHUMPS.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:39 amI find our use of the word “czar” to be fascinating. I wonder if it’s a longing on our part to infuse some royalty into our republic, or just window-dressing of the job to make it more attractive than “scapegoat”. Or (even more scary) — is this position a truly imperial one, accountable to no one?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:39 amOr (even more scary) — is this position a truly imperial one, accountable to no one?
Comment by missmolly — June 27, 2007 @ 10:39 am
You mean, just like the Vice President?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:42 amIf Lute wants the job, well…..whatever.
I really don’t appreciate having to pay his salary with my tax dollars. Isn’t this Chimpy’s job?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:44 amGood morning, Zooey :-)
June 27th, 2007 at 10:46 amAnother guy to do nothing, much like our Commander in Chief (who is supposed to be the one running this debacle).
I guess the Commander Guy prefers to delegate. It taxes his widdle brain. F*cking moron.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:47 amBut conservatives HATE government so much and desire to reduce to rubble, why expand his cabinet? Stupid little Shrub thinks outsourcing is the answer to ALL his problems.
STUPID LOSER HYPOCRITE.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:51 amHey Zooey, good on ‘ya for Idaho standing up to the Chimp’s Chimp, Gonzales yesterday!
Idaho rocks!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:54 amGosh, the answer was staring us in the face all the time!
What this war has needed all along was one more layer of bureaucracy!
It’s SO obvious!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:54 am.
On its face, the term “war czar” smacks of old Russian rulers.
Having a “war czar” adds another layer of bureaucracy on which Bush can stand as he points the blame elsewhere.
If Bush is not commander-in-chief — what is he? That’s rhetorical, of course, because I can answer that in so many ways.
On the other hand, I suppose there is an outside possibility that Lute can face up to Bush and actually make sound decisions that are beyond the comprehension of the moron; but, especially after this week’s blistering assessment of Cheney’s rule as VP, Darth is actually running the entire government singlehandedly with his coterie of lawyers and sycophants, so it seems highly unlikely that Lute is anything more than my original assertion that Lute is merely a bureaucratic layer.
I’d like to hear why Dems approved this layering – I hope it is not to give further cover to Bush, but to illustrate his complete failure as president.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:58 amMarie > the Democrats in the Senate have no excuse for voting for a War Czar. They have gone nuts like the GOPers.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:10 amSo is he just ‘War Czar’ for Iraq or all wars?
Is Lute now in charge of the War on Terror? War on Drugs? War on Poverty? War on Small fuzzies from Katmandu?
All future wars or just the ones George started?
June 27th, 2007 at 11:15 amJust add my voice to all of the above. This is insanity squared.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:16 amMaybe Lute could play the flute; that’s about how much good he can/will do.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:17 amAs for Jim Webb; good on him,again!
Soon the Department of Defense will be renamed the Ministry of War and then George Orwell, who wrote 1984 book, will roll over in his grave.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:18 amour senate has just signed off on their commitment papers. will someone take them to happy acres now?
June 27th, 2007 at 11:19 amSoon the Department of Defense will be renamed the Ministry of War …
I think you mean, MINISTRY OF PEACE.
:-)
June 27th, 2007 at 11:22 amFaire > also a Ministry of Love (Torture) in DC too. GITMO is one of those places, but coming soon to American mainland.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:26 amFaire > the Bible infers that in the End Times many will be blinded to reality. This Senate vote proves it, because only blind fools would vote for a War Czar to help the criminal Bush Regime.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:30 amWhy didn’t the Senate, especially the democratic senators simply refuse to approve or vote for a war czar. The president of the United States is constitutionally in charge of managing wars. Therefore, it looks like the democratic senators serving the committee agreed with the president on the issue. Preposterous.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:44 amFind the Foote.
Egan, out.
http://eganfoote.wordpress.com
June 27th, 2007 at 11:47 amSee the Democrats in the Senate have become stupid. War Czar position is un-constitutional.
Comment by Jay Randal
And you gotta love those “less government” republicans adding more bodies to every department.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:53 amStupid Dem Senators,
Leave the Iraq debacle to rest where it belongs, at Dumbya’s feet. Now you’ve got even more blood on your hands.
PATHETIC.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:59 amHow does adding a “war czar,†a “Kaiser†a “Caesar,†add to the safety of the American People?
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Having a Drug Czar has not won the “War on Drugs”.
Republicans seem to love pushing their responsibility on someone else, like Bush creating the “war czar”
whats next?
Maybe the “Flushy-thing Czar” to keep an eye on all janitors.
Or an “Election Czar” to preside over GOP caging and voter suppression.
How about a “Speech Czar” to do Bush”s speeches, so we never have to listen to the Idiot-in-Chief mangle the English Language, ever again?
June 27th, 2007 at 12:20 pmAnd you gotta love those “less government†republicans adding more bodies to every department.
Comment by shane — June 27, 2007 @ 11:53 am
“Less government” only applies to social programs.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:32 pmWhere’s the “Freedom Fries” czar when we need him???
June 27th, 2007 at 12:42 pmThey got Lute to help Lute Iraq if the oil. Just sayin’
June 27th, 2007 at 1:17 pmAs we can see from Katy’s handy little list of Reps. The Dems are just as complient in this mess as anyone else is. Great job for the 2 who voted against, however, it didn’t stop anything.
Dems suck too.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:21 pmBush has made it very clear that all his appointments are political hacks, incompetent in their posts, and chosen only for their loyalty to Bush.
Why are these goddamn SPINELESS DEMOCRATS approving ANY of Bush’s appointments?
June 27th, 2007 at 2:14 pmWhat a waste of money. It’s never been founded why we actually need a war czar. More money thrown after bad. I mean really,…a war czar??? WTF. Is it America’s preparation for dealing with the Prince of Peace?
June 27th, 2007 at 3:27 pmWill America always have a war czar now? Seems a 1/3 of the country has just gone off the deep end. At least it wasn’t CEO of the Military Industrial Congressional Complex. (at least not yet)
Hillary Clinton voted for it, so as usual she spits in our faces.
June 27th, 2007 at 4:01 pmWar Czar! Thank God – we’re saved!
June 27th, 2007 at 7:40 pmHow long until we hear that Lute’s “doin’ a heckuva job” as War Czar, and Tony Snow saying “General Lute has the full confidence of the president?” even as things continue to deteriorate.
This “czar’s” role is simply to keep the critics at bay, just one step removed from the man who bears full responsibility for this fiasco on Iraq. Lute’s role will be to protect the president, not the troops or our nation.
June 28th, 2007 at 5:17 am