Sen. Sununu: I Don’t Want President Bush To Campaign With Me
Sen. Sununu: I Don’t Want President Bush To Campaign With Me
The New York Times writes this morning that conservatives are trying to walk a fine line between supporting and distancing themselves from President Bush:
There is little question that the winds of discontent are stirring among Republicans on Capitol Hill over the direction of the Iraq war. A majority, of course, continued to support President Bush with their votes this week during the latest Iraq debate. But several Republicans no longer whisper, or walk away, when asked about their skepticism.
One of those conservative trying to strike this delicate balance is Sen. John Sununu (R-NH). “Sununu has faced criticism for his stance on Iraq, with critics charging he is too close to President Bush on war policy.” This week, he voted to filibuster the Levin-Reed amendment.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Sununu said that, despite standing with Bush on the war, he would not want the President to campaign with him. Asked if Bush would be an effective campaigner, Sununu said, “No, I think the President’s popularity unfortunately is at a fairly low level.” Sununu added that he’d be better off campaigning alone than with President Bush. Watch it:
“Bush campaigned for Sununu twice in 2002, including one visit three days before the election. First Lady Laura Bush visited the state two days before the Nov. 5, 2002, contest.”
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51 Responses to “Sen. Sununu: I Don’t Want President Bush To Campaign With Me”
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“Champagne with me, yes. Campaign with me, no.”
July 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pmWhat a coward…
July 21st, 2007 at 12:11 pmHe talks the talk, but won’t walk the walk.
Only rethugs behave this way, stabbing their friends backs.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:14 pmSununu is at risk. He has tepid support at best here in NH. His dad is still a liability for those of us old enough to remember him. The state has experienced a tremendous shift toward left of center in recent years and Sununu knows he will have a tough time getting reelected if any real heat is put on by the Dem national apparatus. Judd Greg has the same problem. I’m not big on either of them but there certainly has been worse.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:14 pmWell snarky snarky snark… I wonder how KKKarl will take that?
July 21st, 2007 at 12:15 pmMore and more Americans now realize the modern day GOP is the party of hypocrisy, chickenhawks, cowards, obstructionists, sexual perverts and pondscum.
May they be flushed down the tubes ( with due reference to Senile Sen. Stevens ) in Nov 2008.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:22 pmAnd he thinks this is going to fool his constituents? I doubt it. The reason why the Republicans are starting to peel away from Bush is because they are seeing their chances of being re-elected grow dimmer day by day. I actually think it is too late for most of them. Their constituents have seen them block the Democrats from doing anything to bring our troops home and they have seen the daily death toll of our brave men and women that was caused by their filibusters and other methods they use to stop the Democrats from even having a vote on bringing the troops home.
They don’t want a vote 1) because they know that they will lose and 2) because if there is a vote, they will have to put their money where their mouth is. If they vote to keep our troops in Iraq, their opponent can use that fact against them in their campaign. If the don’t allow a vote, the Republicans think that they will be covered politically. They think that this is “plausible deniability”. But, it won’t work. Their constituents are on to them.
Frankly I am amazed at how many are sticking with Bush on Iraq. When 67% of the American public wants us out of Iraq, don’t they realize that, unless they are in a particularly conservative district, 67% of their constituents want us out of Iraq. And, even if they are in a conservative district, they still have problems. A lot of that 67% are conservatives.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:26 pmNext year is going to be hilarious to watch. Bush will be trying to get out and campaign, but no-one wants him to ruin their candidacy by appearing with him. Remember that video Clinton shot at the end of his presidency? Bush’s video will show him wandering the halls of the White House alone, mumbling to himself about his legacy, while staffers give half-hearted consolations, and use the opportunity to showcase their administrative skills for any prospective employers who might be watching. How many republican staffers will seek to minimize damage to themselves by not mentioning their service to the Failure in Chief in future job interviews? I’m guessing quite a few.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pmIf Jeane Shaheen enters the race Sununu will lose his seat. If she doesn’t he will keep it. It doesn’t look like she’s getting in.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pm“Next year is going to be hilarious to watch.”
Especially when Fred Thompson is sworn is as president.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pmMr. Turner is probably correct. However the restlessness/frustration of the masses will be a wildcard. Shaheen must be his worst nightmare
July 21st, 2007 at 12:31 pm“67% of the American public wants us out of Iraq”
Fifty-one percent (51%) of American voters say that the United States should wait for the September progress report before making major policy changes in Iraq. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 38% disagree.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:31 pm“Next year is going to be hilarious to watch.â€
Especially when Fred Thompson is sworn is as president.
Comment by Mr. Turner — July 21, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Won’t tht be in 2009?
July 21st, 2007 at 12:33 pmhaven’t you heard?
…what september progress report?
U.S. Generals Request Delay in Judging Iraq
Published: July 20, 2007
WASHINGTON, July 19 — The top commanders in Iraq and the American ambassador to Baghdad appealed for more time beyond their mid-September assessment to more fully judge if the new strategy was making gains.
[…]
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2007/ 07/ 20/ washington/ 20policy.html?hp
.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmIraq likely to miss US benchmarks: ambassador
Published: Thursday July 19, 2007
The US ambassador to Baghdad Thursday warned Iraq was unlikely to hit its targets under the American “troop surge†plan by September, but said he knew of no ‘Plan B’ alternative war strategy.
[…]
http://rawstory.com/ news/ afp/ Iraq_likely_to_miss_US_benchmarks_a_07192007.html
Today’s colonoscopy revealed 50 percent less Republican senators lodged in Bush’s rectum than in 2002….
July 21st, 2007 at 12:35 pm“Especially when Fred Thompson is sworn is as president.”
Comment by Mr. Turner
Right after Bush is give a Nobel…
July 21st, 2007 at 12:37 pmFred Thompson - isn’t he the guy that Nixon thought was stupid?
But then, Bush has proven that smarts aren’t a requirement for the job, so Thompson might have a chance…
July 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pm#12
July 21st, 2007 at 12:40 pmIt seems unlikely that the September report will indicate anything other then continued “bleeding” on many levels. Of course there will be nods toward progress but nothing more. What then? If the numbers continue to indicate that the public wants change what would you suggest?
Fred Thompson - isn’t he the guy that Nixon thought was stupid?
Comment by barfly
Well, he is a Hollywood personality, ya know, the kind Repubes hate so.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:41 pmIf the numbers continue to indicate that the public wants change what would you suggest?
Comment by dbadass
More bloodshed as long as I don’t have to go and actually fight?
July 21st, 2007 at 12:42 pm#12
Here are the parts of that report that you conveniently left out:
At the same time, however, just 32% of voters believe that it is possible for the United States to win the war in Iraq. Fifty-four percent (54%) say it is not possible while 13% are not sure.
Also, 53% would like the Senate to join the House of Representatives and pass legislation requiring a troop withdrawal to begin in 120 days. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are opposed.
A separate survey found that just 19% of voters consider the troop surge a success.
Also, here is a list of many recent polls on Iraq:
http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm
Doesn’t look good for Bush and the Republicans who support him on Iraq.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:44 pmEspecially when Fred Thompson is sworn is as president.
Comment by Mr. Turner — July 21, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Won’t tht be in 2009?
Comment by Geeez
Or, like, never?
July 21st, 2007 at 12:44 pmI can only assume that the vast majority of ‘cons in Congress who have backed the thugs in the White House are NEO-CONS, not true Republicans.
All of them have supported the systematic dismantling of our Constitution.
The only way to get rid of them all is to not vote for any of them.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:44 pmComment by gummitch — July 21, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Sorry to get off the topic but I was curious about your grocery and the seafood labelling. I haven’t been able to search it yet due to my schedule. Is their system an intelligent realistic and progressive business practice or in response to some state/regional regulations which exceed current fed rules?
July 21st, 2007 at 12:48 pmShort version: I stand for everything Bush does - I just won’t stand next to him.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:50 pmWell, he is a Hollywood personality, ya know, the kind Repubes hate so.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
He’s got a trophy wife, and the grade-school mentality of repubs would soon gravitate to below-the-belt innuendo. The thirteenth commandment (”never speak ill of another republican”) is dead, now that Bush has killed it by attacking anyone who disagrees with him, and the long knives will be out for Thompson, who most don’t consider conservative enough.
July 21st, 2007 at 12:51 pmOr, like, never?
Comment by gummitch
Never, ever….. : )
July 21st, 2007 at 12:59 pmLast November the people of New Hampshire voted against modern-day Republicanism in a very big way. I don’t agree that we’ve gone “left of center” I think the people of NH feel pretty much the way we’ve always done: mostly this is a moderate state, perhaps tilting a bit right. But what has happened is that being a moderate today is the equivalent of a shrieking harpy lefty, thanks to how extreme the views and behaviors are of the right-wingers. Throw in that NH folks do not like hypocrites, do not like being lied to and do not like fools, and that pretty much explains why so very few Republicans were voted into office last November in my fair state.
I would never vote for Sununu. I don’t feel he represents me or the majority of the people in NH.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pmThe September deadline is meaningless. The situation in Iraq can’t be measured that way. There will be no progress, because the main prerequisite for progress is missing - redeployment. And the kind of progress that will come after that is most likely as horrible as the current situation.
To the Republicans up for reelection next year: Have fun and enjoy it while it lasts. In case you forgot. The American People is your boss, and they can fire you, really they can. You go ahead and try to change the odds by making sure non of the presidential muck hits you, but as you’ve been complicit….
July 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pmSununu, Lugar, Specter and all the other rethugs who make comments like this have voted with our delusional little chimp on every issue since 2001. It’s highly hypocritical and self serving to say the least. I hope the independent and democrats in their respective states are taking note of this…if they expect any real change in their government, it will not happen with these con artists.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:05 pm“No, I think the President’s popularity unfortunately is at a fairly low level.â€
So Sununu will agree with whatever initiative Pres Bush pushes in his direction, he just doesn’t want his voters to realise that.
He must think his constituents are not paying attention. Sad thing is, he is probably right. And/or they equate physical distance with political support.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:06 pmZed:
July 21st, 2007 at 1:07 pmI would agree with your clarification. I was suggesting that relative to William Loeb’s NH there has been quite a shift. Speaking of fools, what’s Benson up to these days?
> Fifty-one percent (51%) of American voters say that the
> United States should wait for the September
> progress report before making major policy changes in Iraq.
How did the poll define “major” genius? Even this 51 percent stands in start contrast to your moronic anti-hero president, who has no intention of making ANY policy changes in Iraq, as long as he’s president, no matter what happens…
July 21st, 2007 at 1:09 pmBUSH IS TOXIC. Anyone blame Sununu?
July 21st, 2007 at 1:29 pmBUSH IS TOXIC. Anyone blame Sununu?
Comment by veritas
“Sununu has faced criticism for his stance on Iraq, with critics charging he is too close to President Bush on war policy.†This week, he voted to filibuster the Levin-Reed amendment.
Why didn’t Sununu have the Cheneys to walk away earlier? or when Bush was more popular, even though he was still peddling the same brand of insanity, was it “okay” to ride along the Deciderer’s coattails?
It’s a little late in the game for the skunk to change his stripes convincingly.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm#34 Veritas,
Hello there…good to see you here. I agree with your BUSH assessment but I give no brownie points to Sununu. He is conning his constituents back home and only pretending to distance himself from the delusional chimp. One only has to look at his voting record since 2001 and see that he has forfeited his oversight responsibilites lock stock and barrel.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:36 pmThese chimpy leg humpers all have chosen their repug party over everything else. Anyone with any credibility on this site knows that if it were someone from the democratic party leading our country to ruin, we would be the first to stand up and call for thier impeachment. That, in a nutshell, is the dividing point in our country politically.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:43 pm>Especially when Fred Thompson is sworn is as president.
>Comment by Mr. Turner/Mr.Pee/Jake
How stupid are you going to feel if he doesnt even run?
July 21st, 2007 at 1:46 pmVeritas:
Check out the MIND WAR PDF from the above link
July 21st, 2007 at 1:47 pmShow pictures of the two together at all of Sununu’s campaign stops.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:54 pmCLASS ACTION LAWSUIT – THE PEOPLE VS. THE GOP
The Republican Party entered into a LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT with the people of America, who rewarded them with their votes and their trust.
Some observers cite the Contract With America as having helped secure a decisive victory for the Republicans in the 1994 elections
REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
MC CAIN ADMITS GOP GUILT:
“Americans had elected us to change government, and they rejected us because they believed government had changed us,” the four-term senator said.
“We lost our principles and our majority. And there is no way to recover our majority without recovering our principles first.”
“Hypocrisy, my friends, is the most obvious of political sins. And the people will punish it,” McCain said, explaining that while Republicans were elected to reduce the size of government, they ended up increasing it “in the false hope that we could bribe the public into keeping us in office.”
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN BREACH OF CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MC CAIN ADMITS IT.
SUE THEM.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:56 pmSedition will become an increasingly popular term under Martial Law:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Sedition is a term of law to refer to covert conduct such as speech and organization that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often included subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority.”
When Cheney, Rumsfeld and others conspired to carry out the False Flag attacks against the United States, were they not employing “covert conduct such as speech and organization that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order?”
How could this term then be applied to those acting against this rogue government, itself having come to power through false pretense and vote-rigging? Such a government could not be defined as having “lawful authority.”
Absent the “Lawful Authority” of a government, there can be no Sedition.
They, the (s)elected, are in fact “the Outlaws.”
They are the ones subverting the Constitution.
Therefore it is they, the Administration itself, who have committed the act of Sedition.
“Sedition complements treason and martial law: while treason controls primarily the privileged, ecclesiastical opponents, priests, and Jesuits, as well as certain commoners; and martial law frightens commoners, sedition frightens intellectuals.”
The First Amendment clearly states that “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.”
Speak Up.
IMPEACH.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:59 pmWho would? Bush is the worst president America has ever had.
July 21st, 2007 at 2:51 pmAll these republicans vote with Bush for so many years, now they want to pretend they don’t know the man.
Shameless.
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:48 amIf I got it right Mitch Mconnel called for the block of the vote to change direction of Iraq.
So as I see it. the republicans can hide behind Mconnel on the cloture vote.
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 amIf the actual vote on the Levin/Reed bill was voted on. There would be roll call vote for us all to see. And the republican leadership provided cover so they would not get more defections voting for the bill.
I live in New Hampshire and Mr. Sununu is my senator. He’s on the wrong side of every issue - typical GOP douchebag. Looking forward to getting him gone.
July 22nd, 2007 at 4:12 amAs a resident of NH and tracking the voting of Sununu, he will vote in the way his party wants him to vote….period. This is in spite of what the majority of his constituents want him to do. He will vote party over people regardless. The usual republican way of course.
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 amSununu is just another chickenhawk and a Bush whore….well, sometimes.
July 22nd, 2007 at 3:16 pmSununu: COWARD
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:47 amAs a New Hampshire resident, I can attest to the recent shift in state politics. We now have a Democratic govenor and great representatives
July 24th, 2007 at 9:21 amlike Paul Hodes. I am hoping that the shift becomes contagious the longer that our present “Commander in Thief” is in office.
“Live free or die,” bye bye Sununu! I am not a New Hamshire person, but I did grow up in Connecticut. I think I understand New England. Sununu looks like a loser. And he won’t be the only one! The only Republican House member left in New England after the 2006 election is Shays in CT!
July 25th, 2007 at 6:05 pm