A few sources, not the least of which is Michael Barone, are reporting that the Democrats are ignoring important Iraq briefings conducted by General David Petraeus in an apparent effort to stymie efforts in Iraq. It is well known that they are not supportive of the troops in Iraq and the president's "surge" plan they are currently conducting, but whether they like the plan or not, to skip these briefings is an act of blatant negligence that borders on the criminal. So where is the MSM's outrage? Why are we not being told of this Democrat negligence?
Barone, one of the best political pundits out there today, closed his recent Real Clear Politics Report with the following:
What's curious is that congressional Democrats don't seem much interested in what's actually happening in Iraq. The commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, returns to Washington this week, but last week Pelosi's office said "scheduling conflicts" prevented him from briefing House members. Two days later, the members-only meeting was scheduled, but the episode brings to mind the fact that Pelosi and other top House Democrats skipped a Pentagon videoconference with Petraeus on March 8.
It has also been reported that one recent meeting with Gen. Petraeus on the Hill only saw one Democrat in attendance, that being Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.
It might be too early to say directly that it is some concerted effort or plan of the Democrat leadership to steer clear of Iraq briefings, but at the very least it certainly reveals their collective feeling that the war is already lost and that it's time to move on past it all.
But here is the thing; they simply cannot claim to "support the troops" if they won't even attend briefings held by the General in command of those troops. If the Democrats don't attend these briefings they simply cannot claim to have the knowledge they need to make decisions necessary for policy direction. Unless, that is, they have fully decided, regardless of what is actually going on on the ground where our troops are facing the enemy, that all is lost.
If they have, indeed, completely quit wanting to have the discussion of what is actually going on in theater, then it is downright abusive of our troops for Democrats to ignore them in this way. This unconcern over what is happening to our forces simply makes it impossible for the Democrats to claim they support the troops.
It should be remembered that General Petraeus was given a unanimous vote in Congress and he never made any bones about the fact that he intended to implement the president's surge plan, so Democrats simply cannot claim they didn't know he was going to do so. But, it appears that the support they gave him for the surge was a cynical attempt to allow the plan to crash and burn if their ignoring his efforts to inform them of the actual accomplishments of the plan is any indication.
I have seen a few pundits and commentators claiming that the Democrats are somehow putting themselves in a bad position by ignoring these briefings and to that I say pish tosh. They have surely weakened their moral position and made their claims of supporting the troops untenable, but this will probably not harm them at all -- not that it shouldn't. The problem with the feeling that this will harm the Democrat Party is that no one, by and large, will ever hear of this betrayal of our troops. It is doubtful whether the story will ever break through the din of the cycles controlled by a news media supportive of the Democrat agenda.
In any case, the Democrat Party is acting irresponsibly to say the least, criminally at the worst. The biggest question, however, is will the News Media allow the American people to become aware that the Democrats are so badly falling down on the job? Will they be held accountable for the harm they are causing our country, cause and our troops not to mention the harm they cause the Iraqi people by this turning away from their needs and concerns?
Sadly, my guess is no.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Oversight
April 23, 2007 - 13:45 ET by nkviking75Wasn't one of the Democrat talking points in the last campaign that there was insufficient oversight of the Iraq war? If so, don't they owe the country the effort to find out what's going on from the commander? Even if they don't like what they hear, they need to hear it.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
insufficient oversight - - -
April 23, 2007 - 13:53 ET by Gat New Yorkinsufficient oversight - - - absolutely right. What they actually meant were witch hunts - not oversight.
I'm reminded of their ongoing
April 23, 2007 - 17:05 ET by RoverI'm reminded of their ongoing complaint about the alleged "mistake" the administration made to go to war with Saddam based on the ostensibly inadequate intelligence on Saddam's WMD program (conveniently forgetting about the 500 mustard gas shells we found a few years ago), sidestepping the point that they (congressional Democrats) had access to the same intelligence and voted to go to war. I suspect that they paid just as much attention to the intelligence they were given then as they are now to the ACTUAL conditions on the ground in Iraq.
From their perspective, real facts are to be avoided, when they get in the way of their preconceived world view-such facts make work for them, as they are something that they have to figure out how to dismiss. They can score more political points if they remain ignorant. This way they can continue to rant against the administration without being accused of lying. "We weren't informed," will be their defense in the few instances when they're caught in a misstatement of fact. And that defense, is seems, is itself a criticism of the administration and of the US military. With the MSM able to frame the debate, the Democrats can hardly lose.
Rover
This is a great find, dem uni
April 23, 2007 - 13:51 ET by JDWThis is a great find, dem unity. I found the congressional AP report earlier
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
If you are going to whine about spelling... get a life
Criminal
April 23, 2007 - 13:52 ET by NortoBeliever
I have personally held these traitors responsible for the protracted conflict in Iraq. They have aided and comforted our enemies and now I question whether this war IS winnable. With 200,000,000 radical terrorists(20% of the 1 billion) available, down to 12 year-olds ready to chop an enemy head off, I am getting very pessimistic about the chances to stop this.
Appeasment is not going to help. All heads will roll, Pelosi's first along with all the famous faces that will make the arab newsworks thrive and revel. Once the worm has turned the other 800,000,000 will be complicit and bingo, the world will be overrun with full blown hate. Our current President will seem like Mr. Rogers.
needle in the haystack
April 23, 2007 - 16:02 ET by RiharI have written everyone I know that should be able to make a difference in getting Reid's ouster. Even my representative who happens to be a Democrat... sorry a Democratic. Is that the acceptable term now? They don't like Democrat, right?
Deep down I know my letters to my congressmen/women and those to the editor to the local paper will either be ignored or tossed in the for/against piles (for tallying later) but I still do it. If only so my brain can release a few endorphins and make me feel "I did all I could".
This website too is like cranial duct-tape for me. to paraphrase Glenn Beck, it doesn't keep my head from exploding but it keeps all the pieces together so I don't lose any of it.
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
Norto, Our current Pre
April 23, 2007 - 16:13 ET by Dave RNorto,
Our current President will seem like Mr. Rogers.
Actually, I'm not sure Mr. Rogers isn't our current president. The PC manner in which this war has been carried out is, IMHO, bordering on the disgraceful.
Ronald Reagan's grave, along with George S. Patton's, are probably blowing steam and the casketts are about to blow right out of the ground.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-
Neal Boortz.
it's not surprising ... they
April 23, 2007 - 13:54 ET by pmohbuckit's not surprising ... they don't care about the military one iota. the thought that a bunch of empty suits and skirts with no military background think they can direct our military without being briefed is symbolic of their arrogance.
with all the "impeach bush" b.s. the dems are craving ... i wish charges of treason would be initiated against some of these losers for getting our soldiers killed.
Do you think this behavior i
April 23, 2007 - 17:23 ET by DCADo you think this behavior is becasue they have no vested interest in this? Say a family member serving in theater. I imagine it would be a bit uncomfortable at Thanksgiving explaining to your son/daughter, "Sorry I didn't provide your unit enough $$ to accomplish the mission." Perspectives change when you have a personal intereset in this matter.
Do you think this behavior i
April 23, 2007 - 17:23 ET by DCADo you think this behavior is becasue they have no vested interest in this? Say a family member serving in theater. I imagine it would be a bit uncomfortable at Thanksgiving explaining to your son/daughter, "Sorry I didn't provide your unit enough $$ to accomplish the mission." Perspectives change when you have a personal intereset in this matter.
Why go to a briefing on somet
April 23, 2007 - 13:54 ET by mattm<oops>
Why go to a briefing on somet
April 23, 2007 - 13:55 ET by mattmWhy go to a briefing on something you already have your mind made up about? The debate is over. Facts, reason and logic be damned.
I only wish the Bush administration would point this out (although the MSM wouldn't cover it).
"The debate is over"
April 23, 2007 - 15:50 ET by DCC1"The debate is over"
Thats the new left wing motto and intimidation tactic, and the media and ignorant left eats it up.
"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. "
-Thomas Paine 1776
Our Fearless Leaders
April 23, 2007 - 13:56 ET by JimboThis is just more indication that the MSM, the Democrats and the Liberals at large really have no interest in understanding the true dynamics of this war, understanding the successes accomplished by our troops and have no interest whatsoever in understanding what it will take to win this war.
Why is that?
There is one reason, and one reason only. It does not fit their political agenda to do so. The Democratic party knows that they cannot win the White House in ’08 on their platform alone (which in reality doesn’t even truly exist), and their only hope is in trying to brainwash enough Americans into believing that the President and the Republican party are incompetent war mongers.
Stated differently, they are putting their own political futures ahead of the safety of our troops, the future of the Iraqi people, and perhaps most importantly, the safety of every man, woman and child living in the United States.
It sickens me that the few hundred thousand people in some of the most liberal Congressional districts who voted for the likes of Pelosi and Reid have put them in a position where they can do so much damage to this country by speaking for tens of millions of other Americans in their self appointed “leadership positions”.
Also, the fact that they skip these briefings further supports the idea that the hatred they spew is based on twisted reality at best. It is sad that so many Americans buy into this treasonous crap, and that so many Americans continue to allow it to happen.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
MSM
April 24, 2007 - 06:52 ET by billbYou're expecting a lot from the MSM! Two news items I read today...9 US soldiers kiled Iraq today. 11 murders in Phila. over the weekend. Which one was on the front page of your newspaper today?
Democrats have consensus
April 23, 2007 - 13:58 ET by RJWhy should Democrats attend Military Briefings? They have a consensus opinion that they know better than the military. The military are just deniers.
You may think I'm being facetious, but I'm not.
RJ, I know you're not bei
April 23, 2007 - 14:04 ET by terrigRJ, I know you're not being facetious. It's the truth. I hate these democraps.
Todd,You beat me too it and g
April 23, 2007 - 14:00 ET by bigtimerTodd,
You beat me too it and glad you did, I have two other links I was going to add to your story here when I put this great information you have in your blog with my link, anyway, if people want to get mad here is one from the Pat Dollard site I read early this morning about an irate marine on his site, and here another one about Reid and his latest on the troop pull out.
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OMFFQG0&show_article=1
I am furious, and if the republicans do not get together in unison and fight, I am going to blow my top!
bigtimer, I'm an avid regula
April 23, 2007 - 17:53 ET by drillanwrbigtimer, I'm an avid regular to Pat Dollard's site. Was able to get on there this morning, but not so much this afternoon. I think the added traffic from Drudge, and possibly your mention here, may have put them into overload. LOL!!! Anyhow, anyone wandering over to patdollard.com be on alert. The language is highly "colorful" over there, as many of Pat's regulars are military. I also agree with you about the Republicans. If they don't smell the self-inflicted democrap blood in the waters now and pounce, they never will. The military in recent days, most since Harry Reid's B. S. last week, have been gearing to sites that are taking their letters of complaint for Reid and the democrats. I know Michelle Malkin is spearheading one.
drill,Yeah acumen got me aler
April 23, 2007 - 18:06 ET by bigtimerdrill,
Yeah acumen got me alerted to the site, I checked into it really early to see the latest with Reid, hadn't been there for a bit, and saw the story and was going to make sure and put a link here, and I couldn't get back in either, so I got that link above from Drudge.
It is a great site!
...anyone that hasn't gone there should, there are all kinds of things on it.
And another thing...
April 23, 2007 - 14:03 ET by JimboAnd another thing now that I am fired up –
When is someone in the Republican Party (are you listening Mr. President?) going to call BS on the relentless drone by the Democrats that the country has voted to surrender in Iraq??? Talk about revisionist history! The last election was not even close to a mandate, and if anything can be gleaned from it, is that some wanted a change in direction in Iraq.
FYI to all liberal SOB’s – a desire for change of direction in Iraq does NOT equal running away. So please…please… stop lying to the American public and the rest of the world.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
I'm in total agreement Jimb
April 23, 2007 - 14:13 ET by bobthemanI'm in total agreement Jimbo.... Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Reluctant as I am to say, we have milk toast candidates who are not emotional and aggressive enough to fight these bastards.
We need passion, emotion and courage to battle the most incessant drumbeat of defeatism I think I have ever witnessed.
We are fighting terrorism at home... the doomocrats.
There is simply no other wa
April 23, 2007 - 14:08 ET by bobthemanThere is simply no other way to desribe this as willful negligence boardering on treason.
With the words of dinjie Harry and the actions of General Pelosi to the middle east coupled with the willful negligence to attend invaluable briefings by the man who can best testify to the state of the war,... this boarders on treason. A strong word, but how else to describe this unconsciounable disgrace.
I'm living in plural realities with the democrats. Reason and rational thinking have been abandoned by democrats at the expense of they're power grabbing strategies.
How can anyone calling themselves a democrat, not be ashamed to be associated with these people?
What is a pity is that Presid
April 23, 2007 - 14:14 ET by Gat New YorkWhat is a pity is that President Bush is too much of a manager and not enough of a politician. There have been incredible blunders and gaffs by Democrats in such a short time, yet they barely get a slap on the wrist. We can only hope that there are some crafty campaign consultants who are saving everyone of these mistakes and makes them into :30 commercials for next year's campaign. This is abhorrent and irresponsible behavior.
Gat - I agree - mostly
April 23, 2007 - 14:21 ET by JimboGat –
I agree that the Republicans should make all this crap front and center during the election. Make these treasonous SOB’s explain their actions. And when they try to weasel out of an explanation by saying that we support our troops, don’t allow them to get away with it. Attack their positions twice as hard.
However….
The Republicans should also be doing it today… hell… they should have started years ago. Holding this stuff to unveil during the election cycle politicizes the war and makes the Republicans no better than the Democrats while our troops continue to be put in harm’s way.
I have all but had it with the Republican passiveness. I am beside myself when I realize that the Republican party does not have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to traitors of this country.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
They've already made up their
April 23, 2007 - 14:15 ET by c5thenThey've already made up their minds. The debate is over. They are ready to declair defeat and run away and curl up in a fetal position. Why would they want to attend briefings which might supply data that is at odds with thier already made up minds. This would just cause them to undergo trauma and congnative dissonance.
It's far easier to make up your mind and then stick your head in the sand.
Will the MSM call them to account for their deriliction of duty? I doubt it.
I notice Murtha still appea
April 23, 2007 - 14:18 ET by MightyMouthI notice Murtha still appears to be really thrilled about being in Pelosi's shadow....
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
WHERE'S THE GOP OUTRAGE?The
April 23, 2007 - 15:22 ET by mtwokayWHERE'S THE GOP OUTRAGE?
The libs are skipping class and Reid has declared the war is lost, and we have yet to hear a peep out of the GOP. One can only conclude the GOP is cowering in the corner sucking their thumbs while the seditious libs destroy this country.
Regarding lib behavior, they’re acting like children. They’ve decided to cover their ears so they don’t have to hear news they don’t like, such as the surge is working.
I’m not sure which party is more disgusting; the party committing treason or the party ignoring treasonous behavior.
mt...I agree with your post a
April 23, 2007 - 15:32 ET by bigtimermt...
I agree with your post as I stated earlier with some other outrageous links.
If the republicans do not do something about all of this now with their voices, well, it says a lot about these spineless wonders as a party.
Unfortunately the leader of t
April 23, 2007 - 15:35 ET by Gat New YorkUnfortunately the leader of the GOP is the President and he has chosen to manage and not engage in politics. That has been the problem for 6 years.
We are leaderless now.
April 23, 2007 - 15:46 ET by Dave RIt would help tremendously if we actually had a real leader in the White House, and not some guy in an empty suit pretending to be a conservative while growing the federal government at a record rate, throwing border agents in the slammer for doing their jobs and putting our brave soldiers on trial for returning fire in the midlle of a FLIPPIN' WAR! (Sorry).
And don't even get me started on the playing patty-cakes with the libs on just about every issue for the last six years.
It would also help if the current leadership of the liberal Republican Party would grow a spine, but that isn't likely to happen, either, as I don't thing they have pulled their heads out of their behinds far enough to even have a clue why they lost in the mid terms.
God help us.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-
Neal Boortz.
dave r; lying again
April 24, 2007 - 10:47 ET by tumbler_2007God commands us not to lie, Dave.
How do you expect Him to "help us" just after you lie about those border agents, and about having a clue why we lost the mid terms ? We lost our lead in the Congress because GOP nutcases like you alienated the hispanic vote. Many of our House & Senate seats lost by very narrow margins.
If we'd captured merely a fraction of the hispanic and Mex-American vote share, these 3 things would surely have happened:
Those hispanic votes would NOT have benefitted Democrat candidates.
The same votes would've gone to a Republican
Many of our candidates would have WON narrowly instead of LOST narrowly.
The one that HURTS the most to lose was George Allen. --Allen could've been our next President. Bots like you threw his presidential chances away. (And that's NO LIE.)
You're the one without a clue.
Tumbler is wrong again...The
April 24, 2007 - 10:56 ET by Clear thinkerTumbler is wrong again...
The election was won by Dems because they put up Blue Dog Democrats to run for office. Basically, they played conservative better than our Republican candidates, and it worked.
The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.
Tumbler? Wrong?
April 24, 2007 - 11:04 ET by Cool ArrowI think they are more appropriately referred to as YELLOW DOG DEMOCRATS
Riled one...Did I get them mi
April 24, 2007 - 11:08 ET by Clear thinkerRiled one...
Did I get them mixed up?
I just checked and Blue Dog it is.
The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.
Clear Thinker
April 24, 2007 - 11:14 ET by Cool ArrowI was just looking behind the scenes. They are really Yellow Dogs in Blue Tick clothing.
Got it!The liberal MSM has be
April 24, 2007 - 11:18 ET by Clear thinkerGot it!
The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.
Lying, eh tumber? I don't hav
April 24, 2007 - 10:58 ET by Dave RLying, eh tumber? I don't have a clue?
Then all of our Border Patrol agents are lying, too, I suppose. Guess they are clueless, as well.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.- Neal Boortz.
The Dems support the troops j
April 23, 2007 - 15:40 ET by BuffNBoneThe Dems support the troops just so long as they don't have to talk to them. Sure hope this gets some traction--call your congressman. I'd also like to see some record of what they thought was more important that they couldn't breakaway from to make the meeting.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Buff...Here is a link to sign
April 23, 2007 - 15:50 ET by bigtimerBuff...
Here is a link to sign onto from regarding the military that are outraged too...http://www.appealforcourage.org/
Here is the site it is from...which came off the National Journal site.http://tank.nationalreview.com/
Interesting contrast
April 23, 2007 - 16:05 ET by c5thenThe Dems are willing to have hearing about the firing of 8 US Attorneys who could have been fired "just because" as Clinton did when he came onto office yet they are not willing to attend the hearings that they are obligated to in order to actually make informed decisions.
Since the dems have "won" both houses, it has become all about politics and the actual running of the country seems to be an inconvenience that often gets in their way.
Pelosi seems to want to be the Secretary of State instead of Speaker of the House.
And the really sad thing is that if it's this obvious and I can articulate this, why can't the GOP seem to understand that they are being enablers to those who are destroying this country!
HEY!!! GOP!!! WAKE UP AND START STANDING UP FOR TH COUNTRY IF NOT YOURSELVES!!!
I've not had a chance to co
April 23, 2007 - 17:33 ET by radiofitz34I've not had a chance to comment on Harry Reid's opinion that we've lost the war in Iraq. This is coming from a man scares himself when he looks in the mirror.
Of all the idiotic,thoughtless,contemptable statements a majority leader could make. Yeah I'm sure the 120,000 troops in Iraq feel comforted now. Holy crap Reid is a lame brain and he should excuse himself as majority leader of the senate.
Obama/Clinton Poll...funny
April 23, 2007 - 17:27 ET by bigtimerSpeaking of dem's...here is the latest poll between Hill/Obama....
Too funny!
Bet Shrillary is throwing things about now!http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2335971820070423
Take a peek at what's really happening!
April 23, 2007 - 18:10 ET by misterbillHere's the real thing!
Take a peek at what's really happening! From a military man who knows!
Thanks for pointing me to t
April 23, 2007 - 18:27 ET by radiofitz34Thanks for pointing me to that post misterbill. The Lt. Col. is a great American. God bless him and his family.
The libs are just plain brain dead if they really want us to lose the war. I think they rate their precious democratic party higher than the USA as a whole.
Once the American people figure that out, they will be mad.
Briefings? What briefings?
April 23, 2007 - 18:33 ET by NL207Briefings? What briefings? We don't need no steenking briefings. We made up our minds long ago!
the enemy within at work, non-stop
April 23, 2007 - 22:24 ET by bigtimerThis is a great place to the end the day with when it comes to the enemy within.
I am just going to post to this link, just read the head-lines, go to the Dem's Defy Veto Bill...next, 9 killed in Iraq...then scan over to the right to BOR's links to do with Soros.
Tells you all you need to know about the enemy within.
The enemy that our men are fighting and dying over every single day, and spilling their blood for, are the enemy within in my opinion.
Al Qaeda, Iran, all affiliated spun off groups just wait to see what the fearless Majority Leader's next step is going to be and move in lock-step with them, making sure there is death and destruction, full-filling both of their wishes to accomplish both of their goals...DEFEAT...
Victory...never...if they have their way.
Agenda, agenda agenda.
Soros and all his filthy enemy within leftists are winning, he hates this country, he has a goal, and all the other little sheeple followers, including those in Congress who need his money and support,have sold their souls, at the expense of all of us and our loved ones.
Read this and look what is happening at this very moment.http://www.foxnews.com/
Fight we must!
Maybe the democrats have the
April 23, 2007 - 22:36 ET by balboaMaybe the democrats have the same memory problem with military briefings that Alberto Gonzalez has about....well just about everything.
dems, memory problems, br
April 23, 2007 - 22:50 ET bydems, memory problems, briefs????
'i forgot those top secret docs were in my briefs'
I'm sorry, I don't remember r
April 23, 2007 - 22:58 ET by balboaI'm sorry, I don't remember recalling those documents. I remember there were documents, and that someone asked about them, but I don't remember who asked or what documents they were referring to.
Anyone notice that catchy s
April 24, 2007 - 05:50 ET by Jack BauerAnyone notice that catchy slogan that appears behind Harry Reid's (D-Feat) head these days...
It's something like...
SEDITION THE MISSION
Missed a meeting? Wow!
April 24, 2007 - 10:16 ET by BoomxtwoWow! They missed a video-conference on March 8 and another meeting was psotponed two days! This is right up there with ignoring intel about Al Qaeda in August 2001 huh? Shocking!
Hmm. What was Congress doing March 8? Oh yeah, hearing testimony about the federal prosecutor firings that Gonzales (and Rove) lied about. The problem is, the Dems made a promise to clean up the GOP culture of corruption too and now they are a bit overexetended.
But they missed a video conference! Impeach! Impeach! Impeach! Too funny.