US Senators dispute charge that Iraq war is ''fraud''

[Judi Lynn]

US Senators dispute charge that Iraq war is ''fraud''

By Vicki Allen


WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 — The Iraq conflict spilled onto the U.S. Senate floor on Tuesday as Republicans and Democrats slugged it out over comments by Sen. Edward Kennedy that the war was a ''fraud'' launched for political reasons. (snip)


(snip) Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, a Virginia Republican, talked of a serviceman's ''young wife surrounded by small children'' who ''hear that this whole thing has been a fraud. Is that safeguarding those put in harm's way? I say no.''

Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison complained that Kennedy was making ''a slur'' on her home state of Texas ''to say this plot was made up'' there.

In the House of Representatives, Majority leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican, called Kennedy's statements ''as disgusting as they are false,'' and said Kennedy owed Bush and the country an apology. (snip/...)

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters09-23-113934.asp?reg=MIDEAST

[Beetwasher]

1. Excellent! I'd like to thank all these Repub idiots

for keeping Kennedy's comments in the news! Thanks you dopes! Hehehehehe!

[peterh]

2. My favorite line by Kennedy:

Bush should have used the speech to the United Nations to "take responsibility for his administration's mistakes in going to war without the broad support of the international community."


This cabal has no stinkin’ idea what it’s like to take responsibility for anything.

[marshmellow]

3. Kennedy: "Ok, it wasn't cooked up in Texas."

"It was marinated in Texas and cooked up in DC."

[w13rd0]

4. Kennedy is right...

...and the whiney ass Republicans should STFU, is it safeguarding them to PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY for a LIE in the first place? Which is more 'patriotic'?

[NewsTalk]

5. They're doing everything except deny what Kennedy said

It's uncivil, it's a slur on Texas, it's not helping the troops.

But they never once said that Teddy was wrong.

On edit: fixing typo

[lightbulb]

22. Indeed!

A cursory analysis of their words reveals their underlying unwillingness to contradict Ted's words:

...a serviceman's ''young wife surrounded by small children'' who ''hear that this whole thing has been a fraud. Is that safeguarding those put in harm's way? I say no.''

(i.e. the war may be a fraud, but to say as much hurts the children of our soldiers)

Majority leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican, called Kennedy's statements ''as disgusting as they are false,''

(i.e. if Ted's statements are not at all false, then they are not at all disgusting)

:puke:

[Selwynn]

31. Yes they did...

Called his statements "blatantly false" but I still like your point..

[Selwynn]

32. Oh I missed the linguistic mirco-analysis...

Thanks lightbulb... that's an interesting point.

[Demobrat]

6. So a young wife who finds out that

her husband was shipped out for a lie is somehow putting her husband in danger? These guys are really reaching.

[Melsky]

13. I think those young wives are figuring it out already

Military families may be more likely to support actions of the government, but they are not stupid.


http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/
BRING THEM HOME NOW! is a campaign of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq and galvanized to action by George W. Bush's inane and reckless challenge to armed Iraqis resisting occupation to "Bring 'em on."

http://www.mfso.org/
Military Families Speak Out is an organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. We were formed in November of 2002 and have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world.

[Sliverofhope]

7. Doesn't the Pilger story prove it was a lie?

There is now more documented proof than ever. What does it TAKE? Now more than ever, we must realize that the media is working against us.

[Sinistrous]

8. I am having a vision of

a pack of cornered rats. Kennedy's truth-telling cannot be allowed to stand if the Retrogs are to survive.

What nauseating, hypocritcal, pseudo-self-rightousness.

[underpants]

10. Kennedy shrank it down for mass consumption

They are probably as upset about him using their "dumbing down of 'Murka" tactical as they are about what he said.

Sorry 'pubes it's right there is black and white for all to see. But they do not refute it they attack the messenger and whine about the verbage used.

[fla nocount]

49. Actually "fraud" is a descriptive and urbane use of the language.

It reflects what a class act Sen. Kennedy is. Now myself, not being classy nor urbane might be able to come up with some verbage they could better understand.

[mhr]

9. Hutchinson Is my Sentaor

And I just called to complain!

[leftchick]

18. my sympathies to you

though I have had to put up with jesse helms! AAAACCCKKKK!

[zekeson]

33. I had that problem

and I had Bush as my gov. So I moved. I wound up with Bush* as my pResident and Normie Coleman as my senator. Cheee-rist.

:eyes:

[davidinalameda]

35. good for you

[David__77]

11. Kennedy is right! GOP, eat shit!

The Bushies can eat shit, though not mine because that's too good. We can all thank Kennedy for showing some leadership.

[wryter2000]

12. F you, Warner

I suppose you're fighting for veterans' benefits to help that lady and her kids out...NOT. Hypocritical bastards.

Edit: typo

[robbedvoter]

14. Headlines are getting better of late - they are playing defense, huh?

Here's the companion piece to this (fills the gaps):

THOMAS OLIPHANT
Kennedy's 'uncivil' truths on Iraq
By Thomas Oliphant, 9/23/2003
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/09/23/kennedys_uncivil_truths_on_iraq/

[Proud_American]

42. Great piece from Oliphant

Had to send him a "Bravo" note to show my support! Thanks for the link robbedvoter.

[ignatius]

15. I heard Ted on NPR this a m talking about policy in Iraq.

He questioned what policy, this is being made up as each dy as we come to it.(paraphrasing)

The truth hurts, too bad.

[Mechatanketra]

16. These people make me sick.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, a Virginia Republican, talked of a serviceman's ''young wife surrounded by small children'' who ''hear that this whole thing has been a fraud. Is that safeguarding those put in harm's way? I say no."

The only thing keeping said serviceman in harm's way is the persistence of the fraud, Mr. Warner. So I say thee, yea, let that woman hear, let the children hear, let everyone here: you and your President lied to America and that's why her husband and their father is in mortal danger.

[beanball]

27. That wife and her young children

bring them forward Warner you lying old coot,I bet my last peso no young wife and kids exist.

[bigluckyfeet]

45. I Hear Tom DeRoach

is going to speak to the house tomorrow,about Kennedy's statement.

[Tracer]

17. John Warner is an Idiot.

eom.

[The Magistrate]

19. The Reptile Warner's Puling Is Particularly Offensive

It is precisely the serviceman's young wife surrounded by small children who has been most injured by this fraud, and who most needs to hear it called by its proper name. She and her children have been victimized, along with her husband, by a criminal attempt to corrupt the political process in our country, at the same time they have been used as mere cannon fodder by the criminals in their ends. It is as if one of his pals had looted a bank he ran (as they often do, the cronies of these reactionary reptiles), and he stood up to bleat in the Well of the Senate that the depositors should not be told of the crime against them.

[ignatius]

20. Another Hoosier,the 16th so far, died yesterday in Iraq.

He was 27 and leaves 2 young daughters and a pregnant wife.

Screw you Warner and your entire pack of lying, warmongering,greedy bastards.

[Zhade]

23. You forgot "traitors".

NT!

[ignatius]

24. Your'e right, traitors also.

[benfranklin1776]

29. Indeed. Senator Kennedy has spoken a powerful truth.

Their reaction to that truth has been the refuge to which all liars and mendacious vermin throughout the ages have scuttled--namely the cave of ignorant barbarism from which they mindlessly wield the club of savage personal attacks against those who have exposed their fraudulence. The families to which Senator Warner refers are merely props in his stagecraft, whom as you correctly point out bear the brunt of the consequences of these failed policies. They are however much more savvy and aware of the harm that they have suffered at the hands of these exploiting charlatans than shills such as Warner assume. Much to the chagrin of these snake oil peddlers the victims of their policies will be an integral part of the force which drives them back to the holes from which they slithered.

[Pepperbelly]

38. Spot on again Magistrate and HAPPY TO SEE YOU!!!!!

:hi:

Things are certainly cooking these days, eh?

[Zhade]

21. "Other US Senators dispute charge that Republicans are 'patriots'"

NT!

[The Magistrate]

25. There Is No Dispute: They Are Traitors

"Treason doth never prosper, what's the Reason? Why, when it prosper, Sir, none dare call it Treason!"

[gratuitous]

26. "Is NOT a fraud"

That's the sum and substance of their argument? Looks pretty weak to me. But thanks for kicking Sen. Kennedy's statements back up into the public limelight, you bloodthirsty, greedy bastards. Here's hoping for a premature retirement for the lot(t) of you!

[lolly]

53. Sum and substance

Seems to me to be "Kennedy is an immoral person! Kennedy is an immoral person! Kennedy . . "

Headline is obviously incorrect. It should read "Senate Republicans respond to Iraq War fraud charges with childish name-calling"

[goobergunch]

28. If DeLay said it on the floor, he's in violation of House rules

Clause 1(b)(2) of Rule XVII

(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), debate may not include characterizations of Senate action or inaction, references to individual Members of the Senate, or quotations from Senate
proceedings.

(B) Debate may include references to actions taken by the Senate or by committees thereof that are a matter of public record; references to the pendency or sponsorship in the Senate of bills, resolutions, and amendments; factual descriptions relating to Senate action or inaction concerning a measure then under debate in the House; and quotations from Senate proceedings on a measure then under debate in the House that are relevant to the making of legislative history establishing the meaning of that measure.

http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/the_legislative_process/rules/108rules.pdf (p. 30)

[LoneStarLiberal]

30. Good Work on the Procedure!

Nice bit of procedural info, goobergunch!

Unfortunately the Bug Man of all people doesn't need to abide by them. The rules are only there for the majority to enforce on the minority, not the other way around!

[goobergunch]

41. They bring this up on the floor all the time

usually when a Democrat is criticising the Repukes. There's really a strong argument for repeal (the Senate has no similar rule), but there's no excuse for violating it while it stands.

Thanks! :hi:

[Parche]

34. exterminator delay

Didnt tom "the exterminator" delay once condemn our great President
Clinton on the Bosnian situation
I guess he has a forgetful mind, if one at all,
where is the can of raid when you need it, I would like to spray
mr delay, he really BUGS me.

[Terran]

36. The truth hurts...

but lies can kill.

I want to thank these republican idiots for making their idiocy so apparent to the public.

Dirk

[MGKrebs]

44. Well said Dirk.

And that wingnut looks a little lonely:

[0007]

I think that Kay Hutchison & Tom Delay

along with that idiot John Warner are also fraudulently posing as senators.

[Democat]

37. Senators say Bush can walk on water

CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and all U.S. radio stations and newspapers agree.

[damnraddem]

39. 'I am not a crook.' - Richard M. Nixon

We saw how far his denial got him once the public was onto him.

[leetrisck]

40. Please note that none of the Repukes

explained why it wasn't a fraud - just bitched away

[Padraig18]

43. Ummm

Wouldn't explaing why it wasn't a fraud get them into very treacherous territory, like facts?

[Solly Mack]

46. Yo, Warner...you whore, spouses KNOW it's a fraud and we don't need

some two-bit nobody like you trying to "speak for us"...got it? I hope so cause I am one military spouse that is beyond tired of you wipeass monkey dicks using our life to justify your thirst for power and money. The very fact that you can spout that lie shows you have NO clue what the military thinks. Your lily-livered, yellow bellied shit-pile of a "president" LIED...and WE know it.

[leesa]

47. It is absurd to pretend the Bush Crime Family didn't lie. The proof is

everywhere. How can these people be so evil?

[coralrf]

48. This is the "safe period" on Kennedy's remarks..

as Kennedy has not offered proof of what he said. I am sure he will do that soon. But, being a skilled politician he knows that during the "safe period" or period of rhetoric the pukes will come on strong. I am sure Edward is sitting back with a nice glass of scotch enjoying the imbroglio. When reputations have been put on the line and possibly the Shrub administration has issued a few "misstatements" on the subject you will see Kennedy come out with the goods.

Be patient.

[jamesinca]

50. But mostly everybody should e-mail a thank you to him

I think everybody here should e-mail Sen. Kennedy for standing up to this administration and going with this approach. It is getting a lot of press and it is helping erode the base of Bush on his strongest point. With out a war Bush has nothing. He has not a clue on economics, environment, domestic issues, foreign relations. He does have a war and it sent his approval ratings thru the roof. He has the election funds to take on any Democrat. He does not have the funds to take on all the Dems, the Sierra Club, Chirac, Koffi Annan and the U.N., Molly Ivans, writers like Al Franken, movie makers like Michael Moore etc.. When these acts occur we need to let these people know they are not alone and they do have support. If I may borrow a line from William Rivers Pitt book: "We the people, that means you".

[Kremer]

51. senate debates fraud

This entire admin. IS A FRAUD!!!! Kay Bailey, pumpkin, honey, GET A GRIP!!! Make a slur on her home state? I almost choked laughing. I'm oringinally from Texas; but now live in CA. I and MANY other fellow Texans are completely embarrassed by this idiot president! There is nothing anyone could say that would even come close to the damage this clown has done to TX and the USA! I used to be extremely proud to be from "the great nation of Texas!" Now I feel like I came from the state that produced one of the world's worst dictators! Many people don't know that the Governor of Texas is basically a powerless/figurehead job. The lieutenant gov. runs the show! The state constitution is designed that way!!! And Tom Delay Democracy? That guy is just an evil piece of shit! He reminds me of Rudolph Heydreich or maybe Himmler. You know the type. They are the embodiment of evil and practice it every day!!! Like the Nazi's, Mr. Delay rationalizes it by just saying to himself "this is gods will" or "I know this is the right thing to do." Sure Tom, sure! He better hope so! Otherwise God is gonna be pissed!!! And please SPREAD THE WORD!! George W. Bush was born in New Hampshire, NOT TEXAS!! Therefore, that means he is not a "true Texan" or "Native Texan" as people in TX say!!! So next time you hear someone say he's from TX, please correct them! And remind them that such a great state with wonderful people, WOULD NOT PRODUCE AN IDIOT DICTATOR like this! Thanks.

[newyawker99]

52. Hi Kremer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: