WP: Leave Politics To Us, Senator Warner Tells General Petraeus

[DeepModem Mom]

Leave Politics To Us, Warner Tells General
Wednesday, January 24, 2007; Page A21


Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) cautioned Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus. (By Brendan Smialowski -- Getty Images)

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Army Lt. Gen. David H . Petraeus during his confirmation hearing yesterday if Senate resolutions condemning White House Iraq policy "would give the enemy some comfort."

Petraeus agreed they would, saying, "That's correct, sir."

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), until recently chairman of the Armed Services Committee and a co-sponsor of one of those resolutions, later explained to the general that he needed to be more careful about appearing to wade into a political debate and warned Petraeus to not let himself be trapped into portraying members of Congress as unpatriotic for disagreeing with President Bush:

We're not a division here today of patriots who support the troops and those who are making statements and working on resolutions that could be translated as aiding and abetting the enemy. We're trying to exercise the fundamental responsibilities of our democracy and how this nation has two co-equal branches of the government, each bearing its own responsibilities.

I hope that this colloquy has not entrapped you into some responses that you might later regret. I wonder if you would just give me the assurance that you'll go back and examine the transcript as to what you replied with respect to certain of these questions and review it, because we want you to succeed....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012301306.html?nav=hcmodule

[babylonsister]

1. Props to Warner, and screw Lieberman. Juvenile, but warranted. nt

[Moloch]

2. Upon hearing this...

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Army Lt. Gen. David H . Petraeus during his confirmation hearing yesterday if Senate resolutions condemning White House Iraq policy "would give the enemy some comfort."

I wanted to repeat that GODDAMNIT I FUCKING HATE LIEBERMAN SO MUCH!@@##$!@#$!$#@$#$#

[rodeodance]

6. seems that Warner dissed Joe L. pretty darn good!

[Quantess]

3. Did Warner add, "troop's lives are safe in our hands"..?

What a F*****G A*****E!
:grr:

[keopeli]

4. Republican Senator Chides Nominee for Iraq General - "because we want you to succeed..."

This is the crux of the political battle of wills over control of the military. The question is how much power does the Congress of the U.S. have? And how far will Bush push back?

Until now, all have assumed that the appointment of Gen. Petraeus was a given. But, the Senate does have to affirm the nomination to the appointment of General of the U.S. military in Iraq.

The constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and, in our world, money talks. Money is even a language that Dick Cheney can understand.

I propose this question for the next nomination hearing:

What weight do military leaders give the approval of the U.S. Congress? Do you simply believe that, once you receive your fourth star from us, you are free to exercise your free will without reflecting the will of the U.S. Congress? If our entire U.S. Congress, both the House and Senate, are resolved to correct administration leadership, are you solely obliged to obey the will of the President and Administration or do you seriously follow the expressed will of the Congress?

Because, if the military leaders will not heed our advice, then it is your error Lt. Gen. Petraeus. Correcting your error, should we approve your nomination, would force us to assert our influence through our powerful means and I certainly don't think that THAT is in the best interest of our men and women in uniform.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Excellent post! nt

[redqueen]

12. Excellent questions.

I think you should consider sending those along to someone who might ask them.

[ribrepin]

5. I find it interesting that this Conservative Virginia Senator

makes so much sense as opposed to GI Joe. Of course, Senator Warner served and GI Joe didn't. He wouldn't let GI Joe get away with using the general to call Democrats unpatriotic. How long before GI Joe starts referring to his colleagues as the Democrat party?

Props to that other great Virginia Senator for his speech tonight. These senators from Virginia sure seem to be leading the way.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. You're right -- the Virginia Senators are providing stellar service...

to their country just now. Someone posted last night in GDP that trading Allen for Webb was the best deal for the U.S. since the Louisiana Purchase.

[Mike Daniels]

14. The conservative senator is the only reason Oliver North isn't in the Senate now

Warner may be a Repub but he's occasionally on the right side of things and he deserves a whole lot of gratitude for sinking North's shot at the Senate.

[quiet.american]

7. Lieberman is flat-out disgusting. Cheers to Sen. Warner. n/t

[gratuitous]

10. I think Warner objected to being called a traitor

Lieberman's question was deliberately phrased in the context of the constitutional definition of treason, giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Warner apparently didn't much care for that, and put Petraeus on notice that that kind of bullshit wasn't going to fly anymore. Opposition to administration policies is not treason.

I'd truly like to see someone put the screws to Holy Joe, and ask him why he chose the words "comfort" and "enemy" in his question with the heavy implication that disagreement was treasonous. Joe really likes being called a moral avatar, oh so ethical and pious; and then he basically calls anyone who disagrees with the disastrous track our country is on a traitor. I wouldn't advocate popping the little pischer in the snoot, but I'd like to see someone pin him down (verbally) and get an answer or an apology out of him.

[saigon68]

15. Limpman

What else can you say about him

Anything good?

Nah

[0007]

16. Only for Mark Foley

junior's favorite pinup

[demnan]

11. Senator Warner drafted a resolution

to oppose Escalation. His questions yesterday were very telling. He made a trip last fall to Iraq. Ever since he got back there has been a change in his attitude about the war.

On edit:

I was surprised at how thin Warner looks. I know he is retiring next year, not sure if it's illness or worry that is causing the weight loss.

[redqueen]

13. Well done Senator Warner!

That other senator is an embarassment.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Lieberman should be ashamed of himself

Framing his question in terms of the constitutional definition of treason is something I would expect of ther basest posters at Free Republic.

Not only is Lieberman trying to sound like a Republican, he's trying to sound like a Brand W Republican.

[imax2268]

18. are transcripsts

available yet of this hearing...?