Sen. Lugar, GOP Veteran, Goes Where Editorials Fear to Tread: Calls for Start of Iraq Pullout

[DeepModem Mom]

(NOTE: Editor&Publisher has monitored the lamentable silence on disengaging from Iraq from major newspapers -- the L.A. Times being the exception.)

Editor&Publisher/AP: Sen. Lugar, GOP Veteran, Goes Where Editorials Fear to Tread: Calls for Start of Iraq Pullout
By E&P Staff and The Associated Press
Published: June 26, 2007

WASHINGTON Sen. Richard Lugar, a senior Republican and a reliable vote for President Bush on the war, said Monday that Bush's Iraq strategy was not working -- and that the U.S. should downsize the military's role.

The unusually blunt assessment deals a political blow to Bush, who has relied heavily on GOP support to stave off anti-war legislation.

His position of not even waiting until the "surge" report due in September lines up with the recent editorial in the far more liberal Los Angeles Times. Few newspaper editorials have called for the start of a withdrawal. Polls have long shown that the public backs such a move by roughly 2 to 1, and that about 70% give President Bush a negative rating on his handling of the war.

Lugar's speech came as a surprise. Most Republicans have said they were willing to wait until September to see if Bush's recently ordered troop buildup in Iraq was working.

"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar, R-Ind., said in a Senate floor speech. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003603625

[TwilightGardener]

1. Chickenshit fuck. Word is that he felt this way since January, but

never went public with it. He let my Senator (Hagel) and Gordon Smith hang out there alone, taking all manner of abuse from the GOP base for their position, when he could have backed them up by stating his views--think of the influence he could have had in swaying his party in the months since. Sorry, he's a fucking bastard, and he has blood on his hands. He and the rest of the chickenshits should burn in hell.

[Geezoh]

7. So who isn't...

...a chickenshit fuck in Congress. How many in addition to Obama voted against the initial spending? Two? Three? Chickenshit vote whores afraid to look weak on terrorism, the lot of them. I've had it with them all.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Agree that they've all been chickenshit to some degree, but I save my special

ire for one group, the group that had the MOST potential impact to change the course on the war--Republican Senators (they of the denied veto-override votes).

[cal04]

2. Wash Post buries "Lugar blasts Bush on war" story

The Washington Post, God bless its Iraq-war-loving red soul, buried one of the most important war stories of the day in a little blurb hidden at the bottom of page 3. Namely, that Republican foreign policy expert, Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN), blasted George Bush, the surge, and the overall chances for success in Iraq last night in a long, detailed speech on the floor of the US Senate.

The reason the Lugar speech mattered isn't because substantively Lugar is correct. It mattered because Lugar is the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is also considered by many, me included, to be the top Republican foreign policy expert in the Senate. Add to that the fact that Lugar doesn't make speeches like this - public criticism of the president, or of anyone, isn't Lugar's thing. And he certainly doesn't make such criticism when the atmosphere surrounding the issue is already superheated - i.e., Lugar wouldn't risk fanning the flames unless the situation were dire.

Lugar's speech could very well be a turning point for how Congress address' the war in the future. Republicans are already sounding the alarm that come this September, they want to see us announce a plan to draw down our troop levels (lest the GOP lose the next elections too). Lugar just gave the mushy middle the reason, and the cover, to stand up and say "enough." The importance of his speech cannot be understated. And it most certainly does not deserve being treated as a blurb buried on the bottom of the page. You can read the text of Lugar's speech here.

http://www.americablog.com/2007/06/wash-post-buries-lugar-blasts-bush-on.html

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Thanks for posting! nt

[Supersedeas]

8. unpatriotic?? Or a term reserved only for Dems

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Trying to fool the voters now...

This man is nothing but a lying, ass kissing, snake!

[BlueManDude]

5. He'll be backtracking and "softening" his position by sundown.

[ThomWV]

6. I watched the speech on C-Span. It came as quite a suprise to say the least.

[Blackhatjack]

9. As surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, Lugar's comments portend mass desertion of Bush on this war

It is all a matter of time. September or sooner.

Repubs will flee Bush and his policies on this war like rats from a sinking ship.

They read polls. THey know they have to reposition themselves as being against the war strategy now in place if they want even a chance of being reelected.

Lugar's career as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee lends him all the gravitas he needs to make a statement other Repubs are dying to make but needed the cover Lugar now gives before doing so.

I predict Repubs will not even know who Bush is once 2008 election campaigning hits full swing.

Prepare for revisionist history lessons from Repubs as to how Democrats sabotaged the war effort and failed to support our troops.