Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

Deadeye Dick Strikes Again –updated–

The Republicans Own Iraq.

Watching C-SPAN this afternoon and listening to the senators words it’s revealing
how frightened the Republicans are about the debate on the Iraq war. Oh, the
Republicans and Joe Lieberman, that is. When Joe finished his blathering on
about everyone else being anti-troop, while he is the second coming of George Washington,
even Senator John Warner took offense at being labeled as someone who is hurting
troop morale, and stood up and talked back, however senatorially.

You bet troop morale is low, but it’s not because of the debate on Iraq going
on over here, except to say that our troops likely want to know why there’s
any debate at all about getting out of Iraq! They go out every day in fear for
their lives, knowing that the mission has long ago wondered down a dirty, rocky
hill. Our troops also know they don’t have the equipment they need and that
the chance of dying in the middle of a civil war is far greater today than yesterday,
getting more dangerous every day.

But if you want to know why McConnell is threatening to filibuster and why
Republicans are bowing down, we got the foreshadowing last week.

MATTHEWS: Are you getting a lot of pressure from the White House, from people like Karl Rove, the president‘s political guy, not to vote for any resolution that might criticize the president? COLLINS: No, I am not getting pressure from the White House, but I am getting a lot of pressure from my Republican colleagues in the Senate. And there is no doubt that the lobbying within the Republican caucus is fast and curious. And tensions are definitely there. And feelings are running very high on both sides. MATTHEWS: What was it like having the fight in front of Cheney this week? (LAUGHTER) COLLINS: Well, of course, I can‘t tell you what happened in the—in the caucus. But suffice it say that it was a pretty contentious discussion. Many of us spoke. I can speak for myself, in saying that I got up and responded to some comments. I am really offended when people say that those of us who are in favor of the resolution are somehow betraying the troops. I don‘t believe that at all. … .. “Hardball”

Dick Cheney’s reputation after the Libby trial will never be the same, but
his influence and power remain intact today, especially on the war.

We’re still sucking it up to him on Iraq. It’s infuriating. It shows the spinelessness
of the Republicans that they (and Joe) can still be cowed by this man. It also
proves these chickenhawks are putting politics above our national security.
They’re trying to save their collective butts for ‘08. On Iraq, it can’t be
done.