Kennedy Faces Backlash From Colleagues Over Iraq Remarks

[Nottingham]

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans organized a counterattack Tuesday on Sen. Ted Kennedy (search), just days after the Democrat claimed in a press interview that the Bush administration had made up the threat from Iraq for political points and bribed international leaders to go along with the Iraq war.





"This is a serious charge and it deserves a serious response," said Sen. Bob Bennett (search), R-Utah.

"Sometimes members of Congress with very narrow, parochial vision ... don't necessarily do what's best for the world," said Sen. Rick Santorum (search), R-Pa.

"Are we as a nation, is the world, better off today having deposed Saddam Hussein and his regime of terrorism or should we have left it as it is? That question has to be answered by those who wish to employ this strident rhetoric, but they fail to do so," said Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, the Massachusetts Democrat said Republicans had created the threat from Iraq to win elections.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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Kennedy has the Republicans Hot! I just love to see them get all
upset! :bounce: Teddy is Awesome!

[samsingh]

1. who's kidding who

Repugs are not colleagues to Democratic Senators.

[MuseRider]

2. He can

handle this. I just hope he gets a lot of support. Keep calling and writing him when he lets fly with another.

[concord]

43. He's got my support :)

I'm proud to have him as my senator. I emailed him with my enthusiastic support the day he made the comments and then the next day when he backed them up on CNN.

WTG Teddy!! :bounce:

[wryter2000]

3. Yup

And every time they criticize him, it just gets more publicity for what he said in the first place.

Way to go, Ted. :yourock:

[rocktivity]

33. Mega Misleading Headline

Since when are Republicans Democrats' colleagues? They're trying to make it sound like the whole country's against him.

Bennett said if Kennedy has some accusations to make, then he ought to put up or shut up when it comes to providing the evidence.
Well, we're still waiting on YOUR evidence that the invasion was justified! Where's the WMD? And Osama? And Hussien? We'll show you ours if you'll show us yours!


rocknation

[fertilizeonarbusto]

4. Keep kicking ass, Ted!!!!!!!!!

A lot of us are right with you, big guy!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand the mere idea of Rick "man on dog" Santorum calling anyone "narrow and parochial is a riot.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

Send a Thank you to Ted!!!

The RepubliKLAN loves to dish out the shit but can't take it!

But they would not be Rethugs if they did!


Go Ted Go!!!!


:kick: :kick:

[zbdent]

5. Laughable point: "Sometimes members of Congress . . .

with very narrow, parochial vision ... don't necessarily do what's best for the world" - funny, coming from Santorum, who seems to have very narrow, parochial vision about a lot of things.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

40. but he has a mighty broad view

on potential sexual partners. Inter-species I hear.

[LiberalFighter]

55. I would like to see an ape do him...

Al Franken did a bit role with Dan Akroyd, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis in "Trading Places". There was a spot on the train where they made the switch with the guy and they tied him up and put him in a gorilla suit. The caged gorilla fell in love with the fake gorilla. LOL

Couldn't we do that to Santorum?

[qb]

6. I hope someone in Congress digs up some choice Repuke quotes

from the impeachment fiasco.

[Patriot_Spear]

7. Let's see, they call him everything but a liar...

And Ben Bradley told us what that means- 'it's true'.

[zbdent]

8. Yet another lie by Bush:

"I mean, Senator Kennedy, who I respect,"

Very very very few Repukes have respect for anything Kennedy.

Even Ahnold's screwing one over.

[zbdent]

9. And the money going to India? Oh, that's not a bribe

n/t

[Karenina]

29. Yeah, Poland was not a bribe

among lots of other offers to East European nations. And yeah, when the U.S. tried to bribe Turkey into being staging ground and they demanded the terms in WRITING the U.S. refused and Turkey said "STUFF IT." I guess they didn't want a paper trail for the (hmmm... what shall I call it... INCENTIVE?) WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!!!

[zbdent]

10. And Belgium decided not to consider Bush for War Crimes

when the $$$$ from the USA threatened to dry up.

[bluestateguy]

11. What a silly story

The "backlash" they speak of is entirely in the DC Beltway. Not one person from Massachusetts is interviewed.

[Melsky]

12. Way to go TED!

Things are looking up. It's funny to see the repugs scrambling around and making desperate shrill statements.

[Jennellist]

13. It may be true, but is it wise?

They way this is being portrayed is that Teddy has gone personal. I just wonder if this is a wise thing to do politically, particularly since no one knows for sure how the WMD thing will unfold.

[Patriot_Spear]

16. 'Kidd Gloves' are for kids...

American men and women are literally dying because of Bush* and you're worried about 'playing nice'?

We need fighters like Kennedy; not colaberator's like Lieberman.

[Nottingham]

17. Is it WISE to sit Back and Watch Spend 87 Bill on Bribery

Ya I think Teddy is Right On this!

Those comments made President Bush bristle. In an exclusive interview with Fox News, the president called such remarks uncivil.

I love to see Bush Bristle!

:nuke:

Baaaawaaahaaaa!!!

[peterh]

18. We already know the status on WMD…

David Kay is in D.C. as we speak and his report is “dead-on-arrival”.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jennellist]

24. Bush apologist?

What the fuck are you talking about, man? This thing is about winning elections. And I don't like anything that gives the man-child and his backers any way of getting undue sympathy from the masses.

[Patriot_Spear]

26. The appearance of weakness is weakness...

Failing to vocally call Shrub on his lies and mistakes only helps repukes con the people.

The one poster was correct- we must 'attack, attack, attack!'

[RapidCreek]

59. Indeed

Well said. If every damn Democrat in congress did the same thing Kennedy is doing, the Republicans would get rid of AWOL just as quickly as they did Trent Lott. Once the little fucker and his minions become to much of an embarrassment the fun and games shall be brought to a close and the "level headed" old school Republican Vanguard shall be moved to the fore.....Folks like John McCain and Olympia Snowe. Baby AWOL and his group of thugs have already done what they were intended to do...they've destroyed the Republic. Certainly a little more destruction can be achieved and the boys with bank accounts in the Caymans will ejoy any further Icing on the Cake they can. They'll continue to do so....as long as the Dems sit idly by and allow it.....or they get the impression that they might get hung by their necks from telephone poles by angry mobs. I'd prefer not to wait for the later. Most civilized folks feel the same, I would guess.

RC

[saskatoon]

27. Surely you jest

Get real!

[Cheswick2.0]

44. sorry, not falling for it Jenellist

Not playing nice anymore, even with your scary warnings about "how it looks".

[TomNickell]

51. Has to be said....

Jennelist,

There needs to be -somebody- on the Left taking a hard, but rational approach. Presidential candidates ought not to be speculating about motives for the war. But, at this point in his career, Ted K may be the perfect man for this job.

[RapidCreek]

58. It is Personal

It's been personal for the past 11 years.....finally a Democrat has the nutz to deal with it on that level. When monkeys in the gutter are throwing shit in your face....you will, most likely, have to step into the gutter and onto their necks. Thankfully Kennedy is doing so. In fact, it is the only civilized thing to do, as most civilized folks don't care to have a face full of shit....or entertain those who are throwing it.

RC

[Skittles]

63. WE ALREADY KNOW HOW THE WMD THING HAS UNFOLDED

THEY DIDN'T F***ING FIND ANY. GET A G.D. CLUE.

[tokenlib]

14. Kennedy should use PNAC to defend his charges

Kennedy should wave a copy of the PNAC document to defend himself.
That the war was envisioned even before selection 2000--is the evidence to defend the made in Texas charge.

[peterh]

15. The only way the people can wake up to this travesty….

Is if you turn up the volume…Ted has done that. Outside of a couple of candidates, not many in either house have done that. We need more.

[wtmusic]

19. Attack, attack, attack

This is the MO of Republicans. We're going to be doing some attacking ourselves. F*ck off.

[AndyTiedye]

23. Since When Have the Rethugs Been Anything Like Civil?

[et]

20. More Dem Senators need to follow Ted's lead

If more Democratic Senators would follow Ted's lead, it would really heat up the situation. Just one or two others. No Republican member is saying that Ted is lying, just that he is being "uncivil". Well "uncivility" is something many Republicans know all too well as they continue to practice it on a daily basis. A little more truth would surely be appreciated. Ted's statements are easily backed-up by facts and we should be able to encourage just a few more Dem Senators to speak out.

Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer - Are either of you listening?

[BiggJawn]

21. "...is the world, better off today having deposed Saddam Hussein..."

"...and his regime of terrorism ..."

So, John Warner gathers in the scattered molecules of the 11 Sept. dead and shakes them in our faces again....

Hey, John, explain THIS:



And those "Mass Graves"?
Remember when Poppy called upon the Iraqi people to "rise up" and we'd help 'em?
They rose, and Poppy left them hanging. No help.
and Saddam "took care" of them.

Would Poppy had done any different if it was WE who were rising up against HIM?

[paulk]

25. rick santorum should go fuck a dog

and the rest of the repukes should put their money where their mouth is - investigate Kennedy's allegations.

Talk is cheap.

[saigon68]

34. OUTSTANDING IDEA-- I would feel sorry for the dog

He could however jump one of the bush girls they look like dogs any way

[pfitz59]

36. Now now......

Leave the tequila twins outta it! I'm sure they drink heavily BECAUSE who'd want a daddy like Shrub! Don't be emulating Pigboy with your slurs. Sanctorectum can fuck whatever he pleases!

[snippy]

49. "investigate Kennedy's allegations" This is a great idea.

Democrats should demand a Congressional investigation of Kennedy's allegations and more. They should demand an investigation that answers these questions.

1. Who made the decision to use a campaign of lies to market the invasion of Iraq? (Turd Blossom Rove? Bush? Cheney? Roger Ailes? Someone else?)

2. When was that decision made? (Before or after January, 2001? or September 11, 2001? or March, 2002 when Bush told three Senators in Rice's office: "Fuck Saddam. We're taking him out."? or September 2002 when Andrew Card said about trying to sell the American people on the invasion of Iraq: "From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce new products in August."?)

3. Why was that decision made? (Political reasons? Financial reasons? Personal reasons? Religious reasons?)

[Nottingham]

28. Teddy vs Delay on Jerry Springer!! Baawahhaaa! Bring it ON!

"These comments are obviously for political gain and are as disgusting as they are false," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas told reporters Tuesday. "Unfortunately, Kennedy's brand of hate speech has become mainstream in the Democratic Party -- is so incoherent and hateful that frankly, I think they belong on the Springer show rather than C-SPAN."


can we say the RePukes are so TICKED!! BAAAWAAAHAAA!!

[davidinalameda]

30. Colleagues?

LOL

I'm sure they all think of Teddy as their colleague

[Manix]

31. Kick their sanctimonious redneck asses Ted!!!!1

Santorum is a Bible thumpin' ignoramus!

[Dr Fate]

32. Okay Kennedy retractors- Where IS the missing money????

At least offer a counter argument as 5to WHY he is wrong- instead of just saying "well he is OBVIOULSY WRONG!"

[damnraddem]

35. "This is a serious charge and it deserves a serious response,"

How about deserving a 'serious investigation' instead? I guess the good Republican Senator is only interested in what Al Franken notes that the right like to do: debunking the facts, rather than debunking fallacies.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

41. Really! It was a serious fraud that begat the serious charge!

Christ! One serious charge at a time please!

[Nottingham]

37. Teddy tells Faux news! Your choosing the Wrong Words Faux

Asked by Fox News if he had evidence of his charge, Kennedy said Tuesday: "Just yesterday the administration announced a $8.5 billion loan to Turkey, and under the conditions of which they are going to be supportive of our troops in Iraq. Now you can say it's an incentive, you can say it's coercion, you can say bribery -- you choose the word."

Well that shut Faux News up! Baaaawaaahaa :bounce: Teddy is Kewl!

[hiphopnation]

38. And the 'Strawman Argument Award' goes too...

"Are we as a nation, is the world, better off today having deposed Saddam Hussein and his regime of terrorism or should we have left it as it is? That question has to be answered by those who wish to employ this strident rhetoric, but they fail to do so," said Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.


Methinks it odd that there are vicious dictators all over the world, but we happened to attack the one sitting on the worlds second largest oil reserve. Hmmmmm...:nuke:

[hiphopnation]

45. PS...

Someone had posted Sen. Kennedy's phone numbers yesterday. I called and I actually got one of his staffers. He asked if he could take a message. A bit suprised, I replied, "Please tell him thank you for standing up to this president and calling this war what it really is; a fradulent act of aggression."

His staffer said, 'Ok. Thanks.' Cool! Anyone have those numbers still?? EVERYONE should call his office and voice thier support!

[JohnKleeb]

39. go Ted

[Bandit]

42. "Are we as a nation, is the world, better off today"

Well let's see. We are engaged in constant war, economy is the worst in five decades, people are fearful of everyone, Constitutional rights dissappear like melting snowflakes, Earth is warming like has not been seen by mankind, environment is decaying rapidly, national forests are being decimated, almost every other nation on earth either hates us or fears us. I guess I would have to answer Sen Warner with a resounding NO

[Nottingham]

46. MSNBC showed Kennedy and then Delay lashing back out

:bounce:

Teddy got them all wiled up!

[Gman]

47. "Are we as a nation, is the world, better off today....

having deposed Saddam Hussein and his regime of terrorism or should we have left it as it is?"

Funny I can't tell the difference in this country. Can anyone else?

If this is going to be their mantra, they're fucked already.

[Lostnote03]

48. Please Help......

......Of course Sen.Kennedy is correct.....I recall a memo that was circulated prior to the 2002 election specifically stating the political advantage to talking up the invasions......I believe that it was a RNC memo....If anyone can recall this or better yet have a link to support Kennedys accusation this would go a long way to mute the criticism that is hitting the talk radio circuit.....

[Nottingham]

50. Kennedy is right! WMD reason was Bogus a Fraud cooked up

Texas style Big Lie!

I think that has been proven! :bounce:

[MiniMoog]

52. the naviete of many political activists

I've watched these threads. I've watched and waited for someone from the Hill to post. Someone that knows how it works and lay it out as to WHY someone like "Kennedy" makes a statement about "fraud" as a pretext for war. The DUers here are so bright, so informed, and really such a strong force. Yet it seems that many, not all, and by no means am I offering some blank collective statement about the fine people on this board - but it seems so abstract. So completely separate from the reality of how US politics work. How candidates are chosen, how information is broadcast and to whom. Do any of you actually BELIEVE that the candidates running on the dem ticket are not handpicked? Ideaology aside - great to promote and argue and debate - but I must confess that I see a sincere lack of perception.It's so much dirtier. I expect to be flamed, but nothing, I mean NOTHING is offered to public consumption without it being vetted strategically. Kennedy's "fraud" statement was a political move - and not for the reasons, the let's-expose-this-shit reasons that many may think.

[PassingFair]

54. I personally believe...

that Howard Dean has NOT been hand-picked. He is a true Populist and the hope of the democratic system. Imagine, supported almost completely with donations averaging about $90.00 a pop. We are seeing something new here!'

Go Dean!

[Nottingham]

56. Hi Mini! I think its the 87 billion thats got Kenendy upset

and yes we are naive and yes we are fighting a tremendous hurdle
but ya know I believe in Miracles Angels and even though things are planned out! Theres a Law called Murphy's law and maybe Blair & Bush has hit it! And Maybe Kennedy sees this as the perfect time to attack!

:bounce:

Be Happy Don't Worry!!....is the Bush Motto

[TennesseeWalker]

53. Sadly, I agree with you.

And as a realist, I'm glad someone in power has decided to throw us folks on this side of the divide a bone. I've had about enough of the other assholes. They've made their money, so BACK the FUCK off, and let us keep our little piece of the pie, already!

On EDIT, I meant to agree with number 52 above, but it's late and I'm tired.

[MiniMoog]

57. to passing fair

Please don't mistake my cautionary observation as an indictment against any particular candidate, including your guy Dean. The sad sad fact is that elections are most useful for the populus to get a message out regarding concerns that may be addressed by lawmakers and sponsers and $$ on the side of the fence that wins. Elections are NOT about CHOSING a president. It's an ad campaign to make us feel involved and, sorry, Dean is handpicked.

[Nottingham]

60. Well Mini! I'm gonna vote Democrat this election!

What are you going to do!

Vote Democrat Vote Independant Vote Republican or Not Vote

Hand Picked is what all candidates are its called going into the voting booth and hand picking your choice!

:bounce:

[jamesinca]

61. Well lets see about todays line of garbage from the GOP

<SNIP>

Bennett said if Kennedy has some accusations to make, then he ought to put up or shut up when it comes to providing the evidence.

<SNIP>
Asked by Fox News if he had evidence of his charge, Kennedy said Tuesday: "Just yesterday the administration announced a $8.5 billion loan to Turkey, and under the conditions of which they are going to be supportive of our troops in Iraq. Now you can say it's an incentive, you can say it's coercion, you can say bribery -- you choose the word."
<SNIP>
Ok so ol' Ted put up, that gives him license to carry on Mr Bennett


<SNIP>
When Kennedy returned to the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon, he continued to blast the administration, but did not speak directly to his earlier charges.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<SNIP>
"If the charge made by the senior senator from Massachusetts is accurate, then the president is deserving of a serious rebuke. If, in fact, the charge is not accurate, the senior senator from Massachusetts is deserving of a serious rebuke," he said

<SNIP>

On Tuesday they bribed Turkey, or do you prefer incentive, maybe coercion. Mr Bennett will you follow thru with the rebuke of the President that you call for? Or will you not eat the shoe like Tucker Carlson?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<SNIP>
"We ought to have the opportunity to have open, candid exchange of views ... without challenging the motives, patriotism or the very right of every senator to express," him or herself, said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "There has to be open dialogue about the extraordinary issues facing us with respect to Iraq."
"I think it's patriotic to ask those questions," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

<SNIP>

Mr Daschle I am glad to see you stand by one of your people, it is about time. But you have forgotten this has to do with democracy and the Constitutions Bill of Rights. The GOP hides behind it, they do not believe in it. Remember the greatest form of democracy is dissent. The GOP is usually in lock step for that reason, they don't believe in Democracy, thye only hide behind it, they only believe in it when it is self serving.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is just to easy anymore.

[snippy]

62. Democrats should demand Congressional investigation of Kennedy claims.

With both parties having subpoena power.