Republican lawmakers urge shift in U.S. Iraq plans- woohoo

[uppityperson]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8765457

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican congressman called for a deadline to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, while some other members of President Bush's party urged on Sunday that his administration come to grips with a persistent insurgency and revamp Iraq policy.

Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina conservative, said on ABC's "This Week" that he would offer legislation next week setting a timetable for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. "I voted for the resolution to commit the troops, and I feel that we've done about as much as we can do," said Jones, who had coined the phrase "freedom fries" to lash out at the French for opposing the Iraq invasion.

Other Republicans on Sunday talk shows joined Democrats in criticizing the administration for playing down the insurgency, while overestimating the ability of Iraq's fledgling forces to fight without U.S. soldiers in the lead and failing to plan for the post-invasion occupation. <clip>

Graham said the Army is contending with a serious shortfall in recruiting "because this war is going sour in terms of word of mouth from parents and grandparents." He said "if we don't adjust, public opinion is going to keep slipping away." Jones, a member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said "primarily the neoconservatives" in the administration were to blame for flawed war planning. "The reason of going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's all been proven that it was never there," he said.
<clip> more...

[bullimiami]

1. when bush is no longer the 'war' president what does he have left?

the war making president?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is good they are starting to eath their own

and asking for a way out... now lets see if they continue to drink the kool aid regarding Iran.. they are... reminds me of Cambodia... special forces will be there (oopps they probably already are)

[EVDebs]

30. They know this can't go on in Iraq past the '06 elections or.....

they'll end up like Nixon, all of them !

[merwin]

3. Notice how some of the Republicans have started to use 'neoconservative'.

There's a lot of infighting going on here.

[Boneman]

16. I think you're right...........

ssff

[Ravy]

45. We need to stick it (the term neocon) to all of them ....

They supported Bush when Bush was toeing the neocon line, they abandoned their conservative principles by giving unprecedented power to the federal government, American imperialism, and they behaved fiscally like bandits allowing looting of our economy and a gigantic federal deficit.

They are ALL neoconservatives in my book.

Let the Republicans tar the neocons. The neocons deserve it, and the rest of the Republicans in Congress who supported them will stick to them that much easier.

[Maestro]

4. A little dissention in the party?

But Jones is still an asshole and I have no respect for the prick! However, the lies and double talk of the admin is finally starting to bother even the worst of the worst.

[piniella]

44. Jones

I agree that he's a schmuck but for him to come out against this war is a good sign because his district has a lot of military folks, both active and retired.

[Maestro]

47. He's probably been bombarded by military

folk trying to explain the realities of war to him.

[uppityperson]

64. welcome to DU

:wave:

[acmavm]

5. No kudos for these guys from me. They're just barely up to the point I

(and many, many people here) were are before the first bomb dropped.

Maybe I should be happy they're finally starting to think about this, but why shouldn't they? They are everybit as guilty as the bush** administration. These guy were warned. These guys had access to the same information we all did. So big frigging whoop to Walter 'Freedom Fries' Jones for finally raising a brainwave pattern.

[ninkasi]

28. They are acting this way now...

out of self interest. Some of them face reelection battles in 2006, and they want to distance themselves between Chimp the failure, and their chances of winning.

It would be nice to think that they have changed their ways, but they haven't. This is all being said due to their own selfish desires, not concern for the troops, the Iraqis, or the American citizen.

[pacalo]

31. You are so right.

As acmavm said, all the information about the nutjob's intentions & motivations were there for everyone to read; they were more than anxious to follow those neoconservatives off the cliff.

[Blue Belle]

62. Yep... you nailed it.

The approval numbers for the GOP led congress are tanking just as fast as the President's. The only reason why they are singing a different tune now is out of fear that they'll be held accountable for their blind servatude to this Administration. Towing the party line is getting to be a heavier task as the days progress... and it's not Bush's career that hangs in the balance - he doesn't have to get elected again.

[99Pancakes]

36. Freedom Fries

[RickWn]

55. LOL

Somewhere down this thread I will post a more significant comment I hope, but can't pass your post by without telling you how darn hard I laughed at your final sentence:

"So big frigging whoop to Walter 'Freedom Fries' Jones for finally raising a brainwave pattern".

Priceless!!

[Geo55]

6. Ahhhh....

"if we don't adjust, public opinion is going to keep slipping away."

This Bozo up for midterm elections ?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Why shouldn't the Dems be front and center leading the call for this? eom

[Frederik]

8. They're busy bashing Dean. n/t

[KittyWampus]

10. No, They Really Aren't. But The Mediawhores Have Convinced Many DU'ers

haven't they?

[Xipe Totec]

11. I'm with you

We should be canvassing our neighborhoods, identifying registered Republicans, and handing the lists to the Army recruiting office.

This is a win-win-win proposition.

1).- It avoids or postpones the draft
2).- It thins the herd of our most violence prone individuals
3).- It increases our net voting power.

why would we want to ruin that by supporting a draft?


:sarcasm:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. Did you reply to the wrong thread?

I'm saying the Dems should, as a party, be the lead in calling for a withdrawal.

Just as they should have been the lead in opposing the war, although that ship has long ago sailed...

Unless I'm mistaken this thread is about proposing withdrawal from Iraq, not about proposing a draft, which is another topic and thread.

[uppityperson]

15. This thread is about some repubs opposing warcrap&bush bs

While I do not trust the repubs, I was looking for some good news today and found this article that some repubs are saying some bad things about some of Mr.bush's war bs. That is what this thread is about. Not who is leading the anti-war movement, not who wants the draft, but about some repubs anti-war thoughts and their getting into the MSM news.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

18. Don't get me wrong... I consider this good news as well.

But I find it dismaying that despite having lost so many elections that the Democratic Party can't seem to find its voice to be a true opposition, why must it be only scared Republicans crying for our withdrawal from Iraq?

An outspoken Dean is a good start, but it's only a start.

[Xipe Totec]

22. Guess I did reply to the wrong post, sorry

I misread when you said why SHOULDN'T the dems...

Thought you said why SHOULD the dems...

But this is the right thread. The Repugs are desperately looking for a face saving exit. Don't let them get away with it. They MUST be the ones to call for the military pullout. They MUST be the ones to turn tail and run. We cannot afford to let the Repugs paint the Democratic party, yet again, as the party of candy-assed weak-wristed liberals. If we allow them to do that, the cycle of war will never end. They will whine about the Democrats being responsible for losing another war, just like Vietnam. And claim that Iraq was a winnable war; lost only because the Democrats are weak.

A draft, which is what Congressman Rangel proposed a few years back, would allow the Repugs to prolong the war. The way to end this war more quickly is to close that option for them. If we're not careful, the Repugs will bring back the draft, keep the war going, and blame the Dems for it again.

[Southsideirish]

24. Because so many of our fine "leaders" in the Senate backed the miserable

invasion to begin with and in so doing they have effectively muzzled their ability to speak out against the war. Stupid people!!!!! I'd vote for a "one eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store" before I would work for, contribute to or vote for any of them. Ever.

[ls317]

9. Its about time

Its called an end game( exit strategy)

[rodeodance]

12. I am skeptical--these repugs do a little contrition and Bush says

howdy and smirks and them-wraps his arm around them and says--now what can i do for yah--lets make a deal. all is well.

[iamjoy]

14. They Shouldn't Change The Iraq Plan

they should develop one
you can't change what doesn't exist.

[pissed_American]

63. True, True

Couldn`t have been better said !

[Wright Patman]

17. 'Bush twins enlist'

This headline would bring a boomlet in recruiting and all the congressmen could stop worrying and go back to raising money for reelection.

[99Pancakes]

37. Bush twins enlist?

[tmooses]

19. There were millions saying the reasons for war were bogus back

in February of 2003. Where were these conservatives then? Waving their limp little freedom fries around and calling us treasonous-that's what they were doing. The blood of our soldiers and of those tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis's is on their hands. These people make me sick!!:mad: :mad:

[powwowdancer]

26. It needed saying...

The republiscum are playing expedience politics now. They've ridden the bush train until it became clear that the name on the side was "suicide express." Bush is on the fast track to being the most hated lame-duck in history and no sane politician, (un-like Delay, Cheney, et al), wants to hang his or her star on that kind of floundering in the political tar pit. I hope the whole lot of 'em, (neo-cons), turn and rend each other like rabid weasels in heat. Good enough and good riddance.

<>

[tmooses]

29. With Bush out there still pushing his loser, harebrained Social

Security ideas he is solidifying his image of an impotent lame duck. I just hope those who supported some of his ideas will be held accountable by the voters. Welcome to DU!:applause:

[lancdem]

35. Great post!

You're absolutely right. Rove's strong-arm tatcis can only go so far; once Repuke politicians see WH policies as a threat to their livelihood, that comes first.

[Turn CO Blue]

41. Welcome to DU, powwowdancer!

:hi:

[EVDebs]

20. REPUBLICANS WANT TO 'CUT and RUN' ????? n/t

[still_one]

21. don't think jones or the rest of the asses are doing this

out of the kindness of their hearts

North Carolina has taken a huge hit in casulty figures, and his constituents are pissed

what they should do, is throw the bums out of office, democrat and republican alike who supported these gangsters to go into Iraq in the first place

If this isn't done, then you can expect us to be there for a long, long, time, no matter which administration takes over in 2008

[unblock]

23. repug lawmakers urge shrub to declare victory just prior to 2006 elections

can they BE any more obvious?

[deadparrot]

25. The "freedom fries" guy is turning against them?

Damn, they are in trouble.

[indepat]

27. These guys need to realize you are either with us or you are agin' us

[napi21]

32. Yeah, I heard several on the Sunday AM shows.

Sounds to me like the cibgressional troops are getting restless. Betcha it's keeping little old Shrub awake at night. His supporters are starting to turn on him!

I was cheering at the TV today! It's about time!

I must say, I didn't expect this to happen this early in Shrub's lame duck years. I knew it would, sooner or later, but it's really only been 6 months! Even the talking heads said it usually happens sometime in the thrid year.

[Ilsa]

33. The heat is on. Bush's duplicity has been discovered and the

war is a failure. Time to bail out before their butts get fried in 2006.

[ClintonTyree]

34. And I think that's all it is...

a CYA to distance themselves from bush's illegal oil war. I hope people can see through this scam, but I doubt it. They've fallen for every other Reslug scam that's been thrown at them.

[Ilsa]

48. As much as folks on DU despise Judy Woodruff, she said

something interesting on MTP today when they were discussing how nervous the WH seems to be getting: that the war on terror, and support for the war, are the underpinnings of Bush's* "success" (via re-election). He hasn't produced anything else. So, without the war being successful, and the DSM and this latest memo emerging, he looks worse than ever. (I'm paraphrasing everything she said.)

You'd think Bush's* support would all but evaporate.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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

[Disturbed]

39. Bush and Cheney are FAILURES!

The Rethugs are starting to realize this. They are slow on the uptake but now they want to distance themselves from the stink.

[MrPrax]

40. Oh no...They're Smart

Looks like the GOP is getting out ahead of this issue, controlling it and positioning themselves for 2006--smart move, the repuke Congress critters will run against a lame duck GOP president and look authoritative and moral on this increasingly divisive issue.

Dum dum democrats--they should have opposed it more loudly and listened to the anti-war crowd when they had a chance to score a moral position.

Now, of course, the anti-war crowd is starting to include GOP reps. and average GOP voters which was easily predicted...

[NightOwwl]

42. And in the meantime Dems like

Hillary Clinton continue to beat the war drum to appeal to those non-existent centrist voters, while allowing the Republicans become the party of peace.

[NNN0LHI]

43. Why do these Republican politicians hate America?

Its only a few dead enders, I heard Rumsfeld say so himself. Why won't the Republicans support our troops? Who is running this war anyway?

Don

[jazzjunkysue]

46. See Rat. See Rat on B*** ship. See rat run. Run, rat, run.

1700 deaths later, "It's all the Neo-Con's fault!"

[Starbucks Anarchist]

49. You'd think dumbasses like Walter Jones...

would realize that we can't possibly leave all that oil unguarded. That requires the permanent military bases we're building there. And that requires the very troops that he wants to come home.

[truth_is_extreme]

50. Bush will stop at nothing!

He will get to invade Iran and Syria even if he has to send communist, America-hating Republicans like Rep. Walter Jones to our Gulag in Guantanamo FOR LIFE!!!!!

[paineinthearse]

51. DU'ers who read about Rep. Meehan's First Parish speech last Sunday...

...see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1834129 ... had a heads up about Jones.

"My personal wish would be that all DU'ers contact their Representatives and ask them to join Marty in a bi-partisan effort to create an exit strategy. I know that he has two Republicans already (can't divulge the names yet), with more in the wings."

I was not at liberty to divulge his name at the time.

Stand by for at least one more rethug "coming out" in favor of Meehan's exit stragegy resolution this week.

[MeDeMax]

52. BBC link

'Freedom fries' lawmaker's U-turn

A pro-Iraq war US congressman who campaigned for French fries to be renamed "freedom fries" is now calling for US troops to return home from Iraq.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4086380.stm

[stevietheman]

53. With the Downing Street memo and this...

and all the other Republican-inspired problems hitting our nation, I'm now noticing all kinds, smells and colors of feces flying through the air, and they're heading for a giant fan on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[Ganja Ninja]

54. But , but ...

God told Bush to attack Iraq!

Unless maybe he's just a loon listening to the voices in his head.

[Up2Late]

56. "Freedom fries" lawmaker's U-turn (BBC News)

(One thing this article doesn't make clear is if Jones or someone else, is introducing the legislation to reverse the "Freedom fries" resolution, anyone know? Also, is this enough? Should we push for a Public apology and/or an apology to France?)

'Freedom fries' lawmaker's U-turn

A pro-Iraq war US congressman who campaigned for French fries to be renamed "freedom fries" is now calling for US troops to return home from Iraq.

"French fries" were removed from the menu on Capitol Hill

Monday, 13 June, 2005, 01:32 GMT 02:32 UK

Republican Representative Walter Jones is to introduce legislation demanding a timetable for the withdrawal. The renaming of fries in Capitol Hill's cafeterias in March 2003 expressed disapproval among some US lawmakers with France's opposition to the war. French toast was also re-branded "freedom toast".

"I voted for the resolution to commit the troops, and I feel that we've done about as much as we can do," Mr Jones said on US network ABC. "I just feel that the reason of going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's all been proven that it was never there."

He said his change of heart about the war came after he attended the funeral of a US sergeant killed in Nasiriya, Iraq, in April 2003. Mr Jones said he was moved by the soldier's widow who read out her husband's last letter.

"And that really has been on my mind and my heart ever since," he said. Mr Jones, who represents North Carolina, has written condolences letters to the families of more than 1,300 servicemen killed in Iraq, and photographs of those killed in action are posted outside his congressional office.

(related news at link above)

[Massacure]

57. FLIP FLOP!!!

[Mark E. Smith]

58. Republicans Backing Away From Bush On Iraq

Capitol Hill Blue

A Republican congressman called for a deadline to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, while some other members of President Bush's party urged on Sunday that his administration come to grips with a persistent insurgency and revamp Iraq policy.

Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina conservative, said on ABC's "This Week" that he would offer legislation this week setting a timetable for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

"I voted for the resolution to commit the troops, and I feel that we've done about as much as we can do, " said Jones, who had coined the phrase "freedom fries" to lash out at the French for opposing the Iraq invasion.

Other Republicans on Sunday talk shows joined Democrats in criticizing the administration for playing down the insurgency, while overestimating the ability of Iraq's fledgling forces to fight without U.S. soldiers in the lead and failing to plan for the post-invasion occupation.

"The insurgency is alive and well. We underestimated the viability of the insurgency," Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina republican, said on CBS' Face the Nation. He said the administration has "been slow to adjust when it comes to troop strength and supporting our troops."

Graham said the Army is contending with a serious shortfall in recruiting "because this war is going sour in terms of word of mouth from parents and grandparents." He said "if we don't adjust, public opinion is going to keep slipping away."

Jones, a member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said "primarily the neoconservatives" in the administration were to blame for flawed war planning.

"The reason for going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's all been proven that it was never there," he said.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_6862.shtml

[expatriot]

59. Wish this would've happened in 2004, but 2006 is good enough....

heheheheh Rove's 1,000 year Reich seems to be having some problems.

[merwin]

60. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1543219

[Up2Late]

61. Just so ALL are not confused, if you click the link above...

...it will take you right back here, now that this thread has been combined.