GOP hopefuls clash with Paul over Iraq

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

GOP hopefuls clash with Paul over Iraq
By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

DURHAM, N.H. - Republican presidential contenders voiced support for the Iraq war Wednesday night despite a warning from anti-war candidate Ron Paul that they risk dragging the party down to defeat in 2008.

"Even if we lose elections, we should not lose our honor," shot back former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, "and that is more important to the Republican Party."

...

Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Giuliani all stressed support for the war, at times even competing to show their commitment.

"The surge is apparently working," said Romney, referring to the increase in troops.

That brought an instant rebuke from McCain, who said, "The surge is working, sir, no, not apparently. It's working."

Alone among those on stage, Paul, a veteran Texas congressman with a libertarian streak, made the case for withdrawing troops. That drew a sharp challenge from Chris Wallace, one of the debate questioners, who asked whether the United States should take its marching orders from al-Qaida.

"No! We should take our marching orders from our Constitution," Paul shouted back, pointing his pen at Wallace for emphasis. "We should not go to war without a declaration" by Congress.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070906/ap_on_el_pr/republicans_debate

[TwilightGardener]

1. Paul, of course, made the most sense on the war, but McCain

was like a dog with a pig's ear on that "surge IS working" bullshit--Romney was reasonable in wanting to wait for the Petraeus report, IMO.

[AX10]

2. I guess Paul's desire to gut all social services and crush social security...

is not enough for the Republican Freak Show. :nopity:

[bluestateguy]

3. Congress has not declared war since 1941

I don't know why the Congress hasn't done it this way ever since then. Instead, they draw up these legalistic bullshit "resolutions" or "authorizations" that get us into these messes in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.

[razorman]

4. You and I will not live long enough to see Congress ever declare an official war again.

It will not happen again in our lifetimes, no matter what the provocation.
Instead, it will be "peacekeeping" or "police actions" or some such. There will still be military actions, mostly unjustified, regardless of who is president. They just won't be called "wars" officially.

[Supersedeas]

5. Chrissy Wallace....you da-da would be so proud.