On Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR): "CYA" or honest realization?

[trof]

I guess I've become so cynical that I just don't trust anyone with the 'R' after their name anymore.

Is he just covering his butt in advance of the next election, or has he had his epiphany?
He said that W**s actions may be criminal, or words to that effect.

[rodeodance]

1. look at his voting record (Bush loyalist).

[AlinPA]

6. CYA for 2008. He is a republican loyalist. n/t

[sandnsea]

2. CYA

Don't even give it a second thought. That guy knows he's done in 2008 and playing the new Lincoln Chaffee is his only hope of retaining his seat. Not going to work. Some day I'll work up a list of bullshit votes of his, there have been a BUNCH. He is soooo gone.

[Doctor_J]

3. if he were suddenly waking up, he would either switch to D or

start calling for censure and/or resignation of Smirk. This is nothing more than election-year politicking.

[bahrbearian]

4. CYA

he told Judas Sthenopolus yesterday , he loved chimpy , thought the world of him, bla bla bla

[Arugula Latte]

5. He saw our election results here in Oregon -- so he's CHSRA

Covering His Sorry Republican Ass

[trof]

7. Thanks, all. Glad to know my cynicism is not displaced.

[stubtoe]

8. He's a Republican - who blows with the wind.

He was most definitely for the war, before he was so recently against it. He may honestly have had a change of heart, but waaay too late and too suspiciously close to '08 for me to swallow whole.

Some other readings re: Gordo

http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1152309321166260.xml&coll=7

http://www.blueoregon.com/2006/12/gordon_smith_no.html

[Saturday]

9. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt .....

and welcome him and his new found opinion. Every Republican that comes over is needed to end this war.

[D23MIURG23]

13. Ill agree with you on this one.

I care far less about his personal motives, than I do about whether he is willing to lend strength to the cause.

[Bucky]

10. There's a special circle in Hell for 13th hour converts.

I'm glad he's speaking up now. I wonder where his brains and integrity were four years ago. Or even four months ago.

[Printer70]

11. Cynicism will be our Downfall

The only thing that will persuade Bush to change course is pressure by other Republicans. It's been clear uptil now that he doesn't care about polls (ie: Social Security, polls on Iraq of Iraqis or Americans) nor does he care what Democrat politicians think. The only people he listens to (and even then, selectively) are other party members. If the party thinks Bush will doom the GOP in 2008, power brokers will help shift his position. It's critical that people like Gordon Smith and other R's start making remarks like this - making the decision to end the Iraq invasion a national consensus, and not a partisan endeavor.

The other reason I say this is that I now strongly suspect that the GOP reaction in light of the election and Iraq Study Group report will be to increase the troops in Iraq. "Moderates" like McCain, and even Dem. House Intel. Chair Reyes agree with this approach. And Pelosi put Reyes where he is. It's very possible that we will escalate this war, and that enough people in both parties will go along. That's what we're looking at unless we get more people like Smith on board.

[D23MIURG23]

12. I'd say he knows which way the wind is blowing.

He is from Oregon. Thats a pretty blue state, and I'm guessing he has figured out that the war is going to weigh him down like a pair of lead boots in his next senate race if he doesn't take the right stand on it. My guess is that we will see a lot more of this in the comming months, particularly from repigs bluer areas.

[BlueIris]

14. CYA. Smith is as hollow as any other neo-con.

He's just better at faking personability than most. As are every single last one of his aides and legislative assistants. I swear, he's made clones of himself and had them surgically altered to look like individual members of his freakishly hegemonous staff. Don't fall for it though--those people are empty.