Sen. Gordon Smith: "Many Republican colleagues are simply waiting until September"

[sabra]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-iraq-republicans,1,4561547.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

<snip>

Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, one of two Senate Republicans to oppose the latest spending bill for the conflict, said the war "is a problem because it's defining our party to the American people, and the American people have lost faith in this cause."

"Many Republican colleagues are simply waiting until September," he said, citing the deadline Bush gave to Army Gen. David Petraeus for a progress report on the war. Unless there is a dramatic turnabout by then, Smith said, the party's near-unanimity is almost certain to fracture.

Some Republican lawmakers report considerable support in their states or districts for Bush's campaign against terrorism, despite widespread frustration over the war's longevity and casualty rates. But a number of conservative commentators recently have said elected Republicans are becoming dangerously out of step with mainstream public opinion, and at least one GOP Senate aide has distributed copies of the articles as a warning to colleagues.

"There's a lot of nervousness," said Rep. Ray H. LaHood, R-Ill., who has backed Bush's war policies. He said a fellow House member recently recounted visiting a coffee shop full of Republicans in his home district and finding "none of them supports what we're doing over there."

Some Republican leaders say their stand on Iraq is a matter of principle, not politics, and they suggest they will accept electoral setbacks if that is the cost.

[bdamomma]

1. oh let them hit bottom with their dry drunk.

[grasswire]

2. how much blood on your hands between now and Sept?

How many soldiers will die in those weeks?

[AndyA]

8. That is exactly what I thought. September is a long time off for our troops,

who face an uncertain destiny every single day. How many more will die? This isn't a game, it's life. It's reality. These people have no sense of life or death.

They should not be in the jobs they are in. They are not suitable for the position.

[babylonsister]

3. Lamest reasoning in the entire world. How many people will die

between now and September?

[grasswire]

4. how much blood on your hands between now and Sept?

How many soldiers will die in those weeks?

[Solly Mack]

5. support for a "war" for lies and trumped up evidence is a matter of principle?

LMAO


I believe that says it all

[aquart]

6. Good for them. I want them to "accept electoral setbacks."

Lots of them.

[Botany]

7. Good thinking keep up th killings until on this bad idea for 4 more months

Nothing will change except for more blood, death, hatred, more terrorists
recruited, and money wasted.

ATTN Congress the war was a mistake based on lies.

[Marr]

9. But the cowards will sit and wait for their "progress report" that's BOUND

to be more of the same old "stay the course" bullshit. And they KNOW it.

Cowards and "party before country" traitors. That's the modern GOP.

[central scrutinizer]

10. Oregonians don't need a weatherman

We have Gordon Smith holding up his finger to see which way the wind is blowing. The dude is frantically trying to move to the middle after being a Rethug bully for the last six years.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Maybe, but I'm grateful for his and Hagel's votes--I don't condemn

anyone for siding with the angels, even if it's not out of pure motives.

[Grandrose]

12. Stupid Republics....

They would rather have the blood of the troops and Iraqi people, than to do the right thing! :crazy:

[ORDagnabbit]

13. Maybe a lotter for our reps? every week a random family member is put on the front line.

that would get them off their fucking asses!

[Pastiche423]

14. Hey Gordo!

Do you think you would have waited until September if you knew you could have saved your son's life before then?