February 5, 2007
Sen. Joe Lieberman: True Courage in the Face of Posturing, Weak-Kneed Politicians Seeking to Exploit Our Troops (Ron Christie)
Anyone looking for statesmanship in the U.S. Senate should look no further than the remarks given this evening by Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) as he discussed the non-binding resolution registering disapproval with the president’s plan to increase troops and win the war in Iraq. Despite the posturing given by Democrats and weak-kneed Republicans that the non-binding resolution will send an important message to the president, Lieberman challenged his colleagues to have the courage to state their true intentions and vote on a resolution to cut off funding for the war. That is a step they will never take, of course.
Lieberman correctly asserts that senators cannot unanimously vote to confirm Gen. Petraeus as the new commander in Iraq and yet support a resolution condemning his strategy for success that is predicated on sending more troops to Iraq. That, of course, is the true meaning of the term hypocrisy.
Unlike those running for reelection or jockeying to become president, Lieberman correctly points out that the world, not just posturing members of Congress on one end of Pennsylvania Avenue, is listening to the activity in the Senate — action that will do nothing other than embolden our enemies and depress the troops. Lieberman chastises his colleagues by noting that never before has Congress condemned the use of force that they themselves voted to authorize — particularly when American soldiers are in harm’s way, fighting and dying on the battlefield. Truly pathetic.
I only wish the senators supporting the resolution condemning the president’s new strategy in Iraq would have the courage to stand up and say what they truly believe: They want the President to lose a political battle at the expense of our brave men and women in uniform, who are fighting battles around the world every day to protect our freedom. Battles in which real bullets are flying and real casualties are being sustained.
Bravo, Senator Lieberman. If only your colleagues had the courage and decency, as you did today, to take to the floor and be honest about your true position and intentions.
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I tuned in to c-span 2 today primarily to witness Senator Lieberman's remarks. I was not disappointed. He reduced me to tears, I admit it.
I know I'm not the only one that felt that, right at that point when he reminded us of just how dismal things must have seemed at a similar point in our own Civil War. And we were also reminded of Abraham.
I remain a fan of Bill, and even Hillary, Clinton. And I know he has a reputation for being a great speechmaker. But at times I felt I was being manipulated. You know, smiling
on cue when, even then, I knew I didn't feel it in my heart.
With Senator Lieberman I never feel like someone's trying to pull a fast one on me. He's the real deal.
What a Great American! I love him. And I'm very grateful to the people of Connecticut for keeping the faith.
Sister Rosetta
P.S. Can we get a transcript?
Comment by Sister Rosetta — February 5, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
As the Senate plays games the real Americans are fighting for the greater good.
The Senators that want to go on record against this battle in the War on Terror should vote to take the money away that supports it. If the marching order from the last election was a message from the voting public to pull off this battle, as the Democrat leadership wants us to believe with most news outlets across the country then why don't they just de-fund it.
They would never defund the battle in Iraq because they know that the American voter is smarter than that. They know that there was no mandate from the last election to pull out of Iraq. They know that liars figure and figures don't lie. They know that all the polling they've introduced into the political sphere are contrived attempts at keeping the 24 hour news cycle feed with bogus numbers that are derived from news pimps to embolden their positions and their life styles.
No, as stated originally, the real Americans are fighting for the greater good and Joe Lieberman is one man that hasn't fell victim to all of the above. He still has values and morality.
Comment by David Hamlin — February 6, 2007 @ 10:00 am
People should stop invoking "the troops" when discussing the war. The best thing for "the troops" would be to bring them home, not send more of them over there.
The world is watching America, yes. Watching and hoping we get out of Iraq soon, along with the families of the troops.
Comment by a Truman — February 6, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Do the politicians against the war really believe that the American people are so stupid as to think that a non-binding resolution is an indicator of their resolve and courage to get us out of this war? Is the illogic of confirming Patreus and renouncing his strategy apparent to all but the politicians? Conservatives see a confirmation of Democrat's lack of backbone and alternate ideas while Liberals are sorely disappointed that this is the best that the Democrats can do in fulfilling their promises to pull out of Iraq.
Comment by Johnny Elias — February 6, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
He's one hundred%
correct!
Comment by Kenneth Hensley — February 20, 2007 @ 1:28 am