U.S. Official: Spain Gave in to Threats (Hastert)

[Khephra]

snip...........

The comments by House Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert strongly contrast with those of President Bush, who has sidestepped the question of whether the election results could encourage terrorists.

Meanwhile, a top Bush administration official said the Spanish government was defeated in national elections in part because it initially held Basque separatists accountable for last week's train bombings and "didn't get what information did exist out to the public."

Speaking to Capitol Hill reporters on another subject, Hastert, R-Ill., called Spain "a nation who succumbed ... to threats of terrorism, changed their government."

Asked if he was referring to Spain, he said: "Well I'm saying, they changed their government because of the perception of threat."

"Here's a country who stood against terrorism and had a huge terrorist act within their country and they chose to change their government and to in a sense appease terrorists," Hastert said.

more..............

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-spain,0,6107787.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. I don't know, maybe it's just me

But it would seem that cowering under the leader who is already in power is an example of cowardice much more than changing leaders in stressful times.

But maybe it's just me.

:shrug:

[saigon68]

24. Hastert= political opportunist

I wonder how many men and women in his district have died for Halliburton?

Bet he won't even consider them or their sacrifice to his golden calf.




And from a close look at his bio--- A DRAFT DODGER

AND

A MOTHER FUCKING CHICKEN HAWK

Birthdate: 01/02/42
Birthplace: Aurora, IL


Education:
MA, Education, Northern Illinois University, 1967
AB, Economics,Wheaton College, 1964.



Professional Experience:
Teacher/Coach, Yorkville High School, 1964-1980
Former Partner, Family Restaurant Business.

Political Experience:
Speaker of the House, 1999-present
Dole Delegate, 1996
Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1986-present
Representative, Illinois States House of Representatives, 1980-1986.

[yellowcanine]

2. Hastert is about as politically astute as an eggplant

The Socialist win just might have something to do with the fact that the ruling party lied about the involvement of the Basque separtists in the bombing - long after everyone else, including their own intelligence, was saying otherwise.

[Richardo]

4. He's a Tom Delay protege...watch for the agenda.

Delay put him in the Speaker's chair - so he's a GOP attack dog proxy.

(Did you wonder why he was so sensitive about Kerry's "liars and crooks" comment?)

[LynneSin]

22. That's just a damn insult!!!

I mean, there are many eggplants out there that I would give great credit to for political knowledge!!

:D

[Judi Lynn]

3. Now Bush will have to find a way to threaten them right back into line.

I think we know he's capable of that kind of persuasion, or at least the deadly effort to persuade.

[Robbien]

6. That is why I believe Spain is proving to be real brave

The biggest threat to Spain right now is Bush&Co. Spaniards have shown they have the ca hones to take a stand away from wars of aggression even though it may rile the cowboy in charge.

[DulceDecorum]

5. I think it was Nightline

that had some Spanish guy translating/commenting on what Zapatero has been saying to his fellow Spaniards.
If memory serves, the gist of it was:

Bush is the way out, Kerry is going to be the next president and so Zapatero does not care about having good relations with Bush.

All three governments that supported/created the invasion of Iraq will be removed by their citizens ASAP.
Spain was the first test, the US is next and the UK will follow.

The soldiers Spain sent to Iraq are coming home pronto. If the UN asks nicely, Spain may consider sending some over but when it comes to the Coalition, forgeddaboudit.

I do not have a link and I am paraphrasing.
I am seeing talk about the soldiers being pulled out but not much else.

[wryter2000]

8. Yup

I think all their bleating in this regard is a lame attempt at damage control.

[neverforget]

7. Why do Republicans hate elections?

:shrug:

[Lindacooks]

11. Because they know if people really thought about it

there wouldn't be any Repukes in political office.

Time after time polls show that the Democratic stance on issues is what people want. Repukes play to fear, ignorance, and a few key issues that appeal to the dumbest and meanest among us.

[DulceDecorum]

12. Once on Phil Donahue

(the talk show Oprah put out of business)
they had Mario Cuomo there.
Phil says to the audience,
"Quick, without thinking, who will you vote for?"
and he points at this lady who promptly answers "Reagan."

Cuomo looks at her, shakes his head, turns to Phil and says,
"that's what you get when you don't think."

[w4rma]

9. Anzar was covering up for Al Queda. That's partly why they lost so badly.

Just like Shrub is covering up the Saudis' connection with Al Queda.

[DulceDecorum]

15. Are you trying to say

that some of them may actually be in league with AQ?

[lazarus]

10. standard reply

When any of you hear anyone repeating this nonsense, here's the reply:

Spain caved in to terrorism by firing the right wing administration that couldn't protect it. And this makes sense where?

[proud patriot]

25. Good response

:thumbsup:

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Statements like these alienate the US more

from the international community and they just keep doing it. Something like 90% of Spaniards were against their country joining up with the US for Iraq. Repugs going around telling them their democratic process is flawed and misguided just won't cut it.

[Skip Intro]

14. This organized and coordinated spin makes me wonder

It seemed like just hours after the election we began hearing the "victory for terrorists" meme, from the bush regime and from the media - all the media. Its almost like the spin had been focus-grouped and tested and ready to go. The clear implication is that voting for Kerry in November is the same as voting for terrorism.


Again, there is tragedy, and bushco is there to benefit from it. Imagine what another attack here would do? I'm sure rove and trifecta boy have.

And what should Kerry do, re: the perception being stealthily, almost subliminally pushed, that he's the terrorists' candidate?

[DulceDecorum]

16. What should Kerry do?

Prepare his inauguration speech.

[Skip Intro]

17. I'm as optimistic as the next guy

but don't you think Kerry needs to do something dramatic to offset the the regime's efforts to paint him as "soft" on terrorism or national security, or worst yet, to equate him, and us, with appeasing terrorists? If the American people don't vote for bush, they are giving into terrorism - that's the message being put out. I think Kerry should respond to that and debunk that in a big way. Seems clear as day to me. I don't know how he should do it, but I fear that false belief slowly seeping into the heads of politically drowsy, "I'll vote for the guy with the most flags" Americans if it is allowed to continue unchallenged.

Kerry, and us, have to win the election before he can be inaugurated.

[bain_sidhe]

20. Progress report had an eye-opening list

of the "organized and coordinated spin"

After 201 people were killed in a bombing in Madrid, America's right-wing propaganda machine swung into action. Their message: the defeat three days later of incumbent Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, one of the few European leaders in lockstep with the Bush Administration's approach to terrorism, was a victory for al Qaeda. Fox News : "With the defeat of Spain's ruling party, the mutant strain of Al Qaeda has a significant victory in its efforts." The WSJ editorial page : "By murdering innocents were able to topple one of the pillars of the Western anti-terror alliance." David Brooks in the NYT : "Some significant percentage of the Spanish electorate was mobilized after the massacre to...throw out the old government and replace it with one whose policies are more to Al Qaeda's liking." Conservatives repeated the argument again and again – in the Washington Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Orlando Sentinel, the Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/opinion/8193997.htm?ERIGHTS=-3979116088160219773kansascity::[e-mail]&KRD_RM=3jqmrppjmrqjpmjjjjjjjjjnon|Judd|Y ), the National Review, the American Spectator, New York Newsday and on cable news and talk radio around the country. But despite the repetition, the assertion that the Spanish people voted to support or appease al-Qaeda has absolutely no grounding in fact. It is nothing more than an argument advanced by conservatives to discredit the democratic process for partisan political purposes.

Really frightening to see how massive their control over the media is, isn't it?

Oh, and here's the link to the whole report.

(edited to fix the KC Star link)

[Skip Intro]

27. OMG

Thanx.

Yeah, frightening. They own the media. And these are the people who spout such great love for democracy that they'll deliver it by force if necessary.

True colors shining thru.

What's really frightening to me is the possibility that their spin will be successful enough to wound Kerry, hell, wound the entire idea of even considering someone other than bush. I fear the sleeple will accept this spin at face value, and not think it thru enough to see this for what it really is.

Of anything that has happened so far in this campaign, this worries me most.

[goforit]

18. Like Mel Carnahan being knocked off....Jean Carnahan won out of

the public's disgust for John Ashcroft in the election 2000.

The public of Spain(90% anti-war activist) had utmost disgust for
Bush and all of his supporters(Ansar and his party).

The Bush thugs can paint the picture any which way they want,
but the truth is the truth.
The more they talk about it the weaker and insecure they are and look.

[Ganja Ninja]

19. Because Bush lied the alliance is falling apart and our allies..

what few we have left, are walking out. Spain is leaving because they don't want to be a target because of Bush's self serving lies. There really is no other way to spin this. How are we safer when one of our stronger allies walks out on us in the middle of a war? It's another example of the failure of this administration.

[keithyboy]

21. I guess the US didn't threaten or bride the "coalition of the willing?"

PUHleeeeeez!!!

[dArKeR]

23. Hastert has the evilest face I've ever seen. I'm not making fun of his

weight, hair... I don't make fun of people who might not be, as GQ and Cosmo tell us what beautiful is. I'm just saying, I know evil when I see it! Evil is in his eyses, mouth, facial expressions.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

26. Do they also consider "giving in"

pulling US troops out of Saudi Arabia (so that they would stop being mad at them) and apologizing to the Chinese for downing a US plane and holding the crew in captivity?

[Robbien]

28. Very good points! . . .eom

[Disturbed]

29. Hassart a Rethug lackey.

This guy is another shameless, slug, complicit with the Bushco Crime Syndicate. The Paleo-Conservatives are having a mind implosion because they know that the Neocons have destroyed the Republican Party. Actual Conservatives don't know where to turn now. They know that they have been betrayed by Bushco, a miserable failure. All but the American sheep know that Bushco has tanked, not only in America but World Wide. It is obvious to anyone that studies history that Republican, Neocons and Democrats do not really believe in the actual reality of Democracy.

Do a brief study of America's disdain for Democracy.

http://www.serendipity.li/cia.html

[jpgray]

30. Hastert's just a spear-carrier. (nt)