Isn't it odd how the corporate media machine has made such a huge deal of the Lamont-Leiberman fight? Sure, it's news, but there is other political news in Connecticut, too, which seems to be totally ignored in the GOP-friendly press. Hmmm...I wonder why?
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POLITICAL SHUFFLE FOR MR. SHAYS?
Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays of Bridgeport. He has been on board with the invasion of Iraq and the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein from day one. Through the course of 13 visits to Iraq during the past three years, the 4th District Republican has been mostly upbeat about the war's progress.
That's why his suggestion for a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces, coming last week on the way home after his 14th trip to Iraq, was such a bombshell and why for some it has called his credibility into question.
Mr. Shays is in a tough fight for re-election after 20 years in Congress and his dogged defense of the U.S. role in an unpopular war is one reason he's thought to be in trouble. It would be out of character for him to shift his views to suit the prevailing political climate. We hope that's not the case.
The congressman said a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops might force Iraqis to more quickly establish their own security and put an end to sectarian violence. Indeed, it might.
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-shayschange.artaug29,0,7875149.story=========
CHRIS SHAYS JOINS REPUBLICAN SHIFT ON IRAQ
Shays is in a tough race for re-election against Democrat Diane Farrell, who has made opposition to the war a central issue. After his 14th trip to Iraq, Shays announced that "the only way we are able to encourage some political will on the part of Iraqis is to have a timeline for troop withdrawal."
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-dionne0829.artaug29,0,3090820.story=========
SHAYS SHIFT CAUSES A STIR
By suggesting that a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops might force Iraqis to more quickly establish their own security, Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, vigorously stirred the pot in Connecticut and Washington.
<snip>
CNN, MSNBC and other news networks gave prominent play Friday to the ramifications of Shays' new position, which he first announced Thursday on a conference call during a London stopover on the way home from his 14th trip to Iraq.
(Hmm...funny, they didn't mention how it is because he is likely to be de-throned by a DEMOCRAT that he's finally seen the light! - Atman)"It is a pretty dramatic shift in course," said George Jepsen, the chairman of Lamont's campaign to unseat Lieberman. "
is buying into the rationale that the Iraqi army, political leadership and security folks won't step up to the plate."
Shays' new position further isolates Lieberman politically in Washington and Connecticut and undercuts Lieberman's claim that Lamont is reckless for suggesting that Iraqis need to prepare for a reduced U.S. presence, Jepsen said.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-senate0826.artaug26,0,2990588.story
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