Kerry calls for hearings on Iraq revelations in State of Denial

[blm]

GOOD! Back to reality of Bush's BIGGEST fuckup.


John Kerry Presses for Foreign Relations Committee Hearings on Iraq Revelations in “State of Denial”



Washington -- In light of recent revelations about the Bush Administration’s conduct of the Iraq War revealed in journalist Bob Woodward’s book State of Denial, Senator John Kerry today asked Senator Richard Lugar, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to hold hearings as soon as possible on the Administration’s decision-making and responses to key intelligence.



Kerry specifically asked Lugar to investigate misleading Administration statements about the current state of sectarian violence, false statements about projected levels of violence in the future, ignoring requests for more troops from the generals in charge, and failing to respond to warnings about attacks on American soil in the weeks before 9/11 took place.



Below is the text of the letter Kerry sent Chairman Lugar today:



October 5, 2006





Senator Richard G. Lugar

Chairman

United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-6225



Dear Mr. Chairman:



I write to request that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hold hearings, as soon as possible, on certain very troubling allegations made by Bob Woodward in connection with the release of his book entitled “State of Denial.” It is essential that Congress and the American public receive complete disclosure about these matters in order to guarantee proper accountability and ensure informed decision-making when it comes to Iraq and the war on terror.



Specifically, the following assertions require an in-depth examination by the Foreign Relations Committee, with testimony under oath from all witnesses with relevant information, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld:



1. The Administration is misleading the American public about the violence in Iraq. Mr. Woodward’s allegations that (1) "The Bush administration is concealing the level of violence against U.S. troops in Iraq and the situation there is growing worse despite White House and pentagon claims of progress," as reported in the Washington Post on September 29, 2006, and (2) that "There was a vast difference between what the White House and Pentagon knew about the situation in Iraq and what they were saying publicly”, as reported in the Washington Post on September 30, 2006, must be fully examined and evaluated.



2. The Administration is not being straightforward about the likelihood of increasing violence. Mr. Woodward’s allegation that "The assessment by intelligence experts is that next year, 2007, is going to get worse and, in public, you have the president and you have the Pentagon (saying) 'Oh, no, things are going to get better,"' as reported in the Washington Post on September 29, 2006, must be fully examined and evaluated. This is especially important given the recent surge in violence, which has seen 18 United States troops killed in the past 96 hours as IED attacks and suicide car bombings have reached an all time high.



3. The Administration ignored warnings of inadequate troops. Mr. Woodward’s allegation in State of Denial that “that Mr. Blackwill and L. Paul Bremer III, then the top American official in Iraq, later briefed Ms. Rice and Stephen J. Hadley, her deputy, about the pressing need for more troops during a secure teleconference from Iraq… the White House did nothing in response," as reported in the New York Times on September 29, 2006, must be fully examined and evaluated.



4. The Administration ignored warnings of an impending attack before 9/11. As reported in the Washington Post on October 2, 2006, Mr. Woodward alleges that on July 10, 2001, there was a “meeting in which George Tenet, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and his top counterterrorism aide Cofer Black sought to impress on Rice their fears that an attack on the United States was likely…The account said both Tenet and Black felt they were not getting through to Rice, who gave them a polite hearing and a “brush off’”.



Memories seem to differ on this matter, as Secretary Rice first claimed she did not remember the meeting, only to have it later confirmed by the State Department. It is necessary to understand the mistakes of the past in order to ensure they are not repeated, and having testimony from the parties under oath will help to sharpen recollections and clarify the exact nature of this important meeting.



The Foreign Relations Committee has a long history of performing meaningful oversight over the conduct of our nation’s foreign policy, and you deserve credit for the numerous informative hearings on Iraq that the Committee has held under your leadership. Conducting hearings into these matters is an important further step towards meeting our oversight obligations, and essential for correcting past mistakes and making America safer.



Thank you for your consideration of this request. I look forward to your response.



Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

[NVMojo]

1. GOOD!!! From what I've read in the book so far, this needs to be done!

[babylonsister]

2. Go, Senator, go! Get it on record!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[thecrow]

3. Is this the first time a Senator has asked Congress

to investigate what a book said?

I'm all for it, don't get me wrong! But it just strikes me as a bit odd that congress would investigate what a book said.

[blm]

4. BushInc lies to congress and Woodward had access to info that was denied

tp senators and congressmen.

So, if the only way to get at any truth is to hold up a book to scrutiny, then so be it. Put Andrew Card, Rumsfeld, and some generals under oath, and let's have at it.

Though, if I were Kerry, I'd also call in James Carville and demand to know why he was funnelling privileged campaign information to Mary Matalin. And then put Matalin under oath regarding what she did with that information on election night.

[Iwasthere]

8. Yep. I used to like Carville

I am very leery of him now becuase of that.

[elehhhhna]

5. say what?

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Sad that it takes an outside source

[TayTay]

74. No. his used to happen quite a bit more

back when Congress thought it was important to actually do oversight hearings.

Sen. Specter called for hearings back in 1996 when Gary Webb published the Dark Alliance series on drugs, Iran-Contra and so forth. There have been many other times when current events have dictated Congressional investigations. We just aren't used to it anymore because this Repub Congress has abdicated it's rights to oversight in general.

[PATRICK]

97. Using the book's publicity

to raise old issues while the GOP is on the defensive. It is also clever because it throws back the pretended surprise of the MSM and the GOP back at them while the iron is hot. There is more chance this will have a political effect in the fall cover-up entertainment schedule than of getting any real response to this on the floor but it is completely justified and has been for years.

You have to bend over in pretzel fashion to criticize Kerry for this move. He is fully aware of most of these revelations as we all are. Nor is the media likely to give this barbed challenge much play.

[Island Blue]

6. I'm glad to see some people haven't forgotten about the real issues.

Thank you Senator Kerry.

[Jacobin]

11. Have you noticed something, though?

Many people, especially the 'undecideds' don't vote based on 'real issues'.

they vote on stupid stuff. We have some great stupid stuff going on and I for one am glad to see its gonna hurt the RW

[chat_noir]

9. Go, John! Give 'em hell!

[Jacobin]

10. First rule of when you are winning:

"When you are winning, sit down, shut the fuck up and let the other side screw itself into the ground." Taught to me by a very wise judge.

Typical Kerry timing. He needs to shut the fuck up for about six weeks and let the RW spin in its glorious sex scandal. Voters are sick of talking about Iraq, they know its fucked up, they know it was a lie, and they don't like thinking about it because they once thought it was a great idea.

LET THEM VOTE AGAINST REPUBICANS FOR THE WRONG REASON. It matters NOT why, only that they do.

[ProSense]

12. No, more Democrats need to speak up!

Deafening silence is not leadership! See torture!

[Jacobin]

16. We have the best voice out there right now

Denny on constant 24/7 news cycles sweating like a pig, and Mark hiding in rehab.

Those things connect with the 'undecideds'. Torture, IraqNam and the issues that really mean anything don't connect with undecideds.

People really don't like having their faces rubbed in their stupid mistakes, like supporting IraqNam, which MOST did before two years ago.

Why not let them NOT vote for republicans based on some simple, idiotic, lurid excuse, so they can save face?

Works for me.

[TayTay]

76. Then who the hell is telling all those pollsters that

Iraq is a critical issue and that 61% of Americans think that Bush lied on it.

It is never enough with the Repubs. We have them by the short and curlies on a lot of issues. Press the damn advantage on every front. Some people will hear the Foley stuff. Others will hear about Iraq and it will motivate them to come out and vote.

Press all advantages. Take these bastards out in any and all possible ways.

[blm]

13. That's absurd - - the historic record MUST be preserved - and UNDER OATH.

Woodward is booked on programs NOW - he's giving talks about this book NOW.

To wait is to let it become last month's news.

[Jacobin]

15. American politics is absurd, in case no one has noticed that

Wait until after the elections. We have an 'issue' that Murkin voters care about.'

OBVIOUSLY they don't give a rats ass about torture, illegal wars that they once supported, or the Bush criminals.

But they DO care about lecherous old men running around trying to seduce page boys.

Why throw away a gift like this?

[blm]

17. No one is throwing it away. But it has a life apart from important world

issues that are still pressing this country and the military.

Kerry can use these hearings' revelations to resubmit the Iraq withdrawal plan he and Feingold put up last summer.

[Jacobin]

20. Heres my point.

We don't have to worry about 40 percent of the voters. They know bush is a douche and would never vote for him and will likely vote dem because they know his party has screwed up the country big time. Another 35 to 40 percent are RWers by custom or whatever and they don't care how much we torture, how stupid Iraq is, or what Bush does. He's THERE TEAM. ITs a fucking sports match to them and they'll never ever change sides.

Its those dweebs in the middle, that 20 to 25 percent of clueless nabobs, who rarely read or watch the news, and just blow in the wind.

THOSE ARE UP FOR GRABS. They are EASY MARKS. SEX scandals will get their attention.

Having Kerry pontificate about the Bush screw ups right now is utterly useless in the political context.

If we get congress, then, let the dogs loose on these bastards. Until then, lets just let the RW spin itself into the grave.

[blm]

23. And Iraq lies will be SO October by then, right? Sorry - both can happen

NOW and Kerry is smart to be calling for this while Woodward is hitting the media circuit.

Woodward is going to be asked the questions by the talking heads, anyway, so why not add the element that his revelations will become the subject of a senate inquiry?

You expect Woodward to only be asked about Foleyt?

[Jacobin]

25. Hate to tell you this, but IraqNam ain't going anywhere anytime soon

That fucking disaster will be with us like herpes.

[blm]

28. Get the liars under oath NOW while Woodward is getting airtime.

It's absurd to think that all of DC should be focused only on Foley while so many are dying.

That's about as smart as the GOP focusing on Clinton or Condit while terrorism was ignored. There is a REAL world with serious issues still going on that have to be dealt with while the morons are entertained with personal criminal behavior of a sociopath.

[Jacobin]

31. Other than those who vote Democratic, who do you think that would

interest?

Does Joe SixPack, who sat in a bar a cheered ShockAndAwe on TV and cheered the invasion as payback for 9/11 gonna wanna remember he's a fucking retarded idiot?

I dont' think so.

Why do you?

[blm]

35. More people distrust Bush's word now more than ever. Pile on with TRUTH.

Integrity matters - truth matters - historic records matter.

[Jacobin]

38. Why do you think the historic record

will somehow evaporate if its not done in a month or two?

:shrug:

I don't understand why democrats want to lose so badly. I really dont

We have a fucking gift from heaven raging in front of us right now. A gift that will WORK, and we're all like, oh, that's not important, we have to talk about the latest bad thing bush did...well, he's been doing it for six years and it hasn't had any real affect on voting.

Maybe I'm just cheap and easy and will take the slimey way out. But I want to win dammit, not just sit here pontificating about how sad it is we lost.

[blm]

41. Why are you making it either or? It isn't. It's...also, in Iraq war rages

that has descended into a civil war. More info has emerged about the lies that sent us there.

[Jacobin]

55. The last poll I saw in the spring showed that

65% of americans think bush lied to get us into Iraq.


in other words, only his base still pretends to believe him.

that is NOT an issue. The left and the middle KNOW that fact.

Sex scandals are more fun for the great middle and it can piss them off and motivate them to vote.

This reminds of the big yawn of Woodward coming out with his earth shattering new book claiming that bush is not telling us how bad things are in iraq

[ProSense]

19. Not a throw away!

Keeping the pressure on:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2866666&mesg_id=2866666

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2286409&mesg_id=2286409

[sandnsea]

14. This is round two

I don't think the Foley scandal is going to last a full month. So will the next issue be Woodward's book or immigration and the fence? Kerry's just setting us up for the next round.

[Jacobin]

18. Sex scandals last for fucking ever

Foley will be out of rehab in a month and they will be hounding him.

We all know more pages will come forward.

This is a gift that will keep on giving.

Sex SELLS, and the media knows it

[sandnsea]

30. No he won't

He'll be kept in treatment because the limelight before the election would be detrimental to his recovery.

This will not headline the news every single night for the next 30 days. If we don't put OUR stories out there now, we're going to be stuck with the Dow and the fence and the horror of Nancy Pelosi.

[Jacobin]

36. I would dearly love to be able to make a sizeable bet with you on that

I dearly would.

[sandnsea]

37. So what's stopping you? n/t

[Jacobin]

39. Paypal?

You're on!!!!

You name the amount

:bounce:

[sandnsea]

42. Does it break any rules?

I don't have a sizeable amount of money, but you find out whether this breaks any rules and then let me know.

Two things, Foley will not headline the news every night from now until the election, and that he won't get out of treatment before the election.

That presumes that he might get out of treatment if the story has died down completely, in which case I win anyway. The word "headline" is also clear and doesn't mean a footnote to some other major story.

[Jacobin]

54. whatever

[bobbolink]

22. There's a small matter of .... OUR NATION

We desperately need people who love this country enough to be willing to ask the hard questions when necessary.

It's *necessary* to protect our constitution, and our democracy, no matter how politically expedient it is. Or not.

It's the RW who only care about winning and the ends justifying the means.

I would certainly hope there are still some Dems who have a bit more integrity than that, and still love their country above their $$$.

Just something to consider.

[Jacobin]

24. Well, the way it works, as far as I can tell, is that first we have to

get our guys fucking elected.

If I had my way, American people would be educated enough and savvy enough to 1) vote in their own self interest 2) watch and think about world events 3) treat political races as important and not like sporting events.

I don't have it my way.

We have to deal with 20 percent of undecideds who are fucking brain dead and will only responde to the stimulus of a sex scandal.

Once we get congress (looks like now it may happen thanks to a lecherous idiot in congress), then let's hammer the fuckers.

Until then, droning on about foreign policy issues will get you NADA. Those who care about and pay attention to those issues ALREADY FUCKING KNOW

[bobbolink]

29. The integrity of our nation COMES FIRST.

Really. Just ask the founding fathers. :)

"Those who care about and pay attention to those issues ALREADY FUCKING KNOW"

Then, that will still be true after the election, yes?

I really don't understand your gripe with Kerry on this. It's TIME for 'em ALL to speak up--loud and clear! Demanding hearings, if they would all do it, is a fine way to go.

[Jacobin]

33. Its a distraction from the 'real news"

The 'real news' being some lecherous idiot shmoozing page boys.

THAT is the real news to the idiots whose votes we need.

If you will recall, when the founding fathers voted, it was only men, only landowners, only the well to do. If you doubt that, read about it. Its true.

For better or for worse we have lots of church fundie wackos packing the ballot boxes, and JoeSixPack who might or might not get off his ass and go to the polls, if he has something in his craw.....like some deviant congressman wanking on 16 year olds. In our rarefied board, those things are silly and meaningless. I think they are silly and meaningless.

For the people who watch fucking Fox News and read the National Enquirer, important issues are boring, stupid and only discussed by pointy headed liberals who love Saddam and love bin Laden.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY VOTE AGAINST REPUBLICANS FOR THE WRONG REASON.

I do care if Kerry interrupts the current mobbing of the RW by the media.
Its politically stupid

[blm]

40. Hearings can't happen for a few weeks - why are you so agitated?

They can damn well prepare now.

Geez - you really are over the top with your objections.

[bobbolink]

49. yup.... that bee buzzing in the bonnet really stirred up some stuff, eh?

I guess it figures. I've had that bee in my bonnet about Dems NOT standing up and speaking out and taking action for lo, these many years.

Now that I have some action to cheer, it figures that someone would take strong objection.

No matter. I'm more concerned about the welfare of this country that bees. :hi:

[Jacobin]

56. excuse me

I didn't realize you dictated tops and bottoms of DUers, but since I've violated your rule, carry on and tell the world that bush lied about iraq.

I'm sure that news will get you lots of votes.

[blm]

58. Just curious why it bothers you so much.

Your agitation over this just seems over the top, considering the subject matter is whether a senator should call for hearings on a blatant lie by a WH official to cover up negligence in the death of 3000 people.

[Jacobin]

72. This is why

I leave in Deepest Darkest Red State. I mean, its is truly fucked, with Fox news on at every bar and grill, truck stop, even the fucking two bit airport.

These people, I went into a bar the night Shock and Awe started and they were buying each other drinks and fucking CHEERING and yelling out stuff like 'that'll teach em' about 9/11. They had a very stupid vested interest in thinking that this was some righteous payback.

And I'll say this. Many of their sons and daughters, who had no better opportunities for paying for college joined up and are getting their shit blown up. Regardless, they still cling to the belief that somehow their man in the WH, their WAR, their Righteous war of payback can somehow be pulled off.........BUT, when you really talk to them, they know this is a hopeless fucking mess that has made things worse.

What they need is an excuse........a really really really, hot button excuse, like say, a fucking lecherous prick running around congress playing hide the sausage with what they perceive to be choir boy 16 year olds......NOW THAT is something they can get pissed off about and vote against......


All I'm saying, is that Kerry,pontificating about how fucked up Iraq is and how we were lied into it, will come across last Kerry reading the scoreboard from last year's Superbowl as fucking NEWS. Now, I'll grant you, some of the revelations in Woodward's book I'd love to delve into and I'd love for a DEM congress to delve into. However, for JoeSixPack, these 'details' don't mean shit....especially from a guy who voted for the IWR to begin with.

I don't know. For those who live in a blue state, I think its hard to understand the dumbfucks we have to get out and NOT vote republican, which is my goal.

Sorry to be pissy. I'm just tired of losing.

[blm]

90. I lived in SC for 5yrs and now in NC. I understand that visceral level of

the story for some people, but a newscast has more than just one segment. No matter what, there will be MORE stories covered - it's not going to be Kerry reading the news about Condi, it will be news coverage showing how she lied with timeline graphs and such.

And if Joe Sixpack is still watching the news after the Foley segment, they will be furthered informed of the magnitude of the lies BushInc has been telling them.

Chris Matthews will do 40-50 minutes on ANY sex story - but, he just may slip in a 3 minute discussion of Condi Rice's enormous lie about 9-11.

[wisteria]

92. I have lived down South myself, NC then SC and not all of the

good people of those states are dumbf*cks or joesixpacks. There are many smart, concerned, thoughtful people who appreciate the truth.
Sure, it is important to win, but we aren't going to keep them voting for us if we don't offer them anything better than what the Republicans are now.

[followthemoney]

44. Typical Democratic response...

"There is nothing I need to do."

Or

"There is nothing I can do."

And talk beligerant while you retreat so you look tough.

Get the Criminals on record before all the dirt is out. Don't give the Republicans time to make new lies and coverups.

Good move, Kerry.

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. Right on.

Discussions of torture, retroactive immunity, deficits, mismanagement, Iraq, DSM, Plame, Abramoff, The Marianas, Niger Uranium memos, Iran blockades, Wiretapping, Diebold, Cronyism, Katrina, swift boaters, My pet goat, public land giveaways, and global warming only interest us.

Everyone else's eyes glaze over.

To get their attention, you need to tell 'em something interesting; like Republicans are the party of congressmen who wank off to fantasies of sweaty 16 year old male pages.

This'll get 'em to vote our way. Getting 'em to vote is the only job of importance now. Fixing the world can't take place until we get the job.

[ProSense]

47. Yes, and while the inattentive are being coddled,

the Republicans are busy taking away their rights! Glad Kerry is still trying to hold them accountable and informing me that they he is.

There is also the matter of convincing people who are paying attention (some who can impact change), but have different opinions. If the makeup of the Senate is 50-50, there will still be debate and the inattentive will sit it out waiting for the next dead body!

[lumberjack_jeff]

53. The inattentive WILL have their rights taken away for the next 2 months.

And they don't care, really. There's nothing we can do about that.

What we can control is the next two years.

[ProSense]

61. For the next two years,

there will still be debate!

[Jacobin]

67. thank you

[karynnj]

46. Are you speaking to any voters?

I have done some canvasing and phoning. People are very concerned that we are in a quagmire in Iraq. I have heard from conservative relatives that we need to find a way out of Iraq. How does Kerry asking for Lugar to put hearings on Iraq on the agenda affect what is heard on the news? The sex scandal and whatever Paris Hilton did will be there - unless they opt to focus on a new kidnap or muder,

Kerry is doing his job. If Kerry stumbled on a cure for cancer, you'ld complain that it made the health issue less good for Democrats.

Seriously, how long do you expect the Foley story to last?

[Jacobin]

57. how long do i expect the foley story to last?

Until some reporter drags the 60th page out of their home in front of cameras to get details of their trysts. Oh, the stakes will be higher, because we ALL KNOW that he didn't just pursue teenagers, he actually screwed some of them. When they drag those guys out, the RW is gonna go forking bannanas and the squishy middle, never loyal to either side, is not gonna vote repuke for any number of reasons, some good and some bad

That will take a long time.

Sex sells

Sex scandals are great for ratings.

Anyone who doesn't know that iraq is a clusterfuck started on bush's lies is part of the 35% backwash. They are impenetrable

[karynnj]

48. Is General Clark's timing lousy too?

He's blasting Bush on Iraq. Gee, look at post 19. Incidently, I think Kerry and Clark who have both spent more time speaking about Iraq, Afghanistan and the awful detainee bill should be leading the party - these are the key issues.

Link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2530007&mesg_id=2530486

[Jacobin]

59. 'the key issues'

I'm not making myself clear. I agree with you 100% about what the key issues are. They are exceedingly important policy issues.

How does the RW win all of congress and the WH? Why, by making gay marriage an issue, by telling rural voters that dems will take their guns away, and by telling fundies that dems are godless?

Are any one of those things in even the top twenty issues for this country, in a real way? NOPE.

They are hot button bullshit 'issues' designed to resonate not with the cerebral cortex, but with the brain stem. It fucking works.

Now that the RW is self immolating, my only suggestion is that we not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by making stupid people feel guilty for loving the idea of going to war in iraq, but let them of easy and let them vote against the RW for a stupid reason involving a lecherous shit trolling for teenage boys....an utter non-issue.

Whatever works is all i'm saying

[ProSense]

60. The key issue is Iraq!

Iraq still issue number one for US voters

by Stephanie Griffith 1 hour, 17 minutes ago

Snip....

The poll found found that 58 percent of the US public believes the US military effort in Iraq is not going well, 47 percent say the war is hurting, not helping, the fight against terrorism.

The survey also found Americans remarkably unaffected by the scandal over the handling of lurid sexual messages sent by former Republican lawmaker Mark Foley to teenage pages in Congress -- at least with respect to next month's legislative and gubernatorial balloting.

The Pew Center found that Democrats had a 51 percent to 38 percent advantage over Republicans before last week's scandal broke, and 50 percent to 37 percent edge after.

Among voters who said national issues were of paramount importance for them, about half -- 51 percent -- cited the deteriorating situation in Iraq as the most important concern. Terrorism came in second place at 37 percent while 35 of respondents cited the economy.

Another important recent development -- the drop in the price of gasoline -- also appeared not to have impacted voter feelings greatly. The survey showed that while most respondents were aware of the recent fall in gas prices, they were also likely to complain about a faltering US economy.

The poll put US President George W. Bush's job approval rating at 37 percent, with 63 percent of respondents saying they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country.

As with earlier Pew surveys, an unusually high percentage of voters -- 39 percent -- envision their ballot as a vote "against" Bush rather than for him.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061005/pl_afp/usvotepolliraq_061005224143

Even with Foley, it's the cover-up and the Iraq:

Thursday, Oct. 05, 2006

TIME Poll: The Foley Sex Scandal Has Hurt G.O.P. Election Prospects

Two-thirds of those aware of the scandal believe Republican leaders attempted a cover-up, according to a new survey

By TONY KARON

Two thirds of Americans aware of the congressional-page sex scandal believe Republican leaders tried to cover it up — and one quarter of them say the affair makes them less likely to vote for GOP candidates in their districts come November. Those are among the findings of a new TIME poll conducted this week among 1002 randomly-selected voting-age Americans.

The poll suggests the Foley affair may have dented Republican hopes of retaining control of Congress in November. Among the registered voters who were polled, 54% said they would be more likely to vote for the Democratic candidate for Congress, compared with 39% who favored the Republican — a margin that has jumped by 11 points from a similar poll conducted in June. That increase may be fueled by the rolling scandal over sexually explicit e-mails sent to teenage pages by Republican Representative Mark Foley. Almost 80% of respondents were aware of the scandal, and only 16% approve of the Republicans' handling of it. Those polled were divided, however, on whether House Speaker Dennis Hastert should resign over his handling of the Foley affair, with 39% saying he should resign and 38% saying he should not.

Iraq, meanwhile, is continuing to be a problem for the Republicans. Only 38% of respondents in the TIME poll now support President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, down from 42% three months ago. A similar number believe that the new Iraqi government will succeed in forming a stable democracy, while 59% believe this is unlikely. Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents disapprove of President Bush's handling of the war, while 54% believe he "deliberately misled" Americans in making his case for war — a figure that has increased by 6 points over the past year. President Bush's overall approval rating, according to TIME's poll, now stands at just 36%, down from 38% in August.

[Jacobin]

66. Which MOST Americans were for at the beginning

Why rub their noses in their stupidity? That is IF you are trying to win an election.

I remember Watergate very well. YOu know why that happened? It wasn't because of a burglarly and the cover up. It was because Nixon lied that he had a plan for peace in VietNam and then widened the war and it pissed off the entire country.

HIs 20% approval ratings weren't because of the burglary and cover up. It was displaced anger at Viet Nam lies, but they didn't have to say it....they could blame Watergate, not their stupid earlier support for that war.

That's all I'm trying to convey.


(btw my NUMBER ONE issue is and has been for 4 years the crazy war on Iraq)

[karynnj]

62. You made yourslf perfectly crystal clear

Clark speaks on Iraq and Afghanistan; Jacobin says he has a spine and he will vote for him.

Kerry speaks on Iraq and Afhghanistan; Jacobin says he was typically lousy timing - he should be pushing the Foley story.

So, lets apply some consiatency: Chose ONE

- Kerry and Clark are doing a good job standing up to Bush on important issues

OR

- Kerry and Clark both have bad timing and should be pushing the Foley story.

**** Kerry by the way has made at least 3 excellent statements on the Folley scandal - which you claim should be the only think spoken about. Clark has said far less. (Kerry was asked several times, Clark wasn't)

Hint: OPtion 1 is better.

[Jacobin]

65. JoeSixPack

Will grumble that this Kerry whining about the war is the same Kerry who voted for the IWR, dissed Dean when he said the world was not a safer place after Saddam was captured, and spare me the 30 page dirges about how Kerry was tricked into voting for the IWR and how he didn't think Bush would screw it up.

But by all means, let's have hearings on how badly the war is going and how stupid bush's execution of same has gone. That'll be a real shocker and a huge suprise to everyone.

[karynnj]

68. Wrong answer - you had 2 choices

No "Jacobin will grumble". Unless you now think you are Joe six pack, which I seriously doubt.

It becomes VERY clear that this is NOT an issue of what the message should be, but a vehicle for you to repeat that you hate Kerry. We've got it. We don't distrupt every Clark, Edwards, Gore, and Clinton thread, so why do you feel a unique desire to simply distrupt Kerry threads?

[Jacobin]

75. You can give true or false tests all you want

Who was the first female king of England? Yes or no.

who gives a shit about your silly tests? I don't

[karynnj]

88. Your question is an oxymoron

Mine points out that you were acting hypocritically - criticising Kerry on this thread for doing the very thing you praise Clark for doing on another thread. You already admitted why - you don't like Kerry. Anyone can read the dialogue - and it is CRYSTAL CLEAR that your early posts on this thread were dishonest and an attempt to disrupt. As that is proven, there is NO real point to continue this.

[ProSense]

70. So you don't believe there should be hearings on the Iraq war?

You don't believe Clark would support hearings?

Kerry wasn't tricked into voting for the IWR. Just because Bush lied and manipulated the evidence doesn't mean that the IWR gave him the authority to go to lie and start a war!

[Jacobin]

73. Yes. There should. After the elections would be better for me

Again. I deal mostly with Red people day in and day out.

Give them a sex scandal to keep them from voting republican. Don't let Rove use the hearings to call Dems wimps for not loving Iraq.

My view is skewed from where I live. I live in DUMBFUCKISTAN

[TayTay]

78. Why is this an either/or thing?

The Foley case is not going away for at least a couple of weeks. Why not ask for hearings and make the point that we are not getting the full story on something that is costing us lives, money and goodwill around the world?

You are making points against yourself. First you say that the people near you can only hear one thing at a time and it that thing has the word sex in it, they will remember it. Ah, this story is not going away, the news media is going to be talking about this for a while.

There are people who don't live near you who are swayed by arguments about Iraq. (Maybe they have kids or spouses or friends or family members over there. Maybe they just dislike this war and dislike being lied to.) Are you seriously telling me that we can't have a functioning Congress that can do two things at once and that people will pick what they want to listen to and give it weight according to their own beliefs and views?

By your own admission, some people will listen to one thing. That one thing will still be there. But just because you claim the people around you are dumb, the rest of the country shouldn't have hearings on one of the most critical issues to face America in a generation? Sorry, but that is just plain wrong.

[TayTay]

80. Lugar is not a bad guy. He might do this after the elections.

I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell he will do them before the elections. Lugar is not as bad as some of the Rethug true believers. (See the list of hearings this year on 'The Hidden Costs of Oil' in the SFRC. Lugar has managed to put some highly damaging information into the public record. I notice that a lot of the stuff that Biden, Boxer, Kerry, Feingold and Obama say about Iraq comes from some of this highly critical stuff.)

Lugar might do it. I know he votes Rethug when pressed, but check out some of the SFRC informational hearings. I think he would actually be open to this.

[ProSense]

79. So you're afraid of Rove? Is he really an issue now given that

Republicans are distancing themselves from the war?

This is about accountability not stupid political mind games!

[blm]

96. And the American people are finally TURNED OFF to Rove's propaganda

tactics and manipulations. They want HONESTY and COMPETENCE.

[nam78_two]

64. ?

.......yeah Kerry is the one who needs to STFU ??!!!

There are still people who vote for the right reasons -some of them vote Green because of it (I don't agree with their logic but I mostly agree with what they overall want in a candidate)

Go John Go!

[wisteria]

69. I think we need to be speaking out now! We should continue push Iraq

so that what Bush has done and not done there is not forgotten.
I would also like to see our party win because we are the BETTER PARTY- NOT THE ONES NOT SCREWING UP RIGHT NOW. I fail to see how continuing to speak out about the nightmare in Iraq and the mess in Afghanistan will hurt us this November. You do the American public a dis-service by not giving them an opportunity to make a real choice. We can't continue being the party of nothing.

[beachmom]

85. 19 soldiers died since Saturday

I think you will find there are a LOT of voters not sick of Iraq, when our own are dying.

Good for Sen. Kerry to demand a hearing.

[Cooley Hurd]

89. He should've waited until after the Dem majority is sworn in in Jan...

I agree, J...:thumbsup:

[Change has come]

21. K&R

:kick:

[kimmerspixelated]

26. I think Kerry is doing the right thing!

I hope it works!

[verse18]

27. I'm for the Truth.

Sooner rather than later.

[_dynamicdems]

32. Excellent! Thank you for posting.

WTG Senator Kerry!

Hit them hard and keep hitting them.

[faithnotgreed]

34. this needs major attention right now

[David Zephyr]

43. K&R.

Great stuff.

[BelgianMadCow]

50. happy k&r

[Subdivisions]

51. This MUST BE DONE to set the record on this

chapter of history straight for posterity.

[sutz12]

52. Every war in American History since the Civil War, at least....

has had a congressional oversight committee ongoing. It may, and usually was, highly partisan, and one can argue how effective they were, but they were there.

Until now. There has been absolutely no congressional ovesight of this war.

It's about time.

[nam78_two]

63. KICK FOR KERRY-C'mon John do a BCCI on these asshats!

Hope this goes somewhere...


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
I wish Kerry, Conyers and Gore would team up and get this show on the road!

[wisteria]

71. Senator, keep speaking out loudly about the issues that should matter to

all Democrats. Make people proud to be voting Democratic!

[bigtree]

77. kick kick kick

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[Tatiana]

81. Good for Kerry! Strike while the iron is hot!

Republicans are scrambling and in panic mode right now - completely disorganized and demoralized. They'll either agree to hearings in order to prove they, too, want to "get to the bottom" of things. Or they'll refuse, and come across to the American public as stonewalling (meaning they have something to hide).

Win-win, in my opinion.

[YvonneCa]

82. Keep fighting, Senator...

...and my greatest thanks!:patriot:

[cui bono]

83. Kerry's been a busy boy lately. =) ... n/t

[ninkasi]

84. Good for Kerry!

I'm glad he's calling for more hearings. Congress badly needs to exercise some oversight on Bush's incredible screw-ups in this war he insisted on. I believe that the democratic party can multi-task, we can sustain demanding the facts about the Iraq war, and the way it has been mismanaged, and the pukes covering up for Foley's sordid activities.

[blm]

98. Not just Iraq, but Condi Rice's 9-11 lies are targeted in this letter, too

And I am VERY happy that it is finally getting some traction.

[chill_wind]

86. Keep toiling away, all Dems, I say,

Kerry has been in Washington enough many years to know his letter will in no way supercede the media's Foley frenzy.

It is just one more vital plank being nailed in place, and one more ignored letter in glaring black and white that totally inert Republicans will be forced to explain in formal proceedings in due time. Like the moving van load of stuff Waxman has methodically been accumulating on the matter since forever. Get it on the formal record now. Give them NO room, not one lateral inch, down the road.

[Clarkie1]

87. If we retake the Senate, these hearings will happen.

Let's retake the senate!

[rodeodance]

91. It is past time that the committee did some Oversight

[chill_wind]

93. Kick for Kerry and all persistent Dems. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

94. K & R

[blm]

95. 9-11 widows furious at Rice's 9-11 lies - developing at rawstory

Here's hoping they join Kerry's call for hearings.


9/11 widows lash out over Tenet, Rice meeting... Soon...

http://www.rawstory.com/