Warner Breaks Ranks with GOP
From Yahoo news via Reuters comes something of a break with his GOP compatriots. As you may know, Sen. Warner is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, so this is a bit surprising.
Warner's stated reason(s):
Now I do not know if Warner was coached prior to his appearance on Meet The Press yesterday by the White House, or if this is own thinking. It seems that while the White House is castigating Democrats for questioning the future direction of the Iraq war(or are we now considered occupiers?), that the Bush Administration is sending up trial balloons in order to get a feel for where the public is on this issue. We know that the Senate recently voted to turn a large amount of sovereignty to Iraq.
If, and how, this colors White House thinking is unclear at present. If you never have to run for re-election, you can do some pretty crazy shit and get away with it. The Senate seems pretty much where the public is. They want to know just what the hell the plan is, if there is indeed one.
Rumor has it that Wednesday's speech will be the clearest indication as to where the White House plans to take us next in post-war Iraq.
Since Cheney toned down the rhetoric concerning war criticism - while using calculated upbeat soundbytes such as calling John Murtha "a patriot" - the messages coming out of the White House have been very mixed.
Drawdown announcement Wednesday?
Perhaps.
If that's the announcement, it'll likely be conditional, which I agree with, but you can't put too many conditions on a fledgling 'democracy.'
Add'l: I suppose that I could watch MTP, and other 'news shows' on Sunday mornings, but I'd rather do something of value ;) with my time off.
Warner's stated reason(s):
"I think it would be to Bush's advantage. It would bring him closer to the people, dispel some of the concern that, understandably, our people have about the loss of life and limb, the enormous cost of this war to the American public," Warner said.(much more at link)
"We have got to stay firm for the next six months. It is a critical period ... in this Iraqi situation, to restore full sovereignty in that country. And that enables them to have their own armed forces to maintain that sovereignty," he said.
Bush is to speak on immigration in Arizona on Monday and then will return to Washington on Tuesday and give a speech about the war on terror at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Wednesday.
Now I do not know if Warner was coached prior to his appearance on Meet The Press yesterday by the White House, or if this is own thinking. It seems that while the White House is castigating Democrats for questioning the future direction of the Iraq war(or are we now considered occupiers?), that the Bush Administration is sending up trial balloons in order to get a feel for where the public is on this issue. We know that the Senate recently voted to turn a large amount of sovereignty to Iraq.
If, and how, this colors White House thinking is unclear at present. If you never have to run for re-election, you can do some pretty crazy shit and get away with it. The Senate seems pretty much where the public is. They want to know just what the hell the plan is, if there is indeed one.
Rumor has it that Wednesday's speech will be the clearest indication as to where the White House plans to take us next in post-war Iraq.
Since Cheney toned down the rhetoric concerning war criticism - while using calculated upbeat soundbytes such as calling John Murtha "a patriot" - the messages coming out of the White House have been very mixed.
Drawdown announcement Wednesday?
Perhaps.
If that's the announcement, it'll likely be conditional, which I agree with, but you can't put too many conditions on a fledgling 'democracy.'
Add'l: I suppose that I could watch MTP, and other 'news shows' on Sunday mornings, but I'd rather do something of value ;) with my time off.
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