Pressuring The So-Called Moderates

Moderate Republicans today were targeted by several retired flag officers for their support of President Bush's desperation "surge". It will be a hard target to find, but an easy one to hit as all the so-called moderates have done is waste a little air and exercise their mouth muscles.

"I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change," retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste told reporters.
"Our strategy in Iraq today is more of the same, a slow grind to nowhere which totally ignores the reality of Iraq and the lessons of history," Batiste said. "Our president ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded and compliant subordinates."

Votevets.org is targeting congressmen and senators who have made some statement in opposition to Mr. Bush.

Our ads are airing in states and districts of those Members of Congress who are very close to breaking with the President on Iraq, and joining the troops and American people. They are: Senators Susan Collins, John Sununu, John Warner, and Norm Coleman, and Representatives Mary Bono, Phil English, Randy Kuhl, Jim Walsh, Heather Wilson, Jo Ann Emerson, Tim Johnson, Mike Rogers, Fred Upton, and Mike Castle. Mentioning them by name at the end, the local spots will call on them to "Protect America, Not George Bush."

As you can see, it won't cost much to target such a meager list.

Batiste and Paul Eaton, also a retired major general, are featured in the ads by VoteVets.org. They challenge the president's argument that he listens to his commanders on the ground in Iraq and say the president's Iraq policies endanger U.S. security.

If they think this is going to get something happening with the so-called moderates they are going to be surprised. It's not September yet, hell, it will be more like September, 2008 before these spineless bastards do anything for our troops except use them to help tuck in the flags they've had themselves wrapped in since 2001.

Here's what one of the giants of moderation had to say in response:

"Telling members of al Qaeda, militias or insurgent groups the date we will begin and end troop withdrawals is irresponsible," Sununu said.

When VoteVets.org ran ads in February, Sununu said critics of the war have every right to speak out, "but no group or individual should claim to speak for all the patriotic Americans serving in Iraq and around the world in our armed forces."

Mr Sununu should start self-moderating his right-wing talking points and stop protecting his party and his oh-so-lame duck president.

Just who is speaking up for our troops? The republicans? That's laughable. The incompetent Bush Administration and it's enablers in congress haven't been speaking for anyone but themselves. No one in this administration speaks for the troops or listens to them.

"The fact is, the president has never listened to the soldiers on the ground effectively," said retired NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, who ran for president in 2004. "This administration is not listening to the troops and is not supporting them."

It's a tough job looking for moderates when they don't want to be found. Moderation in republicans is the same as desperation.


Jim Martin