Redstate

"They (libs/Dems) are invested in defeat" It will be very difficult for them or the MSM to sell the public even an ounce of credit for the success that is ALREADY happening.

I think that this surge is going to end up driving them mad.

and libs can't handle that.

Will certainly be willing to give it a shot
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

Its worth it. This is too important.

Please forgive the long quote from their 3/8 press conference. There's plenty of smoking rubber looking for traction here. You really have to hear it to get the full effect, though. Did I say smoke? Lots of smoke:

"Q: How long will the President have before he has to certify or not certify that the Iraqi Government has met the benchmarks?

Ms. Pelosi: You are talking about the benchmarks. I thought you were talking about the Department of Defense. The formula. David, do you want to speak to that?

Mr. Obey: We have a certification requirement that the President has to meet, and if he cannot meet it, then the redeployment of troops must begin at that point and must be completed within six months.

If everything goes as well as possible, and the President is able to certify that the Iraqis have met not only the military requirements, benchmarks that the Administration is talking about and Mr. Malaki has been talking about, and if they do meet the political benchmarks that are required by actually having in law a new oil revenue sharing law, for instance, amended the Constitution so that you have a better relationship between the Sunnis and Shi'ia and Kurds, if they meet those political benchmarks, then even in that case our troops must be out of a combat role by August of 2008.

Ms. Pelosi: If they meet all the benchmarks.

Q: And if they don't? When is the deadline for the President's certification?

Mr. Obey: July.

Ms. Pelosi: July.

Q: Madam Speaker, will there be a Presidential waiver included in this, in your language? And if not, then how do you plan to attract conservatives that do not want to leave the impression that by voting for this supplemental, they will be cutting off funding for troops?

Ms. Pelosi: There is a Presidential waiver on the criteria, the first part of the bill, which includes the troops. Mr. Murtha, did you want to speak to that? The three areas that relate to readiness, there is a waiver there.

Mr. Murtha: Actually, we are talking about certification. The President has to certify that the troops have been trained, and we think there are two units that won't be going to the National Training Center, and we think that is unacceptable. As a matter of fact, I understand the spokesman for the President said they can be trained in the desert, meaning in Iraq. That is unacceptable. This is the most important part of their training.

The second is we don't extend them past 165 days, and the other is we don't send them until they have at least a year home. They need that time to rehabilitate and retrain. If you send them in prematurely, that is unacceptable. The President needs to certify that they have that.

Ms. Pelosi: And then he can have a waiver on those criteria that the Chairman mentioned: readiness in terms of their training, as well as time at home, and not to exceed a certain time in combat.

On the thresholds that Mr. Skelton was very instrumental both in the discussions in Iraq and since we have come home, the benchmarks that we have in here for the Iraqi Government to meet. These are President Bush's benchmarks. So we are saying unless there is progress made, progress made in meeting these benchmarks which Mr. Obey has spelled out: economic, political, etc., then by July of 2007, if progress is not demonstrated, if the President cannot certify the progress is made, we begin the redeployment of our troops out of the combat role in Iraq.

If by October, say, some progress is made in July. If by October, progress has not been complete, we begin the redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. And then the following year, if all the benchmarks are met, our troops are out no later than August 2008.

Q: I am confused[I'm with ya, Q]. I know you have been going back and forth. Is October still the crucial date? In other words, if they have not achieved the benchmarks by October, you begin the 180 days? Or does it begin in July?

Ms. Pelosi: If they haven't made any progress by July, we begin the 180 days.

Q: In July?

Ms. Pelosi: If the President cannot demonstrate progress by July, we begin the 180 days.

And then if the President demonstrates that some progress has been made, but the progress is not sufficient by October, say some progress has been made, nothing happens, by October if the President cannot certify that these goals have been made, then the 180 days begin then.

The days that are fraught with meaning are July 1st, 2007, and then the next date is October 1st, 2007. And then the next date is March the end of March 2008.

Q: But you are saying that if the President[take a deep breath, Q]. I am confused about what is happening.

Ms. Pelosi: Let's try again[do we have to?]. If the President cannot demonstrate that the progress has been made in reaching the benchmarks which he, President Bush, has established by July 1st of 2007, we begin the 180-day period of redeployment begins, to be finished in 180 days.

Q: What happens between July 1st and October 1st?

Ms. Pelosi: If the President shows that progress is being made on July 1st, say he can certify that.

Q: All he has to do is say progress is being made?

Ms. Pelosi: He has to certify and demonstrate that it has been. If he cannot, if he does that, that takes us to October 1st, where we want to see the completion of those benchmarks. If that is not achieved, the 180 days begins. No matter what, by March 2008, the redeployment begins.

Mr. Obey: - The first certification has to attest to the progress being made. By October you actually have to have full performance."

http://www.nbc11.com/news/11204553/detail.html

This is a perfact example of why war-fighting is not in the hands of congress. I hope they bought the road hazard warranty.

but it won't work. Their constituency hungers for defeat and disaster and won't be impressed, normal people for the most part won't buy it. If, rather when, the Dems once again scream their utter lack of character and decency from the rooftops they may also get at best lukewarm support from their enablers, their pimps, the media.

Whatever happens there will not be so much as a twinge of conscience in that band of unprincipled pickpockets and unemployed chiselers known as the Democratic Party, only chagrin when the scam doesn't work.

Hillary won't know which way to turn and will probably split herself like an amoeba.

"a man's admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him". Tocqueville

Even though they started it and they deserve any negative consequences that result.

Caring about the Democrats' claiming victory soooo misses the point. Invite them in, for goodness sake. Pretend it's been bi-partisan all along.

This is our kids' futures we're talking about.

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We would also like to know your advice for somebody like my daughter, who's going to graduate in two years, advice that you would give a young person.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Advice for a young person. Study history.

The surge won't work. Even if we "win" have already lost too much and will lose even more. If we "win" by surging, we have lost by becoming just like the terrorists (SM). You can't win waging peace by sending in more troops (SM). We will further erode our international standing by acting like the big bully instead of responsible members of the International Communituy (SM).

The only winning move is not play. (c) War Games

Now, back off to re-education camp with you...

the Dems had no trouble (or shame) in taking a curtain call along with the Republicans. If they pulled that off, I don't see how they wouldn't be able to take credit if the surge works. But I agree that that their hogging the spotlight is well worth it if the surge does indeed work.

Since this is the most recent open thread, I'd figure I'd put this here: the technical problems feedback link, http://help.redstatenetwork.com/ , is *broken*. It currently gives me a 403 error.

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