Dem reactions to Bush's speech

Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:20 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats, Security

From NBC's Mark Murray
A sampling of some of the reactions (so far) to Bush's VFW speech today...

John Kerry: "Invoking the tragedy of Vietnam to defend the failed policy in Iraq is as irresponsible as it is ignorant of the realities of both of those wars," Senator Kerry said. "Half of the soldiers whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial Wall died after the politicians knew our strategy would not work. The lesson is to change the strategy not just to change the rhetoric.

Clinton: "The surge was designed to give the Iraqi government time to take steps to ensure a political solution to the situation. It has failed to do so. The White House's report in September won’t change that... We need to stop refereeing the war, and start getting out now."

Obama: "The disastrous consequences described by President Bush are already in motion and are a direct result of a war that should never have been authorized. There is no military solution to Iraq's problems. The only way to reverse these consequences is to change course through a surge in our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Iraq and the region, and a phased withdrawal of our forces that puts real pressure on the Iraqi government to act."

Biden: "President Bush continues to cling to a fundamentally flawed premise –- that Iraqis will rally behind a strong central government. That will not happen... Bush today attempted to draw an analogy to Vietnam, but in fact it’s the president’s policies that are pushing us toward another Saigon moment –- with helicopters fleeing the roof of our embassy."

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Comments

You forgot to print that Kerry called Bush"ignorant"also.He hit it right just like when he said the republicans were lying crooks,offf mike.This administration just never learns---everyday,every week another sleazy tale to tell.

HMT-MI (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:28 PM)

Way to go Hillary and Obama! They are both correct-we need to start withdrawal now.

bb (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:31 PM)

Thank you Senator Clinton, for talking "common sence". hillaryclinton.com

Jackie Aspen, Detroit, Mi. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:31 PM)

I'd love to hear which of the Republican candidates get behind that load of malarky. If the media will push them on it. We deserve to know so the voters will know that there is a real difference, a real choice, with real and deadly consequences.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:32 PM)

Karl Rove is a fundamentaly "flawed" person.

The American people (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:35 PM)

The only one who don't get it is Bush. Give me a flip-flopper any day over sombody who won't change their mind when the course of action is wrong.

Connie, Tn. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:37 PM)

Not only is his analogy short and incorrect, it is embarrasing. I cannot stand W. But for heaven's sake will somebody stop him from further embarrasment to our great country?

Steve, San Diego (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:37 PM)

CLINTON, OBAMA, AND BIDEN ALL SPEEK THE "TRUTH". WE NEED TO GET THE "HELL" OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE NOW.

ROGER V. EVANS, DALLAS, TX. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:38 PM)

This was printed in The Onion back in June.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/bush_maybe_u_s_military_just_not

Why have I not seen anything on this before? Lt. Col. Bob Bateman posted a link to it today in Altercation.

http://mediamatters.org/altercation/?f=h_column

Curt, New Jersey (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:41 PM)

Lest there was ever any doubt about the value of being a legacy in obtaining an Ivy League diploma, George W. Bush should answer that question in spades.

For a man that supposedly enjoys reading history, you have to admire Bush, and his ability to completely miss the irony of his own ignorance. It would appear that he wants our country to stay in Iraq until we have a second memorial, complete with another 58,000 names etched on it - just to prove that neither Vietnam or Iraq was really a mistake.

At this point, I don't personally care if Iraq descends into chaos and complete civil war. Historically speaking, that is actually a part of the process of becoming a nation.

Regardless of what version of reality the MOTUS (Moron of the United States) chooses to embrace, I am not willing to sacrifice even one more American soldier - much less another 55,000 - on the altar of stupidity.

GOD (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:46 PM)

Clinton is all over the place on the Iraq debate. She wants to be both pro-war and anti-war. It won't work that way missy.
It's sad that the democrats are counting on failure in Iraq. It just seems like they're so intent on failing this so they can win political points at the expense of our embarrasment and more chaos in the middle east. If we pull out quickly as possible like clinton and others are suggesting, we should just ban the US from fighting wars in the future because we just suck at being patient. We're just a fast-food nation that wants everything to be pretty in 2 seconds.. This war isn't a military war, its a media and information war. The terrorists are winning that front, and the democrats are helping us lose it.

jt, okc (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:48 PM)

Democratic response to Bush's speech to the VFW?

Let me guess. They threw rose pedals at his feet and wildly cheered him?

Why do you guys even bother to write stories like this?

Manny Ramon (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:49 PM)

I'm glad to see the Democrats agree that the war in Iraq needs to end.
Here's a quarter Dem's...buy a clue;
(hint, hint, hint...DO NOT APPROVE ANYMORE FUNDS IN SEPTEMBER, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO END THE WAR!)
I hear a lot of rhetoric coming from my Democratic leadership. People I respect and trust.
The question then becomes; do they have the chutzpa to back up their talk with solid action?
I sure as hell hope so!
Cut the funding, end the war. It's as simple as that.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:51 PM)

A helluva speech. I'm not surprised about the Dems' reaction, but it'll win over a lot of independents like me.

Marty Jones, Mesa, Az (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:51 PM)

Bush is a liar. No one listens to a thing he says anymore; well just a few chickenhawks in Tn and Texas. Well, Chickenhawkks, if it's so important, why aren't you there?

Patriot, USA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:51 PM)

They forgot the part about how this debacle is the responsibility of one man. They forgot to say how the grief and misery that it has caused needs to be hung around Bushes neck and fastened eternally with heavy chains and locks. So heavy that his back and his soul are bowed with the weight of the needless carnage of an unnecessary war and the carnage that will come from our distraction from the real War and the enemy on vacation in Pakistan. They forgot to mention that the only remaining use for George Bush and his only chance at redemption is his role as a Jacob Marley to future Presidents that wake up sobbing in a cold sweat from the nightmare of his warning.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2:54 PM)

VietNam was also a mistake. At least we got out of there when we realized we would not "win." We aren't going to win in the Middle East either but this administration is too stupid to acknowledge it.
It chose to get into this war with flawed reasoining and now only it knows what it hopes to achieve.

withheld (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:01 PM)

Kerry's statement was pretty funny. Sour grapes and a little hypocritical. Typical liberal responses. I see the new gallop poll at Bush at 32% and the pelosi/Reed congress is at 18%. Gotta love them liberals. Last time Kerry took on Bush, it didn't go too well for him. Better wait until he leaves office Kerry before you decide to take the President on again.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:08 PM)

They're all right, especially Kerry. For a man who spent so much time and energy weaseling out of the Vietnam War, Bush sure has a short memory of it; the war was lost from TEt onward, and even Johnson knew it, though Nixxon was more delusional abovut it---but not nearly as delusional as Bush. He's choosing the one subject---a war he has virtually re-created in the twenty-first century---he should never have even touched as an analogy. I suppose that, since he got to prance around in some weird costume in Ho Chi Minh City, that made the 58,000 dead sleep better, and he no doubt thinks it'll all work out in the end in Iraq, too.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:14 PM)

John Kerry told the truth about Viet Nam and got called a coward for it, when he has more guts than our great president who slithered his way out of service. Now GWB dares to attempt to justify Iraq with some sleezy comparison to Viet Nam??? Please, anyone still gullible enough to believe a word George says, WAKE UP!!!He's a LIAR!!!

PJ (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:18 PM)

I'd be interested in knowing what the Republicans have to say about Bush's comments as well.

If that is Bush's premise - that Iraqis will rally around a strong central government - I'm not sure that it is fundamentally flawed. The problem is, there is not a strong central government to rally around, and it doesn't appear that there will be one anytime soon. How many years has it been since they held their first election? And how exactly are you supposed to rally around a government that goes on vacation for over a month when their country is this much of a mess? How strong can a central government that doesn't want to govern in times of crisis even be?

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:23 PM)

He didnt say Bushwas ignorant. Stop trying to twist things to suit you.

Jackson, Houston (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:24 PM)

HMT:
Granted, John Kerry served heroically in Viet Name........ unlike chicken hawks Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perl .....

But, Please !! Let's not have Kerry as a spokesman for the Democrats !
The Presidential candidates are better, Reid and Durbin also do great jobs !!

Please, go away John Kerry

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:26 PM)

By Bush's logic in his speech today, The US failed by not invading and occupying Cambodia. History eludes him. Robert McNamara excused himself for being ignorant of history. All he had to have done was read Bernard Fall on Dien Bien Phu. And learned from it. Same for Bush. All that "education" and somehow George got left behind. Too bad his did not go to Vietnam and learn firsthand.

He also said today that South Korean troops "stand shoulder to shoulder" with us in Iraq and Afghanistan. He did not mention that South Korea has lost a total of two(2)troops in combat and has reaffirmed its decision to withdraw all troops by end of 2007. Shoulder to shoulder indeed.

And he said "we are in the early days" of this war. Make that "early years"?

It was also interesting to see the part of the entertainment before the formal speech, when he warmed up the crowd of veterans with a cascade of flattery, flag waving, and empty promises of everything they might possibly hope for. It was a campaign speech, for cry-eye!

Robert Holland, Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:27 PM)

Well, so now were all in agreement Bush is deranged, now can we please impeach this bunch before we lose another almost 4,000. soldiers?

Sue Filutze, Idaho Falls, Id. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:27 PM)

The Bush administration's pants are way down, their cover is way blown! They dare to use war to further their oil greed and personal profit at the expense of our soldiers. This pathetic administration continues to be the most lacking in historical perspective in our nation's history, failing to learn even one little lesson from the past. Now, the not so far off from reality cartoon "Lil Bush" gives those who never voted for these turkeys the last laugh. Watch it and weep Cheney! Your portryal is almost as hillariouly accurate as that of President Bush and his family. What a great country this still is!

A. Strum (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:37 PM)

When are we going to pick up the hammer and get to work?
It is time for Congress to act on ending this disaster. We must dethrone the king of war.
Bush is a killer and a psychopath.
He needs to be stopped!
Start bring the troops home now!

H P Boston (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:39 PM)

Typical Hillary...when she is standing in front of the VFW 'its working', when she's out on the stump, its all get them out today.

This woman has no principal, backbone or integrity. Whatever way the wind is blowing.

Her supporters on this site complain about what people say about her. It is nothing compared to the video', and links they will play if she wins the primary. True or false right or wrong everthing that happen in 92-2000 will be brought up again, to question her judgement and integrity. The MSM has pretty much given her a pass so far on hard questions about her past. Don't expect that to happen in the GE. This woman is a walking store house of information.

-healthcare...only job she had in Clinton admin failed horribly

-pictures now of her saying 'its working"

-Vince foster

-Women will love shots of her tammy Winnett "stand by your man' video

-allegations true or false that she was involved in interrogating Bill's girlfriends

on and on and on. So democrats if you don't like hearing it now are you going to like it any better later.

Nat, DC (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:49 PM)

Republicans - please use this thread to support your failed president and to bash Hillary and any other democrats.

Follow the rules! When you can't win the argument, change the subject (See Nat's post for a good example).

PuddleDuck in SC (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:19 PM)

I STILL SAY GEORGE BUSH IS A "FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED" PRESIDENT. CAUSE HE'S FRIGHIN NUTS !

JOHNNY WALKER JR. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:23 PM)

I agree with Hillary and the other boys -- We need a plan for Iraq - Something Bush never understood with his frat boy intelligence.

Tom Carrington, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:25 PM)

Jerry, Bush was a chickenhawk like you. Daddy swung him a stateside gig in the TX Air National Guard to keep him out of Nam. Some poor and undoubtedly better qualified kid got bumped off that waiting list so the shrub could stay home. The sheer arrogance of him even mentioning that war just astonishes me. People who are too cowardly to fight the wars they support disgust me no end. They tuck their tails between their legs and run crying off, while the real Americans fight and die for them. Your president is absolutely beneath contempt.

Doug, San Diego CA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:31 PM)

WHATELSE IS THERE TO SAY? BUSH AND HIS CROWD OF KOOL-AID DRINKERS ARE THE MOST INCOMPETENT AND WORST OF ALL NON-CARING INDIVIDUALS THAT EVER OCCUPIED THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY CARRY ON AS IF SOLDIERS ARE NOT DYING EVERYDAY IN IRAQ. BUSH IS HAVING A GOOD TIME RULING AS IF HE WERE KING. I HOPE THE VOTING PUBLIC WILL VOTE ON COMPETENCE AND INTELLIGENCE, NOT ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO SIT AND HAVE A BEER WITH THIS PERSON. I WANT A SMART AND CARING PERSON. ROVE ON ALL OF THE WEEKEND NEWS SHOWS HAS BRAGGED AND SHOW JUST HOW HE JUDGES HIMSELF. NOT ON EFFECTIVENESS IN POLICIES, BUT HOW STUBBORN AND UN-MOVING BUSH IS. HE WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME IN RETIREMENT. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN, HUSBANDS, WIVES, PARENTS OF THE SOLDIERS THAT HAVE DIED FOR THEIR MISADVENTURES??
IT IT VERY SAD.

J. MARTIN, KINGSTON, PA. (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:31 PM)

Once again Jerry you got your numbers wrong you moron. Tell the truth about Congress' numbers. It is true the Dems have low numbers in Congress, but it is the obsrtuctionist repugs who have the lower numbers and are causing this. Can't blame this on the libs Jerry. An a whole, the country is more staisfied with the Dem leadership in Congress that W in the WH.

Chuck, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:36 PM)

".....Kerry's statement was pretty funny. Sour grapes and a little hypocritical. Typical liberal responses. I see the new gallop poll at Bush at 32% and the pelosi/Reed congress is at 18%. Gotta love them liberals. Last time Kerry took on Bush, it didn't go too well for him. Better wait until he leaves office Kerry before you decide to take the President on again.
jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:08 PM)....."

Ah, jerry; if Bush and Cheney believe that Vietnam was a worthy cause, then why did they both do as much as they could to avoid serving there? How dare he invoke a war that he himself wouldn't fight in!
Secondly, congress is made up of BOTH republiCANTS and Democrats. That 18% (if it's true, which we don't really know because you lie so frequently) is for the ENTIRE congress. It's not just for one side or the other. It's probably because the Democrats were elected to stop the war, and republiCANTS obstructed them from doing it.
Lastly....and this is the funny part.....you think Bush's approval rating of 32% is "good?"
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Clinton's approval ratings, even during the impeachment process, were above 68%.
Dude, get a grip! You're losing it!
.....and you still havent told me what Mitt "The Squirrel Hunter" Romney, or "Rappin' Rudy 'G' The Gigolo of The G.O.P." have done to deserve to be President.
I'm waiting for an answer jerry. A REAL answer, not some "make it up as you go along" garbage.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:41 PM)

No matter how anyone spins it, John Kerry is exactly right. Now if the Dem congress will actually have the balls and spine to do something about it is the big question. I hope I'm wrong, but I figure after the Sept. report (which will be what the ignorant cowboy wants it to say) the dems will come out with a bunch of huffing and puffing and hot air, then roll over and give this god forsaken moron what he wants-something like-they will put "non binding" restrictions on what this idiot can do-which meand he will do whatever he wants without consequenses. I hate to say it, but I am very disapointed with the dem congress. It's really no different now than it was when the repubs ran the dog and pony show.

Steve A. Jonesboro IN (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:43 PM)

Middle Eastern countries don't have a history of allegiance to a strong central government. Iraq is made up of tribes bound by their blood relatives. Fifty percent of Iraqis marry their cousins to stay within their tribe. Their allegiance first and foremost is to their tribe, second is to their brand of Islam (sunni or shiite) and third to their country.
They are never going to get along unless they have another ruthless dictator or they are allowed to fight it out amongst themselves. After all, it IS their country...or do we start calling it "Little America."

GAB,Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:44 PM)

Whether we leave Iraq now, or 10yrs from now, that country will eventually descend into chaos and civil war.

For Bush to compare this current conflict to the tragedies of East Asia exposes his sheer lack of intellectual prowess. Bush has a distorted view of history.

It's tragic that he is so willing to sacrifice our sons and daughters to achieve nothing more than the ultimate failure.

Maybe he would reconsider his stand if his daughter was heading to the front lines instead of the alter.

John Doe, USA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:46 PM)

The Bush bashers are at it again. They have their chicken clucking blogs of "get out now". I'm so glad these idoits weren't around during WWII or we would all be speaking German because they would rather wave the white flag than fight terrorism but they'll be the first to complain and throw blame again at Bush when all the men are wearing tubans and all the women are wearing black sheets covering every inch of our bodies.

Sandra Brown Valencia, California (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:47 PM)

Time to cut-off funding for this moron.

The Billions of Dollars spent in Iraq would have gone a long way to creating real security for our country.

If you support our troops, then cut-off the money and bring them home!!

Don, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:50 PM)

And Bush would know what exactly about Vietnam? He did everything he could to avoid serving in Vietnam. He and Cheney both have invoked Vietnam and neither of them have served. Its one thing to send other people to fight a war and fighting in one yourself.

Sam (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:53 PM)

Vietnam vs Iraq analogy.........Jeez it this the best the neocons can come up with to feed the Shrub? Did these people fail History class or what? That is right I forgot....Rove never went to college he was too busy being a sleazy operative for the Republicans gearing up for Watergate and secret wiretapping of others.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:02 PM)

How dare that dirty scumbag cite the now-second biggest foreign policy blunder in our nation's history, Vietnam (first place: Iraq). This is coming from the same spineless turd who hid in daddy's pockets during the Vietnam war. He and Cheney have been lying and abusing our fine soldiers en masse, along with every other person in this country and the entire world. Shut up about Hilary and Kerry and anyone else -- this is about Bush and Cheney. Stop deflecting and throwing up smoke bombs. Don't be so simple and short-sighted. Unless you've been on the streets of Baghdad fighting for your life -- unless you've seen the devastation that this criminal, ILLEGAL war is bringing to our soldiers and innocent civilians on a daily basis, you shouldn't whisper one PEEP of support for those two. There's no other way to slice it. Bush and Cheney should both be impeached and then tried for war crimes.

Elizabeth (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:03 PM)

How George Bush and Bill Clinton can even mention Vietnam in a sentence is garbage, both are cowards and liars. Both avoided serving in Vietnam. and even Bill clinton, and Albright believed there were WMDS in Iraq when there weren't. The Bushes and Clintons and all Liars. Obama can and will win the election, adn even if the media, NBC, CBS, And ABC, think Obama's wife Michelle was not talking about Hillary yesterday then they are fools too. Bet this won't get posted...Give em hell Obama

Steve, Louisville Ky (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:03 PM)

I'm glad to see the Democrats agree that the war in Iraq needs to end.

Everyone agrees it needs to end. At issue is what state Iraq is will be left in. See Rep. Brain Baird for details on how one Democrat feels about what should be done.

Lol Vern (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:03 PM)

The only candidate that will pull all troops out imediatly is Richardson. I think an immediate withdrawl is not only irresponsible but dangerous. We as democrats need to (like always) fix the problems of republicans. If we leave Iraq to the religous fundamentalists to slaughter secular groups we will continue our downward slide of public oppinion

John, Kalamazoo MI (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:04 PM)

These same idiots will be all to willing to send troops every where and any where the next time the UN pulls up short on it's threats. AGAIN!!! I could go for the total Isolationist deal, but let's do it right and stop playing games. Throw the UN out, and stop using it as a group excuse for not doing anything.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:11 PM)

Hillary NEVER said the surge is working. She said, and OBAMA even agreed, that there have been successes in some areas. Why do I not see people castigating him for his comment that some good is being done in Iraq with the increase of troops? Oh, I forgot - because we love Obama and we hate Hillary, no matter how hypocritical we end up looking. Give me a break.

Sierra - Do you always advocate not allowing someone, particularly a United States Senator, not being able to speak on issues of national importance? More importantly, do you not think it proper for a Vietnam veteran to speak to the comparisons being made between that war and the present war?

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:12 PM)

Sen. Obama is the only candidate to offer an honest assessment of the troubles in Iraq. Yesterday, in front of a Republican-leaning VFW crowd he reiterated the need to end the Iraq war...knowing it will not garner him any votes. That is true leadership. I'm frankly confused with Sen. Clinton's position on the Iraq war. One day she's a hawk. One day she's a dove. One day the surge is working. One day the war is a failure. How can one end a war when one is not sure if it's working or not working? Her comments yesterday gave Pres. Bush the red meat he's looking for on this subject.

Ashe, SF CA (Sent Wednesday, August 22, 2007 5:13 PM)

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