Lugar speaks - heroic, gutsy, turning point, historic - bring out Gergen. A Dem says it -

Reid or Pelosi or Durban come out and say we need a change in direction - it is heresy! Treason! Leaving the troops high and dry! Get out the Pug talking heads...the media circus of endless right wing talking points. Give me a break. I got my tin foil on - this looks quite manipulated to me, to create some sort out out for Bushie boy. I think it was Gergen who said that the Dems want to force Bushie to change direction, but Lugar et al want to convince Bush to change direction (and what's the difference)? Major hypocrisy alert, I tell ya.

The rethugs who are 'jumping on board' just want the public to have that perception, with no real change to back it up.


http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/06 ...

Cheap Talk

26 Jun 2007 09:23 am

With regard to the Dick Lugar question discussed below, the AP's coverage of his speech clarifies that Senator Lugar doesn't intend to do anything about his qualms with Bush's Iraq policy:

"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar, R-Ind., said in a Senate floor speech. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term." . . .

However, {Lugar spokesman Andy} Fisher said the speech does not mean Lugar would switch his vote on the war or embrace Democratic measures setting a deadline for troop withdrawals.


Bush can at least say that he's implementing a massively wrongheaded Iraq policy, leading to untold deaths and the trashing of American interests, because he doesn't know any better -- Lugar's doing it because, what, it would be impolite to do otherwise? Because he's just a bad person and doesn't give a damn? This stuff makes me angry.

thought and weighing of principle that backs up an arrived at picture of the world cannot be reasoned into a contrary point of view. They got where they are emotionally and passionately and, therefore, must be let down gently and given all the opportunities possible to save face.
They will generally, then, allude to some form of "knowing it all the time" or some such out and, perhaps, this occasion will allow them to painlessly shift toward reality.

A complete reversal on Lugar's part would not be believable and would probably be too big a pill to swallow so this could be a major victory, although it looks pretty measly at present.

:patriot:

:hide:

Because at least Lugar is gutsy enough to admit when he's wrong. Better late than never. We'll take allies where we can get them.

But I find it hard to be too mad at somebody who fianlly comes to their senses.

do you think he'd actually vote to end the occupation, or vote the way his party does?
He spouted a lot of stuff, but he's not changing anything.

And living in TX with KBH and Cornyn, I have absolutely nothing to hold up as someone to emulate. x(

Be glad that YOU as an American citizen don't have to have endure what they would say about YOU. Be sad that some of our most honest Dem lawmakers endure the pundits' spin against them nearly every day.

the real cause of their plight.(Joe Sixpack, that is)

I wish it felt better to be right. Being right doesn't count for beans these days - it is all about fitting into a belief system. Right no longer matters. The truth no longer matters. (well, it does here at DU - and it does in my home and with my family and friends).