Are Republicans Turning on Bush?...

Republicans are pushing a proposal for consideration today by the Senate for the Administration to lay out a plan to end the Iraqi war.  Is this a message to the Bush Administration?  Are the Republicans not happy with his handling of the war?  Or are they just cow-towing to the Democrats like they did with ANWR and so many other things?

The proposal, sponsored by Senator Frist and Senator Warner call for quarterly reports to Congress on progress of bringing in other nations for support and having the Iraqis taking over 100% of the security of their country by next year. 

Mr. Warner said the underlying message was, "we really mean business, Iraqis, get on with it." The senator, an influential party voice on military issues, said he did not interpret the wording of his plan as critical of the administration, describing it as a "forward-looking" approach.

"It is not a question of satisfaction or dissatisfaction," he said. "This reflects what has to be done."

Warner took the Dem's proposal and tweaked it in an effort to bring the parties together for a compromise.  The Republican proposal differs from the Democrats proposal in that there is no requirement for specific dates.  The Democrats want dates...a time line.

The primary differences between the party approaches regards fixing dates for a withdrawal. The Democratic plan called for the administration to provide "estimated dates" for redeployment of American troops once a series of conditions was met, with the caveat that "unexpected contingencies may arise."

But Republicans said that provision was cutting too close to setting a schedule for withdrawal. "We are not going to have any timetable," Mr. Warner said.

Lieberman is on board...

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, said he saw the proposal as a potential "turning point" in Congressional deliberation over Iraq and related issues.

I wonder what cogs Biden, Durbin, Kennedy and Pelosi will throw in the works....because we all know they will.  They're not happy unless they are disagreeing with anything a Republican proposes.

Look, it's no secret that the president's popularity has declined.  That's really nothing unusual in a second term.  But, while Bill and Hillary were traveling the world in their two terms, President Bush has had to deal with 9/11, the war on terror, Iraq, the destruction of a major city due to a Cat 5 hurricane and the incompetence of the local and state government of that city, followed by a more than usual number of catastrophic storms, and a liberal media that salivates over anything and everything that can be twisted into looking like a failure on the part of the Administration. 

It saddens me that the Republicans are jumping on the cut and run band wagon.  It infuriates me that they dropped ANWR.  During the Bush administration, the Republicans had opportunities to do some good things for this country.  They blew it.  They were too concerned with not wanting to upset the Dems.... and frankly, I never understood that.  They had the power and they were too politically afraid to use it. 

What a shame.

Lisa

hat tip:  Michelle Malkin (Lori Byrd)

others talking:  Don Suber

Comments

[USMC Steve]

Lisa, we have a unique creature causing all this hate and discontent, aside from the dems, who are consistent in resisting anything and everything republican. That creature is the RINO. It is a democrat that could not get elected as a dem, so went the Republican route and was able to fool its constituents into supporting it. There are no significant differences between the RINO and a dem; indeed it may well be a fifth columnist masquerading as a conservative American. RINO's cannot be trusted as they too are capable of absolutely anything, and they should be provided no support at reelection time, even if a dem gets in at their expense. The enemy you know is preferable to the one you don't.

[Bombtruck]

The answer is yes, they are turning on him, but for nowhere near the right reason, which is Iraq is all screwed up/no hope of recovery.

This is a CYA movement. It became evident last week with the removal of the ANWAR drilling portion of the budget, and this just makes the problem worse.

The good news is many of these guys will find themselves out of a job if this keeps up.

[HC]

The lying us into war is finally catching up with bush. I think I heard this before here is you reap what you sow.

[jestplainol'bill]

I realize that once I say this you will probably (if you had any dignity) commit seppuku...President Bush can't run again. Now, without the bogeyman what will you do with your pathetic little life.

[USMC Steve]

Bill, there is always the hope that another Republican will get in there for HC and catastrophile to hate and revile.

[Rita]

Hate is such a strong word...

And I can't stand when people say "lie", please say "Misinformed" because no one knows who gave what information, and I don't think that Bush gathers CIA, etc intel information. That comes from the professionals in those agencies. And I am sure he did not "interpret" these alone. So, use "misguided, misinformed" because "lie" is not truly correct. And if someone says it one more time, I will knock you out, and put you through a meat grinder and use you for shark chum...sorry, I was watching a Great White Wildlife Show...:) Go on with your bashing...because I don't like anyone in the government. Just use the correct wording.

[HC]

I believe that bush lied us into war. If means Rita will knock me out, and put me through a meat grinder and use me for shark chum, then so be it.

[Chris Sears]

Rita, honey, the meat grinder thing scares me. Gotta let them use "lie" 'cause that is what THEY MEAN! (and let them say what they MEAN because it will prove them wrong in the end)(you reap what you sow)..
WE are the ones who know it was "misinformed" or .. basically just using the best intelligence we had, which aligned with the other countries' of the world intelligence. Intelligence out of a lying dictatorship (Oh wait - Saddam was not a lier, Bush was) may not be the best but was all the world and UN had.
I am just glad Bush is finally on the "Offense". I like it in football and in war!

[HC]

Chris S.

Your Conservative Movement is coming to an end. Enjoy while it last, because 2006 is just around the corner.

[Chris Sears]

I know, HC. (not that I would call it a "Conservative Movement" as they have not used their time in power to the best of what they could have) Anyway, I am with you as to the forecast of the future.

2006 - yes , a little shaky. May be a little hope there since some Democrats are making fools of themselves and showing their unAmericanism. But definitely 2008, "SHE" is acomin".

[Lisa]

HC...you should be happy... you've got Republicans coming over to your dark side.

[Rita]

HC, I would not put you through a meat grinder. Maybe some politicans, but not you. To tell you the truth, I am sick of both sides, all the mud slinging, the elementary school bickering, the he said, she said, the stupid stuff....I am tired of it all and I wish they would just grow the F up before they are all ousted...I am just so disgusted with both Republicians, and Democrats. It is time to stop the bickering, stop playing politics, stop pitting sides, and work for us...and I mean all of us. I am in the Middle, like the majority of Americans, start working for us for a change.