November 01, 2006
Did Boehner Make A Bungle?
In a coordinated attempt to divert the pre-election traffic flow from John Kerry, the nation's top Democrats siezed tonight on a remark by Maj. Leader John Boehner who, in a CNN interview tonight, appeared to blame generals for the chaos in Iraq.
WIthin an hour of each other, DNC chairman Howard Dean, Sen. Min. Leader Harry Reid, DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel issued blistering statements urging Boehner to "apologize" for his comments. The Democrats are linking Boehner's comments to Pres. Bush's assertion today that Sec/Def Don Rumsfeld is doing a banner job.
Here's what Boehner said on CNN today:
House Majority Leader John Boehner: Wolf, I understand that, but let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld.Wolf Blitzer: But he's in charge of the military.
House Majority Leader John Boehner: But the fact is the generals on the ground are in charge and he works closely with them and the president.
Quoth Reid: " It’s political leaders like Congressman Boehner and Donald Rumsfeld, who have failed. I expect President Bush and Congressional Republicans, who demanded John Kerry apologize, hold their own party’s majority leader to a much higher standard. There’s"
Quoth Emanuel: "President Bush used to say that he would listen to the generals. Today, he says he’s happy to listen to Secretary Rumsfeld while his lieutenant in Congress, John Boehner blames the generals on the ground for the chaos in Iraq."
Quoth Dean: "After the Bush Administration’s numerous failures in Iraq, to blame our brave troops is just wrong. John Boehner should apologize immediately."
Kevin Madden, Boehner's spokesman, sent this response: “Democrats are quickly squandering any and all credibility by even attempting to equate Mr. Boehner’s comments with criticism of anyone in the military. It’s an obvious and weak attempt to deflect criticism from Senator Kerry’s awful remarks delivered earlier this week, remarks Mr. Boehner was highly critical of. Mr. Boehner commends our military and our generals for doing a heroic job each and every day in their fight against terrorists in Iraq and around the globe. He thanks them every day for their bravery and will continue to do so.”
Posted at 07:30 PM
Comments
Boehner is your typical, mindless Republican fool who never takes responsibility for any failure. The numerous failures of the Bush Administration are often blamed on Clinton or the Democrats when the facts are that the Republicans controll all branches of government. The Democrats have no power or control over anything. When the Republican's can't blame the Democrats for the failures in Iraq, Boehner chooses to blame the military instead of Bush/Cheney and Rumsfeld. The Bush Administration and their Republican enablers in congress are a pathetic bunch of cowards.
Willrayu | 11.02.06 08:20 AM
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Kevin Madden, Boehner's spokesman, sent this response: "When will Democrat finally get it? Its okay for us to disparage the troops but it’s not okay for them. They don't seem to know the meaning of the word hypocrisy!"
Hnek | 11.02.06 09:33 AM
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Funny, I don't see this on the front pages the way John Kerry's botched joke was. The "liberal media" must be a little off their game.
Tommy | 11.02.06 10:26 AM
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Funny, I don't see this on the front pages the way John Kerry's botched joke was. The "liberal media" must be a little off their game.
Tommy | 11.02.06 10:27 AM
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''listen to the generals''
Only the generals who say what he wants to hear.
Gen Shinsecki said we would need many thousands more troops so Bush and Rumsfeld forced him out.
doug | 11.02.06 10:39 AM
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THE DEMS NEED TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS GOVERNMENT-IN-DENIAL!!! IN IRAQ, DEPLETED URANIUM IS DELIVERING DEATH TO THE UNBORN AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN EVENTUAL GENOCIDE. OUR TROOPS ON THE GROUND ARE ENDANGERED BY EXPOSURE TO "DP" DUST AND MAY SUFFER LONG TERM FROM ITS EFFECTS.
RAVEN | 11.02.06 11:11 AM
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So stupid, so meaningless. They've turned this into a pissing contest of the most juvenile proportions. Then they wonder why people think politicians are inept and immoral.
I am going to vote Democratic, no doubt. Not that they represent me to a "T", but they are naive at least but not entirely corrupt. One look at any Republicnas face and you see a snake oil salesman of the lowest degree.
Boehner is your proto type slick con artist, yet Kerry is a man whom I voted for. A man who can't even joke like a normal man. I don't expect him to be comedian, why can't he be who he really is? Who needs one liners from a statesman? Look what happened when the other half of the country voted for all the "guys who you'd like to have beer with"?
I don't want to go out drinking with my statesmen. I want seriousness and emphaty from them.
Honesty | 11.02.06 11:23 AM
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So stupid, so meaningless. They've turned this into a pissing contest of the most juvenile proportions. Then they wonder why people think politicians are inept and immoral.
I am going to vote Democratic, no doubt. Not that they represent me to a "T", but they are naive at least but not entirely corrupt. One look at any Republicnas face and you see a snake oil salesman of the lowest degree.
Boehner is your proto type slick con artist, yet Kerry is a man whom I voted for. A man who can't even joke like a normal man. I don't expect him to be comedian, why can't he be who he really is? Who needs one liners from a statesman? Look what happened when the other half of the country voted for all the "guys who you'd like to have beer with"?
I don't want to go out drinking with my statesmen. I want seriousness and emphaty from them.
Why apologize when it's something you believe in?
Honesty | 11.02.06 11:23 AM
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Regarding your story today, "Did Boehner Make A Bonner?", it is clear that Boehner was only trying to cover for his old and close friend Rumsfeld, and although he may have made a bonner for his very close friend --- as many Republicans have recently made bonners ---- at lenght, Boehner was really only saying, "We go to war with the Defense Sectretary we have ---- and not the one we may want."
And, at the end of the day (that is to say --- at night) Rumsfeld is clearly the one that both Bush and Boehner want --- really want. Even if that means that they make make bonners from time to time for Rumsfeld.
Alan MacDonald | 11.02.06 12:01 PM
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About John Kerry's apology - - -
How about asking BUSH and his Republican CRONIES to apologise a thousand times for all the lies,deception,corruption,cronyism,corporate favoritism,outsourcing,destruction of the middle class,a disastrous war with no end in sight etc,etc ?
I have always felt exactly what Kerry said, that the great majority of the kids who join the armed forces do so, for economic reasons, being unable to go to college due to financial reasons and that is the truth; and WHY IS THAT ? May be it has something to do with all the cut backs In student aid and pell grant, that this president and his republican cronies managed to "accomplish" in the last five years?!
The great majority of TV media news outlets have bend over backwards to treat this administration and its Republican CRONIES with velvet gloves; they continue to be spineless, partisan and always circumventing telling the entire truth - - - The long time 'charge' that the media is "liberal biased" is absolute baloney!; because if it were true and if the media had been doing its job throughly,sincerely and without bias, this country wouldn't be in half the mess it is in now. Wish we had people like Cronkite,Brinkley,Ed Morrow and the like; instead, we have weasels like Blitzer, Couric etc !!!!!!
For instance the voting glitches that happened recently in Florida, worked out in favor of the republican candidates;( no wonder Jeb Bush had "full confidence in the system"!) How many news media outlets including CNN with all its numerous "talking heads" reported this outrage at all ? Almost no one!!
Correct me if I am wrong - - -
What the hell is going on ???????
PAUL AUGUSTINE | 11.02.06 01:20 PM
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I saw and heard the exchange between Blitzer and Boehner and was shocked at Boehner's casting the blame on America's generals in Iraq instead of on Rumsfeld and Bush where it belongs.
The remarks of Boehner were far more disparaging of our military than anything Kerry said, and there was no misinterpreting to it!
An apology to our troops in Iraq should be demanded.
Creed Ballew | 11.02.06 10:10 PM
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Imagine if Kerry had made that statement. Repugs would sound like a pack of hounds on the scent.
Marlow | 11.02.06 10:38 PM
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