Santorum wants independent review of Iraq war

January 6, 2006

I know Rick Santorum is worried about losing to Bob Casey in November, but I didn’t know he was worried enough to suggest he can’t trust the Bush administration to give the country a fair analysis of the war in Iraq.

Sen. Rick Santorum yesterday wrote a letter to President Bush asking him to create an independent, non-partisan commission to objectively evaluate progress in Iraq.

The letter is a significant shift by the Pennsylvania Republican, whose stalwart support for nearly all aspects of the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq could be a significant handicap in his race against state Treasurer Robert P. Casey this year if Pennsylvanians’ support for the war continues to decline.

Mr. Santorum told the president that he was joining other members of Congress in their call for a panel that could “objectively and critically report” progress in Iraq to build Americans’ confidence and trust in the mission.

The Senate already passed a measure two months ago that requires the Bush administration to provide more frequent and detailed reports on progress (or lack thereof) in Iraq, but Santorum said yesterday that these reports aren’t good enough — because he wants “an objective assessment.”

And in case the slap in Bush’s face wasn’t quite obvious enough, Santorum added, “I believe that the American people have not received an accurate picture of America’s successes and challenges in helping Iraq establish their democracy.”

I knew Santorum was anxious to distance himself from an unpopular president and an unpopular war, but I didn’t know he was this anxious. In November, Santorum was willing to say that the war has been “less than optimal” and “maybe some blame could be laid” at the White House. Around the same time, Santorum didn’t appear at a Bush event in Pennsylvania because of a “scheduling conflict.”

But now Santorum’s “George who?” effort has reached a whole new level. I don’t think it’ll work — Casey can easily remind voters that Santorum has been a passive Bush cheerleader for years and his Iraq concerns are just a ploy — but it’s interesting to see Santorum try.

Did Santorum ever use the term “flip-flop” in criticism of anyone (Kerry) during the runnup to the 2004 election?

  • I did not think it was possible to have less respect for Rick Santorum than I did when I woke up this morning, but it has happened. I had given him some credit for being a loyal Bush apologist as opposed to a fair weather Bush apologist, but he seems to have proven me wrong.

  • I love this guy! The voters are throwing him off the boat and he is bound and determined to take as many of his friends with him and do as much damage as possible while he goes over the rail. I for one hope he keeps squirming. 1) it makes him look like a total loser and 2) it makes his fellow Republicans choose between helping push Mr. Doggie Style off to save themselves or try to keep him onboard which weakens their positions.

    You are either stand with the Ricker or you stand with the terrorists.

  • This just in at the Rick Santorum Superstore! Get your new Santorum Weathervane! That’s right, now you too can tell which way the wind blows just by looking at this stylish conversation piece modeled after the Senator you love to hate.

    Order now and we’ll throw in a pair of flip-flo…er, sandals, just like the ones Santorum wears to step on your civil rights.

    But wait, there’s more! Act now before the end of this comment and we’ll include the limited edition ‘Best Friends’ 2006 calendar. Twelve beautiful photographs show Rick ‘Man on Dog’ Santorum frolicking with neighborhood canines. The Humane Society proclaims it “borderline criminal, but assuredly disgusting.”

    Tax applicapable in IL, CA, and the rest of the blue states. Products do not actually exist in the reality based community.

  • I wonder how many independent investigations this jerk has voted against that were proposed by Democrats?

    I say we all take him up on the offer, and run with it. But let’s steal the frame, and add an arm to the investigation that will look into into how we got into that stupid war in the first place. If the guys running this war lied to us when they started it, than asking them to do a better job of “fixing” the war is pointless.

    Send a letter to the editor, asking that Mr Santorum’s plan for investigating the Iraq war be started immediately!

  • Santorums’ voting record is easily accessible (down the line with Bush). When Casey does spring up every now and then Santorums voting record and his history of sucking up to the Cowardly Cowboy are major talking points. As a resident of SW Pa. I can say that Santorum is as despised a politician as anyone I can think of in my 42 years. Even most of the people I know who voted for W are either sitting the election out or crossing party lines to give their vote to Casey.

  • I really don’t think there is anything he can do to save himself at this point. He’s unpopular because he’s a douchebag and no amount of trying to appeal to moderates will change that. Too late, loser.

  • elp45: “Even most of the people I know who voted for W are either sitting the election out or crossing party lines to give their vote to Casey.”

    And Tony Blankley promised us that Santorum is going to win 😉

    I hope you are right. Maybe I should talk to my sister-in-laws folks up in PA.

  • Lance : And Tony Blankley promised us that Santorum is going to win

    Come on Lance, consider the source. Fatass Blankley is one of the biggest shills/media whores the Moral Moron has in his arsenal. If you doubt what I’m saying read the letters to the editor in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://post-gazette.com/) if you ever get a chance. Little Ricky probably can carry the rural middle of Pa., but to get elected in this state you have to carry the population centers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh where he’s pretty much despised by everyone who has indoor plumbing.

  • Right on schedule, here comes Little Ricky’s attempt to cloak himself as a moderate again just like he did in 2000. It might have worked then against an underfunded opponent, but now that he’s “Senator Man-Dog” and up against a heavyweight like Casey, the repeat performance is likely to fail.

  • FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP

    Wow a little political pressure and Santorum’s finally becomes a responsible legislator

    The right wing will not be happy to see he is abandoning the Bush doctrine of never asking questions about our President’s actions.

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